THE GOLIATHUS CHRONICLES
Chapter 7- The Terrible Truth
I warn you now, beware the angst. But don't worry, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel...
There is an idea in here somewhat borrowed from redplanets, who is writing the "Crucible". (If you have not read, beware a spoiler.)
In one scene, Goliathus is drawing a horrible figure on his wall. It is of a multiple-headed being (seven I believe though I have made it six) that is a combination of malformed, hideous images. I told her it was much like the way I envisioned Goliathus' demon. Though I was originally going to use that of a dragon-like form, I realized this was so much better...and far more horrifying. The thing is, after all, nearly a millenia old.
/
Daddy, when can I fly like you?
I am not sure...perhaps when you are a few years older.
And when...can I see you?
See me? I am right here.
No daddy...I don't see you...I'm cold and alone...something with a bad smell is here...
I only see IT daddy. IT keeps telling me to listen to it, because it IS you.
NO! You must never listen to it! Never!
But you do!
Not anymore! I do not listen to it anymore! I made a horrible mistake by ever listening to it...please...do not ever do anything it tells you.
(Long pause)
Tell me my name, daddy. I don't have a name, and IT wants to give me one.
Your mother gave you a name...
You know my true name, she does not. Tell me...
You are...
...Navius.
/
The hidden temple had at last come into view. Snarling with a rage that had soared to dangerous heights, Goliathus cared not where he ended up, so long as he was inside that building. Still at full speed, he hurled himself at the nearest window...and then at the last moment swerved to hit the one below it. Thick glass and stone shattered everywhere as he plummeted through and tumbled head over heels several times before finally coming to a stop. It took a while for him to gain his senses, but once he did, he immediately found he was mere inches from a thick wooden table dripping with blood, something on the floor, and a Shadow vampire glaring down at him in utter disbelief.
"How can thisss be?" It roared, and quickly lifted high to the ceiling, floating in the air and hissing.
Goliathus wanted nothing more then to attack the foul creature and rip it to shreds, but before he could move he heard a whimpering on the floor beside him. Glancing from the corner of his eye he noticed that it was moving. And then the wails began anew.
Stunned into shock, the heradus could not move as he stared at the form. Chasseur took the opportunity and attacked, baring all claws and teeth. He narrowly missed as Goliathus found some amount of sanity and rolled quickly out of the way, closer to what lay on the floor.
The Shadow came right back around, striking with its long claws and raking a pattern of three jagged lines down Goliathus' back. The pain however seemed to have no effect in what rage had consumed him. Not even flinching, he spun around and landed a viciously hard punch to the vampire's forehead, knocking it senseless. Chasseur plunged to the floor in a heap, groaning.
For the moment, all was quiet, save for the wails that seemed to be getting weaker. Goliathus stumbled to his feet, groaning himself from legs that were still not fully healed, and he made his way over to what he now realized was an infant. He reached down, ready to pick it up, when a faint mental voice diverted his attention.
Golia...Goliathus...is that...you?
He walked over the table which he now saw was a torture device, and strapped to it was Ami, stripped of all clothes as well as her dignity. She was in an incredible mess, covered with blood, her hair matted, and eyes swollen from what had to be endless screaming tears.
Fighting back shock that tried to return, he quickly released her by snapping the leather straps with his claws as if they were butter. Ami looked at him through eyes barely opened, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Death...I have seen so many forms of death...
No...
Gathering Ami in his arms he wondered what he would do. He was no healer, that was for sure. If the mages still existed, they could have perhaps done something. But now...he was helpless, for the first time in his long existence. Pitifully helpless. All he could was cradle her and let his rare tears fall, fearing and almost knowing that she would leave him for good.
All that you have done for me...and now it has come to this?
"You...found me..." Despite all she managed the weakest of smiles, and then her small frame went limp.
Struggling to keep himself level, which was becoming almost impossible, Goliathus immediately pressed his ear to her chest. With countless measures of relief, he found her heart was still beating. For how long he didn't know, but with her life at stake he had little time to think.
Growling he fought to sort through his mixture of emotions, there was even a small part of him that considered killing her, putting her out of her misery.
Then he screamed, enraged even further at himself for having such a thought.
