Ha ha! Told you the next chapter would be out sooner then the last! I tried to finish this yesterday but then the darkness of night came making me realize how tired I was. Who knew writing could be so draining after awhile? Could have kept going but decided to recharge and start fresh. Please read and enjoy my latest piece of work!
Teresa knew she had no chance of dodging or blocking Priscilla's blade. As the cold steel drew closer to her throat she closed her eyes awaiting death. As she did, her thoughts went to Clare and the events they had gone through together.
Teresa teaching Clare how to start a fire.
Clare smiling at Teresa as she brought back food for her.
Clare crying, first with sadness and fear then with joy, when she had escaped her execution.
Clare's eyes filled with joy at just being with her.
Clare's warmth as she snuggled against her.
As those thoughts drifted away, new ones suddenly came forward. Thoughts of Omega. There new friend and protector.
Omega casting Black Star aside as he was about to deliver the final blow.
His calm readiness, like he could take whatever she threw at him.
Him holding out the Clare goddess half for her to take
And just several minutes ago, him offering to negotiate and avoid a bloodbath.
"Goodbye Clare." She barely whispered "Goodbye Omega."
"I'll miss you both." She thought as she waited for the pain and inevitably for death to come.
The harsh sound of two blades slamming into one another snapped her out of her daze and she opened her eyes.
Priscilla's blade had reached her throat, she could actually feel the ice cold metal. She turned her head slightly and saw Omega's blade in lock with Priscilla's.
Stopping her attack dead in its tracks.
Priscilla snarled angrily and her muscles bulged as she tried to force her blade to chop off Teresa's head but to no avail.
Omega had both of his hands on the hilt of his sword as he easily held back Priscilla's blade. His expression, which before had been slightly filled with worry before, was now back to usual calm look.
After what felt like forever, Omega pushed forward forcing Priscilla back several steps. He then forced her blade up above her head and slammed the hilt of his sword into her stomach! Priscilla slid back, crossing the bridge entirely but kept her balance.
"You okay?" Omega asked Teresa
"Yes" Teresa answered she rubbed her throat "Although that was a little too close for my taste."
"Teresa!" Clare threw herself at Teresa capturing her in a hug. "I thought you were- you were-."
"It's okay Clare." Teresa said ruffling the young girl's hair "I'm still here." She glanced at Omega "And in one piece."
Now it was Irene, accompanied with Sophia and Noel, turn to come over. "Are you unharmed Teresa?" She asked calmly as if Teresa hadn't almost just lost her head.
Teresa considered the question "Just a tad bit uneasy and surprised but I'll live to see another day."
"I would get back if I were you." Omega suggested "Things are about to get ugly really fast."
Clare untangled herself from Teresa but stood next to her. All four claymores turned as the saw what was happening in front of them.
Priscilla screamed as she felt the pure rush of yoki overwhelm her, not bothering to try and stop it. Everyone except for Clare could feel her yoki energy building and increasing dramatically. Finally her transformation began. She sprouted purple wings, a horn grew out of her forehead and her body became covered in purple/armor like skin. Teresa, and the other Claymore's for that matter, have never sensed such harsh energy throughout there entire lives.
"I never thought awaking would feel like this." The now Awakened Priscilla said "Like you've been reborn again. Feeling like brand new" She stared at the small group from across the bridge. "But I feel so hungry. I want to eat, eat some inwards, taste blood." Her tongue poked out to lick her lips.
Teresa fought back a shudder.
"But I don't think you four would taste very good though. You're all probably rotten." She said as her eyes slid across Teresa, Irene, Sophia and finally Noel. They stopped on Omega. "I don't know about you but I'll have you for desert after my first meal. I'll have to eat her first then I'll come back for you."
There was only one other her, one other female present.
"Teresa run! Get Clare out of here!" Omega shouted, well ordered was more of the correct term.
Priscilla blurred past Omega and headed straight for Clare, smiling like a maniac. Irene, Sophia, and Noel had no choice but to get out of the way as Priscilla's fingers extended and lashed at them! Teresa quickly drew her sword only to barely block Priscilla's swing and the force of the attack was enough to send her off her feet. Clare stood frozen as the monster stood in front of her.
