The Cavern: Opening Night

by Robert Chauncey

 

            They ran through the forest. They ran for their very lives. They knew that at any moment, the two of them could be dead. One of them was dressed all in white, at least it was white at one time, until it became the torn and muddy rags that now just barely covered her body. The other one wore leather armor that had seen many battles...too many battles. The left side of the armor was now a reddish brown color...soaked through with blood from a wound that more than likely meant his death.

            “Have we lost them?” She asked glancing backwards.

            “Keep running!” He said grunting in pain.

            “But - “ she started.

            “Keep running!” He said.

            Suddenly there was a flash of light in front of them and five men appeared from the light. Four of them, all dressed in a similar fashion, carried almost identical swords in their right hands and wooden shields in their left. The fifth one, the obvious leader, wore no armor. Instead he wore a dark gray cloak that covered his body, not allowing anyone to see what was underneath the cloak. His face was uncovered and he had a wicked smile on his face.

            “Hello Sehv and William. It is so nice to see you again,” the cloaked man said smiling.

            “Hexin!” William said purposefully putting himself in-between the men and Sehv. He drew his sword. “Leave us alone.”

            “I grow tired of this pointless fighting. Not even you, with all of your great skill can hope to defeat me, so you have two choices. You can give up the girl willingly or you can fight us, die, and we take the girl,” Hexin said as his eyes flashed red.

            “You’ll have to kill me first if you want Sehv,” William said holding the sword waiting for the attack.

            “Pity, William. Throwing your life away for this girl,” Hexin said. “Destroy him!”

            The four other men moved closer to William with their swords ready to attack.

            “Sehv, run...don’t look back, just run as fast as you can,” William said turning back briefly to look at Sehv.

            Sehv’s face was filled with fear, but she turned and ran, not looking back, but hearing the swords clashing and the screams of William as he was struck down. Sehv began to cry as she ran. Suddenly there was a flash of light and Hexin appeared in front of her.

            “Silly, girl, thinking you could run from me,” Hexin said grabbing Sehv by her wrists and throwing her to the ground. “Give it up. Your protector is dead, you are mine.”

            “Nooo!!!” Sehv screamed, using her innate abilities to their max. She sent a concentrated sound blast. Any normal person would have been obliterated, but Hexin was far from normal, however, he did not escape unharmed.

            “Aaaarrrggghhhh...” Hexin screamed as the sound blast hit him. He was sent flying backwards crashing hard into a tree. He slumped against the tree unconscious.

            Sehv started to run once again. She ran for what seemed like forever. She heard a twig snap off to her right. She jerked her head to see what it was, only to see that it was a deer running in the opposite direction. However, she took her eyes off the ground, so she did not see the upgrown root in front of her. She tripped over it and went flying through the air. She landed face first on the ground. With her face and knees bloodied, she slowly started to rise to her fee. That’s when she saw it...a cave. No, there was something in the cave, a building of some kind. She got to her feet and ran toward the building as fast as she could.

 

v

 

            “A little to the left,” a lovely young woman said waving her hand to show the two people where to place the large and heavy, oak finished love seat.

            “How’s this?” A middle aged man said obviously straining with his end of the love seat.

            “Perfect,” she said giving the thumbs up.

            “About time,” he said putting the love seat down. “In all the time I worked at the Haven, I never realized how heavy this thing was.”

            “This was heavy?” The other, much larger man said.

            “Post, us mere mortals only have a minimal amount of strength, so try to be understanding,” the man said still huffing and puffing a little.

            “I apologize, Mr. Summers,” Post said. “It will take some getting used to, to once again be working with humans, since the war that is.”

            “Post, it’s Roland, not Mr. Summers,” Roland Summers said. “And the war is over. Everyone in it has to start over, and if anyone can handle that, you can.”

            “Thank you, sir,” Post said nodding.

            “Post, Roland, not sir...nevermind, we have plenty of time to work on it,” Roland said patting Post on the back. “But for right now, let’s get this place ready for tonight.”

            Suddenly the double doors, marking the entrance to The Cavern, busted open, and then Sehv ran in. All three of them stared at her, both in disbelief that someone had entered and shock due to her appearance.

            “Please...help...me...” Sehv managed to say before she collapsed to the ground.

            Roland ran over to her. “She’s unconscious,” Roland said checking to see if there was anything seriously wrong with her.

            Suddenly they all heard a loud commotion nearing the entrance from outside.

            “Dad, it sounds like we have problems,” the young lady said jumping off the bar and kneeling down next to Sehv.

            “Great, and we haven’t even opened yet,” Roland said with a worried look on his face. “Alright...Brandy, help her into the back...and stay out of sight.”

            “You got it,” Brandy said pulling Sehv to her feet  and half carrying her, half dragging her to the kitchen.

