A/N: Apologies for disappearing for a bit there. Unfortunately work stuff and life stuff kept me pretty busy for a while and I lost my inspiration for this story for while. That being said, the muse has returned and I can't wait to get it all down. Thank you for your patience, and now the story continues.
Chapter 14
Landon jumped out of bed and began to dress himself in a hurry. Josie, awakened by his sudden movements, groggily began to register his actions.
"What's going on?" She asked as she got off the bed and searched in the dark for her clothing.
"Something is going on with my dad. I just got a notification that said a cyclops had been automatically added to my party. He's the only one I can think of who would know how mess with my system." He responded as he finished tying the laces on his shoes.
"I need to tell my dad, he'd want to know and I can't keep something as big as Malivore still being alive a secret from him." Josie said in a shaking voice while refusing to meet Landon's gaze.
Landon walked up to her, wrapping her up in a hug. "I know, and I'd never ask you to. But if there's the slightest chance my dad is alive, I need to find him." Landon kissed her on the forehead and continued, "Tell your dad what's going on, I'll start looking for the cyclops. I'll have my phone on me, but worst case you can use a tracking spell to find me."
Josie looked up at him annoyed and asked, "Do you need a head start?"
Landon walked over to the window, opened it, and stepped onto the ledge before looking back at her. He smirked and replied, "I think I'll be fine." After which he jumped out the window and summoned fiery wings to propel him forward.
He flew towards and over the front gate of the school, landing just past the entrance and activating his Mystical Awareness ability. He was working under the assumption that being in a party with the cyclops meant that they were connected by magic, and if that was the case then his ability should let him see that magic and follow it back to the cyclops.
Once Landon activated the ability, he saw a glowing green thread wrapped around his forearm and traveling down the road and way off into the distance. Landon summoned his motorcycle, mounted it and took off. He'd decided not to fly because based on everything he knew about Murphy's Law there was a non-insignificant chance that we would be heading directly into Mystic Falls proper and trying to explain away an 8' wingspan of fire was not something he wanted to deal with tonight.
As he rode, he thought back to the most recent changes he'd made to the system over the summer. Sex with Josie had been good for him and not just because as a male in his late teens he lived in a near constant state of horniness. Over the past month and a half, he managed to increase his level three times without needing to kill anything. He might have felt guilty about using his girlfriend to generate XP like that if it were not for the fact that Josie was the one who instigated most of their encounters. Turns out that when you take a pansexual witch with an inferiority complex then add praise, attention, and multiple orgasms during sex you end up with something of a nymphomaniac. Who knew?
He had used the ability points he had accumulated to make two purchases from the ability store.
Thermal Vision - Created from the interaction of the Dullahan's Mystical Awareness and the Phoenix's Phoenix Fire ability. This ability allows you to shift your sight into the infrared spectrum.
Cost: 10 Ability Points
Summon Flame Mount (Summon Mount Upgrade) - Created from the interaction of the Dullahan's Summon Mount and the Phoenix's Phoenix Fire ability. When summoning your chosen mount, a touch of the Fire of Life will be added linking the mount to you, allowing you to mentally guide it and give it commands. After it is summoned, you may increase the amount of you Fire in the mount causing it to emit whichever Fire you charged it with.
Cost: 10 Ability Points
He had also used his attribute points to bring his wisdom up to 20, round out his intelligence at 70, and bring his dexterity to 22. Wisdom had been his lowest attribute for a while now and he had long since resolved to fix the issue when he had some free time and some free points. The summer had provided both in abundance. His skill points he invested in omniglot, taking it all the way to Apprentice 7.
Shaking his head, Landon attempted to clear his mind. He was nervous and his mind was flooding him with inconsequential details to distract him. Nervousness could wait for later, right now he needed to focus. This was the first sign he'd had in months that his father was a live and he wasn't about to let this lead slip though his fingers.
