A/N: SWEET CREAM ON AN ICE CREAM SUNDAY, THIS CHAPTER IS FINALLY FINISHED!
Guys, I am so infinitely sorry this took so long! You have no idea how bad I feel that it took me so long to finish this! I have been working so much and distracted with a ton of other things! Good grief, I am sorry, guys! But Chapter 10 is here!
Read & Enjoy!
Chapter 10: The Blitzkrieg
With nothing left to do but fight, Cole and Nix prepared themselves for the final assault on the Abomination. Cole walked out from behind the stone column, where he was waiting to confront the Abomination, and awaited its advance. Slowly but surely, the giant demon emerged from the shadows. It was panting. It looked angry. It didn't like being thrown off a cliff then forced to hunt its prey again, especially in its own domain. It was hungry. And it no longer wished to be delayed.
Cole charged his hands.
Nix was behind the monster, lighting her fists aflame.
The Abomination huffed out its anger.
They were all ready. It was all or nothing time.
Cole ran at the Abomination. It roared and charged in. Nix chased the monster. It stopped mid-run, turned and slugged Nix out of her run. Then used its hind left right leg to kick at Cole, who dodged just in time. But when Cole looked back up, the huge monster hit him with a backfist, sending him flying into another wall. The New Marais patron saint shook off the attack and saw Nix throwing fireballs at the monster again. Cole jumped up and launched another rocket flurry. The Abomination tried stomping Nix, causing her to dodge, then used another soundwave aimed at Cole, who rolled to the side to avoid the impact. Nix jumped back into the fray, trying to gather as much as strength as she could to let loose her Inferno but the Abomination was not as stupid as she would've liked. It charged at her, cutting into her charging efforts. Cole jumped on the demon's back, charged his fists with electricity, and punched it in the back as hard as he could. Nix got ready to unleash her Inferno again, hoping it would get ready before the Abomination saw her.
No such luck. That was the problem with this monster: it was very in tune with its surroundings. And it didn't want its own dinner to defeat it. It stomped the ground hard enough to throw everyone off balance. It swung around and kicked rocks at her. Nix had to dodge the debris and give up on her power surge. She ran off and the Abomination chased her. She jumped and threw a fireball in his face. The Abomination roared, paused, and shook off the effects. Cole jumped at it and unleashed a flurry of an assault. Nix ran forward and jumped in, as well, using her power against the demon. The Abomination had had enough. It inhaled deeply and let out a sonic blast strong enough to knock both heroes away. Nix fell out of sight while Cole landed against another column.
Cole rubbed his head. "Damn it… what's it gonna take to bring this bastard down?!"
The Abomination stepped toward his meal.
"…damn…"
The Abomination stalked closer…
…until Kuo stepped out of the shadows. She walked until she stood between the Abomination and Cole. She stared up at the monster, completely unmoved.
"Lucy!" Cole shouted. "What are you doing?"
She looked over at him. She couldn't speak; she could only act. After what this man had said to her and all he had done for her… she had to protect him… no matter what.
She didn't have to explain her plan, however; Cole figured it out. "Lucy, don't!" He struggled to get up, "Stop!"
She still didn't speak. Not yet. She closed her eyes, gathering herself and letting tears fall. "It's okay, Cole."
He paused.
"I'm ready for this." She opened her eyes, looking up at the large demon and her fate. "I put myself here and I accept that. You're the one person… who always helped me… you never even judged me… and I betrayed you… and for that I have no words for how sorry I am. For how sorry I will always be…" She took a deep breath. "This is my fate. My consequences… and I can and will take it… but I won't let this happen to you…" She looked at him. "Not to you…"
He stared at her in astonishment and a complete loss for words. He didn't want this… He didn't want…
The Abomination roared.
Kuo looked back at it. "I'm ready…" She closed her eyes.
"I AIN'T!" Nix appeared in the air and came down with a Firebird Strike, crashing into the back of the monster, causing it to stumble. Nix teleported in front of Kuo.
"Nix?!" Kuo said surprised.
"Listen up, bitch!" Nix shouted. "Maybe you ready for da whole 'sacrifice myself for my boyfriend' play but me? I'm tired of dis ugly ass beast! And I'm gonna do to him what I couldn't do in New Marais to dat asshole Bertrand! So, save the Oscar performance for later!"
