AUTHOR'S NOTE: Another update already! I know I just posted one a day or so ago, but the story kept flowing, so here you go! There's a little more action in this chapter than the last one. I hope you enjoy it. :)
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
ELOISE
She'd been in New York with Jeirmi for a few days, but she hadn't had any luck finding her mother. The address she'd listed as her business no longer seemed to be accurate. Eloise was about to give up hope entirely when she saw the last person she expected.
"Grandma Grace?" She asked in shock.
The distinct red hair and kind smile she always wore gave it away. The woman who looked back at Eloise should have died decades before from natural causes, but she hadn't aged a day. If anything, she looked younger than she had then. Eloise had thought her paternal grandmother just had good genes, but...
"You're Eltarian!" Eloise realized aloud.
"Ellie?" Grace asked in surprise. "My God... Is it really you?"
Eloise put her questions aside as Grace pulled her into a tight, warm hug. Her grandmother had always given the best hugs, and Eloise naturally snuggled against her, feeling like a little girl again.
"Holy moly..." Eloise mumbled. "Wait, if you're still here, does that mean that my father-?"
Grace looked sad then. "No, my sweet girl," she said. "Your father was half-Eltarian, although he never knew that. I had to keep it from him for his protection. Unfortunately, he passed away several decades ago."
Eloise felt tears in her eyes. Jeirmi put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. "Was it painful?" She managed to ask.
"He was killed on impact. He never felt a thing," Grace reassured her. "I miss him every day, just as I've missed you, my sweet granddaughter..." She paused, looking at Jeirmi. "And who is this handsome young man?" She asked.
"Oh! This is Jeirmi, my fella. He's a looker, right? A real catch!" Eloise winked at Jeirmi, making him blush. Both she and her grandmother laughed.
"Well, it's an honor to meet you, Jeirmi," Grace replied.
"I'm honored to meet you as well," Jeirmi said humbly. He tried to shake her hand.
Grace hugged him instead. "I'm not so formal, Jeirmi. That's my daughter-in-law. She's not big on physical contact with strangers."
"Is Mom here?" Eloise asked.
"We live around the block," Grace replied. "Come on. I'll bring you to our place."
The East Village townhouse was lovely. There was a garden on the roof that Eloise could see from the ground below and enough space for a lot of residents. "Is it just you guys here?" Eloise asked.
"Well, us and Lola. You'll meet her shortly," Grace replied. She let them into the building.
Another redhead looked up in confusion. "Bringing guests over without notice, Sis?" She asked.
"Sis?" Eloise repeated.
"Eloise, Jeirmi, this is Lola Freyst," Grace explained. "She's Mayor Freyst's daughter, although he never knew that, thank goodness. Your mother rescued her from the prison she was born in and trained her."
"Eloise?" Lola asked, her eyes going wide. "Well, today just got a lot more interesting!" She stood up, coming closer to them. "M'Telda's going to be relieved to see you, Kiddo. I'm not related by blood, but the three of us live as sisters here in New York. It's easier to explain than the truth. Anyway, I'm glad to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."
"M'Telda?" Eloise repeated.
"That's your mom's real name, honey. Sorry, was I not supposed to spill that?" Lola asked. "Oops, too late now, I guess."
"She reminds me of you," Jeirmi said with a laugh.
Suddenly, Eloise felt the familiar sense of her mother. She spun around to see her standing in the doorway. Her mother dropped the grocery bags that were in her hands and stared at her.
"Eloise..." She whispered.
"Mom!" Eloise cried, flinging her arms around her mother's neck.
Her mother had tears in her eyes. "My sweet daughter... Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"Everything's Jake, Mom. I mean, it wasn't, but it is now, and-"
Her mother stared at her for a moment. "You're pregnant! Explain yourself, Young Man." She turned a cold eye to Jeirmi, actually making him take an unconscious step away from her.
"Easy, Mom. Relax. I'm insured," Eloise said.
"Insured?" Jeirmi repeated in confusion.
"Engaged," Eloise translated with a laugh. Jeirmi had picked up a lot of her slang from the 1920's, but there were still terms he didn't know. "So sure, I'm knocked-up, but I promise his intentions are genuine, Mom. He's on the level."
Her mother didn't look convinced. "I know why you vanished, Eloise... I know it wasn't just to hook up with some boy, but to stop that monster..." She shook her head.
"You have the sight?" Jeirmi asked.
"And how!" Eloise said with a laugh. "I could never keep anything from my mom. She always knew what I was up to." She paused. "But Mom... What do you know about Zell?"
"I know everything about Zell, Eloise," her mother replied. "I have since before he was ever born."
"What? Mom, how old are you?"
She sighed. "I am M'Telda of Eltar... The Mad Sorceress, who vanished long ago."
Jeirmi's eyes went wide. "What? You're the Mad Sorceress?" He repeated in shock.
"Intimidating future mother-in-law, huh?" Lola joked.
"Holy moly..." Eloise mumbled. "Mom, you're a legend on Eltar!"
"The truth is complex, my darling," her mother explained. "The short version is that I was born to two very powerful people... The First Wizard and the First Sorceress on Eltar... And I had to hide in a different time to keep myself safe from the threat which was coming. The visions began when I was ten or so... I did not know who the evil man was, but I knew I would never be safe. My parents aged me with magic, finished my training as both a Sorceress and a Wizard, and let me assume my life among the general public. No one knew who my parents were or where I'd come from. They knew only that I worked with vizu, and they assumed it drove me mad. I was never mad... I just knew the truth. My mother was a Vizu Queen, and so am I. They do not affect me. I ultimately fled here, to this planet, and lived my life away from the threat. I met Grace two centuries ago, when she popped up on Earth. Realizing who she was hiding from and that she had also traveled through time to do it, I decided to trust her. She was the first person I let in, and we bonded deeply. We kept in touch, and after much time passed, we ended up living in the same town. I met her son, and although I never expected it to happen, I fell in love with him. It was the first and only time I fell in love... Your father was my heart, Eloise, and once you were born, so were you."
Eloise took a moment to take all of that in. "This is incredible..." She said softly.
"Incredible is the fact that you finally found your way back to me," her mother said. "I always hoped you would, but the future was never clear, and I couldn't feel you..."
"Zell sort of tried to bump us off," Eloise explained. "I have no idea how this little one survived." She touched her stomach, rubbing it protectively. "But when I came back out, a Shaman healed me, and Jeirmi ended up a little further in the past but found his way back to me. Laby and his friends saved him."
"Drago..." Her mother said softly.
"Who?" Eloise asked.
"Never mind that. The important thing is you're both here, and your child is healthy." M'Telda smiled to herself before gently touching Eloise's stomach.
"I'll make us something to eat," Grace offered.
"Nonsense. They're in New York. Let's order take-out!" Lola suggested. "Give them a taste of the City." She looked at Eloise. "You're pregnant, so you get to choose. What's your preference?" She gave Eloise a bunch of take-out menus.
