~Chapter Thirty-Seven~
Violent Ends: Part 2
Nobody said a word as this newcomer entered from Hel and stood before them. She was holding a hand out with magic, which had protected Kevin from the fire. This woman emitted such dark power and danger that it seemed to take everyone's breath away. The female's vibrant hazel eyes slowly loomed over each member of the Clan, and finally settled upon Rose.
Her vibrant eyes ran over her wounds, to the cut on her neck that was being staunched by her hand and Brooklyn's claws, and then angrily flashed in Kevin's direction; settling on a gaze of a cold and unforgiving nature.
Kevin instantly stood up, bowed before her and then strutted forward.
"Milady… I…" He began, but a force of ice swept silently forward and caught his vocal chords, cutting him off. He stopped talking, began choking and placed a hand over his neck. Over and over again he tried to speak, but she had taken that right away.
Kevin gasped, sputtered, and continued to choke until he fell to his knees before her.
Rose and Brooklyn watched with wide eyes as the monster who was terrorizing her just moments ago, was now collapsed at Hela's feet, gasping for air through his respirator mask. Rose held onto Brooklyn tighter and he instinctually wrapped his arms more tightly around her waist, and hid her from this dark Third Race visitor, with his wings. They didn't pity him for one second, but Hela was doing this with such… ease, almost laziness, that it was unnerving to watch.
Kevin's body started to violently shudder at the hold she had on him, and he began screaming. It was as if she were sending electrical pulses through him, the same ones that shot through Rose before she showed up.
"I shall deal with you in a minute." Hela hissed through gritted teeth to Kevin, before releasing him and giving him the chance to gasp in air; and his screaming stopped. She then swiped her hand lazily and with a spark of wispy red magic (much like Rose's), she tossed Kevin's body across the platform like a ragged doll. He slammed painfully into a nearby wall, crumbled to the ground, moaning in angry pain, but he didn't dare retaliate. Watching that behavior come from him was beyond strange for Rose to see.
In the past, if she ever put Kevin in his place like that, he would have come back at her with a deadly blow… but with Hela; the hatred and contempt was there for her, but so was fear. He was, indeed, Hela's puppet… or pet. She wasn't sure yet, but if Kevin was fearful of her… then she definitely would be too.
Hela gave a smirk at Kevin's pain, then walked slowly towards Goliath and looked upon him now, as well as each member of the Clan, with interest. Her eyes went from each of their faces, to the burning Draugr that were dead and burning across the way, and a certain darkness flashed across her face. But she didn't punish anyone, like she did Kevin. She merely stayed silent and was in a deadly calm.
Nobody said anything for a few seconds, but then, to everyone's surprise, Goliath slowly walked forward and bowed slightly.
"You must be Hela."
Hela stopped in her slow and calm walk, glanced over at him with those powerful eyes and cocked her head to the side, as Goliath straightened back up to face her.
"I am." She replied with a dark smile, flashing bright white fanged teeth at him, looking impressed by his respect. "What gave it away? My grand entrance into this world or my dark, but fabulously gothic apparel?"
Hela's voice was slightly lower than Rose's more soprano voice, and had a Nordic or Celtic accent. She also had a slight drawl to her voice as if she chose each word and syllable very carefully. Nobody cracked a smile at what sounded to be her making a light joke, or casual conversation, as she was a powerhouse that no one dared to make the wrong move against.
Goliath remained still, not smiling, and seemed to be choosing his own words very carefully with her. "Both, but we've been… anticipating your arrival for some time now."
"Really?" Hela asked, even more intrigued now, paused and then gestured to her burning guards. "Hmmm... I can see that. None of the Draugr I've sent here to collect my daughter have returned back home to me." She paused again, and then stepped closer to his giant self. Compared to Goliath, she was tiny, and was actually probably close to Rose's height, but it was obvious that she was confident in herself and powers and could take even him down. "And you are… Goliath… the leader of this Gargoyle Clan. Are you not?"
Goliath's brow furrowed. "I am… how… how did you know that?"
Hela chuckled darkly, and then slowly began to walk around him like a vulture. "I am well aware that you know who I am, but I'll introduce myself anyway. I am Hela… the mortal Goddess of Death." She then came around to face him again. "It is my curse and duty to know all who have ever lived in this mortal Earth, or who are currently living. Human, Third Race, and Gargoyle alike."
"We are aware." Goliath answered quietly.
At his words, Hela's civil smile slowly faded and the facade she had been holding up slowly fell; and deadly danger encompassed her.
"Good. Well, since you are well aware of my existence then you must know why I am here. I know you all to be intelligent creatures… because it is I who has created your species eons ago." She paused, to gauge their reactions, but seeing that they didn't look surprised by that news, her smile returned. "But it would appear you all already knew that, as well."
"Aye." Hudson suddenly spoke up, his tone careful. "Puck, the Trickster, showed us all memories of the early Avalon, and of some of its history. We know all about you and your kind."
Hela slowly turned to face him and placed her hand on her hip; looking over at Hudson with more amusement and surprise.
"Oh, did he now?"
"Aye." Hudson carefully said again. "That he did."
"Hmm… and he showed you all of mine and Avalon's history then?"
"All that pertains to you… yes." Goliath answered in a darker tone, and Hela turned to face him with an amused, fanged smile. She studied him for a few seconds and then laughed.
"Oh yes." She then continued sarcastically. "Yes, I can see on each and every single one of your faces that he told you the full truth… and didn't, for one moment, trick your minds like he always does." She then slowly turned to face Rose, saw the look on her face, and whispered. "No, no… he's a saint now and would never do that. But only I know the truth. I see that he's pulled his usual tricks and deception and made me out to be some kind of a… monster."
Rose had been silent this entire time, but now she couldn't stay silent. This woman, her mother apparently, was the cause of all of her pain. The reason Kevin came back to life… and the Draugr attacked her.
"That's because you are a monster." She whispered, as angry tears filled her eyes. "He didn't have to tell me how evil you are... I figured all of that out on my own."
