CRASH!

  A dark figure burst through the window beside me, and rolled into the candle lit apartment. Coming to a stop, its blackened claws raising poised towards a startled Winston, while the un-moving monster that was Hugo Perrault, remained still.

  “Choose wisely,” growled the figure behind a tuft of darkened fur, as Isaac turned his menacingly wolf-ish mane up towards Perrault. “Or lose your mouthpiece.” Isaac’s claws glinted as they hovered near the neck of Winston.

  Hugo Perrault remained fixated on my chest, his eyes bulging still, his teeth chattering ever so slightly, almost violently, as they began to gnash, causing a slight screech, shrill in my ears.

  Perrault slowly retracted his own obsidian claw, as it took form into something else. Suddenly, Perrault whirled around, his arm now a long malformed blade, cleaving through the night.

  Issac leaped backwards, the blade shaving off some fur that lingered floating in the air, before the two sat at a standstill yet again. I remained frozen, watching it all go down.

  “And so the game begins again,” Winston affixed his glasses. “It’s been some time since we’ve seen each other, has it not...Isaac Brimstone?”

  “Keep my name from your venomous tongue, cretin!” Isaac howled, tensing his legs, ready for action.

  “Once your elder is eliminated,” Winston smiled, “your name will added to my ever-growing namesake.”

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Isaac raged, charging, but darkened ooze like whips flipped from Perrault’s hands, shooting forward and lashing Isaac back.

  “I will be honored again, with more souls of the Brimstone family, by the master. Perhaps we will have the whole clan one day?”

  “You monster!” Isaac charged forward again.

  Instantaneously, Perrault moved forward and clasped his enlarged blackened hand around the neck of Isaac, who thrashed and thralled, slicing the demonic puppeteer, but drawing no blood, just tears on his suit.

  “Heel.” Perrault whispered, his soft stringy voice tenderly booming throughout the room, and sending chills down my spine.

  Isaac collapsed to one knee, being forced down, struggling to stand.

  “No!” I raced forward, my mind feeling clear for one brief moment, and punched Perrault in the face. It felt as though energy was surging and spiraling throughout my body, as the mad harlequin released Isaac and slid back through the room, the wooden floorboards pulling up and crackling as he came to a stop, tugging them along on his heels right before impacting Winston.

  For the first time, a scowl came upon his sardonic face. It was truly unsettling.

  “Now that,” Winston added, some surprise layered even within his voice, “was an error, you will not make again.”

  Isaac regained his footing beside me, breathing heavily, as I put up my fists to fight.

  “This is just too easy for Mr. Perrault,” Winston said, as his master looked at him briefly before buttoning up his suit and walking past him towards the door. “You will suffer before you fall. If there is one thing Mr. Perrault excels at...it is enjoying the suffering. You’d best to enjoy it as well. His attention is not to be wasted. Til then.” Winston waved at us jovially.

  “No!” Isaac growled , lunging forward, before a purple miasma appeared and took the two monsters with it, while Isaac clutched at air, in frustration. “Damn!” He cried out, pounding his fist on the mangled floorboards.

  “Isaac!” I ran to him, running my hands through his hair and embracing him, a weird feeling, but it felt right, knowing that he is human after all. “Thank you...for saving me.”

  “It is you, I should thank. Your powers...saved me.”

  “What was he talking about? With your souls, your names?”

  “You didn’t give me a chance earlier,” Isaac said, grimacing, “it is time you learn about...The Curse of The Brimstones.”