Confrontation
The sequel to "Surprise." I do not own any part of Charmed, I just write about it.
When Cole could see again, he found all three of them in a heavily wooded area. A small dirt trail meandering in front of them off into the distance. "Is this the realm?" Cole asked.
Gabriel nodded, "I could have brought us closer to it, but I wanted to make sure and get the illusions on first. Hold still."
Cole felt a strange sensation come over him, almost a weird sort of melting and reforming of his features. When it was done, Cole felt like he had a second skin, one that moved in conjunction with the first.
"I feel.strange," Gerald confessed. Cole turned to comfort him, and bit back a started exclamation. Instead of Gerald, Cole found himself facing a tall, heavily muscled humanoid with the face of a bull. The expression on Gerald's 'face' was one of shock, before he said softly, "Cole?"
"We all look like standard minotaurs, which should make wandering around much easier." Gabriel explained. The other two turned and found themselves looking at a minotaur with only slightly different features from their own. "Be careful though. The illusion will only last as long as we keep our power use to the minimum. Any extreme power usage would shatter the illusion, and that wouldn't be good."
"I'll keep that in mind.which way to the gem?" Gerald muttered.
Gabriel pointed, "About two miles that way."
"Then let's get walking," Gerald finished. He then turned to walk down the road. As they both followed, Cole tried to feel Phoebe through the Soulbond. It was there, but it was incredibly weak. He got a vague, faint sense of well-being, and that was it. Apparently, the sheer distance between the two of them affected even the Soulbond. Cole hoped she was all right.
***
"I hope he's alright," Phoebe worried.
"I'm sure all three of them are fine," Paige reassured her. "After all, those three can take care of themselves. I'd be more worried about what going to happen to Angel if they run into him."
Phoebe sighed, "I suppose you're right."
Paige would have continued, but at that moment Mortanos appeared. "How's the search going?"
"Not good," Mortanos said grimly. "We are doing everything we can, but due to the sheer difference in our type of power and his, it's very hard to get a fix. It's like trying to find water with a metal detector. We're going to keep looking, but I wish our three Azarians were here."
As Mortanos faded, Paige heard Phoebe say softly, "So do I, so do I."
***
"Wow," Cole whispered as the three of them came into sight of a city. The city itself wasn't that impressive. Most of the buildings appeared run down, and even from here Cole could smell some distasteful odor coming from within it. But just outside the city was a massive structure, a giant circular dome cylinder that stretch up hundreds of feet. It was amazing.
"Your first view of the Arena?" a voice asked. The three turned to find a minotaur staring at them with a wide grin.
"Wha." Gerald began, but the minotaur laughed.
"Don't worry, I was the same way the first time I saw it. It is quite impressive, to say the least. My names Korath. Are you here for the Games?"
Cole was about to respond negatively when Gabriel said, "Yes, we heard they're going to be fantastic, and shouldn't be missed."
Korath grinned, "They will at that. Our majesty King Gonnas, may the gods grant him strength, has spent a great deal of money and energy making sure this year the week of Games will be without a doubt the greatest ever. Everyone who is anyone will be there. I was just about to head into the city, would you like me to show you to a good inn?"
"Thanks, that would be great," Gerald mentioned.
"Just one second." Korath said. He shouted back, and in the distance, the three Azarians could see a wagon coming up from the distance. When it approached, Cole realized in horror that it was a slave wagon, full of weak and withered human bodies.
"I don't expect much of a price for my stock this year, but I just need to break even," Korath explained. He turned to the driver, a emaciated man who had a hopeless look in his eyes, and snapped, "Take these to the markets, and make sure they're in a good spot."
The slave cringed, "Yes master, of course master."
Cole felt rage course through him as he saw the pitiful condition many of the humans were in. He felt his power beginning to rise, and felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder. He turned his head to find himself staring into Gerald's pained eyes. "Don't," Gerald whispered, "I want to as bad as you do, but we need to find the gem. We don't have the time to save all these people. I wish we did, but we don't. And the only thing keeping your son from ripping this bastard to pieces is the same thing I just said."
Cole forced himself to calm down and turned to his son. He saw helpless rage in Gabriel's eyes, and a kind of entreaty to Cole. In shock, Cole realized Gabriel wanted him to react so he could follow suit. Gabriel badly wanted to intervene, but he wouldn't unless his father did so as well. That fact cooled the last of Cole's rage.
