This is a story that a friend came up with and asked me to post for them.
Plz R&R for me and them.
Continuation of 'Finding the Truth'
Meanwhile Jace watched Athrin in horror, for him he had been surrounded by blue aura but Athrin's body was a swirling mixture colour of black, blue and silver, his body pulsating raw power. Athrin's screams mixed with the howls of a beast rang throughout the room. Athrin fell to the ground, landing in his knees and his hands curled into fists.
Athrin was changing, his hands becoming claws, his ears shrinking into his head while furred ears appeared on top of his head and a pair of wings also appeared but Jace couldn't tell what type since Athrin's whole body was the same swirling colour.
"It couldn't be, no, father wouldn't do that" muttered Jace. Leon had given his sons a liquid every day, Jace's had been blue and Athrin's black. Leon had given his sons the blood of demons. If Leon had given Athrin the blood of a greater demon then everyone was in trouble if they couldn't replace the headband.
Athrin's screams were becoming more and more animal like, howls of pain and fury ringing out. Then Athrin's body slowly went back to normal. His howls silenced themselves. Jace looked at Athrin. His body as streaming with smoke and black ears were now visible on him, but on his back were a pair of giant bat wings tipped with a claw. Athrin looked up and Jace stepped back.
Athrin's eyes were pitch black and raw power was visible, it looked like tiny silver flames were swirling inside his eyes. Athrin grinned and fangs were visible. Jace gasped, Athrin was smiling, it was a lazy smile of one who didn't have a care in the world except to kill. Athrin stood up and his pose was lazy, leaning back on air with that smile in place.
"Aerin" called Jace but Aerin was out cold, the power had sent out a wave out but since Jace was a demon it hadn't affected him except to slid him back a few feet. Jace knew that now that Athrin had transformed he wouldn't be able to recognize friend from foe and would strike out at anything that moved.
Jace quickly ran over to the wall and pressed in a code to activate the security system. Large metal doors rolled down and these were more suited to the situation. They were meant for a stampede of demons but it would have to do until Jace could get the limiter back on Athrin. Jace moved behind the lounge and watched as Athrin made to move. Then he disappeared before reappearing and when his fist appeared in the glass. The glass made a dazzling ray of patterns before shattering completely.
Athrin stepped out and looked around, as if deciding what to do next. Jace had reached the room and grabbed Athrin's limiter from the floor. Then he removed his own so he would have half a chance. He snuck up behind Athrin and noticed Athrin wasn't moving. When Jace leaped toward Athrin, then he moved. One minute he was in front of Jace then he was behind him.
Jace twisted in midair to avoid the kick aimed at his neck. Jace leaped back toward Athrin and managed to secure his arms around Athrin's neck. Barely managing to stay on he slipped the limiter back onto Athrin's head. Athrin's eyes widened and he slowly changed. Jace let go as Athrin opened his mouth in a silent scream and then the ears and tail disappeared, his eyes going back to normal. Athrin's eyelids slowly closed and he collapsed forward, landing in Jace's arms, completely asleep.
Jace sighed and laid Athrin down, placing his own limiter back on. Jace finally knew why Athrin's limiter was a different colour; the silver metal was one that the gods forged to keep Athrin's powers at bay. Jace placed Athrin and Aerin onto the lounges and sighed. Then he used his powers to clean up the mess that Athrin's power had caused until everything looked about normal.
(Athrin's View)
I groaned, my head hurt slightly and I was lying on the lounge. Looking around I wondered how I got there, last I remembered I was standing in the room taking off my limiter, then…nothing.
"Athrin, are you alright and what do you remember?" asked Jace, he was kneeling beside me and looking at me intensely. I looked at him and shrugged. "I remember taking of my limiter and it hitting the ground, then a white light. After that, nothing. What happened to me?" I said. Jace shook his head and explained to me what happened, what I was. My eyes widened the more he told me.
"I have the blood of a greater demon?" I asked. Jace nodded and said "Yes, but I realise the truth, you are a full demon not a half like me". I shook my head saying "how, you said you saw me been born". Jace shook his head as well.
"No, I didn't. I was on a training camp when I was four and when I came back our mum was dead, disappeared really, and you were there, already three" Jace said, then he smiled slightly, "we will find our father and ask him". I nodded, but added "we don't know if he is my father. If he isn't, then are you still my brother".
