[PART 3: Final of The Mysterious Child time. Hope you like and share some thoughts if you want ^_^ Glad I'm doing something fulfilling, rather than being bored all day letting my idea go in the air. Hehe . Alright time to shut up and FINISH HIM- oh I mean finish this XD My cheese!]
-Within the temple, moving through the hidden pass.-
Things seemed calm going through the passage, save for the sudden outburst of a voice coming from whence they came. The little one whimpered from the incident showing a sense of fear. Scarlet only cuddled her.
"It's alright sweetie. It's only the temple residents. The weird looking… creepy residents…" Saying these words only spooked herself as beads of sweat formed; but the little one only cuddled into her making Scarlet look down to where their eyes met, smiles only emerged and both became at ease as things felt okay again.
Before turning the corner to continue, a shuffling of gravel followed by a screech made things not okay again causing Scarlet to stop. She thought quickly as she unzipped her suit, stuffing the little girl in to the neck up. Seeing that the girl was secure after zipping up again, Scarlet slid on her glasses and crawled up the nearby wall all the way to the ceiling once again. In the nick of time too, a few four legged creatures resembling cats waltzed over under them looking and sniffling around. The two never made a sound as Scarlet moved on from the scene. Though things didn't go so smoothly however, the ceiling was merely dirt like walls and the floor. A crumbling sound came from over them and without warning; the surface gave out causing her and the girl to scream as they fell to the dirt floor below. After the impact the screeching became agitated in tone as the cat demons made way to their potential dinner. Unfortunately the surroundings weren't on their side as the crash from scarlet body let loose the floor, making her freefall through the large crater of a hole, ripping into a lacing net of vines, murky mist and finally splashing into a shallow layer of water below. Scarlet was holding tightly to the little one safe in her suit taking in the impact. Her back was halfway numb by time, silently cussing in her head.
"Mommy!" yelped the little girl struggling to look to her.
Scarlet let loose of her grip on the girl and looked to the little one. Scarlet managed to roll on her side, nuzzling her pocket sized amiga with a smile. "I'm okay sweetie, I'm here."
Hearing her say that made the little one gasp in delight and nuzzle into her chest again. "Way!"
Scarlet chuckled at her little companion. She couldn't help but find this girl adorable.
The fun had to end and the atmosphere had returned to the pins and needles "need to escape" motive. Despite the sting in her back, Scarlet stood up and looked around to figure out the area and found a clearing leading the direction of their exit. Aside from that, the surrounding mist was clouding into fog, closing in behind, meaning that staying there was not an option. Without hesitation and a nod of reassurance, she jogged to the opening disappearing into the thin wall mist.
-Euthalia's Chamber-
Still struck with grief, Euthalia paced around her ballroom sized sleeping chamber. Persephone sat in the elaborate giant bed watching her friend freak out before her, not knowing what to do, and not saying a word fearing she might set her off screaming again.
"I can't believe this… I should have known this would happen though. I mean she is 2… Well older than that, over 500 years old; but she woke up 2 years ago in starting a new life that is now bound to end in ruin because of my carelessness! She's a curious little thing, anything could happen to her! Damn it why! Why did I put her in that spot?! She didn't wander far from there before! I've done it plenty of times... What was I supposed to do?! Mummy was here! If she saw her…" She gasped a breath taking shriek. "Oh GOD I can't breathe! I'm such a fool! I failed! This is horrid! I wanna disappear!"
Persephone looked down sighing airily, and then stood to go to her friend; standing in her way, stopping her pacing.
Euthalia gave a calm but crazed looking stare to Persephone. "What…"
With a tilted head, Persephone closed her eyes while taking another deep breath. "I'm so sorry for this…"
Thalia raised a brow in bewilderment. "Huh?"
Not a second wasted, Persephone's unseen hand met her best friend's face, with a smack that echoed throughout the room making her stumble back holding her cheek with a yip. Persephone, after a moment, also winced with a hiss in pain from her hand feeling that sudden sting of heat going in the same condition as her friend.
"PERSIE, THE F$%#?!" Euthalia regained her footing and began to rub her cheek, which was still dark blue, burning from the strike as she cringed a look at her friend.
"I told you I was sorry, Thalia!" she shrieked, also recovering. "I'm in pain too damn it! What in hell is your face made of? Brimstone?! Goodnight!"
"Oh shut your mouth!" Euthalia screeched. After a hiss, she began to look sheepish. "And… um… yeah… thank you for that…"
Persephone shot a look of disbelief, blinking twice and around before grinning. "You're welcome, it's what sisters are for… glad to be of service. Just don't make me do it again…"
Euthalia nodded with a hard smile in agreement.
"So what's the next move? We going to find your child or what? She's neither in here or the garden that's for certain."
Heading for the floor length window behind her and stopping with a hand on the sill, Euthalia looked into the red skies and chaos in the distance over her garden walls. Catching her eye within the walls, with moshing movement, the plants in the garden displayed odd but distressful behavior as they clamored below to get her attention.
"Ugh, what now?" She said tiredly.
She pushed open the window as she came to the edge with Persephone coming to her side.
