A/N:
Wotcher, mates. Chase 'ere. Good to see ya. Here's the second half of Chapter 17 for ya, ready to read and happily awaiting your perusal.
Not much to say as I pass the time. Finals are coming up, so it's a good thing I'm giving you something to read now!
Onwards to the next part of the chapter.
Chapter 17: Ashes To Ashes... part 2
The team of Travelers rode back to the flume on the same skimmers that had first taken them into Cloral. As they approached their destination, a strange sensation took over them, leaving them all shivering mildly.
Chase rubbed her arms and looked up. The sun was shining brightly, and the air was warm and pleasant. She didn't understand why she felt slightly cold. A look around showed her fellow Travelers were equally confused.
"Something is wrong..." Leila voiced what they all felt. She locked eyes with her sister, and nodded. They were both thinking the same thing: this had something to do with Saint Dane.
They drew closer to the caves and caverns where the flume was hidden, and Spader and Bobby killed the engine on both skimmers. The team was stunned.
"Where'd the water go?!" Spader asked incredulously. He and the others stared at a long stone corridor protruding where a narrow channel was supposed to mark the swimming entrance to the flume.
The flume had changed, and they knew right away that their hunch was correct - this was indeed the work of the Demon. He had altered the flume, and no one knew what they would find inside.
It was Chase who made up her mind first. Narrowing her eyes, she hopped from the skimmer to the walkway. "Come on." she growled, gritting her teeth.
Bobby shivered from the intensity of her blue eyes. Of all of them, only Chase and Leila had never been face to face with Saint Dane. This was to be their first encounter with him, the man who had slain their families.
Leila followed after her sister, jaw set. She was ready for this, but was worried for her emotional sister.
The others disembarked as well, and made their way down the walkway together.
"Everyone, stay together and stay cool. We all know how tricky Saint Dane can be. I don't want anyone getting hurt." Bobby stated firmly. He stepped into his role as lead Traveler quickly, hoping that the bad feeling in his gut could be ignored or avoided if at all possible.
Everyone nodded their agreement except for Chase.
"This is my chance for you, dad." Chase's mind drifted to Press. "And for you, mama and papa." she thought of her birth mother and father, the wonderful people she had never truly gotten to know.
After walking along the path for a few minutes, it grew dim and hazy. A soft blue glow emanated from stones set in the wall as they arrived in the main cavern of the flume.
It was nothing at all like it should have been. The eerie blue glow from the flume and the dark amber of the star made everyone uneasy. Did Saint Dane have the power to alter the flumes now as well? If he could change this physical nature of the flume gateway, then could he also change the flume itself? What if he had somehow altered the flume to take them to a strange type of purgatory? What if he had connected the worlds? How was he able to do such things in the first place? These unanswered questions mocked the Travelers as they stood together in silence before the flume.
"My dear little friends...so kind of you to join me on this special day!" came the deep, dramatic drawl from the right. Everyone's heads turned to the side to watch as the form of Zy Roder approached lazily, walking in a haughty strut that was reminiscent of a hunter stalking its prey.
Chase shifted backwards into Spader's arms. Spader tightened his arms around her waist, holding her protectively, as if to shield her from her own emotions.
"What have you done this time?" Bobby asked him angrily.
Saint Dane merely smirked. "My dear boy, is it so hard to believe that even I take a day off? Too much work is bad for the heart, you know." He stopped about six feet away from the Travelers.
"Cut the crap and start talking." Leila glared daggers at Saint Dane as she spoke.
Saint Dane turned to meet her gaze. "Well well...little Kaliska Avarosco...I haven't seen you since you were four years old. You do remember me, of course. I came to speak with your mother while you were in the woods once."
Leila was now seething - she had been old enough to remember when he had come and killed her mother. Bobby laid a hand on her shoulder to keep her from lunging towards the Demon.
"What do you want, Saint Dane?" Patrick asked calmly, putting a hand on both Bobby and Leila's shoulders. Gunny and Loor stood just to the left of the pair, ready to strike at any quigs the Demon Traveler may have had.
He turned his cerulean gaze to Chase and Spader. His eyes lost their mirthful sparkle, and he looked more serious than anyone could ever remember seeing him. "I came for this girl." he said softly.
Chase stood in Spader's arms, unable to move under his icy blue stare.
Everyone looked puzzled as Saint Dane closed the distance between them another three feet. "Hello Chastity."
"I don't know how you know that, but don't call me that! Only my family is allowed that privelage!" Chase snapped, gritting her teeth and almost growling at him like an animal.
