Goliathus Chronicles

Chapter 34- An Unlikely Friend

/

After all was said and done, Patricia Jenner stared at the Creeper, eyes red and wet with tears while her heart hammered in her chest. That was one gruesome, awful story. The images were still ingrained into her mind. The thoughts of Moren stabbing needles into his eyes for hours on end, the descriptions of what they forced down his mouth to try and understand his cursed hunger, and then the fire...the fire...

Somewhere, in the back of Trisha's mind, she felt, more than heard her brother's voice. As if he was trying to assure her, once again, that it was time to move on and try to accept his apology. A very difficult lesson in forgiveness that she wanted to both fight and embrace all at the same time.

So many silent minutes went by that even Goliathus grew somewhat uncomfortable, turning his gaze to Jezelle who was sitting near Trisha with an arm over her shoulders. She was a comfort that the traumatized woman certainly needed, but even she wondered if Trisha was ever going to crack.

Finally she sighed,a deep, long, and shaky sigh, her eyes focused on the floor.

"I miss Darry. I miss him so much. We were so close...maybe too close...I never got the help I needed in dealing with his loss. I just...let the hate and anger grow..." she rubbed her eyes and sighed again. Finally, she met his gaze once more.

"This demon you spoke of...it's still around you now?"

Goliathus nodded. "Retreated...but there. Someday I will discover how to conquer it for good. Perhaps you can help with that."

She held her breath for a moment. "Me?"

He nodded. "If we went from enemies...to friends...maybe so."

She laughed. Trisha got up from her chair and paced about the room anxiously. "Friends."

"Honey I know you're incredulous. But at this point, what are your other options? Don't you want to be free from that hate and anger you spoke of?" Jezelle looked at her with those sad, sad eyes.

"I don't know, I don't know anymore." She sat again, hugging her knees to her chest.

"Darry would say this was the best thing to do. You know he would."

Goliathus remained silent, resolved to patiently waiting to see what would unfurl before him. This woman would not be so easily swayed, but even he was starting to wish it would become a chapter in his long life that would finally be finished.

"Fine." The way she said it was not totally convincing, but the next thing she said shocked both of them to the core. "I want to get to know this Dinarius guy. I think I can trust him a whole lot more than I can trust you."

/

Ami struggled in the air but wasn't doing too badly, although her landings were often painful and clumsy. She was determined however and leapt back into the air again, flapped a few times to gain height, and then tried descending once more. She folded her wings but fell too fast and tried quickly to snap them open again, which led to a crumpled landing.

"Oy...you've got to brace yourself better, dear. Fan those wings out and glide down slowly if you must." Dinarius smiled at her as he landed a few yards off. "We can work on the drop-landings and faster takeoffs with time...but you're doing pretty damned good you know."

Groaning, she stood up and rubbed her sore derriere. "Dinarius sometimes I can't tell if you're encouraging me or mocking me, " she chuckled, giving him a playful slap. "I hope it's not the latter."

"Mock you? You're kidding, right? His royal highness would be over here and roaring in my face in two seconds flat."

Solarus and Navius, who had been flying above and playing, came down and laughed happily.

Mom you're doing great!

It's so awesome you're one of us now!

Yeah, isn't being a heradus amazing? We're so much better than humans anyhow! Solarus grinned but Dinarius folded his arms, glowering at him.

Hey, Uncle Dinarius that's what you said before, remember?

Your mom was still a human once, she might find that insulting.

Solarus frowned, he hadn't thought of that.

Ha ha don't worry Dinarius, it's fine. In all honesty, heradus are more awesome than humans, I can't deny that. She smiled, her own grin now nearly as wicked as her much larger lover.

Ha told you!

Navi just giggled at her brother's words as usual, but then her stomach growled.

I'm starving!

Yeah Uncle Dinarius, mom? Can we go find something to eat?

You bet. Think it will be safe? Ami turned to her flying teacher and he nodded, but slowly.

Let's just mind our p's and q's...when I went to get Puvo it was too damned empty and quiet in that place. I don't know what the vampires are up to, but we have to be extra cautious.

He frowned. After we eat we had better work on getting my Ring together. I have a feeling we are going to need all the help we can get, and very soon.

Oh cool! More bats, Uncle Dinarius? How many are there? Are they like Puvo?

Dinarius shook his head. Not bats.

Wolves.

/

Marcus was slowly going through the forest, attempting to find Drakkon, but the cursed Shadow vampire seemed to have disappeared off the face of the Earth. Where the fuck is he...that bastard...

CAWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

The vampire cursed out loud and clutched his head at the awful avian scream in his mind, and just as quickly felt tiny talons sinking into his skull.

