Big City Darkened Nights

The moon rises high in the cool night sky, illuminating the seemingly peaceful group of slumbering men.

Distracted by several deer crossing the shallow stream, the night-watch sentries don’t see a dark misty vapor drift into the campsite.

Heading straight to Carr the vapor hovers momentarily over before settling into his body.

In his dreaming mind Carr is walking through the woods around the farmhouse. The timid animals are scampering about.

A soft voice faintly speaks his full name.

Physically turning Carr looks about but no one is seen.

The voice calls out to him again.

“I know that voice,” Grinning Carr calls out, “Sonja? Is that you?”

“You hoo, Carr.”

He spots her pretty face peering out from behind a tree, “What are you doing down here?”

Her pink lips curl up into a sly grin. Waving him over she winks a blue eye.

Excited Carr hurries over to see she’s not there, “Sonja.” He rounds the tree, “Sonja?”

Giggling Sonja shows herself before running deeper into the woods.

Carr gives chase as she leads them around trees and through tall weeds.

Leaping past a downed tree only her yellow hair can be seen flowing away.

Carr easily clears the tree landing on his feet. Looking up she’s disappeared.

Laughing loudly, he surveys the area, “Where are you?” Slowly his smile fades calling out, “Sonja?”

The sentries hear Carr mumble Sonja and begin to observe him. Glancing at each other they smile figuring he’s having an erotic dream.

Becoming frustrated Carr searches the woods calling out, “Where did you get to? Sonja where are you?”

Suddenly Carr’s slammed to the ground, as Sonja jumps on his back.

Planting soft kisses around his neck she whispers in his ear, “I want you to take me away from here.”

“Where to?” Smiling Carr rolls over looking up into her bright blue eyes. Observing her intoxicating gaze is similar to a wild animal after prey.

She stands offering a hand to help him up.

He puts his hand in hers. Before he pushes up, she pulls him to his feet.

“I need a strong man to take me away from here.” Batting her long eyelashes while lightly touching his chest, “Are you strong enough?”

“Sure, I’m strong enough.” Flexing his covered muscles, “I can carry ten stones.”

She grins. “Good than you can carry me.”

“Sure, but…” Carr wonders what she’s up to, “…ah, where are we going?”

In a flash she jumps on his back, wrapping arms around his neck. He teeters cradling her legs for support. She points the way to go, and he gladly does.

Always wanting time alone with Sonja, Carr is thrilled to go wherever, “I’m so happy you chose me.”

Laughing manically her voice roughens, “I’m so happy with the words you’ve chosen. When I saw you sleeping, I wasn’t sure what to do with you.”

Confused and concerned Carr questions her. “What do you mean? What’s wrong with your voice?”

Leaning in she whispers in his ear, “My name isn’t Sonja. I’m Tetra.”

“What? Who?” He looks down seeing bluish, leathery limbs wrapped around him. Turning to see an old haggard face, with a fanged grin and piercing red eyes.

Before he can let go of her, she grips his waist tight with her legs and his throat in both hands. Squeezing her talon tipped fingers together, “I’ve found one, who will reward me for your converted soul.”

Carr releases her legs and tries to pry her strong hands from his neck.

Thrashing about he can’t shake her loose.

He rushes backwards into a tree, only making her hold on tighter.

Attempting to bash her into another tree, Carr trips landing on top of her. Trapped within her grasp he tries to call out but can’t get the sound out.

The sentries see Carr moving about and are curious to his dream.

Being a dream Carr pulls a dagger from his armor stabbing Tetra randomly where he can.

Seeing the stabbing motion and hearing him struggle to breath, one of the sentries runs to inform the Captain.

Tetra laughs at Carr. “You’ll never hurt me with that.”

She only encourages him to fight harder, still the more Carr struggles the stronger her hold becomes.

Carr’s flailing arms and legs wakes the men around him. They stare in astonishment hearing him obviously being choked.

Swiftly walking over to Carr, Avilo assesses the problem yelling. “Get up!”

Seeing no change he kneels slapping Carr’s face, still no change.

Debating if the boy is faking or magic is at work Avilo grabs Carr’s left wrist.

Dragging the rogue over to the fire Avilo forces Carr’s hand to flame.

