Ilaria POV
Being in the presence of such a noble king and warrior has the effect of one feeling conscious of one's appearance especially when you look the way that I do. It wasn't helping that I was starting to see return of the thriving hair. I start to bow out of this little meeting when the king asked for me to stop moving.
"You, strange one. What is your name?"
"My name is Ilaria your highness."
"Ilaria come and join us you are involved with the going ons in this castle as much as the others." How do you tell a king that all you have done is help a small amount with the wounded and then have a massive headache that resulted in this current form? You don't you just sit in front of the fire and listen to the retelling of what is going on.
"Will you help us?" The Princess asked.
"You have awakened me early. I have neither Excalibur, nor my knights nor my old friend Merlin. Still your need is great. I will do what I can." The king said giving a flicker of flame to the almost dwindled hope. Suddenly the doors opened and in rushed in with Gabriel saying that Demona and Macbeth had been spotted in the orchard.
"I knew he would not wait until sunrise!" The Magus exclaimed as Goliath says he may have if he had provoked the Archmage. With brilliance King Arthur stepped forth saying that this could work in our favor, by sunrise there shall be too few of us, Tom, Elisa and him will lead the advanced party, but the plan hit a snag when it came to taking care of three wicked bats called the Weird Sisters. The name sounds like a sister group for Twisted Sister. It was the Magus who took up the role.
"I have but one suggestion and that is to take Ilaria with you."
"Me?" I half whispered half exclaimed.
"She may prove useful to you Magus."
"My lord…" The Magus was about to protest but found that it was best not to argue with him. "We shall leave soon."
I follow the Magus in quiet silence. Till we come to a beautiful view. A waterfall, a cave with a stone path and lush greenery decorated the location nicely.
"What is this place?"
"It was where the Sleeping King rested. Here it shall be the place of battle with the Sisters, Weird." I move to the water side, sitting on my knees and gaze into it breaking my reflection as I dipped my fingers into the cool water. As I lift my fingers out a curious thing occurred. A stream of water rose with my fingers and as I moved them the water followed. Till my thoughts were broken by the Magus's voice.
"You have a gift. Tell me have you always been able to do that?"
"No, not since I came here, but I didn't find out I was a gorgon until I was fourteen and that was three years ago."
"After this battle I may have to take you on as my apprentice."
"What do you want me to do now?"
"I think it shall be best for you to hide some place. I will face them on my own." I pulled up the hood of the cloak I had been given before we left the castle and began to walk away when the Magus gave me these finally words. "But if you feel the strength of a warrior fall upon you be sure that it is the right time to act."
"Taking a rest grandfather or have you chosen this place to be your grave?" In walked three beautiful women. All three of them were alike. Each wearing the same style of dress, hairstyle and face. The one way you could tell them apart was the hair color. One was blonde. Another brunette and the last had white hair. All three of them gave the same aura of being higher than everyone else.
"I knew you would come here." The Magus said as he sat crossed legged on the grass. His staff well in hand.
"You are no match for us." The brunette said.
"There is no future for you." The one with white hair said ominously. It was then that the Magus leapt to his feet and began to swing his staff around at the three women. Mockingly one asked if this was how he intended to defeat them. Then another said the piece of wood could not defeat them. The last one taunted him about not having magic here in Avalon.
"Mystical Avalon hear my plea! Fill me with your energy!" He shouted to the skies as he brought down his staff on to a rock that crackled with light flowing through his staff and back out to the nagging wenches. Who in retaliation rose from the ground igniting their power threw their eyes and mouth on to him. Hurting him greatly. In haste I jump out of my hiding place and shouted to them.
"Hey Wannabe Supremes! Diana called she wants her group back!" They divert their attention from the Magus to look at me. Giving him time to gather his strength and throw it back at them. They went a far distance and fell into the water. I ran to the Magus's side helping him up as he stumbled a little.
"Avalon! Aid your Children!" The three called to the heavens that responded with the rolling of storm clouds gathering forth the force of winds. The winds blew us back and would have blown me away if the Magus hadn't caught me and turned his staff into a giant tree blocking the wind.
