Tuesday,

June 4, 2012,

2: 13 PM

Four days later, Addy has an assortment of jars, vials, and spells at her beck and call; the Hunters have sorted through their weapons, and packed the ones they thought were the most powerful. Valli and Kane have touched up on training and practiced more with guns and the new bullets they prepared. The wound on Valli's arm has gotten increasingly better, Addy filled the missing chunk of a hole with an orange goopy slime she made with snails. The concoction soothes the scarring, lessens the itch, and keeps it moisturized for the flesh to recover faster. While he doesn't like the contents, Valli must admit the hole feels much better. Sunny had switched with Kane to teach the blind hunter tricks for hand-to-hand combat if he came down to his fist, revealing tricks to get away or turn the attack back to an assailant. Valli had them mastered by the end of the day, all four of the group proud.

All weapons and supplies are stuffed into duffle bags, or clipped onto straps to keep close. Valli had attempted to convince Addy and Sunny to stay back, worried about the house and animals if time is vastly different in the Void. Both women (and Kane) refused to be left behind. Argued that Addy had already posted warnings of the market being closed until further notice and, as Sunny claimed, was head of the Hunt due to being the Elder. Kane doesn't go against his Aunts' claim, assuring Valli the house and animals will be fine. It's only a miracle for his worries when Emma rolls up the driveway ready for time off Hunts. She was surprised to see the Hybrid, Venus an obvious conversation starter as her thumping tail trembles the ground and foundation of the house.

Sunny demanded, "No questions asked" upon the younger female hunter parking. The Elder briefly explained they were on an important case, too dangerous to reveal information. Emma, nervous of such an experienced Hunter intimidating her, nodded along quickly. Kane hadn't helped the poor woman's anxiety, eyeing her blankly with his arms crossed over his thick chest — silently threatening. She had heard vague stories of Kane, lesser about his Aunt and only that the woman taught him most of what he knew. Rumors don't paint the man incredibly well; rude, stand-offish, beastly on a Hunt and doesn't play well with others.

Valli greeted her with open arms, a bright grin on his lips as he hugged her. Addy planted a kiss on her cheek, before asking the favor of house-sitting while they were off on the case. No matter whether she had only met them once, or been in the house once, she agreed without hesitation. Her time with Valli and Addy left her with a home to return to, she'll keep it safe for them as they had for every hunter that came through in need of food and sleep. What shocked her most (except for the Hybrid) was Valli's apparent relationship with the silently grunting and scowling Kane. The only time she witnessed Kane smile, even a slight twitch of his lips, was when the slimmer man bounced next to him to either hug or surprise kiss the hunter. Emma didn't question the strange weapons she found scattered on the porch, or basement. Only assisted in moving them inside, placed on shelves in any room with space. Addy said the Hunters were merely crafting out of boredom, adding in a hint of the mentioned hunt to tie the lies together.

This leaves the woman alone, bewildered as she observes Kane and Valli being lifted atop the gigantic creature which makes her instincts shiver. Addy and Sunny stand off to the side, the Witch's eyes a luminescent purple as they wait. Venus settles the men at her nape, then her intelligent eyes slowly glide towards the women. She was told (raised, trained) to only host one rider, two at the most. Allowing the women to ride into the Void would be breaking rules, ones for which she has no reference of consequence.

However, the men and she needed to return, perhaps more would strengthen them and the goal would be achieved then. Her Keepers would surely be pleased with the outcome. The Witch can communicate, a grand ability in the lightless realm of the Void. This is why Venus rendered Addy's spell to sneak into the rip portal, needless.

Her massive body lowers once again, the minuscule feeling of Kane clutching Valli to keep the blind man steady, barely acknowledged. The tip of her tail curled around the women, the same cautious care taken to lift them onto her back. Sunny had gripped Addy from around her hips, and she grasped Kane's shoulders with her free hand as they lowered behind the man. Not as bad as I thought, the elder hunter thinks, nervous as the tail releases them to reveal the dizzying sight of the ground from so far up — don't wanna do it again though.

