Prologue, Part 3: Home Tragedy
2 Years Later...
It seemed like any other normal day for Aaron, Sofia, and their sons. The leaves began their descent from the trees they grew on, signaling the start of the autumn season. The weather was nice, in thanks to the cool winds and the warm sun. The husband and wife were spending their time together by watching a movie. It may have not been much, but they did enjoy the movie with each other, and to them, that is all that matters. As for the children, Marcus was in his room, trying to finish the last of his homework. He sighed, but his small moment of annoyance was replaced by a smile as he saw he only had one question left to answer. His short-lived victory was, well, short lived, as he looked over what the last question. "Mathematics, my oldest foe. We meet again. Prepare to meet your demise by my secret weapon...Roland!"
The youngest son was in his room, resting on his bed while reading a book he got out of his parents' study. Ever since his parents told him of his demonic and angelic heritages, the young hybrid was eager to learn a bit more about the histories of Heaven and Hell. Many days he spent in his room, reading book after book about demons and angels. Roland tried to see if there was any link between his parents and their backgrounds. However, he still found nothing. The child was hoping he could find out more of his ancestry, but as he felt he was getting closer, he heard his door open and looked to see his older brother. "Hello, Marc," the coyote said to his wolf brother. "Hey, Rols. Listen, I was wondering if you could help me with something," Marcus replied. With a smirk, Roland looked up and asked, "It's your math homework again, isn't it?" Chuckling, the eldest sibling responded, "Yeah." A small laugh coming from the little brother, said brother spoke, "You know, it should be the other way around. You help me with my homework, but instead I have to help you with yours."
"Ah, come on. It's not my fault you were born a genius, little brother."
"I'm not a genius. I just happen to understand things faster, grande fratello."
"Mom's been teaching you more Italian?"
"Yes. She said it would be nice for us to learn her original languange. It's not much trouble being able to speak another languange besides English."
"Good point, but I think I rather speak with the languange I've been speaking since I was three."
"Your choice," Roland said to his brother as they proceeded to the eldest sibling's room. As they walked in, Roland immediately went to his brother's bed. He saw the problem, grabbed a pencil, and began to work out the problem. With a few seconds, the youngest child said, "Done and done." Marcus ran over, and as he saw the finished solution, he looked to his brother and said, "Thanks. What would I do without you?"
Smiling, Roland replied, "I don't know. Fail, most likely." Both brothers laughed at Roland's remark. Just as the youngest son was about to leave, he stopped and looked out the window. He looked to see a figure in black, but as he blinked, the figure was gone. "Roland, you ok," Marcus asked his little brother. "Yeah, just...I thought I saw something." Shaking it off, Roland left his brother's room. I swear I thought I saw something outside. Must be my mind. I should probably take a break from the books. I'm feeling a little hungry. Maybe Mom made something to eat, the child thought to himself.
Downstairs, Sofia and Aaron were enjoying their movie when they heard footsteps. Sofia knew who it was, but Aaron turned his head to see his youngest son. "Hey, little one. Where you goin'," the father had asked his child. "The kitchen. Mom, have you made something to eat?" With a smile, the wife responded, "No. Would you like me to make you something, piccina?" The boy replied, "No, it's fine, madre. I'll make myself something." With a heartful laugh, Aaron asked his wife, "Have you've been teaching the kids how to speak Italian?" Sofia laughed as well and said in response to her husband's question,"Yes. I have. Roland already has a basic grip, and Marcus needs a few more lessons." Smiling at his wife, the wolf said, "Well, that's understandable. Speaking of languanges, I think I should teach them how to speak the Elder Tongues, seeing as how the boys do read some of our old books and they can't understand some of the pages."
