**Hey all! This is a big chapter! I'll be posting this chapter and the next (chapter 51) right after, so you have more to read and aren't left hanging too badly!
Note: This chapter is quite dark, intense, and has strong language, but things will get better in the next chapters! Let me know what you think!**
~Chapter Fifty~
The Heart of Everything
The portal opened up and dropped them into the heart of Hel's castle. Rose looked around in shock as the ground shook even worse than back in Avalon. The castle was crumbling around them, and large stone pieces were falling with the violent swaying from the curse.
Losing no more time, Rose gestured for the others to follow her and sprinted through the hallways she hated; but knew so well. Rose took off towards the dungeon door, with the others following behind her.
Brooklyn had Excalibur gripped tightly in his claw as he ran beside her, Lexington and Akira were beside him, and Demona was on her other side. As they ran through the crumbling castle, Rose knew where to go, and there wasn't time for her to be or feel afraid.
Millions of people were dying from all around the world, and it was up to her to stop it.
Rose skidded to a stop at the door which led into the Chamber of Lost Souls, passed the staff over to Akira, and then wrenched it open.
A horrible iciness blew in her face, and the only way they could get into the dungeons, where the cauldron stood, was through the Chamber of Lost Souls. To Rose's dismay, the curse had awakened their spirits, who were now screaming, shrieking, and violently upset.
"Who is screaming?" Brooklyn yelled above all the chaos. "And where does this lead us?"
"They are the Lost Souls," Rose yelled back, "and this is the only way to where the curse is! Everyone, hold hands, and whatever you do, DO NOT let go or touch the walls. We need to move quickly!"
Terror was etched on everyone's faces, including Demona's, but they didn't have time to argue or question her. Akira grabbed Lexington's claw, Lexington grabbed Demona's, and Brooklyn grabbed onto Rose's, then turned and offered his claw to whoever would connect the chain and froze when he saw that it was Demona's claw he had to grab onto.
They glared at each other for a few seconds, and Rose sighed in exasperation.
"Guys, we don't have time for this!"
Gritting their jaws, they both swallowed their pride and willingly, but unwillingly still, intertwined their talons and connected the chain.
Rose then pulled on them in a single-lined chain and went first through the terrifying darkness. She summoned a ball of fire for light in her free hand and descended the ice-cold stairs, moving as quickly as she could.
The screaming souls were deafening, their powers so dark, empty, and awful, that she knew if anyone stopped, then they would be feasted upon in a manner of seconds. Finally reaching the bottom, Rose wrenched the door open and yanked them all through, slammed the door shut, and cut off the horrifying shrieks.
When Rose turned around to face the others, they looked terrified by what they felt in the numbing and damning pitch-darkness, but there was still no time to explain what they were or make sure they were okay.
Without another word, she took off sprinting through the drastically hot, fire-lit, and lava-filled dungeons towards the double oaked door where the curse lay, and the others took off after her, running on all fours.
The closer they got to the curse, her brain was screaming for her to turn away, but still, she pushed her body to run towards the danger.
She was the only one who could stop this nightmare.
Willing her red-electrified magic to encompass her hands, Rose threw a stream of magic and blasted the doors open.
Brooklyn launched himself from the ground with a roar and barrel-rolled into the room with Excalibur raised above his head, his teeth bared, and his eyes lit up brightly white. Rose skidded into the room behind him, with the others behind her, and gasped at what she saw.
Purple and black magic was raging out of the black cauldron, and the cast-iron base was moaning, groaning, and cracking, struggling to contain its power. And standing in front of it, grinning his awful white fangs maliciously and triumphantly, was Kevin. His coal-black eyes were swimming with the evilest expression- and wasn't the man Rose once knew- but was a true Demon Lord now. More evil and void of anything good than perhaps, even Lord Demetrius was.
"Like it, Rose?" Kevin yelled tauntingly when he saw her and the others enter the room. "I knew you'd see it and find your way back to me, one way or another."
"KEVIN!" Rose screamed, running the length of the room towards him, her electrified- magic filling her hands. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
"I'm fulfilling MY destiny!" Kevin yelled back, holding his arms out. "Your daddy dear gave me a special mission of activating the Curse in case he met an early demise, and it's a good thing he did seeing that you killed him. See, Demetrius didn't anticipate keeping me around initially, but I played him, knowing that he would find some use for me. With the spell he taught me and his power, I have successfully activated the Curse, which has given me immunity from it! With everyone dead, you and I will be the only ones alive in this world, Rose. We can finally be together, and you will forever be mine."
"You're INSANE!" Rose screamed, rage pulsing through every inch of her. "People are DYING, Kevin! YOU ARE MURDERING MILLIONS OF INNOCENT LIVES!"
"Good!" Kevin flashed his white fanged teeth at her. "I can kill the annoying fuckers in one grand and powerful moment. I can't think of anything better or more productive."
Rose balled her hands into fists, hating him when Brooklyn suddenly roared from behind her and launched himself at Kevin with Excalibur high above his head. However, Kevin saw him just in time and blasted him away with his magic.
Brooklyn slammed into the volcano's side and landed dangerously near a cliff, where the lava rivers of the Lost Souls ran through. When Rose saw how close he was, sheer panic coursed through her.
"Be careful! The lava is made up of Lost Souls! If you fall into it, you'll become one!"
Brooklyn looked up at Rose and nodded, acknowledging what she was saying to him when an electrified stream of magic suddenly slammed into her chest and knocked her off her feet.
