Bleh. I like most of the ideas I have had, but I'm still not real fond of the prose I'm writing. Alas, alack. Mayhap I'll learn something from Charles Dickens. I'm Reading Bleakhouse right now.

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Aleksey drew his sword and moved up to where Jacob was standing with the lantern, which he raised high to get a better look down the hall. At first there was nothing to be seen, but then in the distant torch light, far beyond the reach of the lantern, a shape moved from the shadows. Its outline was six feet tall, and almost as broad. It hunkered in the dark, walking strangely, mostly on its hind legs, but at times using its front legs, which ended in what looked like hands, to move at a frighteningly fast lope. Its head, which looked like that of one of the northern grey wolves, turned to look at the men, its eyes yellow in the reflected light of the torches, almost glowing. The shape of its shadowy limbs gave the impression of layered cords of sinewy muscle covered by thick shaggy hair. The beast reared back, raising its head toward the ceiling, and let out a deafening howl, at which Jacob and Aleksey covered their ears. To Jacob it seemed as if the howl penetrated his skin and sank into his bones.

The wolf lowered itself closer to the ground and bounded down the hall towards the two, moving with uncanny grace, and speed which seemed impossible, moving as fast as a horse, snarling .

Aleksey set down his sword and lantern and began to chant, his voice filling the hallway, echoing strangely, reverberating so clearly that his first word could be distinguished when he spoke his fifth. Around him there appeared a radiance, much brighter then before, nearly outshining his lantern, and his eyes became like molten pools of glowing quicksilver.

As Aleksey spoke Jacob lowered his pistol at the charging wolf and squeezed the trigger. His shot rang out over the din of Aleksey’s voice and the snarling of the wolf, smoke billowing from the end of his gun. The sound of his gunshot was accompanied by a loud thump, like the compressing of air, and the charging wolf was suddenly gone, only black mist lingered where it had stood. A split second later, after Jacobs bullet ricocheted off the wall where it had been, there was another thump, black mist exploding near the other wall, and the wolf reappeared, still running, as if it had been running next to that wall all along.

Jacob’s face contorted in horror as he fumbled to put back his first pistol and draw another from his brace. The wolf was close now, only seconds away.

The glow next to Jacob had become blinding, Aleksey’s face could no longer be distinguished, looking upon him was like staring into the sun. Suddenly he stretched out his right hand, and golden white fire exploded from his fingertips, it had the look of a jet of water, but with none of the sluggishness. It flew down the hall at the wolf but black mist was all the blast hit, the wolf appearing on the other side of the hall. Aleksey stretched out his other hand, shooting another jet of flame at it. With each blast of energy he sent down the hall, his aura dimmed. Aleksey was as relentless as the wolf, each time it appeared a gout of flame charred the stone where it had been. Jacob shouted as it appeared behind them and Aleksey spun and burnt a hole right through the top of the wagon.

All at once everything was still. The wolf had disappeared into a puff of black mist and did not return. Jacob stood now with sword in one hand and pistol in the other, cocked and ready. Aleksey still faintly glowing stood at his back, watching, the hall shrouded in grey smoke.

Edited. Somewhat.