AN: And so begins the end of our wonderful adventure together.
Italics - past/memory
I hope you like it.
WITH BROKEN WINGS
Summer in the city was always an exciting time. The city filled with vacationers and tourists from around the world. It made disappearing in a crowd a lot easier when everyone was a stranger. Anakin used the anonymity provided by a crowd to his advantage over the summer, scouting out the city and the destruction wrought upon it. Today, fall had descended on the city. Long gone were the crowds of sightseers chased away by life and fear. He always preferred the fall. The subtle changes in the weather, the settling back into everyday routines. It had been too long since he had merely sat in a corner of a coffee shop and enjoyed people watching.
He surveyed the small gathering of regulars near the entrance to the café. Businessmen, lawyers, and old college friends gathered together to debrief the week's events both mundane and supernatural. A woman with long dirty blonde hair sat by the window with a laptop up and a diagram of some sort pulled up on the screen. She was muttering herself, a college student studying for an exam.
His target sat to her right. He wore a generic black business suit. The man in his late forties or early fifties and of Middle Eastern descent was completely bald and had distinct brown searching eyes. He appeared to be casually reading the newspaper, but Anakin knew better. The man had not turned the page in almost half an hour. He was waiting for someone. The final clue to his true nature was the bronze jackal-headed pin. Anakin had seen other people wearing similar jewelry; people he knew to be demons.
A new customer entered the shop. Both Anakin and the man glanced over at the entrance. A short woman stood in the doorway. In an analytical manner Anakin surmised she would be concerned very attractive and dressed to accentuate her physical allure. Her black leather pants were skin tight, and her maroon riding jacket left very little to the imagination. She had her thick black hair tied tightly in a bun and wore minimal makeup. Like the man, she too was not a generic white American, but her features suggested a more exotic parentage, perhaps Indian or Sri Lankan. She did not wear a jackal broach but had on a silver necklace with a different animal head. Anakin could not decide if it was a cat or a weasel.
He followed her progress to the counter. She placed her order and took a seat near him, pulling out her phone and calling up a news report on its hologram display. She smiled warmly at him, and he returned his attention to the book he was reading. His hot tea stood forgotten on the table. A waitress came over and paused at his table.
"Do you need a—wow, your eyes!" The younger waitress gawked at him.
Anakin smirked. Since his rebirth, his eyes had taken on a life of their own. Lucien had always said his eyes were one of his most attractive features. He wondered what the elemental would have thought of his new ones. The one eye was still the bright sparkling blue he had inherited from his father, at least most days. The other eye, the right eye, the one closest to Lucifer and Aeglaeca when he had destroyed them, preferred to change colors on a nearly hourly basis. Thankfully the colors chosen were normally human enough that he could pass off the eccentricity as a genetic abnormality. The last time he had seen himself in a reflection the eye had been a cold emerald.
"I'm fine, thank you," he said graciously.
The waitress blinked a few times. "Right, sorry. Sorry, it's just your eyes. They're different colors!"
Anakin shrugged. "I was born with them."
"Of course, silly me. I've just always had this fantasy…"
The barista at the counter spoke up, saving both the waitress and Anakin any embarrassment. "Martha! The milks need refilling."
Martha blushed. "Sorry, I best go."
Anakin bowed his head and returned to his book, turning the page.
"Do you get that often?" asked the woman.
Anakin blinked and looked up.
The woman's chocolate-colored eyes widened. "I can certainly see why they caught the young girl by surprise. They are very alluring."
The man in the suit stood up. Anakin cursed his luck. "So I've been told. If you'll excuse me, I've got a movie to catch."
The woman pouted. "But we've not been introduced. I'm Indira."
She extended a dainty hand. Anakin shook her hand, watching from the corner of his eyes as the man exited the café. "Anakin."
Indira slipped off her seat and settled into the chair across from Anakin. "Anakin? That is a most unusual name. It does have a lot of connotations behind it."
"No more so than Indira," returned Anakin. The man had rounded the street corner. He had lost him once again.
Indira laughed, pulling his attention back to the conversation. "So what is a handsome fellow such as yourself doing all alone on this glorious Saturday afternoon?"
Anakin eyed the woman before him more critically. He tried to scan her thoughts briefly and was met with resistance. The resistance was not substantial just to the point of someone being naturally immune to telepathy or other mind magics. Nevertheless, his family's history made him question any sort of coincidence. He placed the book down on the table to free his hands.
"Like I said I'm late to see a movie with a friend. We were supposed to meet up earlier, but he got held back at the checkpoint on the bridge," said Anakin smoothly.
Indira nodded her head in understanding. "Those checkpoints are a horrible bother. The military say they are necessary for public safety, but honestly if a witch wanted to burn down the city no grunt with a handgun is going to stop him or her. They should focus their effort to rounding up the witches already in the city."
Anakin nodded his head absently. The military government that had taken over the city following the assassination of the mayor and a number of other top politicians the day of his resurrection set up the checkpoints. The brutal authoritarian tactics of the new government were accepted by a public who lived in view of a constant reminder of exactly what hey were fighting against. A dense layer of clouds had surrounded Alcatraz Island a week after his resurrection. None of the members of the four military teams sent in to investigate the island were heard from again.