Hela cocked her head to the side and slowly walked towards her. Brooklyn's claws tightened around Rose's body as she approached them, and Rose hated the look that Hela was giving her. It was a mixture of pride and a smile that was mixed with evil happiness.
"Did you now?" She whispered. "So, you know exactly what happened in Avalon all of those years ago that has made me into the Goddess of Death? What Oberon did to me… what he…" She paused, gritted her teeth and spat, "took from me? Oh yes, I can see that Puck truly told you the truth, all right. Or who you are to me, for that matter..."
"He's told me enough." Rose snarled, growing more angry by the minute. "You are Hela, the most evil fairy in all of Hel and Avalon. Titania's younger sister, and the reason I am here, I suppose."
Hela cocked her head to the side even more. "Am I supposed to know what you mean by that?"
"You are the one who gave birth to me…" Rose spat. "But that doesn't mean you are my mother. I'm going to make that very clear to you, right now."
Hela stared down at Rose for a few seconds, studying and reading her, before she said, "I'm moved. Well, my darling Rose, regardless of your opinions about me… you are my daughter… and I am your mother." She paused, grinned at Brooklyn; who growled deeply in his chest, then turned back to Rose. "There is much we have yet to find out about each other Rose, and we will have a lot of time to figure that all out. But first… let me fix a few things that have been poorly dealt with tonight..."
She glanced over at Kevin with pure hatred again, who was standing silently by the wall, as if a statue; then she turned back to face Rose and waved a hand in her direction. Rose was unable to stop her as iciness filled her being, and red magic danced around both her and Brooklyn.
"What are you doing?!" Brooklyn demanded, his eyes lighting up and protection fully shooting through his body and mind.
"I'm healing my daughter, since you haven't thought of doing so yet." Hela answered simply. "No point in having her bleed out right before us."
Brooklyn calmed down slightly, faced Rose, and saw that the wound in her neck and face healed up. It wasn't without pain, but she found that it was strangely familiar. After a few strokes of her magic, her wounds slowly healed up. Hela's magic then spoke directly to her dark soul and gave her more energy than she had felt in some time today and slowly her strength came back.
Brooklyn watched her body and soul strengthen, and then slowly stood up with her. Her face was completely healed now, skin smooth, as was the wound on her neck; but blood remained on her white tank top, skin and jean shorts. She slowly looked up into Brooklyn's eyes with worry.
She knows that you can heal me?
It would appear so…
Rose stayed silent for a moment then said, Please my love… don't let her take me.
I won't… she'll have to go through me first.
Pain shot through her and fear was almost debilitating her again. Please don't say things like that. I couldn't bear…
I won't lose you, Rose. She can crawl right back to Hel where she belongs… They stared tearfully back into each other's eyes, filling each other with hope and light, when Hela's voice suddenly shocked them back into reality.
"When you two are done talking to each other through your… dreadfully asinine soul-bond… perhaps we can get down to business here." They glanced over at Hela warily, and Brooklyn held onto her more tightly than ever before.
"We know why you're here." He said in a deep, growling voice. "And I'm afraid that Rose is not leaving with you. She is a part of this Clan, and is my mate and wife." He paused, shook his head and bared his sharp teeth at her. "You'll not tear the greatest gift of my life from me."
"Oh Brooklyn, Brooklyn, Brooklyn…" Hela whispered, her tone careful and dangerous. "You certainly have been a thorn in my side with you always getting in the way of me retrieving my daughter to bring back home. But no longer will you interfere..."
"What do you mean?" Rose suddenly asked.
"I've been watching you, my daughter. Since the time of your infancy and have been a silent supporter and guide all of your life." Hela whispered. "Since you are uninterested in my past and how I even became Goddess of Death… which I'll tell you the true story later, when you're ready and willing to listen… and perhaps then, you'll see this Avalonian War and your part in it, a bit differently than you do now."
"Doubt it." Rose mumbled, and Hela flashed a grin at her.
"But first, I will tell you all about… well… you, and your true purpose here."
"I already know why I'm here." Rose said, now getting angry again. "You want to bring me to Hel and help you activate a curse… but I'm already going to tell you, that I will not go. No matter what you do to try to make me… I won't go."
Hela stared at her for a few seconds, closed her eyes briefly, as if willing in patience, and then sighed, "We'll see about that. But we will get to that later… because unlike Puck, who lies and manipulates and tricks you… I'm going to tell you the truth. All of the truth."
At this, Brooklyn suddenly scoffed. "Yeah, right. And we should believe you… why?"
"Because I have nothing to hide, Brooklyn." She answered smoothly, and bearing her hazel eyes into his. "I am who I am, and I don't have the need to hide behind a mask. Dealing with death, leaves me to be an expert on all things pertaining to souls and the shells that cover those souls. I see it all- the good, the bad and the ugly. I have no reason to hide nor lie." She shrugged, then spat, "That's Titania's, Oberon's and all of their precious children's area of expertise. Not mine."
Rose crossed her arms over her chest and leaned into Brooklyn's chest, as Goliath suddenly stepped forward.
"Why are you doing all of this then?" He asked angrily. "Why are you hell-bent on destroying Rose? If she's your daughter and you need her in Hel, why have you been trying to kill her all of this time?"
"I haven't been trying to kill her... at least... this time." Hela answered. "It's because I have relied on the wrong people to bring her to me is why this process has been so messy. The Draugr were much too blood-thirsty to properly bring Rose to me, and much afraid of you Gargoyles to fight past the entire Clan. Simple as that…and Kevin here… well… he can't seem to follow orders and place his own emotions and blood-thirsty tendencies to himself, either." She threw a nasty look over at him again. "But I'm here now and will make things right."
"Why do you need me in Hel?" Rose asked angrily. "Why are you trying to kill everyone on this Earth?"
Hela turned to her, and looked confused. "Who told you that?"
Rose blinked and opened her mouth; but she scoffed and slapped a hand to her thigh. "I shouldn't have even asked. Of course it was Puck."
