Chapter 5 - The Chase

     Peterson bounded through the thick underbrush of western Col. At every step, the brush split to make room his feet. The mud he smeared over his markings cracked as he pumped his arms and legs, revealing glowing violet scars. A faint purple mist puffed from his mouth with every exhale. Pain shot through his bare feet as he stepped on a hidden rock. The hue of purple surrounding him instantly vanished with his momentum as he fell on his face. The brush snapped back into place around him. 
     Instinctively, he rolled to his right and landed in a thick puddle of mud. The rain pelted the trees above him. Peterson tore off his shirt, now in shreds, and rolled it into a ball. He began muttering to himself, psyching himself out for what he would need to do. He focused magic into his palm and turned his shirt into a chunk of meat. The weary man shoved the food into his mouth and swallowed. Raw. After a moment of gagging, he got it down. "Feet first." The skin around the most recent injury seal itself with a wisp of purple energy. 
     I better ditch them soon, he said as he quietly rose to a stand, or I'll have to eat my trousers. Peterson looked out about twenty yards. Five dark figures stood beyond in the darkness. "He went this way, he had to."
     "Not so, he may have gone around us."
     "Enough out of you!" Three of Kelvin's subordinates snapped to attention. The man's mask turned from Peterson's location. "Peterson is listening." The tracker turned to the fugitive's position. After a moment of uncertainty, two bright blue eyes looking like flames appeared on Kelvin's mask, piercing the dark and rain. Peterson began running. 
     "After him!"
     Peterson ran east. He didn't want to double back, but these trackers had to be taken care of first. Peterson kept moving, careful this time not to use his magic liberally. With his focus completely out of stored magic, using any more would cause adverse side effects on his mind and body. Space magic turned body mass into magical energy or caused fluctuations in his emotional state. And he would not break into a fit of hysterical laughter while evading these Sirens. He kept going, until he passed by a rock. A very large rock. A thought broke through his mental focus. A Griffon might use that point to ambush prey.
     He stopped. Ambush... Peterson looked up. They probably have food in a pouch on their belt. If I kill them... Peterson ran up the rock wall, using his magic to cling to the wall. He reached the top and waited. The first victim approached. The leader and three others ran on ahead. This one stopped. He noticed the markings Peterson had left on the wall. The man turned to scream as Peterson took the plunge. Peterson landed on the Siren and pinned him to the ground. With a simple grab and twist from Peterson's large hands, the Siren expired without a whisper. 
     Going from fugitive to corpse robber, Peterson stuffed his face with the emergency rations on the Siren's belt. After filling his stomach, Peterson's outlook on the ordeal changed. "If they're going to kill me, I'm gonna give them the fight of their life." Peterson also went the extra mile and stole the dead man's boots. He was going to need them. Peterson removed the sabatons though; they were too noisy. He ran to catch up to the others. There is a waterfall up ahead. If I enter the lake from this side, I can hide behind the waterfall. 

     Kelvin and Jealousy ran off. "Blight, how are you holding up?"
     "Fine, but it worries me that we can no longer see him."
     "I hadn't noticed, ya. Has the hunted become the hunter?"
     "I fear the worst..."

     The other two Sirens waited by the lake. "Where did Fury go?"
     "I don't know...maybe he had to take a break?" Peterson used his magic to shorten the distance between them. He reached out from behind the water and pulled in the bigger of the two. "C'mon!" The survivor called out and put his hand over his heart, "It ain't funny! Get out here now before I call the others." Peterson jumped out from behind the water and tackled the man down. The water washed off the mud and grime covering the violet streaks down his arms and legs. This Siren was able to let out a short scream before Peterson slammed his fist into the Siren's mask. The magic infused blow hit with such force that it shattered the metal face plate. Exhausted from his use of magic, he stooped down to commence his pillaging.

     "Blight, I fear that they are gone."
     "But what if he is waiting for us." Kelvin and the Siren leader pondered this until a scream pierced the night. It was cut short and the sound of the rain returned. "Blight, circle around; I shall challenge this one directly."
    "I do not think that is wise."
    "I shall do it any way. Have faith in me, Blight."
    "What of Guile and Sorrow?"
    "I gave them other work to do, they will not pose a threat here."
    "Then what is your plan, sir?"
    "What I do best," Jealousy drew his scimitar and turned towards the sound. 

"Kill 'em; Quick and quiet."