Howdy all. This chapter is going to be a bit different, but necessary to the story. It's going to give a lot of insight and answer questions that have been on the table since Book Three, Chapter One. We're going to take a little trip back in time, and look at things through another perspective.
MaximumTK, thanks for the long review! Your praise means a ton, and I'm glad you liked the story. The criticisms you gave are valid, and I appreciate you letting me know. I'm always looking to improve this story. An eight out of ten rating isn't bad, so thanks!
On that same point, I just want to say very quick, thank you all for your kind reviews. I know I recently stopped doing the review/response part of the chapter, but that doesn't mean I don't read each and every one of your comments. Thank you, it really means a lot. If you ever have any thoughts or criticisms to let me know about, please feel free!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters (except the OC's) Percy Jackson & The Olympians, Heroes Of Olympus, or Trials Of Apollo. All of that belongs to Rick Riordan.
On with the ninth chapter. A.S = After Scandinavia.
9. My Side Of The Story - Part One
Malachi
(A.S - Day One)
For a long time. Days perhaps, I could not open my eyes.
I stayed drifting in a seemingly endless sleep. It was odd, because I knew I was asleep, but I didn't dream. Not even the slightest hallucination crossed my mind's path.
The pain was the cause. It kept me aware.
My mouth felt like it had been stretched to impossibility, my eyes were watery, my stomach was twisted and tangled in all sorts of ways. I just knew my intestines had been smashed and grinded like meat.
If you do not know me by now, I'm Malachi. This is my side of the story.
I didn't think I would get the opportunity to do this, but I am grateful all the same. I needed this. I needed something to...vent on. Someway to justify the things I did, some way to explain and get the point across that the entire time...my heart broke, piece by piece.
I'm going to start with Day One. After the events in the other Camp.
During the fight, I knew what my father was doing. I've explained before, that when he gets control of you, it seems as if you are watching yourself from above, watching someone else control your body like some kind of puppet. Ouranos was the puppet master, he always has been.
I saw him kill Matt's father. I saw him capture Sera, I saw his new body emerge from my throat, and lay on the ground in a pile of disgusting innards.
How much time passed, I'm not sure. But the next thing I remember is blue sky, and the wind.
I forced my eyes to open, even with the debris in them. Once they adjusted to the environment, I saw blue, and felt warmth all over my skin. I was laying on something solid and rugged, the smell was that of dirt.
I tried to move, but the moment I twitched my muscles, everything stung. Pain coursed through my body, and I slumped back down. As quick as it came, it left. I didn't move for several minutes; I just laid there and waged a war in my brain.
Where's Sera? Was my first thought. Panic was the emotion. I remembered her being captured, so that meant she was here with me. Unless...they kept her, and threw me off into the distance, or killed me. Perhaps Elysium? No, I don't deserve that. But it was far too peaceful to be the Fields of Punishment. Asphodel, maybe?
"S-Sera?" I croaked; my voice barely able to function. A series of coughs and gags came afterward, the burning and sore sensation of throwing up my father surged in waves.
"He's awake! Lord, he's awake!"
Lord? That voice...I recognized it somewhere, but I couldn't place it. My surprise at the fact I was not alone kept me from discerning any tone or trying to recognize it.
"Go to him!" I heard. The second voice was clearer to me, and I could make out that it was much raspier and weaker than the first voice. Whatever spoke was having to use all its strength just to speak.
I blinked a few times, in the seventh blink, a face appeared over me. Dark skin and a bald head, with a muscular frame. It was all I could see, but I knew it was Axel. I'd spent enough time around him to recognize him anywhere. He was...holding something in his arms, cradling it like a baby even.
Axel guffawed, "You were right! Heh, he is awake!"
"Of course you fool! He's going to be very important in the next coming weeks!"
That second voice...and the appearance. It was starting to become clearer and clearer now. As my eyes finally gained their full vision back, I got a better look at the creature in Axel's arms.
It wasn't a baby, no. It appeared more like a fetus. Though the thing wasn't human, it was alien. It had a disproportionate head, bigger than the rest of its frail, skinny body. Its skin was vein filled and slimy, limp and still with its eyes closed. I knew what it was, and I knew where I was.
Doses of adrenaline expanded in my bloodstream, anger filled my throat, and I felt my immobility go away for a moment. I took this moment to jump up and strike the disgusting creature that was my father. I didn't care that he appeared as a fetus, I intended to kill him.
I had no strength to summon lightning, or even a single spark, so I settled with my strength alone. Father trained me at a young age how to kill with the tips of my fingers. It wouldn't work on powerful beings, but mortals? Yes. Right now, father's skin could be pierced by a needle. I was confident that even in my weakened state, I could take him out.
I drew my hand back and straightened my fingers, aiming the tips of them at his neck. I pivoted my hips and put my weight in it, my arm shot forward, very close, I could see his death inches away.
But I was slower than I thought. My anger had blinded me, for a fateful second, to Axel's presence.
He got over his flash of shock and turned his body around to shield Ouranos. I instead hit his bare back, now void of its usual vases of lava.
"AGH!" He shouted, most likely in pain. The force of the blow sent him tumbling forward, I noticed a gash in the middle of his shoulder blades. Hmm, enough to hurt him. In that case, I must make this quick.
Axel sat on one knee, glaring hatred at me. He held Ouranos close to him like precious gem. I stumbled but remained firm and pointed at him.
"I'll give you one chance. Tell me where Seraphina is, and I will make your death painless."
The Son of Hephaestus grinned with pleasure, "You're not going anywhere, pretty boy. Master's going to make use of you."
I seethed, "He will do nothing with me. I am strong enough to kill you both, rescue her, and leave without-" A sudden burst of coughs interrupted my threat. My coughs. I hacked and felt something akin to my chest being assaulted by strings of hay. It induced such a series of coughs; I began to spit up blood.
During my fit, Ouranos chuckled with his new dry voice. "Seems like you're as weak as I am, son."
Finally, the coughing subsided, a headache followed afterward. I winced and held my head, but not wanting to show weakness, I quickly retracted my hand and forced a tougher face.
I took a moment to look around. In the distance, sat a city, and a large red bridge. I lack geographical knowledge, but I recognized the sight immediately. This was San Francisco, California. And the mountain we were on...
"Mount Othrys..." I whispered. "You...killed Matt's father and took us here. You intend to use this as a hiding spot, don't you?"
