Hey everyone! Happy New Year!
I'm back with the fourth and final part of this story arc, and since I don't want to keep you waiting any longer, here it is! Enjoy!
Taken - Part Four
Fortunately, Nashville's reflexes were working just fine, and he dived out of the way as the giant snake shot forward, its head hitting the hallway wall and sending paintings tumbling to the ground.
"Elisa," Mr. Robbins called from the kitchen. "What was that?"
"Chikushō," the young gargoyle muttered, drawing his sword as the monster shook its head, turning to face him.
"You're quick," it said, its forked tongue briefly flicking out. "But you'll tire eventually."
"Elisa?" Mr. Robbins stepped into the hallway at that moment, a frown on his face. "What's going on? Is Mason okay?" Gilly growled upon seeing the monster, running to Nashville's side. "Gilly? Where'd you go?"
"It's almost unfair, seeing you three," the shape-shifter said, turning back into the alien-looking creature and laughing. "A blind man, a gargoyle, and a dog. Not exactly a challenge, are you?"
Jeffrey Robbins' face became serious, and his hand tightened on his cane.
"Who are you," he demanded, reaching out with his other hand to touch the wall. "Elisa? Gilly? Mason?"
"That thing is Mason," Nashville said, stepping back towards the author, sword at the ready. "Or was… I think it's that guy Taurus is looking for. The shape-shifter."
"Very perceptive," the creature said mockingly, morphing into an exact clone of the young gargoyle. "Maybe I should call the rest of your Clan…" He changed his voice, mimicking Nashville. "Help! That shape-shifting monster showed up and took Miss Maza! Come quickly!"
"I prefer detective."
The shape-shifter was too slow to react, and staggered back as the first gun shot hit him in the shoulder. Nashville gasped, turning to see Elisa standing in the library doorway, her gun aimed at the creature. The monster turned to her with a snarl, eyes full of hate as it started to changed once again.
Now was when Nashville moved, running forward and swinging his sword at the creature. He managed to slice at its arm before it knocked him back into the wall, sending the katana flying out of his hands. Gilly barked, not attacking but looking very vicious as she stood in front of Jeffrey protectively. The shape-shifter snarled again, quickly turning into a large octopus-like creature, using two of its arms to grab Elisa and Nashville. The detective's gun clattered to the ground, and both captives struggled to free their arms from the slimy arms.
"Looks like you're more clever than I thought," the monster said, looking at the two of them with one giant eye. "Not clever enough, though."
"Let them go," Jeffrey Robbins demanded, kneeling next to Gilly, who continued to growl at the creature. "And leave; you are not welcome in my home!"
The monster laughed at that, slithering over to the blind author.
"Aww, the human thinks it can tell me what to do," it said, leering over him. It suddenly snatched Gilly, slamming her into the wall before she could even yelp. She slumped to the ground and did not get up, the faint rise and fall of her chest the only indication that she was still alive.
"Gilly," Robbins yelled, swinging his cane at the creature, who easily snatched it out of his hands before grabbing him by the neck with another tentacle.
"You do have a comfortable-looking house," the shape-shifter said, looking around the hallway. "Maybe I'll stick around for a while… It will be easy to pretend to be you, I think. I might as well start my new life in comfort."
"Let us go, freak," Nashville yelled, still trying to wriggle free of the tentacled arm.
"Quiet, brat," the monster snapped, turning to glare at him. "Or I may just kill you first!" He turned to Elisa. "Though I still hope to reserve that special privilege for you, Detective."
"Do you worst to me if you want, Proteus," she said bravely, "but let them go. They've done nothing to you!"
"Well, the gargoyle is getting on my nerves," Proteus said, turning to glare at a defiant Nashville. "As is the human. Robbins is it? He is a human, so that's a good enough reason for him to die." While he did not have a visible mouth at the moment, the detective could have sworn the villain was sporting an evil grin. "Maybe I will save you for last, Maza. Just so you can watch these two die and not be able to stop me!"
"Boy, ain't you a piece of work?" The creature whirled around, still holding his victims, and all four of them gaped at the group standing by the library doorway.
Elisa recognized Fang and Dingo instantly, shocked that the two of them were apparently working together. However, she did not recognize the blonde-haired woman [though she could have that sworn she looked vaguely familiar], and the gargoyle who stood next to her. All of them wore matching black uniforms, and had weapons drawn and primed to attack. Nashville, who had never seen any of them, gasped upon noticing the gargoyle's Japanese clothing and weapons.
"I know it's probably the obvious joke, but I'm still gonna say it," Fang said, hands cackling with electricity. "How come no one told me we were goin' out for calamari?"
