Chapter 16

Wiccan got as far as the shortest tower before he felt his magic begin to restrict. It almost felt like a snake coiling around his body and squeezing. Arching forward he landed on the edge of the tower and collapsed against the stone exterior keeping himself balanced on the thin ledge.

He heard another roar, this time followed by a blast and a crumble.

Knowing it had to be Dorrek getting shot at Wiccan grabbed the rough stones and used them like handholds in a rock-climbing wall to hoist himself to his feet and move around the bend of the tower. He was grateful when he reached a glassless window and had a bit more room for his feet to stand on. Feeling better about not falling to his death he looked around for Dorrek. He saw movement to his right and barely caught a green wing behind a turret. From another ledge he saw a figure with white hair and for a moment was relived thinking it was Speed. But then the person lifted their arm and Wiccan realized with dread that it was Noh-var. He fired a weapon much more high tech then anything Wiccan had ever seen before – aside from Iron Man and War Machine.

The shot must have knocked Dorrek from his perch because from the other side of the turret he fell and smashed into roofing below. As he tumbled he reached out and his claws dug into the tiles cutting them apart and slowing him down until he stopped at the edge barely hanging on.

"No!" Wiccan shouted which gained their attention, but his eyes were only focused on Dorrek as he climbed onto the edge of the roof. Even though they were far apart their eyes locked, Dorrek's in shock and surprise while Wiccan's were filled with horror.

"Billy?" Dorrek shouted like he was concerned he might be hallucinating.

Wiccan's hands glowed and he flew to the next closest tower, not having the energy to make the full leap it would have taken to get to Dorrek. He landed on a thick beam of stone that jutted from the tower; on the edge a statue sat and he grabbed onto it to steady himself, preparing to make another jump to get closer to the prince.

"No, stay there!" Dorrek shouted knowing Billy didn't have much magic to spare. He flew into the air, his wings fully expanded and landed on the same beam next to the mage. His eyebrows pulled together in confusion but all Billy could do was smile at him, "You came back?"

"Did you really think I never would?" Wiccan asked, amazed that he could have believed something that improbable.

Dorrek broke out into an ear to ear grin but it was short lived as the sound of another shot went off and Dorrek's face scrunched in pain as he gripped his side and toppled over falling from the stone and into the darkness below.

"Dorrek!" Wiccan shouted dropping to his knees and throwing out his hand. Dorrek glowed as the mage lowered him safely onto a path between two towers with more statues lining each side. While they'd been reuniting neither Dorrek or Wiccan had noticed Noh-var jump and latch himself onto their tower. He had shot Dorrek from below and then continued to climb until he reached Wiccan. With the mage distracted saving the Skrull's life Noh was easily able to haul himself onto the ledge that sprouted from a glassless window.

Wiccan saw the flash of white out of his peripheral vision and turned to blast Noh off the tower. But the Kree dodged the ball of blue energy by ducking and swinging his leg knocking Wiccan off his feet. He fell back lined up well enough with the ledge that he didn't fall off. When Wiccan raised his hand to try again Noh latched his fist around Wiccan's wrist, pulling him up and swinging him around so Noh could push him face first into the wall of the tower. His nose definitely broke and warm blood tricked down and over his lips filling his mouth with that salty tang. Wiccan's first instinct was to turn and throw up an energy shield, just in time too, because Noh had fired his weapon and the blast met the shield the same moment Wiccan cast it. But because Noh's otherworldly weapon was so strong and Wiccan's magic was weak here the blast was all the shield could take before it dissipated in a blue haze. The light from the blast and the shield distorted his vision enough that when Wiccan could see clearly again Noh was right in front of him and grabbed him by the collar of his cloak to spin him back around and smash his face against the stone. Wiccan kept his head turned to his cheek and temple took most of the beating, he tried to think of something he could do against the quicker, more practiced, better reflexed warrior but he couldn't move quite quick enough. The Kree, tired of his rage fueled attack, now grabbed him again by the collar of his cloak and spun him around again. This time Wiccan was pushed through the open window so they were inside the tower, and smashed his spine against the wall. The back of his head made a sickening crack and his vision blurred for a moment. While he was out of it and struggling Noh had pulled a small knife from somewhere and quickly pressed it to Wiccan's neck.