His scream was matched by another, as the child on the floor wailed anew, and its body shivered from the cold marble floor.
Torn from his agony over Ami, he gently set her down back on the table then went over to the infant and finally picked it up, slowly and with the greatest care.
What he held looked like all the world a deformed and premature baby, and it was barely large enough to cover the span of his big hands. Some sort of instinct took over Goliathus, and he wrapped both of his large wings around himself and the infant, holding it close. He looked down, and found his gaze met by wide and crystal blue orbs, blinking from the tears and blood.
Navius...
Amazingly, she gave a tiny yawn, heaved a great sigh, then fell asleep.
In the next moment there was the sound of huge wings flapping and settling, as Dinarius and Trevor finally entered the scene, coming through the makeshift entrance Goliathus had created. The two were immediately silenced by what they saw, and Dinarius frowned, setting Trevor down and walking towards the table. The human woman had to be Ami, he knew that for certain. She looked barely alive, and all the blood everywhere was more carnage then even this heradus had seen. He then noticed the crumpled heap of a Shadow vampire on the floor, still groaning as it strained to regain its bearings.
There was no saving Chasseur.
Even Goliathus widened his eyes as the normally calm and friendly Dinarius suddenly leapt high and landed down on the vampire, sinking teeth and claws into wherever they would go. Chasseur awoke from his stupor and yelled out, trying to turn and fight, but he found himself pinned down and at a serious disadvantage. He tried to use magic, but at that very moment a bat came around and landed squarely on the back of his neck, biting down with its little pincer teeth.
Chasseur screamed loud, feeling immense power flow from him. Curses! In one fell moment a bat had drained him of so much energy!
"Good job, Puvo..." Dinarius snarled before raising a foot and slicing upon the vampire's chest, tearing through bone and tissue to find the heart.
Screeching, Chasseur struggled to utilize what inner strength remained, and managed to gain just enough magic to create a small fire spell, immersing the bat with an odd orange glow. Puvo gave a long and shrill chirp before sliding off the Shadow's neck and falling to the floor, his fur singed and smoking.
Just as quickly as it was lost, the magic was regained, and despite the massive injuries the Shadow vampire rose up and hissed defiantly before aiming a blast of sickly green energy in Dinarius' direction.
Much to his dismay, however, it glanced off harmlessly.
"What isss this?"
"You fool. Do you not know that we are immune to the magic of vampires?" Dinarius was just about ready to take another leap to finish Chasseur off when a wooden object suddenly burst forth from his chest and the vampire fell to the ground, silently screaming, before its body ignited into flames. There was the strange sight of the living black cloak writhing and twisting before it too turned to nothing but dust.
Once the cloud of dust and ash settled, Trevor could be seen, still holding his wooden "stake" that was actually a leg of the table.
"How...?" Dinarius raised a brow at him.
"Ya gotta be quick with these bastards...can't give them any time to think. A good vampire hunter can improvise..." He grinned. "I just moved the lady to the floor and kicked out the table's leg while you two were having your little spar."
"Well I'm sure glad we brought you along. You've come in handy." He folded his arms and turned his expression sour. "Not that we NEED your help, mind you."
"Yeah..uh-huh..." Trevor smirked but it was quickly replaced by a frown. He opened up his other hand. "Your little friend here needs your help. however."
Dinarius sighed and gathered up the little furry form of his friend, fur and ears singed by the fire spell. "I'm not going to chide you this time. Brave little bugger you. Hang in there."
Puvo slowly but surely ambled his way up Dinarius' arm and stopped once he reached the shoulder, slumping in complete exhaustion.
Ami...
Dinarius turned around to see Goliathus crouched down next to Ami's unmoving form, cradling her head with one hand and stroking her face with the other.
"Geezus...we need to get her to the hospital or something." Trevor wanted to try and help somehow, but he knew getting close to Goliathus could be dangerous. Somewhat irritated he let out a sharp breath and looked around the room.
Dinarius stared at the two of them, marveling at the love that was clearly being expressed. A human and a heradus? Such things seemed unnatural, like a tear in the fabric of reality. Yet, it was here before his very eyes. All of it, even the sad fact that the young woman stood little chance of surviving. The amount of blood she had lost was tremendous, there was evidence of it all throughout the room.