I looked at him, and really hoped what he said was true. Then I turned around as Aerin groaned, finally coming to. Jace walked over while I stood there, wondering what Aerin would say.
"You okay Aerin?" asked Jace, helping him sit up. Aerin nodded and then sat bolt upright saying "Athrin". I moved over to him and said "here I am, what is it?". Aerin looked up at me and said "do you remember your childhood?" and when I shook my head he sighed.
"We have to find Leon, he knows something about you we don't and we are going to find out" said Aerin. I laughed, "Stay with me and he will come, it has been about two months, he will be coming soon".
Jace and Aerin looked at me and I shrugged saying "routine". They looked at me strangely and I sighed. "I'm going to go get my things, thanks for looking after me and it was nice to know that my brother is still alive. I'll be going now" I said, walking out of the room to stunned silence.
I walked to my room and gathered my things. I placed my dark short sleeve shirt and cloak on and my black pants. Then I grabbed my weapons from the compartment and stashed them across my body before picking up my backpack and slinging it over my shoulder.
Then he door burst open and Jace walked in, frowning. "I am going with you" he said, looking at me. Then his eyes widened as he took me in. "What?" I asked, wondering what was causing him to stare.
Jace shook his head and pulled me over to the mirror behind the door and made me look at my reflection. I looked and then smiled. I was leaning back as if on a wall, a slight smile was on my face and my eyes flashed bright in the darkness. I grinned more and then stopped, a fang was showing slightly.
"Jace, is fangs supposed to be able to show up when not in demon form?" I asked. Jace shook his head slightly, his eyes still wide. I turned to him and said "why are you staring at me?". Jace smiled and shook his head saying "nothing". I looked at him and sighed.
"Go get ready, we're leaving in three minutes" I said, walking towards the window and sat on the ledge. I looked back at Jace when I noticed he still hadn't left. He was staring at me again. I growled, "why are you staring at me Jace?" I snapped. He snapped back to reality and said "nothing to worry about" before leaving.
Shrugging I looked back out the window, thinking in my head. Since I had transformed I had felt different, more confident, and powerful. And I could see everything more clearly. Deep down I knew I wasn't normal, but what was I really. Was I half or full demon and where did I come from. Sighing I looked out over the yard and just watched the shadows move across the ground.
"Ready Athrin" said Jace from the doorway. I turned around and saw he was dressed in black as well and a small backpack was on his shoulder. I looked at him critically, he was missing something. Then I realised what it was, weapons. Sighing I went to my backpack and opened it. Jace walked over and looked inside the bag before gasping.
I looked at him, wondering why he was so surprised. The bag held knives, poison, food, water and other items like shuriken and a demon wind shuriken. "Athrin, do you know how to use these?" asked Jace. I nodded before pulling out some knives and a katana and giving them to Jace.
Jace placed them on his belt and stood up. I stood up as well and then said "lets go, Aerin already knows we're going am I right?". Jace nodded and followed me but stopped when I went to the window. "Why not use the door?" he asked. I smiled and said "come and I'll show you" before opening up the window.
"Follow me" I said before leaping out the window and landing softly on my feet three storeys below. Jace stood on the window ledge before climbing slowly down. When he reached the ground I said "I thought you had been trained, why didn't you jump?". Jace looked at me sheepishly and mumbled "I can't jump from that high". I sighed and waited as Jace climbed down.
I sighed and led the way around to the front door and grabbed a rock. I made sure we were right back and threw the stone onto the front door mat. It landed and nothing happened for a few seconds before it exploded. "A mine" gasped Jace. I nodded and motioned for him to follow and then ran away from the house.
Jace followed but I had to slow down a fair bit so he could keep up with me. Finally I stopped for a break, we had been running for almost two hours and I could hear Jace gasping for breath behind me.
"We'll stop here for a bit" I said, sitting down and chucking Jace the water bottle. He swallowed the water gratefully and sat down next to me. "Aren't you tired?" asked Jace, handing me back the water bottle. I shook my head and put it back into my bag.
Jace lay down and took deep breaths, then sat upright. "Athrin, where are we going?" he asked. I sighed and looked up at the sky, lightly coloured pink as the sun stared to rise. "We are going to Makai Forest, far to the north. There we will wait and he will show" I said.
Jace looked at me strangely before asking "and how do you know that?". I smiled at him and pointed to my head and said "I just do". He nodded but looked like he didn't believe me but I didn't care. He would find out soon enough.
