THE GOLIATHUS CHRONICLES
Chapter 9- Navius
Gore warnings and more disturbing images. Not for minors, in fact, you little buggers need to go look up the ratings and know what they mean, you don't belong here! :snicker:
/
Dinarius was still careening through the sky, utilizing all strength and energy, and not even caring where he was going. It took some time, perhaps over one hundred miles, before he realized they weren't being followed anymore. He turned around slowly, wings furling close to his body and flapping in broad strokes to keep him hovering. His keen eyes glanced back and forth, but there was no Goliathus.
Where did he go?
Still feeling uneasy, Dinarius took no chances. He swept down to the forest floor below and hid among thick trees.
Lot of good this will do me. His nose could find us anywhere.
"Is he gone?" Ami asked, her eyes still half-closed as she was still very weak.
"I guess..."
The sound of the infant crying caused Dinarius to look down at her, nestled carefully in the crook of his other arm. Amazingly, she had been quiet the entire flight, as if she knew she had to be.
But now, her crying was loud, agonizing...her breathing coming in great heaves as her little fists clenched tightly to her sides.
"Mamma, you better take care of this child. She's not happy." Dinarius set Ami down carefully. Puvo decided to keep her comforted and flew over to her, nudging himself up against her neck. Ami smiled, and rubbed him under the chin, which won her a little chirp of pleasure.
She then stared as Dinarius held the tiny infant out to her.
Ami's stare lingered, going over the blue skin, small talons on the feet, and her little innie belly button. This was her child.
Her child.
A baby heradus.
A female.
And her baby, only hours old, was injured, bleeding lightly from some open wounds on her legs (probably from when Donovan threw her), had bruises in several places, and her premature body was nothing pretty to look at.
It made her want to cry. To scream out to the world how and why it could be so cruel to such a tiny thing...whether or not it was, in all frankness, a complete freak of nature...something that was not supposed to be able to happen.
Her baby...and it was a month and a half too early for this world.
Ami fought back tears and took her gently. She had no experience whatsoever with children, but there was something to be said for instinct, even to humans. Using her body warmth she tried her best to warm the infant, whose body was cold and shivering.
I don't even have a damned blanket...
I could help...
Ami looked up at Dinarius, who had mentally responded. He came close, and wrapped them both in his huge leathery wings. The heat coming from him was outstanding...but Ami knew it probably was because he had been flying so fast for so long. In mere moments, the two of them were nice and toasty.
Just like sitting by my fireplace...
She smiled up at Dinarius, still gazing at him, and he grinned back, leaning down to a side-sit so he could be more comfortable.
Those eyes. Oh gawds...those wonderful eyes of his were like a spell...mesmerizing...she couldn't stop staring...
"He told me you know...about the two of you...but never mentioned a child!" Dinarius paused, as if searching his memories for what he was about to say next. "I could never have children...I tried of course...but it didn't work. None of us could...I suppose the only reason it works with Goliathus is because he has a little bit of human in him."
Ami nodded, amazed by his revelations. "Not that he would ever admit to that."
"No...he probably wouldn't."
Ami sighed and leaned up against him with all her weight. She was so weary, so tired...and he was the rock she needed right now. Just a friend who could be there.
"Can you tell me more about him, Dinarius?" She gave a slight sigh as she nuzzled the baby closer. At this point, her breast became an object of pure attention as the infant latched on with great eagerness. After a while, she finally started to calm as she suckled, her eyelids growing heavy.
The whole process was a little uncomfortable, since Ami was sore all over, but she didn't care.
Motherly instincts were taking hold fast.
"You could probably tell me more about him then I could," Dinarius said, sighing. "I didn't get to know him very well."
"Other then his past...or what he told me about it...all I know is...he's not bad. Really he's not. Did you see him in there?" Ami's voice wavered, breaking. "Gawd, what happened to him?"
"The demon is what happened to him. It must have slipped its way inside his head somewhere around his early killing sprees. He told me about his past you know...I couldn't believe what I was hearing."
