Chapter 35 #2
A second later, the sword was raised and sliced downwards cutting the hand that’d been aimed for down the middle. As the hand slid apart, black blood sprayed out.
In surprise, Lanias stared at Alek’s back. Strands of his silver hair brushed her cheeks, causing her heart to tremble as she realized she was safe.
The ropes that had been keeping her bound loosened and slid from her hands.
Alek stood between her and Zaharis, a staunch wall between her and her nightmares.
“Lanias, are you okay,” Malcolm asked as he helped her up.
Eyes still focused on Alek; she bent at the waist coughing, not yet answering.
“Shit, what’s that?” Malcolm said, seeing the purple liquid that spread on the ground as she gasped. “Come on, we need to get you out of here.”
“No,” she said, pushing him away as she wiped her mouth. She glared at Alek’s back, “I’m not running away.” She stood straight, pulling her arm from his hold. “I can’t leave him here alone.”
“What are you talking about, you’re injured,” Malcolm insisted, trying to grab her again.
“If you take one more step. I’ll bury you here.”
The hand he’d reached out paused right above her arm.
“Damn you! Damn you!” Zaharis screamed at Alek, holding his bleeding hand.
Baring his black teeth at the Vampire, he growled out. “I should have killed you.”
Alek slashed his sword in a crisscross motion in front of him. “ Today you’ll pay for that mistake.”
Zaharis’ angry look turned into one of amusement.
“Will I?” Zaharis took a step back.
Seeing where he was going, Lanias ran forward yelling. “Alek, stop him.”
It was too late as the magic circle lit up beneath his feet.
Zaharis released malevolent laughter in the center. “You will regret going against me.” The black on his skin spread, and the light at the center of his eyes grew brighter.
Lanias, feeling the ground begin to shake, quickly spun around and clapped her hands together.
Gritting her teeth, she dropped to one knee and slammed her hands onto the ground.
Just in time as the world exploded around her.
Her vines shot up wrapping around her, Malcolm and Alek.
Yanking them up and breaking through the ceiling into the air above.
The vines drew back and threw them into the air.
The sensation of being shot into the sky at a ridiculous speed had her screaming. Her body hung for a second in the air, the blue sky overhead turned black. What appeared to be a cyclone began to circle above. She yelled out as she was caught in it, her body yanked and spun to the right.
She squeezed her eyes shut as she saw what looked like a car flying toward her.
Strong arms caught her and held her tightly causing the car to speed past barely touching her.
Opening her eyes she met familiar silver ones.
“I’ve got you.” Alek tightened his hold on her.
Lanias hugged him. “I know.”
Together they fell back to earth.
Alek landed lightly atop a building that overlooked the sight where Zaharis had been standing.
“Place looks like a warzone,” Malcolm said as he landed next to them.
The ground of the city was pulsing like a wave, a scary demonic magic escaping the center. The cyclone overhead released white lightning in intervals hitting the ground below and shattering the asphalt. The streets were destroyed and some of the buildings appeared to have imploded from within.
“That’s a good amount of power there,” he said, turning to watch as Alek set Lanias down. “I don’t think our original plan is going to work.”
Lanias, who forced herself not to collapse, the remnants of poison still stalling her recovery. She nodded, giving the buildings a once over. “I wasted a good death on him. I should have made sure he’d died.”
“You can’t blame yourself for this,” Alek said as his jacket whipped up from the force of the wind. His brow lowered in thought. “Right now, we should focus on destroying him.”
The sound of sirens filled the rushing wind as all three turned their gazes upwards in time to see the Veil surrounding the city showing weakness and forming cracks.
“No.” Lanias said in shock.
The Veil had stood against stronger magic, to see it cracking under the pressure of Surrem magic caused her heart to tighten. The destruction of the Veil would cause untold chaos around the world.
“Well, shit. That doesn’t look good!” Malcolm exclaimed, reaching into his back pocket for his phone.
“That’s not the only thing that’s not looking good.” Alek said, returning his attention to the growing crater behind them. The loud sound of the lightning hitting the ground had stopped, now something like sticky black liquid was escaping the cracks.
One of the pools of liquid began to take the shape of a human body. Its mouth opened and released a devil-like shriek.
“What do you think it is?”
Lanias frowned. “Looks like Golems, but stronger. Where are Tiller and the others? We’re going to need them.”
“Raijin is currently dealing with the Surrem,” someone said from above.
Oye slipped off the back of Castian and joined them. “Good thing, I ignored him and came here. With the Veil now shattering, the Blue Jays are occupied getting the people in the city to safety.”
“Great, just great.” Lanias slapped a hand on her face, shaking her head. “When we need every fighter, they’re all occupied.”
Oye walked to the edge of the building, “Doesn’t look good.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” Lanias snapped.
Oye, glanced at her, her gaze cool. “So, you should call on the Nerium. Isn’t this the type of shit we deal with?”
Lanias blankly looked at her before she muttered, “Stupid.” She laughed. “I’m so stupid.”
Alek was worried as her laughter held a crazy edge. Her shoulders were shaking, as she lowered her head.
“Lanias?”
Lanias straightened just before his hand landed on her.
“I’m so stupid,” she said, brushing her hair from her face. “I was so shaken by seeing him again, I briefly forgot who I am.”
Raising her hand, she rolled her wrist, and wriggled her fingers flashing her rings, the light of the sun flickered from them.
Lifting her hand her eyes deepened to the black color of her magic.