"Thanks."
"Don't thank me yet Ilaria. We are not quite out of the woodwork yet." A bolt of lightning fell from the sky and split the tree apart causing fire to form and spread. I looked about for something to defend as the sisters came forth. The memory of water came to me and praying my plan would work I lifted my arms and the water came up. Like a geyser the water spurted and knocked the witches down for some time at least as the two of us fled into the cave. The Magus's strength was failing him. I could see it as he came to his knees and used the stone steps as crutches. I came to his side ready to lift him up when he took my arm and with direct eye contact said this to me.
"Ilaria hide behind the stone alter. I do not wish for you to get caught in the crossfire."
"Magus I can help you. I may not know how, but I know I can help you."
"You are still new to magic. Finding out you have power after only an hour does not make you ready to carry on a fight with the likes of these three. A good sorcerer learns their spells before they use them. You still need to learn, now hide for they come." I look from the entrance way to him and do as he says. I hide behind the stone alter.
"You only delay the inevitable!"
"Where is the sleeping king?!"
"Iron armor and swords and riches form a chain and bind these witches." I heard as the three cried out no at being foiled. I rose up on the steps in time to see the Magus fall on to the stone alter. I went to him. He looked at me.
"I am sorry Ilaria. It appears that you will need a new master to teach you."
"Don't talk crazy Magus. You are going to be alright. I will get the others and then you will be healed."
"No Ilaria, you know that it is a lie. It is my time." I jump from the steps and call to him as I go for help.
"Hang in there Magus! Help will be here soon!" I run out of the cave entrance and into Goliath and the others.
"Magus needs help!"
"We know. It is too late." He said solemnly. The group and I come into the cave. The last words were shared. I recall his last words to me well.
"Ilaria, when you find the one to train you. Call them Magus. That way I will still have become your teacher."
Goliath, Elisa, Bronx and I head to the boats as we are to leave soon. Gabriel offers Goliath the chance of becoming one of their clan, but he politely refuses, instead Angela joins us. The sisters are freed from their bonds after their spell is taken away from Demona and Macbeth and the King decided to go off and explore the world on his own.
"Souvenirs?" Elsa said after we had climbed into the boat when she noticed his satchel.
"I will personally see to it that the Phoenix Gate and the Eye of Odin are never used again."
"If you say so. My personal goal is to get back to New York as soon as Possible."
"Elisa I thought you understood Avalon doesn't take you where you want to go. Avalon sends you where you need to be."
"What does he mean by where we need to be?"
"I guess we will find out when we find out?" I said shoulders shrugging.
"Ilaria, I was wondering something. What did the Magus mean when he told you to call your teacher Magus? And what kind of teacher did he mean?" Angela asked.
"Yeah what was that about? Did the two of you have a bonding session?" Elisa asked.
"When the Magus and I went to battle area for the Weird Sisters something happened that hadn't happened before. I put my fingers in a lake and when I pulled them out a stream of water followed. Everywhere I moved my hand the water followed. Before the fight the Magus thought about me becoming his apprentice, he said I had a gift."
"Can you do it now?" Angela asked a little excited.
"I am not sure. I have not tried to do it since the tussle with those three crows."
"Try it now." Angela urged on. I mutter an okay and look over the side of the boat careful not fall in the water. I place my fingers in the water and lift them up slowly. Nothing happened.
"Perhaps you need to focus?" Goliath hinted. I stare at the reflection in the water and try again this time a thin stream followed.
"I am doing it!"
"And with practice you could get better." Elisa then stretched out her arms and crossed them behind her head. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I could use some sleep."
"Sounds like a plan to me." I said as we drifted off to sleep while the others stayed up.
