Pierce walked in through the door on the cabin, followed by a rather large group of Daimons. She could see more gathered outside the door, no doubt here to witness her death and see the sunrise. The ones who entered fanned out around the room to take some sort of honor guard formation, and stood completely still.
Aiden watched them intently; alert for anything that might be happening. After the small psychic caress that Savitar had given her early, she felt more energized than she had ever felt.
Aiden?
Her head jerked slightly at the voice that appeared in it. Ash? she thought, her eyes never leaving those in front of her.
Yes.
I'd about given up on you, she said with a touch of anger. Did you know I’m about to be sacrificed?
I know. His voice was low. Do you know where you are?
Not really. Might be that cabin in the mountains Simi and I saw.
We’re coming to get you. Just keep talking to me, and I’ll find you.
Ash…no. She hugged her wings in close and lowered her head slightly as a Daimon walked pass. There’s too many Daimons, even for you. It’s okay.
Aiden… the voice held an exasperated warning to it. I’m not going to let you die, all right?
What about your precious timelines?
He actually snorted. This won’t be the first one I’ve screwed up. I need you to be ready… can you do that for me?
She watched as more Daimons entered the room. She knew it looked hopeless, but, bless his immortal heart, Ash was willing to give it a go and help her. She couldn’t turn her back on someone willing to do that…regardless of how currently pissed off she was with him leaving her in the diner.
Okay she replied. But, could you hurry? I’m getting a little… scared.
~~~~~~~~~~
Ash closed his eyes at her admission, knowing that she had to be terrified to even admit to being scared. He focused on her, narrowing down the possibilities of her location within seconds, and then turned to the group with him.
“We’re leaving,” he said. “There will be a lot of Daimons there, so we’re going to arrive about a quarter mile away, and approach.”
“What does Simi do?”
He looked to find a serious look on her face. “Do what you do best,” he told her, pleased at the inhuman smile that spread across her features.
He stopped as her fear prickled through him. “Change of plans,” he said. “We leave now, and we arrive on site.”
~~~~~~~
Patiently waiting for the moment he was to leave, Stryker took a long look at what had been his home for over eleven thousand years. His eyes took in every crevice, shadow and piece of furniture, then traveled to the hallway that led to the private area of Apollymi, the Destroyer. She had saved his people from a young death, teaching the brave ones how to elongate their lives by harvesting the inferior humans.
She treated him like her son, and Stryker owed her his life and his loyalty. Once this sacrifice was over, he would never be returning to his home, or to her.
He would miss neither.
His second in command, Davyn, approached respectfully. “It should be starting soon. Shall we leave now?”
“No.” Stryker smiled slightly. “Let the eagle have his moment to give his sycophantic ramblings, then we’ll go. I don’t think I could contain myself from killing him if I had to listen to him go on and on.”
Davyn considered. “I… shall also wait.”
Stryker shifted his eyes to look at him. “Remember… no one, except the eagle, kills the…eagle.” He closed his eyes briefly at that. “I don’t want Savitar to have any excuse to break up this little gathering.”
“What if he comes?”
“He won’t.” The Spathi Leader crossed his arms over his chest. “If this wasn’t suppose to happen, then Savitar wouldn’t have stopped with a mere warning.” He gave a deadly look at the frown that crossed Davyn’s face. “What?”
“Nothing, my lord.”
“You frown over nothing?” Stryker said lowly. “Say it.”
“You fear Savitar.” Davyn wondered if he had just spoken his death wish.
To his surprise, Stryker did not seem insulted. “Only an extremely stupid person would not be afraid of him.”
“Acheron isn’t afraid of him.”
“I rest my case.”
~~~~~~~~~~
The waves were, as Savitar would have put it, 'righteous today', as they pounded the shoreline of Neratiti. Surfboards stood leaning against a stand as their owner stared into the whitecaps that should have brought a desire to surf to his heart. Heavily tattooed arms were crossed over a bare chest, which also boasted a fair number of tattoos.