"Say one word to start a spell and this blade will be in your jugular to the hilt before you can finish the chant." He threatened with a wild enraged glower in his eyes. Wiccan swallowed nervously not sure how to get out of this and his Adam's apple bobbed along the sharpened edge of the knife making his neck sting slightly from the nick.

"You tried to take my brother away." He managed to get out without his throat slit.

Noh let out a dark single laugh that made Wiccan's blood run cold, "The Warden has lost interest in the super speedster."

Noh's admission made Billy's eyes go wide as he realized why Noh had been hanging around him so much all summer. It became harder to breathe as his breaths drew shorter and filling his lungs was difficult with that knife still pressed against his neck.

"My target has been you, the all-powerful mage, the protégé of the Scarlet Witch. The Warden could accomplish so much with a weapon like you - once he slices up your brain a bit to make you more compliant." Noh raised the knife forcing Wiccan to tilt his head back to avoid the blade that now rested where his neck met his jaw. "I'm not someone who fails a given order; so you have two choices. You can go to the Cube and make this simple, or you can continue to fight me. But if I cannot deliver you to the Warden I have only one other alternative."

Shifting his head ever so slightly to glare Noh in the eye Wiccan sneered, "I'd rather die."

He'd heard enough from Tommy about the Cube, as scary as death was there was no chance it could possibly be worse than the things Tommy had described.

Noh scoffed, "This is a sad waste of abilities then."

Below, Dorrek had managed to catch his breath and raise himself up from his elbows to his knees as he looked around. He saw no trace of fighting, no blue light clashing with shots from Noh's Kree weapon. He looked back at the tower where the pair had been but there was no sign of them.

Then a shout of pain cut through the quiet night and Dorrek rose to his feet instantly and flew off the roof. He'd know that voice anywhere.

Higher in the air now he could see into the window where Noh and Wiccan were. His eyes widened as Noh pulled back his knife from Billy's stomach and plunged it again and again into Wiccan's gut rapidly, the blade covered in more and more red each time.

Enraged, Dorrek shot himself at Noh and smashed into him, catching him off guard. He dropped his knife and Dorrek threw him down the concrete steps of the tower where he tumbled several floors below and didn't get back up.

Turning his attention to Billy Dorrek's anger became panic as Wiccan grabbed his stomach and rested his weight on the wall behind him.

"Billy!" he shouted catching the mage as he fell forward. Dorrek steadied him and propped him back against the wall. He brought one hand to his face, cupping his cheek as he tried to get Billy's eyes to focus on him. But he seemed to not be seeing the world around him he was in so much pain.

"Billy!" he tried again, calling his name to snap him out of it. The mage looked up at him while he took deep breaths. His eyes looked scared and pained as they locked with his, then his brown irises trailed over the prince's larger body.

Dorrek's side and chest were singed from whatever ammo Noh's gun used. Two holes each the size of a plate had been burned open in his shirt revealing blackened scales and red layers of fresh skin just over where his ribs were. There were a few other similar patches, one on his shoulder, another on his knee. But Dorrek wasn't concerned with himself, he was looking at Wiccan's sliced open uniform, pressing his other hand over the cuts to try and stop the bleeding that was beginning to drip down Wiccan's front.

"Stay with me. I need you to stay with me." Dorrek ordered tearing his eyes away from the stab wounds to look Billy in the eye. The mage licked his dry lips and nodded. Dorrek looked back to the cuts trying to determine how bad it was. "I don't think he got anything important. Can you breathe alright?"

Billy nodded again but his face was starting to look sweaty, almost clammy which wasn't a good sign. "I'm going to get you help. Just stay with me. You're going to be okay. Stay -AHHHHH!"

Dorrek fell back toward the window catching himself on one arm hunched on the concrete floor. Noh smirked from below, his shot hitting the Skrull in the same spot on his side. He knew his enemy well, the Kree had a long enough history with his kind, and he knew how to weaken their stronger thick skin and scales. Noh rushed up the remaining flights of steps, there was no one there now that posed a threat to him. Wiccan held his bleeding gut looking desperate to act but the pain fogged his mind too much to focus on his powers. And the Skrull lay bleeding onto the floor from the fresh hole in his side.