As Eloise looked over the options, Jeirmi leaned in close to her, holding her from behind and reading along with her. She felt incredibly safe in his arms and relaxed. She'd lost her father, but her mother was still there, and shockingly she still had her grandmother as well. Grace had always had a way of making Eloise feel like everything was going to be fine.
You still have your family, she thought with a smile. You still have a chance to have them in your life. Everything's going to work out. Your mom is the Mad Sorceress!
Eloise paused. "Wait... So does that mean I'm both a Sorceress and a Wizard?" She asked suddenly. She was excited by the thought.
No one questioned her random realization. Eloise's mind was as hyperactive as she was and she always bounced from subject to subject.
"By blood, yes... By training, you are neither," her mother replied sharply. "I taught you some very basic Sorcery as a girl, and I'm sure you picked up more on Eltar, but trust me, you haven't even scratched the surface of what you're capable of. Don't advertise that, Eloise. Almost no one is both a Sorcerer and a Wizard. No one even knew that I was." She hesitated. "Zell will stop at nothing to receive the training he never had because my father, Tezzos, and M'Gah stopped teaching him as a Wizard. Very few people possess that knowledge. To be a Wizard was one thing, but to be trained by the Three was quite another."
"But... You'll train me, right?" Eloise asked.
"In time, yes. You are my daughter. This is your birthright... But not until after the baby is born, Eloise. It's too dangerous."
"I can wait," Eloise said. "I'm patient."
Jeirmi coughed to cover up a laugh at that blatant lie. No one called him on it.
MICKY
He had been training around the clock. The physical release helped ease some of his tension, and Micky knew he needed to be prepared for what was coming. The monster who'd attacked Liza was still out there. She claimed Bax had helped her, and Micky had no idea how to feel about that. It seemed impossible that Bax could ever change and want to be a better person, but Liza was no longer calling him "Nine." She seemed to trust him slightly more. Micky didn't like that idea.
He was in the park with Lachlan, practicing Martial Arts while Lachlan worked on his laptop. The explosion that came in their direction threw both of them off. Micky reacted quickly, diving in front of Lachlan to protect him from the next attack. The bombs were detonating quickly, but none had actually reached them yet. They cleared the area around them.
"What's happening?" Lachlan asked in fear.
"I don't know," Micky said. "Stay behind me... Whatever this is, they wanted to scare everyone else away from us." He couldn't find anyone launching the attacks, but they continued.
Suddenly, a woman in all black came toward them. She smiled wickedly before casting a powerful spell. "She's a Sorceress," Micky said. "We have to get out of here, Lach!"
A man jumped between them and the woman, drawing his sword smoothly. He raised it, using it to deflect the woman's attacks. "Leave these children alone, Britterra of Eltar!" He said. "I shall not allow you to cause them harm."
"So... He's a friend?" Lachlan asked.
"I have no idea," Micky said. "But I'm pretty sure he's Eltarian, so let's say it's safe to assume he's a Rebel."
"I am," the man said. He deflected another attack before sending one of his own at the woman. She screamed dramatically before vanishing.
The man turned toward them. That was when Micky saw the scar over his eye. "Shit," he said. "He's no friend, Lach... That's Jezzeff."
"You've heard of me," Jezzeff said in surprise.
"I know all about you," Micky said harshly. "You're the fucker who kidnapped Mani and Tessa to lure Liza into a trap." He pulled out Saba, not entirely sure if he was allowed to morph and kick this guy's ass yet but not entirely caring either.
"I'm not here to hurt you, Boys. I've come to protect you. The Great Wizard is quite intent on harming his son."
"You're lying. That's what you do."
"I assure you, I only want to help. The Great Wizard has lost his senses, and he's acting rashly."
"That's true enough," Lachlan said. "The creepy, demented family dinners he was hosting kind of proved it."
"Britterra is one of his Alliance members," Jezzeff explained. "She came here to hunt you down for him."
"You're further up Zell's ass than anyone else," Micky said. "Why should we trust anything you have to say?"
"I'm not what you think," Jezzeff said. He sounded pretty convincing, but Micky knew better than to trust him. "Zell is a danger to all of Eltar, and now to Earth as well. He wants to destroy Lachlan because he knows he cannot control him. I can protect you from him, Lachlan."
Lachlan hesitated. "Do you really think he'll kill me?" He asked.
"Yes. He already has Zordon to worry about, and Anise as well. He won't risk a third threat from his kin... Only Katherine has proven to be loyal to him."
"Lach, don't listen to this asshole. The Eltarians say if his lips are moving, he's lying," Micky pointed out. He was charmed by Jezzeff's tone and words, too, but he was clinging to the knowledge that they could never trust him.
"I understand your hesitation, Micky," Jezzeff said. It surprised Micky that he knew his name. He'd clearly done his homework. "I wouldn't trust me either. However, in light of Zell's recent actions, I see that I made many mistakes in my life. The only way I can repent is to try to do what is right now."
"Maybe we should give him a chance, Micky," Lachlan said softly. "So many people who are supposed to be evil have proven they can change. Look at Zedd and Rita..."
"They were under a spell. This is different," Micky said.
"I was under a spell as well," Jezzeff said. "Zell took my conscience from me after he killed Serafine. When I went to him, I never expected him to kill her and frame poor Ash... Ash was my dearest friend aside from Vee... He was like a brother to me. I only thought I was protecting them from their own mistakes and that Zell would make them see reason. The guilt of Serafine's death was too much for me, so he took it away."
Micky hesitated. Jezzeff sounded sincere, and that certainly seemed like something Zell would do with a minion who was walking the line between good and evil. If it was true, maybe things hadn't been Jezzeff's fault. Maybe they had it all wrong...
"How old were you?" He asked. "When Zell made you evil, I mean."
"He took my conscience when I was seventeen. Ash and I were the same age," Jezzeff replied. "I was still just a boy. I didn't understand what was going to happen. I believed Zell to be the greatest force of Good in all the universe."
"Maybe we can fix you... My cousin's really good at undoing what Zell does. If you regret the choice to turn evil, maybe she can restore your conscience."
Jezzeff seemed to consider this. "You believe your cousin can save me from this life of darkness and evil?" He asked.
"I believe that my cousin can do anything. She's proven it more than once."
"She must be incredibly powerful. I'd like to meet her."
"I can arrange that... In a neutral place, with safety precautions, of course."
"I understand. That's only practical, given my history." Jezzeff looked genuinely humble and remorseful for his actions. He turned toward Lachlan. "Will you allow me to protect you, Lachlan?"
"How?" Lachlan asked.
"Join me. Fight at my side. I have formed a new group... My Guild is meant to protect those Zell seeks to destroy. If you join us, we can keep you safe. We stand a very good chance of defeating him, Lachlan. I just need you to come with me. Micky can come as well, if you would feel safer," Jezzeff replied.