"Are you okay?" Korath asked in concern.
"We're fine," Gerald replied pleasantly. "So, you say those are your stock?"
"Not really, "Korath explained, "Just some of the weaker ones from my ranch. I'm saving my best stock for breeding or for the Fair in six months. Still, there will be a huge demand for slaves, either from the other breeders here or from the king. The Arena always needs fresh fighters."
Gerald and Korath started in on a discussion about possible opportunities for good stock in the market, a conversation that disgusted Cole. He didn't understand how Gerald could keep from hitting Korath, and admired his self-control. Cole walked over to Gabriel and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Gabriel looked at him, and Cole read the self- loathing and rage he felt at not being able to interfere. Cole kept his hand on his son's shoulder the entire way to the city.
***
"Hey Piper, what's up?" Phoebe asked.
Piper looked up from the Book of Shadows, "Well, I've been thinking. Everyone is using such highly powerful solutions to find Angel, but I wonder if we shouldn't go a little less powerful."
"What do you mean?" Paige wondered.
"Well, Angel is sure to mask himself from any highly powered scanning or searching, but would he think to block a simple scrying?"
"Even if we wanted to, we don't have anything of his to use to scry for," Paige mentioned.
"I know, but I want.no I need to do something." Piper said softly.
"Well, I have an idea." Michael murmured.
"What's that?" Phoebe demanded.
Michael held up a single feather, "I asked the Librarian for one of his feather so I could see if I could find a way to reverse Angel's magic. His power is coating this wing, due to the punishment he used on the Librarian. Would that work?"
Piper smiled, "You know, it might. It just might work."
***
"Behold the city of Stockhold," Korath said solemnly.
As Cole gazed out into the city, it was all he could do not to cry. The city itself was not bad in design: any other time, Cole might have found it pleasant. But everywhere he looked Cole saw humans treated like animals. There were minotaurs hawking their stock as the humans huddled miserably and hopelessly together, trying to stay alive. Corpses of humans were everywhere, and other humans were being made to throw them onto wagons.
"What are they going to do with those?" Cole asked in a slightly strained voice.
Korath looked happy, "Actually, it is one of the better systems. All of the creatures caught and held in the Arena have to eat, and so we use the dead slaves to feed them. It is great, for even if my stock die, I can get some small recourse with the crown. Isn't our majesty great?"
Cole managed to nod affirmative, which he tried to keep his hatred in check. Only one thing kept Cole from destroying this whole place, and that was Gabriel. Even from here, Cole could see every muscle on Gabriel's body 'tense', and he could practically taste the anger Gabriel was feeling. How must it feel, to be the Guardian of Life and to see this, to feel what all these living creatures were being put through? It must be ten times worse for him than for me Cole mused.
Cole's thoughts were interrupted as he saw Korath hurrying them towards some sort of courtyard, "What's going on?"
"The Games are getting ready to start for the day," Korath explained, "if we're lucky, we can catch his majesty's opening address."
The three Azarians followed Korath into a courtyard jammed with people. Just as they got there, a single minotaur came out onto a balcony overlooking them all. As the minotaurs cheered, Cole realized this must be their king. He was huge, like most of his species. Cole was about to dismiss him when he saw Gabriel's eyes widen in shock. Cole looked closer, and saw that around the King's neck was a diamond, one that seemed to draw Cole's eyes.
The King's speech forgotten, Cole leaned in and whispered, "is that it?"
Gabriel nodded, and said, "Now all we have to do it figure out how to get it."
At the moment, the King shouted, "Let the Games begin!" As the crowd cheered, he turned and headed into the Arena.
Korath grabbed them, and said, "Hurry, or we'll never get good seats."
The three Azarians followed Korath, as Cole leaned in and explained to Gerald where the gem they sought was.
Apparently they were lucky, as Korath proclaimed. They were seated about halfway up in the Arena, giving them a clear view of the floor. "you're good luck," Korath mentioned, "I've never had such good seats."
"What are we going to do to get the gem," Cole whispered.
"I don't know," Gabriel admitted, "but we'll think of something."
***
As the crystal circled around the map, Piper commented, "You're doing great Melinda. Keep it up."
Melinda smiled, and said, "Thanks mommy."
"Good idea, having her do the scrying," Paige complimented.