            “Post,” Roland said as he stood and looked at Post. “Umm...just act natural.”

            “No problem, sir,” Post said crossing his arms and taking position next to the entrance.

            Roland slid across the bar to the other side, and managed to pull a rag from his pocket, to at least, look like he was cleaning the bar counter. The doors opened and four armed and armored men walked through them.

            “Where is she?” One of them said rather forcibly.

            “Gentlemen, I’m sorry, we’re closed,” Roland said hoping his good mannered voice didn’t crack at seeing the fresh blood stains on both the men’s armor and swords.

            “Perhaps, you didn’t hear me correctly. I asked, where is she?” The same one said angrily.

            “I heard you, but we’re still closed,” Roland said, smirking a little at realizing that none of them had seen Post yet. “Now, Post, will you show our guest out, please.”

            “Sure thing, sir,” Post said stepping right behind them. The four men turned around and two of them physically jumped from being startled. “Now, do as the boss says and kindly leave.” Post said putting his gigantic hand on one of their shoulders.

            The man shuddered at Post’s grip on his shoulder and almost out of instinct, he thrusted his sword forward. “Ahhhh!!!!”

            Post smiled as he easily blocked the blow that was sent to kill him. “Strike one!” Post said grabbing the man’s wrist. “And I will throw strike two and three.”

            Post brought the man’s arm down onto his knee. There was a cracking sound that came from the bone. “Aaaaggghhh...!!!” The man screamed as his arm was almost broken in two. Post then brought his giant fist across the man’s face, ending his scream.

            “Son of a...” another one said driving his sword forward trying to pierce Post’s heart.

            “Right,” Post said moving out of the way of the sword and bringing both fists down on the man’s back. The man went sprawling as he crashed hard into the floor.

            Another one slammed his shield across Post’s head. The shield shattered. Post shook it off and then turned around and grabbed the man by the throat. He lifted him up and pressed him against the wall.

            “Urgh...” the man said struggling uselessly in Post’s grip.

            Post did not see the fourth man come up behind him with his sword raised, ready to strike.

            “I don’t think so,” Roland said as a blue, phosphoresnic flash came from the end of his shotgun he was holding. The man didn’t have time to react before his sword ripped away from his hand on impact of the bullets.

            “Ahhh...” the man said as he clutched his hand. He looked up to see Roland, who was sitting nonchalantly on the bar, had his shotgun pointed right at his head.

            “Now do you want to continue this,” Roland said holding the shotgun very steady. “Or do you want to leave. The choice is yours, but I beg you to choose the later. I would hate to clean up the mess.”

            “We’ll leave,” the man said.

            “But Hexin will kill -” another of the men said.

            “I said we will leave,” the man said eyeing the others until they all walked out. “But I assure you, this is not over.”

            “Well, you know where we will be,” Roland said hopping off the bar counter.

            The man turned to leave and then was gone.

            “How did I do, boss?” Post said walking away from the entrance.

            “Very well, Post. I didn’t hire you as bouncer based on your charm now did I?” Roland said patting Post on the back. “Now let’s find out why those guys had such an interest with our maiden in distress.”

            Post merely nodded in agreement and then followed Roland into the back.

 

v

 

            Someone dashed into the noisy and crowded Cavern. He appeared to be a man. He was dressed in a purple suit. Roland eyed him as he walked in.

            “I know...I know. I’m late,” the man said as he walked behind the bar.

            “Are you going to do this all the time, Mystery?” Roland said shaking his head.

            “Of course not,” the man known as Weird Mystery said. “Just on opening nights.”

            “That’s comforting,” Roland said reaching under the counter for something.

            “Now,” Mystery said with a confused look on his face. “What is it I’m supposed to be doing again?”

            “Mystery!” Roland said throwing a balled up purple apron at him.

            “Just kidding,” Mystery said grabbing the apron.

            “Good,” Roland said. “Now get started.”

            “I’m going,” Mystery said putting on his apron as he disappeared behind the kitchen door. He tied a knot in the back and then looked up to see the kitchen and something else. It started out as nothing more than a dim light, but then transformed into a form...the form of a teenage girl. The girl looked very sad. Her eyes looked as if they had been crying. “You’ve go to be kidding,” Mystery said slowly backing out the door behind him. He backed right into Brandy.

            “Hey...watch it,” Brandy said almost dropping the trayful of empty glasses.

            “Umm...Brandy,” Mystery said staring at the now closed kitchen door. “You’ve got to see this.”

            “See what?” Brandy said slightly perturbed.

            “Just walk through that door and you’ll see what I mean,” Mystery said.

            Brandy looked at Mystery for a minute and then walked through the door. Mystery closed his eyes waiting for her scream. There wasn’t one.

            “Now what am I supposed to be looking for, Mystery?” Brandy said from behind the door.