Venus scarcely allows time for them to settle, her ribs rising a moment before an ear-shattering roar pierces the sky. The humans slap their hands to their ears, wincing. Emma, wide-eyed and slack jawed, can only fall against the porch support beam as the Being's beautiful leathery wings flap once, twice to take her paws off the dug-up dirt, into the air. Hurricane-force winds blow the visitor back, mind unable to comprehend between watching the lion, dragon, and bird creature disappear in a sparkling ray of light. The sky opened to inky blackness, the shredded rip birthing uneasy goosebumps along the air of her arms and nape. With one last house-shaking roar, Venus and her charges are launched into the rip with one hefty flap of her wings. The moment her tail slips through, the rip collapses in on itself, and the world is left eerily silent. A long, sharp breath forces out of Emma's throat, one she held subconsciously. Gripping the railing, she blinks at the sky. "What the fuck."

She suddenly appreciated she asked no questions. Recalling her last few hunts, three Ghouls and two skin-shifters, she huffs a disbelieving puff of air, her head shaking. "And I thought ghouls and shifters were too much."

###

The silence is deafening. That is the first thought Addy has as Venus cautiously paces through the hallway only visible to her, a dark nocturnal film blinked into place to allow her eyes to adjust for night vision. Their previous visit is still obvious; gore covers the surfaces, her paws crushing already flattened and dead creatures. The squish of organs and bones under her padded paws is felt, nothing more than a bug to her. The remaining inbred monsters guard the double doors, she estimates fifty to seventy left. Easy prey after the previous time. The Hunters and Witch are lowered carefully, Addy receiving a low grumble in her mind as the number 70 is printed in front of her third eye.

Testing the sound, she speaks out loud. Curious how far her voice will travel. "Venus said there may be seventy or lower left."

From her right, a brush of an arm warns her before Sunny hums. "Should be careful. Kane hand me some rope."

Copying the men's first trip, Kane sets out to tie Valli to him again. Sunny does the same, looping the rope she feels Kane tap her arm around Addy's hips to keep the Witch close. Valli scans their surroundings, eyelashes batting as he blinks to adjust his eyes to the vague sights and silhouettes. "I will never get used to this."

"Don't have to." Kane grumbles at his ear, the knot he tied tightening as he pulls and tugs it. "Just get us through and we'll never be back again."

"Deal." Valli tries to giggle, lighten the abrupt tension filling them, but he fails. Instead, he clutches Kane's shirt, staring through the darkness at the man. He catches Kane's eyes following the path his hands took to his shirt, the quirk to his lips at being held onto and how proud he is for being a comfort to his boyfriend. His chest puffs up subtly, his spine straightens, and his eyes linger where he knows Valli is before habitually searching around them for threats. He can't see, blind as Valli is outside this world.

Sunny reaches out, hand searching in the darkness carefully for the beefy muscle of her nephew. Using his position tucked close to the hybrid she guides herself and Addy closer to the men, her hand kept in place on his upper arm. Valli spots his Aunt's attempt to pierce the void, her eyes glowing, but by the deep, annoyed grimace she makes he safely assumes she is disappointed. Silently, he spends a moment memorizing both the women's features. His Aunt's long ponytail is tucked into a large cap to avoid anything snatching her hair, her eyes, her unchanged appearance. He is aware of her spell, but this is the first he has seen her since he lost his sight — and she hasn't changed at all. Sunny has strong, muscled arms and legs, soft yet robust similar to Kane. Her hair is fluffy, short and curly in a small ponytail as well. She looks her age, has stress wrinkles and crow's feet, and wiser eyes; it adds to her charm, to her own beauty.

"So, what was the plan last time? There's more of us, we'll need to keep track." Sunny double checks the thick knot she tied at Addys waist, tugging it with a harsh jerk that makes the Witch squeal as she's dragged into the Huntress's firm side. Only Valli can see the pleased smirk of Kane's adoptive Aunt, his lips bitten to keep from outwardly reacting with his gleefulness.