Ouranos didn't answer, but the chuckles that followed gave me all I needed to know. Remembering the events, remembering my body stabbing Matt's father, killing him permanently, I became enraged. He took that away from him. He killed another parent, just like my mother.
I clenched my fists, "You bastard. I'll save them the time and kill you myself!"
I ran at them, a much slower speed than I'm used to, but my anger made up for my lack of power. For all I knew, they killed Sera too, and that possibility alone was enough to send me to insanity.
Axel's eyes widened with fear, and he froze. He had no idea what to do, he had Ouranos in his arms, and his back turn wouldn't work this time.
"Put me down, idiot!" Ouranos ordered, "Defend me!"
Axel threw the fetus to the side, almost comically. I gained a small satisfaction at seeing Ouranos's new body hit the ground, tumbling and hitting its head on the rock.
Axel caught my oncoming punch and grabbed my wrist. He used the momentum against me and turned me swiftly, lifting me up and ramming me into the side of the mountain, back first.
I bit back the flare of pain and smashed my forehead against his. To no avail, he withstood it, and even grinned with excitement.
"Is that all you've got?!" He taunted and grabbed my neck with his other hand. He shouted, a deep, guttural war cry-like noise, and slammed me to the ground. Taking no pause, he straddled my stomach and began beating my face in with his knuckles.
I had no strength to even move my limbs. My attempts to protect myself with my forearms were futile, as Axel simply smacked them away and delivered several more strikes. I saw blood and saliva fly from my mouth, my lips stung and started to feel much larger. I could barely see; my vision was returning to its earlier blurriness. With each punch, my head bounced off the ground, back and forth, back and forth, forming no doubt a new wound in the back of my head.
"Bleed, Malachi! Bleed!" Axel said, splatters of my blood now littered across his cheeks and shoulders.
If this continued, I wouldn't live much longer. I was even weaker than I thought. I needed something more, something from the sky.
Between the jabs and strikes, I saw glimpses of the sky above, and felt the familiar connection I always feel when I summon lightning. I imagine I am in the clouds, standing on them, and looking at the sun. It doesn't blind me in this imagination, I can look at it for as long as I want.
I thought about the storms, I thought about the clouds and the rain. I convinced myself to let this happen, and my body pushed itself beyond its limits. I could smell smoke, and I felt my muscles tighten. I knew this was my chance.
I gritted my teeth and flicked my finger. The sky reacted, shooting a bolt of brilliant blue light down, straight into Axel's spine.
Axel stopped punching me, his body writhed and shook rapidly, muffled yells of pain escaped his throat. The lightning only surrounded him for half of a second, but it was enough to incapacitate him. His body emitted smoke and he slumped over on his side.
I now felt much weaker than before, my body on the brink of death, even. It sure felt like it. But with him temporarily down, and my father unable to do anything, this was it, my only chance to escape. I would regain my strength and come back for Sera, if she was here. If not, then I would use my sensing ability to find her, no matter how long it took.
I crawled, putting one elbow in front of the other, both knees twisting and forcing me forward. Every tendon ached, my mouth filled up with blood and spit, my head screamed in agony, but my heart told me to keep going.
Despite my freedom, Ouranos only laughed. "You think you can escape? You're weak, Malachi. Even before this, you had no spine, you had no resolve. You won't make it to that cliff!"
His words should've given me more energy, but instead it seemed to drag me down. An invisible weight pushed down on my body, my arms became jelly, and my escape slowed.
"No...no, I will not..." I said, and managed to get to my feet. The edge of the cliff was only a few feet away now. I was prepared to throw myself off or fall limply to the ground if it meant escaping this nightmare.
But I couldn't. All at once, the little life I had faded, and I fell on my face, my arm outstretched just enough that I could feel my fingers dangling over the cliff's edge.
In the matter of seconds, the world fell apart in front of me, my friends moved farther and farther away from me, and reality began to replace them. My ears were aware long enough to hear my father in the background laughing at my failure. I was stuck here, and there was no escape.
(A.S - Day Two)
The next time I regained consciousness, I found myself in a completely different setting.
The area was dark, with only a circle of light in the distance. It was small and surrounded by a tunnel of black. The rocky floor and echoing ambience gave me the impression that I sat in a cave.
I felt something leaning tightly on my wrists, and my arms suspended over my head. I looked up, and saw metal bindings connected to chains, holding my hands in place.
I pulled on them, increasing the pressure with each second. Nothing worked, they were well placed, and I still remained weak. I slumped and gave up, the chains hit the wall and their noise echoed throughout the cave.
The noise was enough to wake a presence next to me. All of a sudden, I felt an aura to my right, faint and dim, but there. Chains lightly clanged and I felt the person turn to me.
"Kai?" It said, high pitched and soft.
I turned so fast that another headache attacked my nervous system, but I didn't care. I knew that voice.
"Sera?"
There she was, an arm's length away, staring at me in disbelief. Disbelief that I was alive.
She smiled; tears threatened to fall from her eyes. "You're alive...y-you are okay. Thank the gods, I feared the worst had happened."
Her white hair was now damp and slightly matted, her usually flawless skin now had multiple small cuts, the fine clothing she wore had dirt and grime on it...but still, I couldn't help but find her beautiful. I always would.
Relief filled me. She wasn't dead, she wasn't dead. Now I can relax a fraction.
"How long have you been in here? Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
She shook her head vigorously at my question bombardment, "N-No, I'm okay. Ouranos rendered me unconscious, but besides that, I have not been harmed. A-And I cannot tell how long we have been here. I would guess two days."
"You've been in here for that long?"
She nodded sadly, "Yes. I woke up bound in chains. T-They wouldn't talk to me, or even look at me." She sniffled and stifled a sob, "I worried endlessly that you were hurt, or...e-even, even killed."
She had gotten better about her stuttering and her anxiety, but now it was emerging once again. She was scared, and by the looks of her eyes, this hadn't been the first time she cried in this cave.
I wanted to reach out to her, embrace her, kiss her, but I could do none of those things. I settled with my voice, trying to make it as soothing as possible.
"Sera, listen to me. We are going to make it out of this."
It fell on deaf ears, she looked fearfully at the edge of the cave, her body trembling now. "Oh Kai...he killed him. He killed Matt's father, he murdered a g-god, and n-now he's going to kill us. He's going to-"
"Sera." I said, "Look at me. Please."