Lachlan looked at Micky. "What do you think? Should we trust him?" He asked.
"Not until Sage clears his head," Micky said.
Jezzeff nodded. "I understand," he said. "And now, I know what my next move must be."
In one swift motion, before Micky even registered that he was moving, Jezzeff shoved a sword through his side. Micky was stunned as blood began pouring out of his mouth.
"Micky!" Lachlan screamed. "No! What have you done? Why would you do that to him?" He demanded.
"I can save him, Lachlan," Jezzeff said. "If you agree to come with me."
"Lach... Don't..." Micky said weakly. He was dying, but he'd be damned if he was going to let Jezzeff take Lachlan anywhere.
Lachlan had tears in his eyes as he sat on the ground and pulled Micky into his arms. "Don't die on me, Micky... Please..." he sobbed.
"It's okay," Micky said, even though that was a ridiculous thing to say. He wanted to comfort Lachlan. He hated seeing him cry.
"I love you," Lachlan said, shocking Micky. Before Micky could even react, Lachlan looked at Jezzeff. "Okay," he said. "I'll go with you, but you have to heal him first."
"Lach, no... Please..." Micky begged him.
"I'm not letting you die," Lachlan insisted. He released Micky, standing up. "Heal him and I'll go with you."
Jezzeff nodded. "You made the right choice, Lachlan," he said. He stood over Micky, beginning to cast a spell. Suddenly, Jezzeff hit the ground and began screaming.
Micky stared at Jezzeff in confusion, not understanding why he was suddenly on fire. His flesh burned away faster than it could heal, and Lachlan stood over him, shooting more fire out of his hands. After a minute, he stopped burning Jezzeff so he could check on Micky, who was still in complete shock.
"You're losing too much blood... There's no time..." Lachlan said desperately. He held his hands over Micky, and for a moment, Micky thought he was going to set him on fire, too. Instead, a strange light began to glow around his body. "Please don't die... Please, Micky... I can't lose you."
Micky could feel his body starting to heal. He stopped bleeding, and the pain eased. "Lach... How are you doing all of this?" He asked.
"I don't know... I guess I just... Panicked," Lachlan replied as he held him. "I love you. I'm not ready to lose you."
Micky finally felt strong enough to sit up on his own. He looked at Lachlan before kissing him, not caring who might see them or what they might think. "I love you, too," he said softly. "And I'm not going anywhere."
Jezzeff began to stir, his flesh already mending and looking almost like Lachlan hadn't touched him at all. "We need to hurry up and get out of here," Lachlan said. "He'll be on his feet in no time."
As they stood up, they were suddenly surrounded by a bunch of explosives. "Not so fast, Boys," Britterra said. She motioned toward two others. "Meet Lang and Lun, formerly of the Shanghai Rebels. Trust me, you don't want to cross them... And your pyrotechnics are a bad idea, Lachlan. They'll only set off these explosives and take you both down."
"Micky..." Lachlan said nervously.
"Screw it... It's Morphin' Time!" Micky declared. "White Tigerzord!" He morphed instantly. He touched his communicator to say, "Alphas, I need backup now!"
"Aye-yi-yi!" Came the chorus of responses.
The rest of the Legacy Rangers showed up seconds later. They immediately morphed at the sight of Micky already in his White Ranger form.
"You doing okay, Micky?" Tommy asked as more explosions went off. The team began fighting, but as usual, that didn't stop their banter.
"Yeah, I'm great. I mean, Jezzeff turned me into a Micky-kebob, but Lach suddenly learned how to heal, so I'm fine. Oh, and Lach set him on fire. That might be significant," Micky replied as he knocked Lachlan out of the way of a bomb.
"Sounds like we missed a lot," Kenny said as he kicked Lang in the chest.
"Yeah, well, I saved the big battle for you guys. I'm generous like that," Micky quipped.
"Are you sure you're good to fight, Micky?" Liza asked. She sounded nervous, and Micky realized this was the first big fight she'd been in since getting tortured. He moved closer to her, worried she might be in over her head.
"I'm good if you are, Liza," he promised.
"You know I'm good. Let's kick some Alliance ass."
"They're not really in the Alliance... Jezzeff started his own group. He called it a Guild."
"Great. Let's kick some Guild ass... Nah, doesn't sound as good. I like alliteration," Liza said.
"Kicking Guild ass sounds like we're fighting a bunch of nerds in a roleplay," Zeke said with a laugh as he knocked an explosion back at Lun, who barely dodged it in time to escape from harm.
"They're not worthy of that status," Josh said. "Guilds have honor." He hadn't flown into a panic attack yet, but Micky knew everyone was worried he would with all of the explosions going off. He was mildly impressed as Josh grabbed one of the explosives, reprogrammed it in seconds, and tossed it at Britterra's head. It went off, knocking her back just as she was trying to cast a spell, but it didn't kill her.
Sage and Thorn teamed up to attack Lang and Lun, disarming them and knocking them through the air into the park's lake with identical kicks. They high-fived each other before rejoining the fight, shifting their focus to Britterra, who no longer looked quite as confident with the entire Legacy team standing against her.
"Teenagers!" She shouted. "I despise them!"
"We're not too fond of you, either, Lady," Zeke informed her.
"Who are you calling a teenager?" Tommy added, making Micky burst out laughing.
"You're young at heart, right, Uncle Tommy?" Sage teased him.
"Absolutely," Tommy agreed with a laugh.
Suddenly, blood shot out of Lachlan's mouth. It hit Micky in the face and it took him a minute to register what had happened. "Lach!" He cried in horror.
Jezzeff stood over Lachlan, ready to pull the sword which impaled him out. "Enough," he said. "Zell's boy dies today." He started to pull out the sword.
"No!" Liza shouted. She began casting a spell against him, leaving him paralyzed and unable to yank out the sword.
"It won't last," Sage said. "He's strong, Liza. Just hold him like that until I can help Lach."
With all of the Rangers distracted by Lachlan's situation, Britterra was able to launch an attack. She flung it straight at Liza's head. "Liza!" Micky shouted in warning. "Look out!"
Liza saw the spell coming and put up a very basic shield. "Bitch, please," she said. "I'm a Campbell." She flung the spell right back at Britterra, knocking the Sorceress unconscious with little effort.
Micky and Sage both knelt beside Lachlan. Jezzeff was starting to twitch, and Micky knew he'd break through Liza's paralysis spell soon. "We don't have enough time," Micky said. "We need to get him out of here."
"You're right," Sage said. "Alphas! Bring Micky and Lachlan to the Command Center."
"Aye-yi-yi! Right away, Sage!" Alpha Twenty-Six replied.
"Hold him steady, Micky. Don't let the sword shift. He'll be okay. Zordon can save him," Sage promised.
Micky held onto Lachlan, praying he could keep him safe long enough to get him some help. As they teleported away, he hoped his team would be okay without him. In that moment, he knew Lachlan needed him more than they did.