[][][]
"No sign of Elisa's car in the parking lot," Brooklyn said, landing back on the roof of the hospital.
"She must have headed back towards the house with Mason," Goliath said.
"We are wasting time," Taurus said angrily. "Proteus could be anywhere by now, and I'm trying to find a single human!"
"Starting to see why you didn't tell us about him," Brooklyn whispered to Goliath. "Is this how he normally asked?"
"I do recall him being stubborn," the other gargoyle admitted. "But he is looking for the one who killed his father, so I think we should excuse his shortness for the time being."
Brooklyn sighed. "Fine." He turned back to Taurus. "Have you tried tracking him?"
"Not recently, but I could check it -" The minotaur stopped mid-sentence, patting his sides before rushing over to his flying chariot. Soon, they heard a stream of curses in Greek, and the gargoyles exchanged worried glances.
"Taurus," Goliath asked. "Is there somet-"
"The tracker is gone," the New Olympian said, turning back to them. "Do any of you have it?"
"Last time I checked, no," Brooklyn snapped irritably.
"Watch yourself," Goliath muttered in warning.
"I last had it at that human's house," Taurus said. "I must have dropped it there."
"Good thing we're heading back, then," the one-eyed gargoyle said, unfolding his wings.
"And I'd hurry, if I were you three," a new voice said. The three of them whirled around, Brooklyn drawing his sword while Taurus took a gun from his belt. Standing in the semi-darkness of the rooftop, wearing a trench coat was -
"Macbeth," Goliath said, a surprised expression on his face.
"Who," the minotaur demanded, aiming his weapon at the human.
"Don't fire, he's a friend," the gargoyle said quickly, walking over to the man. "We haven't heard or seen you since January. How did you know we were here? Why are you here?"
"A little suspicious of that myself," Brooklyn said, though he had sheathed his sword.
"I was in New York, though I came up here after I discovered something you might find interesting," the Scottish man said, taking a small pile of photos from his coat pocket. "You are here looking for Mason Grant, are you not?"
"Yes," Brooklyn replied. "How do you know about him?"
"Very simple. As you know, I've been doing some research into the Illuminati," Macbeth explained. "Ever since what happened last November, I've been trying to track down some of their members. I've found a few of their members, including someone I think you would be very interested to see."
A sense of foreboding coming over the group, the two gargoyles took and looked at the pictures. Taurus kept his distance, still suspicious of the unknown human. Shuffling through the pictures, Goliath and Brooklyn started to get a bad feeling, especially when they recognized the man.
"Mason Grant," Brooklyn said. "When were these-"
"Today," the Scottish man answered. "Which is why, when the news said he was recovering in the Weisman hospital after a car crash, I came here to see what was going on. It turns out he had checked out some fifteen minutes before I arrived, but it's a good thing I often check for winged shadows flying overhead. I figured you were probably going to check on him at some point or another."
"This doesn't make any sense," Brooklyn said. "If Mason's part of the Illuminati… does that me the crash was planned?"
"Which means they could have Elijah," Goliath said. "We have to find him." He turned to his former enemy. "Where can we find Mason?"
"I would be more concerned about figuring out who Detective Maza drove off with," Macbeth said. "Now, I admit I was starting to wonder if Mr. Grant has a secret twin, but now I think that your friend here might have something to do with that."
"Proteus," Taurus gasped. "But how… Wait! That coin by the road where your friend was taken. He must have been wandering through the road, saw the crash and this Mason human, took on his appearance…"
"Shit," Brooklyn muttered, running a hand through his hair. "But are we sure that the Mason Elisa picked up is Proteus? He could be the one Macbeth saw in New York."
"I don't think so," the man answered. "I've been monitoring him and a few other people; he went to the same building he goes to once a week, at the same exact time he usually does." He turned to the minotaur. "Unless this Proteus character is also a mind-reader-"
"He is not. He can only look and sound like anyone, but he cannot learn their mannerisms without careful study." He walked towards his flying chariot. "Proteus is with your friend. I suggest we hurry before he does anything to her."
"Agreed," Goliath said. "Robbins may also be in danger."
"Nashville," Brooklyn whispered, a frightened expression on his face. "Oh no…" His expression soon became angry, his good eye glowing with rage. "I will rip him limb from limb if he touches my son!"
"I would love to stay and help with this Proteus fellow," Macbeth said, taking back the pictures and pocketing them, "but I have some more research I need to return to."
"Hold on," Taurus spoke up, eyeing him suspiciously. "I want to keep an eye on you; the last thing we need is a human alerting your media of my presence."
