**Hey readers! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying my story. Things are winding down here, but we still have a few more chapters to go before the end. I'm excited for you all to see what's coming. Thank you again for all of the support!**

~Chapter Forty-Seven~

A Demon's Fate

Brooklyn and Kevin continued to battle fiercely, hating each other with every vicious attack and counter-attack they took.

Their swords clanged loudly, and sweat poured down their faces as their muscles strained, but Brooklyn refused to give in. No matter how much it hurt or how tired he was, Kevin wasn't going to win.

Snarling, he slammed his sword into his shoulder and sliced through his skin in an explosion of blood.

Kevin roared and pushed him away, but Broadway, Angela, and Lexington joined the fight and began attacking him from every side. Panting, he faced them with a pained look on his face, and Brooklyn smiled darkly.

Kevin was beginning to get tired.

Broadway attacked him next, slamming his sword against his, then shouldered him in the face as Lexington headbutted him in the abdomen.

Grunting and doubling over in pain, Kevin staggered backward, but Brooklyn didn't give him a chance to recover. Leaping forward, he swung his sword from his grip, then punched him in the face. Yelling, Kevin fell upon his back with hands raised in surrender as he crouched over him and pointed his dagger's tip into his neck.

"You are finished," he snarled, his eyes white with rage. "This is where your story ends, Kevin, and this is where I end you, once and for all."

Although he was livid and exhausted, Kevin sneered a smile at him. "Hard to do that without the power of Excalibur."

"I'll manage."

"I've already told you, stupid beast," Kevin spat, gritting his teeth back at him. "I will keep coming back until I have Rose writhing under my grasp."

"You're never going to place your hands upon my wife ever again," Brooklyn snarled and pushed the blade further into his skin. "I didn't enjoy watching you die the first time when I snapped your human neck, but I will very much enjoy watching you die now."

"Your threats mean nothing to me, Brooklyn," Kevin whispered. "Without Excalibur to kill me, I will only come back stronger than ever before. Either way, you lose and will continue to lose."

Brooklyn snarled even more viciously and balled his claws into fists to punch into his face when Rose's voice suddenly joined them from behind.

"And what if we did have Excalibur? What would you say then?"

Everyone whirled around and instantly gasped out her name.

Rose was holding Excalibur in her hand, her fearsome golden amber eyes on Kevin. Akira stood behind her with two katana swords in each claw. Brooklyn sighed out a breath of relief upon seeing that she was okay and smiled as she stepped closer to them, her eyes narrowed fiercely at Kevin.

"How did you-?" Kevin began, his eyes widening. "I knocked you unconscious!"

"Well, all thanks to the resilience you've given me, I naturally get back up when knocked down," Rose answered him, standing in front of him and Brooklyn now. "You are done screwing with me and the ones I love, Kevin."

Kevin looked from her, to Excalibur, and smiled wickedly.

"Rose, my darling, have you learned nothing about me? You can't get rid of me that easily."

"Hmmm, actually, I think I can," Rose whispered, holding up Excalibur to stab into his heart, and Kevin's face instantly twisted into a rage. Then a deep-red portal exploded through the air and encompassed his body.

"NO!" Brooklyn roared, jumping forward to grab onto him to pull him back, but ended up holding onto thin air and falling forward onto his face.

When Kevin disappeared in the portal, Rose slowly lowered the sword and sighed out heavily. Brooklyn slammed his fists into the rocky ground with a roar, leaving two indents in their wake.

"NO! NOT AGAIN!"

Breathing heavily, he rested his forehead down upon his fists, still seething, but Rose stared at him and didn't move forward to comfort him.

Broadway glanced between her and Brooklyn with confusion, then walked up and patted his shoulder awkwardly. "Don't worry, Brook. We'll get him next time."

"Next time?" Brooklyn whirled around sharply to face him. "I don't want there to be a next time. I want to finish Kevin NOW, Broadway! I thought I finished him off once before, but then the bastard came back from the dead! I mean, how many times am I going to fight him, just to have him disappear into thin air?" He stood up now and looked over at Rose, calming down slightly. "I mean, don't get me wrong, my love, I will fight him every time I see him, but… I mean, it's-"

"You're tired," Rose said softly, peering deeply into his eyes. "I know. We both are."