Anakin suspected the uses the islands was being put to following its brutal takeover. The island sat on a convergence of ley lines only duplicated in a number of other areas of the world. While none of the ley lines were of ancient significance, they were not average in size or power either. It was his opinion that Alcatraz had become Lucifer's base of operations for his nefarious schemes. The individual he had been following was one of Lucifer's known accomplices. He had hoped to be able to track the man to the island and discover the safest route through the maelstrom surrounding the island. His desperation to get onto the island was fueled by his desire to finally free his nephews from the clutches of his arch nemesis.
A siren sounded, announcing another set of attacks to subdue the various rebellions overrunning the city. He would find it hilarious if the casualties from those attacks were not so great. Announcing the attacks was meant to give citizens time to get into shelters. The problem was the announcements also served as warnings for the targets of those attacks. Half the city lay in ruins, and the rebellion only grew in number. Saving innocents was not part of his agenda today. He rose from his seat and checked his watch.
"It was lovely to meet you, but I must be going. My friend is new to the city and will be lost in the stampede to the shelters."
Indira dipped her head low and sipped on her coffee. "Perhaps, we will meet again, Anakin Halliwell."
Anakin stepped out of the shop before the impact of her words settled in his mind. He spun around and found the table they were seated at empty. He scanned his surroundings both physically and magically. There was nothing out of the ordinary, but she had been sitting right across from him and he had felt nothing. Someone that adept at cloaking themselves was not someone to underestimate. He crossed the road quickly and ducked into an abandoned alley. A final check of his surroundings did not reveal any followers. He orbed away, his thoughts drifting back to when his search began.
Anakin stood apart from the rest of his family, watching them grieve. The Halliwell family had gathered together in the blown-out remains of the Manor. The police raid had left his ancestral home in tatters, but he felt very little attachment to the house. His reason for choosing it as a meeting place was completed. He had gone down into the basement moments after transporting his two aunts and nephew to the house. The Nexus with all of its vast connections to deeper and older magics was permanently sealed off from this plane of existence. They could not allow it to fall into the hands of evil.
He was relieved to see his mother. She had been the closest to death according to Uriel. Fate had already written her name on the List, but he had changed the situation exerting his will in a way he only knew Powers were capable of doing. She was still pale and weak but alive. Paige was currently healing her of any lingering ailments. Notably absent were his brothers. They were still in the midst of being transported to a navy ship a hundred miles out to sea. There they would be held indefinitely as enemies of the state. They were due to board the carrier ship in the harbor any moment now.
"Adelrich Watson, a word," called Anakin calmly.
The older man frowned at him from his spot amongst the Halliwells. He was holding on tightly to a sobbing and shaking Sophia. She like the rest of the teens was only recently told the whole story of the failed rescue attempt of Zach. The only teen who was in a worse state of shock and sadness was Beth Parker. Emotionlessly he watched Adelrich extricate himself from his inconsolable daughter grasp.
"Yes?" asked the tall man clearly annoyed.
Anakin raised an eyebrow and stared at the man coldly. "Are your men in place to intercept my brother's transport?"
Adelrich blinked rapidly, clearly surprised Anakin knew as much. "That is correct," he said hesitantly.
Anakin nodded. "And you have a secure way of communicating with the team leader?"
Again, Adelrich struggled to mask his surprise. "Yes."
"Have them stand down," said Anakin smoothly.
Adelrich's bushy eyebrows shot upward. "What! No. Never."
Anakin kept his face passive. "Mr. Watson, your men will only get in the way. The people in charge of the transport of my brothers are far too powerful for mere witch hunters to deal with. I would prefer to keep the casualties to a minimum. Have your men stand down. Perhaps, they could be redirected into operations to saving the people trapped in the rubble at the courthouse."
Mr. Watson looked him up and down. "Who are you?"
Anakin smirked. "Anakin Halliwell, of course."
He orbed away before the leader of the witch hunters could respond. He arrived on the deck of a medium-sized fishing vessel. A few of the men on board screamed at his arrival. A wave of his hand threw them overboard. He strolled briskly toward the command cabin. The heavy metal door slammed shut in his face. Wasting no time in useless shouting, he raised his hand and shoved it forward. The doors hinges creaked and groaned against the additional pressure. Something akin to a magical ward snapped into place, but Anakin was ready for the eventuality. Both of eyes grew bright and shone with a brilliant blue glow. The ward-like energy reverberated and shattered. Someone inside the cabin let out a bloodcurdling scream. Anakin gestured once more, and the door shot inward. He stepped inside, trampling over the crushed remains of the door's guards. Only the captain and a man dressed in army fatigues remained alive.
"Captain, please turn off your radio. I do not wish to harm any more innocents."
The captain reached out to follow his command, but the man behind him cleared his throat. The captain paused, struggling between two powerful instincts. Anakin solved his dilemma by blowing up the control panel. The captain stumbled away from the wreckage, but the other man remained where he was.
"I take it you are in charge of the two prisoners?" asked Anakin icily.
The man nodded, face expressionless.
The captain whimpered and curled himself into a ball. Anakin gestured freezing the man in place. He turned his attention to his real adversary. He was clearly not surprised by magic, but he did not give off the usual stench of a demon or warlock. Letting out a slow breath Anakin examined the room, searching for traps. The government had a long time to perfect their defenses against magic since the last time he had gone up against mortals. Even if the man was not a demon, he could still be very deadly.
"A name?" asked Anakin.
The man lowered his sunglasses, revealing red eyes.