Something had happened, although Savitar couldn’t place what it was. The plan he had so carefully created over the past few thousand years was unraveling somewhere close to the end of its fabric in time, and somehow, he couldn’t place the where and why.
That greatly disturbed him, since he was omnipotent and all-knowing…not to mention laid back, and just a general bad-ass who liked to do a good deed every now and then. He would tempt the Fates, knowing that they were too afraid of him to object, but he would never change anything so much that it would alter a timeline. Yet, somehow that was what happened.
He’d done everything he was suppose to, even down to taking a hated trip to a hated place and warning Stryker instead of killing him outright. Hell, he’d even held back on the Omegrion after Pierce and his followers had murdered their own patria.
Somehow, somewhere, something had fucked up. Royally.
Now, Aiden would die. Savitar couldn’t let that happen. Not only would it show Stryker that she hadn’t been the right one to sacrifice, but it would make the Spathi leader pissed off enough to most likely step up his war against humans, and Dark-Hunters in general. Knowing Stryker, and unfortunately he did, the man would probably toss in Were-Hunters as the hunted, just to get at Savitar.
Daimons had always taken the occasional Were-Hunter life, since they would be able to absorb the magick and last longer, and Savitar never stepped in, since it was basically a demon eat animal, animal eat demon world.
Although, when people were targeted just to get at him, it tended to greatly piss him off. Then, he would most likely pound the heavy end of the cosmic hammer right between Stryker’s eyes… which would open up a new set of problems for Savitar.
Not that he minded problems, but they had a way of interfering with his surfing. He sighed as he regarded the ocean. All he wanted was to kick back, surf and chill with a little avian by his side.
His eyes closed when he realized what had happened. He, of all people, let someone get past the ‘don’t give a shit’ barrier that he kept around his heart. Caring for others had a tendency to literally stab you in the back, and had a way of messing up in cosmic proportions.
He had met Aiden, admired her, spent time with her, maybe even liked her and somehow that messed things up. Yeah, something had fucked up. Royally. Only Savitar never counted on himself to be that something.
~~~~~~~~~
Aiden listened to Pierce as he addressed the crowd around him. It was nearing dawn, and she could tell that more than a few Daimons were nervously watching the skyline. She started to panic, wondering if this was the end for her. Pierce droned on and on about some ancient prophecy, and how he had be chosen, and blah, blah, blah.
“…came to me when I was young, promising great fortunes and a destiny that will make me a hero to our ancestral cousins,” Pierce said. “My mate would join me in that, and although she is most undeserving, she should be honored to be sacrificed for this.” He looked at her, and smiled slightly. “In spirit, she will fly to the cosmos, and chase away the clouds that have darkened our people for far too long.”
Our people? Aiden sent the thought to him. You’re a Gerakian dickhead...a frikkin’ Were-eagle. And that wings of a cloud prophecy is pure bullshit.
Pierce glared at her. “It is time, my precious little sacrifice.” He smiled evilly. “When you come out of the cage, you will change to human.”
She raised a foot, curled all but her middle talon and glared at Pierce. She had, literally, given him the bird. Got two words for you… any guesses on what they are?
He glared, then looked at two of the more intense looking Daimons with him. “Drag her out of the cage, then knock her out.”
Once unconscious, she would have no choice but to revert to her human shape. She would be at their mercy, and, plainly put, dead. Ash! Now! Please! Aiden stepped to the farthest side of the cage as hands reached in for her. She bit at the hands that reached, pulling a piece of flesh off one, sending the owner howling in pain. Sensing her one chance, she flew for the door, landing on the floor in a pile as hands grabbed for her. She immediately reverted to human form, and struck out at the surprised Daimon while willing clothes on to her body.