"He… he had a vision that…"
"He may have had a vision, but without the sight into the dark magic that myself and your father possess and control Hel with, he won't be able to get the true picture nor answer that is accurate."
Rose blinked again, processing this and was trying to figure out what to believe or not. Hela appeared to be telling the truth, but…
Don't believe a single word she's saying, Rose. Brooklyn whispered in her head. She's going to tell you what you want to hear, and twist the truth. Don't trust her…
Rose silently took in her mate's words in her head, but Hela seemed to be in her head too.
"You're going to have to trust me, Rose." She said softly. "I have no reason to lie to you."
"I don't believe you." Rose said quietly, shaking her head. "You're the Goddess of Death… surely a world-wide annihilation is more up your alley of things you'd do?"
Hela sighed heavily, placed her hands on her hips and looked irritated now. "Well as long as you have your mate whispering those kinds of things in your ear… then sure… you'll never see the truth, nor be able to think for yourself and trust your own gut." She then paused, and for once, looked sad. "I thought you would be happy to see me, Rose. To finally have your true mother…"
Rose blinked in shock at her saying that she had access to her mind, and ignored the second part. "How did you know about-?"
"Brooklyn isn't the only one who has access to your mind." She whispered darkly, and left Rose's mind reeling.
She stared at her for a long moment and then gasped.
"It was you."
"Me what?" Hela asked, picking at her long black fingernails.
"You're the one whose been sending me those awful nightmares!" Rose whispered. "You're the reason that I've been… tormented all of these months! IT WAS YOU!"
Hela smiled at her nails, then slowly rolled her tongue at the top of her mouth and faced Rose with a smile. "Ding, ding, ding… took you long enough to figure that one out."
"Why?" She gasped, feeling more hurt and torn apart. "How could you?!"
"Because I am your mother." Hela finally said firmly, dropping her friendly act- the danger fully swirling around them now, and it was clear to them all, that time and her patience, was running out. "And as your mother, I have done exactly what I've needed to do to help you become the powerful person you've needed you to be. I know that Titania has told you about the prophecy… so let's drop this whole act now, shall we? Then, you'll see that it is not I who is the liar and monster, but Oberon and my sister, and why we are waging war against them!" Hela paused, stepped closer to her and then spoke to her in a low and dangerous voice.
"You are not a Human, Rose, and you never were. Titania was right- when you were born I placed a temporary spell on you that made your human shape-shifted form until you were ready to shed it. And I know that Titania showed you the prophecy… so let's discuss your life and why it's so important that you come to Hel with us and come back home. Everything we are doing is because of that prophecy!
For eons, your father and I have put up with never-ending abuse, demeaning, and belittling from my sister and Oberon… but we've finally said 'enough' to it. Your father heard of a prophecy, long, long ago from his Three Fates- telling of two deaths who create life in a child, and that life… is the promise of a destroyed Avalon. So, of course, he and I were very interested in that. We decided to join each other when Oberon stripped my soul and then banished me to the mortal world to play Goddess of Death. He banished your father when he took the crown from their mother, Queen Mab, and banished him to Hel; where he served as his slave and puppet. For eons we've endured this treatment, and for eons we have slowly planned things carefully. Your father and I worked together to create the thriving army of the Draugr's, and in doing so, we ended up falling in love, got married, and then worked on a concoction that would allow me to give birth to you… despite Oberon also shredding any chance I had to bear life.
But we found a way. Through a properly brewed Elixir of Life, mixed with our dark magic- we finally were able to create and conceive you, but I had to place a shield around my womb to protect you from my dangerous magic. A death God carrying life was very counterproductive, and I was worried that we would lose you… but we didn't. I stayed in the mortal world, and decided to hide as a Human woman, to give you your best chance to live… and settled upon Bar Harbor. A beautiful little fishing town. Peaceful, quiet, and as a Human- I met some very… good people." She paused, smiled darkly, and then continued, "But on the day you were born, I took off into the woods and had you. I had to switch into my Third Race form, because you were not born Human. You were born in the form that I used to be as a dark Fairy. Just like the nightmare I sent you Rose… you had beautiful black wings, just like mine, elven ears, but red hair and golden yellow eyes like your father's… and I knew you were special.
I knew the prophecy was true…and that you would be the key to our salvation, but I had to hide you from Oberon. He or one of his children would have surely noticed you in our combined forms here in the mortal world, since all of them lived among the Humans before he gathered them all back home, and they would have destroyed you before your magic could even begin to form. So, I placed you in a human form… where you would be shielded from him. Then, to help you grow and camouflage better, I gave you to two kind, but elderly people- who never had a chance to have children of their own."
Rose couldn't help but be enthralled with what Hela was telling her, and it seemed like the Clan and Brooklyn were as well. If it was true or not, it seemed to fit into what pieces she had been given over time.
"You gave me to my Nana and Pop?" She gasped.
"Yes." Hela answered quietly. "Robert and Evelyn Connelly, of Bar Harbor, Maine. Good people… kind-hearted, humble, hard-working, and level-headed. I needed people like them to raise you in goodness… so that the hardships you would face later, would be all that life and soul changing for you."
"What do you mean?" Rose whispered, dreading where this conversation was going.
Hela stayed quiet for a moment, then slowly turned and talked to just her. "It means… that everything that you've endured in this life was because it was the only way your soul could darken enough to join your father and I in Hel."
At this, Hela raised her hands and showed them all images, like Puck did all those months ago, but this time it was of Rose's upbringing. She gasped upon seeing her as a young child, but from Hela's point of view. Always out of sight… but always there.
"I may have given you away to be raised by Humans, Rose, but I never abandoned you. In every shadow… I was there."
Rose watched as Hela showed-and telled- her childhood through vivid images, like she was there again, and began to tell her story.
"Your childhood was nothing less than perfect, Rose." Hela said in a soft voice. "This was important. Much like my own upbringing… things were peaceful, happy… until it was all torn away. Because I endured all of those trials, I knew you had to endure the same as well if you are to become like me…"
Rose narrowed her eyes at this, but it was Brooklyn who spoke out angrily.