"As the strongest witch here, she stands as our best chance of finding Angel." Piper said modestly.
"What are we going to do if this does work," Michael mentioned.
"Tell the Guardians, and deal with it," Phoebe immediately responded.
At the moment, the crystal stopped in the center of San Francisco. "Got him," Piper proclaimed. "Contact the Guardians. It's time to go hunting."
***
Gabriel had been sitting on a very fine edge. He could feel the hopelessness and pain of the all the living creatures here, and he wanted badly to try and help fix it. Only his mission kept him from doing just that, but each second that passed was very trying.
Over a dozen 'events' had happened in the Games, each one more sickening than the last. Gabriel had watched as slaves were sent against powerful beasts, or minotaur gladiators. They inevitably lost, but the longer they lasted, the more the crowd cheered. That was the hardest part of all of it, having to cheer as a precious life was killed for 'entertainment'.
At that moment, the King stood to speak. "This is unusual," Korath muttered, "it promises to be a very interesting next event."
The King shouted out, "My people, we have recently been successful in a battle against out enemies!"
As the minotaurs cheered, Korath whispered, "As you know, we've been fighting against another realm for quite some time. Apparently, we've just had a major victory. No wonder he looks so pleased."
Korath would have continued, but the King had started to speak again, ".great success, killing many. In honor of that victory, I've decided to allow one of the captured prisoners the chance to pleasure us by fighting in the Games! This one refused to tell us anything, despite our 'encouragement', and for that, he deserves an honorable end. So, I've decided to let him fight..THE FARAETHA!"
"What's that?" Gerald asked.
"The Faraetha is an incredibly dangerous animal that lives in a realm adjoining outs," Korath explained, "it is very hard to kill one, much less catch one, for they are cunning and powerful. The one in the Arena killed over 300 slaves and close to 15 of our people before it was stopped. This should be an interesting match."
Gabriel was about to respond when he was buffeted by waves of terror and pain. It slammed into him with the force of a tsunami, and it took all of Gabriel's willpower not to weep. Looking down, he saw two minotaurs drag a small child out into the Arena. Even from, Gabriel could tell the child had been tortured. He could feel its pain, and also its hopelessness.
At that moment, the gates on the other side of the Arena opened, and a Hydra walked out. It had six heads, each one hissing in anticipation of its meal. As the child screamed in terror, something inside Gabriel snapped. No, this was going too far, they had to be STOPPED!
Gabriel screamed in rage, and his power erupted out of him. His illusion shattered as he gave vent to everything that had been building since their arrival. He caught one glimpse of Korath's immensely shocked face before Gabriel shot in the air towards the child, followed closely by Cole and Gerald, each equally incensed.
The Hydra had not noticed their presence, intent as it was upon a meal. All six heads shot towards the child, who could do nothing but quiver in terror. Just before the heads hit, they bounced off a shimmering white barrier Gabriel erected. As Gabriel landed, he saw the child collapse inside the barrier. Gabriel turned and said, "Gerald, you get the gem. Father, you and I shall deal with this THING!"
As Cole and Gabriel simultaneously fired bolts of lightning, Gerald shot over towards the King, who was shouting for all loyal minotaurs to destroy the vile creatures. The king's bodyguards tried to stop him, but Gerald knocked them aside with his wings. His hand shot forward and ripped the gem from the King. He was then throw back as a heavy right hook hit his jaw. He looked up to see the King draw his sword and charge him. Gerald rolled off the balcony, and used his wings to glide down towards Cole and Gabriel, who were driving the Hydra back.
Cole looked up and saw Gerald land, with the gem in one hand. Even from here, Cole could tell Gerald's jaw was broken. He turned his attention back to the Hydra, who had turned and was slinking off towards other exit. Meanwhile, Gabriel had thrown up a barrier quickly as a wave of arrows and dark magic tried to destroy them.
Gabriel fell to his knees, as both Cole and Gerald threw their powers in with Gabriel. They could feel the power trying to crush them, and realized in horror that there must be minotaurs here that knew how to use magic. Gabriel looked at them, and asked, "Can you hold the shield?"
"For a little while, but why." Gerald began, but trailed off as he saw Gabriel touch the child. The child had stopped breathing, and he was covered in bruises, with several limbs lying at weird angles. There were even several ribs sticking out of his skin. It was amazing the child was even alive.