"So you are a demon. I was wondering how I could have gotten my facts remarkably inaccurate. Rahab would not leave my brothers in the hands of mortals. I'm sorry to say, but your bitch of a queen is on the run."
The demon bared his yellowed teeth. "But my lord is risen again. Your days are numbered, witch."
Anakin smirked. "They always were. I don't plan on living forever."
Unsure of how to take Anakin's taunts, the demon attacked. He threw a massive fire ball at Anakin followed by a dozen smaller ones. Anakin did not even flinch. He let the fireballs pass right through him before conjuring one of his own. He waited until the demon's mouth dropped open before attacking. His fire ball did not fly through the air so much as one moment it was in the palm of his hand and the next it was leaving a massive hole in the demon's chest.
Anakin turned around and stepped back out of the cabin. The presence of the demon was all he needed to tell him that his brothers were already on board. He could not sense them, but wards against whitelighter magic were ridiculously easy to erect. Wanting to make a spectacle of the whole affair to remind the Underworld exactly what his family was capable of he raised his hands above his head. The floor beneath him rumbled softly but quickly the rumble built in intensity. The whole first deck of the ship evaporated. Revealing a second deck, which soon followed the first. The third and final deck was swarming with demons. Anakin lowered his hands and thick bolts of lightning rippled out of the cloudy sky, striking them dead. The over powered streams of superheated electricity left massive holes in the remains of the ship's hull.
Anakin landed gently on the sinking ship and calmly walked over to two cages. On the iron bars were carved ancient sigils and runes. He laughed at the naivety of the person who created the two prison cells. The magic would hardly have stopped his brothers from escaping if they had not been sedated. A simple gesture ripped the cages' doors free. Anakin picked up Chris and strung him over his shoulder with inhuman ease. Wyatt was already waking up by the time Anakin reached his cage.
"Up and at it, Wyatt. This boat isn't going to remain afloat much longer."
Wyatt's eyes grew to the size of saucers. "Annie?"
"I'll explain later. Let's go. My little rescue operation will have attracted a lot of attention."
Wyatt struggled to his feet and took Anakin's offered hand. The three brothers orbed out moments before the first of five missiles struck the boat and surrounding area.
Anakin deposited Chris on the couch and stepped aside for a heavily pregnant Serena to smother his groggy brother in kisses. He turned away and was met by the questioning stare of his eldest brother. He knew he owed Wyatt an explanation, but he was exhausted. Despite the lackadaisical way he had used his powers back at the boat, he was not as all-powerful as the display would make him appear, at least not anymore.
"Give me two minutes to wash up, Wy."
Wyatt caught him by the shoulder. "No. Washing up can wait."
Most of the family was too lost in their grief to truly register what was going on around them. In fact, he was not entirely sure his mother and sister had recognized the addition of Wyatt and Chris to their number. One person who had noticed was Sarah, and she was making a beeline to them.
"Perhaps, but your wife cannot." Anakin slipped out of Wyatt's grasp and retreated from the room.
Rebecca sat on the steps of the Manor, holding a framed photo to her chest. She looked up when he entered the hallway and grimaced. "Sorry."
Anakin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "What are you sorry for?"
"Being in the way. Being sad. He was your nephew. I'm—I'm not even family."
Anakin bent down and sat on his haunches. He softly wiped aside a tear clinging to her grimy cheek. "He was your boyfriend, and he cares for you deeply. I don't think he would begrudge you mourning his capture, and neither does his family."
Rebecca nodded but did not look convinced. "We—ho—hic."
"He never stopped loving you, Rebecca. It was his love for you that saved him from that demon's seduction. That is no small thing. Don't doubt yourself or your love for him. It may be all that saves him again," said Anakin softly.
"I'm not sure I can stand this. He gave himself up to save us. We tried to save him and lost Michael and Matt. How—how can…what sort of life is that?"
Anakin patted her knee. "It's the life of a Halliwell. I struggled against it for years. In the end, I understood the importance of my sacrifice. It saved the people I loved. And for all the hurt my death might have caused, I hope that I can say none of them would trade in knowing me for the chance of not knowing that pain."
Rebecca nodded slowly. "I—I just don't know."
"I…"
Wyatt interrupted him. "Anakin," he said gruffly
Anakin glanced over his shoulder at his brother. "Time to face the music. Believe me, Rebecca, he's worth it."
Anakin stood up and straightened his shirt. "Wy, let's talk in the kitchen."
Wyatt nodded and let him lead the way through to the kitchen. Like the rest of the house, the kitchen was a disaster area. Anakin briefly wondered if his mother had seen the remains of her beloved kitchen. He would hate to see what would be left of the persons who did this to the room. He leaned back against the kitchen island and waited for Wyatt to speak first. Wyatt did not disappoint.
"How are you here? What happened to Zach? Where're Matt and Mike?"
Anakin pondered the questions. "What do you know of what has happened?"
Wyatt glared at his baby brother. "Stop avoiding the question! What are you? A fucking elder?"
Anakin sneered. "Wouldn't that just be the icing on the cake? No, I'm not an elder. I'd never join those pompous sacks of hot air."
"Then what are you?"
"I'm Anakin, your brother. The ritual Rahab and Tiamat performed to bring back Lucifer…"
"LUCIFER IS BACK!"
Anakin held up his hands to silence his brother. "Yes, he's back. The ritual they used to release him from the Cage created a rift in the fabric of the universe. The only way Uriel knew to repair the damage was by creating a balance. Who better to correct the imbalance created by Lucifer than the witch who defeated him the last time?"