She finally did, and I could tell that the events from the north nearly traumatized her. She had seen Matt's father die, just as I had. Gods rarely perish, and seeing it happen in a physical manner, at the hands of our enemy...was unnerving.
"We will get out of this, I promise you. Ouranos is not going to win, and he will kill nobody else. We will escape this place together."
She still looked scared, but not as much so. A part of her seemed to calm down a bit, and maybe even felt a tiny sense of comfort. She nodded, "O-Okay. I believe you."
"Do you, now?"
The third voice, the voice of my father came from the small light at the end of the tunnel, which I found ironic. Soon, Axel entered our line of sight, carrying Ouranos in his arms once again. This time though, he was wrapped in cloth, like a human infant.
Immediately, Sera whimpered, and tried to back away on her hands and rear, but there was nowhere to run, she hit the rock wall behind her.
I nearly grinded my teeth. The horrifying events had reverted her. When she transformed at her old home to defeat her monstrous family, she had gained confidence, and even a sense of pride. She spoke up for herself more and showed what her powers can really do. But in the face of Ouranos, especially after what happened, all of that was forgotten. This scum seems to take everything away from us. It took years just for her to get over her upbringing, understandably, and just when she was making real development, and becoming more comfortable with who she is...Ouranos trapped her in ice and kept her on that Island.
"Don't be frightened." I told her, glaring at Axel. "They will do nothing to you. They are both weak."
Axel held himself back from lunging at me, and Ouranos just laughed. A horrible sound, it sounded like an elderly man with a coughing disease.
"On the contrary, my dear boy." He chided, "You are right, I won't do anything to her. That is...if you're willing to meet me in the middle on something."
I spat in his direction, but the wad didn't hit Ouranos, it instead hit Axel on the hand cradling his back.
The Son of Hephaestus roared in anger and released one of his hands to punch me in the nose. I felt a sting shoot up my face and felt the back of my head hit the rock wall behind me.
"STOP!" Sera shouted. Her aura flared, and the temperature of the cave got colder within seconds. With just a motion of her head, she summoned a pillar of ice from the wall behind us and thrust it towards Axel.
The ice hit him in the chest and knocked him to his knees. He glared death at Sera and got up to charge her angrily. Weak as I was, I would never let him hurt her, I prepared to draw from my very life force if it meant keeping her safe.
"ENOUGH!" Ouranos boomed, as powerfully as a weak fetus could, his raspy cry rang through the cave, stopping all movement.
"Turn me to them!" He ordered, "I'll handle this!"
Axel growled in frustration but followed the command. On cue, he held up Ouranos like a prize, and turned him so that the fetus was facing us.
I immediately cringed at what I saw and felt my body autonomously back away in disgust. He was even more vile from a full-frontal perspective.
His body, to start, was most certainly alien like. His limbs and torso were very skinny, to the point where bones could clearly be seen in an outline. His head was the only thing with any fat or life on it, being much larger than it should have been. His eyes were a lifeless black, empty of emotion and void of any sympathy. His skin was grey and filled with thin veins, pumping blood, even though he appeared to have been dead for weeks.
Sera nearly threw up, and I could not blame her. I was on the verge myself.
"W-why do you look like that?" She asked, "W-Why are you a newborn?"
To my surprise, when he spoke, his small mouth moved. When he did, I couldn't see any teeth, making his words that much more eerie, in the fact they were so clear and articulate.
"Taking back my energy from that pathetic club of Matthias, I regained my natural power. Alas, it came with a price. Forced to live out the stages of life." He made a distasteful hissing like noise at the fact. "But it will take much shorter than a mortal's aging process. By a year's time, I could very well be a teenager in their terms. But I won't be at my peak until I am gray haired. That was my prime."
So, he was weak then? Interesting. That answers the question as to why he is hiding out. But why on Mount Othrys?
I had many in my head, but I didn't ask that one first. Instead, "Why are we in chains? Why not just kill us, like you did Matt's father?"
I meant it to come off as hateful, and it did. But the words only seemed to delight Ouranos.
He recalled the event fondly, "Oh yes, that. I had meant to kill Matthias, honestly, but taking down that upstart god was quite satisfying."
"Answer the question!" I yelled, trying to push forward, even though I was bound.
A smile upturned on his shrunken lips, "Very well. I have not killed you yet, simply because...I need you, to keep it short."
Sera and I looked at each other in confusion. What?
"You need me?" I scoffed, "For what? To give you milk?"
The comment brought out a flash of annoyance in his features, and I took a small happiness in that. Any chance to make him angry, I would take it.
"Funny." He deadpanned, "But in all seriousness, I do need you. As you've pointed out, and can clearly see, I am in no position to do any fighting right now, or anything useful, really." The area where his eyebrows should've been tightened sinisterly, "So you are going to do it for me."
A humorless laugh escaped my mouth, I looked at him incredulously. "And what makes you think such a thing? As if I would do anything for you!"
"Maybe not. But for her, you will."
On signal, as if it had been rehearsed, Axel got down on one knee next to Sera, and grabbed her throat, igniting a squeal and breath hitch from her.
My lip quivered in rage, "No. Don't involve her in this! Release her!"
Axel smiled wickedly, and tightened his grip on her neck, slowly blocking her windpipe from receiving air. She choked and tried to cough, but it was no use. I could see her face turning blue.
I yanked on the chains wildly, "RELEASE HER NOW!"
"Agree to aid me!" Ouranos said, enjoying this fully. "She only dies if you try anything stupid! Do what I say, when I say it, and nothing happens to her!"
I only saw red. I wanted to strangle both of them and rip their heads off. But I couldn't. My body had been broken, shattered from the inside and out it seemed. I was too weak to kill.
I felt her aura dip in its force. I couldn't take this any longer.
"Okay! I will do as you ask! Now let her go!"
A moment passed that Axel didn't. He looked to Ouranos for instruction, and the fetus nodded. It was clear the sadistic demigod wanted to kill Sera, but he apparently valued his fear of my father over his personal desires. He let her go.
Sera did not make any noise, she just slumped over and tried to catch her breath. I had no idea what they were going to make me do, but if it meant keeping her alive...I might go along with any assignment. The thought was headache inducing.
"Relocate him to the caverns." Ouranos said, "I want him as far away from the outside world as available. When I need him, I will ask for him."
Axel tucked Ouranos in the crook of his arm and walked over to me. With a simple pull on the chain, he ripped the metal keeping it against the rock. My hands were still "cuffed" as the term puts it, but I could at least move.