The others around her -with the exception of Leila, who already had known her sister's full name - were surprised.
Saint Dane looked at her, and his eyes lost their hardened edge, turning soft. "Can't I call you that? As I recall, it was my choice for you..." he gazed sorrowfully at her, almost looking like a different person.
Chase really did growl at this statement. "Shut up! My father named me, you bastard! You know, the man you killed!?"
At this, the Demon's eyes once more took on a mirthful sparkle. "I had hoped you would be a bit smarter my dear." He stepped forward once more, now only a foot away from her, almost nose to nose. He closed his eyes, and was enveloped in silvery-blue light. His form changed; his blonde hair turned ebony and lengthened, and his frame became muscled but thin, like a dancer's or swordsman's build. He stepped back a half foot so that everyone could see him.
Chase, who had been struggling against Spader's arms to step forward and throw a punch at the Demon, now froze. Before her stood a man whom she had only seen in pictures and her own dreams. It was jarring to say the least.
Saint Dane smiled as recognition of the form resonated in Chase's eyes. "So he hasn't kept me out of your heart, has he? I'm shocked that bastard Press allowed you to know of me at all."
"No...I'm not falling for this shit..." Chase whispered, throat dry.
"Chastity, there's an easy way to find out. Use your powers, darling. You can tell if I am sincere, if this is my true form." Saint Dane's eyes changed once more, and he looked almost eager.
Chase looked the Demon in the eyes, and felt sick. His eyes were certainly the same rare blue shade as her own. She recalled everyone telling her that no matter the form he took, his eyes never changed. There was a good chance that was indeed his true natural eye color. She shook her head, dismissing the thought as quickly as it came.
"Powers? What powers?" Bobby asked, confusion etched on his face.
"It's hard to explain. I can...well, sometimes, when dealing with strong enough emotions, I can tell if someone is lying or not. If this is his true form, I should be able to tell." Chase answered her cousin, eyes never moving from Saint Dane.
The others were quiet.
Chase looked into his eyes once more, this time focusing her powers and drawing them to her heart. Her eyes glowed with a slight purple tint, and she concentrated hard.
Suddenly, she gasped as though she had been wounded, and jumped backwards into Spader, panting for air.
"Chase!" Patrick stepped over from Leila and Bobby to check on her, feeling her pulse and checking her breathing.
"I'm fine..." she gasped out, standing straight again. She was dizzy, and certainly felt ill.
"You can tell from her reaction that I am being truthful. This is what I really look like." Saint Dane grinned like a cat that had captured a particularly tricky mouse.
Chase had tears forming in her eyes, but would not let them fall. "Have some respect for the dead and cease this." she glared daggers at Saint Dane, spitting her words with pure malice.
"You know the truth. You are fearful of it, but you know it." he whispered, stepping up to her once more. He looked down at her, eyes flickering from triumphant to pained as he did so.
Bobby looked around from face to face, utterly confused. "Okay, I'm so lost. What the hell is going on here?!"
"Saint Dane is implying that he is Chase's father, Pendragon." Loor stated simply.
With the words finally out and lingering in the air, time seemed to stop. Chase winced as though she had been hit, Leila hissed, Bobby, Patrick, and Gunny seemed stunned, Spader resembled a ghost, and Loor was icy.
"I am not implying. I am directly stating." Saint Dane whispered with a slight smirk. He turned to Chase once more. "You know it. Even if you will not admit it, you can feel it. Your hair and eyes - mine. Your build - mine. Your Amorphara - also mine. You favor the wolf and the raven just as I do. I am - "
"No! You are not my father! He was a good man! He was honorable, loyal, a good Traveler, my adopted dad's best friend! You are nothing like him! There's no fucking way! I don't care if you do look like me, you're not him! My father was Daniel Ravencroft - the Blade Saint!" Chase was now shaking.
She gasped at her own words. "The Blade....Saint....Daniel..." she whispered hoarsely.
The pieces connected in her mind, and suddenly, the full truth hit her.
"Press called me Danny." Saint Dane stated softly.
Chase was numb.
"My father...is dead..." she repeated, the words sounding hollow even to her ears.
The group's minds reeled at this potential revelation. Trust, relationships - even lives - rested on the truth of the matter.
Saint Dane looked slightly angered for the first time. He narrowed his eyes, and suddenly gripped Chase's arm. He pulled her out of Spader's arms and held her by the wrist before him, backing up four steps as he did so.