Wyatt ran a hand through his matted blond hair. "But—but that's impossible. No one can bring back the dead. It's impossible."
"Uriel is THE Angel of Death. I think he has the ins and outs of death pretty much fixed in his mind. Anyway, it's pointless arguing if it is possible. I'm here. Clearly, it is possible." Anakin played with his fingers.
"And Zach, Matt, and Mike?"
Anakin cringed. "I'm so sorry, Wy. I tried to stop him, but he's one slippery bastard. Matt and Zach are with him."
Wyatt slapped both hands over his mouth and sunk to the floor shaking his head.
Anakin's upper lip shook. "Mike is dead."
Wyatt looked up at Anakin through tear-filled eyes. "How?"
Anakin shrugged. "I'm not sure. It was before I got there."
"Does Prue know?"
Anakin nodded, deciding to take a seat on the floor as well. "I explained it to everyone before going to get you and Chris. I know it's terrible, and we all need to grieve. The problem is the Manor isn't safe. Lucifer will come after us. He knows striking us while we're reeling is his best chance of destroying us. He has mortals on his side. We need to find a safe haven."
Sarah walked into the kitchen, eyes red and puffy. "What about my family's compound? It's the safest place I know besides the Manor."
Anakin nodded. "That could work. Will your family accept outsiders? Those grounds are sacred."
Sarah squared her shoulders. "They'll do whatever they're told. I want my son back, Anakin. If you need a stronghold to plan how you're getting him back, then I'll get you a damn stronghold."
Anakin bowed his head, smiling inwardly. "Thank you, Sarah."
A week had passed since the last time he had managed to follow the man in the suit. In the interim, he had discovered the name the man used with humans: Arnold "Arnie" Vosloo. He claimed to be the grandson of the actor by the same name. Anakin had to admit the man did bare an uncanny resemblance to the actor. The Arnie Vosloo was a lowly aide to the current representative for the city of San Francisco in the United States Congress. He was in town to gather personal testimonies of the horrors the city's inhabitants were facing. If only the people he interviewed knew the truth. Anakin had successfully followed the man from the newly constructed army barracks, which served as the functional governing center for the city, to a small speedboat docked in the harbor. The speedboat had disappeared from his magical radar on the edges of the storm surrounding Alcatraz.
Anakin currently stood on top of the Golden Gate Bridge with the cold sea breeze blowing through his slightly too long blond hair. He needed to get it cut. The city beneath him was in chaos. Helicopters buzzed through the air: some firing missiles and machine gun bullets into the buildings and streets and others trying to capture the destruction in the name of journalism. A loud rumble announced the collapse of the last segment of the Transamerica building. Flames engulfed the Fisherman's Warf.
During the last week, one of the rebellions had managed to get their hands on a tank or two. They had used the powerful weapons to terrible effect. After the destruction of the children's tower at one of the hospitals, the army had responded by turning the two tanks, the street, and the surrounding buildings to molten rubble. The casualties from that day were so astronomical that even a few tyrannical international regimens had come out and condemned the actions of the military.
He turned his attention to the mass of swirling clouds hiding Alcatraz from view. Lightning crackled and flashed dangerously. From deeper an angry and foreboding orange glow pulsated. The sea around the hidden island appeared to be in the midst of a terrible tempest. Waves crashed into other waves, spraying icy foam and seawater feet into the air. Wreckage of powerful vessels dotted the bay. The latest victim of the storm was still spewing ash, smoke, and fire from its shattered metallic belly.
"They're in there?" asked Wyatt appearing out of a swirl of telltale orbs.
Anakin scowled. He had warned his brothers and sister to stay with their mother and rest of their family back at the Compound. "Lucifer has wards in place to block my powers, but if they continued on from the last time I sensed them, yes."
Wyatt raised his hand and conjured a bright orb. "Then what are you waiting for?"
Anakin caught his brother's wrist before the older witch could throw the orb. "No, Wy, no. Their only chance of survival is surprise. Lucifer won't hesitate in murdering them if he felt threatened. At the moment they're serving their purpose, keeping us at bay. If he realizes we're here…"
Wyatt gritted his teeth and crushed the orb in his fist. Smoke poured out from between his fingers. "So what's your brilliant plan to rescue Matt and my son?"
"I never said I had a plan," mumbled Anakin to himself.
The taller and more physically powerful Halliwell grabbed him by the shoulders and shoved him roughly against a red metal column. "WHAT IS THE PLAN!"
Anakin rubbed the back of his head. A welt was forming where his head had connected with the metal structure. "Calm down."
"Calm down? CALM DOWN! That monster has my son. MY SON!"
Anakin's eyes flashed, transitioning from the green and blue to their formidable brilliant blue. "I know, Wy, believe me, I know. We're walking a tight line between success and failure."
Wyatt threw a punch, which Anakin automatically deflected. "This isn't some goddamn stratagem. This is my son. This is about Matt. Fuck, success and failure. We're getting our kids back. NOW!"
The storm over Alcatraz altered in intensity. Lightning built in force and struck out for the bridge. Both Wyatt and Anakin orbed out moments before the bolt of plasma and electricity connected with the spire. Metal superheated and buckled. Cables snapped and the whole bridge shuddered. Thunder boomed out across the ocean shattering road and glass in its wake. A dark shape floated out of the clouds. It threw something shiny at the bridge. The bridge shimmered and exploded. Anakin could only imagine how many people had suddenly lost their lives.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are," taunted the shadowy figure in a loud screech that echoed across the Bay and city.
