Chapter Six: The Pit

By Richard LeBlanc

On the other side of the magical ethereal door - Calloway stopped and looked around. All along the floor he could see the decaying bodies of things. They appeared to be a cross between beasts and man. The walls were scorched and had claw marks in them - deep ones. But what unsettled him more than the carnage he was seeing - was the fact that there were numerous Tremere bodies sprawled out on the floor - untouched - yet lifeless.

"What have I walked my fool self into?" he asked himself as he walked over and check on the condition of one of the unmoving vampire's bodies.

"Whatever it is - I hope it hurts," an all too familiar voice remarked. Calloway groaned and shook his head.

"Now - is not - a good time," he muttered as he got up.

"When is? Maybe I could schedule a minute or two. I mean I have the rest of eternity thanks to you," Luther mocked. Calloway was going to argue with the ghost when he heard a distant scream.

It sounded - tormented - tortured and not remotely human.

"I know - that wasn't a good thing," Luther muttered. It was then that feral looking creatures scurried out from around the corner. "They look friendly enough - why don't you go pet them?" the ghost suggested. Calloway slowly drew his daggers - not taking his eyes off the beasts that looked ready to pounce.

It was then that one of them screamed out and charged. Calloway got ready to fight off the vicious looking monsters - yet they ran right passed him and started attacking the warded door.

"I'm confused," Luther remarked.

"You aren't the only," Calloway began as he looked at the ring on his hand. "So that is how it is," he began with a smirk.

"You lost me," Luther muttered.

"I wish," Calloway said as he walked down the hall the beasts came from.

"Why aren't those wretched things cutting you into ribbons?" Luther asked - seriously disappointed. Calloway quietly laughed as he shook his head.

"I have a few theories - but I am not about to share them with you. Now go away you fucking pest," he rebutted. He smiled as he put his weapons away.

If I am right - those things are drawn to anything magical. Ergo - with me having the ring on - they can't see me - or aren't interested in me. The assassin thought. He stopped and looked back at how savagely the beasts fought to break the doors down. It didn't matter that the fight and effort was killing them - all that mattered was their drive and compulsion. It was then - that he heard a low growl coming from straight-ahead.

"So much for that theory," he muttered. Slowly he took out his daggers and looked ahead. There - towering before him - blocking the way was a large bear-sized beast that had the distorted head of a man.

"Go beast go," the ghost mockingly cheered. Calloway looked over and saw the ghost waving a little flag that said die Calloway on it.

"Man thing - get by Croulins," the beast growled.

"Those claw beasts that are killing themselves back there? I guess I wasn't their type," Calloway rebutted. Th beast laughed.

"You vampire - die like others," the beast boasted as it attacked the assassin. After watching the first slow - but powerful attack - Luther moaned and dropped the flag.

"Just fucking great. It could just role over for him," he muttered in disgust as he leaned against the wall. He knew the fight would not be anything overly spectacular. He knew that if the beast moved that slowly - it didn't matter how powerful it was.

"Why so down?" Calloway asked. He dodged the monster's swing - rolled between its legs and landed two deep cuts to the monster's inner thighs. "I thought you wanted to see me and the monsters go at it," he continued. The beast tried to hit him - but the assassin was too fast and it was far too slow.

"I wanted to see it kick your ass," Luther corrected as he watched the assassin skillfully dance around the enraged beast.

After a few moments - the beast was a bloody mess and Calloway seemed as fresh as when he started.

"Kill - man-thing," the beast slurred. It tried to land another attack but awkwardly fell over. Calloway hopped over and stabbed his weapons into the beast's back.

"That is so like you - stabbing it the back. How brave the mighty viper is," Luther mocked. Calloway groaned as he glared at the ghost.

"Must you be such a pain?" he asked in disgust.

"No - I do it just for you - you murdering sack of shit," he sarcastically replied.

"I will find a way to be free of you - if it takes," he began but stopped. The atmosphere in the cave changed. He hesitantly looked around.

In the distance - he could hear chanting - the language sounded old - really old. He sensed that something was coming.

"You were saying smart boy?" Luther mocked. Calloway growled as he stormed over to where the ghost was and began shouting with the spirit. As the two argued - neither seemed to notice the twinkle that was shining in the darkness in the tunnel behind Calloway. It was then - that both of them sensed it.

Too late!

A magical blast shot across the tunnel - exploded into Calloway and smashed him into the wall behind him. Luther watched as the assassin seemed to space out - stagger and fall.

"Calloway?" he called out. He squatted down and looked at the vacant look in the vampire assassin's eyes. "Holy shit - I do believe you're dead," the ghost mused as it began to laugh. "The mightiest of assassins - is finally dead!" he rejoiced as he began to dance. As he danced - other horrid monsters began to filter out - and make their way towards the unmoving vampire.

To Be Continued...