**Hello readers! Thank you for reading my story!
Just a warning: things are gonna get crazy for a little bit because we have started into the war chapters, so please bear with me as I'm writing out these final chapters. We do have a bit more story to go, and I promise it won't be all war and drama. There will also be some cliff-hangers, so just hang on, and know that I have a plan for this story. It's going to be AWESOME! Seriously, you aren't going to want to miss it. Trust me.
I know this isn't like normal fan-fiction as I have really taken off on my own long story here, but I hope you enjoy what I have written and how this story ends! As always, enjoy, and shine on!**
~ Chapter Forty-Two ~
Arrival
The world had ended, so why hadn't the nightmare ceased yet?
Rose knew that she should be grateful that she was still alive, but instead, numbing terror had taken claim of her as tightly as the chains wrapped around her body.
Her heart broke upon seeing Brooklyn so distraught and trapped. Within his shield, he had collapsed to his knees and was panting from overexertion. They locked eyes with each other for a long moment, both feeling relieved that Hela saved her, but it was a short-lived feeling. Until they could be in each other's arms again, safe and sound, they wouldn't be at peace.
Tears were rolling down his beaked face, and he looked to be in the pits of despair. His eyes seemed to be screaming, and she could tell that he was internally beating himself up. Although they were connected, he was refusing to let her into his mind. Nor did she push him to let her in.
More than anything, Rose wished that she could take all of his pain away and that she could turn back the clock and make it so that they could be back in Manhattan, living as normal of a life that a mated human fae and gargoyle could live together.
But that future wasn't to be. At least, not right now.
It felt like they had to continue to prove to the universe that she and Brooklyn deserved a place within it together, and to do that, she would have to risk her life. However, if that was the only way everyone else she loved could have a peaceful life, then it was worth the sacrifice.
Rose turned her head and looked up at the beautiful form of her mother. The fierce Goddess of Death had stepped through a portal from Hel and stopped Oberon from stabbing Excalibur into her body. She had protected her, but she felt torn about it. Part of her was relieved she was here, but the other half of her still felt angry, hurt, and betrayed.
Watching what was happening now, Hela's glowing red eyes were piercing into Oberon's furiously, and she was standing in front of Rose protectively. Her hands were glowing with the same red power that Rose had been using, but it felt more powerful, deadly, and controlled.
"Still haven't learned your lesson yet, Oberon?" Hela whispered in a very dark but calm voice. "Surely after two-thousand years, you would have learned never to take an unborn child away from the womb of its mother? Such repercussions for doing so are deadly."
"Hela," Oberon gasped; all color had drained from his face. He was staring at her as if he was seeing her ghost. But Hela smiled darkly at him.
"Hello, dear. Missed me?"
Oberon opened and shut his mouth like a gaping fish and was still stunned by her arrival, but Hela took advantage of it and suddenly sent him flying across the room with a blast of her power.
He crashed to the ground on his back with a surprised cry, which knocked Excalibur out of his grip. The sword flew, tip over hilt through the air across the room, and came to a landing at Puck's feet.
Rose watched it fly away with wide eyes, wanting to jump after it, but Puck stared at the sword in astonishment until an idea slowly dawned upon his face.
She wanted to connect her mind with his and ask what plan he was hatching up, but Oberon sat up with a groan, and her attention went back to him. Hela was slowly advancing on him, whipping a sword out of her hand as she went.
Oberon's shock quickly faded into a rage. "I don't know how you got past the shields, Hela… but you are going to wish that you…" he stopped talking suddenly when the Earth gave another sickening lurch and the portal behind Hela pulsed.
"What's the matter, my Lord?" Hela whispered. "Did you not think that we had the power to break past your pathetic shields to come back home and claim what's rightfully ours?"
Oberon scowled at her. "Avalon is not your home, nor is my crown rightfully yours, Hela. It never was..."
Her expression went lethal suddenly. "We'll see about that. But, I wasn't going to stay in Hel and allow you to harm my daughter, nor take away what gift she has inside of her. Not like how you took mine from me." She gripped the sword in her hand and gritted her fanged teeth at him. "For daring to do such a deplorable thing again, your soul is now mine to claim, Oberon. Your demise will be the cruelest kind. My husband and I will see to that, but first…" she paused, then grinned wickedly, "all of Hel is taking siege of your castle."