Nix threw fireball after fireball at the demon, causing it to back up. The Abomination seethed, sick of the attack and really tired of this persistence; it wanted this to end. Nix knew that she still couldn't use her Inferno yet, so she switched strategies. She unleashed her oil, holding one of the Abomination's legs in place. It roared in frustration, trying to get its leg loose. Nix threw another fireball, detonating the oil and engulfing the monster in flames. The Abomination roared but stepped out of the fire; it started to shake off its pain.
"Damn son-of-a-bitch!" Nix flung her arms down. She seethed in frustration.
The monster advanced but a blast of lightning shot over the ladies' heads. They turned to see Cole had recovered enough to continue the fight.
"I got him!" Cole charged and attacked the Abomination again.
Kuo watched as Cole went against the monster. Despite the length of this fight, the Abomination was still going strong. Cole and the Abomination collided; their respective powers caused the cavern to shake and started small rock fall. Nix and Kuo jumped out of the way and looked back up to see the battle continue. The former swamp dweller took the chance to start gathering her powers. She needed to get this Inferno out while there was a chance.
Kuo had other ideas, however: the plan to sacrifice herself. "I should…"
"Will ya shut up with dat?" Nix asked, harshly, grabbing her arm, careful not to burn her but still gathering power all the same. "He ain't gonna let ya…" She turned Kuo to face her. "…and he'll kill me if I let ya… not that I'm about to."
Kuo looked at her, stunned. "You don't want me to?"
"What? Go through all dis shit so you can give up? I don't like you… but not that much."
"But the plan makes sense."
Nix looked at her, incredulously. "Not even if you die, does that make sense!"
Kuo was going to argue further. "Nix…"
The fire Conduit growled. "Alright, look: your plan is stupid! Bottom line. But, in my neck of the woods, ya want somethin'? Ya give somethin'. So, if you promise not to do dat shit, I'll…" She searched her mind to think of anything that might make this woman shut up and stop being suicidal. She arrived at one… and she hated it. "…I'll tell you my first name. Deal?"
Kuo was surprised. Nix… sounded like she actually gave a damn; not cared so much but was genuinely interested in Kuo's well-being. What more could happen today? Nevertheless, she nodded in agreement. Besides everything else, because she kept it hidden for so long, she really wanted to know this woman's name.
Nix closed her eyes. She couldn't believe she was about to reveal this… "It's LaKeisha."
Kuo blinked. "LaKeisha?"
"Yep… that's my name. LaKeisha Nix Munroe." She cringed. "Oh, my GOD! How long has it been since I said that whole thing?!" She shivered.
Kuo actually smirked, "Nix… your name's not bad."
"I know… I just hate it!"
"Why?"
She shrugged, "Was like every black girl in New Marais had that name. Kids used ta tease me about it. Said my parents didn't care to give me a real name. So, I just said screw it and started going by my middle name. I like Nix better, anyway."
Kuo was still smirking but stopped when Cole slammed into the column next to them. He groaned as he took a knee. "Son-of-a-bitch! This thing doesn't quit!"
"We ain't doin' too good job with this rescue shit," the former swamp lady said.
He let out a grunt as he got to his feet, "I noticed."
Nix looked at the monster. And her eyes brightened… as her powers clicked. Her Inferno was ready. She started to laugh, "Oh, ho, ho, yeah!"
Cole looked at her, curiously. "What?"
"You might wanna take a few steps back!"
"What are you doing?"
She prepared to let loose all her power, in one final strike. "Ending this!"
The Abomination stalked closer.
She set her hands on fire… "Because this som' bitch…"
The area was she was standing began to smoke and smolder… Cole and Kuo backed up…
"…is goin' down…"
Scattered flames shot out around her… Even the rocks began to catch fire…
"RIGHT!"
Her whole body was literally aflame.
"NOW!"
…and unleashed her Inferno, resembling a column of fire.
Nix put absolutely every bit of herself into this blast, down to her very soul. The Abomination roared and thrashed about, the fire and the intense heat tearing away at its physical form. It became a battle of wills now: Nix and the Abomination. She wouldn't stop her fire and the Abomination couldn't escape it. Soon, the Abomination was no longer visible… only Nix's fire could be seen. But Nix wasn't fooled; she wasn't sure that the monster was dead… so she kept going. Cole and Kuo just watched in awe as this woman, who, at one point, would oppose them verbally at every turn, was now putting up the biggest fight to save them all. And Cole couldn't be more proud to call her a friend.