Mar! Mar! DIE!

You little maggot! GET OFF OF ME!

KILL! KILL! Starcrow squawked out loud, causing several crows to start gathering around him and spinning into a faster and faster circle. Black, hot smoke started to swirl on the inside of their tornado and he started to choke.

Still cursing, Marcus tried his best to get away, and fast. These horrid corvids could summon Dark Fire, even if not as powerful without their master around, it could still burn him to ash eventually if they got a good enough shot at him. He blasted energy at them, but much to his great horror it did little to sway them, even as several of the birds slammed into trees or other parts of the landscape.

CAWW CAWWW! FIRE FIRE!

The heat was becoming unbearable, Marcus yelled and dove upwards, crashing into many more birds and trying to fly away. They followed him quickly, with wicked determination, their cries trailing behind them.

/

Oh! Uncle Dinarius, look! Navi pointed to the coming onslaught of crows, in hot pursuit of Marcus, just a few yards below them in the sky.

I'll get him! Solarus snarled, diving down. He seemed to be having less trouble in his flying lately.

NO! Solarus, stay with your mother! Dinarius grabbed him and shoved him away towards her and flew downwards, putting himself into the path of the vampire who was shooting forward like a bullet, and braced himself.

Marcus howled, trying to evade him but failed. They crashed into each other, and he felt the powerful heradus force him down towards the ground.

No! NO! It won't be this failure Dinarius who will stop me! I won't let it happen!

When they hit the ground, Dinarius suddenly snapped his wings as he stood, hitting Marcus in the face and both sides of his cheeks flew off, chunks of flesh hitting the ground in a sickening squish. For a moment, he stood there stunned, until he noticed the crows diving down to grab it, and squabbling over the still warm annd bloody chunks of his flesh.

As the blood ran down his face he screamed, and charged, surprising Dinarius with such a head on assault. Dinarius curled his wings about him to hold him tight, and reached forward to bite down hard on the side of his face. Marcus screamed again, and kicked forward with his foot, nailing him hard in the groin. That was enough to cause Dinarius to shriek, loosening his grip just slightly in his agony.

You're going to pay for that, you miserable worm. AND for what you did to Puvo!

Raising his head crest and roaring even louder, Dinarius tried to use his wings once more to grab Marcus but he dodged away with inches to spare, and spun around fast, leaping onto his back and sinking his elongated fangs deep into his neck. The instant he did so however the dark, black blood burned his mouth like fire, and he quickly released.

The agonizing burning persisted, until he even felt as if his stomach was on fire. Heradus blood was like acid to vampires, but he didn't care. Dinarius was bleeding profusely from the wounds and seemed a bit dazed, but his anger was ever increasing. The look of utter hatred in his eyes was starting to cause Marcus to feel nervous.

Deep inside, he knew he had little chance in defeating Dinarius in a physical battle. He had to come up with a better plan, but with the crows all around, he suddenly realized he had a very small window of escape.

The children!

Quickly he spun around and shot into the air, getting clawed and burned by several crows who tried to stop him but ignoring the pain as he headed towards Ami. With her flying skills still needing work she barely managed to avoid Marcus, but she wasn't his target. He grabbed Navius in one swift move and held her tight around the throat.

This was going to be his shield. They wouldn't dare attack him now.

Tell those fucking birds to clear out.

You let her go, you asshole! Ami was shrieking and snarling, but she knew she was no match for Marcus yet. He knew that too, and grinned maliciously at her. The birds leave, or I will strangle her. Right here, right now. Navius flailed and bit down on his arm, but he barely flinched, his evil eyes riveted onto Dinarius.

You leave my sister alone! Solarus dove suddenly and Marcus used his other arm to fire energy in response, but the little heradus remarkably dodged, and came at him with maw open wide and hissing. He lunged at his throat, effectively biting down and Marcus screamed as the cursed little monster tried his darndest to rip it out. As he felt himself weakening, he fell towards the ground and turned as best he could so that Navi would be underneath him when they landed. If nothing else, he would try and squash her from the impact and kill the abomination that way.

But he didn't succeed. Dinarius was upon them in moments, roaring and claws raking at his sides. Navi managed to get away and flew back towards her mother,but Solarus clung tight to his throat.

When they hit, the small one scrabbled and bit down harder. Marcus gagged and sputtered feeling his own vampiric blood bubbling up and cutting off his air supply. He used both arms to try and tear Solarus off of him, but he was like a pit bull and would not let go, even as Marcus clawed his back and sliced deep rivets into his wings.

Solarus let him go!