"But I won't have you here." The Awakened Being said
She grabbed Clare by the arm, flapped her wings and took off!
"CLARE!" Teresa screamed as Priscilla took off. Our number one Claymore jumped onto one of the rooftops and crouched down. She unleashed ten- no- twenty of her yoki aura and bunched her leg muscles. She jumped skyward with all her strength, causing a sonic boom to echo across the town.
Priscilla was at least over two hundred to three hundred feet in the air but Teresa was closing the distance fast as she reached out to Clare.
"Clare! Take my hand!"
Clare stretched out with her free hand, trying to reach Teresa.
There hands were so close, just another few inches and Teresa would have her in her grasp and then she could-
Priscilla gave another flap with her wings and Teresa's hand merely grazed Clare's fingers tips. Teresa's eyes filled with terror as she began to fall back down to earth.
"TERESA! NNNOOO!" Clare screamed
Gravity gripped Teresa much more tightly as her fall began to pick up speed. She knew there was no chance of her surviving. Not even a Claymore could survive such a fall from this height.
"I'm so sorry Clare, forgive me." Teresa thought feeling bitter with failure
Then a shadow swooped under her and a pair of arms grabbed her, stopping her fall. Teresa let out an oof! Of escaping breath as she was not expecting this to happen. She looked at her savior who happened to be Omega. He was levitating in the air, he had her in his arms bridal style and Teresa felt an unwelcome flush creep across her face. She tried to hide it by looking down at the ground below them, which was only a mere eighty feet away. In a flash she was back on the ground and she heard Omega whisper.
"I'll get her back."
And heard him take off after Priscilla and Clare.
Pricilla had been flying away for three seconds before she sensed something fast approaching her. She flew to the side as the something went past her. Then she saw Omega across from her, arms crossed.
"Give Clare back Priscilla. Teresa isn't going to be happy if I don't bring her back."
His tone may have been light and joking but his eyes had a glint of steel in them which told everyone he was serious in what he was saying.
Priscilla smirked "I'm sorry but that's not going to happen. If you want her." The Awakened Being hefted her sword in front of her. "Then come and get her!"
"I knew you would say that." Omega said hefting his own sword.
And the now much more dangerous rematch began.
Back down to earth, Teresa, Irene and her companies watched as Omega fought Priscilla.
"Priscilla's speed, strength, and power have increased exponentially." Irene observed "No offense Teresa but I doubt even you could take her on without suffering severe casualties."
Teresa said nothing but Irene knew she silently agreed with her.
Which didn't happen very often.
"Impossible." Noel said to herself as she grew more engrossed in the fight.
"Impossible." Sophia agreed "And yet it's happening right above of us."
Irene looked at Teresa "Does he have a chance? Your friend I mean."
To tell you the truth, Teresa wasn't sure. Not that she doubted his ability but she just had no idea how strong Omega was. All she could do was hope that he would come out of this alive.
"He'll win." Teresa decided to say to her oldest friend "I know he will."
"This Awakened monster is like a mosquito." Omega thought "A relentless mosquito."
Priscilla kept diving at Omega with attacks, trying to kill him quickly so she could fly off and eat to her hearts content. She was very fast and incredibly strong. Not to mention an ace flyer. He crossed swords with her, sparks showering everywhere before flying away only to do it again. Omega went onto the offensive; his sword lunging forward like it had a mind of its own! Priscilla blocked, deflected it and jabbed at him! Omega flew back before charging forward again. Priscilla and Omega exchanged blows for ten seconds. Considering how fast they were going, Omega kinda doubted even Teresa would be able to keep track of their movements. Priscilla threw her sword at Omega who dodged it. Then she raised her fingers and they extended, stabbing in his direction! Omega dodged again and Priscilla's attack zoomed in on her sword and grabbed the hilt. It stopped the sword and brought it back, the blades sharp point heading straight for Omega's back!
Omega heard the whistling sound and ducked as the blade flew over him and came back to rest in Priscilla's hand. He eyed her for a moment.
