Dancing In The Void

“What is this place?” Katherine called out into the forest.

It was the break of dawn and the sky was a purplish hue with smudges of black and blue above leafless trees that undulated back and forth, pushed by the low breeze.

“I thought you would recognize the forest in which you grew up in.” A quiet and whispery voice answered from uncomfortably close behind her. The being was hunched over, its gray narrow beard almost touching the ground, and his face wrapped up in a dirty bandage.

“Oh. It’s been a long time since you’ve shown up in my dreams. I take it, I am still asleep right now?”

“As always. Sleeping is the only time when we have ever met.” He began slowly walking through the trees.

“Why are you here?” She asked, following him down the forest path.

“When you were brought back from Lady Death’s embrace what was the condition she gave?”

Katherine stopped walking. “Answering a question with another question? Also I … do not remember.” She said with a smirk.

“Of course you do, she did not pull you out of the fire of the depths because she liked the old black color of your hair. She knew what you are capable of.”

“I don’t recall you being her lackey old man, why are you here in her name?”

“That is precisely it, I am not her underling. I am here because you are in grave danger, and I am here to warn you she will come for what she is due if you do not fulfill your mission.” The elder said with a grave chill in his voice.

“Cleanse the earth.” She whispered, lowering her head.

“Cleanse the earth…” He echoed. “That was your mission, that still is your mission. A task given by finality itself. Or have you forgotten?” The being turned around and walked closer to her, the sun fading into darkness behind him.

“How can I alone take on such a task? I am just one being, I am powerless.” She cried out in frustration. “I’ve done what I can. I gave my life for it.”

“When the shadows will come crawling and thirsting for the blood of the weeping world, you will stand before them.” He grabbed her chin and lifted her head, and she stared at him with hopeful tearing eyes.

“But they will stand there as well. The question is will they stand besides you, or will they oppose you?”

Katherine looked around, the wind began howling and the darkness whipped around her body. She looked back at the being, horrified.

“I am forbidden from directly affecting whatever happens in the physical realm, same as the Gray Lady, but I will give you some final advice. Teach them, all of them. Give them the weapons, and awaken the fire serpent.”

“How could I…. You’re asking me to kill her?” The darkness chipped away at her body, tearing her apart piece by piece. “No. No! That was my price, her safety above all else!”

“Her fate is sealed. If you do not help her walk that other path, then you will lose her forever. But… this is the way for her to live. Do what must be done. Remember, the angel is the key to salvation of all of them… or damnation of all of us.” The blackness engulfed Katherine and she screamed in terror, awaking back in her mansion. Under his bandages, the old man frowned sadly, and continued to himself: “And the choice is yours to make.“

“Old man.” A suave womanly voice called out from behind him. The skeletal man turned around and in front of him lay Death. Headless and wrapped in a silver dress stretching across the ground, blackened armor surrounding her chest and shoulders, with a gray cloak covering her neck. “Why are you speaking to my knight?”

The man turned around and sat in silence a few moments before answering.

“I am sorry, it simply is in my nature. And besides, I gave her the assistance you refused her. I imparted her with the truth you’ve omitted.”

“She belongs to me. Assisting her or not, I do not appreciate the breaking of rules. Without rules, there is disorder, and disorder brings the chaos our pact was made to lock away.” She walked closer to him and grabbed his head pulling it towards where hers should've been. “This is the second time I turn a blind eye when you interfere, and also the last, ancient fools like you and me are merely bystanders, it’s best we keep it that way.”

“You’ve interfered aplenty yourself, Lady Death. Let us not pretend that we’re both saints in this.” The old man called out, breaking away from her grip.

“You do not wish for this war… I suggest you cease your foolishness before you step too far over a line you cannot uncross...” The spectre’s voice echoed back like thunder as her form vanished into mist.

The old man remained alone, his ancient head hung low with disappointment. “I fear my dear Lady… you’ve long crossed that line yourself.”

“Katherine, KATHERINE, calm down, calm-wake up, you’re safe. You’re home” Constantine shouted, holding her tightly by the shoulders. Katherine opened her eyes and saw his silver-gray hair and worried face. She then looked around and saw Nikolai and Evan all worriedly looking back at her. The two of them were standing next to each other beside her bed. A bit farther off she saw Uriel standing in the doorframe, looking away from her direction.

“C-can I get some space please?” She sat up straight as the trio backed off, still bewildered and amazed that she was finally awake.“How long have I been out?”

“Four days.” Nikolai responded. “Frankly we thought you weren’t going to wake up, we were so worried.” She then put the backside of her right hand to Kath’s forehead. “No fever, thank god.”

“How are you feeling?” Constantine asked.

