OF MONSTERS AND MAGIC

Chapter 5:

Crashing Down

"Who is the monster that lurks in the night?

Who is the shadow that feeds its heart?

Who is the hunter who lifts his axe?

Who is the axe that tears monsters apart?

Monster and shadow, disturb me not

Hunter and axe, take not my life

Oh, great moon above, will you not weep?

Sing for your children, and bring us to sleep"

- An excerpt from the Agrestian nursery rhyme, "Monster and Shadow"

There was light ahead... and warmth. Alya could feel it soaking into the stones.

Cat Noir's scent was stronger now. She was close.

But there was another scent now – foul and familiar. Lila.

Alya's eyes glimmered bitterly as she strode out of the tunnel, silent as a shadow.

She emerged in a massive chamber that stretched out in all directions. Lit braziers hung from the walls, and a large, metal chandelier – held high by a single rope – hung at an awkward angle in the middle of the cracked ceiling. Marble columns – some broken, some not – bordered the grand hall, making it look and feel like an enormous cage.

And tied to some of those columns were people. She recognised Kubdel among them, his head sagged forward as though in shame.

The Lost Ones.

Keeping her eyes and nose out for Lila, Alya ran up to one of the pillars, where three women were sitting and leaning on each other for support. But when the shape-shifter approached them, their heads rose up and their eyes widened. With fear or relief, Alya wasn't certain.

So she moved on to another column. This one had several children tied together, all of them either crying silently or keeping quiet.

On the third, Alya finally found a pair of young men who looked to be in their twenties or late teens. "Cat Noir?" she asked softly, hoping one of them would answer.

The two pasty lads gasped at the sight of her, but neither one said anything.

Alya sighed... and then her ears picked up a whisper not too far away: "Who's asking?"

The shape-shifter followed the sound to a few pillars down, where one boy was tied up alone and standing upright. Alya recognised him from the night she met Nino: tuffs of golden hair and green eyes that would make a princess swoon.

Well, he's certainly dressed like a cat, Alya thought. "A friend of your friend," she responded as she began fiddling with Cat Noir's rope bonds. "Nino sent me here to get you out."

The boy's face lit up, but then it fell. "Where is he? Is he all right?"

Alya paused, suddenly realizing that her companion and Alix have been gone for too long. They should've been back by now. "I... I don't know," she admitted with a pang. "We got separated."

Cat Noir sighed. "Well... he does tend to get lost in castles," he said with attempted optimism. "Believe me."

Alya tried to smile, but that unnerving fear lingered.

She grunted when the ropes refused to loosen. "I'm going to have to bite into them," she said as she stood back.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "I not sure if that will..." he began.

"Just trust me, okay? And try not to freak out."

"How pathetic," came a cold voice.

Alya spun around. Damn it – I should've sensed her coming!

Lila strode up from across the hall towards them, her face unreadable. The Rossians shrank back in their spots, sounding like they were trying to hold their breath. Alya couldn't blame them. Lila's scent was just as unclean as her soul.

"You've spent so much time with these humans, Alya," Lila drawled with a hint of disgust, "their behaviour is beginning to rub off on you." She sniffed at the air and crunched her nose. "You even smell like them. It's revolting."

Alya stood her ground and glared at her former friend. "Are you going to continue toying with me, Lila," she declared loud enough for everyone to hear, "or are you going to grow a backbone and fight me yourself?"

Lila snorted. "You're one to talk of backbone. At least I don't cower behind any lousy boyfriends." Her dark-green eyes gleamed cruelly. "Then again, neither do you now."

The way she said those words made Alya's insides turn soggy. No, she thought, not him too. "What did you do to Nino?" she demanded, though her voice shook.

Behind her, she heard Cat Noir stiffen; felt his heartbeat pause.

"Would you prefer a lie to make it feel better?" Lila asked. "You always were the sensitive one."

It was as though the air had been sucked right out of Alya's lungs. She suddenly felt light-headed, and her core was deprived of warmth. Nino...

