Chapter 9: Meeting at the Catacombs

The catacombs was a large building with windows that looked like eyes and a large gate that resembled a gaping maw. The streetlights filled with oil masked the building in flickering shadows that contributed to its eerie creepiness. Jenny got out onto the quiet cobblestone street, leaving the demoness in the safety of the carriage. Cool, misty air swirled around her, covering her in a wet blanket.

She prepared herself for the coming deal, studying every alley, every potential risk. She knew her father would likely try something underhanded, again. She needed to be ready for anything.

It took an hour till she noticed the approaching silhouette of the man she assumed was Aldric. He approached calmly, keeping his eyes narrowed on her.

“I was worried if you’d show up, but here you are,” He said.

“I’m a woman of my word,” Jenny replied. “So… may I see it?”

He reached into his coat and pulled out the gem. It pulsed with an unnatural crimson glow, seeming to devour the surrounding darkness in swirling tendrils. “Here it is,” Aldric said, his lips curling into a sinister smile. “Do you have the gold?”

Jenny’s hand tightened around her wand. “I do.”

Before she could act, Aldric whipped out a derringer, aiming it squarely at her head. “You’re far too naïve, Ms. Seris,” he sneered, stepping closer. Two figures emerged from the shadows behind him—scarred mercenaries armed with pepperboxes and cutlasses. One was fat and disfigured, his face twisted into a lecherous grin; the other was tall and wiry, his movements sharp and predatory. “You actually thought I’d part with something as precious as the Sanguine Prism?” Aldric scoffed. “Hand over the gold.”

Her trembling hand drifted toward the bag of coins at her side. “A cheat is always a cheat, isn’t he?” Jenny sighed, lifting the clinking sack. “Three hundred gold, as promised.”

Aldric’s shoulders relaxed slightly as relief washed over him. In that split second, Jenny struck. She hurled the bag of gold straight at his face, activating her barrier spell with a flick of her wand. The derringer fired, but the bullet ricocheted harmlessly off the shimmering shield. Jenny lunged forward, pressing her flamberge dagger against Aldric’s throat.

“Call off your men,” she hissed, going behind him as cover. “One wrong move, and your employer’s throat will be sliced wide open,” she warned, glaring at the two mercenaries who advanced cautiously.

“Eh, maybe we should just kill ‘em both, eh, brother?” the slim man muttered, gripping his pepperbox tightly.

“Take the gold ‘n’ gem fer ourselves,” the fat one agreed, his sleazy grin revealing crooked teeth.

Jenny rolled her eyes and unleashed a concentrated blast of wind magic, sending them sprawling onto the cobblestones. Before she could press her advantage, another shot rang out, narrowly missing her head. She spun around to face the newcomers.

From the shadows emerged two Inquisitors, Hugo and Conrad. Hugo’s smirk was unmistakable, his amusement evident even in the dim light. Conrad stood behind him, his pepperbox drawn and aimed steadily at the group.

“Well, well,” Hugo drawled, his tone laced with mockery. “What do we have here? A witch, a heretic, and two scoundrels. Quite the gathering.”

Conrad stepped forward, his voice cold and authoritative. “In the name of the Church, you are all under arrest.”

Jenny released Aldric from her hold, now fully concentrating on survival. An unspoken, uneasy truce formed between the four of them—they had no choice but to work together against the Inquisitors if they wanted to live.

Aldric immediately raised the Sanguine Prism, aiming it at Hugo. A crimson beam erupted from the gem, engulfing the Inquisitor in a suffocating aura. Hugo gasped, his body trembling as the life-draining magic took hold. But before Aldric could maintain control, Conrad fired his pepperbox. The anti-magic bullet shattered Jenny’s hastily erected barrier, its residual force slamming into Aldric’s side. He staggered, clutching the wound, his concentration wavering.

Seizing the opportunity, Hugo broke free from the prism’s draining effect. Drawing his sabre, he invoked “light of cleansing.” A blinding shaft of pure light shot forth, piercing Jenny’s and Aldric’s minds with searing agony. Hallucinations flooded their thoughts—twisted visions of failure and despair—as they struggled to stay focused.

The two thugs opened fire again, their pepperboxes spitting lead. Conrad deflected one shot with his shield bracelet, the enchanted barrier glowing faintly as it absorbed the impact. Hugo wasn’t as fortunate; a bullet grazed his shoulder, eliciting a sharp grunt. Gritting his teeth, he retaliated with his own pepperbox, hitting the fat man squarely in the chest. The mercenary crumpled to the ground, choking on his own blood. Conrad followed up, shooting the slim man in the hip. The wiry mercenary screamed in agony, collapsing beside his fallen companion.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

Amid the chaos, Jenny seized the moment. Her sceptre wand crackled with energy as she prepared another spell. Summoning a vortex of wind, she unleashed a devastating blast that sent both Inquisitors flying. Hugo and Conrad slammed into the cobblestones, momentarily stunned, their pepperboxes clattering on the ground. Without hesitation, Jenny drew her dussack and charged forward.

Hugo rolled off to the side and got to his knees, blocking a downward cut with his sabre. Jenny didn’t let up. With a precise blow, she disarmed him, sending his sword clattering to the ground. But before she could press her advantage, Conrad unleashed a radiant beam from a divine amulet. The blast slammed into Jenny’s side, throwing her backward. She bounced painfully across the cobblestones several times before coming to a stop.

