The first couple of blows Wraith felt ok. But the last one had really knocked him for six. He had never seen anyone move so fast with their fists. He didn't even have a chance to aim his gun, let alone fire it.
"You got a hard head for sure. Let's see if I can crack it open." Colin said as he threw a massive haymaker at Wraith's temple. It connected hard.
Wraith knew he was finished as his legs bulked and the forest spun away from his vision.
Hex had always regarded himself as a vagabond. As a hell hound there were few places he could call home. His breed was cursed to wander the earth forever.
But in Wraith he had found a friend. He had found a second chance at something. What that something was, he could not say, but he felt it on rainy nights when he was curled up nice and warm like it could be something called home.
He watched as if in slow motion as Wraith fell head first onto the forest floor. The big man that had hit him picked up Wraith's gun and tucked it into his jeans and began walking away.
Hex was torn between two choices, save Wraith or kill the big man. But before he could do anything, the second to choose was taken away from him.
The tree branches began to dance to a single beat. Hex knew then that Wraith's mother was there. She was the most powerful thing on the planet. He didn't think it'd be good to be near her when she was angry. He quickly went to Wraith and began dragging him by his coat's collar away from the big man.
"What kind of dog are you?" Colin asked as he saw Hex dragging Wraith away.
"A loyal one." Hex grunted. Behind the big man all the trees were now twisting slowly towards him.
Colin gave out a half-crazed laugh. "A talking dog well if I ain't...", but something sharp struck the back of his leg. He turned and saw the forest posited to do its own hay maker.
Hex could still hear the big man screaming as he finally got Wraith back to the car. He sniffed inside his pocket and pulled out the car key fob and gently pressed the button to unlock the car.
Wraith was a gadget freak; he loved all the latest gizmos including the hands-free phone. Hex raced through the numbers till he got to the one person that would get there as fast as they could.
Iva Dunraven mopped Wraith's bruised head with a wet tissue. She was a twenty something occultist with red hair, it made for a dangerous mix.
She looked angrily at Wraith. "You're a damn fool. What the hell where you thinking?"
Wraith was sat with his feet out in the driver's seat of his car; he looked up and saw Hex coming back from where the big man screamed. "Is he still there?" Wraith called out.
"Oh, he's still there alright." Hex replied. "But he's in about a million pieces along with your gun. Even the money is torn to bits." Hex looked back into the forest. "I sure wouldn't like to get on the wrong side of your mother."
"Ah but she is so sweet at sunset, so fresh at the dawn." Wraith said proudly. "I'm not ashamed to say that I love her."
Iva gave a snort and said. "St Judes is 3 miles away, get an X-ray for that big head of yours. You might be immortal Wraith, but your bones can still break. Your mother can't save you all the time."
Wraith quickly grabbed her by her wrist. "Have dinner with me tonight Iva."
She turned and looked at his hand till he let go. "For the record Wraith," she said. "We will never be something, get over it. You're immortal remember," she then walked back to her scooter.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "Ok then but at least can I say thank you for helping me?"
"Don't thank me." She said as she revved up her scooter. "Thank your partner in crime. Now get that damn head X-rayed." Then with a spin of the wheels she was off into the early morning light.
Hex sat down at Wraith's feet and looked up. "What's next boss?"
Wraith stood up and stretched his back. "Well you can stop calling me boss. I think it's a safe bet you're my partner in crime now." He rubbed the back of his neck again. "Come on, let's get this X-ray sorted out."
"Ok Boss." Hex said and jumped into the car.
Wraith got in and started the mustang up. "Seriously Hex stop calling me that."
Hex curled up on the passenger seat, he felt warm and that feeling of home came back to him. "Sure thing boss."
As Wraith drove away, he could see the forest in his rearview mirror, he felt a pang of longing. For centuries him and his mother had been joined in a silent bond of love and protection. A mystical deal that would never be broken. Yet he longed to hear her speak, to feel something human of her.
Maybe one day he would see her face. But for now, he was grateful she showed a little that she cared.