Book 3: Chapter 42
Zayde
I stood behind Tiffany while she sat in a chair. She was physically fine; however it took about 2 hours for her to Actually calm down after seeing all the killing. Our covens were not gentle… All the left eyes will be sent to the church preserved in formaldehyde, along with the video footage.
Oddly enough the security cameras only worked before and after their entrance. That means whoever it is has at least *some* understanding of modern times. That didn’t really narrow it down…
The Horned One had a bowl of Noah and Jerold’s ice cream, the bull tracks one, for the first time after his meal, and smoked his pipe…. It was intricately carved, but I didn’t ask about it, nor did I bother him. His mood on all this death was chipper; no one of us were hurt. There was no reason for his ire…
Also, he did not appear himself this time, but rather taking on the form of a random witch. That was enough to tell me that he was only here to console us with his aura, and nothing else.
I was starting to get worried about father and my charges…. It’s been hours… even driving, they should be back by now.
Father and Micael never showed up, but Casey appeared at my feet as if on cue. I picked her up, as she was passed out until the scent of all the ‘offerings’ hit her nose.
“What smells so good?” She sleepily asked. Aptherraam stopped what he was doing to brief her for me… strange that he’d take initiative like that, but he was a demon raised *with* tiffany. Either he was showing reverence or kissing ass. Probably the latter.
“The blood of about 50 humans in total. They mixed it all together and magically sealed almost a gallon away for you. Master and mistress both said it may not taste as good being so mixed, but no one here knew what blood type was what.” Aptherraam said in his human form.
He was covered head to toe in gore, stuffed like a plump cat. Tinzaa too. They were down here first, so they got the lion’s share. Everyone feasted and courted, trying to make sense of all this… trying to keep spirits high after such a big… nasty affair.
“Did they leave a message?” I asked.
“The church ambushed us.” She said looking down. “I bit one guy… but their own people killed on the spot…”
“Go.” Said tiffanly.
My father’s location is compromised now… All that hard work on this land will be for not. I’m sure when he gets done with his mission, whatever it is, they’ll desaturate and reabsorb the dark magic that flows under our feet, and move the castle, likely to a different country altogether.
“Are you alright though dear?” I asked Tiffany, massaging her shoulders. I wanted to keep consoling her… however I can’t. I need to go out and aid the others. Her and mother were the spiritual leaders of the coven.
“I am. I can feel your stress to find your father and appearance.” She said leaning back, resting the back of her head on my stomach. “And I just got a little scared. I won’t risk pack- I mean coven for feelings.”
I kissed her on the top of the head. “I will return. If three of us cannot stop them, I doubut we were ever meant to.” I said sprouting wings. The elevator pad took me to the courtyard, and I shifted. Thankfully the patch over my lungs was healed, but the lung was still a little sore.
I flew as fast as I could go, while I had to force Typhen and Echidnah to stay. 5 would be best, but 0 protectors here would mean trouble… The Horned One does not involve himself in mortal affairs. It is why he gives us powers in the first place.
I got a lead about an hour in…. I don’t think they got any farther than the spike strips.
I closed my eyes, following the road in the direction of the Church… scenting demon on the wind. I veered to the left, seeing father, but not Micael.
[Shit] I snorted.
Father’s scales on his neck began to glow… One section by section, along with the back of his neck spines.
He breathed hot blood red energy though a dome of white light shielded whoever he was trying to kill.
[Where’s the boy?!] I yelled, flapping faster.
[No! Stay BACK!] He screamed.
Time…. It seemed to slow, since I was too far away to actually do anything about it….. All I could do is watch… A hot glowing spear was throne…. He was half beheaded by the church…
He slowly fell… The river of blood that gushed from such a large wound was pure acid, melting all it touched, except the white domed area.
Whoever was down there was important, and I was no match…. But I would still have to try. If Micael is down there… Behimoths are probably the rarest demons on Urth… they’re too big, and destroy too much too fast to linger…
They’ll take that poor boy and dissect him like a lab rat…
They will poke and prod the young fledgling, already knowing our weaknesses, but still doing it anyway for torment’s sake.
I watched the pure light get him in the liver… They didn’t charge that one as well….. They missed their mark too it seemed, but the damage was done. I caught him as he lost his form, and healed him with my magic. He wouldn’t be able to answer… I had him in my claws, shielding him from more damage. He was cupped in both hands, though I could not do whatever the fuck I just saw….
[I’m so sorry father… I should have came sooner.] I said blaming myself.
I should have…. I should have left two hours ago… I should have left when I began to miss them, knowing they should be back. Now he was dying in my hands, and I panicked.
Alteer was good to me… He was a good father… He was tough on me, but never made me feel like Stanley, the lowborn baker’s son… I was Zayde, his youngest hardheaded boy who followed in his footsteps…. How big they were when I was small… how I realized how much of a difference there was between his blood and my former growing up….
I had to admit my dad did have his cool moments, but he was now light poisoned. I closed my eyes and used about half my energy to send him to the ritual room…. Probably why he could only send just Casey….
I hope I’m not too late.
They shot at me now…. A glowing spear whizzed past my head with enough speed that it deafened my left ear a moment….
I rushed headfirst, angered by their boldness. If they wanted War they would fucking have it. I did a flip and dissolved my tail trying to bash the glowing dome. I screamed. That Hurt! I thought I’d smash through with blunt force since I wasn’t using magic, but I was WRONG.
“Begone Demon! You already vowed.” Shouted Arlen…. Though Parez had a sword ran through him from the back. None of them tried helping the dying man…. And I got pissed about that too… He was being betrayed as we were…
I knew I couldn’t trust Arlen, but I never expected a unicorn horn to be implanted in his own brother by him… Parez had his still holstered.
[Coward! Sneak Thief, Back Stabbing, Sniveling Coward!] I shouted.
I dodged his aim…. He held his wrist after he tossed it, but I thanked the Night that he missed. I would have lost a wing…
What do I do?
I tried to think… If I teleport through it…
If I teleport at half energy, I’ll have one chance. Just one. I’d go in, grab and save Parez, but I need to see Micael first. If they’re close enough, I can possibly save them both, but if not… unfortunately my only Light ally will likely die.
I flapped as fast as I could and did a big circle, seeing Micael. He was bound with his head bashed in pretty bad… blood pooled at the bottom of the cage they had him in. It steamed and bubbled while he burned form the pure silver.
I teleported, losing the rest of my tail, but the surprise allowed me to grab the man and the unshifted apprentice.
I lost a hand, but all three of us wound up in the ritual room….
Well, they did…. I lost my back legs; how inconvenient...
I was in so much pain I forgot what it felt like to be whole…. Witches rushed to the aid of Micael while I shifted and sat up. “Healios.” I mumbled. I didn’t have enough energy to regrow my limbs, but the last thing I remember was that I at least stopped the bleeding….
Holy shit… Holy shit Light hurts. I didn’t even have a tail anymore, yet the base of my spine still screamed.
The Horned One was still disguised as a normal witch, though he was with Tiffany. I remember seeing him walk over….
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
