Page 64 of Hollow

“They were all slain.” The words spilled out, but Dimitri couldn’t finish his confession. “I wish to tell you about them, all of them, but I…”

“It’s okay.” Jack squeezed Dimitri’s shoulder, offering this gentle embrace to say what neither of them could.

Dimitri did his best to keep his family buried. It was painful digging up their lives, remembering all the beauty they offered the world, and the brutality of each of their deaths. Most of all, it hurt knowing he was meant to die that day, too. His resilience had merely entertained Gordon, so much so that he decided to test Dimitri’s survival, only to realize the Leshy might provide more than simple entertainment.

“Gordon kept me not simply as a tool but as a living trophy,” Dimitri said. “When he first detained me, he warned that the horrors I endured paled in comparison to what he would do if I refused him. He told me if I helped track down more pesky little cryptids, then he would let me live.”

Dimitri’s eyes watered, recalling his terror, his confusion, his selfishness.

“I did this only to learn Gordon was a man true to his word, but I was the foolish one believing that he meant I would be free to live. The bargain was only ever for my life, which I had come to regret keeping. He did let me live, and he kept me chained and shackled from that day on, only to venture out when taken on a hunt or paraded in front of his most elite guests.”

Dimitri sat silently on his bed, shaking a bit as he quelled his nerves, silenced his memories, and tried his best not to dwell on the horrors Gordon would soon unleash.

Jack didn’t speak, didn’t pry, didn’t even give Dimitri a look of pity. He just remained by his side, quietly offering support in any small way.

Suddenly, Astaroth pranced into the bedroom carrying a folder in his mouth. He approached Jack and Dimitri and set the folder gingerly on the floor.

“No one is in the mood to play fetch,” Jack said. “Read the room, Astaroth.”

“Read my notes, lesser peasant,” Astaroth growled. “I have found the address of where your enemy is staying, along with reports on his numbers.”

“You what?” Dimitri asked in utter shock.

“You both seemed so insistent on learning the details, so I acquired them,” Astaroth explained as if it were nothing. “This should make ending their lives easier. I’ve also left meticulous details on effective torture methods when dragging out a mortal’s death. Jack kills them far too quickly, and Dimitri, while I admire your efforts, your torture technique is lacking.”

Jack picked up the folder, flipping through the documents inside. Dimitri read over his shoulder, his eyes growing wide at everything Astaroth had provided. This wasn’t simply an address. It came with details on how many hunters he brought with him, names, histories, a blueprint of the manor, and documents of the guard rotation. There were even scanned invoices with the list of guns in Gordon’s inventory, along with all the other gadgets he’d brought.

“He is staying in a manor on the north side of town,” Dimitri said, following the map Astaroth had made of Sleepy Hollow with a red marker leading from the woods to Gordon’s current residence.

“Oh, the richy riches,” Jack commented. “No surprise there, I guess.”

“How did you do this?” Dimitri asked.

“I have mortal servants who handle my light work,” Astaroth replied, not really providing much of an answer.

“Thank you, Astaroth,” Dimitri said. “You are a very good boy.”

Astaroth’s tail wagged, and his eyes glowed bright crimson. “I will admit, researching the Hearst assets was quite intriguing. So much money moving around in illuminating ways. The methods are crass but worth investigating.”

“None of that money will help him when I’m done with him.”

“He has used these funds for the best hunters, the most dangerous weaponry.”

“He already knows there is nothing in his arsenal that can harm me,” Jack said. “And trust me when I say, he won’t get the chance to hurt you.”

“So, you truly intend on ending Gordon’s life? Going to war with him and the hunters?”

“War implies a battle,” Jack retorted. “I’m going to fucking massacre them all.”

Dimitri’s heart pounded in his chest, every part of him desperate to believe this, every part of him equally dreading a confrontation he didn’t think he could win. In all his years, he’d never seen a single monster come close to harming the Hearst family or even putting in a real dent on their forces, but Dimitri had never seen anyone with Jack’s capabilities and immunities either.

“Hmm, that could indeed make acquiring the companies easier,” Astaroth mused. “Perhaps I shall look further into it.”

Dimitri didn’t fully grasp Astaroth’s agenda. He didn’t know what the demon dog was up to, but he thanked him for the research he did on their behalf.

“Do have fun killing those mortals,” Astaroth said, trotting out of the bedroom. “Paint the walls with entrails for me. Maybe bring me back a skull. I do so enjoy chewing on them.”

Jack turned his attention to Dimitri.