She had only known him for one day. But she would've given up her miserable life for that one day. Nino had understood her, he had trusted her, and he had been... her friend. Her first and only real friend; the first person her heart had opened up to after her father died.

And now... she was alone again.

Alya barely heard Cat Noir thrashing against his bonds.

"You're going to pay for that, you monster!" Nino's friend shouted with heartbroken fury.

Lila extended a hand to him. "You see now, Alya? Humans are far too quick to judge." She began pacing back and forth in front of her distraught captives. "He sees a monster, I see a hero. Instead of mourning the loss of one insignificant human life, you should be thanking me for ridding you of the one thing that's been holding you back." She sighed with a soft hum. "It matters not. What's done is done. And now, you can finally embrace your true power, as you were meant to."

Tears blurred Alya's vision as she glared up at the brunette. "I never wanted power!" she yelled, her amber eyes flaming and her voice feral. "I never wanted any of it! I just wanted to be accepted for who I am!"

Lila whirled on her, her face dark with anger. "I accepted you, you stupid, lovesick idiot!" she snapped. "I trained you! I took you in when all others would have killed you for your pelt!" She took a long, agonizing breath. "And still you try to play the liberalist," she snarled with bared teeth.

Alya seethed. She could feel the fox inside her clawing inside her skin, fighting to break out. Her arms started to ripple with light, and her fingernails slowly lengthened.

"Ooh..." Lila grinned at her. "Are you going to kill me, Alya?" She spread out her arms coaxingly. "Go ahead – it should be a walk in the woods for you. You slaughtered your father's killers easily enough, and they outnumbered you five to one. Did you ever tell the huntsman about that day? Did you mention how much you enjoyed tearing them to pieces?"

That did it. "Shut up!" Alya yelled as she unconsciously raised a hand towards the brunette.

Light and wind and heat burst from her palm.

It hit Lila directly in the chest, sending her flying back. The mayor collapsed in a rolling heap, her hair tangled and sticking out in several directions.

Cat Noir and many of the Rossians gasped... but none so loudly as Alya.

She stared at her hand. Not horrified, but still quite shocked. Amazed, even. That was... Was that... me?

Had she finally tapped into that hidden reservoir of magic that years of training and isolation failed to accomplish? But... how? Why now? Where had that come from?

A proud laugh answered her.

Lila rose up from the ground in a flurry of blown hair and skirts, her smile the epitome of wicked delight. "You feel it, don't you?" she asked with a melodic chuckle. "The rush of magic, the strength flowing through your veins... Love cannot give you any of that, Alya. Only fear and desire can."

Alya lowered her hand. It was shaking now. That wildfire that she had unleashed seemed to burn out, but the memory of it still rocked her bones.

"You can't protect anyone," Lila continued as she walked over to her old friend, "not your huntsman, not your father, not even your sisters. And you can never change who you really are."

Alya watched Lila as the latter circled around and stepped over to Cat Noir, whose wide eyes narrowed as she drew closer.

"If the huntsman's death hasn't proven that to you yet," the brunette grumbled, "then maybe this will."

With lightning-fast movement, Lila yanked Cat Noir's head back by the hair, exposing his neck.

Lila smiled darkly at Alya. "Kill him," she commanded.

It took a moment for the redhead to register those words. When she did, her face twisted with defiance. "No, I won't!" she snapped.

"Yes, you will," Lila said with all the confidence in the world. "Because if you don't, I will." She leaned closer to Cat Noir and brushed her lips against his ear, making him flinch. "And I intend to take my sweet time with him. It's not every day you get to feast on a prince, after all."

Alya blinked. Prince?

Huh. That actually explained that metallic scent of gold amongst the aromas of apples and wildflowers.

Cat Noir was staring up at the ceiling, but his words were directed to Alya. "You don't have to listen to her. She doesn't control you."

"Quiet," Lila growled.