Katherine massaged the bandages on her neck and upper chest before answering: “I’m dealing with a very large problem regarding personal space at the moment, but aside from that I’m feeling… pretty damn well considering. I am starving however. Also…” She pulled the covers aside, pushed Evan away and dashed to the bathroom.

“Wow, she barely looks like she was in a coma for a few days. Spry as a deer...” Evan thought out loud. “I’ll cook something for all, alright guys?”

“You’re terrible at cooking Evan.” Constantine reminded him.

Breakfast was taken in the backyard outside, on a large picnic spot close to the mansion. On the large wooden table were five plates, each with two eggs, a round slice of crispy bacon with melted cheddar sprinkled on top. In the center was a plate full of crunchy toasted bread and beside that a large salad bowl with tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, some slices of red onions. Also there were five mugs of different beverages, three of coffee, one of water, and one with milk. Katherine was stuffing her mouth with food, gulping and swallowing everything down like a wolf. Nikolai and Constantine stared at her while drinking their coffee, both amazed and somewhat disgusted. Evan meanwhile stared at Uriel, who was eating very slowly, but by his count she had eaten even more than Katherine. She was fumbling with the knife and fork, still unable to use them properly. After a small while, Constantine turned away, gazing towards the still forest trees..

“Oohf.” Katherine finally broke the silence. ”That felt good.”

“You’re actually a pretty good cook, Evan.” Uriel continued.

“Hrheck cough hack!” Evan nearly choked on a piece of toast on that comment. “It was actually Nikolai that cooked.“ He wheezed out trying to breathe. Uriel then turned to Nikolai with a look of surprise.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I should have figured. I do wish you would have made some of that eclair that you had last time…”

“It’s alright Uriel relax.” Nikolai smiled and took a bite of toast dipped in egg yolk. “Next time I’ll get some eclairs for you, unfortunately we couldn’t go downtown to buy any…”

Constantine was silent to all the talk that was taking place. He just peacefully looked away towards the sky and the forest and found it unusually soothing. Katherine stopped eating and stared at him from across the table, a speck of grief shining in her eyes.

"Constantine." She called him and he turned to her. Everyone stopped talking and turned around as well. "...Guys, there is something I have to ask you, all of you." She cleared her throat and continued. “Since you’ve all… you all have seen the wendigo and the demons, I need to confirm something. Uriel here… they will come for her again. That much is certainty. This house and land will protect us for a while, but they will find another way in time. I need to know if you are willing to join me in protecting her. My task has forever been to protect the people from the evil of the depths, the creatures that lurk in the shadows that you all now know are real. That has been my family’s mission for centuries. But now... I fear I won’t be able to do it alone.”

“What are you saying?” Constantine began asking before Evan cut him off.

“So you basically want us to go monster-hunting with you?” He shouted, his voice somewhere between excitement and fear.

“When you put it like that no… but in a way, yes. Will you allow me to teach and train you all?”

“Basically throwing away our future so we can live as outlaws and fugitives?”

“No, I am asking for your help. The demons know of you three and that you stood in their ways. They won’t just let you go. Just give me your permission to train you, I can not fight against them alone and you cannot protect yourselves without me.”

“No. Excuse me but that sounds a little, just a little, too stupid to me. ” Evan said, standing his ground in defiance. “Maybe you’re crazy enough to take on giant deer monsters and demons, but we’re just regular idiots, and despite being idiots I think we’re smart enough to tell when we’re outmatched.

Katherine did not betray an emotion but her eyes brimmed with anger. She got up from her seat and moved near him, bending down to talk to him, their faces inches apart and their eyes locked. Evan looked back at her, his face showing confidence, but his eyes held cowardice.

“Stupid? If I was not there when the wendigos chased after us your friend Uriel would have her guts painted across the sidewalk. You want to talk about future Evan? How about the fact that I had to learn and train and fight against demons when I was still a child.” Her eyes dashed to Nikolai for a brief moment. “I never had a choice regarding my future, I was doomed from the moment I was born. You are a coward. Afraid, terrified at what you saw, but you do not know the true fear of being alone in the dark. There are worse things than wendigos out there and I assure you, one day they will come for you too.”

Evan got up, infuriated, his head reaching high above Katherine’s. Nikolai and Uriel both spectated while drinking their coffees, while Constantine got up as soon as his friend did and pulled him back, but Evan pushed him away with his elbow.

“Must be really difficult to swing a stick around and pretend that you did something.” Evan smiled arrogantly at her.

“Did I hurt your ego, little man? I don’t even need a stick to beat you. But for you, I got some training sticks and I’m itching for a warmup, no better way to ease out my aching muscles. Right here in the field, the first one whose back touches the ground loses.” Katherine’s lips curled up mischievously. “Are you up for it, or are you gonna run from this too?”