Gabriel looked at them, and said, "Hold it, I have to save him. I won't let him die."
Cole was going to say something, saw the look in Gabriel's eyes, and nodded. Gabriel closed his eyes, and sent his power in to heal the child. The child's physiology was vastly different than a human's, but Gabriel learned quickly. He poured more and more power in, trying to stabilize the child's many injuries. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity but was probably only three minutes, the child began breathing again, and opened his eyes. Gabriel used his remaining reserves to find the child's home realm, where he belonged. As the child opened his mouth to speak, Gabriel sent him to that realm, praying he had done enough.
Gabriel looked up, trying to focus his exhausted eyes. Both Cole and Gerald were still holding the shield, but each looked equally weary. Calling on reserves he didn't know he had, Gabriel grabbed both of them and teleported all three of them to their home realm. Once there, they all fell onto the ground, totally unconscious.
***
"Is everyone ready?" Mortanos asked. When the sisters, Melinda, Leo, Michael, and the other Guardians nodded, he added, "Then let's go get him."
Mortanos transported them all to where the scrying had shown, and when they appeared, the sisters found themselves looking at an elderly man with sapphire eyes. The man was sitting in a chair with his feet up, and he smiled when he saw them. "So, you found me, eh? Nicely done." Angel said as he started clapping.
"Are you going to surrender?" Mortanos demanded.
"Don't be silly," Angel replied, still relaxing in the chair and footstool. Paige looked closer, trying to figure out why he was so cocky. She noticed something odd about the chair and the footstool. Instead of having wooden of metal legs, Paige noticed the legs seemed to be made of.well, rubber.
"Then we have no choice but to destroy you," Fiona stated as all the Guardians began drawing in their power.
Angel sighed, and said, "So be it." He then shouted, "Exlitaheateazs!"
Paige realized too late what was going to happen, and started to yell, "it's a TRA." electricity shot across the floor, slamming into each person. Unprepared for such an assault, everyone was taken totally by surprise. They jerked and twitched as raw voltage shot through their bodies, before collapsing to the ground.
As Paige lost consciousness, she heard Angel laughingly say, "Welcome to my web, said the spider to the fly."
TO BE CONTINUED.
The sequel to "Surprise." I do not own any part of Charmed, I just write about it.
When Cole could see again, he found all three of them in a heavily wooded area. A small dirt trail meandering in front of them off into the distance. "Is this the realm?" Cole asked.
Gabriel nodded, "I could have brought us closer to it, but I wanted to make sure and get the illusions on first. Hold still."
Cole felt a strange sensation come over him, almost a weird sort of melting and reforming of his features. When it was done, Cole felt like he had a second skin, one that moved in conjunction with the first.
"I feel.strange," Gerald confessed. Cole turned to comfort him, and bit back a started exclamation. Instead of Gerald, Cole found himself facing a tall, heavily muscled humanoid with the face of a bull. The expression on Gerald's 'face' was one of shock, before he said softly, "Cole?"
"We all look like standard minotaurs, which should make wandering around much easier." Gabriel explained. The other two turned and found themselves looking at a minotaur with only slightly different features from their own. "Be careful though. The illusion will only last as long as we keep our power use to the minimum. Any extreme power usage would shatter the illusion, and that wouldn't be good."
"I'll keep that in mind.which way to the gem?" Gerald muttered.
Gabriel pointed, "About two miles that way."
"Then let's get walking," Gerald finished. He then turned to walk down the road. As they both followed, Cole tried to feel Phoebe through the Soulbond. It was there, but it was incredibly weak. He got a vague, faint sense of well-being, and that was it. Apparently, the sheer distance between the two of them affected even the Soulbond. Cole hoped she was all right.
***
"I hope he's alright," Phoebe worried.
"I'm sure all three of them are fine," Paige reassured her. "After all, those three can take care of themselves. I'd be more worried about what going to happen to Angel if they run into him."
Phoebe sighed, "I suppose you're right."
Paige would have continued, but at that moment Mortanos appeared. "How's the search going?"
"Not good," Mortanos said grimly. "We are doing everything we can, but due to the sheer difference in our type of power and his, it's very hard to get a fix. It's like trying to find water with a metal detector. We're going to keep looking, but I wish our three Azarians were here."
As Mortanos faded, Paige heard Phoebe say softly, "So do I, so do I."
