Flesh Wounds
Part Fifteen
"How?"
"I didn't see that. All I was shown was all the universes, this one and all parallel, ending, the inhabitants becoming slaves in Hell," Athena replied.
"Why? What's the point?"
"Remember what I said? When we met, he could not shut up about Hell. I thought it mad fancy. Apparently, I was wrong."
"Like that ever happens," Xander cracked, and felt his hair ruffle as she lightly smacked the back of his head.
"Funny, luv. Very funny."
"And you had the same dream?" Danny asked Sara.
"Strangely, yeah. I guess Athena was leaking out massive energy, and it hit me."
"Good answer," the girl thought at the Wielder.
"Are you saying that Dasseren is the one who's eating all those people?"
"No, I don't think even he could be in so many places at once." The girl began to pace. "So we have a who, but not a what. What could he summon to do these things?"
"Demons?"
"Too obvious. Everybody immediately assumes demons. Besides, it's pretty hard to mask demons, and these things are invisible, according to Coba. And no, it's not ghosts. Ghosts can't actually touch physical objects unless they concentrate really hard, and this is not acts of concentration."
"How many victims have there been over all?" Gabriel asked, flipping through a massive volume written in Sanskrit.
"Six hundred and thirty."
The young "antiques" dealer raised a brow at the number. "Wait, here's something…'666 being the number of hell, so it takes six hundred sixty-six sacrifices, taken three days of the seven.' Any ideas?"
Athena began to read over his shoulder. "Yeah, it's a way to end the universe. It must what he's planning to do…Which means he has thirty-six to go."
"More like twelve," Diane interrupted. "We have twenty-four new bodies, spanning…"
"The last two days," Athena finished. "We have until tomorrow to end this."
"Not enough time," Jake muttered.
"It's got to be." The girl turned. "Giles, Xander, we'll keep researching. Gabe, I'm sure you have resources for this type of stuff somewhere. Find them, get what you can."
"Gone."
"And take these papers with you. You're the safest place right now."
He merely gathered up the parchment. "I'll do what I can." He wrapped her in a brief hug and kissed her forehead. "Get some sleep."
"No time," she muttered distractedly. "Get back to me as soon as you can."
"Will do." Tossing a mock-salute at the group, he left.
"What do you want us to do?" Danny asked.
"Go get some sleep," she replied. "If you're exhausted, you don't fight as well."
"Is it going to get that big?" Jake asked.
"Probably bigger. Sara, can I speak to you outside?"
"Uh, sure," the detective replied, following her out.
"I take it you haven't told Danny about the Witchblade?"
"No, I haven't. It never seemed right."
"Well, either you tell him, or we find a way to get rid of everyone before we face Dasseren, because it's mainly going to be you and me."
"You and I are going to save the universe? Alone?"
"To be in our position is to be alone, Wielder," Athena replied softly.
"Will it abandon me?"
"Has it ever done so before?"
"I heard…"
"I know." The Princess faced the Wielder squarely. "I won't lie to you. It may abandon both of us. But we can't stop fighting. Can I depend on you?"
"Yeah."
A wistful smile touched the girl's face. "You're beginning to trust me."
"Just a little. Would you die to save the universe?"
"Yes."
Sara merely nodded and left.
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"What is it you wish for me to do?"
"I need you to stay low, Ian. Do what you can to keep people away and calm when this happens."
"How are you stopping this?"
"I really can't do anything until after the portal is opened. That's the only time Dasseren will be really vulnerable."
"And you will be careful?"
"Yes." She took his bearded face in her hands, softly kissing his forehead and eyes. "If…I want you to know you're one of the ones I trust completely…even when you get possessed by your father."
He laughed softly, tears evident, and held her close.
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"Gabe?"
"Yeah, Chief?"
"Why do you trust Athena?"
Gabriel played with his chess set for a moment, arranging his thoughts. "Freshman year, when I was actually in college, I was invited to a frat party. Athena warned me against it, but I went anyway."
"What happened?"
"Demons attacked the frat house, killing nearly everyone. Athena arrived in time to save a few others and me. The incident was covered up, so no one knows except those still living." He leaned back in his chair. "She saved my life, Sara. More than that, she never asked for anything in return. It's just what she does."
"You love her, don't you?"
"More than I've loved anyone else. And you can't love without trust."
"Okay."
"Do you trust her?"
"I don't know, Gabe. A little, yes. But with my life?"
"She needs you, Sara. She needs your help, and your trust. The Witchblades won't work together without it."
"Could you explain that, please?"
"The jewels in your bracelets? They're halves of the same fruit. The power you both wield is amazing, but if you combine it…it would be astronomical."
"Really?"
"Oh, yes. You two are probably some of the most powerful people on this planet."
"Could she defeat this on her own?"
"Maybe. Hell's different than here. She really has little control, because there's all these dimensions that have their own little rulers, and stuff."
"Whoa. Mind job."
"You have no idea. Neither do I, really. That's just what she's told me." He smiled to himself. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"What? Oh, no. I just wanted to know."
"Okay. I'm going to work on these documents, then. 'Bye."
"'Bye."
Gabriel stared thoughtfully at his receiver for a moment before hanging up and going back to the documents.
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"Athena, I think you should go be by yourself," Giles suggested quietly so Xander would not overhear.
"Why?"
"Because you need to think some things over, like how you feel about Gabriel."
"Perapa, I really don't think this is the time…" She trailed off, studying his eyes. "What do you know, Perapa? Tell me."
He merely shook his head and kissed her forehead. "Go."
Giving him a very confused look, she picked up her jacket. "Xander, hold down the fort. I'll be back in a while."
"Okay," the teen muttered, absorbed in the tome in his hands, then raised his head. "Where's she going?"
Giles did not answer.
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Situated on the front center spike of the Statue of Liberty's crown, Athena held her knees under her chin, staring unseeingly. Despite her outer repose, inside, her emotions were in turmoil. The bracelet on her wrist buzzed, and she glanced down. "Show me."
Before her mind's eye, a face was brought to the forefront, the same face in a thousand different bodies. And she could not mistake what her heart was telling her, newly thawed that it was. Slowly rising to her feet, she stood at the very tip of the spike, gazing around her. "He loves me," she murmured to herself. "And I…I love him."