My arms fell in front of me, and my upper body nearly along with it. Feeling began to return, blood started expanding normally in my arms again.
Axel gave me no time to get up on my own. I felt him grab a fistful of my hair and pull me up forcibly. My feet gained ground under me, and I shook him off of me.
"I can walk myself." I said, but he ignored me. He switched his hand from my head to my shoulder, and pushed me along a path to Sera's right, leading down the dark corridor to a deeper place.
As I went by her, I muttered, "This is not goodbye. I love you."
"I love you too." She said, trying for a smile. But it came off as more of a worried, sad expression. Her blue eyes were still glassy and filled with worry. I could not imagine the hell she would go through in the near future, or the hell I would go through. Ah, but that does not matter, I can endure it, and I may be committing atrocities in my father's name. So perhaps I deserve it. But her, she does not in the slightest.
Axel shoved me hard, "Keep moving!" Making me stumble.
A few more steps, and Sera left my line of sight, even the entrance's distant light faded, and we were left with nothing but a black tunnel.
"Malachi, make a spark for us." Ouranos said in mock politeness. "Axel here doesn't have sensing abilities like we do, and unfortunately he relies on human sight."
"No."
"No? Very well then. Axel, turn around and burn the girl's precious white hair, but don't let Malachi see. The screams alone should suffice to teach him the lesson."
I snarled, "Don't! Do not...fine, okay. I'll try, just don't touch her!"
"I want to see that spark." He ordered.
I brought up my hands, the chains that held them clanged. My fingers were free enough that I could summon a small amount of electricity, if I was able. Presently, I felt completely drained, no energy whatsoever. I doubted I could summon a puff of smoke, let alone a spark of lightning.
But I tried anyway, for the sake of Sera. I know my father, and I know his threats are serious. He would easily have Axel burn her skin, or her hair, or even do worse to her. I had no doubt in my mind.
I concentrated and dug down in the very depths of my body to summon the power. Maybe even using some of my life force, I was not sure. I snapped my fingers, and felt my body weaken even more. But the result, a tiny coil of electricity between my middle and index finger.
Ouranos's chuckle ignited hatred in my body, even more so than what was already there. Perhaps I would explode from the overload of my bloodlust soon.
"See, now was that so hard?" He asked, "More compromises like this, and the girl will be well taken care of."
I said nothing, and led them down the path, my small light giving just enough for us to see our next steps.
Finally, after a few more minutes, we came upon a very large cavern. All along the roof and walls were jagged spikes, pillars of rocks, and several layers of unidentified gems. In the middle stood a circular platform with two...strange posts on the side. I couldn't make out their purpose just yet, but they were level with my height...so that did not give me high hopes for their use.
The worst part though, was not even that. No, it was the magma.
I say magma, because there is a distinction. I am not well educated in science, but one thing I do know, is that there is a difference between magma and lava. Magma is underground, and lava is just magma that has reached the surface and left wherever it inhabited.
But this makes no sense. This wasn't a volcano, yet surrounding the platform was a lake of the fiery substance. For a circumference of a hundred meters I'd say, no place to get across, except for a narrow path leading straight to the platform. This was designed, somehow. This did not form naturally.
"This is your new home." Ouranos said, "Well, more like your new prison, if I'm being honest. Notice the magma sitting all around the center platform, offering little running room. And the posts on opposite ends of the platform. Let's go there now."
We walked forward along the narrow path, just enough room for us to walk. It became clear to me that Axel summoned the magma into this place, either by creating it or throwing it in. And the platform was designed to hold me. I'm guessing those posts are where my hands will be kept.
We arrived at the center platform, where I got a better look at the posts. Sure enough, they stood a little lower than me, with a cylindrical stem and square shaped boards at the top. In the middle of those boards, sat a carved-out space, just large enough for my hands to fit through. However, this was no simple trap. In the holes, protruding from the wood, were a series of spikes, designed to stab my wrists if I were to move.
Looking closer at them, they were not ordinary, and they didn't look like anything lumber-produced. They appeared...shiny, and almost royal.
I reached out with my aura sense and felt each one of them. To my horror, they each were imbued with chaotic energy, trapped inside like a fossil.
I turned to Ouranos, my eyes wide. "You can't be serious. Heavenly Diamond...you are going to keep me here with that cursed metal?"
"It's the only way I can be sure." He said, his black eyes drifting back and forth from the Diamond, admiring it while talking to me. "One sudden move, and you pierce a vein on the deadliest material in the world. One cut assures your erasure, so I wouldn't try to escape."
I gestured to the lake of magma, "Then what's that for?"
Axel snickered, "To keep you nice and warm."
This was my world now. Both of us, back in the hands of my father. This could not be worse of a situation.
Almost in defeat, I stood in between the posts, and stuck my hands through. They fit all the way to my wrists before my arms straightened to their limit, and the Heavenly Diamond spikes began poking me. I could already feel their chaotic energy threatening me. The sheer contact of it nearly brought me to my knees, but I knew I would have to remain standing, keep my arms perfectly still so I didn't cease to exist.
Ouranos seemed pleased with this, "There. That is perfect. Now, you wait until I need you, which may be sooner, or later, than you think." He chuckled, "And that's the best part! You don't know which it is!"
Axel smiled at me and waved, carrying Ouranos with him as he walked towards the small opening. Soon, they disappeared, and I was left alone.
Alone. With my thoughts, my loathing thoughts.
If I had only saw this coming. If I had been strong enough to fully resist him in Scandinavia, then none of this would have happened. Sera wouldn't have been put in danger, Matt's father wouldn't have been killed, and we would have won.
I lost that battle, for all of us. It was my fault. I would never forgive myself for that.
The only thing that kept me from slicing my own hand with the Heavenly Diamond and ending my life, was the thought of Sera, and the thought of seeing my father die. I could never leave her in this place or have her be sad over my death. I never really understood why she loved me, or her fondness of me, seeing that I am not worthy of it. But she feels that way, and I know she wouldn't want me to take the "easy" way out, as Talon called it.
Talon. Oh, my friend. Another person I do not wish to disappoint, or to think I am dead.
He is my closest friend. As different as we are, I think of him as my brother.
And I failed him. I failed all of them.
I hung my head and closed my eyes, but I did not go to sleep.
(A.S - Day Twenty-Three)
Nearly three weeks had passed before I was freed.
