43: "Time Is Growing Near"
"So what do you think of Lilith?" Morrigan asked as I exited the bathroom.
She sat legs crossed on the bed, brushing down her hair.
"She looked innocent to me, just like the first day I seen her big sister"
Morrigan smiled.
I grabbed a grey shirt from the dresser. "Sucks I came around afterwards" I turned and walked towards her. I took the brush from her hand & dropped it at her side. I placed her hands into mine.
"She'd have liked you much, don't greet" Morrigan teased. "You see Father opened up to you rather quickly"
"True, he calls me son now" I said. "That was the best part"
"Then what explains this strong ping I'm getting from you?"
"Oh, he gave me some of his strength, even better right?"
I felt Morrigan tighten her grip on my hands.
"No Jay, that's two enormous amounts you've taken in less than a month" Her tone of voice grew different. "You don't-"
"Morrigan, nothing's the matter! I can handle all of this, I don't need to be given teaspoons at a time. I can control myself. I'm not-"
SPSHH!
The sound of glass breaking devoured my words. I turned to see Morrigans mirror lying face down on the floor and above, the paintings shaking rapidly on the walls.
Morrigan sat paralyzed looking at the shattered object.
"You're not what?" She asked. She turned and looked in my eyes.
"I'm..not like you" I muttered. "I'm sorry"
"Jay, that's exactly what I've been saying, now you see what happens when you don't know your own strength"
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Morrigan let go of my hands and brushed past me. She cracked open the door.
"Is everything okay, Madam?" I heard Lucien say.
"Yes, everything's fine" Morrigan said reassuringly.
I picked up the mirror and placed it back on top of the dresser. I kneeled down and began picking up the broken pieces.
"I know, we were being clumsy and made quite a mess" Morrigan stated.
"Be more careful, you should" Mudo insisted.
"I know" Morrigan nodded. "Thanks for checking you two" she then closed the door.
"SHIT!" I muttered under my breath.
I looked down to see a stream of blood flowing out of my palm.
Damn, I see I'm the one who should be more careful
I put the shards back on the floor with caution. I quickly summoned a band aide in my left hand. I looked back at the gash and witnessed my skin already repairing itself. At a moments notice, the wound closed. My hand looked as well as before.
I looked up at Morrigan who was staring at me with her arms folded.
"Look at that" she said with a smirk.
^V^
"How could you forget to give Rochella the key?" Morrigan asked as we walked down a quiet street of Malibu.
"I don't know" I said. I patted down my pockets. "Do you think they're waiting for us?" I asked.
"No, I know they are"
"How?"
"I gave them the key" Morrigan said with a smirk.
No wonder I couldn't find it
We reached my house and walked towards the backyard.
"Long time, no see" I heard Talbain say.
Talbain rose from his seat at a food filled table. That's when I noticed the yard was only accompanied by the three of us.
We shook hands and he patted me on my shoulder.
"Good to see you're still alive and well" Talbain stated to Morrigan.
"I could ask the same, Kreutz" Morrigan retorted.
"Hey, let's continue discussin' our wellbeing over breakfast" I suggested.
We took a seat. We began helping ourselves to the many dishes Akeno had set and ready.
"Felicia's fur isn't around. Did she stay home?" Morrigan joked.
Talbain wasn't phased. "She's away pursuing her pop star dream" He then stuffed a spoonful of pasta into his jaws.
I swallowed a bite of my omelet.
"Morrigan and I have been talking. Belial and Pyron chose to give amounts of their power to me in the past few days. I've been thinking of taking out Demitri but Morrigan thinks I should train more to understand myself"
"Pyron's still alive?" Talbain asked.
"Was alive, before their altercation" Morrigan inquired.
"Well anyway, she's heading you in the right direction there. You don't want to go in Demitri's presence unaware of what you're capable of. That wouldn't be your advantage"
"How should I train though? I haven't-"
At an instant, the patio door opened hastily.
"They're here, c'mon!" Julia yelled. She then rushed over to us.