Brooklyn raised his head to look at her through a haze of pain, and she sighed.

"Kevin running away from the fight doesn't mean that he's won, Brooklyn. Not by a long shot. He's a coward, and he'll be nothing but a slimy coward for the rest of his existence. But, his time is almost up. We'll get him, my love. We've come too far not to make him pay for his crimes."

Brooklyn walked towards her and looked her over, and suddenly, something felt amiss but he couldn't put his claw on it.

Rose was wearing the same armor, had the same eyes, face, hair, and other beautiful features, but as he continued to stare at her, something still felt wrong. His eyes ran over her forehead, where he was expecting a wound to be from Kevin's hit, and found that nothing was there.

No blood, no bruising, and no cut.

She mentioned that she had somehow learned to self-heal herself for their child's sake, but he wasn't aware that she had learned to self-heal for her own sake just yet. She usually needed him to do that for her.

Brooklyn raised his claw to caress her face when she suddenly did something strange. She cleared her throat nervously, leaned away from his claw, and placed the hilt of Excalibur into it instead.

"Don't fret over Kevin, my love," she said, not meeting his gaze anymore. "Not when we have bigger fish to fry. Stopping and killing my father is our primary goal."

Brooklyn watched her walk away with narrowed eyes, and when he glanced over at his siblings, they didn't seem suspicious over her as he was, except for Akira. There was a wary look in her eyes, a nervousness, and not once did she meet his eyes since helping Rose.

Something was definitely up, and he didn't like it.

Rose turned to look at him again, her amber eyes meeting his, and looked surprised by his glare.

"Brooklyn, are you alright, my love?" Her tone was light and full of fake innocence, which tipped him off even more.

Raising Excalibur above his head, he slid it into the leather holder behind his back and walked towards her, still not able to shake the strange feeling he was having.

"Just peachy," he answered her dryly. "But, what about you?"

Rose blinked again. "What about me?"

"You've been attacked right and left by Draugr and other demons of Hel and were already hurt and exhausted, then, Kevin nearly took your head off with a spear, knocked you into unconsciousness, and onto the ledge below where I was sure I would have to come and heal you. And yet, here you are, looking completely rejuvenated, energized, and-" he paused, then glanced over at Akira this time, "uninjured."

"I watched her heal herself," Akira immediately said softly, meeting his gaze now, her face calm. "By the time I got to her and found Excalibur, she was already waking up. She was injured and had a nasty laceration on her head. When she heard you battling Kevin, however, she healed herself with her magic and then rejoined this fight so you could kill Kevin with Excalibur." She paused, then sheepishly added, "we weren't anticipating him to flee."

"No, but I should have anticipated that," Rose said heavily, shaking her head. "Kevin is all talk until he meets his match, then he runs into the sewers like a street rat," she paused, then sighed, "this won't be the last we'll see of him, unfortunately. He'll want to regain his insane dominance over me." She folded her arms over her chest and faced Brooklyn, raising an eyebrow at him. "Now, is there anything else you'd like to discuss, my love, or can we get on with our plan to take down my father? We are running out of time."

Brooklyn watched her for a few seconds more, then blew out a breath.

"No, I-" he ran a claw through his hair and shook his head, "I'm sorry, Rose. I let Kevin get into my head every time we meet, and I blame myself every time he gets away! I should have just killed him when I got the chance tonight, but I hesitated, and now I'm pissed off at myself for doing so. I just…" he looked up at her now and exhaled deeply, "I just want Kevin out of our lives for good."

Rose smiled tenderly at him. "You and me both, babe. But, first, we must take out the biggest threat by getting rid of my father and his death curse."

Brooklyn nodded, smiling at her. Whatever strange thing he was feeling would have to wait. He turned to face the others.

"Does everyone know the plan?"

Broadway, Lexington, Angela, and Akira nodded.

"Good." He then faced Rose. "Ready to go, my love?"

"Yup," she answered sarcastically, "I'm just dying to face my father." At her words, Brooklyn's smile faded slightly, but Rose snorted out a laugh. "Relax, babe. I was kidding."

"Right," Brooklyn chuckled slightly but wasn't amused nor convinced. "Well then, let's go." He faced his siblings one last time. "Be careful, guys. Wish us luck."