Another figure, this one surrounded by a bright halo of white light slipped out of the clouds and pulled the shadow back into the storm.
Anakin reappeared, floating in midair. Wyatt followed but fell out of the sky. Anakin reached out and caught his brother by the wrist, letting him hang from his arm.
"What the hell was that?" shouted Wyatt over the bitter wind.
Anakin slowly lowered his levitation until they were skimming the water surface. A snap of his fingers created a layer of thick ice. He placed his brother on the new thick ice shelf.
"That was Lucifer's latest handiworks. Without a balance of Powers to exert the Will of the Creator, he is able to finally accomplish one of his greatest desires: a creation of his own. Lilith and the other First Demons were shadows of his true dream. As powerful as they were, they ultimately were not his alone. He needed Hellequin's aid in breathing will and life into them," explained Anakin dispassionately.
Wyatt shuddered. "You've got to be joking."
Anakin chuckled darkly. "I wish I was. He will create an army of those things and exert his will on Creation."
"Can they be killed?"
Anakin shrugged. "The First can be vanquished. I don't think anything of this realm is truly immortal. The question is what will it cost to vanquish something designed to be the physical manifestation of the most powerful wills in Creation. I burnt Lucifer's very essence to a crisp, and he forced himself to stay alive. What's to say those things can't do the same?"
Wyatt ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. "Anakin, what are we going to do?"
Anakin grinned manically. "What we always do, the impossible."
Wyatt scowled. "What does…"
"I think I see a way in," interrupted Anakin.
"Wh—what?" stammered Wyatt.
Anakin cocked a challenging eyebrow. "Coming?"
He offered a hand. Wyatt took hold of the hand and felt himself dissolve into the air. He blinked, and the dark clouds surrounded him. They were now inside the storm, standing on solid ground. He looked up and saw the source of the insidious orange glow. Where the prison building once stood was now a massive mountain of flowing liquid lava.
"A volcano?"
Anakin dropped his hand and shook his head. "It's molten brimstone. My guess: it's the clay Lucifer is using to form the physical bodies of his creations."
Something flew over them. Anakin pulled them into the shadows.
"Why here?"
Anakin shrugged. "Why not? San Francisco sits on a massive intersection of lay lines, but so do a half dozen other places in the world. Could be Lucifer's way of claiming the city."
Wyatt frowned. "But Jonathan set up his base here as well, and…"
Anakin signaled for him to stop talking. Something heavy landed on the roof of their alcove. Debris and dust tumbled out of the cracked and ruined roof as the creature moved. Wyatt heard its raspy breath even over the cacophony from the storm. It clicked and screeched. A second creature dropped out of the sky right in front of the alcove. Wyatt held his breath.
The creature vaguely resembled the preferred humanoid form the wraiths often took. These new creations, however, were taller and leaner than the wraiths. Their skin appeared to be more reptilian and was shaded a dark violet. The one in front of them had a deadly looking beak instead of a mouth and nose. Its sickly green eyes glowed with malevolence and brutality. Out of its back sprouted two massive wings covered in polished black feathers. It opened its beak and a high-pitched wailing pierced the air. Distant creatures echoed the earsplitting cry. It jerked its head from side to side and jumped, wings spread out, and it vanished from view. Sounds from the roof announced the other creature's departure.
Anakin stepped out of the shadows and peered out of the alcove. "It's clear."
"They're—shit."
Anakin nodded. "Scary aren't they?"
"How many do you think there are?"
"If his experiments with demons are anything to go by, the first batch will consist of six or seven lieutenants. From there it's anybody's guess. The process is not simple. He will test his first set before forming more. He does not lack pawns to throw against his other enemies and us at the moment."
Wyatt eyed his brother. "How do you know all this?"
Anakin smiled, eyes sparkling. "Now's not the time, Wy. I broke you and Chris out of prison to protect Mom, Prue, and the rest of the family. Without you there they are in danger. We need to hurry."
Wyatt growled.
Anakin breathed out and offered his brother an apologetic look. "It's—I'll explain everything once we're done here. Ok?"
"Fine. Can you sense Zach or Matt?"
Anakin nodded. "They're directly below us."
Wyatt looked down at the ground. "How?"
Anakin glanced up at the sky. "Are you ready to fight one of those things?"
"What!"
Anakin, eyes shining, raised his hand above his head, calling down a dozen bolts of lightning. The ground beneath them exploded, and they fell into the newly formed hole. Amidst the sounds of destruction, Anakin heard the cry of one of the creatures. The alarm had been sounded. He hit the ground and rolled out of the way of a massive block of concrete. Wyatt's shield sprung to life. Anakin scrambled to his feet, feeling lightheaded and woozy. He reached up and felt a thick strip of warm blood on his forehead. He reached for his brother.
"We've got maybe five minutes before all of hell descends on us."
Wyatt spun around and vanquished a clocked warlock who was crawling out of the rubble. "What happened to needing the element of surprise?"
Anakin glanced at the gaping hole they had fallen through. "The whole place is warded to the hilt. Breaking through the roof was the only option. Matt and Zach are close. You go and find them. I'll distract the guards."
Wyatt bit his lip. "Anakin…"
"Go, Wy!" shouted Anakin; the first of the creatures, this one with a more feline face just dropped down into the hole. Wyatt vanished through an opening in the rock face.