"Sounds like a wonderful idea, my husband," Sofia replied to Aaron, and gave him a kiss as his reward. As they looked back at the movie, the couple heard what sounded like some metal banging. Sighing, Sofia said, "It's nice to know the boys want to do things by themselves, but they will always need our help," she said, and left for the kitchen to help her youngest child. As his wife left, Aaron continued to watch the movie when suddenly he began to detect some sort of energy. Focusing his concentration, the wolf tried to pinpoint its location. Usually, he felt the power his angelic wife gave off, but the source of this power felt different. It didn't feel right at all to Aaron. Beginning to track its location, the husband got up from his seat, and looked to the front door, picking up a stronger detection from beyond the house. The energy began to feel familliar, and it also began to make Aaron a bit more on guard.
"I'll be back in a pinch, love. I remembered I forgot something outside," the wolf said loudly. "Ok, dear," Sofia replied back to her husband. Feeling a bit uneasy, Aaron summoned his sword, which looked like a claymore, and slowly opened the door. He walked out, and tried to trace the energy. He looked toward the north which was his left, and felt the power growing stronger from that direction. Aaron immediately sped his walk into a run, and continued until he felt he was very close. Looking around, Aaron kept circling, hoping to see what was causing the energy wave. Where are you, the wolf thought. Taking one last look, Aaron decided to head back until he saw a figure in black. The same figure in black Roland thought he saw. "Hello, Aaron. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Liam. What are you doing here?"
"I came by to see how my former shield-brother was doing. You should be fine. After all, you abandoned us. For that woman you call your wife."
"Don't bring her into this. I know why you're here."
"Traitors do not deserve to live. You should know this, Aaron."
"I knew what I was getting myself into. I just didn't know if it was truly behind me."
"You're a demon, my former friend. Nothing is left behind. Especially since you betrayed our kind. And for what? A whore from Heaven?"
"(Draws sword) Leave her out of this. This is personal. Just you and me."
"I'm afraid not, Aaron. Remember, she betrayed her own kind as well. So far, we've formed a temporary alliance. Just until we get what we want."
"Our deaths, I assume?"
"And those abominations you call your children."
"You will not lay a damn finger on my sons."
With a dark laugh, Liam drew his sword as well and said, "I'd like to see you try to stop us." Aaron lunged foward, swinging his sword only to be blocked by Liam's guard. "Nice try," Liam said, "but you'll have to do better than that." Finishing his sentence, Liam threw Aaron aside and pulled down his hood, revealing himself to be a black and yellow gila monster. The wolf immediately recovered and rushed back into the fight.
Meanwhile...
Sofia had helped Roland make a sandwich and the boy left for his room. As she headed back into the living room, she noticed that Aaron wasn't back yet. Figuring that he was out in the garage, Sofia left the house through the back door and made her way to the garage. Reaching the door, the coyote was about to open the door, when she felt a familiar presence. Turning around, she saw an old friend. A tall, slender female panther stood before her. Sofia then said, "Kachina."
"Nice to see you, Sofia. How's the family," Kachina asked with a dark tone. Knowing what was possible, Sofia summoned her sword, which had the appearance of a rapier.
"If you even dare try to step in my house-" Sofia said before Kachina interrupted her. "You and your family must die, sister. What you've created with that demon is an insult to our people! We had many fine men in heaven, but instead you lowered your standards for a hellspawn."
"My husband may be a demon, but he is different from the rest of them," Sofia said before rushing foward and swinging her sword at her former friend.
On both sides of the house, Aaron and Sofia were fighting their own kind. It wasn't the first time for each of them to fight their fellow brethren of Heaven and Hell. However, it was the first time they had to fight their own friend.
As the husband and wife fought their battles, three other figures watched and waited to join their companions as well.
"My lord, now," asked one of the cloaked warriors. This man was very tall, and his voice sounded like it belonged to a brute.
The "lord" replied to his minion, "Patience, Gelhert. Just wait a little longer, then you can have your chance..."
Aaron and Liam continued to clash swords against each other until they entered a lock. Both struggled as they used their strength to overcome the other. The gila monster had a snarl on his face, while the wolf gritted his teeth. The reptile spoke, "You've gotten weak over time. You are pathetic." Aaron's frown turned into a smirk as he broke out of the lock by delivering a headbutt and a straight kick to knock Liam back.