Spreading their wings, he and Rose both jumped off the ledge of the cliff, leaving the others to watch them fly away. Akira walked towards the edge, watching them go with longing in her eyes.

"Good luck," she whispered to herself in a sigh.

"Yeah," Broadway added heavily from behind her. "They are gonna need it."

Brooklyn didn't say anything to Rose as they flew towards the cliff where Lord Demetrius was stationed. Her mind was closed off to his, and that was more than okay with him. She probably needed space and time to think things through, but so did he.

His claws tightened around the leather straps that held Excalibur, his mind sullen and far away. Below them, all of Avalon was on fire. The battle was still raging, and with the many armored bodies's now laid slain on the fields, it was difficult to tell which side they belonged to.

But he didn't want to think about that.

He couldn't, not as he glided next to his mate, the both of them heading towards certain death. Rose remained silent as they flew, as well, her face focused on their destination.

When they came closer, a few Draugr stood near the Lord of Death, as did two Dark Elves with arrows pointed at them- but amazingly, they didn't fire as they neared the cliff. Demetrius had most likely told them that they were coming.

When they grew closer, Brooklyn pushed himself to be level with Rose. "Just remember to stay close to me," he said in a low voice. "Excalibur is our best chance in taking him down."

Rose nodded but didn't look at him. "Don't worry, my love. I know what to do."

Brooklyn's heart jumped again in nervousness at her words, and something still felt off. Maybe it was because they were risking everything to try and end the war, or perhaps it was because Rose's mind was cut off from his, but he was worried that she was plotting something he didn't know about. Either way, he wished that there was another way to end this war.

A less risky way that didn't endanger his mate or their child.

None of the creatures stopped them as they landed on top of a cliff top's flat plateau. Lord Demetrius's back was to them, staring at the battle below, holding his orbed staff.

Rose's wings fluttered nervously before settling behind her back, but her face was stone cold as she stared at her father. Brooklyn eyed everyone on the cliff very carefully, tightening his grip on the leather's holding Excalibur.

"So, my daughter has finally developed sense and has come when beckoned." Demetrius kept his back to them as he spoke in a low and steady voice. "Tell me, Rose, how does it feel to be the Goddess of Death? Do you feel any different?"

"Not too much," Rose answered him in a dark voice, inching her hands towards the daggers on her belt. "Except for one thing."

"Oh?"

"I am more focused on the soul's around me and can feel when their time is nearing an end."

"Yes," Demetrius drawled, stroking the orb, still not facing them, "that is one of the great burdens of your title, my dear. You'll get used to it."

"Well, guess which demonic creature's time is nearing their end?" Rose challenged, her voice wispy with anticipation. Brooklyn slid his claws towards Excalibur's hilt, watching the hissing and snarling of the four Draugr around him.

"I may like playing games, my dear, but I despise guessing games," Demetrius said in a low and deadly voice, turning to face her now. His amber eyes were swirling like an actual flame, and he appeared more deadly than ever before.

"I'll give you a hint," Rose whispered, then magically whipped out two swords and held them in each hand.

Demetrius's eyes gleamed even more, and a cold laugh fell off his lips. "So, Rose, this is your final decision? Despite everything I have said to you, every possible warning and choice I have given you… you are still refusing to obey me?"

"I know, I am a stubborn child," Rose hissed. "Almost about as stubborn as you are."

"Yes, you are stubborn as well as foolish," Demetrius whispered, walking towards her. "But, I'm through playing games, Rose. This world is now mine, as is your mind and powers! But first, for your continued insolence, I'm going to make you watch everyone you've ever loved or cared about die." He then pointed his orbed staff at Brooklyn. "Starting with him."

"No!" Rose gasped, but Brooklyn instantly unsheathed Excalibur.

"Not tonight pops!" He roared. "I have had ENOUGH!"

Jumping forward, Brooklyn raised Excalibur to take his head clean off, but with a blinding flash of light and raging lightning, Demetrius knocked him away with a lazy flick of his hand, electrocuting him.

Roaring out in pain, Brooklyn was sent flying across the flat cliff and slammed into a boulder, twitching and writhing in pain. The lightning magic fried his every nerve, muscles, and skin. Above his roaring and yelling in pain, he heard Rose screaming his name.