His hands gather the vibration of Kane's grunt, pressing closer to the broader man to briefly lay his head over the center of his chest. Merely to hear the sound travel through the man's body, allows it to seep deep into his mind and soul. For his part, Kane doesn't react, allows Valli to do anything he wants. The only sign he approves is his hand dropping to Valli's hip, holding him close. The older man responds, head tilting towards where Ma's hand leads. "Val led, he can see shit better than we can. This time he's staying closer. I was gonna have him pick out individuals, then we'd take them down together."

"Tag team them? Could work." The Huntress purses her lips, considering. Kane won't make a move until she does, he respects her claim as lead hunter too much to overlook it. She knows he's restless, itching to get out there and fight, to protect them — Valli especially. Heavily she sighs, wishing she could see around them. It'd make developing a plan easier. She feels Addy shift silently beside her, vaguely wondering why the witch has yet to speak. "There should be some extra rope, Kane tie us so we're all connected. Valli can you grab some of the weapons for me? I can't really see at the moment, Son."

"Of course!" It's odd to hear the chirp in such a drowning void.

Feeling useless, unable to see has rendered her and Addy to the sidelines for now, Sunny can only stand still as her nephew works to tie them together as well. A second rope is looped around her waistline, this time the weight at the end of it is heavier and unyielding as she tugs testingly. Soon there's a light tap at her knuckle, the cool metal of it recognized as her newly updated gun for Blessed Blood Bullets. Habitually, she checks it is loaded and ready, sight unneeded as she can feel the weight of bullets and hears the faint click of it readying. In front of her, she can discern little clashing as weapons are dug through in the duffle bags. Then Kane does the same check she did, the guns in his hand now unsafe and ready to shoot.

"The air here is... unsettling." Addy's voice is nearly too quiet to hear, the Huntress only able to by the closeness of their bodies. Yet she can identify apprehension and the worry lined in the words, it's obvious to her the witch had underestimated the effect the Void would have. She only hopes Addy can still fight under pressure.

"Don't worry. We're near the doors at the end, all we gotta do right now is make it to them." Valli assures. He pockets smaller weapons, stashing handfuls of bullets into his pockets then reaches over to fill Kane's jean pockets with them. The man's thigh muscles jerk momentarily at the unexpected groping, but the Hunter doesn't mention the slim hand sliding in his pants. Briefly, long slender fingers brush his flaccid cock as they release the clinking bullets into the deep pockets. Valli freezes, blinking as he processes accidentally touching the thick head of Kane's cock. His face flushes brightly, snatching his hand out and ducking his head down when he hears a soft rumbled chuckle from above him.

Sunny and Addy are handed knives and thick machetes, they strap them to the harnesses on their thighs and torso to avoid losing them. The witch pats her messenger bag filled with her supplies, disliking the spark of fear lit in her gut. "And what's behind the doors?"

"No idea." It's grunted by Kane. The man focused on the movement of the rope by Valli. "It's the only landmark Val saw. The goal was to get to it."

"Then it is again." Sunny determined, her jaw clenching as she tried to comprehend any sounds around them. It's silent, deafening. Her instincts scream to run, gut demands they'll be outnumbered. Normally, she listens to her instincts. They haven't done her wrong in the past, she's still alive because she knew to obey. Hunters who ignore, and disregard, their primal instincts end up dead. The animal hindbrain in humans was built to protect, warn, and survive. Ignoring the warning is a death sentence. However, she has no choice this time. "We'll stick to pairs. Kane and Valli take the right, and Addy and I will take the left. We stay close and tug the rope if assistance is needed. Venus can do whatever she needs, as long as she doesn't crush us."

"She won't. She can see and has fire breath too. She'll protect whoever needs it first." Vallis' words gain a silent nod, the Huntress searching for the gigantic hybrid presence. She can feel a large mass on the other side of Addy, but other than this there is no sign of the creature.