Oberon's eyes widened in horror, and behind her, the wispy red smoke from the portal was now reaching out like shadowy claws. As if someone breathed into the room, frigid air blew out the pillars' fire torches, leaving the room in total, icy darkness.
Goosebumps trailed up and down Rose's body, but she still couldn't move in her chains as horrible shrieks and a decaying stench filled the room.
Screams of panic ensued from the Children and Asgardians as close to fifty Draugr flew through the portal. One by one, they came in, icing out the room, and were shooting around like shrieking bats.
They were just as awful as Rose remembered. With black, tar-like skin barely covering their skeleton bodies, they wore only rags for clothes, while the higher officers in the Hel army wore pieces of armor.
Draugr landed down on every corner of the room, cutting off all of the Children, Asgardians, and the already shielded Gargoyles. They carried various types of weapons and spears in their claws and pointed them at the Third Race beings.
The Asgardian soldiers stood in a row to guard them, but many of the Children reacted to the Draugr's arrival by activating magic and weapons of their own. The vicious hatred between both types of creatures was apparent.
The Draugr snarled and gnashed their razor-sharp mouths of multi-layered teeth at them. The Lady of the Lake and the Weird Sisters looked terrified, but the trickster Coyote, the Banshee, and an elderly Fae by the name of Grandmother, wasn't.
Instead, they were ready to take the Draugr on.
The Draugr's empty sockets for eyes looked positively gleeful and triumphant at how the tables had turned. But the nightmares didn't end there. The portal pulsed again, and with a flash of bright light, another armored figure stepped through.
Rose's eyes widened in horror at who it was, and rage exploded through her soul-bond. Brooklyn was instantly on his feet again, growling, snarling, and pacing behind his shield.
Kevin was dressed in a similar black, snake-like armor that Hela was but was also draped with every weapon available. His black hair was slicked back, but his tan and handsome face had four angry lacerations across it from Brooklyn's claw.
As he looked smugly around the room, his black eyes instantly found Rose. Seeing her wrapped in iron chains, he grinned his white fanged teeth at her.
"Well, well, well, would you look who it is…" he drawled, sauntering over to her. "My darling ex-wife, Rose, is already chained and wrapped up so nicely for me. How very convenient." He cackled out a laugh in a voice that did not sound like his, and shivers ran down her spine. He suddenly swooped down and pulled her to her feet.
Rose cried out in pain as the chains tightened themselves around her body even more, and Brooklyn snarled out viciously.
"Don't touch her!"
Kevin ignored them both and stared deeply into Rose's eyes.
"Yes… such a traitorous little whore should be chained up. Don't you agree, my Rose?" His hot cinnamon-like breath puffed in her face breathlessly, and she continued to grunt out in pain. The iron chains were not only squeezing her to the point she could barely breathe, but they were burning into her skin, getting hotter and more intense with every passing second. The iron was leaving her weak and her magic dormant. Her head was swimming dangerously now.
"You know," he continued loudly, ignoring her pain, "your father is quite cross about you leaving Hel with your monster lover, Rose darling. He's going to make you pay for betraying him and Hel. If you thought I was cruel to you in the past, then you've got quite the surprise waiting for you. So much so, I don't know if I'll ever get the chance to take you as mine again while you're still alive. Either way, after tonight, you're going to wish you were dead."
Rose gritted her teeth at him, hating him, but didn't dare try to move against her chains anymore. Kevin chuckled to himself, looked up at Brooklyn now, and the amusement on his face grew more pronounced as he smacked his lips.
"Oh… and that's not all, folks! I have a bonus surprise! Rose's gargoyle lover is already locked in a cage, just as his monstrous kind is supposed to be. How wonderful! This must be my lucky night."
"Just you wait, Kevin," Brooklyn seethed with eyes lit up brightly. " Once I get out of this shield and get my claws around your neck…"
"Oh, you'll what?" Kevin asked mockingly, holding Rose against his body now. "Kill me? Snap my neck again?" He laughed cruelly again. "Go right ahead, monster. As the soon-to-be heir to Hel, I no longer can die. If I do, Lord Demetrius will bring me back to life in another body."