"He did it because they tortured him. Did he tell you what they did to him?"
Dinarius sighed again, sounding more sad. "Yeah..." He seemed to be unable to say anything further on it.
"Then you could believe it. But...it's hard to accept it, that's the thing." Ami shook herself out of the negative thoughts. "It's in the past though...it's the past...Genevieve here is proof of that." She smiled lovingly to her baby girl, cradling her, and her gaze was met by eyes that seemed more intelligent then they should be.
"Yeah...proof all right...is that what you named her?"
"Yup. But it's her middle name. Gollie has yet to tell me what her first name is. I told him he could choose it."
"An honorable thing." Dinarius moved as if trying to get comfortable again, then he sighed. "I'm absolutely starving. I want to stay here to keep the two of you warm...but a hungry heradus is a very cranky one."
Ami laughed outright. "Oh no, that's fine. You go ahead. I think we'll be okay, as long as you're quick about it. Besides..." She nudged the little bat on her shoulder, "I have your friend here to guard us."
"That's right, you do!" He got up and winked. "And Puvo there is the best guardbat ever. I guarantee it."
He gave a quick look around. "I'll be right back...I swear it." With two mighty flaps of his wings, he was in the air, and soaring over the trees, fading into the distance in what seemed like mere seconds.
In truth, Ami was a bit worried about being left alone. But she could trust Dinarius, she knew that.
Goliathus however...who knew what he would do. Would old habits come right back, now that the demon could manipulate him to its wicked desires?
Have I lost him forever?
Ami choked back a sob, rocking back and forth with her infant.
/
Help me...please...help me...
Lying on a strange stone, Goliathus found himself with chains sticking out of him from every angle. At the edges were sharp hooks, dug into his flesh, twisting their way around his legs, arms...spine...
All around him were rivers of blood. There was still the great tree, but it now had skeletal remains hanging on it, and they all leaked some kind of nasty black liquid.
The whole damned mental plane reeked of it. The demon's foul essence...
Somewhere, he knew, the demon lurked in that river of blood, wallowing in it the same way a pig rolls in the mud. The thought made him sick. He knew the blood was belonging to all of his past victims...and was growing ever wider with each life he took.
Was he still taking lives? What was his body doing?
How could he know, when he was trapped here?
Trapped with that horrid monstrosity...
That he had created.
/
The shell of Goliathus had pursued the other heradus for many miles, but then the demon had seemed to grow bored of the chase.
FORGET HIM FOR NOW. GO KILL. BRING ME MORE SOULS.
Unable to do anything but comply, he veered off, heading in a new direction. Using his nose, he found that the scent of humans had grown enticing once more, and the air just reeked of them, everywhere.
Oh gawd. How he just wanted to kill as many as he could find, and stuff himself with their flesh. What in the world had he been doing, eating those third-rate animals?
Humans were the tastiest item on the menu. Oh yes they were. And he was ready for some real dining.
The Creeper was back.
/
Jezelle ambled among the strange, constantly shifting pathways, trying to avoid stepping into the puddles of blood that were everywhere. She was still feeling ill at the smell that thing had given off. The very sound of it had made her stomach lurch as well.
It's so evil...so powerful. How am I gonna ever stop that thing? Geezus I'm crazy...some old fool of a black woman wandering around here...if I had any blasted sense I'd be home...having a cup of tea and watching my favorite soaps! Jezelle sighed, running a hand through her thick curly hair and over her brow. But I just can't leave this alone...I never could...always butting my nose where it don't belong...just like with those Jenners, right Jez?
She shook her head, saddened by the gore that filled this place in every direction one could look.
You've got to be here somewhere, Goliathus. Somewhere...
He's somewhere all right, but even I can't get to him.
Jezelle spun around and came face to face with Darry. Her jaw dropped.
Hey Jezelle! Long time no see. The teen smiled, brown eyes looking as puppy-sweet as ever.
My goodness...Darius Jenner. I'll be. The psychic struggled to keep from crying, she had to be strong now.