Noh rested his foot on the alien's large green arm before he pushed and rolled his carcass over the ledge and out the window.

"No!" Wiccan shouted then cringed, the sliced muscles contracting with his scream and ignited a fresher, sharper pain.

Noh chuckled again and sauntered over to him grabbing the mage by his dark hair and pulling his head up to look him in the eye. "A third option has presented itself it seems Wiccan. The Cube, my knife or –" Noh glanced to the open glassless window before looking back at him, "Out the window with your fallen lover. Would you prefer to die together?"

Wiccan sneered again and his rage overtook him, "Yougooutthewindow."

Noh was thrown by an unseen force as blue shone from nowhere, conjured in the air and not in Wiccan's hand as the Kree had expected. He was launched out the window and out of Wiccan's line of sight.

Exhausted, he slid to the ground unable to keep himself standing any longer. One hand gripped his stomach while the other pressed to the floor holding up his body. He crawled forward with his one free hand, cringing from the pain movement caused him. But he kept going.

When he got to the ledge he looked down and saw Dorrek had expanded his wings and floated down onto his balcony not far from the table where the rose wilted. Noh had hit the roof of another tower probably breaking his arm, but rolled off to a ledge that had caught him from falling to his death. Wiccan knew he had to get to Dorrek before the errand boy had a chance to recover and get up again.

Using the stones in the frame of the window he pulled himself to his knees, then his feet as small whimpers of pain escaped through his clenched teeth. He was surprised he didn't chip a tooth with how hard he was biting trying to hold back. Just standing was a chore and he took a couple deep breaths once he'd accomplished the task. Testing himself, Wiccan rose one hand in front of him – ignoring the coating of red on his fingers - and summoned all the magic he had left. The blue was pale and he hoped he had enough energy to get him across to the balcony. He looked down into the dark void below the towers and caught a glimpse of his bleeding stomach through his fingers. He was probably a dead man anyway so better to just bite the bullet.

He took one more deep breath before his feet left the floor and he made the bound across to the balcony. Dorrek was struggling to get up as he groaned. Once Wiccan landed he was in no better shape. His feet gave out from under him upon landing and he fell forward onto his hands and knees.

"Billy." Dorrek coughed out and he looked up and met his eyes. The question 'are you alright' was clear in his blue irises. Wiccan nodded in reply and Dorrek was able to hoist himself up on one knee. He tried to bring himself to his feet, gripping his side as blood coated his clawed fingers. But a loud crack broke through the air, the sound familiar and Dorrek shouted and fell forward. He fell down the few steps of the balcony and rolled into his dark bedroom. Wiccan turned and looked over his shoulder and saw Noh had gotten up and from his tower fired his gun again. Then he turned the weapon on Wiccan. With no more energy or magic to spare he looked down the barrel ready to give in to his exhaustion. An eternal nap sounded pretty good right now - he hoped that would make death easier.

But then something blew past him in a huge gust of wind and out of the corner of his eye has saw a streak of green and silver. It vaulted off the railing and crossed the gorge between the balcony and where Noh-var was propped on the ledge.

"Speed!" Wiccan shouted in concern as his brother collided with the Kree and they went flying off the tower. At this point his stab wounds were numb and used to the ache. He knew that wasn't a good sign but he couldn't put his problems first even now. His brother might need him. Getting up on his feet he made it to the rail before collapsing onto it, resting his elbows on the stone. Looking over the rail of the balcony Wiccan spotted the two on a lower roof. Speed ran back and forth hitting Noh from one direction then another keeping him disoriented as he made one strike after another. Noh fell and tumbled along the roof. His head snapped side to side as he tried to pinpoint where his new opponent was. But he wasn't quick enough, and Speed had more than enough hatred for the Cube and anyone involved with them to get this job done.

Wiccan heard shuffling behind him and turned to see Dorrek. The back of his shirt and the hole Noh's last shot had made were still smoking filling the air with the stench of burning flesh. Holding a hand to his stomach Wiccan slowly step by step made his way to the wall that met the start of the railing where Dorrek turned himself to sit against it. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes as his chest rose and fell with heavy breaths.