"Is that the new shiny and appealing deal he's promised you if you help bring me back into his possession?" Rose gasped out, beginning to see stars in her eyes.
Kevin looked down at her and chuckled. "One of them, yes. The other is still having you as my wife again…"
She tried not to roll her eyes, but that's all she could do.
"Wow. How very original." She gasped in a breath. "Seriously, Kev. Aren't you tired of this game? You only want me…" she took another difficult breath, "because you're too proud to let me win in your sick game of control. That's the only reason you want me. You don't love me."
"Maybe not now, but with what your father has promised me… I do still want you. However, there's a little change in those plans, this time."
Rose narrowed her eyes at him. "What do you mean?"
"He sees now that you cannot fully be Hel's daughter with the light that is inside of you," Kevin explained smoothly. "So, after he destroys Oberon, he's going to use the death curse to get rid of all those you have ever loved. Your clan will die. Your mate will die, and your mind will be his to control. Then, finally, you will be the obedient little wife I have always desired. You and your unborn child will rule this new world by my side."
Rose wasn't expecting him to utter those words. Whipping her head to look at him with wide eyes, she stared up at him in silent horror. Behind them, in his shield, Brooklyn even stilled.
"What did you just say?" She breathed.
"You heard me. But if you're still confused, then I'll allow your father to explain it to you, himself."
"He… he knows about my child?" Rose gasped, horrified. "You told him that I was pregnant?"
Kevin wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly to him. Unable to fight past him, she could only stare into his black eyes, inches from his face, and his face was deadly calm.
"You have no one to blame but yourself, babe," he whispered. "You broke your end of the deal the instant you rejoined to be with him..." Kevin jerked his chin angrily in Brooklyn's direction, who was watching them embrace with horrible jealousy and rage. But he was listening to them as Kevin looked back at her. "Your father now knows about your pregnancy and has plans for you both."
Rose could only stare at her monstrous ex-husband, realizing what he had done and how much worse of a situation this was than just her and her child dying.
"You unimaginable bastard," she whispered.
Kevin smirked at her. "I always get what I want, Rose. One way or another. Surely, you know this better than anyone by now?"
In truth, she did, but somehow, deep down inside of her, she hoped that he'd find some part of his humanity. But, it wasn't there because it never existed.
Before she could retort, a bright light erupted from the portal in the center of the room. They both turned to look at it, and this time, two figures stepped through.
The whole room hushed into silence.
Lord Demetrius, Lord of the Dead, and her father was dressed in black armor and a red cape. A jagged crown was sitting on top of his head, and in his right hand was his orbed staff. The glass ball was no longer empty but was swirling with an ominous black and purple smoky substance.
Next to him was Wraith, his Draugr head guard, and behind them came two more figures. When they stepped through, Rose gasped, and she heard Angela do the same.
Raven, the shape-shifted gargoyle, another trickster from the Third Race, stepped out of the portal, smirking over at his trapped Avalonian kind, and on his left was Demona. She was wearing the same black armor as the others, her wild blood-red hair was the same, and her eyes skimmed the floor, settling on the trapped gargoyles, including her daughter. However, if she was concerned for her or any of them, she didn't show it.
The portal pulsed once more, and the three silver-haired Dark Elf Fates from Hel stepped out, draped in deep red cloaks. Their swirling silver eyes looked around the room and lingered upon their counterparts, the Weird Sisters, who gasped out in horror upon seeing them.
The portal snapped shut behind them, leaving the room in red-hued darkness from the Eclipse, and for a moment, Rose was sure that she was back in Hel.
Demetrius looked slowly around the room. His yellow-amber eyes were gauging what the situation was. When he saw that everyone was either chained up, trapped, or outnumbered by his Draugr guards, he looked positively triumphant. As he approached Hela, she turned to face him, bowed briefly, then stood at attention.
"What do we have here, my love?" He asked in his usual dark and silky voice, though it was lighter and happier than usual. "Did you do all this?"
"No," Hela replied with a grin. "Your dear brother has dug his grave all by himself… as per usual."
Demetrius chuckled darkly, and his gleaming eyes looked down upon his brother. "Ah yes, so he has… but we haven't detained him yet, either. That will not do." He held a hand out suddenly, and with a blast of power, iron chains coiled themselves quickly around Oberon's body. He grunted out, and the iron instantly began to weaken him. Then, unable to fight it, the once proud and powerful Avalon Lord shrunk to his knees before Demetrius.