I stood up and said "lets go, we have to reach the forest by nightfall, midnight at latest". Jace stood up and groaned "we're going to be running all day aren't we?". I nodded and smiled before taking off at a jog so Jace could keep up.
After a few hours of running I was sick of this slow pace, we would never make it at the pace we were going. I stopped and turned around to Jace. I motioned to him and said "get on and then we will reach the forest in an hour or two". Jace looked at me like I was crazy and shook his head. "It would slow you down and I'm no light weight" he said. I growled softly and walked over to him.
I picked him up and swung him onto my back. "You're not that heavy, I can hardly feel you and now I can run at full speed instead of jogging" I said. I felt Jace look at me and shrugged at his unasked question. "Yes, I jogged at the training session so now you can see how fast I can really move" I said "hold on".
Jace clung on tightly but not enough so I grabbed a piece of leather out of my bag and strapped him to my back. Finally satisfied I prepared to run. I took a breath and leaned slightly forward. Jace loosened his grip when I didn't move but I snapped at him "hold on or you'll fall off when I start". Jace gripped my neck hard and buried his head against my neck.
"Ready?" I asked, fully prepared to go now. I felt Jace nod and made sure his head was down. Then I moved. I heard Jace gasp and hold back a scream as the ground flew beneath me. I smiled, now this was getting us somewhere.
Then I felt really light and a strange sensation went through me. "Athrin, your wings are growing! You do have your limiter on right?" I heard Jace say over the wind. I nodded and then Jace yelped loudly. I skidded to a halt and looked over at him before my eyes widened.
Jace was sitting between two pitch black bat wings, still strapped in. "Jace, is it normal for my powers to be leaking out a bit?". Jace shook his head and I felt him touch my wings. I shivered and then asked "wait, did they rip through my shirt?". When Jace nodded again I growled loudly saying "that was my best shirt, damn". I tested them, flapping them gently.
"I can feel the muscles in your wings, wow, they are strong but can you retract them?" asked Jace. I shrugged and concentrated, then I felt my wings shrinking into my back until they completely vanished.
Jace shook his head and muttered "not normal but lets go". I laughed and said "no hurry, it is only midday". "Oh well, may as well get there early" he said and I laughed again. I heard him grumble. "What is so funny?" he asked and I just laughed again and pointed down the hill.
"We are here already" I said. Jace leaned forward and stared. In front of us was the Makai forest, known for the beast that live in there and rumour that no one has ever come out alive. I walked toward it and went straight into the forest, not a worry in the world. "And where do we met our father?" asked Jace. I stayed silent and just continued walking. My head full off old memories except this time it wouldn't be a failure, it would be of our father dying by our hands.
Jace stayed quiet for the rest of the trip as did I. Soon he asked again "where are we going?". This time I answered. "To silver lake, the lake hidden deep within the forest, that is where he will meet us" I said. Soon we reached the lake and I untied Jace so he could walk around.
He stretched his legs and then stared at our surroundings. I smiled as I saw my own emotions flicker across his face. I turned around as well, taking in the surroundings. The lake was now lit by moonlight and the wind made ripples form on the water. I sighed and then stiffened, I could feel Leon coming, he was close.
"Jace get back here" I said, my hands relaxing themselves and readying for battle. Jace walked back and noticed my stance. Even though it looked liked I hadn't noticed, he could see the stiffness in my shoulders. He looked around us and then stood next to me.
"So Decoder, you brang a friend to watch your defeat this time" said a voice, echoing around me and Jace. I smiled and said "And you are still too afraid to come out and face us, come out, I want you to meet my friend. I think you will remember him if not then I'll jog your memory".
Jace stiffened beside me and I smiled encouragingly. Then a man stepped out from behind a tree on the far side of the clearing. He was tall with shoulder length black hair and broad shoulders. He was dressed in a loose white top and a pair of jeans and he was smiling at us.
"Who is your friend so I know his name for when I kill you both" said the man, stepping forward. "Hello Decoder's friend, I am Leon, his father". Jace grit his teeth but I shook my head when he went to say something.
"Well, Father, you might remember my friend, his name is Jace. That name ring a bell" I said. I smiled when I saw the flicker of surprise flit across his face and I knew that Jace was a bit upset.
"No, it couldn't be, I kicked you out of the house. I thought you were dead you brat" snapped Leon, his eyes narrowing. I nodded and smiled widely at him and saw his eyes widen slightly when he caught sight of the fang I letting show.