Then, the pain stopped.

Opening his eyes and panting, a red shield was suddenly in front of him, stopping Demetrius's magic from touching him.

"What?" Demetrius gasped and whirled around.

Rose was holding her arm out and producing a powerful shield from her hands. But it was different than the shields she's produced before. They were from the same power and strength that Hela had once been able to produce.

Demetrius snarled out a growl that sounded more animal-like than anything.

Raising his hands to attack her, he suddenly stopped when the Earth gave a violent shudder. They swayed on their feet briefly, and then it was over. Rocks fell from the boulders around them, and everyone froze.

Brooklyn glanced up at Demetrius to find that he was looking upward in shock. It wasn't him that caused the earth to move.

"What the-? Demetrius muttered, then looked over at Rose. "What did you just do?"

"That wasn't me," she replied, as the earth moved violently again.

Just then, a light exploded through the night sky, as bright as the noon-day sun, blinding them all briefly. When the light faded, they opened their eyes to see what it was, and Brooklyn gasped.

Near the Avalonian castle, thousands of creatures were flying towards the battle.

They were strange-looking, ones he'd had never seen before; however, he had studied enough books and legends to know that these creatures had a Greek heritage.

Half-Centaur, half humanoid creatures were standing on flying hovercraft-type machines, while others were Cyclop-creatures in horse-drawn chariots. Others looked to be just like the Asgardians; large, bulbous, and masculine humans the same size as Goliath. Others were snake-like creatures with feathered wings.

Leading the charge, however, was a muscular man the size of his armies. He was wearing a white Togo, brown sandals, and his long white hair was pulled back and went down to his ankles, and on his back… were white feathered wings. The same size wings as the soldiers in his armies had.

The same size and look as Rose's.

Upon seeing them, Demetrius staggered backward- actually staggered- and his tan face paled.

"The New Olympians!"

Brooklyn exchanged glances with Rose, having only heard about the New Olympians before but never met them, and expected her to look confused. However, she looked ecstatic and relieved.

A deep roar followed their armies like thunder, the same time screams from Hel's armies erupted in terror, and cries of triumphant and excitement from their side.

The New Olympians leader held out a staff with an orbed ball, which looked similar to the one Demetrius had, shot lightning, more substantial than even Odin's powers, and took down Hel's creatures by the hordes.

Some of his soldiers broke rank and descended upon the battle- one was a centaur, a human who had flames for hair, and the other a minotaur- and Brooklyn suddenly remembered their names.

Taurus and the rest of his security team descended upon Hel's armies and wiped them out with fire, guns, and other manner of magical-technology.

When they pulled up, the armies descended in full-swing as the leader, Boreas, took charge and continued wiping hordes of Hel's creatures out.

Demetrius was enraged as he stared at the arrival of a new mighty army.

"You've lost, father," Rose suddenly called out, mocking him. "Boreas and his Greecian armies are here- and now with your armies pathetically outnumbered, it won't be long until he or Odin comes for you. Between the God of War and the mighty power that Boreas has, you're going to die." She took a deep breath and chuckled breathlessly, "don't you see? Your entire plan was fated from the beginning."

She approached him, but he kept his back to her, staring stiffly out at his diminishing armies.

"You asked the universe for a price of having the ultimate power of controlling all life and death within your grasp, but it has been too large of a price to ask. The universe has judged you and given you an answer. It has told you no." She paused then whispered, "you have failed, father."

Demetrius suddenly turned, held his hand out, and willed Excalibur from Brooklyn's grasp.

Brooklyn gasped and tried to get up, but Demona suddenly jumped down from the rocks above, grabbed him from behind, and held a dagger to his neck. He tried to fight past her but could only watch Demetrius approach Rose.

"ROSE, LOOK OUT!"

"I have failed, have I?" Demetrius hissed, facing her, and his face was twisted in a demented and wild rage. "I don't think so. I HAVE THE DEATH CURSE! THEREFORE, NOTHING CAN STOP ME! I ALREADY AM THE MASTER OF THIS WORLD!"

Rose wielded swords of her own to fight him, but Demetrius darted as if he had super-speed and caught her by the throat, lifting her in the air with one arm.