Watching from within Kevin's arms, as he was the only thing keeping her from falling to the floor, Rose suddenly felt even more afraid than before. Despite Oberon trying to hurt her and her child, she did not want her father to win this war. Her eyes glanced over to his orbed ball on top of his staff, and something horrible dawned upon her.
The swirling purple and black smoke in the orbed glass ball was the Death Curse from the Cauldron of Life, and it was ready for use.
Rose felt sick and was sure she was going to pass out. Having no choice, she leaned back against Kevin for support to keep herself upright and ignored Brooklyn wincing in protest as he watched her do so.
Demetrius lowered his hand and smiled at his restrained older brother. Looking pleased. "There, that's much better."
"Demetrius!" Oberon hissed, gasping out as the chains tightened around his torso whenever he moved or breathed. "You… will not… win!"
But Demetrius raised his eyebrow at him, looking amused.
"Really, brother?" He said dryly. "Are you still blind to reality even with iron chains wrapped around you and with myself standing in front of you as proof?" He gestured to the room using his orbed staff. "I think I already have won, and it's all thanks to you. I didn't even have to do anything here. When the stars were aligned and my time was right to rise from the bonds of death, the bonds you've so kindly bestowed upon me, might I add, I easily crossed into your world using my death curse. But, what did I find when arriving here? The land trembling under your power, your Children in discord, and your kingdom, broken. It's pathetic, really, and quite embarrassing. You, the mighty Lord of Avalon, have failed… so now, it's my turn to take up the crown and lead Avalon." He then turned to the entire room and looked at each mystical Child, Asgardian, and Gargoyle.
"I, Lord Demetrius, son of Mab and Hel, now declare myself ruler of Avalon…" he flashed his fangs at everyone, then pointed his orbed staff at them, "and I say… kneel before me. Kneel before your new Lord and Master."
At this, the Draugr all immediately fell upon their knees, as did Wraith, Raven, Hela, and Demona. Then, Kevin knelt, pulling Rose down with him, and she gasped out loud at the pain.
On her knees, she glanced over at Brooklyn and saw that his eyes were wide with fear. Barely able to get air now, she sent a thought into his mind.
I can't… breathe… Brooklyn… our child. I can't breathe.
Rose shut her eyes, and Brooklyn began pacing behind his shield, trying to find a way out to get to her. But they both knew that there wasn't one.
"Kevin," she began, but he silenced her.
"Quiet, Rose. I want to listen to this. Your father is about to put a smackdown on the creatures you call your friends…"
When Rose looked forward to see what he was talking about, the Third Race, Asgardians, and the Gargoyles weren't bowing before Demetrius, and she hinted at the familiar danger in her father's amber eyes.
"Now, now," Demetrius said in a low voice, walking around the room. "We do not want to have things get messy… now do we? So, I suggest you all obey. I said…" he slapped the staff against the floor, and his magic seeped into the room, "KNEEL!"
The Third Race creatures, the Children, Asgardians, Humans, and Gargoyles, cried out when he made their spines bend into a bow before him, including Brooklyn's.
The room hushed into silence, and Demetrius smiled.
"Good. Very good. Now, is this not simpler?" He asked no one specifically. "Is this not the natural state of the Children, other fellow immortals, mortals, or even Humans?" He glanced over at Elisa, Xanatos, Catherine, Tom, and King Arthur and smiled wider at them in a welcoming way. "You were all made to be ruled by one Lord and Master, and I'm about to share that gift with the entire world."
Some Draugr gnashed their razor-sharp teeth in gleeful anticipation and excitement at his words. Demetrius continued to speak in a low voice, using his staff to walk.
"As you've no doubt heard from my brother or daughter, I have mastered a death curse like the one of old from All-Father Hel. It is so powerful it will cover this entire Earth, taking all of life with it, if I so choose to release it." He walked by a few of the Children, and they looked terrified.