"He's… cautious about the safety and well-being of his home," Goliath explained to the Scotsman.
"Cautious isn't the word I would use," Brooklyn muttered.
Macbeth laughed good-naturedly at that, but walked towards the flying chariot. "Fine. I'll tell you all about my life on the way, if you'd like to hear it."
"I would rather not," the minotaur said shortly. "Even if we were not in a rush, you humans live short, uninteresting lives compared to us New Olympians."
"I wouldn't be to sure about that," the man said, grinning at the two gargoyles before stepping into the flying vehicle.
[][][]
If Hunter had not been in a dangerous situation, she would have seriously considered knocking out Fang and dragging him to the Redemption Two for that tasteless joke. However, she kept her composure and simply sighed with exasperation. Yama looked like he was going to attack the mutate for her, so she decided to get things going.
"I take it you're the shape-shifter," Hunter said, guns aimed at the single large eye of the tentacled creature.
"I know you," Elisa said, frowning at the woman. "That accent…"
"Who are you," Proteus demanded. "Step any closer, and they're dead." He lifted up Jeffrey, who was clawing at the tentacle around his neck.
"I'm gonna fry him," Fang said.
"And electrocute the victims as well," Yama asked, shaking his head a little.
"Then give me a fucking suggestion on what to do, why don't ya," the mutate snapped, acting and sounding belligerent.
"Mr. Robbins," Dingo asked, looking at the blind author. "We found your nephew, Elijah; he's safe."
"Thank… God," the man managed to gasp, still struggling to breathe.
"Can you hurry up and kick his ass," Nashville asked. "I can't feel my arms anymore!"
Proteus attacked before the Redemption Squad could say anything else. He tossed his three victims in different directions, most likely to throw off the rescue group. Jeffrey went flying towards Yama, who quickly dropped his swords and caught him. Nashville went up, hitting the ceiling before falling in a heap on the floor. Elisa was thrown down the hallway, landing near the foot of the stairs. Now with his arms free, the New Olympian attacked the remaining Redemption Squad members.
Hunter, Dingo and Fang dived out of the way of the tentacles, quickly trying to attack. Hunter rolled off to the side, firing a few rounds at the shape-shifter as Yama carried the blind author into the library. Dingo wore his battle suit, minus Matrix, who was outside in the ship protecting Elijah. Spotting a sword laying on the ground nearby, the Australian picked it up, slicing at the attacking tentacles and managing to cut off a few.
Naturally, Proteus did not like being attacked in such a way, and quickly changed directions. Spinning around, he quickly changed into a hydra, now looking like a fearsome lizard-like creature with six heads and mouths of sharp teeth. The Redemption Squad was shocked, and it nearly cost them their lives as one of the heads shot forward, nearly biting off Fang's head as he ducked out of the way.
Elisa, meanwhile, sat up to see her former enemies working together to attack Proteus. While normal people would be surprised, the detective had been on enough adventures with the Manhattan clan to no longer be fazed by reveals like this. Jumping to her feet, she ran forward and picked up her gun, now firing it at the many headed creature. Yama had now returned after bringing the author outside, reuniting him with his nephew. He raced back in, jumping onto the monster's back as he drove both swords into its skin. It roared with pain, heads withering as it tried to buck him off.
Outside, Elijah was hugging his uncle as Matrix stood sentient nearby, ready to protect both from any attack.
"Thank goodness you're safe," Jeffrey said, a few tears in his eyes. "I don't what I would've done if I had lost you too."
"I'm glad you're safe too," the teen answered, pulling away from the hug and wiping at his own eyes. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Just a little bruised is all."
BODILY SCANS SHOW SIGNIFICANT BRUISING AROUND YOUR NECK, the nanobot creature said. I WOULD RECOMMEND MEDICAL TREATMENT.
"Thanks, Matrix," Elijah said.
"I take it you made some new friends, by the sound of it," the blind author said, looking in Matrix's general direction. "Nice to meet you, Matrix."
IT IS NICE MAKING YOUR ACQUAINTANCE, SIR.
"We should call 911," the deaf teen said, noticing the marks on the man's neck. "What did he do?"
"I think he turned into a giant octopus, but I can't say for sure. And Gilly…" His face fell, and Elijah looked around as he realized that the ever-present dog was nowhere in sight.
"She'll be fine," the teen said, hugging his uncle once more, hoping he was right.
A shadow passed over them, and Matrix immediately looked up, his arms transforming into cannon guns as he aimed them at the approaching figures. Elijah looked up to see Goliath and Brooklyn land nearby, along with a man and a… bull person? The last two were in a flying vehicle of some kind, and they immediately got off and approached him.