"Well, before we continue the family reunion, I have a question for you and I want the truth. Where did I come from and what am I?" I said, glaring at him across the clearing. Leon laughed and said "you want the truth, fine, I'll give you the truth".
He took a breath and smiled, "you were born on the top of Mount Gyoko, born from the water where the essence of the earth grows. You are a demon, Demon of the Earth, or water to be exact. I found you locked away inside a cave, sitting in a small lake of water, the bars of rock covered in talismans of seal. I managed to get you out, release the shackles that bound you. You were three and you had no memories of how you got there or why you were locked up, you only knew that the gods had sealed you away. I wiped the memories of that time from your mind.
Then I called the gods and asked how long you were there and they said even though you were young you were powerful enough to match the gods in power. They locked you away from the rest of the world without memories and frozen in that age for five hundred years". Leon ended his story and laughed harder.
My face was one of absolute fury as he continued. "I brought you home and when Jace returned fed you both the blood of demons. I gave you the blood of a greater demon to increase your strength and so eventually it would appear even when you were in human form. There is your life's story".
Jace was now holding me back as I fought to restrain myself from killing him. Then a pain hit me, I could hear my heart pounding loudly in my ears. Jace let go as I fell to the ground, his voice sounding fuzzy and Leon's laughter ringing in my ears. A silver light lit the edges of my vision and then I screamed.
(Jace's view)
Athrin fell to the ground and then knelt onto his knees. His limiter glowed brightly before he screamed out. His limiter fell off and he screamed again, the silver light beaming from his head and surrounding his body. I stepped back as his body swirled with mixture of black, silver and blue and tints of red, his screams becoming more and more animal like.
The screams one of pure fury. His body changed and I looked over at our father. He was smiling. "Yes, become the Seiten Taisei. Yes, Yes" he was muttering. I sighed, he didn't realise that Athrin was changing due to fury and hate toward him. Athrin's body faded back to normal, his claws and ears were visible. 'Where is his wings?' I thought.
Then Athrin turned toward me, his posture was as before, lazy and confident, as if leaning on a wall of air. He smiled at me and then I heard in my head 'we are not brothers but I still count you as one, no need to fear me, I am in control. I learned how to control it as we ran. Stay on the sidelines please brother and watch as I extract my revenge on the scoundrel before us'. Shocked I looked at him and said "I trust you, brother" before walking over to the tree and sitting down. Athrin smiled at me again and then turned toward Leon.
The clouds choose then to cover the moon, casting the woods in shadows. Athrin's eyes glowed in the darkness and it seemed was that all he was, was a pair of eyes hanging in the dark. I saw Athrin smile and crouch down. Then I looked over at Leon.
His eyes were wide as he realised that Athrin wasn't going to help him take over heaven, Athrin was going to finish what Leon started. Jace sat upright as Athrin's voice floated into is head but saw by Leon's expression that he could hear it as well.
'Leon, you are not my father. For years you have hunted me down, calling your miserable life my fault. Maybe it was but if it was then I laugh in your face because you deserve it. We met every two months, same spot and fight. Each time you have beaten me up until I was unconscious and then left me, knowing that you would return soon. Last time I fought you was on my birthday, when I turned sixteen. I nearly beat you but then you turned tail and ran away. This time I am finishing this little routine of yours for good, if you run I will hunt you down and in this form you are no match for speed, even if I go to human form I have learned to use the powers this form gives me at anytime. So, Leon, prepare to die'
Leon looked at Athrin before blinking. As I watched I blinked and Athrin disappeared before reappearing when his fist landed in Leon's face, sending him flying backwards. Leon pulled something from his shirt, I realised they were talismans. "Take that demon scum" shouted Leon as he flung them toward Athrin.
Athrin smiled and ran at Leon, the talismans burning if they came to close. Athrin hissed for a second before continuing to run. Then my eyes widened as Athrin ripped into Leon's shoulder, tearing at it. Leon screamed and clung to his shoulder and Athrin flipped backwards, landing in a crouch.
His hands still in a battle defence stands and the fabric caught between his teeth, blood dripping off it. Leon collapsed on the ground before looking up and his eyes widened further.
I looked at Athrin and noticed he now held the demon wind shuriken, fully out and prepared to fly. 'Time to die, my fake father' said Athrin before jumping up and loosing the demon shuriken at Leon. Leon's mouth dropped before the shuriken hit him in the chest, burying one of its four blades deep within the skin.