"However," his voice turned soft and affectionate as if he were comforting a small child. "I am feeling merciful and dare-I-say, compassionate upon the innocent and for all of you here before me. I promise that I won't release it recklessly or without cause. Unlike my elder brother here, who scorns and looks down upon lesser creatures with disdain and worthlessness, I see the value in all souls. As a God of Death, believe it or not, I value all life, especially humans and mortals. Why, may you ask? Well, one day, they will all eventually die, and their deaths give me more power. It's a circle of life, a delicate balance that I do not wish to impede upon." He paused from circling the room.
"So, join yourselves with me, obey my new laws that I place upon all the inhabitants on the Earth, and I promise to spare your lives and souls from my death curse. However… all who choose not to join me will then choose... death."
Nobody dared to utter a word.
Kevin was breathing excitedly next to Rose, but she was still struggling to breathe. If she couldn't be free of these chains soon, then she was surely going to pass out. However, before she could, her father suddenly held his arms out to the room and released them all from bowing.
Gasps escaped everyone's mouths and now had control over their minds and bodies again. To Rose's relief, he released her chains as well. They spilled to the floor loudly at her feet, but they left her weak.
Without warning, she fell to the ground, and Kevin let her, but she didn't care. All she cared about was gulping down air and being free from the burning pain the iron caused her.
Rose glanced up at her father but found that he wasn't looking at her. However, Hela was, and despite her stony façade, she seemed highly concerned for her well-being.
They exchanged looks for a moment, then Rose shook her head in disappointment and hung it down low. The Gargoyles were still in their shields, and Hela had brought this nightmare with her. Even though she had saved her from Oberon, Rose was still having difficulty forgiving Hela.
Are you okay?
Brooklyn's anxious voice suddenly rang through her fuzzy mind, making her jump slightly. She felt weak and defeated, but with one glance at him, tears welled up in her eyes, and she shook her head.
His despair at her answer was too much to look at anymore, so she turned back to look at her father- wishing she could fight all of the evil away.
But the war had just gotten started.
Before she could gather up more strength to start or think about fighting, two Draugr suddenly rushed over to her, grabbed her by her wrists, stood her up from the ground, and held her hostage.
Kevin smiled at her, side-stepped away from them, and let them hold her down. Their stench and ice-cold powers seeped into her weakened body and trapped her senses. Brooklyn hissed out a snarl in protest, but still, there wasn't anything he could do for her.
Demetrius took a few steps into the center of the room as the Children were freed from bowing before him and smiled darkly at their relief.
"See how my new world will work?" he continued softly, and the room fell silent again. "I, the Lord of Death, who is capable of controlling all of your feeble minds, instead, gives you a choice to choose your fates and destinies. I have released you from your chains, while my brother often delivered harsh and cruel consequences to those who defied him. Follow me, Avalon, and I will be more of a humble and compassionate leader. However, this paradise we are striving towards cannot come to be without a little bit of… sacrifice first." He looked around the room with an ice-cold eye suddenly.
"I am afraid that some rotten souls who seek to destroy me and my vision will have to be… weeded out. So, I give you all a choice now." He paused again and stood by Hela, so both King and Queen stood before them. "What will you all choose? Eternal life…? Or will you choose eternal death?"
Again, no one dared to say anything, and after a few seconds, Rose wasn't sure if anyone was going to. At their silence, Demetrius's smile turned dangerous.
"No one wants to answer?" he whispered. "Really? I thought it was so simple of a question. So simple of a choice to make…? Surely, you don't want me to make it for you? I will if I have to, but I'd rather not since we know how well that turned out when my brother and mother ruled. Or is a chaotic ruler what you're all used to by now?"
Again, no one answered him.
An intense silence passed by until there was a movement from the crowd. To Rose's shock, the elderly fae, dressed in Native American clothing, stepped out past the Asgardians and faced Demetrius from across the room.
"Ah, Grandmother," Demetrius said, smiling widely. "So good to see you again. As one of the wisest Children, I am pleased by your decision to join me. Care to share your wisdom with the others, and perhaps, encourage them, as well?"
Raven chuckled nastily from the corner, hissing at his natural Fae enemy, but Grandmother didn't pay him any heed as she kept her eyes on Demetrius.
Rose's heart was pounding.
Don't stand up to him, she pleaded with the grandmother, throwing her mental powers out to her as she did with Anubis. Please, he'll kill you! Please…
If Grandmother could hear her pleas, she didn't acknowledge her. When she continued to stay silent, Demetrius chuckled and took a few steps towards her.