The first place we came to I am not going to get into. We came to where Goliath's old home, use to stand in Scotland. The weather was terrible so we took shelter in what used to be the old rookery for the gargoyle eggs. Then Goliath started to act like a crazy person seeing and hearing things the rest of us couldn't see. Started to attack us without reason then went running off into the deeper parts of the cave where he fell off a ledge into the dark abyss below. In urgent haste Angela, Elisa and I made our way down into the abyss. Found a powerful spectral lightshow of power playing before us that blew up a four pillar structure within the cave. Goliath clued us in to the show being two ghosts from Goliath's past one friend the other foe. One saved his life and then that ghost came before us and thanked Goliath for freeing him from his guilt and shame. The other one we didn't care so much about so we put him to the back of our minds and went out into the sun where sleep was given to all and now we are back on the boat heading hopefully back home. Juniper is so going to kill me when I get home for being late and disappearing. There is probably some third thing, but I won't dwell on it now. Oh and finally my transformation went back to normal.
"The first thing I'm going to do when we get back to Manhattan is buy a fat hot dog." Bronx barked in protest, so Elisa said. "Okay make that two."
"If you're hungry Elisa I have some protein bars." I pull two out of my bag one vanilla the other strawberry.
"Do you always carry protein bars with you?" She said taking the vanilla bar.
"Yep, I always carry a couple on me. Never know when you are going to need them."
"What else do you carry in that bag?"
"Apartment keys, wallet, emergency flashlight, mini first aid kit, water bottle, pocket knife, a book oh and I forgot I had my diver's watch in here. That's the stuff I let people see. I also carry the anti-stone glare glasses, cloth head band and serum for those mishaps."
"You take a survival guide with you were ever you go?"
"Normally, I do. Dad would sometimes surprise me with outdoor trips and I learned it was best to have everything ready before hand."
"What kind of trips?"
"Oh the usual ones. Hiking, mountain climbing, diving, boating, surfing that sort of thing."
"Sounds like the two of you had some interesting adventures."
"We did. I miss him a lot." The sound of a roar drew our attention. It didn't take long for something to appear and split the water into foaming crests as it raced towards our boat and knocks us into the water. Elisa and I swim to the capsized boat and when our hands touch it the thing that ran into our boat lunches out of the water shaking about trying to rid itself of Goliath who was holding on to the sea serpent. We rush away from the boat as the creature came down upon it forming large waves from the action. I dove under as I felt the force of the wave push against me. I stayed there and looked up to the surface. As the creature battled with Goliath and now Angela. The force of the battle could be felt from where I was. I can hold my breath for a long time, but I don't know how long this battle will be. Quickly I come up to the surface and take a gulp of air. Avoiding the sudden plunge of the creature as it went after Goliath. Angela was there to greet me and not too long after Goliath and Bronx arrived. Goliath looked from side to side in a panic.
"Where is Elisa?" I too look around. I thought she was not far from us, but I see that she isn't. We call to her, but are not given an answer. So we swim on and finally make it to shore exhausted. I shiver against the cold wind that followed upon leaving the water. When I look to the gargoyles I find them turned to stone in front of a totem pole. On top of that pole was a strange raven. I say strange because of the way he was looking at me. It was creepy. Very creepy for a bird. I think over what I should do. Should I stay here and freeze waiting for the gargoyles to wake up? Or should I see if I can find a town? I take the later. If I can find a town I may be able to find someone that can help me look for Elisa until the others wake up at sundown and get something to warm me up. I walk the trek before me growing numb from the cold. My eyelids were closing from the fatigue growing within me. I come close to passing out when I see a group of homes. I quicken my pace but it was hard to walk in a straight line so it took longer to make it to a house. I banged on one door which no one came to. I moved to the second and banged on its door. When I came to the third my energy was spent and I feel against the door closing my eyes to rest.
Goliath POV
We woke in this strange land to find that Ilaria was gone. In the sand were footprints that could belong to her they headed north.
"We must find Elisa and Ilaria." I said to Angela.
"Quiet Brother." A voice whispered above us. On the strange carved pole was a gargoyle with the feature of a black bird. Shock came over Angela and me at the sight of a fellow Gargoyle member here. He leapt down from his post and spoke.
"Come we must leave this place." Bronx began to growl at the new comer. To calm him I laid a hand over his head and spoke to the new being.
"Are you gargoyle? I asked him.
"Yes. I saw you beat the sea monster, but could not reach you before sunrise."
"Have you seen our friends?" Angela asked him. The new gargoyle turned his head to her and asked her if she meant other gargoyles.