The Witch speaks up again, her voice carrying louder to Sunny rather than the men. They can merely hear a whisper in her direction as the darkness steals most of the sound. "I should toss one of the spells I made at them. It'll keep them stuck in thick goo. Hopefully. Easy kills."

Sunny hums, considering if they should hold onto that spell until they have a bigger fight or use it now to get started. "Are you sure? It might be handy to have later on."

She can hear the smug smirk on Addy's lips, "I made five of them. Increasing in strength. We can test one, then save the rest."

Unable to control it, Sunny feels a bout of pride swell in her chest at the forethought the Witch has. Carefully reaching out to pat the woman on the back, lets her hand linger. "Good job. They'll definitely help. What, exactly, does it do?"

"You got your sword, Val?" Kane questions, ignoring Ma's conversation with the Witch to focus on his partner. The only sensation is the faint pull of the rope as Valli moves, straining his ears to catch the clang of the sword's tip scratch at the unseen ground.

The blind man hums, tapping softly on Kane's shoulders with the spear half. His eyes watch the tall, stoic man as Kane exerts his senses to protect them. He does the same so often, that it's obvious to Valli by the deep tension in his boyfriend's throat and head that he's overworking his eyes, ears, and nerves to react promptly if needed. He inches closer, keeping his voice soft, and tries to inject cheer in the tone to distract. "Yep. You got all those cool bullets you made? I found the flamethrower."

He smiles when Kane's eyebrows jump in excitement, the concentrated purse of his lips softened with a twitch into a smirk. "I got them. There's some blessed fuel for the thrower, in a gas jug."

"You fit a gas jug in a duffle bag?"

"Ma made a small one, in case. There should be two of them, filled with Holy Water or some gas she had blessed and mixed with Priest Blood." Valli searches, unable to believe how handy Ma and Kane are when he does, indeed, find two medium-sized filled jugs. Both are originally plastic but, are outlined with metal rods and sheets to avoid breaking or spilling. The closer he looks in the dim tunnel his vision has, the plastic appears to be shot to ruin and missing large chunks. Ma must've figured out how to keep the fluid inside without spilling completely through the metal. He'll need to ask later.

Valli contemplates when they'll get to use them, and how they'll work. He doubts they'll withstand until they pass the massive imposing doors, the monsters guarding them are more than enough to break through the jugs. Carrying them would take extra effort amid a fight. There's also the unpredictability of the fluids Sunny and Kane crafted — he has never heard of Blessed Gasoline or gasoline mixed with Priest Blood. He is aware they have used different methods before, but this is a first for all of them. Curiously, he looks up at Kane from his kneeling position. "Will we use this first?"

Kane squats next to him, to both hear clearly and locate the flamethrower. He grumbles, using touch to find the tank on the large, heavy weapon. It's the size of the man's arm, the launcher for the flame is a rounded half dome to protect from blowback; the handle has a shotgun grip that tucks under Kane's arm for a steady aim. The only reason it is heavier, and larger than a double-barrel shotgun is the massive tank hung at the bottom, near the trigger. It's considerably larger than it perhaps needs to be, but for such a massive crowd of creatures, it'll do wonders to hold several gallons of fuel. Valli watches in awe as Kane shakes the weapon carelessly, both men catching the sloshing of the fuel inside the welded steel/ raw silver tank. The Hunter groans lowly, sending an inappropriate chill down Valli's spine as he blinks at the excitement and thrill clouding his boyfriend's gruff features. "I fucking love this thing."

Clearing his throat, Valli hums, nodding quickly. Thankful the others can't see his cheeks flush. "That's a yes then."

"It's a hell yeah." Kane chuckles, "Gonna start with a bang, or at least scare the holy hell outta them with some fire."

Valli laughs, grinning as Kane's sadistic happiness falls into a disbelieving scowl at this jest. " ... You shouldn't be allowed to handle the flamethrower after this – you enjoy it too much."