Alfred and Matthew were fighting side by side once more. Matthew was more than concerned about his brother, but couldn't bring himself to say anything. He knew that Alfred wouldn't have it. Once again, Alfred had stopped him from losing his temper… or at least from killing everyone with the temper he had already lost. He cursed himself and continued to battle with Roderich, who somehow was still holding his own. Quite well really.
In fact, Alfred was scared. Oh he was so scared. His energy just wasn't there, his mind was almost… disconnected from his body it seemed. He just couldn't focus like he normally could, and with Roderich launching towards him and attacking he and his brother so quickly that he couldn't even register what he was doing until after he had reflexively done it.
At least there was that, his sub-conscious instinct.
Matthew parried a blow with his sparking gun, sending Roderich's lupine form skidding backwards, down and to the ground, where he slammed against Antonio's force field. A sense of Panic welled inside of him when he saw the green seem to crack and resound. Antonio could only hold on so much longer. If this kept up, definitely not long enough.
It needed to end.
Arthur himself was sprinting towards the stables. What on earth had Alfred meant, Toris? Toris was dead. Killed five years ago along with the other ice breathers. Had he lost his mind? Had he forgotten in his weakened state?
Well whatever he meant, Feliks would know. There was no one else he knew to ask and he wouldn't let himself deter from what Alfred had told him. As much as he doubted him or as much as he knew he was in horrible condition, the Sherriff had never led them astray. He was crazy of course, but it always worked out in the end.
He slammed into the stables and looked around frantically and spotted Feliks trying to coax one of the foals into calm. He approached carefully, in hopes to not startle the horse. "Feliks, I need to talk to you." he said urgently. The blonde looked up at him, his teary and fearful eyes meeting his own.
"What is it?" he asked with a tremble to his voice.
"Alfred asked me to fetch Toris. Feliks what did he mean?" he asked with bated breath.
The Polish man's eyes widened and he opened and closed his mouth like a fish. "Wha- how did he know?"
"Know what, Feliks? Tell me!" Arthur said, perhaps a bit louder than he had intended. He grasped the blonde by his shoulders. "Feliks you have to tell me."
"I- I don't know… how he knew." The Polish man muttered, turning his head from him. "Toris said everyone thought he was dead… after they killed him." He said bitterly. Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"He was an ice breather, no?"
"Yes, but he was only shot once, with one of those damned magic bullets." The shorter blonde said angrily, grinding his teeth with it. "But he was so weak… I… Arthur he's my best friend.."
"Show me to him." Arthur said. "Alfred knows that he can help."
"Fine." The man pursed his lips and turned. "But if you hurt him I'll kill you." He threatened with full meaning. "I will."
"I trust you would."
He followed Feliks through his home, their steps echoed off of the creaking wooden floors until he took him to the kitchen. The shorter looked at the other before he moved the table that was sitting modestly in a corner, and revealed a trap door beneath it. He yanked it open with surprising strength, given his build. But that aside, under the door was a set of stairs, dug from the firm dirt that must have been there for years and years.
Arthur, with his unspoken and newfound fears of things that could be underground anymore, pushed his thoughts aside and followed the stable owner down the small flight of stairs.
"He's still not at full strength but he's almost there." Feliks said slowly, not seeming to have any trouble seeing what was in front of him despite the dark. "wait here."
Feliks went forward while Arthur stood stock still, waiting for the man to return. He tried to look about for something to occupy his mind, but it was so dark that he had nothing but dread to occupy himself with.
He looked forward as he heard two sets of feet walking towards him again. This time a small lantern was held in someone's hand. Arthur squinted to see who it was, and shook his head.
"Son of a gun."
"Ironic way to say it." Toris laughed softly.
Matthias watched with awe as Antonio seemed to glow with power. But his glowing hand trembled. His skin seemed to be withering down to that of an ancient mans. His eyes glowed brightly, almost blindingly. But he never blinked, kept his teeth clenched and held his arm out.
Much more of this and we're all going to die. Matthias muttered, looking at Lukas. His figure was unmoving but for his steady breaths. Is there any way I can help?
"Not really… just keep guard… if anyone comes in It's completely up to you and Lukas—if he's up to it" The burns on his arms and fingers spread up and up to his chest and neck, blistering horribly as if being held to a fire.