As he approached the town square, he noticed that the line of magic linking was becoming brighter. Landon sped up, hoping that the change indicated that the monster was close. The streets were thankfully empty since it was well past midnight, allowing him to take turns at speed without worrying about endangering anyone. He continued forward, the thread growing ever brighter, until he made his final turn.
Landon had expected to see the cyclops searching for something, or possibly guarding a weakened Malivore. What he had not expected was for the creature to be attacking two people who's system designators left him nearly stunned for very different reasons. The man was listed as Clarke – BROTHER while the brunette woman was listed as $^%$# &^$# %$.
Whatever, He thought, I can figure this out after I keep them from getting splattered all over the pavement.
He revved his engine to give the two a warning to get out of the way, while simultaneously freeing his bone whip from it's clip on his back. The loud noise caused all three to turn to look at him. He fed his bike some of his phoenix fire causing the wheels turn into rolling flames as he mentally will it forward.
He sped past the two who had been facing off against the cyclops and charged the monster as they stood there stunned and confused. Once he was a few feet away from the creature he flicked out his right arm and wrapped his bone whip around the cyclops' neck. Landon willed the bike to continue forward and increased his grip on both the bike's handlebar and the bone whip's handle.
He was counting on his increased attributes to keep his arm from being ripped off by the sudden addition of the cyclops' stationary weight. Luckily, he managed to keep his arms attached but as he began to drag the creature, but it was a near thing. As it stood, he had barely managed to avoid dislocating both arms, and the pain radiating throughout those joints made him clearly aware of the fact.
I need to start putting more points into endurance and strength. He thought to himself as he raced forward introducing the concept of road rash to the cyclops.
Landon made a quick turn on the bike while making a quick snapping motion with his right arm, loosening the whip's hold on the monster's neck causing it to launch forward tumbling across the road. The momentum kept it moving past the sidewalk only stopping once it crashed into a tree.
Having checked the Bestiary and knowing that the cyclops could only permanently be killed by destroying it's eye, Landon drove up next to the monster's crumpled form. He banished his bike and walked over to the creature. He dropped the whip and began to summon flames to wrap around his right fist.
He heard the footsteps of the two who were previously facing off against the monster as they ran up behind him. He ignored them for now and kneeled beside the creature's head. He grabbed the cyclops' by the hair with his left hand before proceeding to ram his burning right fist in the it's solitary eye. The creature exploded into dust almost immediately.
You have eliminated a CYCLOPS – 150XP awarded
Landon stood up from his crouched position and looked behind him at where the two strangers had stopped.
The brunette with the garbled descriptor spoke first.
"Landon, what happened to you?!" She exclaimed half in exasperation and half in relief.
"You get points for style and execution, but you lose some for lacking witty banter and a pre-mortem one liner. Digging the new look, little brother." His apparent brother said with a smirk on his face.
Landon took a second to observe them without responding. Judging from their body language the two were very wary of each other.
So, at the very least they're not friends. He thought.
He took his phone out of his pocket and called Josie.
"Landon? Are you ok? Where are you?" She asked before he could get a word in.
"I'm fine, tell your dad that I'm in the town square and I've taken care of the cyclops but there are two people here that may have more information." He responded before ending the call. The less information he could give these people the better.
"Well, little brother, it seems like we'll be waiting until the good headmaster arrives to have our heart to heart."
It was at this point that the woman walked up to him and wrapped him in a hug so tight he was certain that if he still had the stats of a normal human his ribbed would have been bruised at the very least.
"I missed you so much." She said before attempting to kiss him.
He released himself from her embrace and took a step back before the kiss could find his lips.
"I'm going to go ahead and make some guesses, tell me when I'm wrong." Landon responded coldly. He was finding the fact that these people seemingly knew him while he had no memories of them unnerving even IF one of them was his brother.
"Seeing as I have no memories of either of you while you both clearly know me, I take it you two were swallowed up by Malivore, correct?" He continued. The two nodded though the woman looked hurt by his dodging her kiss.
Oh well, not my problem. Tonight, is going to be hard enough and I'm not in the mood to find out if Josie is the jealous type. He thought.