The creature screamed and charged. Anakin waved his hand and pieces of the debris flew at the creature. It batted the massive boulders aside with no more effort than flicking away an insect. With a moment to spare, Anakin ducked and sidestepped the creature. It stumbled to a stop and spun around.
"Anakin, I thought you'd be a challenge," the creature said in a very melodic voice.
Anakin's now brown eye darkened and his blue one grew bright. "Sekhmet? Couldn't he be original at least?"
Sekhmet gave him a feral grin. "You don't like my name? I'm hurt."
"Where's Rahab?"
Sekhmet licked her lips sensually. "She is where she belongs."
Anakin slowly inched his way away from Sekhmet while keeping the doorway Wyatt had disappeared through behind him. The beaked creature landed just behind Sekhmet.
"What is taking so long?" squawked the latest arrival.
Sekhmet glared at bird-face. "Shut it, Montu. Go find a rat to feast on."
Montu shook his head, and energy crackled around him. "Anubis wants this done."
Sekhmet chuckled. "And you're Anubis' little bitch? I'm one of Lucifer's chosen. Anubis can kiss my ass. I'll take as long as I like."
The energy around Montu shimmered, and the temperature in the room rose dramatically. The floor nearest the angered creature bubbled and started to liquefy. Anakin closed his eyes, praying Wyatt found his nephews soon.
"There was a second," said Montu followed by a series of clicks.
Sekhmet rolled her green eyes. "Set is following him."
Montu eyed Anakin. "Witches, pathetic. Hurry up and end him." His wings opened up and with a powerful sweep lifted him back out of the hole.
Sekhmet, smiling, turned her attention to Anakin. "You'll have to excuse my colleague. His manners have never been the best."
"How many are there of you?" asked Anakin, stalling for time. He needed a plan to dispatch Sekhmet quickly. He needed to find his brother.
Sekhmet pondered the question. Her feline ears twitched in interest. "Lucifer is his incredible wisdom deigned to create seven of my kind to act as his lieutenants: four to do his dirty work, two to gather intelligence, and one to be his spokesperson."
"Including Montu?"
Sekhmet guffawed. "Montu is a half-wit."
Anakin shivered. If the winged, bird-faced creature was considered the weakest of these new demons, he was in for a terrible battle. Sekhmet certainly gave off the aura of a trained and highly skilled warrior. He had felt her sizing him up and probing his mental defenses as they spoke. His knowledge of Egyptian deities was severely lacking. He recognized the name Anubis, but Montu and Sekhmet escaped him. Regardless, he was not sure the knowledge would even prove helpful. Lucifer could have chosen the names simply because he liked the sound of them. The beings the legends were based on were long dead and vanquished, save one.
Sekhmet shifted her stance, and her wings pulled back tightly until they were almost indistinguishable from her scaly skin save for their color. She produced a pair of wicked looking sai. She dropped into an attack stance and beckoned him to make a move. The sickly green eyes slowly melted away to be replaced by predatory amber. Her feline smile sent a shiver down Anakin's spine.
He recognized he would be outmatched in physical combat; it had been nearly a decade since he had wielded a sword. He opted to keep their battle purely magical, which meant keeping a great deal of distance between him and the lioness demon. He waved his hand and sent another massive boulder soaring toward her. The moment she focused on the rock, he flicked his wrists unleashing the deadliest power he had inherited from his mother. She ducked under the boulder and blocked his second attack with her weapons.
She motioned with the tip of one of her sai, and the collection of debris and rubble behind her rose into the air. Another small twitch sent the makeshift weapons hurtling at him. Anakin threw out one hand in front of him. His palm grew fiery red and a wall of destructive energy enveloped everything in front of him. Rock, cement, and metal were vaporized in the wake of the wave. Sekhmet's massive wings sprang to life and surrounded her. Anakin flicked his wrists four times in quick succession. Each blow drove Sekhmet backward but did not penetrate her black wings.
He stopped his onslaught, and she arose unwounded. She smiled in victory. Anakin pointed up. She looked up to find herself beneath the massive hole Anakin had created in the roof. Anakin pulled his hand down hard once again calling lightning down from the sky. She screamed, but she was too late. A bolt of lightning struck her in the shoulder, leaving behind a smoking ruined mess of burnt flesh. Anakin flicked his wrists. Unprepared, the attack found its mark. A large section of flesh from her stomach disintegrated. Before he could attack again, she flapped her wings and vanished through the roof. Anakin let out a sigh of relief.
Wyatt charged down the formless passageway. The few demons he met; he easily dispatched. Even with Anakin telling him his son and Matt were somewhere in this fortress, he could not sense them. He had to trust that his brother was telling him the truth. There was no reason for Anakin to lie to him, but his brother had not been himself ever since his resurrection. He felt too cold and distant at times. It was more than a defensive measure like Sarah and Chris kept telling him. There was something he was keeping from everyone else, something important.
He reached a fork in the passage and stopped to catch his breath. One fork led up and the other down. His first reaction was to take the one leading deeper into the earth. They were going after demons. Something gave him enough pause to question his initial judgment. Lucifer was originally a Power That Be. Anakin had said he sensed the boys beneath them, but how far beneath them.
"God damn you, Anakin!" he yelled.