"ROSE!" Brooklyn roared, watching her crumple painfully against a wall. Pointing his talon at Kevin, he yelled at the others, "GET HIM!"
Instantly, Lexington and Akira jumped to take him on, but Kevin blasted them away with his shields, laughing evilly. Lexington slammed head-first into the wall, knocking him out cold, but Akira braced her feet against the wall and launched herself after Kevin, shrieking.
Kevin, however, held his hand out, magically willed the orbed staff from her claws, caught it in his, and shot the death curse at her in a stream of purple power.
Akira's eyes widened in shock just before her body exploded into ash.
"AKIRA!"
"NOOOOOOOOO!"
Both Rose and Brooklyn's anguished screams echoed throughout the chamber, and Rose felt like she was about to have a heart attack. The rage and grief she felt from losing Akira suddenly fueled her, despite how exhausted she was.
Demona's eyes went red with fury, and with a cat-like shriek, she jumped forward, pouncing like a giant cat past Kevin's streams of magic, and body-slammed him to the ground. Both of them wrestled, snarling, roaring, and grunting loudly, giving both Rose and Brooklyn a moment to shake off their dizziness and re-join the fight.
Taking deep breaths, Rose placed her hand upon her stomach and felt the calm and steady heartbeat of her child underneath its shield. Taking deep breaths, she focused her mind and allowed herself a moment to try and think a way through this.
With Demona and Kevin fighting nearby, and Brooklyn now gearing up to join in again, her eyes went to the shaking cast-iron Cauldron and the vertical stream of violent power that was launching itself up out of the volcano's top.
She had to stop the Curse… but how?
Kevin suddenly roared, brought his boots underneath Demona's abdomen, and launched her off him.
Snarling, Rose shot forward, sending flames and magic at Kevin, but he blasted her off her feet again in a powerful shield. She slammed painfully onto her back, and the impact knocked the wind out of her.
As she gasped for air, a deafening roar erupted to her left, and Brooklyn suddenly jumped over her body, slammed into Kevin, and launched him across the floor. Both of them body-rolled over each other until they suddenly rolled over the edge of the cliff and fell towards the lava river of Lost Souls.
"BROOKLYN! "NOOO!" Rose shrieked, launching herself across the floor, her heart pounding painfully. If he fell into the lava, he would be gone forever- his soul would be as if he had never existed.
Skidding to a stop at the ledge, she looked over and screamed as the two figures continued to fall. It was too narrow for Brooklyn to use his wings, and he seemed to realize it.
Reaching out his claw, he stabbed them into the rocky side and stopped himself, to her great relief, but then Kevin grabbed onto his legs and pulled him down towards the lava even more.
"BROOKLYN!"
Brooklyn's face looked up at her and began to climb, trying to kick Kevin off him as he went, when suddenly, Kevin whipped out a dagger to stab him.
Rose gasped and couldn't watch anymore. Without another thought, she jumped off the cliff to go to him when Demona suddenly wrapped her arms around her waist and pulled her back.
"What are you doing?" Rose screamed, fighting her. "Let me go!"
"Rose, listen to me! You can't! You need to-"
"LET ME GO!" Rose roared, fighting with everything she had to get past her.
"NO!" Demona screamed. "Rose… listen-!"
"LET ME GO! I HAVE- TO- GET -TO- BROOKLYN!"
"Listen to me, Rose! LISTEN!" Demona suddenly backhanded her across the face with all of her might. Rose froze and blinked in genuine shock, but Demona held her gaze desperately.
"I will get Brooklyn, okay? I will help him! You need to stop the Curse! Do you understand me? STOP THE CURSE!"
Rose narrowed her eyes at her slightly.
Would Demona really go and save her mate? The gargoyle who hated her, Brooklyn, and the entire Clan with all of her heart?
Demona seemed to read her mind.
"Trust me!" She begged. "Go! I'll help Brooklyn. You need to find a way to stop that Curse!"
Rose continued to stare at her for a few seconds, then finally nodded and made the hardest decision she'd ever made before.
"Okay."
"Okay," Demona agreed. "Now, GO!"
With tears blinding her eyes, Rose sprinted towards the Cauldron and Curse instead of saving her mate.
Brooklyn was straining to hold himself up on the rocky ledge. Below him, the lava river of the Lost Souls was seeming to melt his skin off, luring him and wanting a soul to destroy, but he wasn't going to be its willing victim.
Stabbing his claws into the cliff, he had stopped his fall, but Kevin then somehow grabbed onto his legs and was now pulling him down towards their deaths. They were sliding downward, closer, and closer towards the skin-melting heat from the lava. Excalibur was up on the cliff, and without any weapon, Brooklyn was defenseless against Kevin, especially in this situation where he needed two claws to keep their weight from falling.
Snarling, Brooklyn looked down at Kevin and then gasped. Kevin had suddenly summoned a dagger from thin-air and had raised it high above his head.
"So, here we are again, beast," Kevin mocked. "Same song, same dance, but, as always, it's a fight I'm going to win."
With lighted eyes and sharp teeth bared, Brooklyn looked down into those black eyes he hated.
"You will BURN IN HEL, Kevin," he snarled. "Starting right here, right now. I'm going to personally see to it that you die and have no more resurrections."
Kevin's black eyes flashed dangerously. "Oh, will you now?" He gestured to the lava below them. "Were you aware that anyone who falls into the River of Lost Souls will forever be destroyed and be as if he never existed?"
