Chapter Forty-One: Champion's Loss

Last as long as she could? As Holly awoke those words continued to ring in her head. As much warmth as seeing those ladies caused they were practically useless. What kind of advice was that? At least she was alone for the moment. No one else was in the room with her, though it remained inescapable.

Holly stared at her hands. Should she try to use her power? Reverse this room to a time when there was a way out? Would they be able to feel it if she did that? She winced. What if she only made things worse? But, again, what choice did she have? It was only a matter of time before he came for her answer and she was well aware he would not be impressed by it.

She closed her eyes as she willed herself the strength to do what she must. No matter what happened it was time to fight once more. Her eyes snapped open, and she focused on everything she had. The whiteness n the room flickered as she forced the time back.

"Now, that's an interesting trick."

She jerked as if she had been electrified and the power drained out of her. The prison became whole once more and Holly was stuck with a smirking Lucifer. "How did you?"

"How did I sneak up on you without you noticing? A lifetime of practice. Now, I believe it is time for you to give me your answer. Give me the power that flows inside of you, and I will break you free from the shackles that bind you. Be free to live your own life, and I'll even let you live it with the man you love."

"And if I say no?" Holly demanded as she looked him in the eyes. They glowed golden like her dear Eros, but it didn't give her a sense of warmth inside. Just a shiver that raced through her body.

"I'm afraid I can't give you the option to say no," he replied as he crossed his arms over his chest. "The time to give you a choice is past. I will not let any of my sons unsurp me by using your power. So now you will give it to me. It will be your choice if it's willingly or not. You can still cooperate and get everything you want, or you can fight and you'll be lucky enough for this to end with you still being alive."

She thought about it. Thought about giving in for just a minute. Just submitting and doing what he said, getting her happily ever after that way.

But no. She had sworn she was going to fight. And maybe she couldn't use her magic, but if he wanted to steal her power he'd have to catch her first. She didn't have a lot of room to run, but she was determined.

"You think you can outrun me?" he questioned with a laugh. "Foolish mortal. Your soul might be ancient, but your mind is not. I am everything and you are in my domain. How are you going to get away?" He reached out and though Holly dodged him, he grabbed her neck in a gentle grasp and held her still. "This will hurt since you're fighting me. I'm sorry for that."

She opened her mouth to retort when pins of fire pricked everywhere his hands touched. A scream was ripped from her and she fell forward as the pain radiated through her entire body. He pinned her down and his mouth opened as power swirled inside of it. He was going to devour her.

Holly did her best to ignore the pain. She reached out with one arm and drug herself forward. He laughed and pulled her back as she yelped the entire way. His knee lodged in her back, there was no getting away from him now. She twisted her head away as she clenched her eyes shut.

"Father!" the panicked yelp didn't come from her at least.

"What are you doing here? I'm busy. You're supposed to be guarding. Isn't that why I allowed you to live?"

"That's just it, we're being attacked. Dagon is here, and Famine too, and the one named Tydeus. They're all here, destroying everything."

"And you're in here telling me about it instead of doing something about it? Go! Stop them! This won't take long. Once I have her power I'll use it to get rid of the lot of them once and for all."

"Get rid?" Holly demanded as she kicked at him catching him with the heel of her foot. She wouldn't let him hurt her friends.

"Yes, my sons have become a thorn in my side. They are either with me or against me. Those that seek to broker peace and stay on my side, will be left to thrive. Those that defy me will be crushed beneath my foot." He caught her foot as she kicked out again. "Your attacks against me are weak, what could you possibly hope to get from all of this?"

"That's enough," demanded Atropos as Ruby and Quix appeared through a portal on the wall. "You will let her go, I will die first before I allow you to corrupt this life any more than it has been."

"You can die, Fate. I wouldn't mind that," he replied with a shrug. "But if you think you're getting this soul back, you're very much mistaken. I'm taking her gift for myself." He opened his mouth impossibly wide and tendrils of energy flowed out of her.

A golden ball of energy hit him square in the chest and the mass of it forced him off of her. Ruby helped her to her feet while Angel sneered. "I don't care who you are. No one is touching Holly. Holly, we're having a talk later about you deciding to run off. I assume you followed a voice in your head, but that's no excuse. I've got serious problems with you about this."

Holly normally would have been annoyed at him. But she was too busy letting the relief overfill her. They'd come for her. "Wait, how are you here?" she demanded of Ruby. "Aren't you guys going to be attacked by death?"

"They've brought that one demon to grant them a shield." Lucifer chuckled. "How quaint. It will protect them from Death's touch, but not from my power."

Angel rolled his eyes. "Tydeus, just team up with them while I get her out of there." He gestured to Famine and Dagon that chuckled. "All I care about is protecting her."

"That's the same thing we care about," Eros snapped. He glanced at Atropos and with a wince, he nodded.

"Holly, no matter what happens. I don't regret any of it. Life will go on if the Fates are reduced to two. I can't say this will work, and if it doesn't, I want you to run for your life." Atropos announced.

"What are you saying?" Holly demanded. The way that she said that sent a shiver down her spine. The way the woman smiled at her. This was goodbye. "No!" she argued.

A bright light erupted from Atropos and she fell to her knees as the lights split off and illuminated Lucifer, Death, and War, which Holly hadn't even noticed enter the crowded space. "I can't hold them for long. Get her out of here, now!" she ordered as a scream tore from her throat.

"No!" Holly struggled free from Lucifer as he was frozen in place. Whatever magic Atropos was using was potent. "Thank you," she whispered as she slipped away and over to Quix and Ruby.

"Come on," Quix demanded holding her tight to him and ushering her out of the room. "Let's go," he ordered of the rest. He nodded to Atropos before leaving with his precious bundle.

"Oh, I don't think this is going to happen at all," chided a voice. Atropos power faded at once and Sloth appeared. "It's time for you to have a taste of your own power, Fate," she sneered and snapped her claws.

Atropos froze in place now as those she had trapped were freed. "Thank you," Death nodded his head. His eyes met those of the fleeing group and he smirked. "Witness what happens to those that stand on the wrong side and note that none is safe, no matter what."

Holly struggled in the grips of her saviors but it was no use. They weren't about to let her free and Angel was already using his own magic to create an escape route. "Atropos!" she cried as she reached for her friend.

Death's jaw's widened in a familiar gruesome manner and the Fate vanished completely into his maw. When he pulled away the Fate was gone as if she'd never existed. He licked his lips and his eyes glowed a dark-pink as he laughed. "You're next," he called as the group vanished out of his sight.