***
"Wow," Cole whispered as the three of them came into sight of a city. The city itself wasn't that impressive. Most of the buildings appeared run down, and even from here Cole could smell some distasteful odor coming from within it. But just outside the city was a massive structure, a giant circular dome cylinder that stretch up hundreds of feet. It was amazing.
"Your first view of the Arena?" a voice asked. The three turned to find a minotaur staring at them with a wide grin.
"Wha." Gerald began, but the minotaur laughed.
"Don't worry, I was the same way the first time I saw it. It is quite impressive, to say the least. My names Korath. Are you here for the Games?"
Cole was about to respond negatively when Gabriel said, "Yes, we heard they're going to be fantastic, and shouldn't be missed."
Korath grinned, "They will at that. Our majesty King Gonnas, may the gods grant him strength, has spent a great deal of money and energy making sure this year the week of Games will be without a doubt the greatest ever. Everyone who is anyone will be there. I was just about to head into the city, would you like me to show you to a good inn?"
"Thanks, that would be great," Gerald mentioned.
"Just one second." Korath said. He shouted back, and in the distance, the three Azarians could see a wagon coming up from the distance. When it approached, Cole realized in horror that it was a slave wagon, full of weak and withered human bodies.
"I don't expect much of a price for my stock this year, but I just need to break even," Korath explained. He turned to the driver, a emaciated man who had a hopeless look in his eyes, and snapped, "Take these to the markets, and make sure they're in a good spot."
The slave cringed, "Yes master, of course master."
Cole felt rage course through him as he saw the pitiful condition many of the humans were in. He felt his power beginning to rise, and felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder. He turned his head to find himself staring into Gerald's pained eyes. "Don't," Gerald whispered, "I want to as bad as you do, but we need to find the gem. We don't have the time to save all these people. I wish we did, but we don't. And the only thing keeping your son from ripping this bastard to pieces is the same thing I just said."
Cole forced himself to calm down and turned to his son. He saw helpless rage in Gabriel's eyes, and a kind of entreaty to Cole. In shock, Cole realized Gabriel wanted him to react so he could follow suit. Gabriel badly wanted to intervene, but he wouldn't unless his father did so as well. That fact cooled the last of Cole's rage.
"Are you okay?" Korath asked in concern.
"We're fine," Gerald replied pleasantly. "So, you say those are your stock?"
"Not really, "Korath explained, "Just some of the weaker ones from my ranch. I'm saving my best stock for breeding or for the Fair in six months. Still, there will be a huge demand for slaves, either from the other breeders here or from the king. The Arena always needs fresh fighters."
Gerald and Korath started in on a discussion about possible opportunities for good stock in the market, a conversation that disgusted Cole. He didn't understand how Gerald could keep from hitting Korath, and admired his self-control. Cole walked over to Gabriel and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Gabriel looked at him, and Cole read the self- loathing and rage he felt at not being able to interfere. Cole kept his hand on his son's shoulder the entire way to the city.
***
"Hey Piper, what's up?" Phoebe asked.
Piper looked up from the Book of Shadows, "Well, I've been thinking. Everyone is using such highly powerful solutions to find Angel, but I wonder if we shouldn't go a little less powerful."
"What do you mean?" Paige wondered.
"Well, Angel is sure to mask himself from any highly powered scanning or searching, but would he think to block a simple scrying?"
"Even if we wanted to, we don't have anything of his to use to scry for," Paige mentioned.
"I know, but I want.no I need to do something." Piper said softly.
"Well, I have an idea." Michael murmured.
"What's that?" Phoebe demanded.
Michael held up a single feather, "I asked the Librarian for one of his feather so I could see if I could find a way to reverse Angel's magic. His power is coating this wing, due to the punishment he used on the Librarian. Would that work?"
Piper smiled, "You know, it might. It just might work."
***
"Behold the city of Stockhold," Korath said solemnly.
As Cole gazed out into the city, it was all he could do not to cry. The city itself was not bad in design: any other time, Cole might have found it pleasant. But everywhere he looked Cole saw humans treated like animals. There were minotaurs hawking their stock as the humans huddled miserably and hopelessly together, trying to stay alive. Corpses of humans were everywhere, and other humans were being made to throw them onto wagons.
"What are they going to do with those?" Cole asked in a slightly strained voice.
