Fictional Reality.

Blaze POV.

A week later, and after a combination of nagging, begging and threatening, I had reluctantly been allowed out of bed and into the rest of the house. Escorted by the ever present scowl that was Synyster, usually with Zacky not too far behind either. But it was better than perpetual bed rest, even if was only allowed to walk down the hall to the living room. I was stretched out on the sofa watching Game of Thrones, as Gates lounged in an armchair nearby, answering my occasional questions as I tried to pick apart the plot. I had slowly but surely been able to tolerate him being further and further away without feeling like I was about to blackout. We’d managed to get up to a 30M distance this morning, but that had felt a bit touch and go. Zacky had also pitched a fit when he found me in the living room alone while Gates had showered back in his room, so I’d surrendered to an afternoon of watching TV under escort, while Danger had dragged Zacky off to help her sort something in the garden to save us both from his lectures. The rest of the guys were floating in and out as they did their own thing. Johnny came in the front door, as I was complaining to the air about the amount of unnecessary nudity in this show. Johnny laughed and plopped down on the sofa next to me, making me snatch my legs out of the way so they didn’t get crushed.
“Don’t say that in Danger’s hearing, or you’ll get a lecture on how it’s actually being accurate to the books.” He chuckled, letting me stretch my aching legs across his lap.
“I’ve already made that mistake.” I grumbled, remembering back to yesterday. Johnny laughed even more, shaking his head. We settled into a comfortable silence as we watched the show.
~*~
Two bowls of nachos and a couple of hours later, the three of us were still piled in front of the TV watching Thrones. A crash sounded from the driveway, interrupting Jon Snow’s brooding. I looked up, Johnny and Gates exchanging a look. Synyster shrugged.
“Jimmy probably dropped something as usual.” He mumbled, turning his attention back to the TV. A few moments later, another loud bang came from outside, followed by indistinct shouting. The guys frowned at each other, clearly confused. Seconds later, Shadows came hurtling down the stairs, charging through the front door onto the driveway without a word.
“Jimmy’s fucked.” Chuckled Johnny, but Synyster frowned more, staring at the windows. I focused on him for a moment. Something was wrong. He looked worried. A roar from outside sent both men rushing to their feet, running for the window. My legs had happened to still be in Johnny’s lap so I was sent sprawling onto the floor, trying to untangle myself from the blanket and get to my feet.
“Fuck! Is that ….” Johnny trailed off, seemingly stunned into silence. Synyster let loose a string of curses that put Danger’s language to shame.
“Use the Pack bonds, call Danger.” He ordered, making for the front door. Johnny grabbed his arm, stopping him and earning himself a ferocious growl in the process.
“Wait, you stay here. I’ll go.” He glanced over to where I was still getting to my feet. Synyster followed his look, sighed and nodded. Without another word, Johnny dashed out of the front door as another wave of noise came from outside. Shouts that sounded vaguely like Shadows and Jimmy, combined with a truly terrifying roar. As I was slowly making my way across the room, trying to figure out what the hell was going on, Zacky and Danger came charging through from the back of the house. Zacky slowed enough to look between me and Synyster, before fixing Synyster with a firm stare.
“Stay here. Keep her safe.” He barely waited for Synyster’s confirmation nod, before he had dashed through the door after Danger. Frowning, I made it the last few feet so I could look out of the huge bay window that faced onto the drive. Gates made to protest, but I froze on the spot, mouth falling open at the sight that faced me on the driveway. One of the SUV’s had been flipped on its roof, the guys and Danger milling around it shouting at each other, but facing them…facing them was the most terrifying thing I had ever seen, It was huge and black. It looked vaguely like a scorpion, but was three times the size of the SUV that it had clearly just flipped over. A huge, armoured tail arched over its carapace, its head sat between two massive, powerful claws and was a horrific combination of what seemed to be scorpion, lion and human features. Letting out another colossal, angry roar, it scuttled forward on huge, long, hair legs, swiping at the car, making everyone scatter in different directions. Without pause, Jimmy and Shadows launched themselves at the beast from once side, while Danger, Zacky and Johnny attacked from the other.