"Not too bad." He thought
Priscilla's sword was a flash as she began to attack with speed and not force. Omega's blade followed hers, going just as fast as she was. Omega deadlocked his sword with his opponents, stopping all her movement. Priscilla pushed him away and swung her sword at his head! He leaned back and it missed him by mere inches! Both Omega and Priscilla flew back to a respectable distance.
"With your awakened status, you've become monstrously stronger and faster. You could defeat numbers two through four easily. Teresa would give you challenge though, if she got serious." Omega said
"I'm surprised you're keeping up with me." Priscilla admitted "What are you? Tell me."
"I'd like to." Omega replied "But I think it's time for me to end this fiasco."
"I doubt you can." Priscilla said arrogance obvious in her tone
Omega raised his eyebrows
And the next attack was so fast Priscilla had barely any time to block it!
She flapped unsteadily for a moment "How did you-. How can you do that? I'm just as strong as Teresa, stronger even." She continued arrogantly "And I can't see your attacks anymore."
"I'm stronger then you think." Was all he said
He advanced slowly and while he was doing that, Priscilla blocked attack after impossibly fast attack. But with each attack that went past, they seemed to be getting faster and faster. It was getting harder and harder for Priscilla to keep up. Finally Omega slashed his sword across her chest! The sharp blade cut through the purple armor like skin like it was made of butter! Purple blood spurted out and the pain was enough to force Priscilla to let go of Clare!
She fell screaming!
"Just a moment Clare!" He called after her when he noticed Priscilla's yoki aura was beginning to spike, which meant that she was planning on using more of her yoki.
Sheathing his sword, he dodged her furious side attack! He flew forward and rammed his fist into her stomach hard! She gasped and coughed, more like vomited, out blood. His next attack connected with her chin and she was sent sailing up higher into the endless sky.
Omega looked down and vanished from sight! Clare watched with growing fear as the ground began to rush up to greet her. She closed her eyes, waiting for the painful impact. That's when Omega appeared, scooping her up into his arms, stopping her fall. Clare peeked out and opened her eyes. She looked up at Omega.
"Thank you." Her voice was low and a little hoarse from all of her screaming
"Anytime." Omega said as Clare lost consciousness
He landed gently on the ground and saw Teresa fast approaching.
"She's okay." He said before she could ask "Scared but okay." He held Clare out for Teresa to take which she did.
"You have my thanks." Teresa said sincerely
"Not a problem." Omega replied
He saw Irene approaching and waited as she stood in front of him.
"You deserve answers." His eyes flickered to Noel and Sophia "You all do but not here. Let's find someplace safe and then you can ask away."
"I want to know now." Noel said narrowing her eyes "Just what the hell-"
A scream of rage and fury interrupted her, causing her to look up! Teresa, Irene and Sophia followed her lead.
Priscilla was diving down toward them at a very fast rate, her wings tucked in. Even from that distance, the four Claymores could see the murderous/insane look across her entire face. She apparently wanted revenge for the humiliation that Omega just put her through.
"We have to go!" Sophia yelled "Leave town and-"
Omega's head snapped up, looking up at Priscilla. Teresa his eyes dilate and flash at the same time. Above them Priscilla was suddenly veered off course. It was like as if some invisible force had hit her. Her screams could be heard as she was forced northward. She became a tiny dot and her screams became more distant –
And she was just simply gone.
Omega exhaled, his eyes going back to normal.
Was it them or did our top four warriors just see a demonstration of his power?
"Teresa leave town please." Omega said "Take Clare with you."
Seeing the unspoken message Teresa nodded and sprinted toward the town exit.
"Why ask her to do that?" Irene asked curiously
"Because I don't want Clare to wake up and see what I'm about to do." Omega answered stepping forward. "The organization is going to be looking for you all and I think its best I cover our tracks."
"And how do you intend to do that?" Sophia asked
Omega raised his hand and snapped his fingers. The air around them began to shimmer and in a second, a shocking scene was before them.
Noel and Sophia were faced down and their heads had been pierced, blood oozing out of the wounds. Irene was on her side, her left arm missing and a long deep diagonal cut was visible. It reached from her right shoulder to her waist. Teresa was faced down as well but her head wasn't connected to her body. It was several feet away, her eyes wide open in shock and surprise.