Korath looked happy, "Actually, it is one of the better systems. All of the creatures caught and held in the Arena have to eat, and so we use the dead slaves to feed them. It is great, for even if my stock die, I can get some small recourse with the crown. Isn't our majesty great?"
Cole managed to nod affirmative, which he tried to keep his hatred in check. Only one thing kept Cole from destroying this whole place, and that was Gabriel. Even from here, Cole could see every muscle on Gabriel's body 'tense', and he could practically taste the anger Gabriel was feeling. How must it feel, to be the Guardian of Life and to see this, to feel what all these living creatures were being put through? It must be ten times worse for him than for me Cole mused.
Cole's thoughts were interrupted as he saw Korath hurrying them towards some sort of courtyard, "What's going on?"
"The Games are getting ready to start for the day," Korath explained, "if we're lucky, we can catch his majesty's opening address."
The three Azarians followed Korath into a courtyard jammed with people. Just as they got there, a single minotaur came out onto a balcony overlooking them all. As the minotaurs cheered, Cole realized this must be their king. He was huge, like most of his species. Cole was about to dismiss him when he saw Gabriel's eyes widen in shock. Cole looked closer, and saw that around the King's neck was a diamond, one that seemed to draw Cole's eyes.
The King's speech forgotten, Cole leaned in and whispered, "is that it?"
Gabriel nodded, and said, "Now all we have to do it figure out how to get it."
At the moment, the King shouted, "Let the Games begin!" As the crowd cheered, he turned and headed into the Arena.
Korath grabbed them, and said, "Hurry, or we'll never get good seats."
The three Azarians followed Korath, as Cole leaned in and explained to Gerald where the gem they sought was.
Apparently they were lucky, as Korath proclaimed. They were seated about halfway up in the Arena, giving them a clear view of the floor. "you're good luck," Korath mentioned, "I've never had such good seats."
"What are we going to do to get the gem," Cole whispered.
"I don't know," Gabriel admitted, "but we'll think of something."
***
As the crystal circled around the map, Piper commented, "You're doing great Melinda. Keep it up."
Melinda smiled, and said, "Thanks mommy."
"Good idea, having her do the scrying," Paige complimented.
"As the strongest witch here, she stands as our best chance of finding Angel." Piper said modestly.
"What are we going to do if this does work," Michael mentioned.
"Tell the Guardians, and deal with it," Phoebe immediately responded.
At the moment, the crystal stopped in the center of San Francisco. "Got him," Piper proclaimed. "Contact the Guardians. It's time to go hunting."
***
Gabriel had been sitting on a very fine edge. He could feel the hopelessness and pain of the all the living creatures here, and he wanted badly to try and help fix it. Only his mission kept him from doing just that, but each second that passed was very trying.
Over a dozen 'events' had happened in the Games, each one more sickening than the last. Gabriel had watched as slaves were sent against powerful beasts, or minotaur gladiators. They inevitably lost, but the longer they lasted, the more the crowd cheered. That was the hardest part of all of it, having to cheer as a precious life was killed for 'entertainment'.
At that moment, the King stood to speak. "This is unusual," Korath muttered, "it promises to be a very interesting next event."
The King shouted out, "My people, we have recently been successful in a battle against out enemies!"
As the minotaurs cheered, Korath whispered, "As you know, we've been fighting against another realm for quite some time. Apparently, we've just had a major victory. No wonder he looks so pleased."
Korath would have continued, but the King had started to speak again, ".great success, killing many. In honor of that victory, I've decided to allow one of the captured prisoners the chance to pleasure us by fighting in the Games! This one refused to tell us anything, despite our 'encouragement', and for that, he deserves an honorable end. So, I've decided to let him fight..THE FARAETHA!"
"What's that?" Gerald asked.
"The Faraetha is an incredibly dangerous animal that lives in a realm adjoining outs," Korath explained, "it is very hard to kill one, much less catch one, for they are cunning and powerful. The one in the Arena killed over 300 slaves and close to 15 of our people before it was stopped. This should be an interesting match."
Gabriel was about to respond when he was buffeted by waves of terror and pain. It slammed into him with the force of a tsunami, and it took all of Gabriel's willpower not to weep. Looking down, he saw two minotaurs drag a small child out into the Arena. Even from, Gabriel could tell the child had been tortured. He could feel its pain, and also its hopelessness.