Dinarius worried for his little nephew, but was also amazed. His ferocity matched his father's, and finally, he tore away a good chunk of Marcus' throat, and blood spurted from his open wound.

Solarus managed to swallow it, but he was panting and groaning in pain from his ravaged backside.

I did it, I got him...he swayed back and forth on his little talons...and then he collapsed.

/

Goliathus growled and looked around. He sensed something was very wrong.

"Oh dear. There's trouble, isn't there?" Jezelle said, looking around herself as if she would see something in the room with them.

It's Marcus. I must go!

He said nothing more and quickly left and headed to out of the Atrium. Trisha stared after him, stunned. "What's happening?"

"There's a vampire out there, Marcus Valiant."

"Is that the one who attacked me?" Trisha asked, her expression darkening.

"Why yes, it sure is, child." Jezelle tensed, she already knew what would come next.

"Well then. That little fucker is going to regret ever coming after me." Trisha walked out of the room, looked around the giant Atrium, then turned back to Jezelle. "Where are all the weapons in this place?"

/

You fucking filth...I will destroy you for doing that to Solarus... Dinarius came at Marcus again, who could not dodge him due to his weakened state, but he chuckled all the same.

He'll die, I left gashes in him deep enough that he won't regenerate fast enough. Marcus chuckled, altough he still coughed on the blood seeping into his wounded throat.

You wish. I'm going to tear you apart limb from limb. I'll start with your arms, and let you watch while I feast on them! Marcus snarled and gave a wicked punch to his face in response, but it was really no use. Dinarius had him, and kept to his word, holding down one arm with a talon and using his teeth to try and saw it off at the shoulder. Meanwhile Ami and Navius had landed, keeping their distance but growing anxious.

Should we help him, mom? Navius' had been crying, she was starting at Solarus' limp body as Ami picked it up slowly. We have to do something.

You have arrows?

No, I haven't had time to get more yet...

Watch your brother, ok? Call the crows around you.

But mom they're dad's birds...where are you going?!

Watch your brother! Ami surged forward and Navi obeyed, albeit reluctanctly. She cradled Solarus close to her and then looked up, screaming loudly. Her call caused a mass of black feathery bodies to swarm around her, still spinning in rapid circles, to the point where the two heradus children could not even be seen anymore in their midst.

Ami screamed her shrill cry with head crest open, and Marcus roared, trying to force Dinarius off with a final, exhausting blast of his energy. He succeeded, and laughed triumphantly as he flew back quickly and smashed into Ami, the two falling into a tangled heap.

She's pathetic. And monstrous. Look what you did Ami, to your once pretty little face. Such a tragedy. Marcus' breathing was ragged and eyes wild as he took a glance over at the children, wanting to finish them off, but all he could see was a protective flurry of feathers surrounding them. He scowled and decided Ami would have to do for now. In her new state she was naive, and still weak for a heradus. It was now or never anyhow, in no time at all she would be stronger.

He only took two steps, before he saw the massive form hurtling towards him from the sky. Marcus tried to leap up into the air but his energy was spent. He screamed an awful howl of fury as Goliathus's talons sunk into his face, ripping it to unrecognizable shreds.

Dinarius, who had just gotten to his feet ran over to assist, but there was no need. Marcus howled, spat, and screamed but he could not free himsef from the vice-like grip. Golaithus fished out an iron-tipped dagger from his pocket, and plunged it into his neck. Blood spurted everywhere, as he had severed a jugular vein. Somehow Marcus wormed his way free, but Goliathus had ruined him. He was a dying vampire, but even now the rage in his eyes set upon his ravaged face shone through, even as he coughed blood and struggled to breathe.

Fucking mon-sters...

Marcus sank to his knees, but tried one more time to summon a final blast of his energy. He shakily aimed towards the birds, hoping to disengage them so he could finish off the children.

Starcrow!

The raven responded immediately, coming form the dark circle and heading for Marcus, with several of the crows following. They all cawed in an overpowering symphony of noise, and their voices started to echo. Goliathus had never tried this before, but he had read the scrolls. He had the talisman. He closed his eyes and concentrated as the birds flew around him in a dizzying fury, and a black fire started to erupt from his outsretched hands.

Marcus saw it coming, but could do nothing about it. It came and surrounded him in agonizing, gripping heat. His screams were drowned out by the dark flames as he was burned to nothing but pure ash in mere moments.

/

Edit: Hey all, I decided this will end this story, and be continued in the next, since the death of Marcus closes a big part of the story anyhow. It may be some time before I continue it though as I work on Creeper's Captive and then another story I have plans for.