Chapter 5
to protect
Robin was running for her life. Her thoughts and feelings were all jumbled up. Thoughts about Asriel, and how she had made the worst decision of all. How could she have loved a monster? He was so charming and smart, she realised it was all a front, a calculated trap. And she had fallen for it. She was now a prey, just like the witches they hunted. Thank God for Amon and the others. They were buying her time to get away. She wanted to run back and fight, not escape like a coward! Dammit!
"Running away are you? And here I thought you Hunters could make a difference." Robin heard a voice nearby say. She squinted a bit and saw a shadowy figure standing next to a tree. The figure then walked into the lamplight and Robin saw a woman dressed in a white coat with dark blue T-shirt and jeans under it. The lady was around her own height and had long brown hair. Her features were soft but her brown eyes radiated purpose.
"Well?" the woman spoke, her tone sounded mocking.
"I wasn't… I have no need to answer you! Who are you?" Robin asked.
The woman gave a short flick of her hair. "Kasumi will do. I'm here to help you."
"Help me?"
Kasumi's face became serious. "The Devil's Eyes. The Hand of God. The monster is known by many names. Well, it's not really a monster… more like a spirit. It's been alive for thousands of years. It enters a person's body and corrupts his soul, changing and ultimately controlling its host. It enhances the host's power and gives him the ability to suck the life energy of others. Those of the Craft are most sought after. Many have tried to destroy it. Most of them never returned alive."
"The Hand of God? Amon was talking about that. So that means Asriel is…"
"The Hunter is possessed by it," Kasumi cut in. "You've seen him. Those eyes from Hell. He's not a man, he's a demon, a monster that needs to be destroyed!"
"How do you know all this?" Robin questioned, still not convinced.
The lady cried out in exasperation. "Questions and more questions! Dammit!" She looked at Robin, noting her confused expression. She was still so young. "My family," she began, "they were witches. And just as you hunt such witches, my family has hunted that spirit since well… forever." She gave small, tired chuckle, "It's our destiny I'm guessing. Our destiny also includes dying to do that. I lost my father to it. He left one day, claiming it to be his mission…and never returned." Kasumi was crying now, angry tears rolling down her cheeks. "But I'll end this! I owe my family that at least!"
"Kasumi-san…" Robin felt profound sadness for the young woman.
Kasumi wiped off her tears. Her eyes still glittered but were full of determination and fire. "Hunter," she said, "I saw how you fought with it. Lend me your strength Hunter!"
Robin was taken aback by the request. "I can't fight him, Asriel's too strong!"
"He has a weak point! I'm sure of it! The symbol on his left hand is the sign of the demon. Strike that and I'm sure we'll win!" Kasumi explained.
"But…" Robin trailed off. She could hear whistling, and it was getting closer.
"He's here! We don't have time!" Kasumi took out some talismans from her coat pocket. "I'll keep him busy. You aim for that hand! If you miss, we're done for!" She ran forward.
"Kasumi-san!" Robin shouted. Then, she saw him. Walking down the path, still whistling. Asriel noticed the two females and stopped. He grinned.
"Ara, Robin-chan. You took me a while to find," he said amiably, "But it all ends here." He fired a current of force at Robin. However, before Robin could defend herself, Kasumi stepped in front of her and threw a talisman at the oncoming attack. There was a bright flash of light as they collided, the force dissipating and the piece of paper turning to ash as it fell to the ground.
"Not as long as I'm here!" she shouted. She pressed on her attack and threw her talismans at Asriel. He brought up his shield once again and the paper stuck onto it. Kasumi smiled grimly and started chanting the spells she learned from her childhood. It was all coming back to her now.
"What is this?" Asriel roared as the talismans started glowing bright green. Runic symbols began to appear in the air around him. Kasumi chanted louder and the symbols flared. "Witch!" Asriel sneered and tried to attack the woman. His face registered surprise when he discovered his body wouldn't move. Nor could he use his powers to strike his captor down. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"My family and I are the bane to your existence, just like you are to ours!" Kasumi said, "My name is Kasumi Ayukawa and I will destroy you!" She chanted louder and the runes flared once more, locking the man in its cage.