"ROSE!" Brooklyn roared, trying to fight, but two Draugr suddenly descended and helped Demona hold him down.

Rose gagged and choked in his grip, and her eyes widened in horror suddenly.

"Stop moving," Demetrius hissed, taking over her mind, and she had no choice but to obey instantly. "I have had my fill over you, Rose." He raised Excalibur's blade to her stomach. "Good-bye, my daughter."

"NO, ROSE, NOOO! NOOO!" Brooklyn roared, his struggling growing more desperate against the creatures holding him down. His eyes lit up bright white.

He had lost Rose too many times to lose her again.

With a deep grunt, he threw all the creatures off him with his wings, including Demona, then launched himself forward to stab his claws into Demetrius with a roar. He had no weapon other than his teeth and claws, but it didn't matter. He was going to kill Demetrius and end things once and for all.

Demetrius glanced over at him, his flaming amber eyes pierced into his brightly lit white ones, and smiled a fanged smile at him as he plunged Excalibur's blade straight through Rose's abdomen.

Brooklyn's entire world had ended, and now he was going to die.

He just knew it.

His eyes widened in shock and horror, and he lost all focus on what he was doing as Rose's scream filled the air. Slamming into Demetrius, Brooklyn took him down to the ground with his teeth snarling and claws raised to maim him, but his attention was now on his mate with his jaw hanging open in horror.

Rose's face had paled, fresh blood was oozing from her mouth, and Excalibur's blade was stabbed clean through her slightly rounded abdomen.

Brooklyn's heart sank and possibly stopped beating altogether. Numbing horror-filled every inch of him instead.

They locked eyes for a moment, and hers were dazed and shocked. They didn't say anything to each other; both didn't dare breathe. Then she staggered backward a few steps and crumbled to the ground.

"NOOOOOOOOO!" Brooklyn launched himself off Demetrius, knocking his orbed staff from his hands as he went with his tail, and scooped her limp body up in his arms. Fresh blood was oozing from her mouth, and she was gasping for air.

"NO, NO, NOOO!" Brooklyn half-roared, half-sobbed. "ROSE! ROSE!"

From the dazed look on her face to how limp she had gone, he knew she was dying. Tears streamed down his face as he held her body close to his and grabbed onto her face.

"Look at me, Rose," he begged, unable to breathe properly. If she was going to die, then so was he. "Babe, look at me!"

She did as he implored, but she was looking right past him. Blood was gushing from her mouth now, and her breathing was gurgled.

"I'm- sorry-" he heard her try to say, but she couldn't seem to finish speaking.

Shushing her, Brooklyn sobbed. "Don't, my love, don't try to talk- I-'' he began, then stopped. He shut his eyes, gritted his teeth, and gripped his claws into fists. The pain was too much, and he couldn't lose her again.

If she died, he would take Excalibur and plunge it into Demetrius's heart before his own. Forcing his mind to focus and not give up, just yet, he suddenly remembered about their soul-bond and connections.

Opening his eyes, he looked down into her face, every inch of him trembling.

"I'll heal you," he whispered shakily, placing his claw on her abdomen- knowing that their child was gone and chose not to process that loss just yet. "Rose, I'll heal you. Hang on, my love. Just hang on! I've got to get the sword out of you first-"

"No… Brook-lyn…" Rose tried to say, but he gripped the handle of Excalibur and ripped it out of her. She screamed so loud he could barely see straight.

Throwing the bloodied sword to the side with a loud clang, he held her writhing body in his arms bridal style and placed his claw upon her chest as she was gasping and screaming out desperate cries.

"I'm going to heal you," Brooklyn whispered hoarsely through gritted teeth, placing his claw on her chest now. "I'm not going to let you go, Rose- I..."

Her blood was spilling through his claw, and he choked on his words—hysteria built in his chest, pressing against his will-power like a breaking dam.

"My love, I need you to fight," he whispered, "don't-" he paused and choked back a sob, "please, don't leave me, Rose. I need you! I love you!"

"I'll never leave you, Brooklyn," Rose whispered, staring into his eyes. "Our love is-" she took a staggering breath, "our love is forever."

Brooklyn wrapped his claw around her hand as his other tried to stop the bleeding in her stomach.