"Let me tell you a little story. Thirteen years ago, there was a relatively cheerful, carefree man named Daniel. He was the Traveler for Neeanyah, a high-ranking member of the Council Guard, and his skill with a sword earned him the nickname Blade Saint. Daniel was married to a wonderful, sweet and kind noblewoman, and he had a beautiful little girl who looked just like him. Daniel had a best friend named Press. The two were closer than brothers, bound by duty and by the deepest love and respect. One day, Press betrayed Daniel, and as a result, Daniel's beautiful wife was killed, and for years, he was led to believe his little girl had died too." his grip tightened on Chase's arm as he continued.
"It turns out, that backstabbing bastard actually kidnapped Daniel's precious daughter, and brainwashed her, indoctrining her against her true father and keeping her away from her true blood. Press continued to live on with the blood of his old friend's wife on his hands, all the while trying to spill Daniel's as well. Only Daniel was no longer Daniel - he was now something greater and far more terrible than he had been before. Daniel swore justice would be served. So finally, after over a decade of isolation and betrayal, Daniel managed to kill the son of a bitch."
Chase winced at this statement, feeling her heart begin to ache beneath her breast at his words.
"So you see, Daniel had every right in the world to be just a little pissed off. And it turns out, on that fateful day almost 14 years ago, the man known as Daniel Aubrey Ravencroft did die in a manner of speaking. And in his place rose the one who would not only become Halla's savior and ruler, but the one who would eliminate Press Tilton, who was guilty of the ultimate crime - betrayal of the ones you love."
He used one hand to roughly grab Chase by the chin and force her to look him in the eyes.
"I am Daniel Aubrey Ravencroft - the Saint of Retribution and Vengeance - Saint Dane. The precious little girl is you, Chastity. Whether you like it or not, no matter what that traitorous fool has told you, you are MY little girl - a Ravencroft, and my heir." he spoke with a calm fury that was threatening to scald her. His power washed over her own and nearly drowned her in pure energy, like a crackling, raging beast of pure essence. He leaned close to her, and offered one more sentence in a husky whisper that would burn itself into the memories of all assembled.
"Whether you like it or not, you are MY child. I am the Saint of Sinners - and I am your father."
Shara giggled like a young girl, clapping her hands together in glee. She could almost taste the pain in Chase's heart and feel the literal breaking of her spirit. Her own blood was the enemy - she would almost certainly be cast in doubt by her friends and her little love. Shara was ecstatic - the little brat was no longer a threat.
"Perhaps in her grief she will decide to join her dear mother in the afterlife!" the Wraith Queen shivered with pleasure at the thought. With Chase out of the way, Daniel would no longer have any tie to his past, leaving him free for Shara to ensnare. She was determined to have her Wraith King beside her to rule Halla.
"Milady Korlaine, your orders?" A knight in ebony armor bowed low before his mistress.
"Prepare a grand feast. Secure the outer borders of the palace and enforce the shielding charm. Also, ensure that the east wing is cleared out entirely after dinner. Lord Daniel and I are not to be disturbed." she grinned wickedly, already eager to entwine her body with Daniel's.
She dismissed the knight, and turned back to her scrying glass, eager to see Chase's reaction.
Press felt sick. He gripped the edges of the basin before him so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His face went pale, and tears glazed his eyes. This was no longer the cheery, tough Lead Traveler - this was a broken man.
Jo closed his eyes tightly, and lay a hand on his friend's shoulder.
The two of them had just witnessed something they had hoped would never pass. They had wanted to protect their children. They had just failed miserably.
Failure was not something that Press Tilton took kindly to. He had never tasted defeat, only setbacks. An eternally positive mindset had allowed him to overcome anything in his path, and he has instilled that mindset in his children.
But this was something that no mere positive thinking could hope to stand to. And while the master of looking on the bright side still felt things would be alright, he couldn't help but feel that this was his ultimate mistake.
"Danny..." Press whispered, closing his eyes. The image of Daniel's face, handsome features twisted in anger, burned against his eyes. Press had seen the hatred on his old friend's face when he spoke of his death, had felt the malice towards him, and heard his damning words. Press was not used to being thought of as the villain.
Would his daughters believe Daniel's version of events? Would sisters be divided over genetics and a sense of fillial piety? Could Chase forgive him for not telling her the truth, or would she cast away her duty to Halla?
"Press, stop torturing yourself. We can't know any of the answers yet..." Jo tired to console his friend, almost reading his mind and following the myriad whirl of thought and feeling.
Press steeled his resolve and nodded to Jo, opening his eyes and wiping away tears.