"Just because you went through stupid drama with Oberon and turned out an evil sorceress, doesn't mean Rose will!"
Hela slowly turned to face him. Her face was calm, but her hazel eyes suddenly flashed over bright red in anger. She then held a finger up to her own lips, and continued to speak.
"I followed you around, my daughter. Made sure that things were going according to plan. It was a long wait, but I've waited longer for this prophecy to occur- plus a Human life is nothing compared to how long I've lived…" she paused, then brought forth images from when she was two, four, six, eight and then ten. Tears filled her eyes, and even Brooklyn seemed to be enthralled.
Awe… you've always been beautiful… he whispered in her mind, and she quickly smiled, too emotional to speak. Seeing real images of her Nana and Pop taking her on picnics, walking her to school, her going fishing with her Pop or helping him in the store, her being pushed on a swing-set by her Pop… her laughter… her innocence. It was all filled with sunshine. Hela was right, it was near perfect… because her Nana and Pop made it so. They made sure she was comfortable, happy, safe, and had an enjoyable childhood. Tears streamed down her face… the grief still so fresh from losing them…
"Time passed." Hela said, moving images forward. "You were ten years old… and by now… I expected you to be showing a little bit of magic developing… but you weren't. There were a few small instances when you were an infant and young child; ones that your Nana saw but ignored, but as you grew older I became nervous that I made a mistake. Perhaps letting you have a good childhood, raised by Humans would make you out to be more Human, than a daughter of death and destruction. Then it hit me. I needed to give you the same experiences I endured from all of my betrayal with Oberon…" She paused, then said, "and nothing changes the heart… quite like losing the ones you love."
Rose's face was full of tears, but as she watched the images of what she knew to be coming and listened to Hela's words, her entire body froze. She couldn't feel Brooklyn holding onto her still, couldn't feel his soul inside of hers… nothing tore her attention away from what she was seeing again… but understanding for the first time.
"You see… when you were a decade old, I had to make a move to see if that magic was still inside of you." Hela whispered, showing everyone images of Rose at her ten-year-old self. Still so innocent and happy, that is… until…
"So, I started to peel away your support system." Hela continued. "I went into your Nana and Pop's room one night while they were sleeping." As Hela said this, the images showed in front of them… images Rose had never seen before, and played out as Hela's voice narrated it. "I looked upon your adoptive parents and knew that they were old. They had lived a very good life… but it was time for them to move on and for me to take over as your true mother. So, while they were sleeping one night. I went over and placed a little bit of…" Hela paused, and Rose watched in horror as the Hela in the imaging dropped some black and red substance into her Nana's chest; and she suddenly couldn't stop the rage that filled her being as Hela's voice echoed through her mind. "Cancer."
Rose was shaking. Tears of true rage filled her and her hands clasped tightening into fists, and angry magic spilled out of them.
"You… bitch." She hissed at Hela. "You made my Nana sick?! You gave her…" She couldn't go on.
"Cancer?" Hela repeated and looked unconcerned by it. "Yes, yes I did. Cancer is a rather cruel, slow and tortuous disease… one I am personally not a fan of… but it was necessary." Hela then moved the images on, images Rose wished she could never see again, but couldn't look away. The images showed her Nana getting more thin, skeletal, and sick with every passing month. The doctor visits, all of the pain in her joints, Rose lying next to her side; crying…
"You killed Rose's mother?" Goliath asked, looking truly disgusted.
"I am her mother." Hela suddenly snapped, looked over at him with anger.
"I thought a Death God wasn't allowed to mess with Humans outside of their natural time?!" Brooklyn snarled, holding Rose steady. He knew how hurt and angry she was at this moment; but her returning grief, was his own as well. He couldn't imagine being in her shoes right now.
"Who's to say that I did it against her natural time?" Hela asked with an evil smile, one that sunk deeply into Rose's being.
Unable to control herself, she screamed out and shot out some magic at her. Hela, however, instantly waved away and stopped it from hitting her, and laughed at her attempt to attack her. But it enraged Rose more. With another scream, she activated her hand again, and went for Hela, but Brooklyn roared out, jumped forward and restrained her.
"NO! My love, don't!"
"She killed her!"
"This isn't going to help anything!"
"SHE KILLED HER!"
Rose was baring her teeth at her while Brooklyn was holding her back, but Hela couldn't help but smile proudly at her. Dark magic was rising from her soul finally. So, she continued to lightly tell the story, pushing her more.
"It was heartbreaking for you to endure, Rose… there's no questioning that, but that's not… quite… all I did to help move you along."
At this, Rose stopped and panted against Brooklyn's arms, with tears streaming down her face. She didn't want to hear anymore, but Hela kept going- showing her more images of her life.
Her and Pop mourning over her Nana's grave…
Unseen footage of her Pop sobbing each night after Rose went to bed…
Years and years of her Pop trying to be strong for her… but…
"Years passed, but unfortunately, your Pop's sweet companion's death really took the life out of him. He aged a lot quicker than normal and his health declined." Hela explained, and by now, Rose was a teenager in the images, about to graduate high school. "I also saw a change in Rose's heart as well, and saw the invisible built up of your magic. I knew it was there… so I kept going. You were about to graduate high school and did, honestly nothing else, except work at your Pop's store and go to school. You applied for colleges, but when you were accepted into Princeton, you threw the application away…"
Rose remembered this. She didn't want to leave Bar Harbor and leave her Pop. She knew by now, how lonely he was, how old and frail he was… and she couldn't bear to leave. Then, as she watched the images, she saw Hela pick up the application that her past self had dropped in a bin and slowly looked up at her and her Pop. She didn't remember feeling or seeing Hela in the house with them, but it was clear to her now that she was invisible.
Hela then continued narrating.
"I saw that you were willing to throw away the chance to leave Bar Harbor… and the man who was holding you back from achieving what I needed you to. So… when you graduated high school and your EMT course, and decided to just… stay… and help your Pop with his store. I took matters into my own hands."
Rose's heart sunk even more, and this time… she knew what was coming. What Hela was showing her.