"Two humans. Female. One a young pup the other an adult."
"Then they are no friends of mine." He forcibly said with the shaking of his fist in anger.
"Why are you so bitter towards humans?" Angela asked.
"The people of this island brutally destroyed my clan while they slept. Only a few of us remain." I felt his pain as I have lived it before those thousand years ago. I ask him where the others were and he said that they were in hiding. They only come out to protect the village. He urged us to leave, but I protested. He took a sigh and agreed that he and his remaining clan would help us search. I agreed and we climbed the carved pole.
"Stay on your guard. There is an evil sorceress named Grandmother. Who seeks to destroy the human village. She summoned the sea monster you fought." He warned before he glided off to show us the way.
"This place is certainly filled with surprises." Angela said to me before we in turn took off to follow him. I have to agree with her. This place held surprises, but how many of them were good?
Ilaria POV
I awoke feeling warm and groggy. I wanted to go back to sleep, but finding Elsa was more important than getting a few winks of sleep. I took a good look at my surroundings as I rose from sleep. I was in someone's house in a warm bed.
"Glad to see that one of you is up." An old woman said as she came to my side. "You are lucky you haven't gotten ill. When we found you sleeping on the door of our neighbor's house and chilled to the bone we were ready to think the worst." She moved to a fire with a pot standing over it cooking something. She took out a bowl and ladle and filled the bowl with the strange broth. Once she had finished she gave the bowl to me.
"I imagine that you are hungry. Here eat this. It's not much but it will draw away the cold and hunger."
"Thank you Ma'am." I slurp the soup grateful for the warmth and filling of my stomach. "Excuse me but did you say that you were glad one of us was awake?"
"Yes, before we had found you. We had found a young woman on the beach. She is sleeping next to you. I am working on an ancient remedy for her fever." I look to the bed in front of mine and in it was Elisa!
"Elisa."
"Do you know this young woman?"
"Yes. She is my friend. Part of the reason I was resting on that door was because I was looking for someone to help me find her." The old woman took something from a different pot and gave it to Elisa and she woke. When she did a man came in talking about a squall and chopper.
"You're awake."
"If you can call it that."
"So are you." He said looking towards me. I walk over to Elisa's side.
"Ilaria, the others…." The old woman placed her hand over Elisa's forehead. Telling her that it was time to rest. She then moved me back into bed and told me the same thing.
"What is your name?"
"I am called Grandmother. You are called Ilaria, yes?" I nod. I feel my eyelids droop and as I look at Grandmother I see a warm smile on her face like she knew who I was all along.
Sometime later I wake up and find Elisa sneaking out of the house. I put on my dry jacket and clock and follow her out. We are soon stopped by the young man from earlier telling us that it was too soon for us to be out and about. Grandmother soon joined and said something that irked the young man to say something about ravens not existing, which I took as meaning the animal spirit of tricks raven and not the actual animal.
Elisa and I travel towards where I believe the direction of the last place I saw the gargoyles at. But we thought that perhaps they may have gone into the woods since I had left. We walk amongst the trees and bushes. Keeping an eye out for any sign of Angela, Goliath or Bronx. A bear comes after us and thanks to Bronx we don't get mauled by it. Boy was the cutie happy to see us as he licked us raw. Goliath and Angela showed up. Both were happy to see us, but I think that Goliath and Elisa were happy to see each other most. We caught up and according to Goliath there are gargoyles here and the poles were markers of those who had been murdered. But according to the conversation we had with Grandmother earlier there has never been any gargoyles in this place. I also learned that the young man's name is Nick.
"Grandmother she is a sorceress." Goliath said with a touch of malice.
"She summoned the sea monster that attacked us." Angela added.
"What? I can't believe that." Elisa said.
"Either can I. If she attacked us then why did she help Elisa and me? It doesn't make sense."
"Both of you have been deceived." Goliath proclaimed.
"Why don't all of us go and see if she is a bad apple or a good one?" I suggested. The others agree and we make our way back towards the village. On the way we find Grandmother in what I think was meditation.