In pain and gasping for air Carr loudly comes around, waking the rest of the men. Avilo and those already watching gasp themselves seeing the dark vapor leave Carr’s body and disappear into the shadows of the woods.

Sitting up and trying to catch his breath Carr mutters. “I was, being, choked, by a, demon witch,” He notices his burnt fingers.

“Sorry about that.” Avilo gently lifting Carr’s chin.

Junior and the men closest see what their Captain sees, finger like bruising forming around Carr’s neck.

Captain Avilo is coming to a conclusion to their mystery, “I think we can tell the King what happened to the rest of the thieves.”

Dell comes over to see for himself, “What do you mean Sir?”

Avilo points to Carr’s throat, “Everyone here should know how these bruises occur. They weren’t there earlier or when we arrived. Nobody saw anything do this to him, but most of us saw something leave his body. Spirit, mist, cloud or vapor I’m not completely sure.”

The men agree on strangulation for the bruising, the speculations start on what put them there. Dell’s convinced Carr did it to himself. Junior purposes an invisible assassin.

Hearing enough Avilo interjects, “He’s already described his attacker.”

One of the watchmen points out. “He was calling for Sonja in his sleep. And said a witch got him.”

Managing to find humor in the situation Carr lightly laughs, “Hey I’m not dead.”

“Not yet.” Avilo needs a better description, “I think I know what attacked you and the others. Tell me, this witch did she have red eyes? Strange colored skin? Ugly as an Otyugh’s butt?”

“Yeah, blue skin,” Carr recalls her face. “What’s an Oty’ugah?

A few of the older men chuckle along with Avilo. “It’s a creature that eats anything rotten. But that’s not important. It’s some sort of evil witch or hag. Probably living in a plane of Hell. Capturing living evil souls to be eaten as a delicacy by other evil beings in hopes to gain powers and skills.”

The group all looks at Carr like he’s carrying a plague.

Nervously Carr jests, “I guess they don’t eat the clothing then.”

Junior worries of it coming after others, “What about fighting skills?”

Scratching his head Avilo expresses his view, “I think it’s only souls of bad intent they want. I’m guessing the other night she decided Carr’s heart isn’t evil enough or she was interrupted.”

Not liking the sound of that Carr becomes quizzical, “So what do you think she is? Can I kill her? I’m not evil. Am I?”

“I’m thinking a Night-hag. I don’t think you’re evil maybe it’s just the life skills acquired that are wanted.” Avilo gives out some details on the being, “Witches long dead, living out their afterlives trapped in Hell. Pursuing victims in their dreams. I suppose to get rid of the hag you’re going to have to find and kill her.”

Carr thinks about the hardest part of it, “And how am I suppose to find and kill her behind bars. You might as well kill me now.”

The older men kind of feel bad for Carr’s situation. They all agree if he hadn’t been greedy, it wouldn’t have happened. Dell thinks they’re all being conned.

Captain Avilo turns to Dell, “I know you need to touch something to know its there. But I was right here when that cloud left his body. I could feel it move past me, man. The young man is only guilty of trying to take off with the treasure. He wouldn’t have had the chance if Kapigorn hadn’t sent the party to ransack the treasure houses. If it wasn’t for Carr, we wouldn’t even have the treasure to take back. We’d most likely be in the Ironwood forest still. Instead of soon to be home with a bed to lye in.”

Dell feels humiliated in front of the men and tries to remain silent, as his face turns red.

Avilo turns back to Carr, “Tomorrow we’ll be in the city. The King will want to deal with all of this right away. We’ll tell him your story; you’ll tell it again and we’ll provide the facts we know. The King won’t fault you for being greedy. He may even find your circumstances amusing enough to offer assistance with the hag.”

As paladins never lie Carr has some hope, “You think so?”

“We’ll find out tomorrow.” Avilo suggests. “Since you won’t be able to get to sleep why don’t you and Junior take the next watch?”

Dell and Junior both utter. “Sir?”

“That’s what I said,” Avilo turns to Dell, “Unless you’d feel safer standing watch with him?”

Dell doesn’t like the night watch, “No sir. Junior will do just fine.”

As Dell turns towards the tent, Junior waves a fist at him. Causing the men to chuckle before they settle back down for the night.

Deliberating on the day Avilo returns to contemplate how it’s to be reported.