"No…" She gasped out, grasping onto Brooklyn to keep her upright. "Tell me you didn't…." The images were of the day her Pop died, how could she forget that day? That one, specifically, changed her. And now she knew why…
"Your Pop was getting so... old." Hela whispered, still narrating as everyone watched the images. Rose was cleaning the floor of her Pop's store, since they had locked up for the night, and her Pop was counting money at the counter. Then… Hela's image snuck in and stood behind her Pop.
"NO!" Rose cried out, as if watching it for the first time, sobbing in real time. Brooklyn held onto her tightly, but watched with wide eyes.
"So I took his heart…" Hela whispered, ignoring Rose's sobs and screams as her image grabbed onto the old man's heart with the use of magic; pulling it physically from his chest. In the image, her Pop gave a sudden gasp, clutched his chest… his eyes wide in panic; as Hela's words rocked through her. "... and crushed it."
The image Hela crushed her Pop's heart in her fists with magic, and reduced it to ash. Instantly, her Pop fell down to the ground with a loud CRASH… her own screams echoed through the images as she shook her Pop and tried to administer CPR, called 911, only to see the fixed look in his eyes and his already cold skin to know that he was gone… she thought it was a heart attack… but it was worse than that.
It was murder.
By now, Rose fell to the ground, sobbing and gasping; and Brooklyn was right next to her, holding onto her. His teeth were bared and eyes lit up bright in rage, as he held his grieving mate. The rest of the Clan was also gearing up to attack, and Hela looked at them with amusement.
"ENOUGH!" Goliath roared, pointing a talon at her. "You've done enough damage, you witch! For all of the pain you've inflicted upon Rose… you shall pay!"
"Oh, but I'm not done yet." Hela whispered and grinned evilly as her eyes went bright red. She then turned to Rose's crumbled form and whispered. "You went off to college and I still didn't see the magic I needed from you. So, I decided to try a different tactic. Your heart was broken, yes. Life changed, yes. But not enough. If grief didn't turn your soul dark… but I knew what would."
Rose glanced up through her sobbing and saw more images portrayed by Hela and she was now at Emily's wedding… the night she met…
"No…" She groaned and then whipped her eyes over to Kevin's still form against a shadowy wall. The image in front of her was showing her dancing the night away, in a short purple dress, as Hela showed a young man, with thick black hair and brown eyes, accidentally bump into her.
"I knew that if grief wouldn't change you… then love… used and abused… would." Hela narrated, as the images of her and Kevin met for the first time.
"Hey, I'm Kevin…" Kevin's young voice yelled above the music, reached his hand out, and almost reluctantly.
She smiled nicely, nodded, but didn't take it. "Rose."
Rose watched in horror.
"You didn't seem particularly interested in this man, but because I'm the Goddess of Death, and know all Humans, I knew this man… so thoroughly broken by his father's abuse growing up, his mother's absence and his own rage… would show through. So I did a little…" Hela paused then grinned, "match-making of my own. So, I brought you and Kevin together. Encouraged him to keep courting you, shower you with love and affection… as Oberon once did for me… and then when you finally opened your heart to him and got married… I let the darkness within Kevin… come out."
Rose couldn't watch as the images of Kevin abusing her on her wedding night showed in front of them.
"Stop it!" Rose begged her, but her own past screams filled the night around them all… as Kevin abused her.
"ENOUGH!" Brooklyn roared, his own rage full. Standing up, he suddenly launched himself at Hela, with claws out to maim her. "YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO MY MATE!"
"Brooklyn!" Rose screamed, holding a hand out. "NO!"
Hela turned just in time to see him coming, activated magic in her hand, and sent him flying back with a blast of red. He yelled and grimaced out in pain, flew backwards and slammed into the castle ledge, holding his abdomen while bent over. Rose scrambled over to him, touched his claw, but gasped when she saw that Hela had burned him- like she once did. She whipped her head around to look at Hela, with wide-eyes, but Goliath roared out deafeningly and jumped to attack her for hurting Brooklyn, but she met his chest with a high kick- and sent him flying back as well. She then killed the images, whipped out two swords and faced the rest of the Clan, as Kevin brought out his own and stood next to Hela.
Hudson's sword was out with his teeth bared, and the rest of the Clan followed suit behind him, as Angela and Lexington helped Goliath back up to his feet.
"Please… PLEASE stop this!" Rose screamed out, jumping to her feet and activating magic from her own hands. She would shield all of them from her. No more death would be because of her…
"No, it is the nature of a Gargoyle to protect." Hela said, staring both Brooklyn and Goliath down with her flaming bright red eyes, and clutched her own long, jagged swords. "I expected nothing less from them."
"You are the reason for all of Rose's suffering," Brooklyn gasped, struggling to get to his feet. Rose instantly turned, rushed over and let him lean his body against her. She placed a hand upon his wound, closed her eyes, and let her magic flow deeply into him; healing him.
Brooklyn exhaled out in relief, then took her hands in his own and smiled lovingly at her. Silently thanking her, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. He then turned to face Hela as he held Rose close to him.
Hela narrowed her red eyes at them; thinking deeply.
"Yes, I am the reason for it all." She said dangerously. "I only did what I needed to do to make her into who she truly is. She's the daughter of Hel! A powerful descendant from two Death Gods! She had to know pain, she had to know suffering… she had to know… death!"
"So you tried to have Kevin kill me?" Rose whispered.
"At first, yes. I thought that I could have your human form destroyed, and your soul would then come to Hel, where I could reinstate your dormant Third Race body to you… and you would be back in my grasp, once again. Where I could awaken your magic and train you." Hela whispered back. "I didn't enjoy watching Kevin torture you, Rose. I didn't like watching you suffer… but I knew it was necessary for your growth. But… still… even through all the abuse and hopeless despair, you still had a fire of hope that I thought Kevin had snuffed out."
Rose stared at her with wide eyes, then stared over at Kevin.
"Did you know about this?"