"Keep your heart beating for me," he murmured in her face. "Don't give up, okay? Come back to me. We- we've got a future to live together, remember?"

Rose smiled weakly.

"Isn't this touching?" Demetrius stooped down and picked up Excalibur from the ground and stared at them with cold eyes.

Brooklyn shut his eyes and forced himself to ignore Demetrius and heal her.

He needed her to live.

Forcing himself to relax and touch the soul-bond within both him and her, he searched her soul for it, but-

It wasn't there.

Snapping his eyes open, Brooklyn stared at Rose, panting in a true panic now, and didn't know what was happening.

Her soul-bond wasn't there, and he didn't realize it until now.

It was dark and empty.

When he touched her skin, his claw didn't tingle, nor did any other sensation shoot through his body like electricity.

Brooklyn racked his brain.

Did he not feel her soul-bond because of Excalibur's powers? Or was she seconds from dying, and he was too late to save her anyway?

Looking back, Hela died shortly after being stabbed, but minutes had passed. And although Rose was struggling, she was still alive.

"You foolish gargoyle," Demetrius whispered, advancing on him slowly, raising Excalibur to his back. "Did you think that your precious love could stop me? Rose is going to die… your hybrid-child is dead… and I have Excalibur. There's nothing more you can do to stop me."

Rose clutched Brooklyn's claw and smiled at him. "You can stop him," she whispered to him, running her hand down his beaked jaw once. "Brooklyn, look deep within yourself. Feel our soul-bond… what do your instincts tell you?"

Brooklyn opened and shut his mouth but didn't know what to say. It must have been his eyes tricking him, but her blood wasn't gushing as rapidly as before, and her breathing was somehow stronger.

Yet, their soul-bond was still dark and silent.

He couldn't figure it out. Rose's body was healing- and yet- it wasn't his will or her magic doing it. It was some other magic completely.

Brooklyn blinked in surprise when she spoke to Demetrius. Her voice had strengthened with each passing moment.

"You're wrong again, father. You have lost because..." she shut her eyes, took another deep breath, then looked up at him. "I am not your daughter."

Demetrius laughed coldly, but her words rang through Brooklyn. He was holding her body against his, and yet, he felt nothing.

Then, the truth hit him.

This person- this… Rose… wasn't his Rose.

This was a trick—a façade.

"I know you like to believe that you aren't," Demetrius mocked, "and I wish you weren't my kin, either, for you're nothing but a pathetic disappointment. But-"

"No, I mean it," Rose cut in again, gasping and sitting up in Brooklyn's arms. By now, Demetrius saw her gaining strength and suddenly froze. "I am not your daughter. And that-" she pointed to the bloodied sword, "that isn't Excalibur."

Demetrius's eyes widened, and seconds passed by before he spoke again. His tone was less confident. "I don't believe you…"

"Then how am I not dead yet?" She whispered. "Hela died seconds after being stabbed by Excalibur, but if you haven't noticed it yet, I'm healing."

Demetrius finally realized this and looked furious.

"How?"

"Because I'm not your daughter," Rose repeated. With a smile, her body lit up in bright green light, and Brooklyn's eyes widened as her figure changed into a small male's.

When the light faded, Brooklyn nearly yelped and dropped him onto the ground.

Rose was no longer in his arms, but instead, it was Puck.

Brooklyn couldn't move- he was so shocked. If the Rose who was in his arms, seconds ago, was Puck… then where was his mate?

"PUCK!" Demetrius raged, baring his fangs at him. "What is… what is this?"

"This is called a trick, oh Great One," Puck teased, growing stronger by the minute, his voice witty and light. "I sure fooled ya, didn't I? How does it feel to be outwitted despite your powers and mental shields? I bet you feel pretty dumb, huh?"

Demetrius gritted his fangs at him, clenching his hands into fists, about to explode.

"Where is Rose?" Brooklyn whispered to him, begging Puck. "Tell me, please. Where is Rose?"

But Demetrius's roar of rage and frustration overpowered his whisper. "Where is my daughter, Trickster?"

Puck grinned broadly at him and merely shrugged.

"Behind you."

Demetrius froze as a deafening roar exploded behind them. Brooklyn let go of Puck as he and Demetrius whirled around.