"Alya..." Cat Noir said firmly, which got the redhead's full attention. "I once trusted someone with all my heart, and then I found out that he was using me the whole time." He struggled from Lila's grip and went on, "It hurts; believe me... but that doesn't mean you can't put your faith in anyone else. And the only way to do that... is to have faith in yourself."

For the second time in her life, Alya was astounded by the selfless act of a human.

"I said quiet!" Lila gave Cat Noir a shake before snapping back to her fellow shape-shifter with glowing eyes. "What's it going to be, Alya? I'm not waiting forever!"

For one split second, Alya was back in the forest. She smelled the trees, she smelled earth under her boots...

She smelled Nino: driftwood, grass, sweat... and chocolate.

She heard his voice, like he was standing right beside her: Strength isn't about blood or power. It's about the choices we make and the people we count on.

Alya's eyes burned once more. Only this time, they burned with a different kind of magic; a controlled, soothing flame compared to the wild inferno she had before.

"All right..." she said without a hint of remorse. "I've made my choice."

As she expected, Lila smiled.

"I knew you'd understand," the brunette said as she released Cat Noir.

Alya didn't bother to apologise to the black-clad prince as she transformed right in front of him.

Cat Noir gaped down at her: emerald green into sun-like amber.

And as Lila stepped away, Alya padded forward and loosed a throaty growl.

While Alya was facing Lila, Nino was facing dirt.

His arms were now throbbing, his biceps burning from overuse. His shoulder sockets were straining from having to hold up two different weights at once.

And speaking of which... "You good back there, kiddo?" Nino groaned calmly to Alix.

Her only response was, "Are we going to die?"

Nino tested one of his hatchets, half buried in the wall. He tried giving it a good wiggle. It seemed to come loose.

That gave him an idea.

"Nah, I don't think so," the huntsman squeaked with optimism. "I just... wish I had a better plan than this." He took a few good breaths before saying, "Hang on tight – we're going up."

Alix obeyed and kept her arms wrapped firmly around his neck.

Once Nino loosened the hatchet, he broke into a slight bounce. Then, with his feet braced against the wall, he launched himself upward. He quickly dug the free hatchet back in the dirt, and once that was secure, he began loosening the other one.

In this way, the huntsman and his little passenger climbed.

It hurt his arms like never before, but Nino knew it was a better alternative to getting skewered alive on the spikes below.

Then, Alix whimpered into his back, "This is my fault."

Nino paused for a moment so he could hear her. "Say again?"

"If I hadn't gone into the forest, none of this would have happened," Alix said, her voice cracking. "I wasn't strong enough. And now my father... and your friend..." She began shaking. "I ruined everything."

Nino knew the shaking would make their odds of surviving shrink, so he quickly said, "Hey, kid... I'm going to tell you a story."

In truth, he wasn't. He was just trying to get the girl to calm down.

And it worked... sort of. "How's that going to help us?" Alix snipped with a sniffle.

Tough kid, I'll give her that. "Just listen, all right? Trust me – you'll like this one."

He took her silence as a solid "sure". Or maybe a "whatever".

As Nino went back to climbing, he tried to think of something that Alix would understand; something that would relate to her predicament.

But instead, he thought about Alya.

Her smile, her laugh, her wise yet sultry demeanour, the way her eyes sparkled in the sun... the way her scent changed as quickly as her mood. Baked apples, honey and pinecones when happy; roaring fires, sharp spices and candle wax when agitated.

I'd rather face my demons than let them control me. Maybe it's time you faced yours.

And just like that, Nino had his story.

"There once was a... a wolf who lived in a house of cats," the huntsman began. "They raised him as a pup and made him a part of their family." He continued to climb by pacing himself to the rhythm of the story: bury, lift, pull out, bury, lift, pull out...

"But one day, the wolf tried to eat one of the cats," Nino narrated. "It was as if something had turned him into the hungry, savage beast he was born to be." His brown eyes stared absent-mindedly at the opening above for a moment. "He just... followed his instincts."