Kevin slowly turned to face her, with his sword in hand, and stared at her with the black eyes she hated, but they were filled with his own pain. Showing his own betrayal of sorts.
"I didn't." He whispered. "I… when I would hurt you… I would feel an inner darkness take over me. Especially when I drank… and I pretty much blacked out when I would hurt you. Which only lead to more drinking. The rage I felt inside was Hela's influences, but all in all… I am a monster." He then looked back at her and accepted it. "And so I've decided that's what I'll be when Hela brings me back to life to bring you down. I would continue to be who I truly was."
Rose's heart broke somehow for him. She shook her head, and couldn't believe she was saying this… but she needed to know.
"All of those times you tried to stop drinking. Though far and in between… there were times you tried to stop hurting me, and you were kind to me…" She paused and shook in Brooklyn's arms. "Please, Kev, I have to know. Was that real or not?"
Kevin stared at her, and silence filled the night. Her heart was pounding, tears spilling out of her face as he looked over at Brooklyn, who was watching him with disgust. Then Kevin looked back at her.
"Real."
"Oh please!" Hela suddenly snapped, looking between them. "Don't try to humanize my pet, Rose. He is a monster. One made from poor parenting, abuse, loneliness, and his own demons. I used that monster against you to pull you to the dark, and he nearly succeeded. But the problem I saw in you, and still do, is that you see the good in everyone… even when that good doesn't exist."
Rose glared at Hela, as she continued, "You held out for hope that Kevin would change for so long, that it was overpowering your hatred for him. I tried to have a rogue gunman try to kill you, but then I was surprised to see Brooklyn show up. Gargoyles…" She spat. "And their goodness to protect all from evil! I forgot that there were some in Manhattan… and for some reason… I couldn't stop what happened next." She paused and then sneered. "Lo and behold, Oberon's great and powerful lineage, of Aesir- the Allfather of all light and good magic came upon you two and sealed your souls together. In protection from me… and what myself and your father were trying to do. That is when I knew… there would be war against Hel and Avalon, Rose. That the prophecy was in effect. When you met the Gargoyles, I knew they were the Mountain Stone it referred to. But I still had to try. Your soul-bond wasn't yet accepted by you two. Brooklyn was in denial for loving a Human and was about to turn you away, while you were seeking for him to return…"
Hela paused, and slowly Rose and Brooklyn looked at each other in disbelief.
"Then, there it was again. My daughter… seeing the good in everything and not for its exterior." Hela then stopped and took a deep breath. "But Brooklyn's hesitation was enough to allow me to work at you some more. I let up on Kevin, and he did indeed try to change for you. But then, at the night of the Gala, I came over his mind again. Encouraged him to get drunk… and then stepped away and let him wreck you one last time, and you did exactly what I was wanting you to. When you ran away, I took over your mind and finished out the hopelessness that was eating you alive… and then led you to the Brooklyn Bridge, when I was encouraging you to jump to your death."
Rose and Brooklyn both froze, and she stared at the Goddess of Death in great stillness.
"I was going to catch your soul the minute you passed away." Hela whispered darkly. "To join me in the mortal Underworld, so I could finish your training… but then… he came along again and pulled his head out of his stubborn and prideful ass." She pointed an enraged black-tipped finger at Brooklyn, then snarled, "And with him… he brought so much light… the moment you two touched hands and internally accepted your bond… I found out that I couldn't reach Rose's mind anymore. Not while you two were so strongly connected. So… I backed off. Worked on Kevin, to try to bring you down, and drove his mind… literally… mad."
Hela paused again, Kevin remained still as death, and Rose was stuck hyperventilating in her mate's frozen arms. The Clan were all like statues, and then it was Xanatos who spoke next.
"So… all that happened since then…was you encouraging Kevin's mind to destroy Rose and the Clan?"
"Precisely." Hela grinned evilly. "And now we are led to what's going on right now. Months have passed by here… weeks for me in Hel. I have found alliance with Demona, took over her mind to help me to accomplish bringing Kevin back and starting on this curse."
Angela gasped. "You've also tricked my mother into doing all of this for you?"
"Yes." Hela replied. "I've sent the Draugr to try to darken your soul further and bring you to Hel… but all have failed me. When I saw your magic awaken, while trying to protect Brooklyn all before you two sealed your mating in marriage, I knew that I could work with you. So, I never gave up. Which leads us to what must happen now."
She turned to face Rose, with her swords still in hand, and then raised a blade to her and Brooklyn.
"You are coming with me to Hel." She whispered dangerously, no ounce of kindness in her bright red, flaming eyes. "You know what I'm capable of now, and what I am willing to do… I will not ask you to join me again, next time, I will force you to come."
Rose faced off with her, with her own hatred, and slowly moved away from Brooklyn towards her. Her magic flowed from her hands and was into her own eyes, mirroring the demoness before her.
"You've... taken… everything from me!" Rose hissed through her teeth. "It is because of you that I have endured such sorrows, grief and darkness. You've killed off my family, taken away my best friend, and lured me into a marriage that was poisonous!"
"Oh my darling, Rose…" Hela cooed. "I can't take all of the credit here. I did a lot of puppeteering in your life, sure, but don't forget that you still have the agency to choose for yourself and a lot of your own pathetic life choices you made, were yours."
"I hate you!" She seethed, her red magic pulsing all around her, and meant it.
But Hela smiled more evilly.
"Good." She whispered, her voice echoing while her dark magic encompassed all around them. "Then that means that I've won. First… there's grief, sorrow, heart-break, darkness… then… hatred." She reached a hand out to Rose, beckoning her to come forth, like Brooklyn did to her at the Brooklyn Bridge… her eyes were now as dark as the night all around them. "Time to come home, my daughter. Your soul is now mine."
It was as if Hela was speaking to her soul, like the night of the terrible storm when she was possessed, but Rose's hatred was directed to her and her alone and finally was in control of it.