Rose's Manticore beast suddenly jumped onto the cliff, his jaw of sharp teeth snarling and drooling. Leaping forward, he jumped over Demetrius and ripped apart the nearby Draugr, and Dark Elves as Broadway, Angela, Lexington, and Akira joined their fight.

Demona gasped out from the corner and dodged the Manticore, and went to fight them, but Broadway clocked her against the jaw, knocking her down with a painful thud.

Demetrius held his hand out and willed the death curse to fly back into his hands. With the staff in his hands, he readied himself to kill everyone when suddenly a bright red light appeared from above him.

Looking up, he gasped as a figure fell from a portal and landed right on top of him, knocking him onto his back.

Brooklyn's heart burst with joy and light as their soul-bond awakened with a blast of electricity and tingling sensations.

Standing over Demetrius's body, in her human form, was Rose, and Brooklyn had forgotten how different she was as a human. She seemed more delicate, soft, and easily breakable- but he knew now that she wasn't and was quite the opposite.

She was a warrior.

Rose's long brownish-red hair was pulled back into the same braid as before. Her forehead was bleeding from being hit by Kevin, and no longer did she have long, black-feathered wings, golden eyes, and pointed ears. However, her countenance held the same power and stamina that she had in her Fae form.

Brooklyn's eyes looked down her beautifully curvy and athletically built-body and settled on the even more prominent bump than he recalled her having. She was carrying their child a bit differently. As a fae, he could barely tell that she was pregnant, but now she looked to be six months along as a human.

Despite the blood on her face and injuries, her soft skin was glowing healthily, and even more than that, she stood firm, sure of herself, and held her head up high confidently.

She was stunning.

As a Human, or as a Fae, it didn't matter her form. Brooklyn loved her with all of his heart and soul. All he knew was that the powerful human standing up to the Lord of the Dead was his mate. His wife. She was alive, as was their sweet little child within her womb- and that's all he could ever wish or ask for.

Stumbling forward away from Puck, Brooklyn held out a claw to her, wanting to take her in his arms and forever protect her and their child from danger, but stopped. Her hazel eyes were piercing into Demetrius's with the same fire she had before, and in her hands was the real Excalibur. Its blade shone bright white.

"What?" Demetrius gasped, staring up at her with wide-eyes and slight disgust, stammering incoherently. "What is... how are… how are you a human again? How did you-?"

"I followed the basic rules of magic, father, and had a brilliant teacher help me master them," Rose cut in quietly, her voice dripping with hatred. "Portals, Shields, and Shape-Shifting. With you so busy battling Puck, I had my Manticore help me sneak past the armies and right past your powers of mind-control. You didn't see me coming with the real Excalibur because you were too busy trying to kill the wrong me." She then smiled wickedly down at him. "Not bad for a pathetic human, huh?"

Demetrius was beyond words, and all he could do was stare back into her cold eyes. Her smile then faded. Wasting no more time, she then stabbed Excalibur straight through his chest.

Demetrius's eyes widened, his jaw opened and shut, but he couldn't breathe or move. His power began to implode, shaking the rock cliff around them, but with gritted teeth, Rose drove the magical blade deeper into his chest- holding on and not letting it blast her off him.

Kneeling next to his head, she grabbed the top of his scalp and forced him to look into her face.

"That is for killing and hurting the ones I love," she hissed, driving the sword into him deeper, "and this is for Brooklyn…" she then twisted the blade in him deeper, making him roar out in pain. "And this? This is for me! Näkäthish, norheem." (Good-bye, father).

Rose pulled the sword out of his chest with a grunt, then sliced it across his head, taking it clean off his shoulders, and his body went limp. With a disgusted look, she threw his head down to the ground, held her hand out, and willed flames to burst out of them and engulf his corpse.

Magic exploded all around them as pieces of his burning body blasted apart, then suddenly, like oil to a fire, all of his power exploded, and the air crashed like thunder.

The blast knocked Rose off her feet, across the cliff, where she slammed into a boulder and fell roughly to the ground.

Once the light faded, Excalibur cluttered to the ground, as did the orbed staff.

From the ground, Brooklyn shakily raised his head, blinked away the stars in his eyes, and was shocked to see that Demetrius's body was no longer there.

The Lord of the Dead was finally dead.