"Well, Grandmother? Are you going to say anything, or are you going to stare at me all night?"
Please, don't. Rose continued to plead. Run. Please, run.
Finally, Grandmother did glance over at Rose, and her piercing blue eyes met her amber ones. She smiled a wrinkly smile, a soothing sensation suddenly filled her being, and it felt like she was being hugged. Then her kind voice spoke in her mind.
Do not fret over me, my child. I know what my destiny is, and I know of yours. Do not fear this moment, and do not fear death. Embrace its lessons, fight for all those that you love, and all shall be right in the end. You'll see. Hold onto your soul-bond with your mate and stay close to him. As for me? I must do this. Soon, you'll understand why.
But he'll kill you! Rose sent back into her mind, and she swore she heard Grandmother laugh at her lightly.
No matter how loud the wind howls, the mountain cannot bow down to it nor break. We shall see each other again.
Rose didn't have time to ask her what that meant when Grandmother now spoke to her father.
"Lord Demetrius, your words speak to me as a honey bee speaks to a flower. They are sweet, sugar-coated, and what the flower wishes to hear. However, what the flower doesn't know, at this moment, is that the honey bee is carrying a disease. That diseased honeybee will travel from flower to flower and will spread the disease with it, eventually killing the flowers, then ultimately the entire world."
Demetrius raised an amused eyebrow at her, and Kevin snorted out a laugh under his breath.
"Dumb crone."
Rose gritted her teeth in anger at him, but she couldn't fight past the two Draugr holding her down yet. Their icy darkness had extinguished her fire powers from within her, but if she focused enough on her rage, she possibly could light them up like roman candles, and that's what she planned on doing.
"Thank you, Grandmother, for your words of wisdom," Demetrius whispered, still smiling amusingly at her. "As per usual, they make total and complete sense."
Kevin and the Draugr hissed out laughs, which echoed throughout the chamber.
"I do not fear you, Lord Demetrius," Grandmother clarified. "You speak words that are all too familiar to us. They are the same words and promises your mother of old spoke of, and the same words we've heard from Lord Oberon…"
"I am nothing like them," Demetrius snarled. "I shall be a hundred times the ruler they ever could claim to be!"
"The bear may roar like a lion… but that doesn't make it one."
Demetrius snorted. "Enough with your useless analogies, old woman. If you are not going to join us, then you shall be the first to die."
"I am not afraid of death," Grandmother said softly. "It is a natural part of life and is a part of my destiny. But, just remember, I have known you since you were, but a young lad, Demetrius. You've always been jealous, angry, and filled with hatred for your family name. All-father Hel's powers consumed your soul long ago, but even you cannot escape your destiny. Your mother ruled this land with chaos and madness, while your brother was our saving grace and ruled us for many years in kindness and fairness, but has recently ruled with blind power and control."
She glanced over at Oberon, who was bent over in despair and defeat and spoke to him now.
"However, it is not too late for our Lord Oberon to return to us. Despite all that he's done, or has tried to do, Avalon still believes him to be our rightful Lord."
At her words, Oberon slowly glanced up at her. His thin, blue face was of a broken male- but then hope rose within his eyes. Grandmother smiled and nodded at him, then looked over at Lord Demetrius with more power in her frail figure than what was to be expected.
"However, you, Lord of Death, will never be our ruler. You have captured many innocent souls for your sick, self-serving purposes, including your Queen." Hela jumped at this and stared at her with wide eyes. "Most of Avalon will not agree with me, but I, Grandmother, see past the eyes of the souls in front of me. And I see a powerful Queen whose purpose in being Avalon's protector is not yet unfulfilled. There is still time for her to come back to us, and in these uncertain times, Avalon still needs her protection."
Hela looked dumbfounded at her words, but Rose gasped and stared at Grandmother in shock as a thought dawned upon her.
Oh, my gosh! She's a soul-reader, Brooklyn. Just like me!
Brooklyn didn't answer her, and suddenly, she could feel his anxiety building. He was sensing something coming that she hadn't.
