Creatures of the Dark

If I didn't have these Thieves' Tools. I'd be stuck most of the time just looking for keys. I lost track of how long I've been in this maze. The moment I opened that door, the maze had a completely new design. From when I first entered, the maze floors and walls were stone bricks and mossy. After entering the door, the sky became different. Like I could see the stars and heavens. Instead of having walls, there were spikes. The way the spikes were arranged didn't make this area look like a maze anymore. The spikes were black and just like the maze walls, it reached the skies. The ground was hard and rocky.

Just great, where am I supposed to go now?

I started walking, and after a few steps I turned around to see if anything was changed since I'm getting suspicious with how the place is. The door I entered from was gone. In a distance, I could see a dark castle on a hilltop. The hill didn't have spikes. Well, at least I have a destination to check now. I stayed calm and kept walking towards the direction of the castle.

"Athelstan.."

I turn around to see where the faint voice came from. I didn't see anyone from my vision, and no one seemed to be around me.

"Who's there?" I ask out

No response

I continue on my way towards the castle then I started hearing someone running behind me. I turned around, and saw that no one is there.

"Strange.." I mutter

I turn around back going towards the castle and a face popped in front of me. It had black round eyes, and no mouth. I stumble to the ground and my eyes closed for a second. I opened my eyes after rubbing it, and what I saw wasn't there anymore.

I take out my dagger ready to fight. I closed my eyes and sat on the floor meditating. This technique was mostly used by rogues and alike to heighten their senses. I concentrated on myself and focused on heightening my senses. All I heard was silence and a faint scream. The scream startled me and I open my eyes standing up immediately, dagger ready. The scream was gone and no one was nearby. I started feeling a cold wind coming from the direction of the castle. It wasn't very cold to get me freezing, but it made me chill a bit.

"Athelstan.."

The faint voice is there again, I look around to see if anyone is there. Again, no one is there.

"Where are you?!" I shout out

No response again

Whoever is doing this thinks they can make a fool out of me. I begin to ignore these things and continue my way to the castle.

I looked up to the castle and it stayed the same, but I noticed something. I didn't put my attention to it, but from the corner of my eye something was standing on the tip of the spikes. I received a chilly blow on my nape. I immediately do a slashing twirl with my dagger, but I just slashed out wind. No one was there. I think I'm getting paranoid and delusional. I made a run for it running towards the castle. No interruptions, I made it to the hill after running without bothering to stop. I turn around and saw so many glowing white eyes in the shadows of the spikes. Those must be the things toying with me.

I fall down to the ground sitting and tired. I was out of breath from all the running. After a few minutes of resting, I was able to control my breathing. The glowing eyes were still onto me.

"Show yourselves!" I shout out

Slowly, the they stood up from the shadows having humanoid figures. Some of them have distinct features. There are those with a huge right arm, wonder what happened to those guys. Some had bat wings, some had claws, had tails, and many more.

"Athelstan... Athelstan... Athelstan.." they all faintly say

I get up and made a run for it to the castle. My boots of speed still not ready to activate. So I had to rely on my own agility. They started flying, and I know I couldn't outrun flying pursuers, but I had to try. The castle door was not far and if I go fast enough I should be able to make it there. I started running with my remaining energy, and for a moment. The boots of speed activated, using up the remaining power it had. I had never felt this speed with the boots before. I was so fast, it felt like the pursuers stopped midair.

I made it to the castle. To the flanking tower at least. I got inside and sealed the door. There were two hallways and a circular staircase going to the top of the tower. I placed my ear to the side of the door and from my meditation earlier, I was able to heightened my hearing sense. I could hear them zooming upwards. I knew immediately they were gonna enter from the top of the tower. I went to the right hallway and at the end of it is a door. That door must lead straight into the keep. Halfway through those winged humanoid creatures landed down, and I could hear them rushing at me. They were on foot but they were somehow faster than me. With the head start, I made it to the end of the hallway. Quickly opened the door and closed, I looked around to see if I can use anything to seal the door. I found barrels, so I tried to carry them. They were very light weight, useless I can't use these to block the door. I left and head towards the corridor. Before I could make it to the corridor, it sounded like they were ripping out the door. A humanoid figure with two tails and sharp claws appeared from the door. I saw a glimpse of behind it, and the other figures were down on the ground with their limbs all around that hallway.