Asriel could not believe it. He snarled, "You are merely mortals! You cannot hope to defeat me! Now release me and I'll consider not killing you slowly!" Then, realisation dawned on him and the beginning of a sly smile played on his lips. "Ayukawa. There was a man by that name. He tried to defeat me using these useless pieces of paper. I remember now! Such a pathetic man. Didn't even give me a decent fight. I enjoyed his screams as his skin fried while he was still alive. Then I killed him. Could that… that man possibly be… your father?"
"No!" Kasumi screamed. Her concentration faltered for a moment and the runes dimmed.
"Fool!" Asriel shouted in triumph and concentrated his energies to burst out of his prison. The talismans started to burn into ashes and with a loud cry, he smashed the runic symbols away.
"Dammit! Hunter!" Kasumi yelled. Robin focused her Craft on Asriel's hand but missed. The demon released a force of power at Kasumi. The attack tore into her arm, the limb exploding into a bloody mess. The shock of the pain caused her to faint and she dropped onto the ground.
"Kasumi-san!" Robin cried out and directed all her energies at Asriel's hand. The symbols burst into a huge explosion of fire and he roared from the pain. He pointed his burning palm to the skies as a straight column of purple light shot into the clouds above. Asriel kept screaming while the light kept getting brighter and brighter. Robin shielded her eyes from the glare. She couldn't see anything except that purplish hue! Robin heard Asriel give one final cry before the whole world exploded into darkness.
All around her, there was darkness. Robin found herself on the floor and looked around her. Not that it did any use. Inky black met her vision. She got up shakily. What happened? Why was the world like this? Where were the others? Then she remembered Kasumi and what Asriel did to her.
"Kasumi-san!" she shouted into the unending night. "Kasumi-san!" No answer. She took a few faltering steps forward, her arms extended to feel something, anything, that would give her a sense of where she was.
"Lost are we?" a deep male voice echoed around her. Asriel's voice.
Robin held her breath, as if believing the man could hear it and taste it. She spun around but there was only darkness. Where was he? Meanwhile, Asriel continued to speak.
"Cannot see anything? Is the darkness bothering you?" he laughed, the sound bouncing all over the place. "How do you like my special little place? It's not much, but it's cosy at least. I made this to keep all the annoying pests out of our date. Don't thank me Robin, let me thank you instead, in person!" And there he was, several metres always from her. She could see him clearly, for his left hand, though ruined, was still burning its purple flames. Asriel bowed. "Welcome to my humble abode my lady. There isn't anybody to disturb us now, so let's enjoy this while we can."
"How can that be? You shouldn't have your powers! I destroyed the symbols!" Robin stammered.
Asriel grinned. "Robin, Robin, Robin. I am a God. My powers are limitless. However, that last attack did me a little damage which will take some time to heal. But I am also Asriel Lucindus, the Craft-user and his power is real. The flames come from within, not from other witches. So there is no point in fighting me my dear. In fact, I'm here to ask you once more," he offered. He took a step towards her. "Join me Robin. I'll forgive you for that small wound you gave me. Join me. Forget the mortals and stand beside me at the peak of world! Robin!" His red eyes burned fervently.
Robin backed away in disgust and anger. "Get away from me demon! You have taken countless lives! That's not the way to build a proper world!"
"All great leaders have to take lives!" Asriel countered, "That's has always been the way. I am no different. However, it seems that I've lost any ounce of trust you had in me. For that I am sorry." He shook his head and walked a bit out of the light. He returned moments later. Robin opened her mouth in horror and shock. Asriel was carrying Kasumi by her hair! Her missing arm was still bleeding and her face registered excruciating pain. "And I suppose it was this bitch that whispered those foul words into your ears, that corrupted the bond we had!" He threw the injured woman onto the floor. Robin could hear the moans she made.
"Kasumi-san!" she screamed.
"Worry about yourself first Robin!" Asriel attacked, his flames gushing out of his hand towards her. Robin's eyes flared and her own column of fire struck it. Purple and yellow fire collided and meshed for a moment but Asriel's Craft was just too strong. His fire smashed through Robin's and went straight for her. She barely dodged it, rolling away the moment the flame hit the ground she was on. The Hunter counterattacked, yellow-orange tongues of fire whipping towards Asriel's form. Before it reached him, a geyser of his own purple flames formed a wall and absorbed her assault. Robin ran away from him, dodging his fire onslaughts at the last moments. He was too strong to fight! Was everything true? Was he a God that could not be defeated? Robin was so absorbed in her frustration that she did not notice Asriel's next shot. The fire rammed into her leg, burning the skin. She screamed. The pain was incredible! She crashed onto the ground, her injured leg unable to support her frame any longer. She saw Asriel walking ever-closer to her and shot a half-hearted column at him. Asriel easily countered it with his flames and soon, he was standing over her.