"Turn your eyes to your little girls - see how strong they can be." Jo nodded firmly, and turned back to the events unfolding, as Press did the same, prayers left unsaid upon his lips.
"I am the Saint of Sinners - and I am your father."
The words echoed through everyone's ears, a haunting melody of darkest tone.
Bobby was dumbstruck. His own cousin, Saint Dane's daughter? How could that be? Doubt clouded his mind as he began to think. Had Chase known this entire time? Was she merely acting, even now? Had she been working for her father the entire time? How could his Uncle have raised her knowing the truth? Perhaps this Chase was not the real Chase - perhaps his cousin as he knew her was all just another pretty, packaged lie.
He looked to Chase, and instantly felt ashamed of himself. She was shaking, and the look in her eyes was one of pure pain and complete agony. She looked as though she wanted nothing more than death's embrace - to imagine her as anything but an innocent in this affair was shameful.
Chase let the tears slide down her pale cheeks without a thought to check them. She looked into the eyes of their mutual enemy - the Demon Saint - and saw things she had never dreamed of within them.
"Papa..." she whispered, unable to say anything more.
"Join me, darling. We can rebuild our family, rule over a strong, combined Halla. No more seperation, no more fighting. I'll even let your little boyfriend live, and you can be the princess you deserve to be." Saint Dane whispered, letting his hand fall from her chin and smiling softly at her.
The young girl had to admit, it sounded like a damn good idea at the moment.
This was the man she had prayed for and idolized as a young child. The man known as Daniel Ravencroft had always been her hero. The man before her - the very same man - was a heartless killer who wanted to destroy all that ever was in order to rule it for himself. Or did he? Had Press been the evil one all along? Were they all just being played? As Chase wrestled with her thoughts, something deep in her heart stirred, and a voice crossed through her mind.
"This is not the way it was meant to be..."
She blinked rapidly, as though she had been sitting in the dark and had just emerged into the light. Shaking her head, she stepped back from her father.
"You're my father in blood alone! You've been alive all these years and never once came for me!" she growled.
Leila sighed with relief - for a moment, she was almost certain her emotional younger sister would fall to Saint Dane's words. Chase was by no means an idiot, but she was a creature of emotion over reason, this Leila knew for certain.
Saint Dane narrowed his eyes, smile dropping swiftly from his face. "I thought you were dead!" he replied. curtly.
"Yeah? Well that makes two of us, you traitorous bastard!" she snarled.
"I told you, it was that two-timing Tilton who started this! It is his fault your mother is dead! His fault that I never knew you as a child, his fault that everything that could have been can now never be!" he reached for her as he spoke.
Chase gathered her strength and pushed him away from her. "NO! Press was a good man! You're wrong! Don't talk about my father that way!"
"He is not your father!" Saint Dane's eyes began to glow brighter with rage.
"He was more of a father to me than you could ever hope to be!" Chase clenched her fists tightly.
Saint Dane said nothing. All was silent for a few moments, until the sound of growling could be heard behind the group of Travelers.
"Wolf quigs!" Leila cried out, dragging Bobby to the side as one lunged for him. Everyone's heads whipped around, giving Saint Dane time to make for the flume.
Chase turned back in time to see her father trying to leave. "No you don't! We're settling this now!" she ran off after him, only to be forced backwards by a thrust of his hand. He had lashed out at her with his aura.
"Think of my words, Chastity. This will not be the final time we meet - not by a long shot." he hissed, stepping into the flume. The portal erupted in a blaze of fire as he left, then turned back to it's original appearance.
The wolf quigs circled the group, and began to rush in for the attack.
As the quigs closed in, Chase closed her eyes and threw out her arms.
"Nesera'tiempa'fria!" she called out.
A golden circle was etched into the ground around them. A shower of silver dust covered everything outside of the circle, freezing the quigs in their place.
"Let's go, I can't hold this for very long!" Chase grit her teeth, trying not to scream at the effort of holding the spell.
The others quickly moved towards the flume. Bobby activated it for Second Earth, and made the others go before him. He stood with Spader at the mouth of the flume, waiting for Chase.
A moment later, she dropped her arms, and fell to her knees, exhausted with the effort of holding a complex spell that she could not use very well.
Spader, eyes blank, rushed in and picked up his girlfriend. Holding her in his arms, he entered the flume, with Bobby just behind him.
The current Lead Traveler looked back on the flume entrance, which was now reverting to it's original watery state, and wondered what the results of this confession would be.
He wondered as they journeyed home if his family of friends would ever be the same again.