Yeah- okay. Matthias muttered, eyeing the man for a long moment, but he turned his head to the door again and stared unblinkingly as if a guard dog.
No one was going to get through that door without his teeth at their neck.
"Okay okay- We don't have time for figuring out how you hid yourself—Please tell me Alfred was right and that you can help." Arthur sighed, rubbing his temples gingerly, trying to process the bangs he could hear from above ground. Antonio must be weakening- he had been away from his power source for too long. Otherwise he couldn't be in that bad f shape… right?
"I'm not sure… the hell hounds are of fire base like the Ghost riders, right? I think that's what the sheriff meant. I can counter with ice… not for too long of course. But I think it's perfectly sound reasoning actually."
"Makes sense. Well. Get ready to make your appearance." Arthur said with a frown. "If you must transform I would tell you to do it before you get into the seeing range of the town."
"Of course." Toris nodded. "I owe the town that much. And letting them know who I am would put more than just me at risk."
Alfred and Matthew battled it out, the bangs and explosions going off all around them and catching things aflame.
There isn't much time, the cracks in the shield are getting bigger and I don't think Toni can last much more. I hate to say it but it all rests on him and Toris. The sheriff thought as he dodged another attack.
"There's no escape! Just give up your futile battle with what is meant to be! Fate will decide for you!"
Matthew ignored him. He ignored everything but the fight, he was too worried about everything else already, if he focused on anything other than this, he would make a crucial mistake that he couldn't handle on top of his current mistakes.
"No." Alfred's tired growl came. He was weary, exhausted, worn down to almost nothing now. He had no strength or will to go on. The amounts of anxiety coursing through his non-existent veins was insurmountable. He worry he held for his brother was unmatchable.
How would they get through this.
A swing to the left, A bullet to the right, followed by a jab back. A kick to his legs, knocking down the deputy. Alfred tumbled to his back as the gun was knocked from his skeletal hand. His flames brightened to blue as the hell hound wrapped his jaws around the spinal cord of the ghost rider, where it connected to his skull.
The red rider screamed, And the blue joined in the chorus of misery, leaping forward and wrenching the wolf from his brother, snarling and shooting his ineffective bullets at his foe.
"LEAVE" He screeched. His voice caused the air to shake and the ground to tremble. Matthew went tumbling to the right to avoid a blast of fire, which resulted in another it to the shield.
Lovino felt his hair stand on end while his brother trembled in fear. "Will papa be okay?"
"of course he will, he's our papa! If he broke after all of this I'd never forgive him!"
"right…"
A chill went down the child's spine, making his hairs stand on end. Lovino glared upward at the shield. Cracks as wide as his body were appearing now, and he worried for his papa. But was that—
"Vlad!" he screeched at the man who was about to cross past the shield. The strawberry blond looked at him warily, eyes watching everything, and senses absorbing all.
"What is it kid? I don't have time-!"
"How do you permanently kill a hell hound?!" Lovino was surprised as Feliciano stood, looking dead in the man's red eyes. "We need to end this now!"
"Well-" Vladimir approached cautiously. "You have to go and find its grave. A hell hound is a black dog… sacrificed to become the guardian of a church or its people. But this one was corrupted with time and belief. The only problem is, we don't know where it's buried. Once it's found, you burn it's bones to ash."
Feliciano looked puzzled for a moment, contemplating what he had said, then he looked up with a jerky move. "I know where we can look! Make sure papa is safe, okay?" He said, looking at his brother.
"What? Fratello I can't leave you al-"
"Yes you can! Papa's shield is protecting me! Now go to papa and I'll go with Vlad and find it's grave. Got it? I'll get Peter to help! He helped fix up the church grounds too!"
Lovino looked torn for a moment, but squared his shoulders and nodded. "If you die I'll send you to hell."
"Same to you, Fratello."
And the three parted ways, Lovino going to his father's side, and Feliciano taking Vladimir by the hand and leading him towards the church grounds, picking up Peter on the way.
HELLO HELLO HELLO FRIENDS LOOKIT THAT IT'S BEEN JUST SHY OF A YEAR AND I AM SO SORRY
To be fair, I did move and get a job. And it's been a lot of work doing commissions and everything but I still apologize. It may be a bit before I post the final Chapter, but that will be all! Will they find the grave of the black dog? Will Matthias and Lukas be turned back to normal? Will Antonio live to tell his fateful tale?
Find out next chapter!