"NEVER!" She screamed and jumped, swiping her swords at Hela, while exploding magic out at her and Kevin. She could barely see anything accept the Goddess before her, the one she was going to destroy for putting her through all of the pain. Hela swiped her swords across to brace against Rose's attack, but she kept coming for her, seeing nothing but bright red. She heard Brooklyn screaming out for her, as well as the rest of the Clan, but she had shielded him and the Gargoyles from interfering.
Hela was hers to kill.
Magic blasted out from both of them in an explosion of fire and ice; her rage was just as powerful as Hela's darkness. They dueled even quicker than Rose thought she had energy for, but she kept coming for her. She had no idea if Hela was actually trying to fight her, or if she was really winning. But with every swipe of her sword, she brought her down. Kevin got up from her attack, and jumped to attack her with his own sword, but Rose saw him coming; choked him and then sent him flying back again, while still keeping Hela down.
She then swiped a sword out of Hela's hand, cutting into her skin, and it went flying away.
"This is for my Nana!"
Then she swiped her other sword away, slicing into her arm as she did so.
"This is for my POP!"
Rose's electrified magic pulsed through her and she punched Hela across the face, burning her skin as she went. Hela cried out in surprise, but Rose kept coming for her. From deep inside of her, pushing to be let in, was her mate. He was pounding on the shield to be let in, and from deep inside of her he was screaming, ROSE, STOP!
But she wouldn't. Not with Hela in her grasp.
"And this…" Rose seethed, raising a sword up to stab the Goddess of Death clean through her heart. "THIS IS FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE TO BROOKLYN AND ME!"
"Do it. If you kill me… then you'll become the next Goddess of Death, and your destiny will be realized." Hela whispered, looking unafraid, as if knowing this was her own destiny… and Rose hesitated.
The image of the awful winged Fae from her nightmare, being the Goddess of Death, and all of her Clan around her… shattered… and Brooklyn… Tears filled her eyes as she stared down into Hela's hazel eyes; and it was Rose's eyes that were bright red, filled with hatred and rage. Stillness filled her soul and suddenly Brooklyn's arms were around her, lowering her sword and pulling her away from Hela.
"Don't, my love." He whispered in her ear, as the rest of the Clan took down Kevin and held down Hela. She didn't know how they got past her shield, but she allowed Brooklyn to pull her away. He was shushing her, and cupping her face. She tearfully looked up and her bright red eyes met his dark brown ones.
"She isn't worth darkening your soul over." He whispered while caressing her face, and all her tears away. "You now know the truth of your parents deaths, and it's... horrible, yes. But you also know that your Nana and Pop are at peace. Don't become like Hela because of what she did to them. This isn't who you are or what they've raised you to be. You're better than her, Rose."
Rose's eyes faded back to hazel ones and could only sob. Brooklyn was right, but it didn't make any of this easier on her. Shushing her again, he hugged her tightly, looked over her head and watched his Clan take down Hela and Kevin- until…
"ENOUGH OF THIS!"
Hela then blasted all of the Clan off of her and Kevin. Brooklyn's wings covered Rose as the power burned through them. The Clan all cried out in pain, slammed against parts of the platform, but Hela sent out another wave of magic and froze them where they stood. Gasping out, Rose didn't have time to make up a shield for them all, when she suddenly froze both her and Brooklyn.
They gasped out, but couldn't move. With no one able to help them, Hela launched herself over and stood in front of Rose.
"Fine… we will do this the hard way." With a snap of her fingers, magical rope bound and coiled all around her body, so tightly, she could hardly breathe and she toppled to the ground at Hela's feet.
Brooklyn roared out in anger, but he couldn't move still, nor could the rest of the Clan.
"Like always, your precious mate has screwed everything up." Hela snarled. "Little does he know that you cannot kill me. Nothing can." She then leaned down, whipped out a large and jagged sword, grabbed onto Rose and held it up to her face. "Nothing can kill me except the sword Excalibur, which Oberon keeps so safely hidden on his precious Avalon. But we are going to take it from him… and once we have the sword, then we shall use its metal to kill all who defy us." She raised Rose by her neck and her eyes were burning red. "You thought you could destroy me, Rose? But you cannot! Nor can your Clan! Don't you see the truth now? YOU LOSE! I am the Goddess of Death… and was willing to spare those you truly loved, but I know now, that I cannot let them live. Especially HIM!"
Rose's eyes widened, as she suddenly took the sword and swiped it across- thinking she was going to die, when the sword caught Brooklyn's left eye instead.
Then chaos erupted.
Blood splattered everywhere from Brooklyn as he screamed out in pain, Rose screamed his name, as did the others from the Clan.
"BROOKLYN! NOOO!"
Brooklyn roared out in pain, held his eye and rolled around on the platform, still crying out and gasping in breath. Rose could barely breathe from the pain that she felt through their soul-bond. The pain was so intense in her head, right over her left eye, but she couldn't do anything to help him. Like Kevin did before, Hela bound her with her magic, and drained her of using any of her own. She was helpless against Hela, and helpless in helping Brooklyn heal, or better protect him.
He was still howling in excruciating pain as Hela rolled her eyes.
"Oh, give me a break, it's just a missing eye… don't be such a hatchling."
Brooklyn kept one claw over his bloody eye, and turned around to face her, his good eye lit up in bright white. Hela's hold over him was gone, but he was too injured to move. Rose was sobbing, watching her mate struggle so horrendously.
"Come on, Rose. Let's go." Hela suddenly said, as she grabbed onto her ropes and forced Rose to stand and walk away from him.
"NO, NOOOO!" Rose shrieked, fighting back; but finding that she couldn't and wasn't getting anywhere.
"Rose, please, this is ridiculous!"
"I WON'T GO!" Rose screamed, falling to the ground as Hela lost grip over her, and she frantically kicked away from her to worm across to where Brooklyn was lying and bleeding profusely.
"STOP FIGHTING ME!" Hela screamed.
"I will fight you, and keep fighting you for the rest of my life!" Rose then broke off, sobbing, and tried to connect to Brooklyn, but to her horror, he was too injured. She wasn't sure how bad the stab was- or how deep into his head her sword went, but he was struggling to concentrate on anything but the pain. She stared at her bleeding mate and thought of another way...