"This." Omega said quietly walking back to the stunned Claymores "Is what would have happened if I hadn't stopped you and if I hadn't been here with Teresa."
"Don't worry." He continued when Noel opened her mouth "These bodies are very convincing. The Organization will identify them and confirm that these are you. They are exact replicas. They'll then think you're all dead."
"Now that that's taken care of." He looked at Irene "We need a place to go and you seem to already have a place in mind."
"Indeed I do." Irene began "Somewhere where-"
"The organization can't find us-"Omega joined in
"And where they would-"
"Not look in the least-."
"It is a-"
"Place of solitude-"
"And yet a place of safety as well."
Omega and Irene eyed each other for a long minute. They both liked what they saw in the other. Despite the fact that they had met only briefly, Irene could tell Omega was clever thinker like herself. It was like they could read each others mind.
Even though Omega actually could read minds.
"Lead the way Irene" Omega said
"But of course." She said.
Irene led everyone to plateau south of the city of Gonahl
In the center was a hut which looked like it could hold no more then one to two people. But Omega took care of that problem easily.
"Don't worry about that." He had said "I'll take care off it."
All he ended up doing was simply snap his fingers.
But not underestimating him Irene took a look inside and was amazed at what she found.
Instead of a single bed and the small space she remembered, there were four large beds and a smaller one all inside of the hut now. It was like it was rebuilt from the inside out.
"Lets all have diner by the lake." Omega said "It's been a long journey and I'm willing to bet you're all tired and hungry."
How right he was!
Teresa and Clare got some fire wood and put it in a pile. Irene brought out her flint but Omega shook his head. He merely blinked and in the next second, there was a roaring fire in front of everyone. He took of his pack and passed bread and fruit to everyone. He took out the meat and had it cooked in mere seconds. He passed those out as well. Thanks to his stash and the added food from the market he had more then enough for everyone. The four Claymores ate gratefully and Clare, always the hungry one, began devouring the all of her food.
"Mouth closed Clare." Teresa and Omega both said at the same time
Clare blushed and did what they asked.
As Omega passed out seconds to everyone, Noel spoke up.
"Are you going to explain now?"
Knowing what she meant, Omega replied "Yes I will."
Sophia and Noel scooted forward. Even though she didn't look like she did, Irene had scooted forward too. Her interest was obvious.
"I'm an angel from Heaven." Omega replied simply.
Noel and Sophia's reactions werejust the same as Teresa's. Even Irene looked surprised at what they all just heard.
"Why are you here?" Irene asked getting to the point
"When I met Teresa for the first time, a demon named Black Star was attacking her. I drove him away and traveled with her and Clare. The demons and we angels are at war. Their are going to kill all the humans. When that event occurs, we angels will most likely lose. The loss of so many will anger us all and the demons will have their chance to destroy us."
"So they sent down here?" Sophia asked "To stop them."
Everyone was surprised when Omega shook his head
"I came here of my own free will." He told them "Our order doesn't care what happens down here. They think that with all of the humans destroyed this place will become the perfect battleground for all of their troops. No, they wanted no one to come down and stop the demons plan. I, of course, wouldn't listen to them. They gave me orders but I'm not their puppet. They can't control what I do. Even now I'm betting their seething in rage for what I'm doing. They don't dare send anyone down here to bring me back. I'm the best they have and no one can defeat me.
The flames flickered and everyone was startled to see Omega's eyes were hard and filled with what looked like a very faint glint of anger.
But then the flames flickered again and his eyes were back to normal. Being warm, welcoming, and friendly.
And speaking of Black Star…...
"Did you find him?" Teresa asked "When you went to go and investigate?"
"No." Omega said shaking his head "He was there but then he just left. Tried to track him but he doesn't want to be found."
Teresa nodded.
"Black Star will be after all of you now." He told the Claymores
"Why us?" Noel asked "We don't even know him!"
"Because, like Teresa, your all obstacles in his plan." Omega said
"But he's more powerful then all four of us put together." Irene pointed out "How can we possibly be obstacles?"
