Chapter 28: Private Duel

Sean and Rodolphus stared at each other for a fairly lengthy period of time after Bill apparated away from the scene of the private duel. The tension between the two could be cut with a knife, and the sound of the cool night air rushing by them was the only noise other than the rolling thunder.

Rodolphus stepped back several steps, his eyes never leaving Sean's piercing gaze. Sean reached back to where his sword was strapped and produced the gloves that he had had a Knight bring to him before the battle. They were the same kind that he had used when he fought Raiganzi, Sean slipped them on and strapped them on tightly.

There were no words exchanged between the two of them until Sean bowed to Rodolphus.

"What is the meaning of this," Rodolphus hissed out.

"I am familiar with the formalities of your duels," Sean answered with a strong and ice-filled tone, "I figure the sooner we get the formalities out of the way, the sooner we can end this business between us."

Rodolphus smiled and took a few more steps back. "Do you know what I am?" he asked through a villainous smile.

"Yes," Sean said in the same tone he had been using, "my Order brothers and I call that an Abomination."

"Such a lowly and ignorant name for what I have become," Rodolphus said beaming with pride, "I am a living masterpiece, and I am invincible."

Sean's characteristic smirk came to his face. "You will remember that it was once my occupation to kill demons such as yourself," he said, "and I was very good at it." There was another roll of thunder, and then the rain began to fall. "Now bow!" Sean boomed, "And we shall see who is left standing."

"To the death then?" Rodolphus asked with malicious intent.

"Aye," Sean answered reaching back with his right hand to grip the hilt of the Ninjato sword that he had had made from the Manticore Metal, "to the death."

Rodolphus began the horrific process of his transformation. Sean could hear many gunshots from the main battle as he waited for Rodolphus to finish changing, but kept himself and his now cleared mind focused on the Abomination taking shape in front of him. The Manticore tail with poisonous stinger had already formed and Rodolphus was now at the height of his form. Sean noticed the metallic torso Harry and Bill had told him about and watched as the dragon wings surfaced and the werewolf head took shape.

In a few moments, the ordeal was over and Rodolphus stood to face his lone opponent. Sean merely looked up into the eyes of the beast before him, and smirked.

"When you're quite ready demon," Sean said without a hint of fear, angering Rodolphus. Rodolphus performed his bow, and in an instant Sean drew his sword and charged forward.

Rodolphus shot his tail in Sean's direction, Sean hit it to the side with his sword and continued forward. Rodolphus next breathed fire at Sean, this caught Sean off guard but he was able to roll out of the way and then bolt forward. Rodolphus then took to the air and flew around Sean for a few moments. Sean stood his ground and watched the Abomination fly around, waiting for him to make the next move.

Rodolphus angled himself towards Sean and began to fly with blazing speed. Sean didn't move, he stood and waited until Rodolphus was so close that he couldn't fly to either side in time to block the blow Sean was about to deliver. When he was close enough, Sean side stepped and brought his sword up against Rodolphus' torso before bringing it through his left wing.

Rodolphus crashed to the ground after the loss of his wing. He brought himself to where he was standing upright, and then he did something that surprised Sean, he spoke.

"Pathetic fool," Rodolphus said with a more menacing voice then he could ever hope to have in human form, "I may not be able to fly, but nothing can penetrate my armor."

Sean said nothing, he merely held up his sword. The rain was washing it clean, but not fast enough for Rodolphus not to see the blood that was dripping off of the blade. He then looked down at the slash across his body. It was not very deep, merely a scratch, but Sean's message was clear.

"The next one," Sean said, "will be much deeper. And if I have to I will destroy you piece by piece."

Rodolphus hissed and ran towards Sean, breathing fire and striking with his tail. Sean found himself being kept busy having to simultaneously block the tail and elude the fire. He was so enthralled in this, that he didn't notice how close Rodolphus was until it was too late to react. Rodolphus brought his foot up and kicked Sean squarely in the chest, sending him to the ground.

Rodolphus then brought his leg up, preparing to stomp on Sean. Sean felt around frantically for his sword, and upon grabbing it held it straight up in the air. Rodolphus brought his foot down full force, impaling it on the strong and sharp metal of Sean's sword.

Rodolphus fell on his back from the pain and let out a loud roar. Sean felt sore all over his torso region, but managed to stand on his feet and charge towards Rodolphus. Rodolphus saw Sean and swung his tail, hitting him with the middle of it and sending him several feet to the side. Sean rolled with the momentum of the strike until he was on his knees. Sean gripped his left ribs with his right hand while holding his sword in his left. He looked to see Rodolphus on all fours and charging toward him like a bull. Sean stood up and held his sword in his right hand with the blade facing the ground, prepared to receive his opponent.