"My Queen and King. Nina's father is in Demitri's grasp! We can't-"
"Where?" I asked. Morrigan and I rose from our seats.
"Nina told us somewhere near Romania"
"I know where that's at, shall we go?" Morrigan asked as she immediately opened a portal.
The rest of the gang hurried out the house. Rochella had her arm wrapped over Nina's shoulder. Nina's eyes were sparkly and red.
This can't be good
"Amy and Akeno, stay here and take care of this. The rest of us will be back, let's go"
Julia entered the portal first and Rochella followed with Nina.
"I don't think you'll be the only one to have a training session any longer" Talbain stated.
I smirked.
Morrigan leaped through.
"After you buddy" Talbain said.
I nodded and jumped in.
^V^
Where the hell am I at?
I stepped foot onto a large plain of darkness. I looked at the moon above us. The stars were twinkling everywhere unlike in the city.
Damn, we're on the other side...
"Do you know his exact location, Nina?" Morrigan asked. Her hair slightly swayed in the breeze.
"Let's try the hills. Its a good chance he could be in the forests" Nina implied.
"Not he, but they" Talbain stated. His voice sounded a bit ferocious.
I looked at him to see that he was now a complete werewolf.
Figured
...
We walked up a hill surrounded by monstrous trees.
"Beware. Creature's roam these parts of Romania, watch yourselves"
I didn't hesitate to suit up.
"What kind?" Julia asked, curious.
Morrigan turned to her.
"They hide in plain sight as stone"
As strong as I am, that sent chills up my spine
"Stop!" Talbain whispered.
We froze and stared at Talbain.
"Something's watching" he said.
I looked around and equipped my infrared vision.
"Shit. I can't get anything" I remarked.
"Watch out!" Rochella yelled.
I quickly tumble rolled to my right.
"Argh!"
Something crashed into a tree near where I stood.
I quickly shot two light beams into the sky.
I quickly looked to where the thing landed. A winged creature kneeled and shook its head. Two horns curled at the back of its skull. Its dull and greyish skin had a stone appearance to it.
"A...gargoyle?" I asked.
The supernatural being looked at me with an evil grimace. Its yellow eyes stared maliciously.
Ugly fuck!
Its wings then spread as it leaped towards me.
"DIE!" It said in a paranormal voice.
I took a deep breathe and launched myself towards the gargoyle. We collided and spiraled through the trees.
"Jay!" I heard Morrigan call.
"He can handle himself! There's more coming ahead!" Talbain stated.
I heard Talbains words and thought of them being surrounded.
I have to end this
I got up from where I landed.
The gargoyle stood in front of me. Waiting to attack again.
"Time to die!" I yelled to it.
It ran towards me and this time I turned my fist into blades. As it pounced, I quickly stabbed the gargoyle through its stone exo skeleton.
"You can't win" I stated.
The 'goyle looked at its wounds and looked back up with a vicious smile.
What the-?
The ghoul then punched me and I fell back first to the ground. It leaped into the air, aiming its clawed feet towards me.
Shit
I teleported last second. The ghoul hit the ground. It looked side to side, shocked. I then sonic boomed in my descend towards the monster.
Doing my best to aim for its spine, I kneed it in its back.
"Gughk!" It yelled in pain.
We slid through the dirt as I held its horns for balance. As we neared a stop, I quickly gripped its throat and head and with all my might, I snapped its neck. I collapsed over to the ground, relieved.
"SHADOW BLADE!" Morrigan yelled in the distance.
I swear Ima tear off your fucking head Demitri!
I quickly rose and took flight, speeding past the trees.
The area was still illuminated somehow. I landed beside Julia who had just let off her two sawed off shotguns. Blood dripped from the bayonets on each one.
"About time I'm beginning to know your powers eh?!"
"Pretty much, except these aren't doing too well!"
Suddenly, she combined the guns into a sword.
"Nice right?!" She asked.
"Most def'!"
She smiled and ran off into the fight.
I spotted Morrigan who was fighting off two menacing gargoyles.