Nix kept going until she physically drained herself. Her fire started to fade until it flickered out. She fell to her knees, trying to catch her breath.
After seeing the demon had not emerged, Nix chortled. "Done."
The flames still burned bright and the Abomination could not be seen or heard. Everyone thought this war finally over…
…until the large demon crawled out of the fire. It seemed in pain, seething in agony… but still ready to fight.
Nix let out a quick cry of anguish and despair. "You have GOT to be kiddin' me!"
"Can you do that again?" Kuo asked.
"If I had two more days…"
The Abomination roared.
"I doubt we have that…" Kuo said.
"Hell, we ain't got two more minutes, looks like…" Nix breathed out.
"We're running out of ideas," Cole said.
"I gave it my best shot…" Nix said.
There was no denying that. "Yeah, ya did. You've got nothing to be ashamed of."
But they all looked and saw something. Nix's last attack… it left its skin scorched, horribly burned. And it was moving slower. In fact… if they didn't know any better… it even seemed tired.
"How da hell dat happen?" Nix asked.
"Nix…" Cole said. "I think… you weakened it…"
"Great… he's weak… Now, we can die with a mark we made on him…"
"No. If he can be hurt that badly, now, I can end this…"
"By yourself?"
"If I don't hold back, yeah."
Nix shrugged, "We got no other choice."
"Cole…" Kuo said, getting their attention. "Are you sure?"
Cole nodded. "Yeah. I can do this."
She wasn't sure if she was supposed to… but she couldn't stop herself, either: she took hold of his hand. "Be careful… please…"
Cole looked at his hand inside of hers then back at her.
Nix was surprised at Kuo's gesture and looked at the way these two were looking at each other… somewhat lovingly, she couldn't help but notice. She had to keep from laughing again. 'Da hell is takin' these two so long? Just get dis over with already!'
Cole nodded. "I will." He looked at the Abomination. "Wish me luck…" He let go of Kuo's hand and walked out to meet his adversary.
Kuo just stared at him, whispering, "Good luck…"
Nix sighed. "Finish strong, MacGrath…"
The Abomination growled. It was still struggling against the pain; a very new sensation for the demon. The combined efforts of the two Conduits, Nix's Inferno, and Cole's continued assault had completely weakened its thick skin. It roared as it looked Cole approach… but its roar wasn't as strong.
"Feeling tired?" Cole remarked. "Join the club. Care to make this the last stand?"
Seeming to understand Cole, the Abomination snorted… almost in agreement.
"Alright then… let's finish this…"
The Abomination, noticeably slower and less powerful than it was before. Cole rushed at it, used his lightning hook, and whipped to its side. He fired rockets as he jumped from the hook. The Abomination roared in pain immediately, confirming Cole's theory. Nix's attack was the final catalyst needed to damage the outer shell of the Abomination enough to wear it down. Despite the damage inflicted, the demon still had plenty of fight left in it. But Cole wasn't going to complain; they finally had some chance to win against this monster.
Quite frankly, this was the most even the fight was going to be.
Cole fired rockets at the Abomination, damaging it again. It roared in considerable and evident pain; it rushed at Cole then swung its fist at the hero. He dodged and threw grenades at its face. This attack confirmed it: it was far weaker than before as it immediately recoiled from these strikes. Problem was… Cole was starting to run on empty as well. The Abomination shook off the attack while Cole got his breath back. The demon stumbled toward the hero and Cole charged in after it. The Abomination tried so smash him but Cole dodged and fired his bolts at it, aggravating its damaged frame even more. Cole kept going until the Abomination managed to swipe him. Cole flew through the air, hitting then skidding along the ground.
Cole got to his feet and saw the Abomination had turned his attention to the women again.
Nix was shielding Kuo, both knowing full well that they couldn't do a thing against this demon.
Cole shook off his pain… gathered all the power he could… and charged in. He ran and top speed and jumped… a nearly impossible leap, landing on the Abomination's back. He raised lightning charged fist and slammed it into the Abomination's back. The demon roared in insurmountable pain. Cole punched in the back again and again; the lightning just peeling at away at the flesh of the monster, expanding from where Cole was punching. After several more blows, Cole leapt off and landed in front of the monster.