A hand grabbed her from behind, and she sagged to the floor as her power temporarily left her. Pierce glared down at her. He pulled a leg back, kicking her hard in the side. “Stupid!” he snarled, kicking her again.
Aiden grunted in pain as a hand curled itself in her hair and lifted her head up. She could feel her magick flickering as it fought its way back from being sapped by Pierce. Magick, she could do without, but he also took her body’s strength, and all she could do was stare up at him as his fist fell on her.
“Nothing in the rules that said you had to be all prim and proper looking for your death,” he snarled as he continued to hit her. He looked up in shock as a hand grabbed his jacket and an angry face glared at him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Having arrived with the other three just outside the cabin, Vane had immediately been set upon by Daimons. He flipped one over his shoulder, punched out another and vanished, only to reappear amid a group of shocked Daimons.
“Boo,” Vane said, smiling dangerously as the Daimons scattered in fright. One thing he liked about Daimons was their dedication to living. Only the stupid ones decided to take on an immortal, two wolves and a demon. Then again, he did like a good fight…so, stupid Daimons were always welcome.
Simi easily worked her way through a group of Daimons who seemed a little too tough to be the run of the mill variety. Spathi would be her guess, and she so loved the small whooshing sound they made when they disintegrated. The only thing she didn’t like was that there was nothing left to barbeque. She had bought her extra-spicy barbeque sauce with her, and she had nothing to put it on.
As if hearing her annoyance, Ash killed a Daimon, spun and grabbed another one. “I’ll take you out to your favorite buffet after,” he called over to Simi, smiling slightly when she squealed in delight.
Get inside and help her. The voice in his head startled Vane so much that he missed the Daimon coming up behind him. He felt a weight against his back, and rolled with a large white timber wolf as his brother pushed him out of the way.
Pay attention! Fury growled at him before launching himself at another Daimon and laughing evilly.
The building Savitar’s voice said tersely. Now, please. Vane didn’t know what surprised him more, hearing Savitar, or the ‘please’ that accompanied it. Not one to argue with someone that made his own powers look like a sham magician, he teleported himself inside and immediately grabbed at the person who was hitting a woman on the floor.
Vane stared at the man, ready to kill, when Pierce reached out and touched him. Power seemed to vanish as Vane fell to the ground, confused as to what just happened.
With Pierce’s touch away from her, Aiden’s magick came surging back. Kick his punk ass, babe. She smiled at the voice in her head and stood, placing herself between Pierce and the person who had saved her.
Vane couldn’t move as a shadow fell over him, and then turned its back to face his attacker. Vane quickly summoned his powers as the woman he had saved stood between him and the man who had kicked her.
“Move,” Pierce told her.
“Fuck off, Pierce,” Aiden said. “You want him, you go through me.”
“He’s a wolf.”
“So what?” She held her hand behind her to help Vane to his feet. “He risked his life to help me, and that’s all that matters.”
Vane stood slowly as both his breath and powers caught up with him. He straightened and stood beside her, glad that she had decided to look beyond that vendetta she had with wolves over the death of her mother.
“Don’t let him touch you,” she said. “He can drain powers.”
“I noticed.” Vane glared, and then tired of being Mr. Nice-Wolf, he used his powers to dissolve every Daimon in the small room.
Pierce took a step back. “You don’t understand,” he nearly wailed. “This is what our kind needs to survive.”
“Trust me, Pierce,” Aiden said, “no one needs soul suckers to survive.”
He pointed at Vane. “My enemies enemy is my friend.”
“Keep up with current events, mate of mine, “ she said sarcastically. “Vane Kattalakis is Arcadian.” She sighed. “You can stay here all you want, but we’re leaving.”
“No.” He took a menacing step toward her, only to be shoved back by an invisible wall.
Vane looked surprised. He hadn’t summoned any wall. Then he looked at Aiden’s face, and saw the power in her eyes.