"You, Lord Demetrius, will rule Avalon with darkness, fear, hatred, and death, for that is all you've ever known," Grandmother continued. "Your desperate hunger for control and power will take all of life from Earth, leaving you with nothing to fill the hole within your empty soul. Nothing will quench your thirst, and no sustenance will truly fulfill your hunger. Dark Lord, what you need to do is accept your destiny and fulfill the prophecy. There must be peace and balance between our worlds. Hel and Avalon must become one, once again."
Silence followed her words, and for once, Rose felt hope.
However, a deep rumble of rage and wrath vibrated within her senses and the atmosphere around them. The hope quickly faded away into horror, and her eyes shot to her father. He was standing as still as a statue, but his dark power could be felt among everyone. It was like they had suddenly closed in on a live-wire of electricity.
Demetrius's face was calm, but he was no longer smiling.
"I am fulfilling the prophecy," he whispered. "Avalon will burn as foreseen. I'll personally see to that by being the new leader and Lord of this World."
"We, the Children of Avalon, will follow the Lord of Avalon," Grandmother replied firmly, then shook her head. "That personage, however, is not to be you."
Demetrius's face screwed up in a fury, and then suddenly, he pointed his orbed staff at her.
"Look to your elder, my people. See what will become of her for choosing not to follow her new Lord and Master. For choosing death."
A blast of dark purple light exploded from his staff and the stream of dark magic and electricity encompassed Grandmother's being. Grandmother shut her eyes in peace, crossed her arms over her chest, and then turned to ash.
Rose's scream of horror never left her mouth. Instead, her mind was slipping into madness at what she saw unravel before her. Grandmother wasn't just dead.
But was now a lost soul.
When Grandmother's ashes settled on the marbled floor, the Children came unleashed. Coyote, the Banshee, other elves who had come to fight, and some Asgardians charged at Demetrius with roars of rage.
However, Demetrius didn't stop with Grandmother. He turned around fluidly, like a snake attacking its prey, and used the death curses on them, exterminating them one-by-one in poofs of ash clouds.
Now Rose was screaming in despair and fighting against the Draugr to stop her father. But another scream drowned hers.
"ENOUGH!"
Everyone glanced at the voice, and stepping in the line of fire was Titania. Demetrius pulled the curse back, turned around to face her, and looked her hungrily up and down. Upon hearing his wife's voice, Oberon came out of his daze from the iron chains.
"Titania!" He gasped out, and when he saw what she was doing, he looked horrified. "No, my Queen. DON'T!"
Titania ignored her husband, threw her arms out in front of those Demetrius was destroying, and faced the Lord of Death. Her beautiful face was screwed up in pain and fury.
"I have seen and endured enough of this madness! Your reign of death ends here, Lord Demetrius! You cannot do this! These are our Children! Our kind! If it's the Third Race's deaths you crave, then take me in their place! It's me you want anyway."
Behind him, Hela froze, but Demetrius chuckled darkly and slowly sauntered towards her.
"Oh, yes…" he drawled. "Queen Titania, the Queen of the Faeries." When he reached her, he held out his orb staff and gently grazed the tip of it along her soft, green cheek. "Yes, you are one of the Third Race members whose life and soul I hunger to take, but first, I wanted to show your Children just how real this curse is."
After a moment, he replaced his orb with the back of his hand and continued to caress her cheek. His touch was gentle, and his amber eyes trailed lustfully down her curvaceous body.
"Hmmm… look at how much you have grown into your own, dear Titania. Your beauty, strength, and power have grown with the title you hold, just as your dear sister has. Yes, Hela has served me well these past centuries, especially in my bed. It's a pity you couldn't have stayed in Hel a bit longer. I may have indulged a few fantasies with you both…"
Titania ripped herself out of his reach. "I know what lusts you imagine," she whispered, and Hela tensed up at Demetrius's words. "But you will never have me, nor never be fulfilled by the flesh. And although times are rough right now, my heart will only belong to my Lord and my Master, Lord Oberon." She looked over at her chained husband behind Demetrius and smiled at him tearfully. "Eternally so, I will always be his Queen."
Oberon looked as if he longed to rip out his chains and take her in his arms. Despite all that had been done, she still believed in him and would always love him. Rose now saw that he was no longer the prideful Lord of Avalon, but he was a male with a soft and loving heart.