Brooklyn gritted his teeth and snarled, "I'm aware."
"Well, then," Kevin hissed, raising the dagger to Brooklyn's face, "since we are so conveniently near it, how would you like to take a swim?"
"You first," Brooklyn snarled, grabbing onto his shirt and bringing him close to his face. Kevin, however, only laughed at him, looking thoroughly entertained by his threat and didn't take it seriously.
"Oh, Brooklyn, I cannot tell you how much I have been looking forward to this moment. With you finally out of the way, I will have free reign to do whatever I please with Rose." He flashed an evil, fanged grin at him and drew his face closer to his. "With you out of the way, I am going to fuck her so hard she won't be able to walk straight, and I'll do it over and over and over again. Then, when she's too weak to fight me, I'm going to cut that precious little demon, you call a child, out of her womb, chop its body into little pieces, and make her watch it die."
Rage burned through Brooklyn hotter than Hel's lava river below them as he gnashed his sharp teeth at him, growling like the beast and animal he was underneath his more human-like emotions and behaviors.
Like the Gargoyle he was.
"Really?" Kevin sneered, pushing him even more. "You have nothing to say to that? Well, then, how about anything you'd like me to relay to Rose while I'm using my cock to...?"
Kevin didn't get to finish what he was saying because all of Brooklyn's strength and will-power snapped, and he saw red through his rage. Kevin thought of him as a beast, and that was precisely what he was about to get-
Opening his long and strong jaw, Brooklyn launched forward with a snarl and clamped his sharp teeth into Kevin's neck- fulfilling the nightmare that Rose once had.
It was a brutal, wild, and animal-like way to kill, but as Kevin's cursed blood exploded out and drained down Brooklyn's throat, it made his death even more delicious to him.
Kevin screamed, beat his fists against him, but was too weak to fight him off. Brooklyn vaguely recalled Kevin's dagger stabbing into his shoulder, meant for his neck, but he didn't feel any pain. Only rage.
With a vicious snarl, he then ripped out his throat.
Blood spurted out of Kevin, drenching Brooklyn. His black eyes were wide, and he was desperately trying to staunch his wounds but to no avail. Spitting his jugular out of his mouth, Brooklyn grabbed him by the face and brought him up to eye level.
"I said… burn in Hel, Kevin."
Brooklyn opened his grip and dropped Kevin over the lava river, watching him free-fall until his body was instantly engulfed in flames.
Brooklyn smiled darkly and felt no remorse for him, no regret or guilt at the horrible, metallic taste of blood draining from his mouth. His greatest enemy would never again haunt him or Rose ever again.
Kevin was now a Lost Soul and was finally dead.
Spitting out Kevin's blood from his mouth, Brooklyn reached across himself, pulled out the dagger from his shoulder, and flung the dagger into the lava river below him.
Turning around, he then stabbed his bloodied claws into the rock and began his ascent. When he heard claws scraping against the cliff above him, he stopped and looked up.
To his surprise, Demona was descending towards him. When she stopped next to him, her eyes went wide as she glanced between the blood from his mouth and the lava river. He did not doubt that she saw what he did to Kevin.
"Did you just…?"
"Rip Kevin's jugular out with my teeth, and throw him into the burning flames of Hel?" Brooklyn asked darkly, still trembling with rage. "Why, yes. Yes, I did."
Demona stared at him some more, then blinked in surprise. Her face softened suddenly, and she said quietly, "I'm so proud of you, Brooklyn."
At her words and tone, Brooklyn growled viciously, wanting to do the same to her that he did to Kevin.
"I don't need nor want your approval," he snarled, then continued his ascent towards the ledge. When she suddenly placed her claw on his arm, he stopped and stared at her with wide eyes. He was much too murderous to deal with her calmly.
"Get... your... claws off me."
"I mean it," Demona said softly. "I know that type of a kill isn't an easy thing to deal with. But I know that you were doing it out of love, so I am proud of you. You've really come into your own, Brooklyn."
"What? I'm now a cold-blooded killer, like you?" He gnashed his teeth at her, snarling. "Of course, you'd be proud of that."
Demona didn't flinch at his snap, as he intended her to, and grew even more irritated when she responded to him gently.
"No, Brooklyn. I'm proud that you've become and grown into a true Gargoyle, one who protects with all of the strength of his heart and endures unspeakable horrors in doing whatever it takes to make sure the ones we love are protected."
"Love…" Brooklyn scoffed at her. "You don't know the meaning of that word!"
"I know more than you may think."
Brooklyn stared at Demona numbly, then scoffed at her again and ripped his arm away from her touch. "Yeah, right. You forget that I know who you are, Demona, and you're only proud of me because I've violently killed someone."
Demona froze, her eyes full of hurt. "That's not the reason…"
"Then, what is?"
"Killing Kevin the way you did doesn't make you a cold-blooded killer, Brooklyn." He froze at her words, at the quiet tenderness of them, and listened. "I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, and yes, I still hold grudges, but I'm working on them. However, bringing Kevin back to life was one thing that I regretted doing. At the time, Hela and I were blinded to our revenge, hurt, and Demetrius's plan for world domination, but as things progressed, we realized just how very wrong we were. Kevin was a monster and one of the worst humans I've ever come across in my lifetime, and I'm glad he's gone. I'm glad you showed him what happens when he threatens a Gargoyle's mate."