Alix angled her head so that she could try and look at the huntsman. "And... What happened to the cat?" she asked hesitantly.

Nino grinned and went back to climbing. "Well now, that's the interesting part. The cat didn't try to fight back. He didn't beg or run away or anything. He just... waited for the wolf to strike. He couldn't blame the guy. I mean, how can you possible change a wolf's nature?"

"So, the cat just... forgave the wolf?" Alix asked in pure disbelief.

"Yes," Nino replied boldly, his pounding heart kicking back into gear with that single word. "Because after everything they'd been through, the cat still loved the wolf. To the very end." Nino stopped for breath. His hands now had blisters, and they made his eyes water. But he gritted his teeth and kept going.

Adrien didn't give up on me then. I can't give up on myself now!

"At that moment," Nino continued, "the wolf spared the cat's life. He decided that he didn't want to be a monster anymore. It didn't matter that he was a natural killer. What mattered was that he had been raised to be a good wolf. A fighter... and a protector." He glanced over at Alix and smiled. "And nothing and no one could ever change that."

The pink-haired Rossian seemed to smile at that.

And when Nino looked back up, he was actually surprised to see the top of the hole they had dropped into... only an arm's length in front of him!

How about that?

This time, Nino drove both hatchets into the wall and braced his feet. "All right, Alix," he said. "On the count of three, I want you to grab the ledge with me. We'll get of this together, okay?"

The girl tensed. "But what if I fall?"

"You won't fall. I won't let you fall. I promise."

Alix inhaled deeply, and then furrowed her brow with determination. "Okay."

"Good. Ready?" Nino fell back into a crouch. "One... two..." Gods, I hope this works. "... three!"

Two hands – a large tanned one and a small pale one – shot up and grabbed the edge of the opening.

Nino bid Alix to climb up and over. His back sighed with relief once she was off him. Then the huntsman ripped both hatchets out of the earth, tossed them over, and heaved himself up with all the remaining strength he had left.

As soon as he rolled along the stone floor of the castle hallway, Nino let out a great gust of air and his sore muscles groaned. Or maybe that was him. Either way, he had never been so happy to be alive.

The huntsman looked over to see Alix on her hands and knees, panting and laughing at the same time.

"Nice job, little wolf," Nino saluted. "You're a real hero."

Once they were both inching back onto their feet, Alix smiled at her saviour and said, "Thank you, Nino. For forgiving me."

That made him smile too. He should be the one thanking her, for reminding him to never give up on himself, but he decided to save that for latter. Alya and Cat Noir were still in danger, and so were Kubdel and the other Lost Ones.

"You're welcome," Nino said as he scooped up his weapons and straightened like a wolf on the hunt. "Now... let's go save the rest of our pack."

Alya saw the fear in Cat Noir's eyes as she approached him.

But there was also understanding in them, as though facing his own death wasn't entirely new to him.

Thankfully, Lila was too busy admiring the prince's reaction to notice the little red vixen wink at her so-called prey.

Only when Cat Noir blinked at Alya and a tiny grin began to form did Lila finally get curious and turn to her furry friend.

That's when Alya struck.

Lila gasped as the creature leaped at her. She instinctively raised an arm to shield her face, and in doing so, gave Alya something to sink her fangs into.

"AH!" Lila's scream resounded through the grand hall as she fell backwards and wrestled with the vixen in a frenzy of red fur and brown hair.

But then Alya finally let go and pounced over to stand in front of Cat Noir, her back arched and her little red fangs gleaming at Lila.

The brunette staggered back up, caressing her bleeding arm with a look of pure ferocity: pupils dilated, teeth clenched and cheeks flushed. "You little bitch!" she yelled at Alya. "You bit me!"

The vixen merely snapped her jaws at her former friend, her threatening snarl causing Lila to reel back even more.

Cat Noir snorted behind her. "Looks like the apprentice is now the master," he gloated with charming smugness.

Alya almost smiled at that, but she knew there would be time for that later... assuming she survived what was coming next.

But she had made her decision, and she was sticking with it. For her father, and for Nino.

Suddenly, the air around Lila began to prickle and pop like fire, and tendrils of red energy snaked around her body. Her murderous glare was heightened when the deep greens of her eyes changed into sharp, glowing rubies.

"I should've known," Lila hissed at Alya. "You have too much human blood in you!" Her anger seemed to strengthen her transformation; egg it on faster. "And now...!" the mayor of Rossi yelled, "I'm going to enjoy spilling every last drop!"

With a violent roar, Lila's body vanished in a whirl of red and smoke.

When it cleared, a monstrous brown-and-orange fox appeared. Volpina had appeared.

Most of the Rossians cried out in terror.

Alya stepped out into the open chamber and barked at the large fox, challenging her.

Volpina snarled and dug her claws into the ground, leaving deep carving marks in the stones.

Alya knew her opponent outmatched her in both size and raw power. But she was quicker and more nimble, and all she needed was a good bite to the neck to bring Volpina down.

As the two shape-shifters sized each other up, Alya heard someone call her name.

No, not someone – Nino!

Alya's heart elated. She looked past Volpina just in time to see the dorky-eyed huntsman with Alix at his side. One of Nino's hatchets was already poised to throw at the thick rope that held the metal chandelier in the air.

The vixen didn't need to look to see what she and Volpina were standing under.

With a sly grin worthy of her fox nature, Alya snapped at her opponent.

The oblivious Volpina leapt on top of her.

Or so, it seemed... until the little red vixen danced and zipped out of the way in a slippery motion before barking at Nino. Now!

The huntsman's hatchet went flying.

Then... a sharp SNAP!

The hulk of metal that was the chandelier fell... right on top of Volpina before she could so much as look up.

The ear-splitting sound of metal crashing on rock shook the ground, almost sending Alya off her paws.

But once it ended, Alya shook her fur free of glass and dust before turning around.

Glass and gems scattered along the floor like raindrops. The curved, rusted spikes stuck out from the ground like talons. The rest lay in nothing but a heap of twisted metal.

There was nothing but silence. No one took a single breath.

She's gone, Alya thought. It wasn't relief flooding through her, or remorse. It was... just pure incredulity.

Nino said to Alix, "Get the others," before strolling cautiously up to the metal ruin on the floor.

Alya padded over as well, sniffing out for Volpina's scent. Somehow, somewhere in her gut, she had the feeling this wasn't over yet.

Alix went for Cat Noir first. As soon as he was free, many of the Rossians started murmuring amongst themselves excitedly:

"The beast is gone!"

"Volpina is slain!"

"Is the curse over? Are we free?"

Alya would've rolled her eyes at them, but foxes couldn't do that.

Nino dug and poked through the chandelier pieces, his brow scrunched. "I can't see her," he called over to Alya.

She heeded him and took a step closer.

That's when she heard it: a heartbeat.

Her amber eyes widened with horror. Nino! The name came out as a frantic yelp.

But it was too late.

CRASH!

An explosion of rust and glass and metal... and then Alya was flying backwards.

She heard Alix scream, as did a few others. She heard Cat Noir shouting Nino's name.

Alya toppled along the ground, letting out a high-pitched whimper. Something dug into her shoulder – probably a piece of glass – and one of her back paws was sprained.

But her eyes flew open, determined to find Nino.

Her changed heart froze in her changed body.

Volpina was standing in the centre of the explosion, where an array of chains and metal spikes encompassed her in a broad ring. She was covered in red gauges and scratches, but she was more angry than hurt.

And hanging from the tips of her jaws, unconscious with a large gash on his forehead, was the huntsman.

Alya's terror melted into hot iron. Her huntsman!

Volpina shook Nino's body vigorously before tossing him away. He fell along the ground without as much as a stir.