"That's right. I'm not sure how long we've been gone but we went into the pit some time in April." The woman said still reeling from his lack of affection.
"Well, then you've been gone for around four months, give or take." Landon said, giving them a moment to absorb the information before he continued. "Since you both seem to know me, I think it would only be polite if you'd introduce yourselves as well?"
"You can call me Clarke, I'm your older and much better looking brother." Clarke said with a smirk.
The woman scoffed and glared at his brother. "I'm Hope. Hope Mikaelson. I'm your girlfriend." She said as she turned away from his brother to face him.
Shit. Landon thought to himself. This just got a lot more complicated.
Putting that thought and the implications of it out of his mind for the moment, he attempted to focus and organize his thoughts.
"Ok, we can deal with that later assuming you both are telling the truth about who you are to me." He took a deep breath and began to speak again. "First things first, it hasn't been long since Malivore spit the cyclops up which means it likely hasn't been long since he spit you both up. Where is the portal?"
Hope's eyes narrowed as she thought through what Landon had just said. "How do you know it hasn't been long since the monster came out of Malivore? For that matter how did you know where it was and how to kill it?"
"I can show you where Malivore is little brother, but I have to say I'm very curious about the answers to those questions myself." Clarke added in after Hope had finished.
So, whoever they are I never told them about the system. Good to know. He thought.
"You may know me, but courtesy of a mind-wipe mud bath, I have no idea who you are or if I can trust you. Forgive me if you don't find me to be entirely forthcoming until we have all this figured out. For now, take me to Malivore." Landon replied, having been careful to refer to his father by name only. Clarke obviously knew about his paternity, but Hope was another matter entirely.
"Right this way." Clark said as he began to walk forward. Landon made to follow until…
"I can't let you do that." Hope said as she stepped in front of Landon to bar his way.
Coming to a sudden stop, he glanced down meeting Hope's eyes.
He felt a sudden anger rise within him, one very unlike the rage that his flames commonly birthed. He had long since learned to control the rage that his Phoenix brought out in him. This was something else, something deeper and more personal. Something he couldn't remember, and until he had his memories back, he only knew one thing for certain. Hope Mikaelson was not to be trusted.
"I don't remember asking your permission." He growled in response, his irises reflecting the ever-burning flames now present within his soul.
For her part Hope didn't back down or flinch. The only change in her was her eyes. Her irises became gold outlined in black. A werewolf alpha's instinctive response when their authority was being challenged.
An electric charge seemed to be carried throughout the space between them encompassing the immediate area surrounding them.
Neither of them moved so much as a muscle. The knowledge that the slightest movement would trigger some sort of irreversible action kept them both at a standoff.
The intensity of the moment was broken by a pair of headlights flashing over them. It seemed that Professor Saltzman and Josie had arrived.
No sooner had they parked than they were out of the car and running towards Landon. The headmaster did not look pleased, and his daughter looked downright furious.
He saw the slap coming from a mile away, he had enough time to evade or block or attempt a dozen different avoidance maneuvers that flashed through his mind. That being said, since the slap was coming from Josie he knew that there was truly only one thing he could do. He took the slap and moved his head along with her hand to ensure she didn't hurt herself.
"What happened to just finding the cyclops?!" She nearly shouted.
"Things escalated…?" He replied sheepishly.
"Things escalated?!" Josie repeated, her right eyebrow raising in exasperation. After a second, she finally managed to calm down enough to notice the two strangers in their immediate vicinity, which provided her father enough time to turn off the engine, exit the vehicle and make his way up to the group.
Hope in turn had frozen with a confused expression on her face.
Luckily Professor Saltzman chose that moment to berate him, managing to diffuse what could have been a truly awkward moment with one slightly less so.
"What the hell were you thinking running of on you own like that? You don't go into dangerous situations without backup! If we hadn't been able to find you what would you have done then?" The professor yelled in his face, almost completely disregarding the presence of strangers so close to them.
