Rise of the Darkness — CHAPTER 39

"You have found the next letter which will lead you to another person who needs your help. You have to go and find the hunter, Lucas Harrison. Who is under the dark spell of an ancient witch Marlena. She wants to perform the ritual of pure humans. Stop her as soon as possible. I hope you will soon find the next letter.

Dalton."

After reading the third letter, Ethan and Calla were on their way to find out what happened to Lucas. Ethan knew Lucas for years. A hunter, who hunts monsters only, not creatures. Ethan had helped him so many times to hunt down the monsters who were troubling humans or other creatures who wanted to live their lives peacefully. They don't hurt anyone. Ethan stopped his car in front of a small house. He smelled an unknown scent. He pushed Calla back and tiptoed towards the door. He kicked open the door and found a young boy standing in the house. Ethan would have lunged himself over the boy if he hadn't read his mind.

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" He asked the boy calmly.

Gray's POV:-

It felt like decades I have spent as a slave to that witch Marlena. Lucas freed me from the stupid curse. That made me wish to be like him. For years I was a puppet, I wanted to be like Lucas. I wanted to help people like he has helped me. Asking around about his address, I reached a small and old house. I rang the bell but no response, I rang it again, once, twice, thrice. But still nothing. I held the door knob and found the door wasn't locked. "How about to get in and wait for him?" I thought and stepped into his house. I look at his place which was completely destroyed. His weapons and his hunting gadgets were lying on the ground completely destroyed. What caught my eye, were a few red stains on the wall. I went close and read a message in horror that said. "Help…"

I panicked seeing the blood. I went back towards the door to get someone who would be able to help him. I hadn't thought Lucas would be in trouble. As I reached the door, someone kicked it open. I could see his red glowing eyes and huge figure. He wasn't human. I was sure about it. "But what is he and what is he doing here? Is he the one who is behind Lucas' disappearance?" I thought.

I noticed his face changed it's colors. "Who are you? And what are you doing here?" He asked me in a calm tone. I hesitated for a few moments. But I was also worried about Lucas.

"My name is Gary. Who are you?" I asked before spilling the beans over him. I wanted to know who he was.

"I'm Ethan, a friend of Lucas. What are you doing in his house?" He asked me.

"I came here to meet him. He saved my life a few days ago. I came here and found this place fully destroyed." I replied. He nodded his head and sniffed the air. His eyes glowed like stars and he looked at the corner where I had found that message. He knelt down on the ground and touched the dried blood.

"I am here, my friend. I will find you." He said and stood up again.

"Where can I find Marlena? I can still sense her curse on you." He asked me. I gave him a confused look.

"Marlena… where can I find her?" He repeated his question. He looked pissed, so I thought it's better to answer him.

"You can't, she is dead. Lucas killed her." I replied and he shook his head.

"Lucas can not kill Marlena. She is alive and I can smell her all over the place." Ethan replied with a smirk.

"That's impossible. I have seen her turning into the ashes." I said with a shocked look on my face.

"You can't kill an ancient witch who had performed pure blood rituals to get her powers. She is alive but if you don't start talking, Lucas will be dead." He said and I stared at him with wide eyes.

"I can take you to the cave. She used it to hide all the abducted kids there." I replied. He just nodded his head. He stepped out of the house and I followed him behind.

"What happened?" I heard a female voice.

"We need to go. I can feel we don't have a lot of time. Get into the car, you too Gray." He said. We all sat into the car and drove off.

After an hour drive, I told him to stop. We were close to the cave but we couldn't drive there. We all stepped out of the car and started walking. "Here, this is the cave." I pointed my finger at the cave as soon as I saw it.

"Calla, where is your pendent?" He asked the woman. She gave him an annoyed look and pulled out a beautiful pendant. He nodded his head and we walked into the cave.

"That's a favor for me Gray. You came back to me. Now I don't have to waste my time searching for you. " I heard that scary voice again. I shivered in fear. I looked at Ethan who nodded his head. We walked further deep into the cave but it was the dead end. Lucas was nowhere to be found. Ethan pulled out a tiny glass bottle from his pocket. He started mumbling some words I didn't understand. Then he threw the bottle on the wall. In a few seconds, the wall faded away. Ethan grabbed Calla's hand and they walked into the part of the cave Marlena never showed me. I followed them behind. There in the middle of the huge cave, I saw Lucas lying on the ground. I saw a circle and all those kids Lucas had saved before standing in the circle.

Marlena came out and froze into her tracks. She looked at Ethan who was growing in anger. Then she looked at Calla and smiled. Marlena made her way to me with a smile on her face. "You brought me two surprises. I won't kill you. You are a good slave." She said and grabbed Calla by her neck. Calla grabbed her wrist and with an easy swing, she twisted her arm behind her back.

"Not your lucky day bitch. A, I don't have time for your games and B, you can't get me that easily." Calla said with gritted teeth. Marlena started reciting a spell. I recognized it, it was a choking spell. But I was surprised to see that it didn't do anything to Calla.

"She is protected by a fairy. You can't do anything to her." Ethan said with a smirk. Behind him, all the abducted kids were standing. He freed them all while Calla kept Marlena busy. Ethan came closer and before Marlena could make any move, Ethan slashed her throat with his claws. Calla pushed her on the ground.

"Follow me everyone." Calla said. We all came out of the cave.

"What about Lucas?" I asked.

"He is safe. Ethan will get him out." She replied. We walked back towards the spot where we had parked the car. I was looking back to see where Ethan was. But he didn't come out. We reached the car and my mouth dropped on the ground. He was already in the car with Lucas on his back seat.

"I hope you can take them all back to the town." He said as Calla hopped into the car. He started the engine and drove off.

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THIRD PERSON POV:-

Lucas opened his eyes and found himself lying on the couch. Ethan smirked and offered him his hand. He sat up on the couch and Ethan patted his back. He saw Calla was looking for something.

"You have to do something, I can't find it." Calla said and Ethan stood up. They looked around together and found a beauty box in the corner. She smiled and picked it up.

"How did you know and what were you looking for? Who is she?" Lucas asked all questions at once.

"She is Calla, my soulmate. She was looking for something that belongs to her." Ethan replied and Lucas gave him a confused look. Calla examined the beauty box and Lucas started laughing hysterically.

"Never in my life I have seen anyone opening this box." He said. Calla pushed the button on the beauty box and it opened. Calla smirked and stuck her tongue out.

"That's because only she can open it. It belongs to her ancestors, who sent us here to save you today." Ethan replied his unasked question with a smirk.

Story credit goes to Kiara Colon. I hope you all like it.