Three weeks, I stood in my prison of Heavenly Diamond and magma. My entire body began to scream for relief after the first day, my arms were numb at this point, being held in the same position for so long. I had long figured my blood would simply burst from my eyeballs, the pressure and heat were so intense. I had enhanced durability, but the toll of hosting my father took its course on me and depleted nearly all of my power. I was basically a normal person for a period of time.
Every day, Axel would walk into the cavern, and feed me both ambrosia and nectar. Where my father got so much of the godly substance, I had no idea. But every day, I would get one meal of it. A small square block of the food, and a sip of the drink. I lived solely on this. No bread, no meat, nothing. Just godly nourishment.
I could see what my father was doing. He was trying to make me stronger and bring me back to health much quicker. It was working. Two weeks in, I felt like I did before, in terms of fighting and my combat aura. But as far as my lifeforce, I couldn't be lower.
Sure, being on this diet has probably made me more powerful than I was even in my prime, but what many people don't know, is that ambrosia and nectar only feed your godly side. In my case, my Primordial side. But your human side, well, that requires a different kind of supplement. My mind still craved the food from camp, my stomach, while full, still starved for the variety that I had been used to for a year's time.
I was stronger, but at the same time, weaker. If that makes sense.
None of this changed my mental state. I never once thought that this power would grant me an escape, at least from this prison. I could do nothing with Heavenly Diamond against my skin, no matter how strong I became, so there was no point. On top of not seeing Sera, getting no answer from Axel on how she was doing, I felt depressed. Cut off from everything, just like before, when I was a child.
Finally, a shadow emerged.
I looked up, in between my now longer hair in my face, and saw a large shadowy figure walking to the opening.
Nothing different. It was Axel. I slumped my head back down. He was feeding me for the day. Every time he would, he would extend this bowl on a stick and shove it in my face. I was forced to eat like an animal.
He made it in front of me, but this time, no bowl. What?
"What do you want?"
He smirked and studied me for a while, "You've really changed. Almost look like a man now."
I frowned and glared at him, "What does that mean? Can you not tell the difference between genders, fool?"
He took my insult in stride and shook his head, still smirking. "Nah, just the beard and the shaggy hair. Makes you look like an actual man, and not some feminine freak."
I noticed the longer hair, as it now fell near my nose in the front and tickled my shoulders. But a beard? I've never grown such a thing.
I didn't care either way. "Leave before I blast you in your own element."
"Heh, we both know you can't, prick." He smugly smiled, "Nah, Ouranos wants to see you. Told me to come get you."
I raised an eyebrow, "Really? It's been months. Why hasn't he called me sooner?"
In a way, I was relieved he hadn't. I didn't want to do anything in his name, but staying here wasn't a great alternative either.
"It's been three weeks, relax." He said, "And he's got plans for you, just have to be patient."
He came over to my right side and pressed what I imagined to be a button. Both posts widened like a machine and gave me enough room to free myself. Even though they were made of wood.
I slumped to the ground on my knees, my entire body falling numb. Relief coursed through my veins, and the pain started to go away. If I was able, I would let out the biggest sigh known to man. It emerged as a groan instead.
Axel gave me no time. He grabbed my neck and hoisted me up, giving me a push for good measure. To lead me, he pinched my shoulder and used me as a human shield. When we cleared the opening, we turned into another tunnel. Wherever this path ended, I could already tell it had a much lower temperature than the one I inhabited.
For several minutes, I trudged along trying to think of what my father had in store for me. Had he planned this task all along? Would it be life threatening? Difficult or menial?
I could only ponder. With him, you never know.
Finally, we came upon another cavern, this one the exact opposite of mine. Instead of jagged rocks protruding from the roof, this one had a smooth, damp, granite-like texture. Water fell from all sides in cleverly placed falls, rising thirty feet or so from the ground. Basically, where my area had a red shade, this one had a blue shade.
In the middle, on a rock platform similar to my own, sat a sort of cocoon. It was the first thing I noticed when I walked in. Two pillars of rock met each other in the middle of what looked like a natural clash, and in that clash, an oval shaped cocoon formed, with an opening in the front. Through that opening, I could see my father laying there, something akin to a king sitting on a throne.
A tiny king, at that. But I had to admit, he was now far easier to look at, and the very sight of him didn't make me want to turn in disgust. Instead of being a pile of bones with tight gray skin, he now had a more babyish frame, and looked a bit like a human toddler. His head had decreased tremendously in size, and now looked normal. His eyes were no longer black and lifeless, they were dark blue, like mine.
I would guess him to be about two years old in this state. He wasn't kidding about the aging process being sped up. He would surely be a teenager - physically, within a few months at this rate.
The very second thing I noticed, was another platform to his left, and my right. It wasn't shaped like a cocoon, it looked carved out, like a pedestal. Sera was on it, her hands bound behind her back and her mouth gagged with some kind of cloth. My father's spear aimed itself at her. Suspended in the air.
I glared up at Ouranos and growled, "Put it down."
He looked down at me, his face had baby fat on it, every sign about his appearance said normal human, but I knew there was a monster inside. It was utterly bizarre the way things have turned out. My father, a primordial, has to take the form of a toddler, and somehow that isn't laughable.
It isn't, because that toddler can kill everyone you love.
"Ah, hello Malachi." He said, his voice taking me off guard. It sounded like an actual baby speaking, instead of his usual booming, gravelly tone, and even the raspy one from a month ago. It had changed completely, as if a baby's garble were articulate and thought out. I couldn't really explain it. "No hello? No how are you father? Just 'put it down'? What do you want me to put down?"
I looked to Sera, and saw her eyes wide, tears streaming down her face. She was shaking her head like her life depended on it, telling me not to do what I was about to do.
I turned away, biting my lip and closing my eyes. I could not look at her. That would only make it impossible. She was telling me to not do this for her. But doesn't she understand that I cannot live without her? This is all meaningless without her!
I looked back up at him and seethed. "Put that spear down right now! DO IT!"
He only flicked his tiny finger and inched the deadly weapon closer to her head. Sera flinched and whimpered in fear.
The air thickened around me; lightning danced off my fingertips. "Harm her, and I'll kill you! You aren't fast enough in that state to resist me! Your head will be on the ground before you can do anything!"
"Would you like to test that?" He asked, and moved the spear back and forth with his telekinesis, displaying his full control.
I didn't want to risk it. His aura was nothing to be worried about, but he could be concealing it. Besides, Axel could slow me down before I get there, giving him enough time to kill Sera.