            “What?!” Mystery said opening the door and seeing nothing out of the ordinary. “But...”

            “Excuse me now, but some of us have work to do,” Brandy said walking back out the door.

            “But...I know I saw something,” Mystery said shaking his head.

            “Dad?” Brandy said as she put fresh drinks on her tray.

            “Yeah,” Roland said turning to her as he cleaned a shot glass with a white rag.

            “I think Mystery has lost it,” Brandy said putting the last glass that would fit on her tray.

            “What else is new?” Roland said as he saw her walk out to the tables to pass out the drinks. He turned his direction toward the door and smiled. A woman had just walked through the door. Although her face was a pale white, it was still a beautiful face. She wore a long, black dress. Roland walked out from the bar and moved toward her. “LadyMoon, I am so glad that you could make it.” He bowed slightly as he said this.

            “Roland, I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” LadyMoon said as she hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. She glanced around the bar and nodded in approval, then her eyes fell upon the love seat and she smiled. “I can’t believe you actually did it.”

            “Hey, I said I would, didn’t I?” Roland said smiling. “And I never break a promise.”

            LadyMoon just smiled and moved to the love seat. She sat down. “It feels good to sit down again.”

            “Now I’ll send Brandy back with your bloodwyne,” Roland said as he moved back toward the bar.

            LadyMoon smiled again. “I think I’m going to like it here.”

 

v

 

            Post stood at his post at the door. The doors opened and in walked a man in simple garments. The man seemed normal in every way except for a rather large German Shepherd that was attached to a leash that he was holding.

            “Excuse me, sir,” Post said stopping the man. “But we don’t allow animals in here. I’m sorry.”

            “Does that include those that help the blind,” the man said.

            “Oh...I’m...I’m...” Post said bowing his head, upset at himself for his mistake. “I’m so sorry.”

            “That’s quite alright,” the man said laughing. “Now my name is Claudian...Claudian Durante, and this here is Bear.”

            “Nice to meet you,” Post said. “Can I show you to a table?”

            “No thank you, we can manage,” Claudian said as him and Bear moved to a table.

            Just then a man dressed entirely in black and wearing a black leather jacket, walked in. Following closely behind him was a woman dressed in black leather.

            “Welcome to Roland’s Cavern, if you will follow me, I’ll show you to your seat,” Brandy said walking up to them.

            He smiled at her. “Lead the way, Miss?”

            “Brandy Summers,” Brandy said leading them to a table.

            ‘Well, Miss Summers, it is a pleasure to meet you,” he said taking her hand and kissing it. “I am Vladimire and this is my associate, Dusk.”

            Brandy smiled at Vladimire as he kissed her hand. “Please call me, Brandy.”

            “If you insist...Brandy,” Vladimire said sitting down.

            Brandy walked off. Vladimire sat back in his chair and smiled.

            “You seem quite taken with her, sir,” Dusk said looking at Vladimire.

            “Yes, she may one day make a suitable queen at my side, but that will have to wait until I can complete my plans.”

            Roland watched as Brandy walked away from Vladimire’s table. He then walked over to LadyMoon.

            “Roland, this place is great,” LadyMoon said taking a sip of her bloodwyne.

            “I have a question. Is that who I think it is?” Roland said kneeling next to her and nodding in the direction of Vladimire’s table.

            LadyMoon looked over. “Vlad...what’s he doing here?” LadyMoon said with a start.

            “I don’t know, but I bet it can’t be good,” Roland said. “I think it would be a good idea if we keep an eye on him.”

            “Yeah, you’re probably right,” LadyMoon said shaking her head. “Damn, I thought we had seen the last of him after that little ‘incident’ at the Haven.”

            “I know what you mean,” Roland said looking around the room. His eyes stopped on the staircase that lead to the upstairs rooms. Sehv was walking down them.

 

v

 

            Brandy was the first one to her. “You’re awake?”

            “Yes...where am I?” Sehv said looking slightly bewildered by all the people.

            “Perhaps it would be better if we talk in the back,” Roland said leading Sehv into the back.

            Just then there was a loud crackle of thunder as Hexin appeared in the center of the Cavern.

            “Hexin!” Sehv screamed backing away until she was stopped by the wall.

            “Hello again, Sehv. Thought you could hide from me,” Hexin said with a wicked smile. “I’ve growed tired of these games and I refuse to play them anymore. So I’ve decided that I don’t need you afterall. Guards!” Suddenly two dozen guards stormed the Cavern. All of them were in chain mail armor and holding long swords. “Kill them...kill them all.”

            “I don’t think so,” Post said pulling Hexin around and punching him across the jaw. Hexin staggered backwards. Suddenly two of the guards attacked Post.

            “Great...why did this thing have to happen on opening night,” Roland said grabbing his shotgun and sliding across the bar counter.