SAGE
"What game are you playing, Jezzeff?" Sage demanded. "Why would you try to kill Zell's son?"
"I was trying to eliminate an issue," Jezzeff replied as he slowly continued to break through Liza's spell. "I did not expect the little Campbell to react so quickly. That was my error."
"Lach never did anything to you. Why is he an issue?" Thorn asked.
"I want Zell to lose something important to him," Jezzeff said coldly. "Lachlan seemed like a good choice. Zell may not be the ideal father to most of his children, but he does view them as his property and therefore, he doesn't want them destroyed. Lachlan is his last hope to defeat Zordon, as Katherine has already proven she's not strong enough. Don't get me wrong... The girl is a killing machine, and she's quite stunning, but she's not very bright. Anise would never harm her twin and stands with him against their father. Only Lachlan has the potential to be what Zell desires."
"Lach won't work for Zell," Kenny pointed out. "He made that clear when Zell kidnapped all of us."
"Zell's not ready to give up on the boy yet... Which is why eliminating him will upset him."
"Why are you trying to piss Zell off? I thought you were his favorite butt boy," Zeke said.
Jezzeff scowled at him. Instead of answering, however, he suddenly sprang back into motion. He tried to attack Sage, but she was ready for him. She kicked him hard in his chest, sending him backward several feet.
"Nice try, Jezzeff," she said.
Jezzeff took a look at the Legacy team, considering them before bowing grandly. "I look forward to our next meeting," he said. Then, he vanished. The still-unconscious Britterra vanished as well, and Sage assumed Lang and Lun had gone with them.
"You better run, Bitch!" Liza shouted after Jezzeff.
That was when the cackling began. Sage braced herself for another attack. She felt Kenny tense beside her. Thorn, Tommy, and Zeke assumed fighting stances. Liza looked around for the source of the cackling. When nothing happened, Liza asked, "Are we good?"
Suddenly, all of the trees surrounding them were ripped up by their roots and flung into the air. "Look out!" Sage shouted as the trees started to fall toward them.
"Guys, teleport, now!" Zeke shouted.
They collectively hit the button on their morphers that brought them to the Command Center. They landed ungracefully in a pile on the floor.
"Rangers! Are you alright?" Zordon asked in alarm as their morphs all failed at once.
"Some cackling cunt tried to squish us under a bunch of trees," Liza explained. "Cackling cunt... See? Alliteration rocks."
"Was anyone hurt?" Zordon continued, ignoring Liza's vulgarity. Sage suspected he'd finally gotten used to Liza.
"We're okay," Thorn said. "We got out of there just in time."
"How's Lach?" Sage asked.
"He'll survive," Zordon replied. "He's gravely injured, but Micky was able to keep him stable long enough for me to treat his injuries. The sword is out and his wounds are healing. It may take a little bit of time."
"At least he's got his big brother to look out for him," Tommy said with a smile.
Zordon looked uncomfortable. "I will do my best to ensure Lachlan heals as quickly as possible," he said. "Excuse me."
"Wow... Do you think he's jealous of the new baby?" Zeke joked.
"Shut up, Zeke," Thorn said, surprising Sage and everyone else with his harsh words. "This is hard for Zordon. His father is a monster, and so is Aunt Kat, and now he's got a younger brother and doesn't know what to make of him yet. He's probably afraid to let him in considering what my aunt turned into."
"Sorry. You're right. I'm an asshole," Zeke replied. "Consider my attitude checked."
Sage grabbed Josh as she suddenly sensed something in his energy field. She took him aside. "The Warlock, Josh? Seriously?" She demanded. "What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that he killed my mom and I wanted to know why," Josh said. He sighed. "It was dumb... I know. I'm sorry. And the worst part is, I dragged Taylor along and he ended up in bad shape. He's okay now, but he almost wasn't. If the Warlock hadn't inexplicably decided to let us go, I don't know what would have happened."
Sage shook her head. "I blame myself," she said. "I shouldn't have told you until we had more answers. I know it's hard for you to deal with this. Just don't go running off and doing anything that stupid again, alright?"
"I won't," Josh promised.
"Good. Are you sure Taylor's alright?"
"He went home to recharge his energy. I checked on him afterward and he was fine."
She nodded. "Alright. Let's get back to the others." She knew no one was leaving the Command Center until they were sure Lachlan was in better shape.
MENA
She'd returned to Eltar to see Moriazan and to take another look around Eva Leigh's room. Moriazan was in even worse condition this time, and Mena knew he'd perish soon. She sat in Eva Leigh's room and began reading the journal she'd previously refused to explore. It was an invasion of privacy, but considering the Alchemist had stolen her father's body, she figured reading her diary was an acceptable way to get some answers. Besides, her powers had led her to the book. She was supposed to read it. She'd just been morally opposed to it before.
A lot of the entries were things Mena could relate to. Eva Leigh had been the Prime Minister's Daughter. It was an important role on Eltar, and Mena understood their shared experiences. Other parts surprised her. She preferred to call herself simply Eva, because Eva Leigh sounded too similar to "evilly" and that bothered her. As she explained her history, Eva revealed that when she was especially young, she had been shy and people barely noticed her. It was Mena's grandfather Elgan who befriended her when she was five years old and, being two years her senior, helped her find her way in the world. Eva had comforted Elgan when he discovered that his parents had died in their sleep. She had been determined to help him through his grief even though she was still so young. They'd soon added Maizon to their lives, and the three had been inseparable in the same way Mena and Nessa were. They formed a little circle of magic, calling themselves a coven and keeping it a secret.
One day, a line had been crossed... Sensing Eva's great power, Zell had taken advantage of her trust in him and done what he always did to powerful young women. Mena's heart broke as she realized the still underage Eva blamed herself and worried that Elgan would hate her for what his older brother had done. She never told him, but Maizon figured it out. He was her support system as she tried to cope with her trauma, and he vowed to protect her from Zell from that day on.
Eva became prone to nightmares after that day. Elgan often comforted her as she grew older, but he never knew his beloved brother was the cause of them. Meanwhile, Eva worried about Maizon, whose mother was horribly abusive. Maizon intentionally hurt himself when his pain got really bad, like Taylor tended to do, and he had even considered suicide a few times, but Elgan and Eva always brought him back from the edge.
Over time, Eva had fallen in love with Elgan. Mena was stunned to realize that their bond was that powerful, but Zell had insisted Elgan marry the woman he chose for him, tearing them apart. It broke Eva's heart and she swore she'd never love anyone else. She politely refused to marry the man her father had chosen for her. Moriazan took it in stride, saying they could discuss it later and not forcing her into the arranged marriage.
Mena's hands began to shake as she read the final entry in the journal. It detailed every moment of her grandfather's death, which Eva had witnessed without anyone realizing it. She'd been left in a state of shock after Zell murdered his brother, until Maizon found her and tried in vain to save Elgan's life. It was far too late. That day, Eva Leigh and Maizon decided to become the Alchemist and the Warlock because only if they became more than they were would they be able to defeat Zell and see justice done for the boy they'd loved so much.