"Brooklyn! Goliath," the teen yelled, running forward and hugging his best friend. "You won't believe what I've been through-"
"We can imagine," the gargoyle answered.
SHALL I ELIMINATE UNKNOWN INDIVIDUALS, Matrix asked, weapons aimed at the old man and the bull creature.
"They're with us," Goliath said, looking surprised to see the nanobot AI. "Does this mean that Dingo is here?"
YES, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE SQUAD.
"Squad," the old man asked.
"Long story," Elijah said. "But there's a shape-shifting monster in the house, so you better -"
"I've got him," the bull man interrupted, drawing a blaster from his belt and running for the house. The old man drew two blasters of his own, following at a brisk pace. The deaf teen turned to Brooklyn with a confused expression.
"It's a long story on our end," Brooklyn said. "Stay here; I'm getting my son."
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The fight had moved towards the front of the house. Elisa and Dingo were now hiding behind the living room couch, Fang was recovering from being thrown into the wall, and Yama glided out of the way as Proteus threw the TV at the overhead light, sending the whole thing crashing to the ground and darkening the room. The New Olympian criminal was now a humanoid giant, towering several feet over the Redemption Squad. Nashville and Hunter were in the hallway, both unconscious from nasty blows to the head.
"Ow… hope this guy has insurance," Fang muttered, rubbing his head as he tried to stop seeing stars in his vision.
"We need to get him outside," Elisa said to Dingo, whose metal suit looked battered from the fight. "We stay inside any longer, and he'll bring the whole house down."
"Any ideas, Sheilah," he asked, quickly standing up and shooting a couple rounds at the shape-shifter. He quickly ducked as a painting sailed over his head, shattering the window above them.
"Running around like ants," Proteus said, kicking the coffee table aside with a foot the size of a piano bench. "It is only a matter of time before I crush you under my heel!"
"Not while I still have breath in my body," Yama said, holding his sword as his eyes glowed with anger.
"Can ya stop the dramatic shit and kill him already," Fang complained, standing and leaning against the wall. "Ow… head hurts."
Yama glared at him, nearly missing the hand that nearly snatched him. Fortunately, he noticed the attack in time, slicing off its hand as the creature screamed with pain and anger. Taking her chance, Elisa ran for the hallway, her gun out of ammo. Her plan was to lure the New Olympian criminal to chase her out of the house, but she did not get very far into the hallway when she ran into someone. Looking up, she found herself face-to-face with Taurus, who looked equally shocked to see her.
"You," she asked.
"You," he asked.
"What are you-"
"LOOK OUT!" The minotaur grabbed her by the back of her jacket, pulling her out of the way as a giant fist hit the ground where she had been moments before. Dropping her, the New Olympian police officer raised his gun, shooting several bolts of electric light at Proteus. He roared angrily once again, trying to kick Taurus into the wall, but the minotaur rolled out of the way.
"I was wondering if you would show up, Taurus," Proteus said, grinning at the New Olympian Chief of Police. "No doubt Boreas sent you here with orders to bring me back alive. I know you want to kill me, though; I can see it in your eyes."
"So that's Proteus," a voice said, and Elisa looked over to see Macbeth standing there, looking at the shape-shifter. "Can't say I've fought a giant before, but I'll give it my best shot."
A new roar echoed through the hall, and a red blur launched itself at Proteus, driving a sword into his shoulder. Brooklyn's eye was glowing with rage, and he was ready to tear apart the monster who had hurt his son. Nashville was alive, but still unconscious, and Goliath was taking him and the blonde lady outside to join the Robbins. Brooklyn dug his claws into the shape-shifting criminal, climbing onto its shoulders.
"You're dead, monster," he yelled, taking the blaster off his shoulder and aiming it at the back of Proteus' head.
"NO," Taurus yelled.
"I agree," the criminal said, shrinking down and shrugging off the gargoyle. Brooklyn would not be so easily deterred, firing a shot that went over Proteus' head. The criminal quickly spun around and hit him, knocking him into Macbeth and sending them both to the ground. "I believe that honor goes to Taurus."
Proteus now looked like Taurus, but older and with white hair. His armor was slightly different as well, and he had a kinder look on his face. Taurus' face blanked for a moment, only to be replaced with a look of rage.
"What's the matter, son," the shape-shifter said in a older, kinder voice. "Scared to watch your father die again?"
"Taurus," Goliath yelled, running towards them and stopping short when he saw the two minotaurs. Even Brooklyn momentarily paused in his efforts to attack the monster, watching like the two New Olympians face off.