"I gave you a chance Robin. I gave you my love and I gave you my trust and confidence. But you spurned me girl, you fought me, you hurt me!" At the last line, he kicked her stomach hard. Robin cried out again. She grabbed her hurt stomach closely, huddling for protection. He kicked her again. "You disappoint me Robin," he shook his head. "Was that all you had? Was that your best attempt at destroying me? That pathetic witch was better than you. And you have so much potential inside you too. Are you really serious in defeating me?" He sighed. "Such a failure. Perhaps I was wrong about you. But still…" he gripped her around the throat with his fiery hand and lifted her to face him. Stings of pain erupted all over her neck as the fire burned its skin slightly. She moaned softly, her strength and spirit to fight gone. This was it, she couldn't go on anymore.
Asriel pulled her close to him, his lips near her ear. "This is the last goodbye Robin," he whispered, "I've always liked you. Always." The destroyed runes on his hand shone. He grinned.
Asriel snapped into consciousness as suddenly as he had lost it. He instantly remembered what had transpired moments ago. The first thing he did was to check his watch. Second thing was swearing. It had been almost an hour since the team had covered Robin's escape. Too long a time. He had to go find her. She was his ward, he needed to save her. That was what heroes did right? But he was no hero. He couldn't even save a little girl. Amon moved to get up and grimaced in pain. His arm felt as if it had been run over a truck. It was numb so it didn't hurt as much as before, but he could still feel sharp pangs when he moved it. He gritted his teeth and got up slowly, still clutching his mangled limb. He took several steps in the direction Robin ran to but had to get down on one knee. He breathed deeply. He was exhausted from the pain he received, not to mention from the blood he had lost, but he had to try! He struggled up again and lumbered forward a step before kneeling again. He didn't have the strength. He was mortal and he had no powers. He howled in frustration. Robin needed him! He had to get there now! Robin, Robin!
"Robin!!!" his desperate cry was lost into the night.
"Robin!!!" The voice whispered in her ear.
"A…Amon," Robin mouthed, "Amon!" A sudden flow of energy coursed through her. Her head suddenly reared up and met Asriel's surprised face. Instantly, flames erupted from all around her, burning anything near her. Asriel cried out and jumped several metres back.
"H…how? You were broken! You couldn't fight!" he demanded, fearful and confused. He stretched out his hand and his fire flew out to disintegrate her. Robin locked onto the oncoming wave and released one of her own. This time, both flames collided and took each other out. "Impossible! This isn't true! You're merely mortal!" Asriel's voice shook a little. What was happening? He attacked again only to achieve the same result as before. Robin could take on his powers. That cannot be! "You are not my equal! You do not have the strength! Why?" he roared.
"To protect…the ones I care about," Robin said softly. She looked at Kasumi's battered body nearby. "Kasumi-san, Karasuma-san, Sakaki and Amon. They gave their all to protect me. They placed their lives on the line to do so. And you've hurt them all. I cannot forgive that. I will not let their spirits die with me! Their lives are mine to protect! I will survive Asriel! And I will destroy you!"
"Fool!" Asriel screamed and summoned all the strength within him. With a great bellow, he released all the power he had, resulting in a tremendous inferno of purple fire shooting at Robin. She did the same, throwing every little bit of energy she had in an equally large column of flame blazing towards him. A loud crack was heard as the two smashed into each other, neither giving ground. Asriel snarled. He would not be beaten! He could not! "You will not win Robin! You cannot! I am immortal! I am a G--"
"You are nothing!" Robin countered, "You are a parasite. You live off people without a life to call your own. You don't deserve to live! You never did! A God? More like a worm!"
"DIE!!" Asriel shrieked and his attack intensified. Robin grimaced as her flame faltered at the overbearing assault. This was the final fight. And she was losing. It was all she could do to keep him at bay. She was stronger now because of the meaning she found but then, so was he. He had gone full-out in anger and was not giving her any openings. She was close to exhaustion while he didn't seem the least bit tired. What could she do?