"You never learned, did you," Aaron said as an insult. Liam got back up, but he looked toward the field and gave a nod. Seeing the gila monster's gesture, the wolf turned around only to get knocked down by a large figure that appeared to be a rhino. Luckily, the wolf quickly recovered to see his new foe.
"Nice to see you too, Gelhert," Aaron said as he readied his weapon again. With a booming laugh, Gelhert replied, "Aaron, Aaron, Aaron. I never thought it would be you to betray us, but now that I know, it will be a pleasure to end the life of the Inferno Wolf." Laughing himself, Aaron responded, "I haven't been called that in a while."
Liam said in response, "Well don't expect us to mark that on your grave." Readying his own weapon, the reptile looked to the rhino who brought out an iron warhammer that rested on his back. The wolf didn't like his odds, but he remembered how one day he took on an entire squadron of angels by himself, and it was this memory that reminded Aaron of how skilled he was. The demon stood up and ran back into the battle.
As for Sofia, she cursed as her attack was blocked by Kachina's shield. The coyote kept striking at the panther, only for each one of her attacks to be blocked by the feline's shield. "Do you even regret betraying us, sister? Did you think we wouldn't find out what you've done?" Sofia felt hurt at the questions, but she stayed strong as she continued to strike against Kachina. Finally, the coyote brought down a powerful swing that managed to destroy the shield. As the panther was about to unsheate her sword, Sofia brought her blade to the feline's throat.
"Go ahead, Sofia. Finish it," the panther said angrily to her killer. "Forgive me," said Sofia, but as she was about to swing, she turned around to narrowly dodge an incoming spear. The coyote looked after standing back up to see a hawk who summoned another spear. "I knew you couldn't take her on by yourself, Kachina. But allow me to offer my assistance, if you'll take it?" The panther stood back up and walked to the hawk. "You remember Noel, don't you sister," Kachina said to the "fallen" angel. With a sigh, Sofia said, "Yes I do. And if I remember correctly, you two never fought without the other." The hawk and the panther looked at each other and smiled evilly before Noel turned back to Sofia and said, "Did you honestly think you fight one of us? How foolish of you." With a smirk, Sofia prepared for a battle she knew would be very tough...
Inside the house, Marcus and Roland managed to hear the commotion and peeked out the windows to see their parents fighting four strangers. "Marc, what do we do," the youngest child asked his older brother. "We have to help Mom and Dad." Thinking quickly, Marcus immediately came up with an idea. "I got it! We have to stay quiet, though. We don't know if those jerks brought more people and they're in the house." Nodding his head, Roland followed his brother as they ran from room to room, hoping to find one of the two house phones. Luckily, they found it as they reached their parents' room.
"Got it! Roland, call the police and I'll keep a lookout," the eldest son said as he stood near the door watching the halls. The young brother pressed 9-1-1 and held the phone to his ear, hoping the operator would answer.
"911, what is your emergency," the operator asked in a bored out tone. "Yes, my name is Roland O'Connor, and my parents are being attacked outside our house," the young boy said very worriedly. "Ok, Roland, stay calm. Where are you? Tell me and we'll send officers to your house," the operator said, now worried for the boy who called. "My family lives at the Westbrook Farm. Please hurry," Roland begged. "The police are on their way right now. Stay calm and find a place to hide until the police get there!"
Aaron kept moving as Liam and Gelhert tried to kill him. Every time they got close enough to attack, the wolf would parry their incoming strikes and perform a few counter attacks. Surprisingly, Aaron held his ground against his former shield-brothers.
Liam then held back and said, "No matter how hard you try, you will fall Aaron." The wolf retorted with, "I'll never surrender, if that's what you're planning." As Aaron finished his sentence, he managed to narrowly dodge an overhead strike from Gelhert's warhammer. Unfortunately, the blast the warhammer unleashed as it struck the ground knocked the wolf down long enough for the gila monster to grab him. He held Aaron by his head and kept his blade close to the canine's neck. The rhino smiled and shouted, "WE GOT HIM!"