"ATHELSTAN!" the humanoid figure shouts out

The moment I saw him, I got my dagger ready knowing he's most likely to attack. I predicted different patterns on how it would attack me. Would it maneuver to the right, or left. Lunge straight up at me? I gave it thoughts immediately, and before I knew it. My body moved on its own blocking the attack. The humanoid figure maneuvered to the right going around the room, and up to the ceiling making a drop attack. Using it's tail, it changed its trajectory. He fell and landed beside me making an attack with its claw. My eyes were wide open as I watched him do all that, and somehow blocked the attack.

"ATHELSTANN!!!" he shouts out angrily

My body moved on it's own again. With all my strength, I kicked it's face making him fly over to the side. I never knew I had such strength. The humanoid figure regains balance while midair and lands on it's feet and hands like a wolf ready to jump on you. The wall broke down on the right side, and a humanoid figure with a huge arm seemed to have destroyed that part. Other humanoid figures came in trying to attack me. One had long arms and threw a punch at me at high speed. I reacted fast enough to block it, but I didn't actually think my body would keep up with the speed. I blocked the punch with one hand and it was a weak punch. Weak as paper, so I tried to grab him with my other hand, and shove him down with dagger to its throat. He was way too light weight for someone with long limbs. The other figures kept distance and watched as I pushed the dagger down to it's throat. Black liquid came out and it smelled awful. The other figures just watched. I pulled out the dagger and it was covered in black liquid, I have a hunch that it's their blood. I point it at them.

"Who wants to be next?!" I ask out

They stayed still and was cautious of me. Keeping their distance, but soon after slowly closing in on me. I was moving back a bit while pointing my dagger at them. Occasionally feinting in swinging my dagger and going back, they react to it by keeping distance again. I start to hear noise from behind me and it sounded like banging sounds. I turned around and saw a corridor. At the end of the corridor is a door, but mid way there's a right turn. I immediately sprint for it and they chased after me. I passed by the right turn and saw more were coming from there, but slowed because of how much they were slamming each other to the wall while trying to get through each other. I jump turn and threw my dagger with great accuracy, hitting one of them. That one falls to floor, making the other figures trip to the ground greatly slowing them all. I made it to the door and entered the room.

I first thought that this would be the throne room, but I was wrong. In fact this room didn't look anything that would be part of a castle. There was a table in the middle with chalkboards having writings on it. Papers were on the table, I took one and couldn't understand what writing it was in. I just remembered that the humanoid figures were on the other side of the door, so I got my last dagger ready for my final stand. The door opens and a familiar man appears holding a long sword resting on it's shoulder.

"Who are you?" I ask pointing my dagger at him

"You don't know me?" he replies

"Am I supposed to?"

"I'm pretty popular from around here" he answers me

"Just tell me who you are!" I demand

"Fine fine, Therion Valkenheim. You are my son" he answers

"Therion Valkenheim died centuries ago! I can't be his son!" I reply back

"It's hard to explain, but are you willing to listen?" he asks

"How do I know you're not lying?!"

"Put the dagger down, and lets talk"

I didn't listen to what this man said. I was close enough to catch him off guard. I started doing predictions again on how he would react, but at this close he shouldn't be able to. I lung my dagger right at his face. With his other hand he stopped the attack by grabbing my hand before the dagger reached him.

"How?!" I say in shock as he was able to block my attack at such speed and close range

He kicks me to the side the same way I kicked the humanoid figure earlier. I fall to the ground hitting the chalkboards and they fall on me. I kick them away and stand on my feet.

"Want some more?" he asks

"Fine then, I'll listen to what you have to say" I say