            One of the guards started moving toward Sehv. Suddenly the door to the kitchen sprang open, slamming right into the guard, knocking him backwards.

            “Hey, what’s all this commotion?” Mystery said coming from the kitchen. He then sees the fighting. “Oh...that’s what’s going on.”

            “Watch out,” Sehv screamed as she pushed Mystery out of the way and blasted another guard with a sound blast.

            “Thanks,” Mystery said looking up at Sehv.

            “Guys, you’re ruining my evening,” LadyMoon said picking one of the guards and throwing him against the wall.

            “Oh boy!” Brandy said as she ducked under the blade of a slashing sword.

            “Argh!” The guard said as suddenly he was lifted up into the air by his throat.

            “Is this man bothering you, my dear?” Vladimire said as the guard’s feet reached for the ground that was not there.

            “Thank you, Vladimire, but I can take care of myself,” Brandy said as she nailed another guard with the tray she was carrying, knocking him out.

            “So I can see,” Vladimire said smiling at her, as he slammed the man, hard, to the floor.

            “Grrr...” Dusk said as two guards cornered her. The anger in her rose up as her body began to change. Her eyes glazed over to a greenish-yellow. Her hands formed into fur-covered claws. She sprang at the two guards slashing at them. She didn’t see another guard sneak up on her. The guard raised his sword, but before he could strike, a large gray wolf pounced on him, ripping him to pieces. Dusk turned and said in a half human, half animal voice. “What?”

            The wolf slowly morphed into a man-wolf hybrid. “Call me Zookeeper.”

            “Bear, sick’em!” Claudian said as Bear leapt at one of the guards knocking him to the ground.

            Two guards held Post by his arms. “Get off of me!” Post said as he brought his arms together, slamming the guards into each other.

            “Why don’t ya’ll get the hell out of my bar,” Roland said using his shotgun to hit several of the guards. He reached Hexin and flipped his shotgun around to point it at him. “That goes for you too!”

            “You think you can stop me,” Hexin said turning to face Roland.

            “Perhaps,” Roland said not backing off.

            “You and what army?” Hexin said with a chuckle.

            “This army,” Post said coming up behind Hexin along with Dusk, Zookeeper, and Claudian.

            “And this one,” Brandy said followed by Vladimire.

            “And don’t forget us,” LadyMoon said stepping next to Roland with Mystery and Sehv behind her.

            “So you unite against me. How noble?” Hexin said. “Do you really think that you can stop me?”

            “Hexin, you’re guards are dead...” Sehv said stepping forward.

            “Or in no condition to help,” Mystery said interrupting.

            “You are alone, Hexin,” Sehv said. “This is one battle you will not be able to win.”

            “Sehv, the sole voice of reason. Perhaps you are right, but I guarantee that I will be back,” Hexin said as his eyes began to glow red.

            “We’ll be looking forward to it,” Roland said, still pointing his shotgun at Hexin.

            “Until next time,” Hexin said as he disappeared in a flash of light.

            “I think we won,” Mystery said.

            “Roland, you sure know how to have a grand opening,” LadyMoon said putting her arm around his shoulders.

 

v

 

            The bar was closed. The only light on was the one coming from the kitchen. In the kitchen, Roland, Brandy, Post and Sehv were talking. Roland sat on one of the kitchen counters, while the others all sat around a table. All eyes were on Sehv.

            “So he wanted you just because you’re a banshee?” Brandy said leaning back slightly in her chair.

            “Yes, I’m the last female banshee alive,” Sehv said. “Despite what he said, Hexin won’t rest until I’m his again. That’s why I have to stay on the move.”

            “Where will you go?” Post asked crossing his arms.

            “I don’t know yet,” Sehv said looking down at her feet.

            “I have an idea,” Roland said. “Why don’t you stay here?”

            “What?” Sehv said looking up.

            “Yeah sure. We have the spare bedrooms upstairs. You could stay in one of them, and if Hexin does decide to come after you again, then you’ll have us and the rest of the patrons to help you. Besides a fight around here every now and then is good for business.”

            Sehv laughed and sat back in her chair. “Well if you put it like that, how can I refuse?”

            “Very good,” Roland said jumping off the counter. “Now Brandy, will help you get settled in, and if there is anything you need, all you have to do is ask.”

            “Thank you...thank you so much,” Sehv said standing up and kissing Roland on the cheek. She then followed Brandy out the door, to her room.

            “So, Post, what did you think of your first night on the job?” Roland said patting Post on the back.

            “Long,” Post said with a smirk. “But I think I will like it sir.”

            “Post...it’s Roland not ‘sir,’” Roland said walking with Post out of the kitchen.

            “Yes, sir.”

            “Nevermind,” Roland said flicking the light off and closing the kitchen door behind them.

 

The End