Groaning, Jenny wiped blood from her nose and lips. Her gaze shifted to Aldric, who was attempting to use the Sanguine Prism again. Conrad blocked the attack with his shield bracelet, then drew his backsword, eyeing both Jenny and Aldric contemplatively. Hugo retrieved his sabre and rose to his feet as well. Realizing he was outnumbered, Aldric slowly backed away before turning and fleeing into the shadows.

“You go after him,” Hugo said to Conrad. “I’ll deal with the witch.”

Conrad nodded and charged after Aldric, only to be stopped by another beam from the prism. Meanwhile, Jenny forced herself to stand despite the searing pain in her side. Blood trickled down her waist and arm, but she gripped her dussack tightly, glaring at Hugo.

Jenny twirled her Dussack and carefully stepped back. Part of her wanted to run, part of her wanted to fight. She needed to bring those high and mighty Inquisitors down a notch.

“Quite the interesting witch you are.” Hugo hummed. “You’d make for an intriguing captive. I’d love to know all your little secrets.”

He slowly circled Jenny, his sabre pointed outstretched at her. Jenny swiped in a cross-cut, but he simply voided and lunged, which Jenny parried with a hanging guard and counter cut, leading to a quick exchange of parries and ripostes. Neither side got the upper hand, and they both withdrew, sabers held at the ready.

“Excellent form,” Hugo noted with grudging respect.

Jenny turned her scepter wand into a scepter staff, intending to utilize it as a parrying staff. “I’m only getting warmed up,” She said with a thrust that turned out to be a feint for a snap cut to the wrist. Hugo quickly had to pull his arm away, but the false edge still managed to nick him. Blood seeped from his new wound.

Hugo hissed from the pain, “That was lucky.” Slightly shaken he threw a vertical cut which Jenny met with a cocky smile. A deadly blur of steel unfolded as the two went at each other with lethal intent.

“Lucky? Hardly,” Jenny shot back as a lull in the exchange occurred. “I’m just that good.”

“I’ve met plenty of overconfident people, Ms. Seris,” Hugo chuckled darkly with narrowed eyes. “They always fall the hardest.” He circled her again. “What is it that drives someone like you?” He mused. “I see a lot of conflicting emotions in your eyes, but it’s hate isn’t it? Hate consumes you.”

“It’s none of your business,” Jenny snapped, launching a thrust. Hugo anticipated the move, deflecting her blade offline and slicing her waist. She managed to pull away at the last second, clutching the fresh wound as warm blood coated her hand.

Hugo gave her an amused look. “Careful now. It looks like you’re getting off balance by a few words.” His grin turned sadistic. “So tell me, what motivates your burning hatred? Is it perhaps the loss of a loved one?”

The question struck a nerve. Memories of her mother’s execution flooded Jenny’s mind, momentarily breaking her focus. Hugo lunged, exploiting her distraction, and put another small cut in her upper arm. She hissed in pain, stumbling back.

Jenny felt something magical in his voice—it was as though he could manipulate people by speaking to them, exploiting their emotions. She couldn’t let the Inquisitor shake her; if she did, she would lose this fight.

She had never tried this before, but desperation drove her to act. Closing her eyes, she called upon the darkness around her. There was something purifying about the shadows—a stillness, a peace, a calm like no other. They soothed her troubled mind, encasing it in a cold, protective blanket. She was no longer the little girl who had watched her mother burn at the stake. She was a powerful witch now, driven by vengeance.

Opening her eyes, Jenny refocused on Hugo with renewed determination. Steeling herself, she launched into a relentless assault, each strike fueled by years of pent-up rage and grief. Feints, unrelenting swings, varied pacing, and endless forward momentum defined her attack. The blades rang out as steel met steel, sparks flying in the dim light.

Jenny danced forward, slipping behind Hugo. He barely had time to react before her sword struck him, slicing across his side despite his last-second block. Grimacing, he stumbled backward, but Jenny did not relent. Her attacks grew more powerful, forcing him onto the defensive. Soon, he tripped over his own footing, falling hard onto the cobblestones.

Before he could recover, Jenny loomed over him, her blade poised to strike. Hugo scrambled backward, fear flashing in his eyes. With a swift motion, she stabbed into his thigh, drawing a howling scream from him.

“How does it feel to be helpless and alone?” she hissed, pulling her Dussack free.

Before she could press her advantage, a radiant beam struck her from behind. The force sent her flying through the air, slamming her against a nearby building. Pain exploded through her body as she crumpled to the ground, briefly losing consciousness.

Conrad had rushed back as soon as he heard the scream. He had used his remaining divine power to unleash a second radiant blast from his amulet.

His expression was grim as he observed the bleeding Inquisitor on the ground. Rushing toward his dropped pepperbox, he aimed to finish off the witch with a fatal shot.

Groaning, Jenny regained consciousness, her vision swimming. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Conrad levelling the pepperbox at her. Panic surged through her veins. Summoning every ounce of strength, she scrambled to her feet and dodged to the side as a shot tore through the night. More shots followed, narrowly missing her as she grabbed her saber and wand. Gasping for breath, she fled into the dark streets of Bramholt, her battered body protesting every step.

The pain returned in waves, and exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her. Stumbling half-conscious, she made her way toward the waiting carriage. She collapsed inside just as her vision faded, finally succumbing to unconsciousness.