I couldn't do anything. I had to bite my tongue.
My fists were so tightly clenched I could almost feel blood coming from my palms. "What did you call me here for?"
Ouranos chuckled, or giggled in this case, since he had a baby's voice. It wasn't cute at all; it was an utterly creepy sound. "There you go. Resistance is futile my son, it's best to just give in and go along with what I say."
"TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT!" I screamed, stomping the ground and creating multiple cracks in the earth. So much so that Axel nearly fell into the water beside us. That would have been funny.
Ouranos giggled in delight at my anger, which only made me more so. I wanted to kill him badly, so badly. Sera looked like she had been toyed with, I could tell by her tears, by her bruises and cuts. Zeus only knows what my father has made her do. I didn't even want to go down that train of thought, or I would lose it and destroy this entire planet.
"It's quite simple really." He said, "You've heard of Camp Jupiter, right?"
"Yes." I recalled some of the campers talking about the roman counterpart. I'd never been there, but it sounded like a fascinating place.
"Well, the Roman morons have...suspicions about our little mountain as of late. They think Atlas has been freed."
My eyes widened. Atlas? What on Earth is he-
This was...the location of his burden.
By the gods, it makes sense. Mount Othrys, and the location of Atlas's burden. This is where my father met Gaea, this is the point which the sky met the Earth, and Atlas keeps it from destroying everything. The puzzle had finally come together. My father's natural power would return much faster if he went to the location where his natural power lay dormant, which was...here. If his natural power returned faster, then his aging would speed up as well.
Not only that, but if he ever wanted to recruit a powerful ally, Atlas was here as well. It was a nearly foolproof plan.
I decided to voice this. "This place speeds up your aging, doesn't it? Most of your natural power is here. That is why you chose this as your hideout. And if you ever need Atlas's help...he's right next door."
Ouranos practically smiled, showing a near toothless mouth. "Your much smarter than most give credit for, Malachi. Yes, this place does speed up the aging process. When I clashed with Gaea, a chunk of both our energies stayed on the surface, like fog, it sticks forever. Simply being around it has made me exponentially powerful and is bringing back my life with incredible speed. As for Atlas...heh, I suppose if I need the traitor's help, I could call for it."
"So that's it? You plan to stay here until you reach your prime?" I didn't expect that was all it took. I figured there to be more.
"Well, for the most part. But there is still a major component I need to complete me. It lies on Olympus."
Olympus? Perhaps I could get the answer. "And what is that?"
He didn't even start to say it. He was too smart. "Nice try. But just because I appear as a baby, do not underestimate my intelligence. I have millennia of experience, boy."
I sighed. Almost. "So the Roman Camp thinks Atlas is free."
"They do. The fools have sent a squadron of their campers here. They are marching towards the base of the mountain as we speak. I suspect they are smart enough to know they cannot even scratch Atlas with a few soldiers, so I am guessing they are simply scouting, and just seeing what's going on."
"Okay...and what do you want me to do?"
"I want you to kill them."
My jaw fell open. Axel smirked beside me and Sera frantically squealed through her gag, shaking her head vigorously. I could make out that she was screaming no in a muffled attempt.
I knew this would happen. I knew he would make me do this.
"B-But...why kill them?" I tried, fumbling over my words. The thought of killing innocent campers, much like Camp Half Blood's, made me sick to my stomach. I couldn't bear such a thought, let alone carrying the action out. "Perhaps I could s-scare them away. If they do not know for sure what's going on here, then they won't come back, or warn anyone else."
"You do not know them." Ouranos said, "I do. I see their minds, their intentions. I see your intentions, Axel's intentions, the girl's intentions." He giggled again, "I have my old power back, you idiot! You have no idea the things I can do now! Chaotic energy in my grasp! Manipulation! Creating storms to rival Zeus! Seeing the minds of everyone in the world! I know what Matthias is doing at this very moment!" He laughed, a maniacal, loud howling sound. It was terrifying coming from the voice of a baby. Nothing was comical about this. He sounded like an insane person.
"Do you want to know what Matthias is doing right now?" He asked, raising a finger as if to poke something, or place something. "He's in his cabin, crying about his father's death! He's holding that Norse cape, wondering if he should use its ability to talk to the dead! He's conflicted!"
Ouranos spoke with pure joy at Matt's misery. This was no surprise. This thing, this god, was the incarnate of evil, he did not have a positive emotion, a soul. He had nothing.
"Your friend Talon, well, he's conflicted as well. He's wondering if you two are dead. He thinks you might be. He's starting to lose hope..."
I thrust my finger at him, "SHUT UP! SHUT YOUR MOUTH!"
He only yelled louder, "Nikandreos haunts his mind! Gives him visions and vague messages! He's telling the boy to find him, but the stupid boy's scared of what he'll find if he tries!"
"STOP! STOP IT NOW!"
He leaned forward in his chair and matched my volume, "I CAN SEE YOUR THOUGHTS, MALACHI! I KNOW YOU WANT TO KILL ME! DO IT! TRY IT!"
I roared and did as he said. I could not take it anymore. All of my anger and rage reached its boiling point. I leaped from the ground, and in an instant, I reappeared in front of his cocoon. My fist reared back, I summoned a powerful coil of lightning in palm, all of it aimed at my father's head. I saw it falling off, I saw the stump of his neck being the only thing in my sight. It would happen.
But Ouranos, he moved his hand, and the Heavenly Diamond spear threw itself at Sera. As I moved, it moved. I looked over, the tip of it was centimeters away from her head. It was going to kill her.
I stopped immediately and fell back to the ground on my feet. The lightning in my hand stayed though.
I was enraged. I had to let it go. I screamed in pure frustration, and the electricity released, spreading all over the cavern in a tree-shape, chipping away rocks and splashing water everywhere.
When it subsided, I breathed in heavy breaths. Not because I was tired, but because my body was finding ways to release my built-up stress. I could not vent it. If I tried to kill him, it was clear he was fast enough to react and kill Sera. I could do nothing but listen to him.
The spear stayed right where it was, Sera didn't dare move or back away from it. She stayed as stiff as she was able, but I could see her trembling from here. Erasure was one move away, my move.
I wouldn't let her die.
"Kill. The. Romans." Ouranos ordered, saying every word as a sentence. "Now. And I'll know if you spare them, I see all, remember?"