"Does that look like a sorceress to you?" Elisa asked our gargoyle friends. Oddly Bronx began to growl at Grandmother and as we looked upon her we found that she was changing. Into a fearsome bird with a face on its belly that growled like the bear that tried to attack us. She took to the sky heading for the village. The gargoyles went after her to stop her. We followed after her on the ground with Bronx. We came upon her sitting by a tree. Elisa demanded to know what she was and why she attacked us.
"I did not attack child. I only wanted Natsilane to see a creature of legend. That's why I posed as the sea monster and Thunderbird." So she did attack us, but it was an accidental attack.
"I don't understand." Elisa said.
"Explain yourself sorceress." Goliath demanded as he and Angela appeared out of the shadows.
"I have not seen gargoyles for many generations. I'm glad to see that you thrive." She said so genuinely with a kind smile.
"We live but we do not thrive." Goliath stated. But the fact we saw some other gargoyles contradicted that a tiny bit. Then we were informed about them being illusions not actual gargoyles created by Raven the trickster.
"Why would this raven want to mislead us?" Goliath said.
"Isn't it obvious? If the bratty chief won't battle me then the island is mine." The bird gargoyle said as he turned into a more human looking form. He began to laugh. "My cousin here thought that if she became a creature of legend than Natsilane would believe in the myths and get with the program. Not a bad plan." He poked at Goliath.
"Fortunately you came along and I didn't have to fight. It's so messy."
"You're that creepy bird from the other day the one that was sitting on the pole." I said to him. He turned from Goliath and swaggered over to me leaning over me.
"Creepy is a little harsh don't you like, Ilaria?"
"Not from where I'm standing."
"Why don't you just show your power to Natsilane?" Elisa asked.
"We are children of Oberon. Forbidden from directly intervening in Human affairs." Grandmother said. In a powerful roar Goliath declared that he would battle Raven. Raven changed into the animal form and flew away. Goliath was going to follow him when Elisa stopped him and instead we showed him to Nick, I mean Natsilane. He was now believing in these things but wasn't as willing to follow his destiny resulting in Goliath to go against Raven and then Natsuilane appeared ready to follow his destiny. Raven was tricky and used the totem pole to create more players on his team. It still didn't help as Raven lost the battle and the land could not become his. He like a sore loser said this place held no more interest for him. I still wish he didn't look at me when he had said it.
"I hope one day we will meet again Grandmother."
"We will Ilaria. We will. When we do I will tell you an old tale."
"Okay then." I said unsure of what she meant by that. It was time to leave so we got on our boat and left this land for the next.
The next one took us to Scotland where we met up with the Loch Ness Monster and the Baby Loch Ness Monster. We also ran into the Good Doctor again. He was trying to capture the Loch Ness monsters for some evil science experiment no doubt I didn't really pay attention I was too busy thinking of ways to get back at him for the pain he caused me back in New York. Of and of course we had to save Angela from Sevarius and escape. But I think that the Loch Ness Monsters got to have the most fun dealing with him. But Doctor Sevarius did reveal some interesting drama. Angela is biologically the daughter of Goliath. After that exhausting time we went to Prague to deal with a golem, a well-known mobster and a man who wanted to walk again and ended up a real monster. Then we get sent to Paris where I finally got to do a little sight-seeing with Elisa as the others slept. But then we ran into two other interesting characters. Macbeth and Demona. One tried to kill the other and then there was a hidden plot by the clone of Goliath named Thailog. In the end we kicked butt and saved lives. Best part I soaked Thailog with a water fall that left him looking like a drenched bat.
After that little adventure we went to Jolly Old England. In that city we met real gargoyles. A lion and a unicorn types. The lion was Leo, should have seen that one coming. The unicorn was Una. They weren't too happy to see Goliath because according to them he had let their fellow gargoyle and friend Griff die in the battle of Britain back in World War two. Goliath had no idea who they even were. An altercation happened and Una used a spell to knock out the others, but it didn't reach me for some reason. Instead Leo grabbed me and together they moved us down into their, what I think is a basement. Leaving Goliath alone. And that is what led us to where we are now. Tied up with three other knocked out beings wondering what was going to happen next. That's when a thought occurred to me. It was a long shot since all I could do with Magic so far was to make water form a geyser to spurt at people. If I can get a hold of some water I may be able to loose these chains and get the others free.