Demona paused, then continued, "I heard what he was saying to you, and what sick, unspeakable horrors he wanted to unleash upon her and the child within her womb, and I would have done the same thing to him. Not because killing pleases me, but because it was the right thing to do. Your love for Rose is a powerful one- the most powerful I've ever seen… and I envy you for it. I wish someone loved me the way you love Rose and the way she loves you…"
Brooklyn looked down at her with wide eyes, not believing that she was opening up to him in this way. But Demona didn't pay him any heed. Instead, she hung her head down low and continued to spill her heart to him.
"Killing Kevin doesn't make you a bad or evil Gargoyle, Brooklyn, so, stop beating yourself up over it. He was a demon and a monster and had it coming for a long time. You killed him and rid yourself and Rose from his evil forever, and you did it all to protect her and your unborn child." She looked up at him now, her eyes that of a warrior. Not out of glorious wars and battles, but out of cold, unforgiving, hurt that came from those battles. "That is why I am proud of you. You did a tough thing without hesitation, all because of your love for Rose, your child and because you want the best future for them both. That, Brooklyn, is what makes a true Gargoyle and warrior. Not the way we kill those who threaten the ones we love, but for fighting fiercely and doing whatever it takes to keep them safe from evil and harm."
After her speech, Brooklyn didn't know what to say to her. Part of him was touched that she saw past his walls of hurt and tried to make him feel better, but the other half of him resented every word that came out of her mouth still.
But Rose was right.
He was too quick to judge and hold a grudge. Perhaps Demona was trying to change, and maybe, just maybe, he should learn to forgive her for all the harm she's caused him and his Clan.
Not saying a word to her, Brooklyn turned away from her and continued his climbing towards the cliff, when suddenly his stabbed arm gave out and spasmed. His talons slid from the grip in the ridge, and before he knew it, he was falling towards the River of Lost Souls- towards his death- when suddenly a pair of strong arms grabbed onto his claw.
Gasping, he looked up and was amazed that Demona had caught him, but she was grunting and straining to carry his weight, and her claws were now slipping from the grip she had in the rocks-
The heat from the lava was getting to Brooklyn, but surviving and getting back up to the ridge to help Rose fight the curse was the most important thing.
Shaking off his dizziness and pride, he wrapped his legs around Demona to keep himself hooked to her, then stabbed his good claw out and helped her climb them to safety. Demona exchanged a look at him, but both didn't say a word to each other as they helped each other climb up the vertical cliff, and, although she was a little too close and personal for his comfort, he owed her his life just now.
When they finally reached the top of the ledge, Brooklyn crawled himself and Demona to safety, then laid down next to her, gasping and panting. He wiped off as much blood from his mouth that he could, sat up, and watched in horror at what he was seeing before him.
There would need to be a lot of future counseling for what he did to kill Kevin, but now was not the time to think about it…
Not when the Death Curse was still pulsing and erupting violently, and somewhere in the middle of its power, Rose was screaming at the top of her lungs. Her screams charged through him like an electric wire, activating his protective instincts and their bond, and when he did, he nearly passed out.
Rose was in pain.
Excruciating pain.
It was as if she was being torn apart, shredded, electrocuted...
Brooklyn looked around the room for her, but to his further panic, she was nowhere to be seen.
"Where-" he gasped, turning on his side to look at Demona, "where is Rose?"
"You… you need to help her," Demona replied weakly, holding onto her stomach suddenly and looked to be in unbearable pain. "She… she is speaking to the curse but will need your strength to stop it. If your will… is stronger… you can help give her the strength she needs. She… she needs you, Brooklyn. Stop the Curse!"
Demona's voice suddenly faltered, and before Brooklyn could reach out and try to help her, she suddenly froze into a stone statue, which then burst into a pile of dust.
Brooklyn blinked, and just like that, Demona was dead.
The curse had taken her.
Unsure what he was feeling or why tears were suddenly streaming down his face, Brooklyn shut his eyes, rolled over onto all fours, and looked at the exploding Cauldron. Rose was still screaming, but he couldn't see her. He then looked at the mighty shield of exploding power that the Cauldron had placed around itself, and his eyes widened in horror.
Rose stood inside of the shield and was touching the Cauldron's base. Power was ripping through her long auburn hair, and she was screaming, straining, and struggling against its power.
Brooklyn was weak and didn't know if he could even stand up, but seeing his mate in trouble, he gritted his teeth and would go to her- no matter what it took.
Just then, his eyes caught the shining blade of Excalibur lying nearby, and he knew what he had to do to get to Rose.
With great effort, he got to his feet and charged after it.
From inside the shield she created for herself to help contain the curse, Rose watched Demona launch herself off the cliff after Brooklyn, trusting her to save her mate, before she forced herself to focus on the curse.
Now, standing right next to the Cauldron, she was sure she was dying.
Her father told her that she would be immune to the powers of the Death Curse, but that's not what it felt like. The energy was burning her skin and sizzling past her shields so severely she was sure if she released them, then the curse would destroy her body and leave her soul to be in a ghost-like form.
Straining against its force and the burning pain, Rose reached her hand out and touched the Cauldron of Life's hot cast-iron, and the second she did, pain, unlike anything she'd ever experienced, coursed through her- and it felt like the curse was pulling her soul away from her body.
Ripping her soul apart.