I didn't say another word. I just nodded and walked away. Axel didn't even follow me; he knew I was going to do it.
I traversed the tunnels until I emerged from the last opening. I came out where I started, on the cliff overlooking the city.
The bright light of the sun pierced my eyes, I had to hold my arm over them for a few moments, just so they could readjust. I hadn't seen natural light in weeks, felt the air of the outside world, viewed nature, the city, anything. All of this became foreign sights to me, looking at them, it felt like the very first time in my life.
"Keep moving!"
I faintly heard what sounded like a man giving orders to his squadron below. It had to be hundreds of feet below, but through my exceptional hearing, I caught it.
I walked over to the edge of the mountain's cliff and looked down. I couldn't see them. It was morning apparently, and fog clung to the sides of the mountain. I took the alternative route and used my aura sensing. The ability is quite complex, and I happened to be born with it. I suppose being a Demi-Primordial, I acquired it because of such. I had no idea it was so rare, until I discovered that practically no other demigod had it. Save for Matt. I'm not sure why he has it though, and if it's arbitrary for him.
Either way, I caught the aura of twelve people, a good-sized group. They were strong and experienced, all of them.
I felt my chest sink, my heart shrunk a few inches. They would all be dead in minutes. I did not want to do this...but for Sera's life, I had to.
I jumped off the cliff, aiming towards the direction they marched. Within seconds, I fell the massive distance and landed on the ground.
Rather smashed into it. A deep crater formed at my impact. I heard the Romans shout in surprise, all of their bodies tensed, their auras flared.
I stood up, walking out of the dust and debris. I confronted them, and saw that they were indeed, older teenagers. I would guess the age range to be from fifteen to twenty. All of them wore roman styled armor, with gladius's drawn, some of them knocked bow and arrows, and one of them even held what looked to be an explosive.
"Identify yourself!" The man in front said, pointing his gladius at me. I looked to him and studied. He was the oldest, I could tell by the way he stood, his deep voice, his armor was even a little bigger, and he wore a small wolf's pelt on his shoulders. I heard that at Camp Jupiter, demigods could retire after serving for a certain amount of time. This man looked like one of those people, but he had been called in for this mission, like a reserve.
I hated these thoughts. I hated myself for what I was about to do. This man probably had a family, a girlfriend, a best friend, kids that looked up to him. He had lived so much, accomplished so much. All of these people in front of me had. And I was about to take away everything. They would never move again.
A tear escaped my eye. It took everything in my will power not to weep.
The man with the wolf pelt reared his head back in confusion, "Uh...are you crying?"
I looked at him, my voice breaking as I spoke. "I am so sorry."
"For...what?"
I did not speak another word. I would make this quick.
The slaughter began.
I began with the leader. I darted forward and thrust my fist through his chest, my arm going all the way through up to my elbow. Gore and blood splattered everywhere, soaking the grass and trees, the other campers even, with blood. There was a moment, when the man looked at me with wide eyes, the flash that people talk about, when you see your entire life play in front of you. I saw that happen to this man, while he was looking at me. The action was nearly enough for me to stop. But I couldn't.
I planted my feet in the ground and punched upward, my fist sliced through his neck and head like butter, coming out of the top of his skull and splitting the upper half of his body. It peeled and fell to the ground. Blood puddled up everywhere, to the point that I practically stood in it.
Most of the squad backed away and shook with fear, their eyes wide through their helmets. Seeing their leader killed had instantly traumatized them. Two in the front however, only roared in vengeance, they wanted me dead.
"You monster!" They yelled.
I deserved such, but I could not let it happen. They charged me with their swords. A skilled charge. They had great form and years of experience; I could tell. Their posture was straight, grounded, and unwavering. Their footwork, remarkable.
As their swords came at me, I tucked my arms in and stepped between them. Reaching out, I bashed my wrists into theirs and disarmed them. I caught their swords simultaneously in the air and quickly slashed both of them in the throat, cutting off their heads. It was a girl and a boy. Their helmets clanged on the ground and their bodies fell limp. The girl's ponytail rolled with her head as it lay at my feet.
The others tried to run, but I reappeared behind them. This was taking too long. I did not want to induce fear in them. I did not want them to be this afraid before they perished.
I ran behind each one of the remainders, positioned my hands on their temples, and snapped their necks. Using strength in my palms, I turned each head around like an owl, and killed the nine campers instantly.
Time resumed, and the circle of corpses fell around me. I now stood in a pile of dead bodies, covered in blood. My hands were caked red.
I looked around at them. Then at my hands. So much death, in so little time, caused by me.
I am a monster.
"I...I'm so sorry." I cried, more tears falling down my cheeks and stopping at my beard.
(A.S - Day One Hundred and Thirty Six)
At this point, I am a shell of myself.
My bound position has now become comfortable, the heat from the magma, also comfortable. The view is starting to look more familiar as each day passes.
Yet, reality is hell. I am in hell.
Ouranos has forced me to do many tasks, most of them non world threatening, but still heinous. I will never grow numb to killing, so I am thankful, and also resentful, of that. I don't want to talk about those events.
Well, there is one I will talk about.
It started with my eyes closed. I was somewhere else at the moment.
Back on the Cursed Island. Sadly, the only place I felt happiness. I had friends, best friends even. I had genuine respect, I had fun, I had...something worthwhile.
"Wake up, boy."
The boyish voice broke my blissful memory. I stared lazily at the figure before me. Ouranos, now to my waist in height, and probably appearing seven years old, it felt like I was looking in a mirror.
He looked just like me, when I was that age. Dark blue eyes, tan skin, no freckles, blemishes, birthmarks, or any "flaws." Blonde hair just starting to part in the middle, coming down in small messy hair on both sides. He wore a gray t-shirt, my favorite color and the one of choice, along with black t-shorts and sneakers. If you spotted him on the sidewalk, you would have thought "where are his parents?" or "Aw, how cute." He looked normal. It was eerie how closely we resembled each other.
"I could call you boy." I said hoarsely, "I don't see you for a month and here you are, two inches taller."
Ouranos sneered, "Nice sarcasm. You're starting to take after me."
"What do you want?"
He sighed and got serious. "What we are going to do today is the biggest, and likely the most difficult task yet. I have been planning this for ages, and it's crucial to my plan. So much so that I am personally going with you to make sure it is done properly."
"Wait, you're going with me?"
He nodded, "Yes. And you know the deal. Try anything and the girl dies."