"My God... They turned themselves into monsters to try to stop him," Mena whispered. "She left her father behind so she could become a force of evil that might be able to stand against Zell when the time was right..." She shook her head. "Why would she take my father's body? What purpose could that have served?" She had tears in her eyes. Mena had the answers to questions she hadn't thought to ask, but she still didn't understand why they'd stolen the Prime Minister's body or what they might have done with him after the attack ended.
Wiping away the tears, Mena tucked the journal back into its hiding place. "If only Ash and Sera had discovered this..." She said softly. "It would have proven he was the monster they suspected him of being." She tried not to think about that. There was no point in dwelling on what might have happened if things had played out differently.
Mena waited for the former Prime Minister to awaken before she left. She smiled kindly at him. "I'll get the answers for you," she promised him.
He took her hands in his trembling ones. "Thank you, Mena," he said. His breathing was shallow, and he looked like he was going to black out again.
"Rest now. I'll return soon." She left his house and headed back to Earth. She closed her eyes. "Lead me where I need to go next," she said softly. She had to trust that she was on the right path and her powers would lead her exactly where she should be.
When she arrived at the destination she felt drawn to, she discovered the last thing she expected. The Alchemist stood gathering herbs in the woods. She knew it was a bad idea to just approach the Alchemist, but she'd been led there for a reason.
As the Alchemist was about to leave, Mena cried out, "Eva! Eva Leigh..."
The Alchemist tensed before turning toward her. She looked as intimidating as ever. "I think you've mistaken me for someone else," she said coldly.
"I... I know who you are, Eva," she said nervously.
"Eva Leigh is dead," the Alchemist replied. "She's been missing for millennia." She turned around to leave.
"Tell me what you did with his body!" Mena demanded.
The Alchemist looked at her again. "Whose body?" She asked.
"You know exactly who I'm talking about. My father. I know you tried to save him, even if I can't understand why... But you took his body. Why would you do that? Where is he? I want to give him a proper burial. He deserves that."
"I used him for parts," the Alchemist said harshly. "Now, leave this place, Child. I have no interest in continuing to speak to you." She began to walk away.
She's lying, Mena realized. Whatever the Alchemist was up to, she hadn't treated her father's body as a source of supplies.
"Your father is dying, Eva," Mena said very deliberately. The Alchemist froze. Mena knew she'd hit a nerve. "He's dying, and he has no idea what happened to you. He asked me to try to find you because of my powers... He still loves you, Eva, and he's worried about you. He desperately wants to find you before he perishes."
"He's better off never knowing what became of his daughter," the Alchemist said sharply.
"You owe him this! It is your duty, as the Prime Minister's Daughter, to be at his side in his hour of need. He believes both of his daughters are dead and it's breaking his heart, Eva. He deserves to know what happened to you. He has a right to understand. And you have a chance to see him before he dies! Do you understand what that means? You can see him, and say what you need to say, and give him the closure he deserves. You have an opportunity that I'd do anything for, Eva! Don't you dare waste it!"
Yelling at the Alchemist wasn't the smartest thing Mena had ever done, but she was furious. This woman had a chance to make things right and say goodbye to her father, something Mena would never have, and she was refusing to do it.
To Mena's great surprise, the Alchemist didn't attack her or summon her Golden Army or do anything else threatening. Instead, she sighed. "How much time does he have left?" She asked.
"Not much," Mena replied. "He looked like he could perish at any moment. I'm sorry... I know you loved your father, Eva. You were a good daughter to him... Be that girl again, just for a day. Do it for both of you."'
The Alchemist closed her eyes. "Mena... Don't give up hope," she said.
"What do you mean?" Mena asked.
"I lied about Rey." With that, she vanished, not letting Mena ask any other questions.
Mena had no idea what that meant. "He must still be in one piece..." She said aloud. She hoped that after the Alchemist handled her business with her own father, she'd finally return Mena's father to her. "I love you, Father. I'll ensure you receive a proper burial and funeral rites..." She nearly cried at her own words, but she held herself together. They'd already held a funeral for him, of course, but having his body present would make laying him to rest even harder to endure. Still, Mena had to know what had become of him. She owed it to him to find out the truth.
STONE
He was surprised by the turn of events things were taking. The more Stone and Jinnifer talked, the more they realized Aphell might be involved in something inappropriate. When Daisy contacted him, they discussed it briefly. Stone trusted the girl and needed a fresh point of view on things from outside of the Counsel of Elders.
"Aphell was close to the Mayor, and we know he was basically the epitome of evil, right?" Daisy asked.
"Yes," Stone agreed. "He also liked Zutan and Jezzeff, and he is very firm on his belief that Plurri's case shouldn't be reopened."
"Maybe he was part of the original Alliance, too."
"No... Aphell hates the Yizaks, especially Zell. Even if he was involved in something horrible, I don't think it was with Zell. He's too jealous of the Yizaks to ever work with one of them willingly unless absolutely required to."
"Fair enough... But maybe he and the Mayor did something we can actually investigate."
"It's a shame Raffitty's no longer with us. He did an enormous amount of investigating on the Mayor. I'm positive if there was something to find, he'd have discovered it."
Daisy got quiet for a minute. "Let me look into something, Stone. I'll be in touch when I know more."
"Alright... On a similar note, I was informed that Laby just discovered he has a son. The boy was basically raised by Freyst for a while. He might know something useful. See if he'll talk to you."
"Sure. I'm on it." She ended the communication and Stone hoped that her investigation would lead somewhere informative. If Aphell truly was involved in corruption, they needed to know.
DAISY
She wasn't sure how she knew the truth, but Daisy was positive Raffitty wasn't as dead as he was supposed to be. She reached out to his energy and found him, very much alive and hidden away from the rest of the world.
"Hi, Raff," she said. "I'm Daisy. I'm Bartello's. And Hezzo's."
"I'm not even going to ask," Raffitty said with a laugh. "How did you find me, Daisy? I've only been back for a couple of days, and I'm still adjusting to that. I'm regaining my strength before I let anyone know I'm alive."
"I followed your energy because I need to ask you something... Do you know if Mayor Freyst involved Aphell in anything illegal?"
Raffitty raised an eyebrow at her. "You mean like the fraud? Or the embezzling? Or maybe you're talking about the interplanetary sex trafficking ring?"
She stared at him. "Wait... What? Are you serious?"
"Aphell's as dirty as they come, Daisy. He and the Mayor had a circuit of kids they used to trade around... The unwanted ones... Kids in orphanages, kids who were abandoned because they had powers that scared people... Kids in prison. That's where it started, in the prisons."
Daisy didn't know a lot about Raffitty's history, but his tone made his meaning clear. "You're speaking from experience?" She asked.