He chose the passage heading down and started running as fast as he could. The alarm had been raised. They were running out of time. He had to find his son and nephew soon. He could not lose either of them. They had lost too much already to the fight between Good and Evil. They deserved a break. The passageway spilled out into a massive auditorium. He tried to stop himself but the ground was wet, and he slipped.
"Not so agile are we, Twice Blessed?" mocked an echo.
Wyatt spun around. The room was empty as far as he could see. In the center sat the base of the volcano. Small cracks in the conical mountains façade revealed glowing red-hot magma. The smell of sulfur was suffocating. Sweat dripped down his back and covered his forehead. The heat in the room was unbearable.
"Show yourself," he yelled.
Something in the shadows to his right shifted. He struck out with an energy ball. It flew harmlessly through the air until it collided with the distant rock face.
"A little bit jumpy, today, aren't we?" taunted the voice.
Wyatt closed his eyes and forced himself to still his mind. He needed to be focused if he was going to break through whatever cloak his tormentor had on him. As his racing thoughts stilled the sense of the ebb and flow of magic around him grew more distinct. It had been Anakin who had taught him this trick. To his left was a vortex of magic, like a rock in path of a rushing river. He also picked up a glowing spark. His eyes flew open. Matthew!
"I don't have time for games. Come out and fight or slink back into whatever puddle of pus you crawled out of," called out Wyatt.
Exactly where the vortex in magic was appeared a young man dressed in all black. He was slightly shorter than Wyatt and had blond hair cut in the style of a marine. His emotionless grey eyes shone with untapped power, almost like Anakin's did. The man was stockier than him also, but Wyatt had no doubt the excess weight was pure muscle. Wyatt called forth Excalibur and poured some of his magic into the blade. The blade ignited with a deadly blue energy. The man smirked.
"An incredible weapon. It is second only to the famed sword my master wields. Perhaps I shall claim it today and get to test it out against its twin," said the man with a slight accent.
Wyatt charged forward with Excalibur held high. His blade swiped down and crashed into a blade made of bronze. His blow drove the man back, and he stumbled. The man used the retreat to roll down onto his hip and came around slashing wide and level with his ancient sword. His grey eyes blazed with an intensification of the feral nature Wyatt initially spotted. The snarl on his face matched his eyes and betrayed no sort of surprise or fear Wyatt usually saw in his opponents.
Wyatt leapt above the slash, though not as high or as aerodynamically as he would have liked. He was not used to facing a formidable opponent with Excalibur. He switched hands and stabbed Excalibur downward to catch the second return cut. He pivoted on the ball of his foot and snapped a side kick at his opponent's head. He ducked back, rolling through a somersault, and came to a stop back on his feet.
His bronze blade came up in a guard high by his ear. Wyatt faced him, his blade held in two hands and running from his breastbone toward a point near his instep. The light from Excalibur turned his sweat into a lustrous sheen.
Wyatt attacked and the man parried. They exchanged furious blows, neither gaining a clear advantage. With each retreating step, Wyatt felt his muscle memory returning. Every attack proved to him how little he truly knew about sword fighting. He could feel his muscles beginning to tire. The dull ache in his shoulders made him bite his lip. He needed help, and it would not be coming.
"It seems the Twice Blessed is not all who he is cracked up to be," said the man, panting heavily.
"Maybe not, but his brother certainly packs a punch," yelled Anakin.
Both Wyatt and the man spun around. Anakin lowered one of his hands while raising the other. The largest fire ball Wyatt had ever seen sprang into existence between his brother's palms. The fire ball vanished for a second and reappeared inches from the man's chest. His eyes were burning a brilliant white, and his human mask was slipping. The skin molted off revealing black silky fur. His nose elongated into a long snout similar to an anteater's nose. He gritted his teeth, which were no longer human but more shark-like. Wyatt could see the inch thick layer of pure energy the man was deploying to keep the fire ball from burning him to a crisp.
"Find Matt and Zach," yelled Anakin, keeping the pressure on the demon.
"What is he?" asked Wyatt.
"Set," hissed Anakin, dropping to one knee. The fire ball was slowly moving away from Set.
"Set?" Wyatt raised Excalibur.
Anakin shimmered out of the way as his own attack burst away from Set. It crashed into the floor where he had been kneeling, leaving behind a creator. Anakin appeared next to Wyatt. Set grinned and conjured balls of utter darkness. His sword lay forgotten on the ground. The power in Excalibur blinked and died. Wyatt felt something tug at the part of him he associated with his magic. Anakin whispered a few words and spun around in a circle. A cage similar to the one formed by crystals sprung to life.
"You sensed, Matt?" asked Anakin still eyeing Set.
Set walked in a slowly methodical circle still holding the two orbs of darkness.
Wyatt nodded. "He's up top."
Anakin nodded. "Zach is here. Somewhere. His signal keeps falling away. I think Lucifer is with him."
Wyatt gestured at Set. "Set?"
"Another of Lucifer's creations. He appears to have taken his inspiration from the Egyptian gods and goddesses."
"And those things in his hand?"
Anakin shuddered. "Exactly what you think."
Wyatt gulped. "How is that possible? I thought the Hollow was impossible to control."
"Obviously not."
"How are we getting out of here?"
Anakin glanced at Set. He had stopped his circling and was murmuring something in an ancient language. The battle with Sekhmet had tired him considerably. They only had one shot at knocking Set off his balance. Then they had to flee. Hopefully, they could reach Matt and save him before being chased off the island. Zach, if he was with Lucifer, was another problem. They would not stand a chance against Lucifer in their current state.