“That’s … that’s a Manticore right?” I questioned Gates, the name of the beast surfacing from my stunned brain as I remembered a page from one of Danger’s books. Synsyter grunted confirmation, his attention never wavering from the driveway, as Jimmy dodged a vicious swipe from a claw to pull a gun out from the wreckage of the car. He threw it to Shadows who immediately opened fire on the Manticore, seemingly to little effect. Jimmy spun and grabbed another gun, diving to the side as a huge leg speared through the air where he had been seconds later. He also opened fire, trying to drop back to a safe distance. Something that seemed to be impossible with how big the damn Manticore was.
“But, aren’t Manticore’s supposed to be small? I read that they’re usually no bigger than a Beagle.” Synyster took his eyes off the fight to stare at me in what seemed to be amusement.
“They’re not supposed to be that size, that’s for sure.” He agreed, jerking his head towards the monstrosity outside. His scowl returned. “Someone’s been meddling.” Before I could ask him to expand on his cryptic statement, a savage roar dragged my attention back to the fight. A huge leopard had appeared and was trying to swarm up onto the Manticore’s back. It took me a moment to realise that the leopard was Johnny, in his shifter form. While Jimmy and Shadows tried to keep the monster distracted and Johnny did … whatever he was trying to accomplish, Zacky and Danger attacked as a unit. Zacky, wielding a smaller gun than Shadows and Jimmy, would give Danger cover while she threw handfuls of what looked like magic at the Manticore, before darting off to avoid a retaliating swipe from those wicked claws, reappearing off to one side or behind Zacky. Unfortunately, nothing seemed to be having much of an effect. The bullets didn’t seem to be slowing it down at all, if they were even getting through its hardened shell. And it was hard to tell, but Danger’s magic seemed to just be melting off it. Johnny was now climbing the huge tail, clearly making for the poisonous sting, clinging on for dear life. The tail thrashed and arched under Johnny, occasionally lancing down to strike at one of the guys on the ground. A particularly savage strike hit the ground between Jimmy’s feet, perilously close to hitting him. I screamed in shock, grabbing hold of Synyster’s arm. He jumped and looked down at me, realisation dawning on his face.
“Shit, I should get you away from here to somewhere safer.” My head turned so fast that I nearly cricked my neck. I glared up at him. You can’t be serious. His eyes narrowed at me. You wait and see just how serious I am. My eyes narrowed in response.
I am not going anywhere.
You are if I say you are.
I dare you to try. Another loud crash dragged his attention from out silent conversation to outside. The Manticore seemed to have got its leg stuck through a window of the SUV, but that wasn’t slowing it down either. Johnny was now dangling from the tail, his jaws locked behind the sting as the Manticore writhed its tail, desperately trying to dislodge Johnny. Danger was now dancing between those spear-like legs, somehow now wielding a Katana wreathed in Shadows, aiming for the less protected underbelly. At a distance Zacky, Jimmy and Shadows were aiming for the head. Its claws lashed out towards the guys, making them scatter and Danger abandon her attack to dodge out of the way of the claws and tail that stabbed and snapped out at her, her covering fire, temporarily disbanded. With one last shake, the Manticore finally dislodged Johnny from its tail, sending him flying across the drive and into one of the garage doors. He crumpled into a heap and didn’t get up. Danger screamed his name, yelling at him to move, as the Manticore turned and advanced on him. Behind it, the three remaining guys turned their guns on the beast, trying to get its attention back. Johnny’s spotted body began to ripple and glow a soft gold as he shrank back into his human form. Shaking his head, he was trying to get to his feet when Danger sprinted in front of him, grabbing him by the collar with one hand and hauling him to his feet before bowling him with amazing strength towards the house and the rest of the guys. Turning, she let loose a growl that I could hear from in the house and strange shadow-sword in hand charged at the Manticore, aiming for its head. Jimmy stopped firing, ran forwards and grabbed Johnny, whose arm was hanging awkwardly, blood dripping from several cuts, shoving him towards the house. Johnny hesitated, clearly wanting to stay, but Jimmy shouted angrily at him, until he pushed his way through the front door. Outside the gunfire resumed as the boys tried to push the beast away from the house. Danger’s cursing could be heard above it all as she alternated savage cuts of her sword with blasts of shadowy magic at it. At the sound of Johnny’s pained gasps, I wrenched my attention away from the scene outside and made my way as fast as my tired, aching body would allow me. Curse this fucking change. Seconds later Synyster appeared next to me, holding a blanket. He began to wrap it around Johnny’s arm, trying to stem the bleeding. Johnny’s face paled in pain as he let out a yell. Carefully taking the blanket from Gates, I led Johnny to the nearest armchair. Fortunately it was placed so that we could also see out of the window to carnage that the Manticore was still wreaking. Looking up at Synyster, I caught his eye.