"My father threw me in jail when I was a kid because I stood up for myself after he'd been beating the crap out of me constantly. The man branded me with his cuff links. He was evil, and I was a fragile kid. I was gentle and a little on the scrawny side." Looking at Raffitty's impressive physique, that was hard to believe, but Daisy didn't question him. "I didn't do well in jail. The inmates knew I was the son of a Senator, and they loved torturing me. I was beaten, and worse, until three of the Rebels who'd been sentenced to life in prison met me. They helped me get stronger and learn to fight, and they ultimately introduced me to Garron, who got me released. Before that, I endured several years of hell at the hands of my father's best friend, the Mayor. He beat me, tortured me, knowing damn well I couldn't stop him. I was vulnerable and completely at his mercy. He could have helped me, but he became my own personal tormentor instead. And Aphell... Aphell would come visit, and he'd do worse than that."
Daisy now understood why Raffitty had beaten the frail old Mayor to death. "I'm sorry," she said.
"Don't be. It made me stronger. As much as I hated him, the Mayor made me who I am. He forced me to turn into someone who wasn't just a victim. The point is, I spent several millennia investigating the son of a bitch and his nearest and dearest friends. I've got a pretty thick file hidden in the underground library at the base in Stone Hollow. There was even more in my office, but obviously, that was destroyed when the base got blown up."
"So the corruption goes all the way up to the head of the Counsel of Elders... Wow, no wonder the Rebellion is a thing."
"The others are clean. Stone's one of us. Jinny's pretty great actually, and Hanry's the least corrupt man I've ever met. Bezzy and Pasha are relatively harmless. In fact, Pasha's been really helpful in getting some of us pardoned over the years. Karlton keeps to himself. He's not corrupt, he's just broken."
"Raff... Will you testify about Aphell?"
"I can't let people know I'm back just yet, and the Elders would just arrest me on sight or have me executed. They know I was the one who killed the Mayor and was part of the attack that day. I won't last ten seconds in front of them."
"Fair enough... But if I go retrieve the evidence-"
"Zell took over the base. It's not safe."
"I have a friend on the inside." She smiled.
"A friend, huh?"
"Maegus, Grayzee, and Branz, so it's actually three friends. I'm sure Maegus can get me the information I need. In the meantime, I'll check the Mayor's office."
"How do you expect to get in there?"
"I've got my own parlor tricks. Thanks for your help, Raff. I appreciate it." She left, heading for the next person she needed to find.
Lex sat outside of a house drinking a can of Coke. Daisy could tell just from his energy that he was Laby's kid. "Hi," she said. "I'm Daisy. I need to talk to you about the Mayor."
"Um... What about him?" Lex asked nervously.
"I need you to testify about whether or not you know anything he did that might show he was a bad person, especially if it involved Aphell. Stone sent me. He's friends with Laby."
"I know who Stone is..." Lex said. He stared at his feet.
"Are you afraid of him?"
"Yeah. But not like everyone else is... Stone sort of has reason to hate me."
"He does?" Daisy was confused.
"There was this party on Eltar, when I was first brought there. The Mayor sort of set the Rebellion up. I didn't understand at the time that it was wrong, but... Well, a lot of people died, and they were innocent. I was pretty freaked out but what could I do? I locked them all in there on the Mayor's order. I thought we were targeting bad people... But women and kids died and I knew that wasn't right. It was too late to stop it at that point. Anyway, Stone and his friends tried to help, and they attacked my labyrinth, so it attacked back... Stone got a serious head injury and his friend Vagris nearly drowned because he got hurt badly and Stone misfired and flooded part of the mansion. They arrested the Rebels for the crime, even though Stone tried to explain they were innocent. The Mayor killed one of them, but the others ultimately escaped from prison. Considering Stone's apparently a Rebel, which I didn't know, I'm sure he's pissed about what happened to them. Laby told me one of them... Calix, I think his name was... Was never quite the same after that. He stopped smiling, which is apparently a big deal. And all of that is my fault."
"I doubt it's your fault," Daisy said, somehow picking up on Lex's history. "You were manipulated, Lex. Stone will understand that. But I need you to testify about the party... The truth should be known so the Rebels can be cleared, and everyone needs to know the Mayor was corrupt."
Lex sighed. "I can't... They'll arrest me."
"I won't let them, okay? Stone will make sure they hear what you have to say and let you go."
"Laby's going to hate this."
"Probably," Daisy agreed. "I'll calm him down."
That was easier said than done. "You want my kid to go to Eltar to talk to the Counsel of Elders? They'll arrest him!" Laby protested.
"It'll be okay, Laby. He needs to do this so the truth can come out, but I'm sure Anise will pardon him. I hear she's been pardoning you left and right for your past crimes as she comes across them." She smirked at him.
"Darcy told me part of Sera attached itself to Anise when she was born, probably to protect her. I guess Sera's being a bad influence. Good to know she still has my back," Laby said with a laugh.
"I'll make sure Lex gets back to you safe and sound, okay?"
He sighed. "Okay. But if they try to hurt him, I'm going to rip them new assholes."
"That's fair." She took Lex's arm. "Come on. Let's get this over with."
Lex testified for over three hours, telling the Counsel everything he knew. Aphell objected to most of what he said, trying to pin all of the Mayor's crimes on him because clearly the boy was a criminal just like his father. As he ranted and raved, Daisy froze his butt to his chair so he couldn't keep standing up in his outrage. That got a laugh out of Bezzy and Pasha, and Anise had to cover her mouth with her hands to keep from cracking up. Even Hanry and Jinnifer looked mildly amused.
Daisy left them alone for a short time to find what she could in the Mayor's office. The evidence wasn't hard to locate once she started looking, and sure enough, the Mayor had left some pretty damning things there. There were financial records, coded messages, and documents with Aphell's name on them. Daisy presented them to Anise with a smile.
Anise looked over the documents with the current Mayor of Eltar before nodding. "Okay... We have enough evidence here to start an investigation," she said. "Go on home for the night, Daisy. You can come back tomorrow. I need to talk to the others."
Daisy knew she couldn't protest. Technically, she had no right to be there. "Okay. Keep me posted, and call me when Lex is ready to come back home," she said. She left the office, hoping things would be handled quickly now that Anise had evidence in her hands.
LEX
He was nervous now that Daisy was gone, but he forced himself to appear calm. Anise resumed the meeting. "Aphell, I'm going to have to ask you to leave the building. We have sufficient evidence to support investigating your activities. You aren't under arrest, but until this investigation is complete, you're being suspended from the Counsel of Elders."
"How dare you?" Aphell demanded.
"We'll put it to a vote," Jinnifer said. "All in favor of suspending Aphell pending the results of this investigation..."
"Aye..." The entire rest of the Counsel voted.
"This is clearly a coup! The Yizaks are trying to force me out of my position!" Aphell objected.