Oh please, would everyone just stop crying over me already? He said, obvious sarcasm in his voice. Look, let's just go find our resident Bat-man, okay? If we even can... that evil being's hiding him well. And it's mean as the hell it came from. Took me a long time to come back once it lashed out at me like that.
Jezelle decided it was better not to ask what he was talking about. She just nodded and took his hand, leading him.
Let's go then. We don't have much time.
/
It was so wonderful, to hold a baby, to feel total and unselfish love for another being. Ami couldn't stop looking at Genevieve, who was still nursing, even after Dinarius had been gone for at least half and hour.
I hope he comes back soon, Puvo. I'm just so nervous...Donovan might be dead, but there's still Marcus, wherever he is. And then, of course, if Goliathus should find us...
The bat chirped, scrambling around to her front, and sprawling out his little form over the chest of the infant, as if a living shield.
Keep baby safe!
Ami chuckled, and leaned down to kiss his furry head. "You're as sweet as your master. Seems odd for a heradus to be so kind, what do you think?"
Puvo just shook his head, obviously thinking otherwise.
"Yeah...well...guess there could be MANY obvious reasons for that, huh?"
Trying not to worry and for once relax, Ami realized how weariness was taking hold. She felt dizzy, slightly lightheaded...so quickly she lay on her side, holding the baby to her carefully.
Okay?
"I've been through a lot...Chasseur had me on that table...on a rack..." Tears started to fall finally, she just couldn't hold them back anymore. "It was so painful...so painful...and I started thinking about Goliathus, and all the pain that he must have felt..." She sobbed, and Puvo keened, not sure of what he could do about her sorrow.
"Does anyone deserve what he went through, Puvo? Anyone in the whole world? It was all so wrong...SO wrong..."
Genevieve finally let go, and started to fuss as she seemed to be picking up on her mother's feelings.
Ami looked down and stroked her face, noticing her skin as as smooth as silk...like a human baby... "You're that much needed happiness he deserves, little Genevieve. A life he created rather then took."
Weary, Ami finally allowed her eyes to close, and started to drift off. But moments later, a rustling in a nearby tree jerked her awake, and her eyes immediately looked upward. Her heart started to pound.
"Dinarius?"
Silence, save for the whispering of the wind through the thousands of leaves.
Ami looked all around, but saw nothing. Fear clawed at her, and she wanted to get up and run.
Of course her body was having none of that, she could barely move. So she lay very still, hoping to hide like a young fawn amongst the tall grass.
"Dinarius...please hurry.." She whispered, keeping her face low to the ground and praying her baby would keep silent.
Starcrow.
Blinking, Ami wondered if she had imagined it. It wasn't Puvo, the voice was completely different and sounded almost parrot-like.
Ami. Starcrow.
Daring to look up, Ami's eyes widened as she saw the trees looked black. It was getting dark, but even so, it was completely out of place. And then, squinting, she realized...it was hundreds upon hundreds of...birds...black birds...they were crows!
One of them soared down, landing right next to her face.
"Who the heck are...?"
Starcrow...watch. Watch you.
Ami couldn't believe it. Another talking animal! This had to be what Goliathus was talking about...the birds who had helped him back with the battle he had with Elsie...
You belong to Goliathus, don't you? Just like Puvo with Dinarius?
The bird clicked its thick bill, ruffled the feathers around its neck. Yeah. Yeah.
Ami giggled. For some reason, she liked the bird...who was in truth a raven, ironically enough. Heck, she had always loved corvids. They were some of the smartest birds around.
Are all those crows your companions? How many are there?
Many...Starcrow lead...many. Crows. Ring.
He cocked his head back and forth a few times.
Dark. Fire. We.
Ami seemed to understand, but only because she had heard some about them from Goliathus. Yes...you're the Ring of Dark Fire. I remember him telling me that. How amazing! Can you say your name out loud? I heard that crows and ravens can actually learn to talk...like a parrot!