Rose could only scream as the curse burned through every single nerve, and she didn't know how much longer she could last against its powers. Looking down at her skin, she screamed out even louder as her skin began to burn right off of her.
She couldn't last much longer. Even in an immortal's body- she was minutes away from being burned to death.
Speak to it, Anubis had said to her. Ask the curse what it wants. What price it would take to end the curse and reverse its damages.
Shutting her eyes and gritting her teeth, Rose forced her hand to remain on the cast-iron base and all strength, mental, magical, and physical focus and tunneled in on it. And suddenly, just like the Limbo Effect, her mind was tunneled into a terrible, dark, and chaotic world, filled with black and purple smoke- with lightning flashing everywhere- blinding her.
Then, she heard its voice-
Welcome, Daughter of Hel and Goddess of Death. Are you pleased with what you've created? Its cooing voice was terrible, but somehow, beautiful. Violent, yet peaceful.
With every screaming of souls entering its world, Rose could feel it growing more potent, more alive, and natural.
"No!" she yelled into the Curse. "I am not! You were made out of evil purposes and are unnatural! You need to stop!"
Its laugh made her skin crawl, and something like a breath blew on her face. It felt like the heat from the sun and iciness from the universe's eternal vastness all at the same time.
Sorry. That is not going to happen.
Rose gritted her teeth and fought against her weakening magic. "I, ROSE CONNELLY, DAUGHTER OF HEL AND GODDESS OF DEATH, COMMAND THIS CURSE TO STOP!"
It laughed in a hiss. Impressive, most impressive- but not enough to stop me. I am Death, and I am inevitable.
Rose gritted her teeth, still hearing all of the screams of innocent people dying and being sucked away into its terrible pot. She had to figure out a way to stop it- no matter what it took.
"What do you want?" she finally whispered, succumbing to its power. "What will it take for you to stop and reverse all of your damages? To give back all of the souls you've taken?"
The cauldron's pot lurched again, but no laughter came from it.
What an interesting question, but yet, it's such a simple answer. You will need to pay the price, but not just any price. I will need a soul, so precious and worthy, that it surpasses all souls' cost. Then, I shall end and reverse all damages done.
Rose opened her eyes and seemed to see a horrible face within the smoke-purple power in front of her. Breathing was hard to come by, and still, she was thinking hard.
"Name your price. What do you want?"
What are you willing to give me, Goddess of Death?
The terrifying question was so calm, open-ended, and yet, was so deadly. Rose could only think of one thing and had no more time to second-guess her decision. Tears streamed down her face as she shut her eyes- praying Brooklyn would find it in himself to forgive her.
"Me," she whispered shakily. "I'll give you my soul in exchange for all the souls you've taken away. Both mortal and immortal."
Hmmm, yes… yes… that may do. Your body is growing life inside of you, and I sense something else. A bond. A soul-bond to a mate, which is a gift from All-Father Aesir, himself. Hmm, yes. That is a precious prize. Most precious, indeed.
"So is it a deal, then?" Rose gasped through her tears, wishing there was another way but knowing that there wasn't. "If I willingly give you all of me, will you return all souls you've taken away and reverse the damage you've done?"
The curse moved again, burning every part of her. Then, she swore she saw it smile.
It's a deal, Goddess...
Rose shut her eyes so hard it hurt, expecting her to be ripped entirely from her body and into its horrible mouth, but suddenly, a bright light entered her soul, and she knew exactly who it was.
Turning around, the roaring figure of Brooklyn was pushing through her shields with Excalibur's blade. He jumped forward when he was through, grabbed onto her, and ripped her from the cauldron's grasps. They fell onto their backs onto the ground and laid gasping and panting. Rose was in so much pain she couldn't move.
Brooklyn's face suddenly loomed over her.
"Rose!" he gasped, cupping her burned and bloodied face. "Baby… are-"
"I know how to stop it," she cut in and whispered, and he froze.
"W-what?"
"I did what Anubis told me, and I asked it what it wanted." She then looked over at him, shaking in pain and fear. "The curse, it… it's alive, Brooklyn, and is getting stronger with every life it's sucking away. I have to stop it, so… I…" she swallowed heavily. "I struck a deal with it."
"You… what…?" Brooklyn asked numbly, his red skin having patches of char and blood. She didn't even want to know what her face looked like. However, seeing the tears and pain in his eyes, she could only imagine it was horrible.
She then noticed blood around his mouth.
"Why… is their blood all around your mouth and face?"
"Never mind that," Brooklyn said angrily but then paused at seeing her shocked face and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. I um, I killed Kevin and ripped his throat out before dropping him into Hel's flames. That's why I have blood around my mouth."
Rose's eyes widened, but it wasn't out of judgment or fear.
"Is he gone then?" she breathed, and he nodded.
"Oh yes, he's gone. I've made sure of it this time."
Rose instantly closed her eyes and looked relieved, but Brooklyn felt that something was greatly amiss with whatever deal she struck with the Curse. He forced himself to remain calm as he asked, "what does the Curse want?"
"It wants me," she whispered, sitting up and kneeling in front of him.
Brooklyn paled. "What?"
"And I told it, in exchange for all the souls it's taking, then it can have mine."
Brooklyn's entire body froze, and every inch of his face looked to unravel. "No…!" he gasped out, horrified. "No… tell me you..." he balled his claws into fists and then suddenly grabbed onto her arms and shook her. "ROSE, NO! Tell me you didn't-!"