"You're probably tired of dealing with me," Proteus-in-disguise said, slowly walking towards Taurus, who had his blaster out and aimed at the criminal. "Boreas would never even have to know the truth; you could say I was killed by a rogue human and bring my corpse back."
"This is a trick," the minotaur said, though his hand wavered as he said it. "You… You do not deserve death. Not until your life sentence is served, and the Underworld takes you."
The criminal smirked a little, stopping a few feet away from him.
"You are right," he said. "I guess your father would be proud, seeing that you would not throw away your beliefs and way of life to get something you want." He sighed. "Let me know what the Underworld is like."
"Think again, bitch."
Proteus gasped, his body freezing momentarily before it jerked around wildly, arcs of electricity running up his body. The smell of ozone filled the air, and the shape-shifter changed back into his true form, clawing at the wooden spoke that was poking out of his chest. He gave Taurus one last look before the spasms ceased, and he fell to the ground, dead.
"Fuck yeah, I got him," Fang cheered, a loopy grin on his face. Everyone else was silent and shocked, staring at the mutate as he held his forehead. "Though I am not likin' this headache of mine. Guess I shouldn'ta had those beers before comin' here." He looked down at Proteus, who was very much dead with the coffee table leg sticking out of his chest. "You suck, by the way." He moved to kick him, but lost his balance, falling onto the floor next to the corpse, out like a light.
Everyone stared at the winged mutate in shock, then looked at the dead New Olympian, who was starting to bleed on the carpet. His hair was singed and burned, and he surprised expression was frozen on his face. Taurus slowly knelt down next to him, feeling his pulse and confirming his death. This only seemed to make the mood more somber, and they all looked at one another as they tried to figure out what to do next.
Behind them, unnoticed by all, Gilly woke up and started to sniff the air, looking for Jeffrey.
[][][]
Also unnoticed by most people, Mason Grant ceased to exist, though a Mark Johnson was now on his way to Connecticut. In his pocket, his old key had been replace with a new one, this one with the number '14' engraved in it.
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Elijah lay awake in his bed, knowing he would not be able to sleep.
The whole ordeal he had been through, though it had only lasted a day, seemed to have lasted for much longer. Just getting everyone together to tell their stories had taken a while, and by then the gargoyles, Redemption Squad, and Taurus had to quickly leave as the police showed up. Elijah had no idea what Elisa, Macbeth and his uncle had told them, but he had been informed to quickly pack an overnight bag.
Macbeth had offered Elijah to spend the night at one of his homes not far from Weisman while his uncle spent the night in the hospital. While he knew that Macbeth was trustworthy and not a threat, the teen would have preferred slept in his own bed in his own room. However, until someone came and checked to make sure the house was structurally safe, he could not legally stay there.
Xanatos made an appearance, talking to Mr. Robbins, Elisa and Macbeth in the hospital room behind a closed door. Elijah had no idea what they were talking about, but he was sure it probably had to do with the gargoyles and vigilante group, not to mention the minotaur from a hidden island. Sometimes he hated being the youngest out of the group; even Nashville was older than him by four or five years.
Sighing, the teen reached for his duffel bag, which sat next to the bed. He had been able to pack enough clothes to last him for a few days, and had sneaked downstairs to see the damage in the living room, where the majority of the fight had taken place. He was discovered by a cop a minute or two later, but not before he took something with him, which he now took out to look at.
In the ruins of the light and fan wreckage, Elijah had spotted something out of the ordinary; a small pouch, no bigger than his hand, laying amongst the rubble. Wondering what it was, he picked it up, feeling a small round object inside it. He was going to open the pouch to see what it was, but the police officer had arrived at that moment, sending him outside. Now, he emptied the pouch's contents into his hand, a little dismayed by what he saw.
It was a green marble, by the look of it. The small ball was as smooth as glass, colored a dark green that reminded the deaf teen of pictures he had once seen of Ireland. It felt a little warm to the touch, which struck him as strange, but was otherwise a very normal marble. Slightly disappointed, he put it back in the pouch and dropped it into his duffel bag.
Very anticlimactic after today, he thought pulling the covers over his shoulders as he lay down to fall asleep. But I don't mind that… I can go without craziness for a while.
He soon fell asleep, dreaming of nothing and missing the faint glow that came from his duffel bag, as if someone had left a lit flashlight in there.
Yeah. Quite a lot, I know. We have New Olympians, AND the Redemption Squad?! What a way to start 2021!
And what's that green 'marble' Elijah found in the wreckage...
I hope you liked it! Favorite and Follow if you haven't yet, and have a great weekend!
-aggiefrogger