“Can you run and grab a first aid kit? We need to stop this bleeding.” He nodded, disappearing in a blur towards the nearest bathroom. Luckily Val kept first aid kits stashed all over the house due to the boys’ job. Within a moment, Synyster was back, dropping a first aid kit to the floor next to me and crouching down to open it. I glanced out of the window in time to see Shadows thrown backwards into it, hit by an errant leg. He sprang back to his feet and ran back towards the beast. Danger was still darting around its head, dodging claws and the tail and slicing away with her sword, now coated with a thick black goo that oozed and dripped off the blade.
“Blair, put pressure here.” Synyster’s short instruction dragged me back to the task at hand. Johnny, the armchair and the blanket were slowly getting drenched in blood from the three deep lacerations that crossed Johnny’s arm and chest. I took the gauze that Synsyter was holding out to me and pressing it firmly against two of the cuts. “Right, his shoulder is dislocated. I’m going to have to pop it back in. Keep pressure on tight and move with me. Short stuff, this is going to fucking hurt. Sorry bud.” Then without much warning, he lifted Johnny’s arm, raising and rotating it as he popped the joint back into place. I was so fast, I was barely able to keep the pressure on. Johnny roared with pain, but looked slightly less pale as Gates let his arm go. “Nice job there Blair. Let’s get this bandaged up.” If I hadn’t already been kneeling on the floor, I would have probably fallen over in shock. Did Synsyter Gates just complement me? He was pulling fresh gauze and bandages from the first aid box. Carefully we changed the gauze I was pressing to Johnny’s arm for fresh and he began to carefully bandage it into place. “It’s just cuts bud, you should start to heal up soon, the blood’s stopping now, but let’s be on the safe side.” Mumbled Gates as he wrapped another layer of bandage around the wounds. A huge roar from outside made all three of us jerk our heads up and stare outside. Danger was somehow precariously balanced on one of the huge claws, her sword wedged in a gap in the carapace. She was clinging on for dear life as it thrashed around trying to dislodge her. At a gap in the waving claws, she let go of the blade, nimbly leaping off the Manticore to the floor. Faster than any of us could blink, the second huge claw swung round out of nowhere, closing around her waist. Outside, Zacky yelled, trying to run forwards, but unable to get past the huge legs. The Manticore waved Danger back and forth in the air as she tried desperately to get free, shadows writhing out of her trapped hands as her magic tried to get a purchase. Then, with a violent and nimble swing round, the Manticore swung and threw her clear across the driveway and into the woods that bordered the property. I gasped, unable to see where she landed. Zacky screamed her name. Next to me both Johnny and Synyster looked stricken, like they couldn’t believe what they had just seen. Synyster had half risen to his feet. The gunfire outside increased as Jimmy and Shadows tried desperately to cover Zacky as he struggled to find a way past the Manticore to the woods where Danger had been thrown. Reaching over, I took the last of the bandage from Synsyter’s hands. He looked down at me, that stricken expression still on his face.