The Abomination was on shaky legs; pain surged through it with the constant electricity of its inflictor.
Cole wasn't far behind. "This is it… isn't it?"
The Abomination looked at the Empire Saint.
"We got one last blow in us…" Lightning began to course around Cole's body, like an F-16 getting ready for takeoff.
The Abomination gained a strong, powerful footing one more time… knowing it could be the last.
"Alright… let's settle it right now. You win, we're dinner. We win… you're dust."
The Abomination just seethed.
"Alright. Bring it, bitch…"
The Abomination roared and charged in.
Cole got ready to unleash everything he had. His lightning crackled like a thunderstorm, enough power to restore Empire City.
He raised his hands in front of him, putting left foot back for balance and fired a constant stream of an Ionic Storm from his own body right at the monster. The attack collided with the Abomination but it roared in defiance kept pushing through. The harder it pushed, however, the harder Cole pushed. The Abomination kept trying to force its way through… but it couldn't keep it up. First… its front left leg broke underneath it. Then… one of its arms started to melt. Slowly but surely, piece by piece, the Abomination was withered away.
Cole kept pushing until he absolutely couldn't. His power ran out and he fell to his knees.
All was quiet.
Thick smoke emanated from where the large demon made its stand. Kuo and Nix came forward and look to where the Abomination was… only to see its blackened, melted remains.
The Abomination was dead. It was over. They won.
Cole couldn't believe it. He just destroyed an ancient demon. He chuckled.
"DAYUM!" Nix shouted as she and Kuo approached. "Nice hit, man!"
Cole got his feet, groaning as he did so. "Thanks… doubt I can ever do that again."
"Well, least, it worked, once."
"Got that right."
Kuo walked up to Cole. A silence over took all of them as the Ice Conduit just stared at this man who was in love with her. Nix and Cole both were wondering what was going through her head.
They got their answer. Out of nowhere, Kuo threw her arms around Cole's neck and hugged him. Very tight.
Cole looked down at her surprised, even looking at Nix to confirm this was actually happening. Nix just smirked and shook her head, trying not laugh out loud.
Cole looked at blue haired woman embracing him, knew this was actually happening… and wrapped his arms around her.
"Cole…" Kuo squeaked out, "I'm sorry… for everything…"
"It's okay," Cole whispered back.
She paused… then admitted… "I love you…"
Cole's eyes widened with surprise. He let her go just so he could look in her eyes.
"I love you, Cole."
He could see it clearly in her eyes. She meant it. He smiled.
Nix shook her head. "That took long enough."
"I'm a bit hard on emotions here, whadda want?" Kuo asked.
Nix just chuckled.
Cole touched Kuo's cheek.
She almost melted.
"I love you, too," he said again.
Kuo thought trying to not let her tears fall… but she didn't care anymore. It had been a long trial and she could let a few go.
"Great!" Nix joked. "Now… you're… two dead people in love. Might as well be play by dat guy who wrote Romeo & Juliet."
"I wouldn't make so many jokes… LaKeisha," Kuo smirked.
Nix's face dropped. "Bitch, no, you didn't…"
Kuo giggled, "That was my only one, I swear."
"It better be!"
Cole looked at the fire Conduit. "LaKeisha, huh?" Kuo laughed.
"MacGrath, tell anyone… or tease me… I swear ta God… I'll make your skin darker than mine… the hard way."
"With what power?"
"MacGrath!"
Cole laughed. "Kidding, kidding! No joke from me. I know better than to piss you off."
"Damn straight! 'Specially after all I did to help both your asses out!"
He smirked. "You're right about that."
Kuo shrugged, "If it's… any consolation, Nix… thank you…"
Nix smirked and nodded at her in respect.
Kuo looked around. "So… now what?"
The ground beneath turned into a pure white light and they fell through. They found themselves suddenly warped back in front of the Judge's throne.
The entity was staring at them all with no discernible expression… then… his eyes shined. "Judgment time."
A/N: The Abomination is destroyed. Now... the Judgment is here! What will the Judge decide? Be here next time and find out!
Next Chapter: The Final Judgement
The Judge makes his final decision about Kuo. But before he does, Cole and Nix give their own testimony in her favor. Will this influence the Judge's decision? And what will the final decision be?
Be here for the final chapter of "Journey For the Frozen Heart."