Huh, like father like daughter I guess. Landon thought to himself immediately following it with Never ever ever say that out loud.
"Well? Do you have anything to say for yourself?" the Headmaster asked.
"Those two are going to lead us to Malivore." Landon responded without missing a beat as he pointed to Hope and Clarke.
Alaric turned his head to look where Landon was pointing, registered the presence of the strangers and let out a deep sigh.
"We'll talk about this back at the school, for now finding Malivore takes priority." Saltzman said as he turned the rest of the way towards the two.
"Go on, we'll follow closely behind you. I wouldn't recommend trying to trick us. I tend to get upset when people lie to me." Alaric continued, in a threatening manner. His tendency puff up his chest and attempt to appear more threatening that he truly is going to get him in trouble someday.
"Right this way." Clarke said, taking the lead quickly. His desire to appear more helpful and useful than Hope was blatantly obvious.
Realizing the uselessness of attempting to ascertain motives with crucial pieces of information removed from his memory, Landon followed on without saying a word
It wasn't long before they ended up in front of a series of trees closer to the town center, between them lay a puddle filled with black ichor.
"There he is. Dear old dad, or at least what's left of him." Clarke said morosely while occasionally glaring at Hope.
"What do you mean what's left?" Landon asked, worry creeping into his voice.
"Clarke." Hope growled out angrily.
Clarke for his part made his way closer to Landon while continuing his explanation.
"I mean, little miss Tribrid over there happens to be anathema to Malivore. She jumped right into the pit and dragged me along for the ride." He let out a deep sigh before continuing. "Which was basically the equivalent of force-feeding a person vast amount of poison. Dad's either dead or dying and no one can save him."
Clarke's expression was filled with sorrow and Landon had difficulty figuring out whether it came from the death of their father or at having to be the person who informed his younger brother of the news.
Turning to look at the puddle that was very likely his father's corpse, Landon activated his Mystical Awareness. He saw magic radiating off the puddle, but it was growing weaker and dimmer.
"Maybe, maybe not." Landon said as he began to walk towards his father.
"Landon what the hell do you think you're doing?!" Shouted Alaric.
"What I can to try and save my dad." He responded without turning back.
As he approached the puddle, he took a knee right next to the edge of it and held his hand over it.
"If you think I'm going to stand by while you jump in you obviously don't know me all that well." Josie said as she approached him.
"Don't worry, I'm not planning on going anywhere. Just want to see if I can help." Landon replied.
Using a pocketknife he carried with him, Landon slashed the palm on his outstretched hand open letting his blood flow into the remnants of his father's form.
"I don't think this is a good idea." Hope chimed in.
"You don't get a say!" Landon yelled back angrily. If his brother could be believed, then this woman had just willingly attempted to murder his father and he wasn't inclined to listen to her opinions or God forbid her justifications.
After a few seconds the black liquid began to boil and bubble, at which point Landon retracted his arm and back away a few paces.
Josie and Hope simultaneously attempted to look at his wound but he motioned for them to stay away.
The undulations of the puddle became more extreme until it formed a liquid tendril that struck a point at the ground directly in front of Landon. The rest of the black ichor followed, using the tendril to pour more of itself into that point on the ground become increasingly solid until all that was left was a solid and seamless obsidian band at Landon's feet.
He reached out to the band instinctually and with an effort of will, called it to him. The band reacted instantaneously, temporarily taking a liquid form once more to leap up to Landon's wrist and re-solidifying as a band there.
In the corner of his vision Landon saw the blinking light that indicated he had a system message, but before he checked that he quickly Identified the band fastened to his wrist.
Malivore Gate – A portal to the dimension in which all the creatures Malivore has devoured are held. Warning: Due to the death of Malivore the Gate has become unstable and will likely shatter in approximately 17 days 21 hours and 47 minutes. All creatures contained within the dimension will be released upon the shattering of the band.
"Fuck!" Landon shouted as he finished reading the descriptor. "Guy's we have a huge problem."