“Not this time,” she whispered as she stared at her mate. Power flowed around her, making her hair swirl with the currents. She screeched, the sound making Vane cringe in agony, and straighten just as fast as he found himself outside the building.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stryker sighed, not really surprised as the events crumbled around him. He really should have known better than to believe in this, and especially to believe in that idiot eagle. When Pierce had willingly killed off most of his own family, and nearly kill his mate to prove his loyalty to Stryker, the Spathi leader should have killed him on the spot.
Killing for loyalty was one thing, but trying to kill the key that could free them was another. The idiot knew that it had to be done on the dawn of his two hundredth birthday, and not in the dead of night in some condo complex.
Damn it. He should have known the eagle was going to screw it up somehow and blow their one and only chance with this little loophole in the curse.
Not even the news that Acheron and his demon were at the cabin was enough to make Stryker interested in venturing through a bolt-hole and kick some immortal ass. He just didn’t have the ‘heart’ for it, regardless how much damage he could be doling out.
"Happy birthday, Pierce Falconidae, "he said bitterly as he turned for his throne. "I hope your mate kills you."
Author notes
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Comments
1 - 8 of 8
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dang, i just imagen Stryker saying the last part and is really creepy *chills*
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Such anger in him at the end that you can totally feel it and it gives you chills!
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so sad an yet empowering... i love that savitar is kind of falling for her... well as much as someone like him probably could... poor guy. if he could do any good for her id hope that they get together!
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Savitar messed up? No. He didn't. He can't. It's incomprehensible. He's... Savitar, damn it!
Excellent fight scene, with the right amount of humor thrown in.
And I'm hoping Pierce will get the kicked out of him?
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Superb
Yay, short sweet simple but so so eloquent.
Thanks for the read
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Thank you
I had to keep this one short so that it wouldn't run in to the last chapter...wich will also be short, but hopefully worth it.
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Time for the typo hunt!
The first one I see is when Aiden and Ash are having their mind chat near the beginning of the chapter. Here is the sentence:
"Aiden... the voice help an exasperated warning to it."
"help" should be "had".
Second typo is in the sentence right next to the last one I pointed out. Just a puncuation error, I think. Here's the sentence:
"I'm not going to let you die, all right." There should be a question mark at the end of this, else it sounds kind of awkward. Or maybe that's just me...
( That whole bit with Stryker saying basically that Acheron was 'an extremely stupid person' was very funny to me. The evil guy has humor. )
Aww. Cute. Savitar let Aiden passed the barriers without him knowing. I love it when that happens.
Third typo. It's in the section after Savitar admits to himself that he messed up 'royally' in some way. It's in the first paragraph that starts with "Aiden listened to Pierce..." Here's the sentence:
"Pierce droned on and on about some ancient prophesy, and how he had be chosen..."
"be" should be "been". And although I checked on spell check, and it apparently means the same thing, "prophesy" should be "prophecy" or vise versa. Aiden sends a thought to Pierce with the word "prophecy" in it, when before you used "prophesy" Maybe it doesn't matter- but consistency is always good... If I'm wrong, I'm sorry.
Fourth typo. In the section where Aiden's helpers arrived. Here's the sentence:
"He flipped one over his shoulder, punched out and another and vanished, only to reappear..."
The word "and" should probably be deleted from the sentence.
I love the character of the Simi. She's morbidly cute and funny.
Fifth and last typo. In the last section, the second to last sentence:
"'Happy birthday, Pierce Falconidae,'he said biterly...."
"biterly" should be "bitterly"
I loved the last line! It was the best ending to this chapter. This was so good, and very action filled. Very exciting. Another great write! Can't wait for the conclusion. Have a great day! Or... night in my case... I'm off to bed. *yawns*
MoonNight
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Thanks! I have my both prophesy and prophecy in my spell check, so it missed them.
I noticed the biterly last night, but was too tired to correct it. The rest, well... that's why I love it when people point them out! Most times you've read your own things so many times that you miss the mistakes.
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