Leon choked and coughed up blood before saying "I have always hated you, demon scum" before falling onto the ground and dying. Athrin was shaking and at first I thought it was the shock that he had just killed Leon. Then I heard his voice in my head 'Jace, quick, the limiter. I am losing control of my demon form. Quickly!' .
I nodded and raced over to where Athrin's limiter was lying on the ground and leaping onto Athrin's back just as a growl escaped his throat. I sensed the last shred of control leave Athrin and I clung on for dear life as he howled and tried to throw me off.
I managed to put the limiter back on and throw myself off Athrin's back, landing in a roll before going into a crouch. Athrin's screams slowly stopped and then his body was enveloped in a silver light, his body going back to normal. The light faded and Athrin stood there, steam swirling off his body.
"Thank you Jace" he said before collapsing on the ground. "Athrin" I yelled, running over to him and rolling him over. My hand came away sticky, covered in Athrin's blood. I stared at it because it was black with silver running through it. Then I ripped his shirt off and saw the deep gash on his back.
Athrin's eyes opened and he smiled. "Athrin roll over so I can bandage your wound up" I said, worry edging my voice, but Athrin just smiled and said "no need". I stared at him and he pointed at his back. I watched as smoke hissed from the wound and the gash disappeared before my eyes. Athrin sat up and rubbed his back, feeling the scar that ran from his right shoulder to his left hip.
"Athrin, how did you get the wound?" I asked, I hadn't seen Leon attack him. Athrin grinned and pulled the remains of a talisman from his back. "One of the talismans attached itself to my bad and burned a path down it before I ripped it off, most of it".
I sighed and helped him stand up. "Well, Leon is dead and I know the truth. What will we do now?" Athrin said. I shrugged and said "Don't know, what about you?". Athrin smiled at me and said "Travel the world, grow stronger, and get payback from a few people".
Athrin turned as if to go but I grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled him to a stop. He looked at me over his shoulder curiously. "You seriously weren't planning on leaving me behind" I said, grinning at him. His comment on still considering me a brother touched me deeply.
Athrin smiled. "I'm coming with you, I'll always be here to guard your back, in some cases literally" I said, letting go of his shirt. Athrin sighed and crouched down. He laughed and said "get on, I didn't think I could get rid of you that easily". Laughing I climbed up onto his back and then I felt his wings grow, pushing out of the slits from his transformation earlier.
Athrin crouched down and I felt his muscles tense. Then his wings started beating, the muscles in them gathering in strength. A dust cloud swirled around us as Athrin sprang up, racing out of the forest. As soon as we cleared the last of the trees he jumped, his wings pushing us up into the air at a startling pace.
Soon we were above the clouds. Athrin shook his head to shake the drops off and I did the same. Then I heard a chuckle and I got a really bad feeling. I looked at him and cautiously said "Athrin?". Then he looked at me and grinned cheekily. My worry intensified and I clung to his shirt.
Then his wings folded in, encircling me but letting me still be able to see, then he let us drop uncontrollably towards the ground at a breakneck pace. "Athrin!" I screamed, holding on for my life as we plummeted towards earth, the ground coming closer and closer. My fingernails punctured Athrin's skin as I clenched tightly. At about a hundred metres from the ground Athrin laughed again and his wings snapped open.
His feet brushed the ground before we soared back up through the clouds. We angled out and glided smoothly then. I loosened my hold as I steadied my heartbeat. Then I whacked Athrin's shoulder, none too lightly. "Hey" muttered Athrin before chuckling and saying "I guess I deserved that". "We have to send Aerin a postcard as well next time we stop" I said and I felt Athrin nod.
I glared at him before laughing. We flew for about an hour, soon the sun set. I lay my head on his shoulder and then closed my eyes, shivering slightly.
(Athrin's View)
I felt Jace, shiver and then grow heavy and a soft snoring sounded in my ears. I smiled and steadied out my glide so we flew smoothly. Then I flew lower so Jace wouldn't freeze before steadying back out again. We flew and I didn't grow tired, instead I enjoyed the cool night air brushing against my skin.
I flew all night, the moon leading us to wherever we were heading next. Wherever it was, it would bring adventure, new friends, enemies and mystery, always something to look forward to in life.
Hope you enjoyed it and plz R&R
Thanks
Toshi Beta