"We are doing no such thing, Aphell," Hanry said calmly as he opened the door for Aphell to leave. "Unfortunately, with the evidence we have, we're required to investigate this matter. I'm certain you understand why you cannot be involved in that investigation."
"I'll have you all removed from your positions! The entire lot of you will be thrown in prison!"
"Goodnight, Aphell," Hanry relied politely. "Get home safely." He closed the door in Aphell's face.
"That was beautifully handled, Hanry," Jinnifer said with a laugh.
"I can't believe he's such a corrupt monster..." Bezzy said, shaking his head.
"I can," Pasha replied.
"Lex... We need to detain you so we can ask you more questions about these crimes you were a witness to," Stone said after a moment.
"You're arresting me?" Lex asked in horror.
"No, we're detaining you. There is a difference," Stone explained.
"Stone," Hanry said, "I don't think that's necessary-"
"We need all of the evidence we can get," Stone said. "This boy may be the only one who possesses that information. Besides, it's not safe for him now. He testified against both the Mayor and Aphell. He'll be in danger the moment he leaves this office."
"He's right," Bezzy said. "Just stay for the night, Lex. You'll be safe here."
"There's a room with a cot you can sleep in. You may not leave the building, or the floor we're keeping you on, for security reasons," Stone said. He led Lex to a room before Lex could fully process what was happening. "There's a restroom down the hall if you need it," Stone said before shutting the door.
Lex looked around. The walls were stark white and had no decorations on them. The cot in the center of the room was the only furniture. It had a single white blanket on top of a white sheet with a white pillow that didn't look overly comfortable. Lex sighed.
"I'm not under arrest? Yeah, right..." He shook his head. "I knew I shouldn't have agreed to this." He was a bit claustrophobic, and he already felt like the walls were closing in on him. He curled up on the cot, trying not to lose his mind in the cell he'd been sentenced to for the night.
He couldn't sleep. He felt tears in his eyes that he refused to let fall as he was reminded of the orphanage and the ways they'd punish him when he misbehaved. He'd slept on uncomfortable cots more than once in that place, in rooms just like this one. Lex felt a bit like a little kid, terrified and trapped.
Hours passed before Daisy appeared in the room. "Come on. We're getting out of here," she said.
"What?" He asked.
"I just found out they locked you in this place... That wasn't part of the deal. You're coming with me. My dad owns a ton of pubs on Eltar. No one will find us if we stay in one of the abandoned ones. He's even sending Tinny to us with food. I'm sorry, Lex. They weren't supposed to do this."
He hugged her in relief. "Thank you," he said. He was shaking and he knew that she noticed.
"No problem." She led him out. They walked out of the building as Stone watched with disapproving eyes.
Hanry seemed much more supportive. "Be safe," he said.
"We will be," Daisy promised. With that, they headed to freedom.
Somewhere along the way, they ran into Maegus. Lex was positive he'd attack him for leaving the Alliance, but instead, he just looked at him in surprise. "It's alright, Lad," Maegus said. "I'm not here for you."
"Did you find the information I asked you for, Maegus?" Daisy asked.
"I did... And now, I have business to attend to."
"Business?" Lex asked.
"Zell has requested a reunion with his in-laws. I'm going to retrieve them and bring them to Earth. It might be a bit of a task... I'm a local celebrity in the village. Everyone tends to stop me and want to talk to me."
"I'll get them," Daisy said. "Bring Lex to Hell House. I'll meet you there."
"Hell House?" Lex repeated.
"It's the name of the pub," Daisy clarified with a laugh. "Don't worry."
"Thanks, Lass. That would be a great help," Maegus said. "Tell Tiktah and Aliese Maegus is requesting to see them. They'll come."
"I will," Daisy promised. She headed off.
Left alone with Maegus, Lex was nervous again. "Relax, Lad. I promise you're safe," Maegus said. "Come on. Hell House isn't that far."
By the time they arrived, Tinny was already there cooking. "Maegus, Lad! Good to see you!" He said, giving him a hug. "And Lex. Welcome. I've got a ton of Earth food, since I hear that's your preference. I figured if Laby would eat or drink it, you might, too."
"Thanks, Tinny," Lex said. He looked at the decor. Demonic artwork and other creepy things covered the walls. "Cozy... I can't imagine why this one closed down," he said dryly.
Tinny laughed heartily. "It mainly catered to the Warlocks and Eltar's darker patrons," he explained. "The rooms above the bar are comfortable, though, and because we were told you'd appreciate it, I've provided a television and a supply of horror movies."
"Tinny... I love you," Lex informed him.
"I get that a lot," Tinny said with a wink. "Thank Daisy. She pulled all of this together for you as soon as she heard they'd detained you. She also handled telling your father... Let's just say that he's not happy. Laby trusts Stone. He respects him... But tonight, he's cursing his name for pulling this stunt."
"Really?" Lex asked in surprise.
"Your dad might be new to having a kid, Lad, but he's already attached. It's classic Laby. No matter how much he tries not to let people in, he starts to care about them very quickly."
Lex tried to process that. He had to admit, Laby wasn't what he'd expected. They hadn't spent much time together yet, but he was willing to give him a chance based on what he'd seen so far. The idea that his father might actually care about him meant more to him than he cared to admit.
He was saved from his thoughts as Daisy returned. The two people with her looked at Maegus curiously. "Hello, Maegus," Tiktah said. "This lovely young woman tells me you wanted to see us. We came, despite the late hour."
"Tiktah. Aliese." Maegus shook Tiktah's hand and kissed Aliese's cheek. "It's always good to see you. There's something important we must do... On Earth."
"Earth?" Aliese repeated in surprise. "Maegus, we've never left Eltar before."
"First time for everything," Maegus said cheerfully. "Come with me. I promise it will be worth it."
"Of course. How could we say no to you?" Tiktah asked.
Lex found the entire ordeal a bit strange. "Tinny," Maegus said. "Lex, Daisy. Goodnight." He led them away.
"What's up with those two?" Lex asked.
"Theory is that Zell put a spell on them millennia ago so he could ultimately prey on their youngest daughter," Tinny replied. "I have no idea why Maegus is bringing them to Earth, but I'm sure there's a reason. They actually used to be pretty great people. Maegus genuinely liked them. They just became empty shells, only caring about their reputation and parties and things... Aliese is still gorgeous, though." He finished cooking as he said, "I'll leave you two to it then. Goodnight!" He activated a portal and left.
"Wow... That was conveniently placed," Lex remarked.
"My father has portals all over his pubs, just in case of an emergency," Daisy explained. "Come on. You've earned some relaxation."
OLLIE
He was having a nightmare, or so he thought. He quickly realized he'd accidentally shadow traveled in his sleep again. He hadn't really had a slip since his powers had first unlocked after Kat died.
The woods were radiating with evil. Ollie had never felt anything quite like it. He watched as a woman stood over a fire, her hair covering most of her face as she chanted something in a language he didn't understand.