"Let me heal him!" She suddenly begged, as Hela reached down to collect her. "Please… please let me heal him, and then…" she swallowed heavily and with a great deal of effort, "... I'll go with you."
Hela froze at this, the Clan gasped out, 'NO' and even Brooklyn slowly looked up at her, his good eye begging and pleading with her, as he shakily held out a claw towards her.
"No… Rose…"
"I won't fight you anymore." Rose continued to whisper in a pant, as Hela's eyes went back to hers, and looked intrigued by her proposition. "I'll do whatever you ask… just please Hela… let me heal my mate."
Hela seemed to be considering her words with a pleased expression, when Kevin suddenly walked up to her and was angry.
"If you let Brooklyn live… their soul-bond will live and he'll return for her. Then all of this will be for naught, and the revenge you promised me will be a lie." He paused and then looked down at Rose. "Besides, if she is to accomplish all she needs to… doesn't her soul need to be a lot darker than it is? She's selflessly sacrificing herself for him and their love. That is a trait of goodness... not evil."
Hela then turned to face Kevin with amazed shock on her face, then looked him up and down. "I don't need a lesson on how to be evil, Kevin…"
"Then let me kill her mate." He snarled.
"He's already dying…" Hela answered with a smile, and Kevin froze. He slowly looked over at the bleeding Brooklyn and seemed to see what Hela was saying. Rose couldn't feel Brooklyn dying by any means, he was hurt a great deal, but not dying- however, Kevin seemed to believe it fully.
"Good. Then I'll have you know that you have a second choice to darken her soul. Let him die… but also kill the child that they've created together-"
"KEVIN!" Rose screamed out, but Hela's eyes suddenly whipped down to her, and she knew it was all over. Hela's eyes traced over Rose's abdomen, knelt down before her and then placed a hand over it and met her shield.
Then her eyes flashed back up to Rose's.
"So…" Hela breathed. "It's true… that's the third bond I've felt within you... the one I haven't been able to figure out..."
Rose was begging Hela silently to not hurt her child, as Kevin growled, "Isn't it disgusting? A Gargoyle spawn within her?... I say you kill it Hela. You can see it in her eyes… she'll do anything to protect her child. Kill it and and send her soul into the darkest corner of Hel. With her precious mate dying... she won't stand a chance... just like you've always wanted."
"No…" Rose begged Hela, shaking her head. "I don't know how you were able to stomach watching me suffer all of these years, but please… a mother to a mother… don't kill my child! PLEASE!"
Hela watched Rose beg, and didn't know how to hide her shock when her daughter acknowledged that she was her mother. But her mind was made up.
"Then you'll understand, my dear…" Hela said slowly, standing up and raising a sword. "That a mother must do what is best for their child. With your mate dying, and your child taken away… Kevin is right, you'll finally become the daughter of Hel you're meant to become."
The Clan were all screaming and trying to break free from Hela's magical binds, roaring out her name, for Hela to stop, but to no avail. Xanatos was struggling to have his guns shoot through the magic, but again, they were impossible to impale through.
Brooklyn slowly looked up from his corner, soaking in a pool of his own blood, and knew what he had to do… for Rose and his child…
"No, no, no…" Rose was begging through sobs, unable to protect her child through Hela's powers. "No, no, no, no, no, no, please! I beg of you, please don't! NO!"
"Take heart that I cannot hold children in the Underworld." She whispered, raising her sword up to slice through Rose. "Your child will pass on into a better place…"
"NO! NO! PLEASE!" Rose screamed. "NOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Hela pierced the sword down to stab into her stomach, but a roar erupted behind her and Brooklyn launched himself in between Rose and her blade. The metal stabbed clean through his ribcage, and more blood splattered over Rose as it cut clean through him, and she gasped out in true horror.
Brooklyn's roar stopped, he choked on the sword and held onto it; as he stared into Hela's widened, shocked eyes.
Even she, the Goddess of Death, wasn't expecting that.
Just then, roars erupted from the Clan as Brooklyn fell to her feet, and Rose's screams intensified.
"NO, BROOKLYN, NO!" She couldn't break free from her binds to touch him, or heal him, but she could feel him fading now.
He was dying…
"BROOKLYN!"
To her horror, Hela reached down and grabbed onto her binds, opened a portal behind them which made the platform shudder underneath their feet, and began dragging her off towards it. The Clan was fighting with all of their strengths now to get free, their roars deafening the air, and she was also screaming, kicking and trying to fight from Hela's grasp to get to her dying mate.
"Let's go." Hela said to Kevin in a very quiet voice over the chaos.
"What about her child?!" He demanded, following after her.
"I'll deal with that later…" She whispered, and then looked over at Brooklyn and his bleeding body with a strangely saddened face. Inside her own heart was breaking and moved by his sacrifice…
Reminding her of her old love once…
Hela then turned to the portal, ignoring Rose's heartbreaking screams and pulled her towards it.
"Come Kevin, let's go home. Our job here is done."
"BROOKLYN!" Rose shrieked, sobbing hysterically, but the further away she got from him and closer to the portal, the colder and darker their bond felt. Brooklyn slowly turned onto his back, with Hela's sword still pierced into him, and stared up at the stars above.
"Rose…" He breathed, turning his head to look at her, one last time. Reaching a claw out to her...
"MY LOVE! DON'T LEAVE ME, PLEASE, I'M SORRY!" Rose screamed, struggling fiercely against Hela's hold, but they were inches from the portal now.
"NOOOOO!" She bawled. "I LOVE YOU! Brooklyn! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE-"
But then her voice disappeared.
"Rose…" Brooklyn gasped out in one last desperate whisper, then closed his eyes and a single tear fell down his face, as his head fell limp to the side. The instant her screams disappeared, their soul-bond went black.
Silent.
And then he knew no more.
**Not gonna lie. I cried while writing the end. One more chapter before the Epilogue, so please don't hate me. lol. I know what's going to happen, overall, and it's gonna be awesome. Trust me. Just... trust me. **