Sofia turned her head as she heard the shout. "Aaron," she whispered before looking to see Noel and Kachina retreat. The coyote rushed back inside the house, ran to the living room and looked out the window to see two her two former comrades and two other men. "Oh, no," she said to herself as she looked to see her husband was about to be killed. The wolf struggled to be free, but he could not escape from Liam's grasp. As the coyote continued to watch her mate fight against his captors, her eyes turned their attention to a fifth figure who stepped out of the fields. The figure walked past the group and stood in front of them before turning his head up and said loudly, "We know you're in there. And if you're watching, understand that this man will die if you do not agree to our requests."
Sofia closed the curtains and ran upstairs to check the children. She ran into her room to see if the children were hiding there. All she could find was one of the house phones on her bed. She looked and looked but could not find them. The mother then remembered where to look. She ran back downstairs and walked slowly as she got to the hallway. Sofia opened the only door that led to a closet, and she bent down and removed a small rug that layed on the floor. Seeing a crack that was hidden by the rug, she pressed down on the plank the crack was on, only for the closet floor to slowly rise up. As it fully opened, Sofia was attacked by her own sons, who didn't know who they were attacking because their eyes were closed.
"Get away! Leave us alone! Help," Marcus shouted as he kept swinging his arms, and his brother did the same as he did. "Marcus, Roland, it's me," Sofia whispered loudly. Both sons opened their eyes to see their mother, and hugged her very tightly. "Mom, you're ok! Where's Dad," Roland asked as he hugged his mother. "There's not a lot of time. Boys, listen to me closely and carefully. I packed two bags for you and they should be in there. In one of them, you will find a list of instructions of what to do. Look over them, and wait until everything is quiet. Do not leave under any circumstance! Do you understand?"
Marcus then said, "But Mom-" Sofia interrupted her child as she spoke, "No buts! Do as you're told. Understand?" Both sons then said at the same time in a scared tone, "Yes, ma'am." Tears forming in her eyes, she hugged her children and whispered, "Your father and I...we both love you two very much. We're so proud to be your parents, my sons. Both of you look out for each other. Marcus, take care of your brother. Roland, be careful."
"Mom, what's going on," Marcus asked, tears forming in his own eyes. Roland's eyes were already shedding their tears, and as both boys began to cry, their mother cried as well. Sofia kissed her sons' foreheads, hugged them one more time, and began to close the closet door as she said, "I love you, my children." As the door was closing, she heard her sons saying, "Mom, wait! Mom!"
Sofia stood up as the door closed, and exited the closet and closed its door as well. She whispered a spell which caused the closet to shine a bright light that faded away. The coyote continued to cry, but she summoned the strength to stop her tears. As she walked down the hallway, she grabbed a lantern that was used to light up the hall. She looked at the lantern and said, "Goodbye, my sons. Stay safe." Finishing her sentence, the mother threw the lantern at the floor. The lantern was smashed, but the fire caught the rug that layed in the hall and began to burn it. Sofia then walked to the kitchen and turned the stove on. Hearing the gas beginning to hiss out, Sofia left the kitchen.
The mother walked out to the front of the house, where she saw her husband still being held by his captors. The leader, who appeared to be a jackal, stood out in front then said, "Good. You came to your senses. Now, if you want your husband to live, hand over the children. Otherwise, we will kill both you and your husband and take your sons." Sofia let out a sigh and said, "I rather die than give you my children." With a frown, the leader said in a tone of pity, "Your choice." The leader then unsheathed a knife and stabbed Sofia in her heart. Seeing his wife being killed, Aaron shouted, "NO!"
The wolf broke out of Liam's grip, however, the jackal turned around and stabbed Aaron in his heart as well. Both the wife and husband fell at the same time, both being only within close to each other's reaching arms. A laugh escaped the lips of Gelhert and said, "Splendid, my lord Isis." Smiling, Isis, then said, "Well, that's over. Now, we proceed to the children. However, I don't think they will stand a chance. Feel free to stay out here, if you wish."