"What you say is true." Omega said "However with time all four of you can be a threat to him. You just aren't now but you will be."
Each Claymore was puzzled and confused but Omega's look told them he would explain later.
"Anyway." He continued "What will the three of you do now?" He directed the question at Irene, Noel, and Sophia.
"I plan on staying with Teresa." Irene informed him
Omega nodded "I had a feeling you would say that."
Sophia was in deep thought for a moment before she too, gave her answer.
"I'd rather be on the winning team. The organization will be better off without me. Besides I would rather not die by your blade Teresa. No offense" Sophia said
"None taken." The number one Claymore said
That just left Noel
Noel bit her lip as she began to think over the situation. If she returned to the organization, they would punish her; probably even kill her for her failure. If she stayed then she could live longer and probably take out a few yoma while she was at it.
Besides-
She could never leave Sophia.
Omega, reading her thoughts, fought back a smile.
Noel sighed "As much as I would love to return to the Organization, I would rather stay here. Wherever she goes-"She nudged Sophia "I go."
Awww. You care about me that much?" Sophia teased
Noel glared at her "Don't push your luck."
Teresa hid a smile by covering her mouth with her hand.
"Teresa, Clare, do you mind going back to the hut to get more fire food? Omega asked "The fire is dying down and we need some fresh wood."
"Sure." Teresa said standing up "Come on Clare."
Teresa walked away being closely followed by Clare.
"So what's the plan?" Irene asked Omega "Stop Black Star?"
"We can deal with the demons later on." He answered "They won't put there plan into action for a long while. They need to prepare before they can carry it out."
"So then what shall we do in the meantime?" Noel asked
Irene already had a good idea on what his plans were but remained silent so he could explain them himself.
"We are going to take down the Organization." He said
Noel, who had just taken a bite of meat, choked and began to cough. Sophia patted her on the back to help her swallow. When it was over, Noel glanced at Omega.
"Take down the Organization?" She said
"Yes." Omega confirmed
"But we don't have the strength or numbers right now." Sophia said "Even with all four of us, taking down the Organization won't be a picnic."
"I'm not chopped liver you know." Omega said "We won't take them down right now. And as time passes, we will gain some powerful allies."
"Can you see into the future? Is that how you know all of this?" Irene asked
For a moment, Sophia and Noel thought she was joking but Irene's held no humor. She was entirely serious, they realized.
Omega's lips twitched "More like I can feel what lies ahead. I knew if I didn't interfere with your mission to take down Teresa, you would all be dead."
Remembering the bodies they had seen, Sophia and Noel shuddered. Irene flinched but only Omega saw it.
"If we plan on taking down the Organization." Irene began "Were going to need someone on the inside. With time, the Organization can have number and ranks even more powerful then ours. We someone inside to tell how us how strong they are."
"Can you do that Omega?" Sophia asked
"I can." He admitted "But won't."
Seeing the looks on their faces, he explained
"Even though the demons aren't in motion, Black Star is. You'll need me here. None of you can defeat him. I'm the only one who can stand against him. If I go and head off to the Organization, you will be helpless against him."
"So then what do we do?" Irene asked
"Before I tell you." Omega asked "I have a question of my own."
The three Claymore's waited
"For battles to come I need all of you to work together as a team. I need you focused and prepared. Can you all do that?"
He already knew the answer but it never hurt to ask.
"Yes." Irene said
"Absolutely." Sophia replied
"No problem." Noel said
"Alright then." Omega said "In order to infiltrate the Organization without them knowing they have spy in their mist, we need to send someone. Someone they would take in with open arms. That they would accept without question."
"What do you have in mind?" Irene asked
"How are we going to pull that off?" Noel asked being clueless
"I have an idea-" Omega began
He turned his head and saw Teresa and Clare returning with more firewood. Clare accidently stumbled and almost lost her balance. Laughing at herself, she shook her head and then blushed faintly when Teresa smiled at her.
"And Teresa isn't going to like it." He finished
Damn right she won't!
What is Omega's idea? What plan does he have in mind? Till next time! My apologizes for not updating sooner. Please Review! Pretty please!