The flames were still caught in a dead lock, neither giving way, though Asriel's own was slowly but surely pushing Robin's back. He was winning! Which wasn't much of a surprise. He always won. Nobody could destroy him, no matter how hard they tried. Robin was the closest, but he would win in the end. He was a God! He was the Hand of God.
No!
Something cried out in the back of his mind. Somebody was screaming, giving him an irritable buzz. He could feel something inside his head threatening to break out.
Remember! Remember why you're here!
Who are you? the Hand of God roared within his mind and heart. Reveal yourself!
Remember your meaning! Find your meaning! cried the desperate voice.
And then, Asriel Lucindus remembered. He remembered why he became a Hunter. Yes, it was his obligation to the priests that took him in, but he did it for something else.
To Protect
Asriel Lucindus became a Hunter so that others would never feel the pain he felt when he had lost his parents. He used his Craft for that purpose and that only. He smiled. That was his meaning. He started to lower his arm and the purple attack wavered.
What are you doing? The voice thundered throughout his skull. You are mine! You cannot do this! Stop it!
Asriel grimaced against the pain in his head but persevered. He would end this now. Nobody would die anymore.
No! Stop it! Stop it!
"Nobody," he whispered.
Asriel lowered his arm fully. His flame vanished.
Robin saw the fire waver. She looked up. Was Asriel getting tired? Here was her chance. She pressed forward her attack and her column of flames began to push back. It was at that moment her eyes fell upon the man's face. His features suddenly softened, as if he could finally relax and his mouth began making out words she couldn't hear. Then, he suddenly lowered his arm and extinguished his fire. Caught by surprise, Robin's attack immediately slammed into Asriel's body, setting it alight.
"Asriel!" she cried out, running towards him. The man was totally engulfed in flames. He did not scream however, but he was shouting her name.
"Robin! It's hurt but is healing again, fast. Its powers are returning and is keeping the fire away from the body! You have to completely destroy me! It is the only way to stop the demon! Robin!" He stretched out his hand through the flames. She could see it was untouched. "Robin! Take my hand and release your flames inside me. Burn me from the inside out! Hurry! I can't hold him off much longer! Take my hand!"
"Take my hand, Robin," the voice from her dream yelled out.
"Hurry Robin! There's no time!" Asriel screamed.
"Hurry Robin! There's no time!" The dream again. What was she supposed to do?
"Asriel! Don't make me do this!" she begged, "We can fight this together!"
"Now!!" he commanded. And just like in the dream, she grabbed the hand. But he was not the saviour and neither was she. Robin gripped his hand tightly and looked into his green eyes.
"Now," he said softly. She used her Craft. It punched through his skin and started to burn from within the confines of his body. He howled from the pain but refused to let go. Blood started trickling out of his ears, mouth, nose and eyes as his internal organs melted and charred. It was a painful way to die but his hand still clamped onto Robin's tightly. After an agonizing minute, he pushed her away. His body was already boiling and blistering from the heat within. Within moments, his skin caught fire. Robin thought she saw a dark mist leave the body into the darkness around.
"Asriel!" she wailed. Her voice managed to rouse the man as he focused upon the crying girl from within the inferno. Even as his face started to charr, he could still manage a smile.
"Thank you," he whispered weakly, "and I've always liked you. Always." His emerald eyes lost the life inside them as the fire consumed him.
Robin was sobbing furiously now. "Asriel! Baka… baka!" She knelt down from exhaustion and sorrow from the events before. With the Hand of God destroyed, the black cage she was held captive in disappeared and she was in the park again. She did not notice the change til several moments later. She looked around, dazed.
"Robin! Robin!" The girl swivelled towards the voices. It was Karasuma and Sakaki, helping a wounded Amon to her. They were safe. She looked at Kasumi's unconscious form, and then at the black remains of her saviour. She could feel the tears coming out again.
"Robin!" The STN-J team finally reached her. "Are you alright? What happened here?" Karasuma asked, her face full of worry and confusion.
The young Hunter viewed up at the moon, her tears rolling down her dirt-stained cheeks. "We won," she said sorrowfully, "We won."