I tightened my lips, "I know."
"You've been good about following orders, so I trust you won't do anything stupid." He said, "Moving on, what we are going to do will require quick movement, and strong knowledge of the plan."
Ouranos had never come to me like this, he always sent Axel. He's been able to walk on his own for weeks, so whatever this was, it was something important to him. Or well, to his world domination plan.
"What's the plan?"
He gave me a look telling me to brace myself. "We're going to Tartarus."
I showed emotion for the first time in days. "Tartarus? Why on Earth would we go there?"
"To free...necessary backbones of my operation." He said, a little chuckle at the end, like he couldn't hold himself. It always seems like Ouranos is trying not to laugh. I don't know what he's thinking, but if I had to guess, he's laughing at his own pride, and how he thinks everyone is so far beneath him, that in a few months, his "plan" will wipe out the gods. I imagine he thinks about a dead Zeus often.
He shook the smile off his face and continued. "But seriously, there is a prison in the pit loosely translated to 'Cage of The Damned.' It's where the worst of the worst are kept. Demigods, monsters, titans, gods, etcetera. I have a few allies in there that I want out. And you're going to help me free them."
"But that's...insane! Tartarus is nigh impossible to survive, not to mention Hades is in the Underworld! What are you going to do about that? Corrupt him? Hephaestus is one thing, but one of the Big Three?"
He stared at me for a moment, almost in annoyance. He stepped closer and shoved his face under mine. His height made it to where he was looking directly up at me, his chin high. It looked like a pouty child throwing a tantrum.
But the chilling way he said the next words, were anything but childish.
"One thing you should know about me by now, is that I always have a plan. Do you have any idea how many centuries I spent down there, planning every move, contingency, and backup plan? This entire world is a chessboard, and I am the player in control."
"Who's the opponent, then?" I retorted.
He smirked, "Everyone else."
I didn't say anything. He truly believed he could take everyone on, and still come out with a scratch. Has he lost his mind?
He flicked his finger, and the posts spread apart, allowing me to fall free. This time I merely stumbled a bit but did not fall to the ground.
Ouranos turned around and started walking. "Don't worry about Hades. We'll mask our auras and slip by him. He's not that smart."
I caught up to his heels, "But what about the environment? How will we survive that?"
"You're forgetting that Tartarus isn't a place. It's a being. My sibling in fact." He said, wagging his finger, "And one I actually get along with, so I have a bit of leeway."
This world is so bizarre it's comical. The child in front of me is actually my father, Ouranos, a god older than time itself, and first lord of the sky. His siblings are Day, Night, Love, the Pits of Hell, The Earth, and the Sea. Oh, those things are also sentient beings. Bizarre doesn't really come close.
We continued down the now very familiar path. I've been down it so much, if you tied my hands behind my back and put a blindfold over my eyes, I would still be able to clear the entire thing.
Ouranos walked out of the cave first, then me, into the evening sun. It was no special day, just ordinary weather. That should have been a crime. The weather should be dark and thunderous, to match the deed we were about to do.
We both stood side by side on the cliff's edge, where I lay over one hundred days ago after my failed escape attempt. That felt like an eternity ago. I had the ability to do so now, but that would cost me everything.
I turned and looked down at him, the top of his blonde head in my line of sight. How easily I could crush that head and get revenge on the torment he's caused me. What he's made me do to others. Even now, he led me into the most dangerous part of the Underworld, against my will.
"Look at the city." He said, gazing at the giant structure with narrow eyes, "The mortals that reside it...have no idea. They have no idea what wars rage around them, what beings exist in their very hometowns." He shook his head, almost with sympathy. "They are the most clueless creatures in history."
I clenched my fists, and just stared at his head. My arm ached to jump into action, my nerves begged me to make a move. I thought about everything that he has done. With one swipe, I could cut the head off of the snake. For half a second even, and I hate myself for even admitting this, but for just a single moment, I actually considered the possibility that maybe this was for the greater good. Perhaps...mine and Sera's sacrifice is for the best. If I kill him, Axel will kill Sera, and then...I'll kill myself. As long as Ouranos dies, isn't it worth it?
That thought flashed through my mind, and I shamefully pushed it away in an instant. I turned my head back to the city and unclenched my fists. I would do...like I've been doing for the past one hundred and thirty-six days. Follow orders.
Ouranos stared at San Francisco for a little longer, then sighed and shook his head in disappointment. At what, I didn't know. He turned to me, "Do you know where Hollywood is?"
"In this state, correct?"
"Yes. There's an entrance to the underworld near the Hollywood sign. That's where we're going. Can you picture it?"
I shook my head. I knew he was asking me to transport us. But the truth was, I had never seen the sign, I didn't even know what it looked like.
He groaned, "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Very well, I'll take us. But first..." He gave me a once over, and smirked, "We need to put you in something more...battle appropriate."
"Battle appropriate?" I said, viewing my clothes, I couldn't see anything wrong with them. I was wearing normal fabric. He was the one that looked strange, he wore default children's attire.
"Yes." He said, "I think you need to be in something more familiar."
With the snap of his fingers, my clothes were instantly replaced in a puff of smoke. My shirt had come off, and my pants had become far more breathable. I looked down to see that I had no shirt on, and on my lower half...I wore my old attire. The same thing from the Cursed Island, the first quest when I was under possession. Baggy pants with the bottom half of a Japanese hakama curtaining over them.
I glared at him, "Do you think this is funny?"
He cocked his head, "Do you see me laughing, boy? I want you in the best condition to fight, if that means dressing in your old attire, then so be it. After all, you said it, we are about to venture in the darkest realm known to man."
He held out his arm, for a moment, standing like that. I took a long look back at the cave, then at the city. There was no turning back now.
"Well?"
Ouranos thrust his arm towards me impatiently, and gave me a demanding look, saying your choice, come with me or the girl dies.
I reluctantly touched his arm, and we disappeared from Mount Othrys.
(000)
Yes, this is a two parter now. Originally, I planned on this being one chapter, but it would've been quite long, and while a few chapters in this story exceed even twenty thousand words, I figured I should probably keep it lower than that this book. Besides, giving insight on Malachi's thoughts was a necessary element.
Hope you all enjoyed this! Different from what you're used to, I know, but I had a lot of fun with this one, so I hope it doesn't make you too mad that I ended on yet another cliffhanger.
That's all I've got. Part Two coming soon!
Until Next Time.