Kachina then laughed as well and said, "I don't want to miss out hearing them scream." Noel nodded his head and Gelhert and Liam seemed to follow them as well. Aaron, with some life still in him, crawled towards his wife. "Sofia...Sofia, please wake up." The wolf turned the coyote over as she fell foward and saw her breathing. "Aaron, I'm sorry." Both mates were breathing heavily as their life slowly began to leave them.
"It's alright. Where are the boys, love?"
"They're safe. I made sure of that."
"How?"
"Trust me, dear."
Sofia then raised her hand and grabbed Aaron's hand. The husband and wife laid next to each other and held each other in their final moments.
With tears flowing down, Sofia asked, "Do you remember the day we first met?" Aaron nodded his head, smiled and said, "Yes. I remember seeing the most gorgeous woman I ever laid my eyes on. I never knew she would be my best friend, my wife, and the mother of my children."
"I never knew that I would fall in love with a demon. I guess after all this time, we just never really cared who we fell in love with," Sofia confessed.
"I didn't care that I was a demon and you were an angel. I just cared about you, love" Aaron replied to his wife.
"Remember our vow," Sofia asked her husband. "I never forgot it," Aaron responded.
In unison, the couple said, "Where we go when we die, it does not matter. As long as we have each other, we'll always be together. In love and in harmony, I swear and devote my life to you. We have chosen each other, and we be each other's forever. As my mate, I honor our memories, time, and love. I love you, now and forever always."
The murderers were getting close to the house when all of a sudden, a large explosion completely demolished the building. Isis looked with fear and hate, as his goal, his dream of being the ultimate being vanquished before his eyes. The other angels and demons looked to see their hard work gone for nothing. With his anger consuming him, Isis let out a cry of anguish and disappeared, leaving a fading black mist in his former presence. The angels and demons followed suit and disappeared as well, with those from Heaven leaving a bright light and those from Hell leaving a small pit of fire.
Within minutes, the house came down, destroying everything inside it. Aaron and Sofia looked to their burning home and looked back at each other with a smile. Their sons were safe.
"I never should've doubted you, love," Aaron said to his wife.
"I forgive you, my husband," Sofia said in reply to her husband.
The couple then kissed each other and continued to comfort each other as their lifeblood continued to spill. It would only be a while until the fire died out. Beneath most of the rubble in the house, the smallest room was still intact, kept safe by the whispered words of the loving mother. Inside the hidden room, the two sons continued to wait until they knew when it was time to leave. Remembering their mother's orders, the children waited until nothing was heard. Unfortunately, they do not know what awaits them as silence slowly takes its place...
Character Files
Liam-Gila monster from Hell. He used to fight alongside Aaron until the wolf left for a new life. Angry at his shield-brother's betrayal against the demon kind, Liam seeked revenge on Aaron. The reptile is known to be cunning and fearful by those who are afraid of him.
Kachina-Panther who descends from the heavens. Kachina was raised with Sofia while learning to fight. Like Liam, she is furious with Sofia's actions that label her a traitor against Heaven. Even though she is an angel, she is corrupt and ruthless, and will kill anyone that stands in the way of her goal.
Gelhert-Another demon, Gelhert is a rhino who despises Aaron because of his marriage to an angel. The rhino has always hated the wolf even when they were younger. Gelhert is known for his bloodlust on the battlefield, and among the lesser demons, his strength and fury are legendary.
Noel-An angel like Kachina, Noel is a hawk who truly hates demons. This bird believes he knows true justice, and thinks he will deliver righteousness by destroying anything he believes to be a threat to Heaven. Other than his "code," Noel is known for his intelligence and speed which makes him a real threat to his enemies.
Isis-Neither from Heaven nor Hell, this jackal is a mortal who seeks power and immortality. He uses the four mentioned as his pawns to seek out the rare blood that the children of Aaron and Sofia have. He believes the blood has a sacred power that will allow him to conquer Earth, Heaven, and Hell. Isis is the true antagonist of the story.
Translations:
grande fratello-big brother
piccina-little one
madre-mother
Okay. Another one down. More of the story to come, so stay tuned. Questions, comments or concerns, you know what to do. Bye!