“Evan don't do it.” Constantine pleaded. “She will fucking pulverize you.”

“Done. Don’t think I’ll hold back just cause you were in a coma yesterday.” Evan said, ignoring his friend. “If you win I’ll play your foolish game and even let you teach me.”

“Now he’s done it…” Constantine sighed.

It didn’t take long for Katherine to return with two long training weapons, one of which she tossed at her opponent. Their arena was a patch of dry grass a stone-throw away from the picnic table.

“Cocky bastard.” Nikolai chuckled next to Uriel who was worried, but still looking forward to the fight.

“Should we be worried?” Uriel asked.

“Evan’s dad trained us both in martial arts, and Evan especially used to be pretty good at them. So… it may not be a complete stomp, but this is still a stupid waste of time.” Constantine said mildly irritated, his arms crossed as he sat on a wooden chair he dragged for himself.

“Hey Uriel, betcha five gals Evan gets his ass handed to him.” She reached out her hand for a confirmation handshake.

“What is a gal?” Uriel just smiled at her, clearly confused.

Nikolai looked back at her, also confused before pulling her hand back in shame and defeat. “Gal is… money. Which I guess you wouldn’t have any… anyway.”

“I do not. Sorry Nikolai.” Uriel beamed.

“D-don’t worry ‘bout it.”

Katherine was standing about five meters in front of Evan, both of them holding about a meter long wooden training stick. She was holding it tightly straight up in front of her with both arms while he twirled it around getting used to the feeling. Katherine was wearing a new pair of tight flexible shorts with a simple blue t-shirt, while Evan wore the same clothes that he had a few minutes before. A pair of long training pants with a short-sleeved green sweater he’d found in one of Katherine’s older rooms.

“Give the start Niko.” Evan called out.

“Five, three, one, go!”

Evan smirked and dashed forward, striking on Katherine’s left side. She deflected the blow with a tilt of her stick and kicked it up with her right foot. She slammed the end of it into Evan’s chin, knocking him back. He then quickly regained his balance and swung the stick from the right and from the left again, both times blocked by Kath’s lightning reflexes. Gritting his teeth and wiping his brow, he backed off and charged again. Nikolai cheered and taunted, enjoying the spectacle as did Uriel. Constantine turned to her, his face full of concern and asked:

“Nikolai… You almost died a few days ago, but you never even mentioned it. Now you’re acting like nothing’s happened. Please, tell me if something is wrong.”

“You just have to ruin people’s moods, no?” Nikolai frowned and looked at him annoyed. Uriel kept spectating Katherine defend against Evan’s attacks, despite her sharp ears hearing their conversation.

“I’m just… stressed.” He lowered his head.

“We should talk about this later. I wanna see Evan getting wrecked by Kath, if you please.” Nikolai said, turning back to the fight, Constantine gazed to his right and sighed. All the while, Uriel looked at the two lovers for a moment, and felt the sadness of guilt crawling under her skin.

Evan was running on fumes when he decided to try a low swing towards Kath’s legs. He sent a flurry of attacks towards his opponent but not one landed. He felt as if every swing he made came back to hit him instead. Katherine’s face was a statue with burning eyes that seemed to taunt him at every hit. She jumped over his stick and finally attacked for the first time when she landed. With him debilitated, she stabbed forward into his chest, near his right shoulder, narrowly dodging his attempt to counterattack. Evan backed off and was smacked straight across the face. He fell on his knees but still made one desperate strike with his left hand. Katherine smacked his weapon away and brought hers down on his hand, specifically the nail on his index finger, crushing it and drawing blood.

“AH! God, fuck aaaah…!” He shouted and cursed. Katherine looked at him and bit her cheek before flicking her stick to the side and tearing off his fingernail, sending it flying into the grass.“What the FUCK was that for? I yield, Jesus.” Evan turned on his back and pinched his finger to keep the blood from flowing.

“I crushed your nail. If I left it there it would have hurt a whole lot more, this way it will grow back straight. Besides it was only a fingernail, next time could be worse.”

“Bfhitch…” Evan muttered with his bleeding finger in his mouth.

“Hey Evan, can I be honest?” Katherine said smiling and offering her hand to pull him up, to which Evan gave her a mean look but accepted the help and smiled back. “You weren’t anywhere near half as bad as I expected, but I did just come out of a four-day coma...” She said smugly.

“Yes, yes, you win, you win.” said Evan as Katherine grabbed the two sticks and ran inside. He turned shamefully to his friends, who held a myriad of expressions ranging from disappointment, to worry, to sheer elation at his defeat. “...Bitch.” He added, trying to make himself feel better.