At that moment, the gates on the other side of the Arena opened, and a Hydra walked out. It had six heads, each one hissing in anticipation of its meal. As the child screamed in terror, something inside Gabriel snapped. No, this was going too far, they had to be STOPPED!
Gabriel screamed in rage, and his power erupted out of him. His illusion shattered as he gave vent to everything that had been building since their arrival. He caught one glimpse of Korath's immensely shocked face before Gabriel shot in the air towards the child, followed closely by Cole and Gerald, each equally incensed.
The Hydra had not noticed their presence, intent as it was upon a meal. All six heads shot towards the child, who could do nothing but quiver in terror. Just before the heads hit, they bounced off a shimmering white barrier Gabriel erected. As Gabriel landed, he saw the child collapse inside the barrier. Gabriel turned and said, "Gerald, you get the gem. Father, you and I shall deal with this THING!"
As Cole and Gabriel simultaneously fired bolts of lightning, Gerald shot over towards the King, who was shouting for all loyal minotaurs to destroy the vile creatures. The king's bodyguards tried to stop him, but Gerald knocked them aside with his wings. His hand shot forward and ripped the gem from the King. He was then throw back as a heavy right hook hit his jaw. He looked up to see the King draw his sword and charge him. Gerald rolled off the balcony, and used his wings to glide down towards Cole and Gabriel, who were driving the Hydra back.
Cole looked up and saw Gerald land, with the gem in one hand. Even from here, Cole could tell Gerald's jaw was broken. He turned his attention back to the Hydra, who had turned and was slinking off towards other exit. Meanwhile, Gabriel had thrown up a barrier quickly as a wave of arrows and dark magic tried to destroy them.
Gabriel fell to his knees, as both Cole and Gerald threw their powers in with Gabriel. They could feel the power trying to crush them, and realized in horror that there must be minotaurs here that knew how to use magic. Gabriel looked at them, and asked, "Can you hold the shield?"
"For a little while, but why." Gerald began, but trailed off as he saw Gabriel touch the child. The child had stopped breathing, and he was covered in bruises, with several limbs lying at weird angles. There were even several ribs sticking out of his skin. It was amazing the child was even alive.
Gabriel looked at them, and said, "Hold it, I have to save him. I won't let him die."
Cole was going to say something, saw the look in Gabriel's eyes, and nodded. Gabriel closed his eyes, and sent his power in to heal the child. The child's physiology was vastly different than a human's, but Gabriel learned quickly. He poured more and more power in, trying to stabilize the child's many injuries. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity but was probably only three minutes, the child began breathing again, and opened his eyes. Gabriel used his remaining reserves to find the child's home realm, where he belonged. As the child opened his mouth to speak, Gabriel sent him to that realm, praying he had done enough.
Gabriel looked up, trying to focus his exhausted eyes. Both Cole and Gerald were still holding the shield, but each looked equally weary. Calling on reserves he didn't know he had, Gabriel grabbed both of them and teleported all three of them to their home realm. Once there, they all fell onto the ground, totally unconscious.
***
"Is everyone ready?" Mortanos asked. When the sisters, Melinda, Leo, Michael, and the other Guardians nodded, he added, "Then let's go get him."
Mortanos transported them all to where the scrying had shown, and when they appeared, the sisters found themselves looking at an elderly man with sapphire eyes. The man was sitting in a chair with his feet up, and he smiled when he saw them. "So, you found me, eh? Nicely done." Angel said as he started clapping.
"Are you going to surrender?" Mortanos demanded.
"Don't be silly," Angel replied, still relaxing in the chair and footstool. Paige looked closer, trying to figure out why he was so cocky. She noticed something odd about the chair and the footstool. Instead of having wooden of metal legs, Paige noticed the legs seemed to be made of.well, rubber.
"Then we have no choice but to destroy you," Fiona stated as all the Guardians began drawing in their power.
Angel sighed, and said, "So be it." He then shouted, "Exlitaheateazs!"
Paige realized too late what was going to happen, and started to yell, "it's a TRA." electricity shot across the floor, slamming into each person. Unprepared for such an assault, everyone was taken totally by surprise. They jerked and twitched as raw voltage shot through their bodies, before collapsing to the ground.
As Paige lost consciousness, she heard Angel laughingly say, "Welcome to my web, said the spider to the fly."
TO BE CONTINUED.
