held ready. The demon smiled at that, raising a fist and a blast of inky darkness shot towards Dominic. Dominic dove out of the way, rolling back to his feet, the bolt crashing harmlessly into the side of a building.
The demon, its dark power like a sheath around its body, was bringing its fist around to strike again when Hailyn reacted, her magic slamming into it, sending it reeling back, its form steaming. Before it could set itself, Hailyn struck again, her face set, knocking it over. It came up to its feet, launched its power back at Hailyn. She was able to deflect it, the powers colliding, sizzling and crackling the air.
Before it could react, Dominic was there, swinging his sword with both hands. His blow severed the demon's head, its body dropping to the ground. Hailyn set a blast into the body and head, turning it into ash.
Dominic quickly wiped his blade on one of the fallen half-men and ran over to leap onto Shadow's back. "Well fought, girl." He said to Hailyn. He gestured at Dontas. "Get on your horse now, boy. Move!"
Jake ran over to Dontas, got into the saddle and pulled Hailyn up behind him. They rode past the fallen half-men, then past on-lookers as the horses got up to a gallop. As they rode towards the Temple, a woman's scream sounded down a side street, a cry of horror and pain. Dominic hesitated for a moment, then looked at Jake. "Go straight to the Temple. Do not stop for anyone or anything. Jonas will protect you until I return." With that, he turned Shadow and rode down the side street, headed towards the scream.
The Temple grew closer as they sped along the street when Jake was struck by a terrible thought. He pulled on the reins, bringing Dontas to a halt.
"Hailyn, if they are here for me, they may know that I'm staying with Norlan." Jake said over his shoulder to Hailyn. "I have to go check on them!"
Hailyn hesitated for a moment, doubt on her face, then said. "If we are going to do it, let's do it quickly."
Jake turned Dontas towards home and booted him into a run. They flew past homes and buildings, ignoring the shouted questions from concerned bystanders as they rode past. Jake could only think of the family, praying they were ok.
There were some people gathered at Norlan's as they pulled up, Jake sawing at the reins to stop Dontas. Jake leapt off of the horse, pushing past the people he recognized as neighbors, Hailyn right behind him. When they reach the gate, they were greeted with a scene of horror.
Five half-men bodies lay on the yard, some with gaping wounds and others looking crushed. Jake saw Maxis sprawled across top of one of them, his jaws bloody and a dagger sticking out of his side. On the porch, Norlan was lying on the ground, head cradled in Madalin's lap, his clothes rent and bloody, face pale, while a neighbor held a cloth on a large stomach wound. Next to him was the large maul he had brought out days earlier. Madalin, tears flowing and a lost look on her face, absently stroked his face, ignoring the large gash on her forehead.
Hailyn rushed over to them, her power at the ready. She reached Norlan and took his head into her hands, concentrating. Her power brightened as she started healing. Norlan tensed and groaned briefly as Jake saw the wounds seal shut, then relaxed. Hailyn continued to hold his head for another moment, her power still shining. Satisfied, she let go and reached over to Madalin.
"What happened?" Jake asked, his heart breaking as he surveyed the damage done.
"Cherise was out front with the dog when I heard him barking." Norlan replied, his voice drawn. "I had never heard that kind of barking from him, then I heard Cherise scream. I grabbed the maul and went outside. Maxis had already savaged one of them and was attacking another, when I saw that they had Cherise." His voice broke, as a sob escaped him. He gestured towards the bodies with crushing injuries. "I did what I could." Madalin began weeping.
Stunned, Jake could only stand there until he heard a soft whine come from Maxis. He rushed over to the dog, having thought he was dead. Maxis raised his head slightly as Jake stroked him, another soft whine coming from him. "Hailyn!" Jake shouted. "Maxis is still alive!"
Hailyn was there in an