"I did, and I have to, Brooklyn," Rose whispered, caressing his face and trying to calm him down. "The Prophecy speaks of a being who gives their life to save all." Her lips trembled as a sob burst past her lips. "And I've known for a long time that the being the prophecy is referring to is me."
"NO! I WON'T LET YOU!"
Rose grabbed onto his face. "Brooklyn, if I don't sacrifice myself to the curse, then billions of people and living creatures will stay dead. This curse will destroy all life, so if there's a chance to save everyone, I have to do it. I don't have a choice." She paused and then sobbed upon seeing the true heartbreak upon his face. "Don't you see? This fate is what my future has always been pointing to, ever since we met each other. I have cheated death so many times, but now, I have to face my fate. It's my time now."
"Rose…" Brooklyn shook his head, his face twisted in terrible agony, "don't, please, just…" he took a staggering breath, then begged, "stay. Just… stay with me, Rose. Please!"
His words broke her heart, and more than anything, she wanted to stay with him, but if she was going to save everyone from the Curse, she needed to make the sacrifice.
A sob escaped her lips, and all she could do was shake her head.
"I… I can't."
Brooklyn lowered his face, and the heartbreak in their soul-bond was like a knife to her heart. Pulling him to her, Rose crushed her lips against his and kissed him madly, forcing her tongue into his mouth, wanting and needing to touch and taste every inch of him for the very last time.
She didn't care that she was tasting blood, didn't care that they were inches from death- she needed to feel and taste every inch of her mate.
Brooklyn wrapped his arms tightly around her, crawling forward, and molded his body into hers, but Rose pulled away, gasping, and sobbed against his lips.
"Brooklyn, I wish we could have had more time together. I love you more than anything, and I'm sorry! You have saved my life in more ways than one, and even if this is how my life is to end, I am thankful for the time we've shared. I wouldn't have done anything any differently because, despite all the darkness, you've been my constant beacon of light, and I love you with all of my heart and soul!"
Rose then pulled away from his lips, held his claw to her stomach, and both held their child for one last time. Tears streamed down her face as she freely wept, "my only regret is that we didn't get the chance to raise our child together, but that is the ultimate sacrifice that the Prophecy was referring to this entire time. I need to sacrifice myself to the curse and face my fate and must give my all to it. Don't you see? This is the only way we'll save and bring everyone back."
Brooklyn was panting, tears were streaming down his beaked face, but as he stared into her eyes, he cupped her face and seemed to come to a decision. A final purpose.
"Alright, you win."
Rose blinked in shock. "I… I do?"
Brooklyn nodded. "If you're willing to do this to save everyone else we love, then you've made my decision very easy to make." He stared into her eyes with true intent. "I'm going with you."
"What?" Rose blinked, and her heart sank in horror. "Brooklyn, no, I-"
"I wasn't asking for permission, Rose."
At his calm expression and tone, Rose froze and was shocked beyond words, but Brooklyn smiled tenderly, squeezing her hands tightly in his and then held them against his breastplate.
"My love, we promised each other that we would never be again torn apart, and I swore to myself that no matter what, I would follow you, even if it meant crawling into the jaws of death itself."
"But…"
"No," Brooklyn whispered, placing a talon over her lips to silence her, "no buts, I'm coming with you no matter what happens, Rose. I'm not going to live in a world without you in it, and as much as I wish you weren't... you're right. If taking your life away is what the curse wants, and is the only way we can bring everyone back, then we'll do what we need to do. I'll offer you strength, stay by your side the entire time, and whatever happens, you and I will be together. Even if that means we pass onto the next life." He trailed a talon down her wet face and smiled sadly. "I'll follow you anywhere, my love."
Tears streamed down her face, and her voice shook, "no, my love, I-I can't ask that of you…"
Brooklyn smiled tenderly and pulled her face to his to kiss her gently, cutting her words off. When he released her, he whispered, "good thing you aren't asking me to come, then, my love. I'm choosing to do this and will make this sacrifice with you, whether you let me or not."
Rose continued to stare at him in horrified silence, but then, as she stared into his beautiful eyes, she knew this was the way. Besides, even if there was any other way to end the curse, there wasn't time to argue.
Closing her eyes, Rose leaned forward and rested her forehead against his before he met her lips with his in a deep, claiming kiss. Brooklyn kept one claw on her stomach while his other arm wrapped around her waist tightly. He moved his tongue against hers, dancing and pulling on her lips passionately.
"I love you," she whispered against his mouth, "Oh, I love you so much."
Brooklyn shook his head. "Not as much as I love you."
Rose pulled away from him and stared into his beautiful eyes, sobbing.
"I wish there was another way."
"I know," Brooklyn whispered, cupping her face, "I wish so too, but there's not, and we are past wishful thinking." He then used his thumbs to wipe away her tears and smiled at her. "Don't be afraid, Rose."
"I'm not," Rose whispered shakily, then smiled at him. "With you by my side, my love, I have nothing to fear."
Brooklyn smiled gently, brought his face inches from hers, and breathed, "and I'll always be with you, my darling Rose," before he crushed his lips to hers, kissing her madly and passionately for the last time. Their lips, tongues, and mouths danced and opened to one another as their hands wrapped tightly around each other's bodies.
Rose pulled away, and as hard as it was to stop, they knew it was time. Tightening her hand around Brooklyn's, she stared into his eyes for what she knew to be the last time.
"You'll be with me? Even in death?"
Brooklyn's dark eyes blazed into hers. "Especially then, my love."