Wiccan collapsed beside him on his knees. For a moment they just sat like that, the fight between Noh and Speed on the roof far off and in the back of their minds.

Finally, Dorrek turned his head and opened his eyes. Blue met brown as Wiccan stared back and neither of them said anything.

Dorrek was the first to break the silence, "You came back."

"Why did you think I never would?" Wiccan replied his brows pushing together in confusion.

Dorrek gave a heavy shrug, "People don't usually return to places they've been kept against their will."

Wiccan gave a small chuckle, he glanced down at his lap a bit embarrassed but looked back up at Dorrek when he admitted, "I haven't felt stuck here against my will for a long time."

Dorrek smiled, "I'm glad I got to see you one more time."

"Don't talk like that." Wiccan scolded.

"You have to go."

Wiccan's reply was instant and without an ounce of hesitation, "I'm not leaving you."

Dorrek's eyes moved down and landed on his stab wounds, "You need help. I don't think he got anything important but missing a vein or artery only buys you time. You can still bleed to death."

Wiccan knew from his own deep breaths that Dorrek made a good point. He was getting weaker and the exertion he'd been using moments ago wasn't helping. But he stayed put and glanced at the puddle of blood that was forming under Dorrek from both the gash in his side and the one in his back. "You need help too."

He shook his head, his blonde hair sticking to his sweaty forehead, "I'm beyond help."

"You've said that before." Wiccan reminded him. Back when they'd talk about his curse. Dorrek had spent a long time thinking things were hopeless when they weren't. He was just being stubborn, Wiccan told himself in denial, he's just stubborn.

Dorrek turned to look at the flower encased in glass. It only had one brown withered petal left that was barely hanging on. Wiccan felt a tug at his heart knowing he'd failed. He'd promised Dorrek he'd find a way to stop it. He promised himself he'd stop the mob from killing him. He failed twice.

"Maybe this is how it's supposed to be Billy." He said his eyes still on the rose, "Maybe I was always destined to die with it."

Wiccan turned from the drooping flower back to Dorrek, "I can heal you –" he raised his hand but Dorrek's grabbed his wrist effectively stopping him. His touch was light and gentle.

"We both know you don't have any energy left for that. And even if you did it wouldn't be enough." He said softly but somehow his eyes weren't sad. He just gazed at Billy for a long while before his hand let go of the mage's wrist and moved to cup his face. Wiccan leaned into the touch as Dorrek's thumb began to move back and forth.

Neither one noticed a figure walk into the bedroom, cloaked in darkness and shadows.

Watching.

Dorrek's breathing became more labored and Wiccan's eyes snapped back to him. He leaned forward and rested his hand on Dorrek's scaled shoulder. Dorrek smiled again and titled his head back toward Wiccan.

"Thank you." He muttered sounding incredibly weak, "For trying."

Wiccan's lip trembled as Dorrek took his hand from the mage's face and laid it in his lap. The puddle of blood under him had become much larger in a very short amount of time which only made Wiccan shake more. He took a ragged breath and sniffled.

"I can. . ." he tried to form a sentence as he flexed his free hand trying to call upon any magic, just one small shimmer. "I can. . . I . . . "

"Billy." Dorrek cut him off gently and their eyes locked again. "It's okay."

"No it's not." He said, his voice cracking and tears filled his eyes. Dorrek gave another small smile and leaned his head back on the wall again. He closed his eyes and took another deep breath. He exhaled. . .then didn't inhale. All emotion drained from his face, it was like he'd fallen asleep. Only. . .

"No." Wiccan said sternly, in denial. He leaned forward and shook Dorrek's shoulder ignoring the pain it caused in his abdomen. "No. Come back."

His breathing choked him as the tears ran down his face. He hunched forward and rested his head on Dorrek's shoulder as he cried. Far away a shout faded into nothing but it was nearly drowned out by the mage's weeping.

"Come back." He pleaded before taking a ragged sob and breathed softly, "I love you."

In the darkness Agatha's eyes widened and the last petal fell.