The raven seemed to contemplate for this a while. He squawked a few times. Then he spoke, sounding eerily humanish.
"Starcrow!"
Ami smiled in wonder. What a fascinating group of birds they were! She felt safe with them...having hundreds of little black eyes watching everything in sight. How could she not?
Starcrow, do me a favor, when chance permits?
Caaww?
Tell Goliathus his child is all right. Somehow...I know you can get the message through to him.
The black bird nodded its glossy head solemnly.
Oh and...did he tell you the name? The name he gave her?
Another squawk before it answered.
Navi...Navi...
The child moved, looking at the raven.
"Navi...perfect..."
/
He had missed this...soaring through the air as silently as an owl...eyes roving below for any sign of a hapless human foolish enough to be out in the darkening evening. And oh the hunger...it was so overwhelming now...he could think of nothing but sating it...the mere thought was semi-orgasmic. He HAD to eat, and eat now.
Finally, he found a perfect target. A man pulled over by the side of the road, his motorcycle seeming to have some trouble. A young lad of about fifteen was with him, perhaps his son or a nephew.
Who the heck cared, really?
The Creeper allowed himself to practically plummet to the ground, landing hard on his feet next to the cycle. The two humans were instantly frozen in fear, eyes as wide as saucers. They could scarcely comprehend what they were looking at let alone listen to the instinct that told them to run.
The older man, wearing a worn hat and disheveled looking jeans tucked around a flannel shirt, managed to step protectively in front of the younger one, even as his body trembled in shock.
Oh how brave, how noble. He exposed his long needle-like teeth as he grinned, dripping with saliva from the hunger that roiled. Black slime leaked from the corners of his mouth as well...the demon's signature card.
Are they not so PATHETIC? Kill them.
Oh, he would be much obliged. Grabbing the man he lifted him with ease, watching him kick out uselessly and gargle as his throat was squeezed.
Gawds, he was so strong. So powerful. What a thrill.
Using one clawed hand he dove the fingernails into the man's neck. Blood spurted from his victim's mouth, dribbling down his face. The Creeper grinned, and twisted so that he could grab a handful of flesh, and tore the man's throat out. He then threw him to the ground, as the young boy began to scream.
He looked at the chunk, holding it close to his nose and sniffing deeply.
Ah yes, consume it. It is all you have ever wanted.
Sighing with a wicked grin still plastered to his face, he popped the chunk into his mouth, instantly swallowed. It was like heaven.
Wonderful.
Almost.
Seconds later, The Creeper clutched his stomach in pain. He lurched, heaved, and violently retched, his head spinning.
The demon roared inside his mind, completely enraged by what was going on.
Somehow, it took the feeling away, made it disappear.
Eat! Go on. That little chunk? Hardly anything.
Not knowing why he shouldn't, the heradus once again obliged and he leapt onto the boy, killing him quickly with a snap of the neck. He then tore him open, gorging himself on the innards until nothing remained.
The same was repeated on the father, who feebly fought until his last breath.
Ah wonderful. Yes, so wonderful.
But this time, he yelled out as his insides twisted, cramped up so bad that it was visible to the naked eye.
The Creeper howled, splayed his wings, then once again everything came up in a violent surge.
Rejection. Complete and utter rejection.
/
NO!
The six headed horror lifted all of its ugly heads to the black sky and let out a myriad of eerie sounds, more pissed off then ever.
It had Goliathus...had him in its very tendrils...and yet the human flesh was making him sick!
Snarling, it sank back down to the blood of the river, intent on fixing this little annoyance fast.
It was then, just as it was almost completely submerged, that it saw that woman again, and a wide, creepy grin spread over the face of the dragon-head.
Jezelle and Darry continued to walk down what seemed like a never-ending path. Then, at last, they came to what looked like a giant and rusty gate. Peering through the vine-covered bars, Jezelle could finally see Goliathus, chained on top of a strange circular stone atop a small hill. She gasped. The chains were piercing him, one even dug into the back of his neck. He was starting to look gaunt, shriveled...and he hung low to the ground on all fours in what seemed like great despair.