Demetrius, however, sneered at her. "After all this time, you still carry the torch for my brother? How sweet. However, it is a pity that this newfound strength, selfless nature, and desire to do what's right is now a little too late, don't you think?" He gestured to the room of Draugr, himself, and Hela. Titania swallowed heavily, and though his words hurt, they spoke the truth.
"Yes, it's true," Titania whispered. "I have done so many unforgivable things, but never once did I ever want this." She looked at Hela now and forced herself to remain strong despite her sister's hard gaze.
"I never wanted this. How could I? You are my sister! The only blood-family I have left in this world. We were best friends growing up, and the only thing each other had for a very, very, long time. I realize now what I should have realized many years ago, and I'm sorry that it has taken me so long. I was too proud, too spoiled, and selfish to realize how much you gave of yourself to protect Avalon and me. I did not appreciate how you sacrificed your time to raise and take care of me when mother died. And… I did not realize how much I had broken you when I asked Oberon to take your wings away, just to secure the crown of the Faeries to be mine. I know now that I could have simply asked you for it, and you would have given it all up just to keep your wings."
"I know that there isn't a chance for forgiveness because I did that to spite you at the time, and that was very wrong of me," Titania continued, letting her own tears fall freely. "I was angry and jealous that Oberon had originally chosen you to be his queen when, in reality, you would have made a much better queen than I ever was. Most of my time as queen was spent divorced from my Lord and living among the mortals. I don't blame you for hating me, Helena…"
Hela flinched at the use of her real name, but Titania approached her still.
"I also don't blame you for hating Oberon. He became paranoid that the Avalonians would begin an uprising against him like they did his mother and follow after your example of standing up to him. His intentions were originally not to become like her, but they did just that, and things have spiraled out of control."
Titania stopped in front of her, and Hela didn't seem to know what to do. Her façade was gone now. Tears had welled up in her hazel-green eyes and were threatening to fall.
"I'm so, so, very sorry, Helena," Titania whispered. "I know that this apology isn't enough and never will be. No amount of words or apologies can make what I did right, nor bring back your unborn child or…" she paused, inhaled a sob, then choked out, "Adrian…"
Hela was breathing deeply now and looked like she would pass out, but Titania raised her hands and touched her shoulders.
"But please know that no matter what happens, you'll always be my sister. Even though I don't expect you to ever forgive my Lord or me for what has happened, I…." she swallowed thickly, "I love you, Helena. And I am truly, deeply, and thoroughly sorry for what has transpired between us. For what I've done to you... and for everything else that you've lost."
When Titania stopped talking, Hela's face was the epitome of misery.
Rose was staring between both sisters with tears in her eyes and was desperate to get away from the two Draugr breathing down her neck and freezing her out. She was also desperate to connect with her mother.
"Mother… please, listen to and forgive her!" Rose cried out hoarsely, and Hela jumped at her voice. "She has changed… just as you have. I have seen it in her eyes and can see the anguish in her soul. She regrets what she's done to you and longs to be your sister again!" When she saw the familiar pain and rage in her mother's face, she continued bluntly, "I know what she's done to you, and the raw torment and hatred you've lived with all of these years because I lived it through your memory. But if I have learned to forgive you for what you've done to my mate and me, then perhaps it's not too late for her?"
Hela whipped around to stare at her now, her hazel-green eyes wide with raw and genuine pain. Not just from Titania's words, but from hers. This was the first time she had vocally forgiven Hela.
"Please, mother," Rose continued quietly, swallowing down tears, "it's time to put the past behind you. Let's end this nightmare, once and for all, and discuss things peacefully. I know we can be a proper family again like you've always wanted." Hela's hazel eyes locked on hers, and she offered her a soft smile. "Besides, hasn't there been enough fighting, and pain from losing the ones we love, to last us an eternity?"
Hela looked between Rose and Titania and seemed unsure what to do. Rose could feel the turmoil inside her mother's soul and the desire to change… but then, Demetrius's dark and ominous magic suddenly cut Hela's soul off.
"I agree with my daughter, Titania," Lord Demetrius came up behind her and raised his staff at her back. "It's time to end this fight… once and for all."
Seeing what he was about to do, Rose gasped out in horror, but it was already too late to stop him. A blinding purple light burst out of the orb and encompassed Titania's entire body, and when the light faded, wild screams ensued from everyone in the room.
Where Titania's body once stood was now falling pieces of ash.