Nodding and forcing herself to go, Rose shut her eyes and pulled Brooklyn to his feet, then together, they ran into the terrible shield around the curse.
Emerging the second time was worse than the first, as her already burned skin met even more heat, electricity, and pain, but Brooklyn gave her strength and pushed her body towards the Cauldron so that her hand touched the curse quicker. Every part of him was connected to her, filling every weak part of her with his strength and light.
The moment her hand touched the pot, Rose screamed as the power took over every inch of her already fried nerves and could hardly stand. Brooklyn wrapped an arm around her waist, keeping her upright, and took her free hand tightly in his. He also cried out in pain as the curse took hold of their bond and began ripping her soul from her body, but this time, Brooklyn held onto her- not letting it fully take her away.
Ah, the terrible voice cooed loudly, welcome back, Goddess. Have you changed your mind about our deal?
"I have not," Rose gasped, gritting her teeth and panting, forcing herself to remain strong through the pain. Brooklyn was straining behind her but kept an arm wrapped around her waist while his other claw held her free hand.
Oh, and you've brought me your mate this time, how delicious!
"TAKE US BOTH!" Brooklyn roared into the curse's dominion, resting his beak against Rose's hair and straining against the power and burning of his skin. "You want her? Then take me as well!"
A price of three for one purpose, AND All-Father's Aesir's grand treasured soul-bond? How can I resist and say no?
"TAKE US!" Rose cried out desperately, instantly growing weak against the burning pain, and fell to her knees. Brooklyn knelt with her, still holding tightly onto her. "Take us and reverse all your damage! Take our lives in exchange for the ones you've stolen. Do it now!"
The curse pulsed triumphantly, then its terrible voice rumbled through them both and spoke into their minds, through their soul-bond.
It's a deal, Goddess. Give me your blood as a deposit, and then we'll get started.
Giving into its deal, Rose somehow found the strength in her magic to whip out a small, jagged dagger out of her hand and plunged it through the forearm that was glued to the Cauldron's iron base. The same arm Demetrius used to create the curse in the first place.
Screaming out in pain, Rose looked down at the bloody dagger once, then chucked it high into the curse's flow. Hoping and praying that it worked.
The moment her blood touched the curse, the stream exploded and, she suddenly was the curse and the curse was her…
And it was listening to her-
Obeying her.
Her flamed magic encompassed her and Brooklyn, protecting them from the pain and electrifying heat for a brief moment; her eyes lit up bright red, and she gave all she had to speak and control the curse.
"I, ROSE CONNELLY, DAUGHTER OF HEL AND THE GODDESS OF DEATH, COMMAND THIS CURSE TO CEASE AND DESIST, REVERSE THE DAMAGES DONE, AND BRING BACK THE LIVES OF ALL SOULS YOU'VE TAKEN!"
What will you give me?
Rose looked up into the terrible face of death and gritted her teeth. Fury, pain, fire, rage, and power flowed through her. She now was the very jaws of death-
"Everything."
The Curse purred, and so you shall.
A power ripped through Rose and Brooklyn, so terrible and powerful; she was sure she kept dying, over and over again, just for the Curse to bring her back to life to rip her apart again. It was stripping her of everything she had, everything she and Brooklyn were made of: memories, feelings, sensations, and the very core of what connected them, and shattered them into a million pieces.
Brooklyn was roaring, Rose was screaming, and on their knees, they could do nothing but be stripped from everything that held them together, the very reason for their existence. The power of their love was being feasted upon by the jaws of Death and the fires of Hel.
In the madness and pain, vivid memories shot through hers and Brooklyn's mind of all the moments they've shared: to the difficult and challenging moments, to the sacred nights they've shared in each other's arms while in bed together.
Rose gritted her teeth and cried out as she watched the past year of her life fading away- the very reason her life was saved so many times before.
Behind her, Brooklyn held onto her even tighter and then yelled in her ear. "I wouldn't… have… changed a thing, Rose!" He was struggling to breathe, and she could hear the utmost pain in his voice. "You have saved me, and I- I am forever yours! I love you!"
Tears continued to stream down her face, and all she could do was scream in pain. However, his words gave her strength to keep holding on, and his love continually gave her a reason to keep fighting.
As the curse ripped through her, she realized her life had been prepared for this moment to protect the ones she loved. All along, she was meant to rise above the darkness and burn hotter than the fire burning around her.
She was a warrior, a survivor, and she would continue to rise every time she was knocked down. Roaring, Rose forced her magic to explode out of her at full force and used all of her fire powers to counter-attack the curse.
Forcing it to bring everyone back first.
"That's it, my love," Brooklyn grunted in her ear, "that's it! Keep going! Keep GOING!"
Screaming at the top of her lungs, Rose pushed against the curse with all of hers and his might. She was controlling the curse now and could feel herself focusing on willing it to obey her. The souls, which the curse had taken away, were being given back to the world.
It was working.
Shutting her eyes, Rose grasped onto Brooklyn's claw and tried to focus on him and their child, but its little light was flickering within their bond- panicking against its raw energy and deathly powers-
Then, the curse sucked the little light from their bond and her womb.
Rose threw her head back and screamed harder and louder than the curse, and Brooklyn roared out in agony. True vengeance and will-power fueled her now as more fire exploded out of her. She could die now, but still, the curse fed greedily on hers and Brooklyn's souls.