"What's the matter, babies?!" she yelled.
A calamity of response roared in like a wave. Her eye began to twitch making her beast like growl leave her gritted fangs; Persephone backed away a bit with a side stare.
"E~NOUGH!" She roared.
All fell quiet to the point of only one cough being made in the distance.
A high but sweet female voice then exclaimed in from above. "Pardon me! Excuse me!"
A small crow scrambled down, but landed gently. Hopping forward, it meekly looked to her giving the puppy dog glance. Euthalia raised a brow.
"Speak bird." She commanded.
"Well… your grace, um…" The bird started. "I came to say… that… um… the little one and the human woman… they're, ah… being pursued…?" She finished balling up behind her feathers in fear.
The plants began to speak amongst themselves as Euthalia leaned down more. "What do you mean by that?"
The small crow only tensed. "Eh… well… they're getting… chased… at the moment…" The crow then panicked as she screamed around suddenly. "THE DEMONS; the demons in the temple are becoming restless, Mi'lady! It's only a matter of time before they eat, kill or whatever to them! I heard them planning their ambush myself! Horrible ideas, horrid plans! Mistress you have to help them, there's no time, PLEASE! Before it's too late!"
The Demonesses looked to each other in silence.
Across the wastelands, a tidal of molten lava created a wall that swept the charring floor in its path, crisping denizens in place that only howled in agony, thanks to the speed of Euthalia soaring into action like a mad woman with Persephone keeping up at her side.
-Within the open, pillared halls-
As if things hadn't already gone into a terrible nightmare today, Scarlet was having quite the adventure; and workout of her life. She ran as fast as her legs would allow as Hideous clamored behind like wolves, snapping at or eating other intruding demons around them along the way. The little girl peered over Scarlet's shoulder, but whimpered as she curled back in her suit made crib, shielding herself from the scary sight. When she sensed danger from above and viewed a flock of fury simultaneously swooping down, she clutched to her hands to her chest and jolted, making the world around the duo turn silver in tint with an audible ticking echoing around as everything froze in place. Scarlet slowed down in motion as she couldn't believe what she was witnessing.
"Wha-what's going on? What is this?"
Everything and anything that was currently giving them grief was completely anchored in their positions as if they got caught in a blast of blood stopping ice that suspended their actions instantly.
"Way!" exclaimed the little pocket baby. Scarlet looked down to her, whom was giving a look of worry. Yet, Scarlet also noticed a white light coming from under the breast part of the girl's dress that made her want to stop, but only shook her head as she kept going in full speed once again.
"I don't know what this girl did to make the commotion around me pause, nor do I understand what this light shit is about; but the time for that to matter is later! Just moving and getting the hell out of here is now!"
Once they made it out of the corridor, the infernals all dropped to the ground in shock when the time freeze wore off.
The treasure huntress made it to a cavern where a low orange light of what appeared to be mortal civilizations sunset on the other side was brilliantly shining through. The smell of the familiar mountain air made Scarlet smile widely in relief and elation.
"Yes! Almost there!"
Celebration was cut short however when the sounds of upset Infernals made entrance again. The exit was so close that Scarlet's determination set in overdrive. On either side, Hideous made their formation as they locked onto their prey, ready for execution. The fury above also made their move of capture, ready to snatch what they can from their competition below.
Fortunate for the girls, lady luck was on their side this entire time. As the horde of Infernals closed in, the surface below them seemed to come to steep ramp of a slope. The girls and the pursuing Hideous barrel rolled off the dip going into a free fall towards a large pool of navy blue water at the bottom. The Fury ran into the low bearing wall above the exit then comically slid down to the ground stunned, as they were only focusing on their running food, not where they were flying.
Scarlet only screamed and yelled as she watched the water come closer as they fell, the little one weakly screaming as well as she glued herself to Scarlet's chest to the point of minor suffocation. The Hideous had recovered from the rocky take off and opened their wings, circling their meal, resuming their intentions once again. Scarlet's mind began to wander and tears formed in her eyes.
"Shit! It can't end like this! Wait… This is punishment… punishment for what I'd done 3 years ago… I knew I'd pay for that sooner than never but not like this! I wish, I could apologize… apologize to Luka for not telling him… I deserve this… but not this child... God, if you hear me, I know it's too late to repent but… I only have one request… allow this girl to live… it's all I ask!"
Before they could reach the lake with scarlet bracing for a painful landing, Hideous were pounded into the water below them before they made their last attempt on closing in. The girls, on the other hand, were snatched up into the air. When scarlet didn't feel any sort of impact she opened her eyes slowly, and found that she was soaring over the forest of rocks and trees. Thanks to the setting sun, she also spotted a shadow of large size, resembling a bird-like figure with a long neck and flowing tail. However, when she tried to see what was carrying them exactly, she saw nothing, only hearing the sounds of giggling, high pitched unearthly noises along with gentle bellowed flaps of large wings. Without a question and with the notion of having had enough, she blacked out into a faint. The little girl poked her head out from her safe haven from feeling her guardian limp over without warning.