The body next to the fire was obviously beyond saving. Whoever she'd been, she was dead now. Ollie saw the way the woman's throat had been slashed and she'd been cut open right down the center of her body. He also noticed that her skin was blue, but he couldn't see her features. The blood was too fresh for the blue tinge to be an affect of being dead for too long. Whoever he was looking at had been Eltarian.
"Rise, my friend! Feast on the souls of the innocent once more!" The woman dancing around the fire proclaimed. She poured what looked like several buckets of blood into the fire as she cackled, apparently having a grand old time.
A form began to appear in the flames. Ollie watched in shock as it turned into a body. After several minutes, it opened its eyes and proclaimed, "Witch... This vessel is excellent."
"I revived him just for you! I thought you might enjoy his form."
Ollie suddenly realized whose body the entity was inside of. "Oh my God..." He whispered in horror.
"He's deliciously evil... And an incubus. He isn't really here anymore... However, his body still craves exactly what I do. Tell me, Witch... Who was he?"
The Witch cackled again. "Tanner, Son of Lord Zedd and Aisha Campbell."
Maddie, Ollie thought. I have to warn my sister! And Taylor. Holy shit... This is bad, this is bad, this is really fucking bad...
He was about to run when the entity in Tanner's body turned toward the shadows that were hiding him. "Witch... We are not alone," he said.
"Oh? Come out, come out, wherever you are!" The Witch called. In a split second, she appeared in front of Ollie without him seeing her move. "Hello there, Little Chosen One!" She said with a cackle.
Ollie summoned his sword automatically. "Back off!" He said, assuming the best stance he could think of to try and get out of this situation.
"You're adorable. That sword won't hurt me, Chosen Red," she informed him. "Nothing can hurt me. Relax. I'm not going to kill you yet." She stroked his cheek with her cold, bony index finger, making him recoil from her touch.
"Who is this child?" The entity wearing Tanner asked.
"Oliver Scott, son of Jason Lee Scott, descendant of Dimitri Scott of the original Chosen," the Witch explained. "He's powerful, but has no idea of his true potential, much like his ancestor."
"He'd make a delightful meal..."
"Now, now, Banlo... That's naughty! We need this boy alive. He's one of the balances. You know if the Chosen are not whole, they'll fail. I like an even playing ground. I want to see what happens when Zell has to face them all. Don't ruin my fun."
"Can't I just have a little snack? I'll leave him alive," Banlo replied.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Ollie demanded.
"My apologies, Boy... I am Banlo, the First."
Suddenly, Ollie understood. "The first incubus... The one who attacked Trini."
"She was one of many conquests, yes." He touched Ollie, making Ollie's head fuzzy.
Ollie! Listen to me! Dimitri said in his mind.
Dimitri... Help me... Ollie thought, desperately trying to cling to his ancestor's energy.
Stay focused. Remember your training. Martial Arts will help you here... Clear your mind. Focus only on the battle ahead. Do not let his touch affect you.
He's an incubus... Probably the most powerful one ever... I don't know how long I can fight his energy, but I'll try. Ollie began breathing deliberately, focusing his mind and remembering everything his father had ever taught him about Martial Arts and meditation.
You know, now would be a great time for my damned talisman to shatter, Ollie thought.
It isn't time yet, Ollie. You don't need it. You can do this on your own, Dimitri said. Be patient and focus.
Ollie forced himself to keep focusing. Soon enough, he sensed the First about to touch him. Without looking at him, he caught his hand in midair. He snapped it at the wrist, breaking it instantly. The First cried out in rage and pain. He tried to attack, but Ollie used his own momentum against him, flipping him onto his back.
Run, Ollie. Go! Dimitri instructed.
Ollie knocked the Witch onto her back instead. She looked stunned for a moment at the fact that he'd actually pulled that off. He put his sword to her throat even though she'd claimed it couldn't hurt her. "The body... Who is it?" He demanded.
The Witch cackled in response. "Very impressive, Little Boy," she said. "You surprised me... Very well. You've entertained me enough to earn that much. She was Joree of Eltar... Bring her name to the Eltarians, Little Boy. They'll know what to do from there." She cackled again.
Ollie, go. Now! Before the incubus gets to his feet! Dimitri warned him.
Faced with no other choice, Ollie dove into the shadows. He ended up in Maddie's bedroom. She jumped in surprise, grabbing a pair of heels and flinging them at Ollie's head before realizing who was in the room with her.
"Ollie? What the heck is going on?" She demanded. She'd obviously been fast asleep.
"Sorry, Maddie. It's an emergency," he explained.
"What happened? Are you okay? You're bleeding!"
Ollie realized she was right. "I'm alright," he said. The cut wasn't very deep. "I shadow traveled in my sleep, Maddie... And you're in danger."
"Me? What's going on?"
"Remember the Witch we've been hearing about? She revived a dead body so the first incubus could inhabit it, and... Maddie..." Ollie sighed.
"Just tell me, Ollie," Maddie said, obviously nervous.
"It's Tanner, Maddie. Tanner's body is alive."
To his surprise, Maddie didn't look scared. "I guess I'll just have to kill it again, then," she said with a shrug.
"Why aren't you freaking out?"
"I already faced that fear. I don't let fear control me, remember? I'm over it. Tanner can't hurt me anymore. I know his weaknesses, and I already know I'm tougher than he is."
"Maddie, this incubus is the real deal. He's stronger than Taylor... Probably even stronger than Zedd. I came here to warn you so you wouldn't be shocked by seeing Tanner and freeze long enough for him to hurt you."
"I appreciate that you're so worried about me, Little Brother," she said affectionately. She hugged him. "I'd be more worried about his siblings. We need to warn them. Luckily, they live here, too."
"I'll handle Taylor. You handle the girls?"
"Sure."
Ollie paused. "Maddie... The Witch killed someone to pull this off. She said her name was Joree. She was Eltarian. Does it ring any bells?"
"No, but there are, like, a ton of Eltarians walking around Angel Grove. I'm sure one of them will know who she was."
"I feel like she chose her intentionally... She was too amused by the whole thing..."
"One step at a time. It's the middle of the night. Text Dad and tell him you're safe, then crash here with me. We can talk to everyone in the morning. After that, we'll talk to the Eltarians and figure out who Joree was."
Ollie nodded. "Okay," he agreed. He didn't have his phone on him, so he took Maddie's and sent a quick message to his father. It's Ollie. I was sleep traveling. I'm okay. I'm at Tanya's with Maddie. I'll check in tomorrow. Then, he moved to curl up in the chair by Maddie's bed.
"Don't even, Dork," Maddie said, rolling her eyes. "I've got a sleeping bag and some extra pillows."
She retrieved what Ollie would need to be comfortable for the night before insisting on tucking him into the sleeping bag. Ollie fell asleep almost immediately, exhausted from his journey and everything he'd witnessed. Thankfully, he managed not to shadow travel as he slept. He needed to rest. He had a feeling tomorrow was going to be a difficult day.