Seconds turned into minutes and the passing minutes felt like hours- but still, the torment wasn't ending.
Rose was growing so weak from the pain, she didn't know if she could hold on any longer, but still, souls were being returned to their bodies, and she couldn't let go. To her relief, Brooklyn was still there, holding onto her and giving all the strength he had left to keep her alive.
But, she was dying. She could feel it in her soul.
"I can't," she sobbed. "It's too… strong."
"No, it's not! Don't give up!" Brooklyn gasped. "Don't… let… it… win! Fight, Rose, fight! I'm here, and I won't let you go!"
Rose shut her eyes, wanting to let go of all the pain, wanting to join her child in death- but then a voice entered her mind. One, she hadn't heard in years.
The voice of her adoptive father, Robert.
Her Pop.
Don't let it win, Rosie.
Rose weakly lifted her head to look up to the sky, wanting to see her Pop's sweet face again, but knew she wouldn't. Instead, she saw that the purple power was lessening from the Cauldron, and its energy was decreasing astronomically but not fast enough. Even with Brooklyn's strength, she was still fading too quickly.
Don't give up, Rose dearest…
Rose sobbed.
It was the voice of her adoptive mother, Evelyn. Then, another voice joined in her mind and filled her with peace and final endurance.
Her biological mother, Hela.
You are my daughter, Rose, and the very powers of Hel flow through you. Use the Curse's powers to become a vessel. You were made for this and are the protector I always strived to be. Join with the Curse's mind, become one with it, and force it to comply. You can do this. Just remember that I love you and will always love you. Thank you for setting me free. Now it's your turn...
Gritting her teeth and listening to the voices of all that loved her, Rose shut her eyes and forced her mind to join forces with the Curse as Hela suggested. Its brutal power erupted through every inch of her, but still, she held on and commanded it.
In her mind's-eye, the curse's billowing purple and black smoke was pulling away from the mortal world, giving all departed souls back into their natural states, and was leaving them with no reminder or memory that they had died. Then, it pulled through New Olympia and all other magical realms until it was finally in Avalon, giving back everything and every soul it had claimed.
Lives were returned to their newly reconstructed bodies; animals were brought back, and vegetation was reinstated to their rightful place. They were almost there; the curse was so close to reversing itself completely.
Screaming and shaking against the curse's power, Rose continued to hold onto it with all the strength she had left and used her magic to push it back towards the volcano and towards the Cauldron. But it wasn't going quickly.
Like a tantrum-throwing child, the Curse screamed, fought against her, thrashing out, and ripping through hers and Brooklyn's souls, making sure to destroy them as it went, but she held every part of it with her magic and mind.
When the curse was being sucked into the volcano, Rose suddenly felt Brooklyn fall at her feet, and without his strength holding her up, she too instantly fell at the base with her hand still glued to the exploding and vibrating Cauldron.
Then, she couldn't see.
The world went black, and she couldn't feel Brooklyn inside her anymore. Her vision flashed between the exploding of the curse and the endless darkness. Then, she heard Brooklyn's voice in her mind, and it was fading away from her-
Rose... I love you… forever…
Rose tried to hold onto Brooklyn's strength and light, to keep him there as the curse settled back inside the Cauldron, but he was fading too quickly.
Sobs escaped her mouth, and never had she felt more alone. She couldn't say anything back to him or even think it, but she longed to tell him how much she loved him. She was the curse, the curse was her, and she could think of nothing else except pushing it back where it belonged and finishing the work.
I love you, Rose…
Brooklyn's voice faded completely, and suddenly, their soul-bond went completely dark and empty.
Rose screamed his name at the top of her lungs and could die now. She wanted to go with him, wanted to let go of all the pain she was in, to run far away from the pain of feeling her mate's soul leave hers, but the curse was mere inches from the Cauldron, and she couldn't let go until it was all over.
Alone.
She was all alone, but she had never felt stronger.
The fire within her, the remaining strength Brooklyn gave her, was all she could feel as she pushed against the curse.
Rose weakly opened her eyes, gritted her teeth so hard she swore she was going to break them. The face of the curse was panicked as she uttered her last words with her last breath.
"I give you… everything."
The curse settled inside the Cauldron, and then-
An explosion rocked through the entire room, destroying everything around her, and sucked every last piece of her soul from her body.
The Cauldron settled, and nothing was inside of it.
No curse.
No power.
The pot was as empty as her soul was.
Rose's hearing and vision went dark and silent, and she wasn't aware of her body anymore but seemed to watch the scene from somewhere above. Hers and Brooklyn's bodies were lying on their sides, in each other's arms. Brooklyn's eyes were shut, and he looked to be sleeping, only his chest wasn't moving, his heart wasn't beating, and their bond was gone.
Brooklyn was dead.
And she…
The last thing Rose remembered was her burned and charred hand limply falling from the outside of the Cauldron. Her body was charred, bleeding, and had chunks of flesh missing from her chest, face, legs, and hands.
The pain…
She was in so much pain, but that quickly faded to her great relief.
With the last strength she could muster, Rose moved her head a few centimeters so that hers and Brooklyn's foreheads were touching and gripped his claw with her hand, holding him and wanting to remain forever next to her love.
Black endlessness sucked her away from the scene as her heart gave out, as her lungs stopped breathing, and her brain shut down.
Shutting her eyes, she exhaled her last breath and knew no more.
**Sorry about the cliffhanger- ONTO chapter 51! Hang in there! **