Jezelle actually felt bad for him. It surprised her.
I feel for him too, believe you me. The poor guy doesn't deserve that. Heck, I would have said he did back in the early days when I was a very angry, vengeful spirit. But after learning what I did..well...
"I know Darry, I know. Me too." She looked up at the gate, it was huge and seemed to speak the word "STUBBORN".
"How are we going to get this thing open?"
Hm...well... Darry turned into a bright light and simply zipped his way to the other side, were he reformed.
Maybe I can find a lock or something over here?
She huffed. "Neat trick, show off." Darry smirked but said nothing as he searched the gate for some kind of latch or handle. Eh nothing. Sounds crazy, but...try pushing it or something. Jezelle shrugged but complied, and heaved herself up against the gate. It made an awful groaning, creaking noise but hardly budged.
"Yeah right, chile. That ain't gonna work. You gotta come up with somethin' else, hun."
Well what do I look like? Harry Houdini? Darry looked around closely once more, but shook his head. Sorry. There just isn't any kind of lock over here.
"Well then why don't you go over to him and see what you can do? I'll...I'll think of somethin', don't worry."
Darry nodded and turned, making his way over to Goliathus. At the very moment he neared the stone, a terrifying sight rose up from behind it.
HE IS FINE RIGHT HERE...WITH ME...HIS TRUE FRIEND.
Darry, even as a ghost, became washed in fear. A new head revealed itself, that which was very human in appearance. Except it was partly skeletal...deformed, and millions of what he swore were spiders crawled all over it, in and out of the hollow eye sockets.
Jezelle noticed too, he heard a whimper from behind him. "Gawds Darry get away from that thing!"
But that wasn't the worst horror this monster had.
Because it was so close now, he could see something that maybe a mere human just wasn't meant to see.
Faces lined its black, slimy body...faces that seemed pressed up against its skin...if you could call it that...from the inside. And they were moving, contorted into various expressions of torment, some with their mouths open and wailing, others screaming for help.
There had to be thousands of them.
Thousands.
Occasionally, one seemed to almost escape the huge demon, coming partway out and revealing a decaying body. But with a mere twitch of a muscle, the soul fell back into its place.
Darry had every reason to be afraid. The realization hit him hard. That thing could do that to him, he was a spirit...
"DARRY! GET OUT OF THERE! NOW!" Jezelle screamed at the top of her lungs, making her voice hoarse.
Turning into a ball of light once more, Darry jetted skyward, hoping to move quickly enough to evade the demon. A tendril lashed out (or was it its tail?), and just barely missed as Darry made it safely to the sky, disappearing amongst the blackened clouds.
Surprisingly, the demon seemed to care little. Instead, it showed Jezelle its eerie grin and then grabbed the chains, pulling on them.
GET UP, SLAVE. AND KILL HER.
Slowly and with much reluctance, Goliathus got to his weary feet. He looked completely defeated and hopeless.
With another angry yank of the chains, he turned to Jezelle.
They stared for a long time.
He leapt into the air then, gliding over the gate and landing in front of her, the chains still holding him fast with every movement.
"Forgive me..."
The psychic woman shook her head as tears brimmed. "What has that thing done to you..." Her voice was a whisper.
"I'm coming for you...run..hide...do anything you can..."
And in the real physical world, the Creeper got up, brushing himself off from his earlier spell of convulsion. He had a new plan.
The psychic woman, yes...why not get rid of that pest? Leaping high, he took to the air, sailing off in the direction of her house.
She was sitting there in her living room, gone into a trance, completely helpless.
A sitting duck for the taking.
/
End of Chapter 9
Ack! Don't kill me! :dodges thrown keyboards: I know, I know, I keep leaving you in a cliffhanger. But that makes you want to come back for more! XD Chapter 10 to come shortly...MAYBE by no later then Sunday, if I can find more time write! Hope you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW!