The Basilisk leaned in again. Taking a few swipes with the sword Aerrow managed to clip it on the snout causing it to recoil before it lunged back quicker, colliding with him. Rolling back slightly, the sword was lost from his hand. Sitting up he saw it momentarily perched on the edge of head before it began sliding off. Diving for it just as the Basilisk once more lunged, mouth open and full of huge fangs, Aerrow grabbed the edge of it and managed to stand to see the mouth of the great snake inches from him. Holding the sword he drove it forward. It pierced the Basilisk right through the roof of it's mouth and through the top of its head. As it shrieked Aerrow could only try and get the sword out with most of his arm in the beast's mouth but it had become lodged. As it finally jerked free and the snake recoiled however, on of the fangs pierced his forearm. With a small cry he pulled it out and took hold of the fang and sword as he saw the Basilisk writhe and toss in it's dying pain before it slide closer to the ground, some of it's body falling back into the pool. With one final hiss it's head and neck tumbled backwards, slamming and coming to a rest upside down on the edge of the pool.
Down below Piper and Finn hugged each other in relief as Cyclonis looked murderous. Coming down the cliff Aerrow knew something was wrong, his vision was growing blurry around the edges, he was limping and his strength was growing weaker. As he reached the front of the Basilisk's head he dropped the sword and fang to his sides and fell on fours. Piper and Finn raced to him and Cyclonis grew smug again. Feeling his forehead Piper could fell him burning up along with him having shorter breath and becoming more and more unfocused. Seeing the fang to the side and the wound on his arm she grew very grave. She knew what it meant.
"Remarkable isn't, how quickly the venom of the Basilisk penetrates the body, I guess you have little more than a minute to live" Cyclonis said as she came over, grinning at the sight. Something suddenly began to appear in front of the Storm Hawks, glowing and taking shape, the book, the real horcruex appeared in front of them, open at a blank page. "Your prize" Cyclonis sneered again, making no move to stop them taking it, after all her greatest threat was dying right in front of her. "You'll be with you dear traitorous mother soon Aerrow" She taunted. Without knowing it would do any good, but with Cyclonis's final taunt ringing in his ears Aerrow took hold of the book and then the fang. Cyclonis noticed this a confusingly frowned. "What are you doing?" She asked as she watched him hover the fang over the book. "Stop, no!" She shouted and began to lunge forward as Aerrow plunged the fang into the pages of the book. Two odd things happened at once. Firstly dark red ink began pouring out from nowhere where Aerrow had punctured the book and secondly Cyclonis seemed to be, in certain places disappearing as if she was a hologram or was burning up as the gaps seemed to fade away with a glowing edge to them. With furious yells she was still trying to get to them. Aerrow for a few moments took the fang off the page and saw she grew a little bit stronger before he close the book and stabbed it all the way through, lodging the fang into the book in the process which caused the remainders of Cyclonis to burn up and disintegrate. A few moments of silence passed before it was broken by Aerrow nearly falling flat on the floor as Piper and Finn managed to hold him up.
"There must be something we can do"Finn said desperately. Piper who had shed a few tears shook her head.
"There's nothing to do, It's fatal" She said, half crying. Aerrow managed to draw a breath.
"Listen both of you, find the others, take the dead horcruex back, the sword and the fang too" He said as he tried to gasp for breath. Another squawk made then look up to see Fawkes swoop gracefully in and land beside them. It seemed to be looking at Aerrow with interest. "You were brilliant Fawkes, I just wasn't quick enough" Aerrow winced as Fawkes seemed to bow it's head over his wound. It then began crying over it. Aerrow felt a very odd sensation of a warm but pleasant tingling run over his arm as he looked to to miraculously see, with each tear, the wound vanish but by bit. No just that but he began to feel normal again. Piper and Finn slid over to kneel in front of him and also saw the wound disappear.
"Of course, Phoenix Tears have healing powers" He said, remembering what Dumbledore had told him on the day they'd met. "Thanks" He added to Fawkes.
"So..." Piper began, a little unsure of it's meaning.
"It's over, it's just a memory" Aerrow replied, smiling. Piper and Finn looked at each other for a moment before registering that he'd been cured as they both pulled him into a fierce hug.