"Soul-Fist!"
The ball made impact with one gargoyle, sending it my way. I caught it and swung it to the ground. I placed my foot on its chest and beheaded the creature.
"They're not retreating!" Rochella yelled.
"They're growing in numbers!" Talbain stated.
Suddenly portals appeared.
"Morrigan? Is that your doing?!" I yelled as I jawed a gargoyle.
"No!...Drill Kick!"
I quickly eyed the portals to see larger yellow eyed ghouls with spears come towards us.
"We have to go!" I said aloud.
Everyone looked my direction and back at the horde of urban legends.
Morrigan descended next to me and opened a portal.
I looked for the girls. "Come on! Rochella! Julia! Nina!...Nina?!"
The girl was no where in sight.
Rochella and Julia ran towards us. Talbain fended the ghouls off. He seemed to be enjoying himself.
Do your thing bro
"Help! Let me go!" A familiar voice pleaded.
I equipped my infrared vision once more and spotted Nina.
I teleported to her and took caution. The gargoyle was shielded and I couldn't hurt Nina. The ghoul slowly walked backwards towards the portal.
CLINK!
I hit the ground and a flock of 'goyles surrounded me, striking me as one held me down.
I stared at the sight of the ghoul taking Nina. I yelled in rage.
I let off my incineration field. It sent enough ghouls flying for me to gain an opening. The ghoul still had its hold firm on me. I then thought of Pyron and I felt myself grow hot inside. My eyesight grew orange as the gargoyle released me. I broke free and spewed fire onto my foes.
"Jay!" Nina screamed for me.
I turned back and the 'goyle was already through. The last thing I seen was Nina's hand extended out. The portal began to close. I teleported and appeared right in front of it and leaped inside before it closed.
I landed somewhere in darkness. Water droplets bounced off of my morphonite as the sky cried.
"Nina?!"
No response.
The sound of leaves being crushed sparked my eardrums. Out of the darkness, a crowd of gargoyles surrounded me.
"I'll kill you all" I said calmly. My hands closed into fists.
Just then, a bolt of lightening hit the ground in front of me. The huge 'goyles retreated back into the shadows.
I couldn't tell if that was good or bad.
I stood there in the darkness, enraged and on guard.
Before my eyes, blue and red dust rose from the ground and formed into a tall figure. The dust ultimately collected. Appearing in front of me with its helmet lowered, a samurai knight stood frozen.
"Show me...If there's honor in staining my blade with your blood!"
I studied the enemy before me.
Huge sword, strong physique, demonic, possible mercenary like the last guy...
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I am Bishamon, resurrected to bring you to where I've escaped"
"Resurrected... by who?"
"The Prince of Darkness, Demitri"
Waaait
"What do you want?"
"Its not what I want, heheheh, its what she wants...Come forth"
Out of the shadows, a familiar face stepped into the moonlight.
"Nina, tell me this isn't you"
She stood there, giving me a blank stare. She gave a slight nod.
Damn
"Tell him about your encounter with the Vampire"
Nina looked at the knight and back at me. Her face was smothered with fear.
"...I was invited to a party by a few girls I met a day when I wasn't with my sisters. We arrived to the place only for me to be face to face with Demitri. He desired me to become his company like the three girls who brought me to him. I refused to become his slave and a vampire. He wouldn't allow me to leave if I didn't choose so he bribed me. His words were 'be my slave or give me someone in sacrifice'"
"And your sacrifice was?" I asked.
"It wasn't a-" Nina began.
"SILENCE!" The samurai yelled as he gripped the sword at his waist. "Now you see the appeal of innocence can be decieving"
My head drooped to the ground.
No, no, this can't be. This isn't true
Images of Morrigan flashed through my mind. Her innocent looks and her kind spirit...
She never deceived me
I looked at Nina. Tears streamed down her freckled cheeks mixing with the rain droplets.
"Not Nina, I know you. Our friendship...it can't be fake"
Bishamon slowly pulled his sword from its compartment.
"Naive human, just accept it!"