I was too late. As soon as I arrived at Jeffery's Mansion, all I saw was destruction. The whole mansion was in ruins. At the main gate I saw corpses of four guards. I dismounted Schneider and ran inside. I unsheathed my sword but there was no one. Only blood and dead bodies. I searched the whole mansion but there was no sign of either Jeffery or Cassandra. Anthony took her.
I punched the pillar in frustration. I had to stop Anthony but I just did not know how. Than suddenly I sensed some movement. I looked around but there was nothing. Than I heard somebody chuckling. It seemed as if it was coming from behind me. I turned and saw that one of the dead guards was moving. It sat up and raised it's face. The eyes were pitch black.
"I was waiting for you hunter." The body spoke.
I recognised the voice. It was Anthony.
"I knew you would come. As you can see, I have already visited Carsville and Cassandra is currently in my possession. Now lets talk business. Bring the me book, at the ruins of Hellgard on Mount Cursias. You have four days. Come alone and no cheating this time. If you did not, than you cannot imagine what I will to do that filthy priestess and all the people of Bollville. And I won't stop there. This world will flow in the river of blood before I get my hands on that book. And if I find you hunter, I will do something even worst than death to you. You will beg for it, but I won't give it to you. Four days."
The body stopped speaking and fell down. I took out the blue orb and thought of Jade's house. A second later I was in his living room. Jade got surprised to see me and fell from the chair.
"Damn it. You startled me." Jade said as he got to his feet. "What happened?"
"I was too late. Anthony captured Cassandra and Jeffery." I answered.
"Oh no." Jade said.
"He has given me four days to bring the book at Mount Cursias." I said. "Otherwise he will kill them and all the residents of Bollville. And he said he won't stop there until he gets the book."
"Well even if we hand over the book to him, he is going to kill them all anyway." Jade said. "I repressed the books dark aura and went through it. The spell of immortality must be performed on a night of Jargus. The night when the moon is full and the dark powers are at their peak. The spell requires a sacrifice of a hundred human souls. If Anthony fails to perform it now, than he would have to wait for another forty seven years for the next night of Jargus. We cannot give him the book."
"We must find a way to stop him." I said.
"Yeah but how?"Jade asked. "As long as he has that locket, we cannot stop. And as the night of Jargus comes close, his powers will increase even more."
"Maybe Hugh Dexter can help us." I answered.
"Kid, the guy has been dead for over forty years." Jade said.
"Yeah but like all hunters, he must have a successor. Maybe he can tell us how to destroy the locket and stop Anthony." I said.
"I don't think this is a good idea." Jade said. "It is like shooting an arrow in the dark. We don't know if he has a successor."
"Right now, this is our only option." I said. "As far as master told me about Hugh, he was a resident of Kile City."
"It is a one day ride from here." Jade said.
"Not if we take the route through the land of Zaprins. If we ride at dawn we will be there by evening." I said.
"Than again, they say nobody returns from the Land of Zaprins alive." Jade said.
"Don't worry, I have been there before. I know someone who can help us." I said.
"Very well. Than I shall accompany you. But for now lets eat something and have some rest. Tomorrow is another long day." Jade said.
Before the sun rose, we left Jade's house. We found a stable so that Jade could get a new horse and rode for the Land of Zaprins. Zaprins are blood sucking dwarfs. There land is actually a forest covered in a thick magical mist. The whole landscape keeps on changing constantly. If a persons mistakenly wanders off in there, he just might never find his way out. Than again the Zaprins will pin him down, and will stick their fangs in his tender flesh and suck him dry. A few months ago, I visited the Land of Zaprins while I was chasing a Gobber. I spent three days in that place figuring my out but could not.
During that time I met a Zaprin. His name was Jock. Jock promised to help me, If I helped him. Jock had a little frenzy with a couple of other Zaprins and they kidnapped his daughter. I promised to save his daughter and I kept it. In exchange Jock showed me the way out. However since the landscape changes all the time, I think I might need Jock's help again.
We rode constantly for hours and by noon, we were at the land of Zaprins. We both dismounted our horses, held their stallions and continued on foot. Meanwhile Schneider turned into it's original Piron form and disappeared. As a token of thanks, Jock gave me a long metal nail back than. He said that if I ever had to visit the Land of Zaprins again and needed his help, all I had to was to drip some of my blood on the nail and he will find me. So I placed the nail on the ground, took out my knife and cut my finger, dipping my blood on the nail. Than Jade and I waited.
After ten minutes, we sensed some movement. The leaves were rattling. I put my hand on my crossbow, just in case if other Zaprins spotted us. But they did not. It was Jock. He immerged from the trees and landed in front of me.
"Case Sanders. So good to see you." Jock said.
Jock was short, had long hair and a slender face. His eyes were red and skin pale as snow. He was wearing a dirty shirt with ripped pants. His knees were exposed and he was bare feet. Zaprins are excellent climbers, their long nails and bare feet provide them incredible grip.
"It has indeed, Jock." I said.
I introduced Jade to Jock. Jade was uncomfortable at the beginning but when I told him it was okay, he trusted my word and relaxed.
"So what can I do for you old friend?" Jock asked.
"I need to get to the Kile City. I would have taken the usual route but I am in a hurry. Need to get their quick. Could you show us a way out?" I asked.
"I can for sure but that path is the territory of other Zaprins. And they do not behave well with others. Since you are human they just might attack you. You have to fight your way through them." Jock said.
"We have no choice. Lead the way Jock." I said.
Jock nodded and gestured at us to follow him. Jade and I tried our best to keep up with his pace. Jock was moving really fast. But he made sure that we were not lost. After a few minutes we arrived at a tunnel. Outside the tunnel, I saw five Zaprins lying on the ground snoring. When Jock climbed down, they woke up. Jock went forward. One of the Zaprins stood up. He had a much bigger size compared to Jock. He was advancing at us. I could see the bloodlust in his eyes byt Jock stopped him in his tracks. Jock started talking to him. I could not understand a single word they uttered. Zaprins had their own native language but it seemed ugly.
The other Zaprin was speaking too loudly. Suddenly he pushed Jock. Jock lost his balance and fell. The Zaprin came at us. Jade was going to cast spell but I told him not to.
The Zaprin came at me with full speed. For a normal human vision, it would be impossible to detect his moments but I could see them vividly. Before the Zaprin could land a blow, I immediately took out my crossbow and shot at him. The arrow pierced his head and the big Zaprin fell down. The poison did its work and the Zaprin died. Fear struck the hearts of other Zaprins. I just took out one of them in a matter of seconds. They just stood at their places, staring at me not moving an inch. Jock stood up and shouted something at them. Jock than looked at me, I understood what he meant and revealed my sword. The Zaprins saw my sword and they fled.
We than moved on.
"Follow this tunnel." Jock said at the tunnel's entrance. "As soon us you come out from the other way, head North. You will arrive at Kile City by the evening." Jock said.
Jade and I thanked Jock and he left. Meanwhile we both followed the tunnel. We walked for a while until we saw light ahead. Finally we came out. We immediately mounted our horse and rode for Kile City.