“Go, they need you. I can finish this off.” He took a few steps towards the door, then froze, looking back at me. “Go. Johnny will be healed up enough to protect me if it’s needed. Help them!” With a nod, he strode towards the door, yanking the lid of a chest that stood by the coat rack and pulling out two wicked looking, serrated swords. After another quick glance back at me and Johnny, he yanked the door open and ran outside. I quickly finished bandaging his arm and pressed fresh gauze to the cut across his chest that was already starting to heal over, before we both turned our attention to outside. Synyster had entered the fray in a terrifying display of ferocity and was slicing left and right at legs, trying to clear a path for Zacky to get past. It was impossible though, despite being huge and bulky, the Manticore was quick and nimble. It turned and scuttled and moved into the path of anyone that tried to flank it, it’s huge, thick legs blocking Zacky’s path time and time again. Synyster’s blades were covered in thick black goo, but even the wounds they caused did little to slow the Manticore down. Jimmy had managed to free more guns from the wreckage of the SUV and the barrage of bullets continued, for what little good it was doing. They were losing, steadily all four men were being pushed back towards the house by the huge beast. Behind me, Johnny staggered to his feet, gripping my shoulder in a firm hand. I looked back at him. His face was grim but determined. I knew he was ready to pull me back to the relative safety of the back of the house, away from the fight that was closing in on the bay window. But neither of us could take our eyes off the desperate fight outside. They were close enough that I could see the panicked look in Zacky’s eyes, the tears streaming down his face as he tried again and again to get past the monster. The side of his head was dripping blood from a gash above his eyebrow. Jimmy was covered in blood and glass, the cuts now healed around the glass embedded in his skin. Shadows was limping on his left leg, his face set in grim determination as he barked orders at Jimmy, trying to co-ordinate their attacks. Only Synyster seemed unhurt so far as he sliced around the legs, trying to bring it down. A giant claw swung towards all four of them, snapping violently. As one they all dived to the floor, trying to avoid the limb. A yell of pain made me gasp again as I saw the creature’s sting slice down one of Synsyter’s forearms, leaving blood and green ooze pouring from his arm. Johnny’s grip on my shoulder tightened and he started to pull me backwards, clearly readying to move. Then, out of nowhere, a writhing ball of shadows came tearing out the woods and launched itself into the Manticore. The Manticore roared in anger and surprise, backing away from the guys, allowing Jimmy to dart to Synyster’s side and pull him to his feet. His injured arm hung by his side, but his right hand tightened on his sword and he ran at the Manticore again. Jimmy swore, grabbing his gun and trying to take aim. A feat that was apparently proving hard as Zacky, Synsyter and the ball of shadows were all swarming around the monster’s head, evading claws, legs and tail strikes. Darting backwards from the fray, I realised that the shadows were actually Danger. Her usual glamour dropped, she looked positive savage, a wild snarl on her face and her hair whipping around her face in a riotous halo. In both hands she gripped two positively huge, double headed axes, both wreathed in the same untamed shadows as she was. The Manticore lunged forwards, knocking Synsyter down with a leg, Zacky was caught by a wayward claw and sent flying backwards into Shadows. Both of them hit the bay window with a crash. By some miracle they didn’t come through it. With a yell, Danger darted forwards as the Manticore’s tail struck the ground where she had been stood. Spinning, she embedded an axe firmly in the tail, severing most of the sting and rendering it useless. With a wrench, she pulled the blade free and launched and assault on the legs that were threatening to spear Synsyter where he lay unconscious. She severed two within seconds, landing deep blows on two more immediately afterwards. She whirled and spun, a blur of shadows, long hair and blades. Dark black ooze that must be the creature’s blood, spinning through the air from her blades. It was a terrifying and impressive sight as she drove the beast back further and further away from the guys and the house. It pulled back, claws held tight into its face, tail hanging uselessly over its back. Danger paused for a second and surveyed it, before laughing and holding her arms out, battle axes dangling from her hands as she apparently taunted the beast into coming forwards. It took the bait, lunging forward savagely with an ear-splitting roar of rage. Claws snapped forwards to where she was standing. Danger launched upwards, flipping in mid-air, she buried both axes into the joints behind the claws. As she landed on the Manticore’s unprotected back, she reached over her shoulder shadows coalescing around her hand as she drew a long sword from nowhere. Quicker than a blink she had buried the sword hilt deep into the Manticore’s neck. The beast swayed and staggered forwards, before its legs finally collapsed and it fell to the floor. Danger sprang nimbly from its back to the floor. Even from the window I could see the scowl on her face as she faced the dead monster.

“I fucking hate Manticores.”

Notes