"When I drop the ward, run. Get to Matt. Use Excalibur. Don't use your powers," whispered Anakin out of the corner of his mouth.
Set snarled and lashed out. Something hot and white crashed against the wards, throwing Anakin to the ground. He ignored the buzzing sound in his head and canceled the ward. Without waiting to see what Wyatt was doing he launched himself at Set. The sudden physical attack caught the demon-god off balance, and Anakin knocked him to the ground. He summoned an athame and plunged it at Set's face. The invisible force field shattered the blade and threw Anakin off the more muscular man.
Anakin scrambled to his feet and summoned torrents of water out of the ground. Four thick streams of dark blue water twisted around him. He motioned in Set's direction and the four streams struck like trained vipers. Set's counter was to break open the volcano. Water and magma met with explosive force. Anakin was thrown back. He somersaulted his way out of the way of the largest flows of steaming lava. He landed near the entrance to the room. Set stood on the opposite side. Anakin saluted his opponent and pulled down. The roof crashed down around him cutting him off from the grand auditorium.
The physical barrier would not slow down Set for long. Anakin back up the corridor at a sprint, summoning a sword of his own. He had a feeling the new demons could sense magic. If they did not use magic, it might slow down how quickly they were tracked down. He came to the force in the passage and charged up the left path. It led in the direction his felt his brother. Suddenly he burst out of the ground and into a firestorm of energy and fire balls.
Wyatt stood in the center of the field expertly deflecting attacks with a once again glowing Excalibur. Anakin summoned an athame and threw it at a nearby warlock. The warlock dropped to the floor. He collected the athame amongst the ashes and used it to dispatch a further three demons before slicing off the head of a fourth with his purple blade. He met up with his brother and together they marched toward a large shed. The concentration of demons around the shed was significant. From above the horrible cry of the Egyptian deity knockoffs echoed. They were running out of time.
The ground beneath them trembled. Set or someone was bashing his way to the surface. Anakin threw caution to the wind and released a wave of energy. Demon and warlocks burst into flames, leaving a clear path to the shed. Wyatt wasted no time in closing the distance. They entered the wooden hollow.
"Matt!" Wyatt cried in relief.
Anakin noted his nephew's relief was followed by a grimace of pain. He followed the cords that wrapped around Matt's wrists and ankles. They tightened and loosened in a clear pattern to keep Matt from every feeling comfortable. The angles his shoulders were rotated also maximized discomfort. The contraption was designed to torture.
"Wy, hold up," said Anakin.
Wyatt frowned "What? We don't have a lot of time."
"That thing is meant to keep him in pain. You cut one arm loose and it's bound the fracture the other. We need to disable it first."
"How?"
Anakin tilted his head to one side. "Like this."
He released a single stream of lightning. It hit the connection point of the straps. Whatever magic powered the device fragmented under the excess energy, and the straps loosened their grip on Matt, dropping to the floor. Wyatt caught him.
"I knew you'd come," said Matt hoarsely, eyes shut.
Something bright and powerful burst out of the ground before them. Anakin threw out his hand and blasted the newcomer with a telekinetic wave. The figure fell backward, but quickly righted himself.
"Anakin!" greeted Lucifer with a vengeful smile.
Anakin backed up until he was within reach of Wyatt. He knew his brother would hate him, but there was no other choice. "I'd love to stay and chat."
Lucifer chuckled. "I am sure. We could have tea."
"Where's Zach?" asked Wyatt.
Lucifer slowly focused on Wyatt. "Your son is quite comfortable, Halliwell."
"Like Matt was?" snarled Wyatt.
Lucifer shook his head. "Matthew's situation was one of his own design. Zachary has been much more amenable to my offers."
"Don't listen to him, Wy," warned Anakin.
"Yes, Anakin, why do you not tell him all about the terrible person I am. Have you told them everything you did? How about the time you met Zachary in the streets of the city? Why did you not just recuse him then? Why leave him in my clutches? Was it not part of your master plan? If Wyatt had not shown up today, would you have attempted this half-hearted rescue attempt?" said Lucifer.
Anakin snarled.
Wyatt stepped forward, readying Excalibur.
Lucifer laughed heartily. "Do you really imagine you can take me on with that letter opener? I think someone's head is too big for their ego. I may need to knock you down a peg or two."
Lucifer struck out as Anakin orbed them away. His attack destroyed the shed, taking without the dozen important ancient magical artifacts. Lucifer screamed. The energy released from his anger vanquished any remaining demon and warlock on the island.
Back at the Compound, Anakin appeared in a swirl of orbs along with Wyatt and Matt. Anakin opened his mouth to explain, but Wyatt beat him to it. He was too slow to deflect the fist this time, and Anakin knew only darkness.
AN: So what did you think? Let me know in a review. In keeping with the theme of my other stories the bad guys have names borrowed from other religions/mythologies. Beyond using the physical appearances, the Egyptian gods and goddesses will not influence heir counterparts in my story. You are always more than welcome to pinpoint any discrepancies you see. I will be happy to discuss them with you.
As a side note, this story will feature the extended Halliwell family. If anyone is confused by the massive influx of characters over the next few chapters, I can publish a short list of the main characters. Just let me know if you think it will help.
Alright, I have stolen enough of your time. I'll let you get on with your lives...after you leave me a review ;).