"Mommy!" little one mewed. She became worried as Scarlet gave no response. When she heard the waddling cackle above them, she crawled up a little and looked over Scarlet's shoulder seeing a phantom silhouette of what was carrying them.
A series of flicks with the sound of a music box showed a large egg being held in a blanket by aged hands, who along with other shrouded faces exclaiming 'Happy Birthday' in many loving and cheerful voices.
Hatching and bursting out from the top of the egg, a small creature that chirped and purred in high tone scanned around with the top part of its shell shrouding its entire head. One of the supporting hands took off the masking shell revealing a fuzzy face; a muzzle like a puppy's but with big eyes of curiosity like a kittens. It also had a short pony tail effect of the top of its head that stuck up like a cowlick. After a moment of exchanging stares, happiness and excitement were the only sounds made between both she and creature making the shadowed figures around her respond with awe and satisfaction. As the two new buddies rubbed heads with love, the cheers of 'Happy Birthday' rung around once again by the smiling shadows. Familiar gentle voices chuckled making sight turn to two smiling people, a man in a white shirt and a woman in appeared to be an off shoulder black dress.
"Her name is Mirza, a friend for life." The man said. The memory then cuts out.
"Mirza?" she said with a smile. The creature mused back with noise of glee, chuckling and whistling. The little one giggled in response.
Distant hails of screeches and roars emerged from the distance, ending the happy reunion. From all around behind them, all kinds of various Infernals were in droves heading their way. Mirza groused in response to this and power winged in the direction of Noatun, the city making visual in the distance.
At the temples' location, a bright orange-yellow streak of molten lava shot out from the center, with Euthalia showing herself along with Persephone mid-geiser. When they caught sight of what was happening, they sprung into action after the calamity while summoning weapons in their hands.
Within Noatun, citizens scattered around screaming while the unseen chase took on full speed. Mirza was having a time shaking the attackers behind them. Weaving and spinning around the scrapers and roads didn't ease the load either.
When things seemed like they couldn't get any worse, church bells rang with golden rings appearing from above with teams of Affinity and Applaud soaring down into the fray. Mirza moaned and sounded a wail that echoed like a howl as she took sight of everything that was happening. Despite things looking bleak she didn't lose her focus, as she spotted a tunnel resting halfway in the below water channel and maneuvered into the opening with ease as the tailgating angels and demons barely made it in. Soaring down the dark water way it occasionally looked back judging how far their guests were. Little one witnessed how the angels and demons were not only after them; but fighting against one another at the same time, with fireworks of light popping around as they destroyed each other. Within the city, Euthalia and Persephone were batting it out with the various Angels and Demons around. The only thing within Euthalia's mind was the question of where the little one was and that she needed to get her back from the human who took her.
Meanwhile at the boat, Hayden was resting on the deck with hands behind his head. "Ah… man, there's nothing like soaking up some sun, with a bottle of beer, jammin' tunes [*~(Actually it was the radio version of Still Alive from Portal LOL yes I did)~*], an issue of Hey Boy with the hotties of the month, hotties over on the peer running and screaming- Wait WHAT?"
He sat up taking off his glasses in confusion until he saw the distant commotion within the city making him jump up and slide to the entrance of the hold.
"BRENT, MIKE, COME OUT HERE QUICK!"
The two men darted in appearance to the young man.
"What is it boy?" Mike said coming out with Brent.
Hayden only pointed to Noatun and the calamity within it. Without words the gentlemen went back inside leaving Hayden confused.
"Wha- Wait! What are we going to do?!" he shouted. He then ran onto the deck again to grab his stuff until a high pitched howl sounded from the nearby water tunnel. He turned around slowly only to witness iron the bars break then form back to as they were with burst of gold and crimson light bust around like fire from a machine gun following only seconds after. Hayden couldn't keep his jaw up until chirping sounds came from him left. When he looked to that direction he was thrown to the deck with a thud with the two gentlemen coming back with guns.
"Hayday!" yelled Brent coming closer.
"I caught a Scarlet, Sir." He said just as the two men came up.
"Scarlet!" yelled Mike as he came over to the two.
"Yo, Sis, you alive?" Hayden said shaking her a little. Scarlet then flinched in response before opening her eyes.
"Don't… call me Sis." She said warily.
The men sighed in relief but became alert again when a roar sounded from the sea.
"Hayden, get Scarl inside. We got this." Brent ordered.
"Ay ay, Sir!" He said standing. He scooped up Scarlet and jogged into the hold below.
Mike lit a cigarette and exhaled before lifting his automatic sniper rifle.
Brent smirked at this. "Not trying to be your mother mate, but even after all these centuries I still don't know how you can smoke and fight the way you do…"
Mike chuckled as he observed all the angels and demons crowding around them. "Practice lad. Remember, I've been doing this some years before you were even thought of." He said beginning to fire, taking out a good some of the group around them.
Brent rolled his eyes as he raised his MAC-11's. "You're only older than be by 15 years, old man." He said shooting as well.
When they came back to back with guns aimed to the ready, Mike smiled deviously. "We'll see who the old man is… after this dance! COME ON LADIES!" Mike roared as the angels and demons closed in.