“One; for the show.” She snapped her finger.
A loud gong sounded from beneath her feet.
“Two; to get ready.”
The gong sound erupted again.
“And three, to kill our enemies.” She smirked.
Alek and Malcolm shared a confused look.
The gong sounded once more.
The world was falling all around them, and yet Oye and Lanias had found something to laugh at.
The air shuddered to a standstill as strands of purple light brightened the sky above them.
Malcolm and Alek braced themselves.
Oye stared at the sky. “Ah, they’re coming.”
Alek frowned as the wind wailed blocking the noise that Oye seemed to hear. It wasn’t long before he heard what she did, it sounded like a flock of birds.
Soon he realized the bird noise wasn’t birds at all.
The sound was of feminine cackling that filled the air as a thin line of black smoke approached circling over Lanias once before it fractured into several spots. And where those black spots fell women appeared. All of them were wearing black clothing.
A purple orb appeared over Lanias’ head. It slowly descended into her hands. She twisted it back and forth in her hand.
“It’s been so long, hasn’t it, sisters?” Her eyes lost their black color slowly turning bright purple. “Aren’t you all tired of sleeping?”
Alek didn’t know what the orb in Lanias’ hand was, but he could sense that it was powerful. He wanted to stop her from whatever she had planned.
“They hunted us. Beings and humans alike. So, we turned our backs on them,” she loudly yelled. “When they abandoned us, we looked out for our own. I have led you from Hell and protected you from many attacks on our progress, so I ask you now. Will you join me this one time in protecting our home.”
“Yes,” Oye shouted as she stepped forward, “I’ll join you.”
“I’ll join you,” Sabina added as she stepped from the crowd with Eliza beside her who also nodded her support.
Others shouted their support.
Lanias gave them a blood-thirsty grin, lifting the ball up before herself. “Then, I say our slumber is over.” With a snap the orb shattered in her hand.
The sound of a scream of one of the Witches echoed out starting a domino effect as each Witch hit the ground as their powers were returned.
The magic they’d hidden away in exchange for normal lives reawakened.
Even though she’d re-opened the organization, she prayed she’d never have to do this. But as she watched her witches regain the powers they’d hidden away, she couldn’t help feeling proud. The women who’d fought with her were stronger than anyone in the Veil knew.
She wanted to thank them for having faith in her to lead them.
As she looked away from them to meet Alek’s gaze, she wondered what he saw as he watched her change with her full power returned.
“Oh yeah, that’s the stuff.” Oye said, with a hiss of pleasure as she opened and closed her hands. She grinned; her eyes filled with an eager light for blood. Her eyes, even her sclera, now metal. “It’s been so long since metal has sung to me so loud.”
“I know what you mean,” Sabina said as she stepped forward as black smoke spilled off her. Her eyes were completely black, her expression blank. She looked down at her hands.
“I can’t believe I gave this up.” As she moistened her lips, scars appeared on her face. “I want to use it.” She cracked her fingers and violence radiated off her.
Eliza stared at the women all around her, shocked at the immense power radiating from all of them.
Catching her look, Lanias said to her, “Don’t be so surprised.”
Eliza turned her gaze back, blinking at the sight of Lanias.
The black eyes were gone, and now violet-colored orbs stared at her.
“This is what we’ve been this whole time.” She reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. White magic slipped off Eliza’s shoulder, and soon her body was covered in it.
Lanias removed her hand, the white magic swirling around her hand. “One day, you’ll know how to use your gift to this level.”
Turning away from Eliza, Lanias walked to the edge of the building. “Now that we’re thoroughly prepared. Should we go greet our visitors?”
Oye stretched out her right arm, metal slinked from it before forming a scythe. The staff part was wrapped in something white. She grinned at the sight of that.
“Look, even a few pieces of bone came out.” She rubbed her cheek against it. “I want to use this so bad.”
Sabina jumped up, landing on the railing. She spun around, saluting them with a bright smile.
“First one gets the worm.”
With that she fell backwards and disappeared down the side of the building.
She turned clockwise, her feet briefly touching the side of the building before she shot off.
Flipping midair, she landed on the ground which shook on contact.
A small crater appeared under her foot. She lifted her right foot and spun slamming her leg into one of the creatures that tried to attack her from behind.
The slime’s bodies shot back, slamming into the others.
Sabina shot off after it and grabbing it by the head she drew it back midair and slammed it into the cement while still moving, dragging it a few feet before they came to an abrupt stop.
She pulled its head to the final removal, when she was done she tossed it over her shoulder.
“Damn her for rushing,” Oye complained, chasing after her.
Soon the other witches quickly made their way over the side of the building. Lanias started to move when a strong hand held herin place. She paused then looked back to see Alek at her side.
“You don’t have to do this alone.” Alek said, his eyes full of something Lanias knew well.
Worry.
With a groan he pulled her into his arms. “I want to stop you, but I know I can’t.”
Lanias grinned against his shoulder, “Then don’t, join me instead.” She pushed back, looking up at him. “Help me. I’m asking you to help me defeat my demons.”
He bared his fangs, removing his arms, he clasped her hand.
“Gladly.” He turned to Malcolm and Eliza, who’d walked over to the Werewolf’s side. “Keep safe and let me know once you’re able to get in contact with Raijin.”
“Will do,” Malcolm assured him.
Alek took Lanias’ hand, together they stepped over the railing and fell out of sight.