"Excuse me, could I please have some water?" They look to each other for a second and then Leo left and came back with a cup.
"I suppose you want me to hold the cup while ya drink."
"No. I can manage on my own. Just put the cup on top of the box there." Indicating the one next to me with my eyes. I take a sip in front of him and Una. Managing not to tip the cup over and spill the rest of the water. The two of them exchange another look and leave. This was it now or never to see if this new found power was able to work with me.
I shut my eyes imagining the cup and the water in it. I think about it forming into a thin snake gliding over the air to the movements of my finger. Till it rests on a link in the chains. I imagine it getting colder and colder form ice and then warming into free flowing water again then back to ice. Repeating the process over and over again to form rust on the chains enabling them to break under pressure. I move forward and snap the link is broken and I am able to wriggle out of the chains. At that time the others had woken. I run to them with the water and I try to attempt the same process. When we hear them coming.
"Ilaria, pretend to be chained. When they leave again we can escape." Angela ordered me. Quickly I wrap the chains around me and put the cup back where it was. They came looking grim as usual.
"What have you done to Goliath?!" Elisa demanded while struggling with her bonds.
"Your friend has shown his true character. He has abandoned you. As he once abandoned Griff." Una said her stare intensifying at the last word. That sounded like bull to me. In the time I have known Goliath he has been anything but the abandoning type.
"Goliath would never leave us." Angela said with the upmost truth.
"Believe what you wish. He used sorcery to disappear in a ball of flame." Ball of Flame? We came to the same conclusion that she was referring to the Phoenix Gate.
"Phoenix Gate. Goliath must have gone back in time to save your friend."
"Nothing can change what happened to Griff." She empathized with her fists banging on the railing. "Goliath talked him into fighting the Nazis. We all but convinced him to stay safe with us."
"But." Leo said his voice sounding weary. "That's the real problem. Isn't it?" he descended down the stair case and stopped at Elisa and removed her chains. Alerting Una to demand what he was doing. He turned to her.
"We should have gone with them. I think all these years we've been blaming the wrong gargoyle for the loss of Griff." Una grabbed his chest and insisted that they were protecting their home.
"And maybe that was the right thing to do. But it is our guilt that haunts us. Not Goliath's." The two held each other close as Elisa undid the chains on Angela and Bronx. When she didn't undo my chains it peeked Leo's interest.
"Why didn't you undo your friend's chains?"
"Didn't need to she already got out of them all by herself." They look at me as I move my arms out allowing the chains to fall.
"How did you do that?" I pick up the cup of water and show them my ability to move it.
"I have not seen this type of sorcery in ages." Una said drawing closer.
"I found out about it recently. So far I haven't learned that much." A tinkling of the store's bell takes our attention and Bronx gallops up the stairs into the shop as we follow curious about the visitor. It was Goliath and someone from the past. Griff. There was a happy reunion amongst the three London Gargoyles.
Not too long we were starting to leave when I feel a tap on the shoulder. It was Una and in her hand was a book.
"This will help you with magic."
"Oh. I'm sorry but all I have is American money."
"Keep it. Consider it an apology for the rough housing we gave you earlier."
"Thank you."
"If you should come back to London. I will have to teach you a few spells."
"Sounds like a game plan. Before we go can you get a message to New York?"
"I suppose so."
"Here's the address and phone number." I give her the slip of paper. "Tell Juniper that Ilaria is fine and is traveling with Elisa and our friend Goliath from the Bronx and we are trying to get home."
"I will see to it as soon as I can."
"Thanks again Una. See you guys in the future." I said leaving with the others as we head to the boat and sail away to our next destination. One of heat, desert and bangles. Walk like an Egyptian! I couldn't resist. We head to the Sphinx. Let's see in the past week or so that I have been traveling with these guys. I have been to Avalon, Prague, Scotland, Paris, London, Canada and now Egypt and have seen Thunderbirds, Loch Ness Monsters, Gargoyles from other lands, clone of gargoyles and had to battle with sorcerers. I could make a successful cartoon and comic book series out of this experience or just hope that this trip to Egypt is just that.