Then the monstrous fox looked over at Alya... and flashed her fangs in a triumphant sneer.

"Nino!" Cat Noir yelled as he picked up a jagged piece of metal and charged at the monster that had hurt his friend.

But all she had to do was knock the prince away with a swipe of her massive snout. He collided hard with one of the marble pillars and fell groaning upon the ground.

Alya watched on in despair. We can't stop her. Nothing can stop her!

This is all my...

"Leave him alone!"

Both shape-shifters turned towards the source of that small but chivalrous voice.

Alya's fox-bones rattled.

It was Alix!

The pink-haired girl bore no trace of fear as she stepped between Volpina and Cat Noir and stated, "You're not hurting anyone ever again!"

Now all eyes were upon Alix, including her father's. Kubdel went white as the marble in the chamber and squirmed against his bonds. A few others did the same, shouting for Volpina to stop... but there was no pleading in their tones.

Even Cat Noir seemed perplexed as he struggled to regain his senses.

But all Volpina did was laugh, which came out as a monstrous huff. With her red eyes locked solely on Alix, she sank into a deep crouch.

At that moment, something awoke inside Alya. Not anger. Not grief. Not fear. Not bloodlust. Just... passion. And a desire to protect.

Hurting Nino was one thing... but wanting to hurt a defenceless child?

Suddenly, it wasn't Alix she was seeing there. It was her two twin sisters – their matching eyes, just like Alya's, refusing to give in to the monster before them.

And then... Alya felt her core ignite like never before.

And with a brave roar, she ran forward like never before.

Volpina had already leapt into the air, her claws mere inches from Alix's face, when Alya collided with her.

There was a crash, followed by a sickening, fleshy sound.

Alya landed hard on the floor. The light inside her veins dimmed, and she had human arms and legs again. Her auburn hair fell over her sweaty face.

Groaning, she felt gentle hands on her shoulders.

"Are you all right?" It was Cat Noir.

Alix was there as well, safe and sound.

Alya rubbed her head. It felt like she had slammed into a boulder. "I've been better," she admitted as she struggled to rise up.

The prince supported her the entire way, and only when Alya was back on her feet again did her blurred vision fix itself.

Only then did she see a horrible sight.

She gasped. I... I didn't... I was only trying to...

But the scene before her could not be undone, no matter what excuses she made.

Her heart sinking, Alya walked over to the human woman who lay before her.

Lila was grasping the metal spike that stuck out cleanly through her abdomen, as though to try and pull it out. Her breathing came out in wet wheezes, and blood dripped from her mouth. Her green eyes were dimming, as though the magic within her was slowly dying out – much like its master.

The moment she saw Alya kneel beside her, Lila glared at her with all her remaining fervour. "Y-You... You t-t-traitor...!" she gasped before letting out a gut-wrenching cough. "You ch-choose... th-th-them...?" Her shaky hand pointed an accusatory finger at the redhead; her former apprentice. "Ov-ver... your own... k-kind...?"

Though her eyes were filled with tears, Alya's voice was filled with confidence. "No," she said softly, laying a hand on her old friend's shoulder in respect. "I choose myself."

Lila let out a sound that was either a cry of anguish or a groan of disgust. Maybe both.

Then, Alya watched as the brunette's head rolled to the side and her hand dropped soundlessly to the floor. She heard Lila's heartbeat stop, the last sound ringing through her like the long beat of a drum.

Then, all was quiet.

Until a frazzled voice called out from behind Alya and Cat Noir, "Did I miss something?"

Alya, Cat Noir and Alix spun around in unison to see a very dishevelled, very filthy Nino waddling over to the middle of the wreckage.

Alya's hysterical sigh sounded long after she rose up, raced over to the huntsman and threw her arms around him, breathing in that familiar scent of driftwood.

The huntsman coughed into her hair, "Apparently, I did." But despite his sheepishness, he hugged Alya back.

And that alone was more than she ever wanted.