Rodolphus charged forward, his first impulse was to charge through Sean, but he remembered what the sword Sean was wielding had done to him earlier and moved to the side, snapping his tail at Sean. Sean flipped the sword so the blade was facing up and in one fast motion brought it down through Rodolphus' tail, severing the lower half of it.

Rodolphus swung around as venom began to spray and drip from the severed end of the tail. The pouring rain neutralized the poison that hit the ground, and Rodolphus stood on his hind legs to face Sean. Rodolphus had thought himself invincible only a few moments before, and now he looked hatefully at the man who was getting the better of him in their duel.

Sean held his sword, now stained with blood and venom, upright like the warrior he was and ready to strike at a moment's notice. Rodolphus remained motionless, he had tried all the attack methods he could think of, and nothing was working. He then thought of something drastic, and began to change back into his human form. Sean stood back and waited, his honor would not allow him to kill a man in this condition and unarmed.

In a few moments, Rodolphus was back to his human form. His clothes and wand were back where his duel with Sean had started. A Death Eater robe materialized around his body, and Rodolphus called out "Accio wand!" In a few moments he held his wand in his hand. He was standing on one foot due to the large gash in the one Sean had rammed his sword through, and quickly said some mendo charms to cure his injuries.

When he was done, he pointed his wand at Sean and yelled "Avada Kedavra!"

Sean didn't move, he merely held his sword up in line with the beam and Rodolphus watched in amazement as the green beam came in contact with the sword and was deflected to either side of Sean. Sean brought his arm down and flipped the sword over his hand once before jumping forward and lunging at Rodolphus.

Rodolphus was shocked at what had happened, but had the presence of mind to move out of the way of Sean's blade. Rodolphus pointed his wand at Sean and yelled "Crucio!" Sean dropped to the ground and yelled out in pain as the torture curse began its work. A smile came to Rodolphus' face as he watched Sean writhe in pain.

"I'm going to make you suffer, you Muggle pig," Rodolphus hissed, "I will make you suffer for what you did to my Bella."

Rodolphus waited until he could see that Sean was weakened by the curse. He then threw his wand to the side and once again transformed into his Abomination form. The mendo charms he had used earlier had healed his foot and his tail, and he coiled Sean in the tail and brought him up to his face, Sean's sword dropping to the ground as he was lifted.

"I'm going to kill you now you pathetic Muggle," Rodolphus said with a sick satisfaction, "nice and slow. Long enough for you to wish you were dead, and then death will come slowly."

Sean was breathing heavily and looked Rodolphus in the eye. For one split second, Sean thought that his death was certain. Then, an image of his wife and son flashed through his mind. He saw himself and Ginny taking Kellen to the Priest, he saw Kellen growing before him, he saw the two of them and more children at the Cottage in the Cliffs, and he saw himself being visited by grandchildren.

"You've underestimated me demon," Sean said as his characteristic smirk once again came to his face, "I won't die here—I have too much to live for."

A questioning look came over Rodolphus, and then Sean let out a loud yell. Sean began to tighten every muscle in his body, and then push his arms and legs out against the tail of Rodolphus with every ounce of strength his muscular body had. His yell grew louder and more intense as Rodolphus struggled to squeeze harder with his tail. Eventually, Sean was able to bring his foot onto Rodolphus' tail and push himself out of the hold.

Sean stood on Rodolphus' tail for a moment before jumping forward. He brought his right hand with the steel-balled glove right into Rodolphus' eye and he felt why Sean was a champion boxer. Rodolphus staggered back in pain as Sean sat on the werewolf nose of the face, wrapped his legs tightly around it, and continued to rain down shattering punch after punch on the eyes and face of Rodolphus.

Sean continued to pummel him until Rodolphus fell onto his back with a crashing thud. Sean released his grip and ran to where his sword had fallen, the rain falling onto his bloodstained gloves and hitting his face as he did so. He picked up the sword and ran back to the fallen Abomination. Sean could see that he had badly damaged Rodolphus, his left eye was gone, and there were impressions all over his face made by Sean's mighty punches.

Sean breathed hard, letting the fire out of his lungs. He was feeling pain all over his body from the fight he had been engaged in, but he mentally willed his way though it. He stood next to Rodolphus' head, so that he could hear what he was about to say.

"Killing your wife gave me no joy," Sean said in a low voice, "and killing you now gives me none. May God have mercy on your soul."

Sean then brought his sword up into the air, and shoved the blade through the throat of Rodolphus. Rodolphus' body rose for a second and let out one last breath before falling to the ground. Sean jumped up onto Rodolphus' chest, and brought the sword through his heart just to be sure that he was dead.

He looked at the form of the Abomination that he had destroyed. He paused for a moment and knelt to the ground, placing his left hand on the ground to balance himself. He coughed several times, breathing hard the entire time, then rose to his feet. He sheathed his sword, and then turned towards where the main battle was taking place. Sean then began running there as fast as he could, hoping that he wasn't too late to help his comrades.