"Come on Ilaria! You don't want to get left behind do you?" Angela called playfully.
"I'm coming." We arrive at the feet of the Sphinx and something buzzes in the air. A robot came and went into the Sphinx. It was called Coyote and he might have some back up called the pack with him. We follow the hall into the dark and come upon a party.
"Well look who's come to crash the party."
"Whoa who's the Lon Chaney Jr. Impersonator?" Pointing to the gray wolf man.
"Deal with them." Ordered the man in a blue and gold priests robe. The cyborg twins make the first lame crack and Coyote says that he was programmed to shoot first ask questions later. He fires a laser at us and we spread. I turn to Elisa and ask.
"Is Coyote the world's biggest Terminator Fan or something?"
"I would bet on that." A battle ensued and it didn't end the best way possible. But someone else soon arrived. Anubis jackal god of Egypt. This distracted the others from noticing that I was faking being knocked out. They leave by the command of the one in gold and blue.
"Hear me guardian of the gate. I demand a favor."
"I grant but one boon mortal and it will be given to you as it is given to everyone. When your time has come." The Demon spoke with a clear gravelly voice. One wiser than the years.
"You took from me my only son Anubis. Two years ago in a pointless car accident."
"Death is always pointless. That is the point Emir."
"Don't toy with me Jackal God. I want my son back. I will make you give him back."
"What you ask is unthinkable. Your son has passed. Let him rest. Death comes to us all."
"Not anymore. With you trapped here forever. Death has no sting. No one can die. So my threat is very real."
"A threat that harms everyone." He turns surprised to see me awake and standing behind him.
"What do you know. You are but a child. You have not experienced loss yet."
"I have experienced loss. When I was a baby my mother died and when I was fourteen, I lost my father to climbing accident. For three years I didn't speak because of my anger and sadness at death. I still have it today, but I know that death is a part of life and without it how can there be life."
"You speak nonsense. Anubis you will give me my son! It is not fair that you took him from me."
"On the contrary death is the ultimate fairness. Rich and poor. Young and old. All are equal in death. You do not see the jackal god play favorites. Think about what you are doing. All over the world there is birth, but no death. Our planet cannot support so many lives at once. As this one has told you without death there is no life."
"My only concern is one, my son. Return him to me or suffer the consequences." Anubis gave nod motion or word so the man in blue and gold took matters into his own hands and was going to recite a spell to turn him into an avatar even against the protest of Goliath. We were rounded up and taken to a burial chamber. I sneak out as the others fought so I could foil the avatar spell before it was too late. Unfortunately I was too late. But instead of the man in blue and gold becoming the avatar it was one of the cyborgs and he was laughing hysterically. With his new found powers he rusted cyote, turned his sister and the wolfman into a baby and a pup and aged Goliath, Angela, Elisa and Bronx into the elderly. I rush to help them but get caught and aged as well, but only by a few years or so.
"What?"
"After I bring death to this world I will need someone to help me to repopulate it in my image. Maza doesn't do it for me and well it's your lucky day."
"Eww."
"You'll get use to the idea." I wish there was water around here. But there is only stone and fire. Wait fire? I could try foucusing on it like its water maybe I could use it. The gargoyles rise again to attack Jackel before his death campaign could go any further. It did not last long as he knocked them to the ground and started from where he left off, but it gave Goliath the chance to take the scroll of Thoth and pass it to Emir who used the spell to change him into being the avatar and undoing all the damage done by Jackel. The temple began to skake around us.
"No one must have this power." Emir said.
"Then give me the scroll of Thoth." He turned to me. "I will destroy it so no one can know it's power ever again." In a leap of faith he passed me the scroll and I using the new found ability of fire burn the scroll into dust. Emir seeing the scroll had been destroyed used his power to end it all. We flee the sphinx in time. The pack and Emir's locations we were unsure of. But like goliath said if there is any justice in this world he is at rest with his son.