Chasseur?"
The new voice caused everyone to turn around, even Goliathus, though he still held Ami's form close to him.
"YOU!"
Donovan trembled in his fury. "How did you find us here?" His eyes then narrowed when he saw the other heradus, as if studying his features intently.
Dinarius spoke first. "Remember me? Maybe you do, maybe you don't...but I'm sure you're about to very soon."
Chuckling, Donovan nodded his head. "Sure I remember you. The so called "bodyguard" of that little whelp, Mia. It's too bad, Dinarius, that you weren't around to witness her death. I would have loved to see the look on your face."
Dinarius stepped closer, growling. "Howabout we all see the look on YOUR face when-"
"HOLD it...hold it my dear friend." Donovan held out his right arm, and revealed a black stone.
Dinarius paused, staring at it.
"I may have been unprepared for all that has happened recently...but I do learn from my mistakes." He turned slightly to look at Goliathus. "I also study and observe, watching everything. I realize now that even I have no hope of taking you down, but...I also know that everyone, even YOU Goliathus...has a weakness which will be their undoing."
The Master vampire walked slowly towards Goliathus, holding out the stone in his direction. "I bet you've never seen this before. But you will wish you never did. It has no effect on anyone or anything unless...unless they carry within them an unspeakable evil." The grin on Donovan's face had turned truly wicked. Each step he took closer caused Goliathus to feel stranger and stranger.
Then, a pressure like a horrible migraine began in his temples, and he grabbed his head with a hand and stood, struggling to keep his hold on the infant.
Dinarius looked horrified. "That isn't...you wouldn't..."
"Mess with a demon stone? Surely I would, Dinarius. I would, if it meant at last destroying this wretched creature."
"Demon stone? What the hell is that?" Trevor asked, looking pale as he noticed the expression in Goliathus' face rapidly changing.
"It's...it's...something very bad..."
Trevor was about to open his mouth again to ask why when Goliathus' screamed, stepping back again, and his whole body began to convulse. Donovan surged forward and grabbed the baby, who started wailing again.
"You see, Goliathus, yours is so strong that the effect of this stone is all it needs. You will see why you should have never dared to come to my castle and interfere..."
/
The lightning-strewn sky suddenly became dark as pitch, as the air became foul and the tree began to wilt.
Shit! SHIT! Darry phased in and out, unable to gain enough energy as the force was sucking up everything in its path, draining all light and essence from the mental plane.
The teenage boy screamed at the top of his lungs, but the sound around him was deafening. Fight it, Goliathus! Fight it!
And then, much to his horror, the demon chose to manifest itself at that very moment. Long slinking tendrils burst forth from every angle, sweeping around anything and everything it could get a hold onto. Silvery black mist clouded up the air and blocked everything from sight, even the sun's rays which were now completely gone.
You don't belong here! You DON'T! Get out of here!
I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A THOUSAND YEARS, YOU WRETCHED, PATHETIC HUMAN! A giant tendril came forth and wrapped around Darry. He phased out like a dying lightbulb.
At that very moment, Jezelle finally made her connection, appearing on the plane. Instantly however, she knew she had come upon the worst possible scenario imaginable.
WHO ARE YOU?
Jezelle let out a blood-curdling scream as six ugly and monstrous heads began to form within the black mist. They were the worst nightmares she had ever seen, things so horrid and terrifying that she was immediately paralyzed in pure fear. One of the heads, a misshapen and distorted image of a decayed horse peered down on her, black eyes leaking foul liquid and burning the ground into small craters. From its mouth came a horrid stench, that of death and evil, and the corners of its mouth dribbled bits of flesh and sinew.
A sickening neigh filled the air and caused Jezelle to feel as if she would wretch.
She had to get out of there. And yet, she was here to help! She had to...
Extremely fortunate for her, the demon showed little interest in the psychic and moved on.
It had bigger prey to conquer.
/
End Chapter Seven
Much more horrors with the demon to come as the ultimate battle nears. I warn you, it could get very graphic as I try to describe the monstrosity that the being is. If you want to fathom it better, you should read "Story of Goliathus", which goes into a little more detail about all that happened to create the Creeper.