9 PAGES OF ACTION, GORE, VIOLENCE, AND DRAMA!!!!! Need I say more? Also, there is a difference between Covin'thra and Equinox that I must point out. Covin'thra is brave and courageous...a go-getter if you will...but Equinox is wise and timid. Equinox fears violence, and, as you will see later here, she gets confronted on it by someone...who? Read it to see!

Chapter 60: The End of a Demon's Reign

"Eragon," Murtagh huffed after landing next to him on Thorn's back. "We flew around all of Ellesmera and came up empty."

He is not here, Thorn pointed out. If he is, he is quite an expert in hiding. Eragon paced in front of them with his hands clasped behind his back. Saphira had flown to Darat alone, and he did not like that idea. Nevertheless, he had to stay behind in case Murtagh came up with something.

"What did he mean," Eragon thought out loud as he paced. "How will I know where to meet him?"

Eragon, Saphira chimed in worriedly. I see nothing here. Our child has surly vanished.

"That is it!" Eragon said, snapping his fingers. He turned and pointed to Murtagh and Thorn. "Get as many soldiers as you can and get them over to the cliffs."

"The where?" Murtagh asked. "Brother, what do you mean?"

"There is a canyon just behind Lake Flam," Eragon explained. "I bet my entire life that this demon is waiting for me and Draken there."
Are you sure of this? Thorn asked.

"He was there with us," Eragon pointed out. "He knew that we had conceived Draken in that very spot."

"Even if we do go," Murtagh replied, "how will you fight without a blade? It takes a full day to forge a sword."

"Use this," Angela suddenly stated, startling everyone…including Thorn. Eragon turned around to see Angela behind him holding her deadly staff in her hands. "It is light and sharp. Take care of it and be swift, Eragon." Eragon stepped forward and graciously accepted her final gift. He swung the staff around his body a few times to get a feel for its agility, and then turned to face his brother again.

"You have your orders," Eragon said. "Get them together and prepare for battle. You will strike at noon."

"What about you?" Murtagh asked. Eragon turned to face Angela and smiled.

"I," he said with a soft chuckle, "am going to slay a demon."

- - - - - - - -

"I cannot take this!" Draken roared, as Covin'thra watched worriedly from her bowl.

"Draken, please?" Covin'thra asked. "You are frightening me."

"What does it matter, Covy," Draken shot back. "Equinox is in trouble because of my stubborn behavior. I must…?"

"No," Covin'thra stopped him. "Do not leave me." Draken looked his sister over and was surprised at how large she had gotten. She was still sort of small, but her wings had spread out to a wider length. Her body had stretched out a bit as well, creating a more lengthy appearance. Still, she was not large enough to fight on her own.

"I have no choice," Draken snapped. "If I sit by, our sister will be killed."

"Do not go!" Covin'thra protested, but it was too late. She watched with teary eyes as her brother stormed out of the home.

"I am coming sister," Draken roared. "Stay strong. "

- - - - - - -

"Hmm," Stave thought, as he paced in front of the caged dragonet. She had grown like her sister, but the cage was still too large for her to escape.

"You grow quickly," Stave pointed out, walking over to her cage. "It has only been one night, and you are about the size of a two-month-old. How old are you?"

"I will not tell," Equinox stuttered.

"Fine then," Stave sighed. He reached up and spun the cage again, smashing Equinox into the steel sides.

"I am of four weeks," she yelled out fearfully. "Leave me be!"

"Four weeks?" Stave asked himself. "In a span of two months, you may be as large as your brother, yes?"

"What does that matter?" Equinox asked, still cowering in the far corner of the cage. Stave let out an evil chuckle and slammed his fist on the steel prison that she was locked inside of.

"You have an hour," Stave explained. "If Draken does not show up, you will die."

- - - - - - - - -

Are you positive? Saphira asked, as Eragon mounted her. He nodded his head and patted the side of her neck.

"It was where we first conceived Draken," Eragon explained. "Why would he not be there?"

I trust you, dear, Saphira sighed. I just want our child to be safe. Suddenly, Eragon looked up to see Draken fly by at blinding speed. Without permission from her rider, Saphira leapt up after him and beat her wings frantically to catch up.

Draken! Saphira shouted to him. What are you doing? Where is your sister?

I must do this, he replied simply. I will not have Equinox or Covin'thra harmed by my destiny.

Destiny? Saphira roared. This is not your destiny, child! If you go, Stave will force you to serve him. We will become enemies, Draken. You and I will never be considered mother and son.

I must do it, Draken muttered. If I do not, Equinox will die. I am sorry mother, but it has to be done.

"NO!" Eragon shouted to him. "Son, listen to yourself! Is this the way I taught you to live?"

"Father," Draken shouted back, "you have taught me more than any man…or dragon…could have, but this is my sacrifice to the family. Do not follow, and let me do what needs to be done."

"If you do we will be forced to fight against you," Eragon yelled. "I cannot stand being forced to kill my own son."

"I would rather have me die honorably than my sister be slaughtered!" Draken hollered. "Leave me be!"

"Do you even know where he is?" Eragon asked.

"I feel led to it," Draken admitted. "Equinox told me little, but I have pieced them all together. He is at the cliffs just before Lake Flam."

He is right, Saphira said mournfully. Eragon, you must do something!

"I will do what I must," Draken replied, banking away from them. "Do not follow me!"

- - - - - - - - - -

"Right on time," Stave said, shaking his grey-skinned head. He watched as Draken flew up to the cave from the distance.

"No," Equinox murmured. "He did not…?"

"Oh but he did," Stave replied menacingly. "Your brother is quite the fool. Now I shall regain power yet again!" He continued to watch while Draken flew into the cave, roaring in anger as he touched down.

"Let her go," Draken shouted to the demon.

"You must complete our wager," Stave explained. "Your loyalty, for your sister's life."

"If I do this," Draken asked, circling Stave with his eyes fixed on his crimson red ones. "What will become of me?"

"You will be far more powerful than your parents," Stave said joyously. "No one would be courageous enough to battle you."

"Would I fight against my family?" Draken asked. Stave nodded his head.

"They have to be killed before we can improve," Stave sighed. "They hinder the chance of our rise to power."

"You told me that if I surrendered, my family would be unharmed," Draken growled. "Now you go back on your word?"

"I am a demon, lizard," Stave exclaimed. "Do you honestly expect truth from the master of lies? I will not kill them, so that is true. However, it is you that would do the slaying if you join."

"You are not good at encouraging speeches," Draken hissed. "I know my mother and father very well, demon. If I am to fight them, I will fall faster than the lightning from the sky. You may make me stronger, but nothing could make me powerful enough to defeat my own father…nothing."

"Brother!" Equinox shouted from her cage. Draken looked up and saw her dangling helplessly in her steel prison. "You cannot do this!"

"I must," Draken exclaimed to her. He turned back over to Stave. "I want you to know this, Stave. I only do this for my family. I give my life for hers…and the rest of my family as well. I realize that I am condemned after I pledge loyalty, so may I at least converse on final time with my sister before we…move on?" Stave stepped forward to the cage and pulled out a key from the pocket of his jet-black colored tunic. He unlocked the cage and opened the semi-large door for Equinox to hop out, while Draken padded over to her.

"Sister," Draken said, as she floated to the cavern's floor with her wings. "I want you to listen to me." Equinox whimpered and padded over to brush her forehead on Draken's forearm.

"Do not…?" she struggled to ask, but he cut her off.

"Be brave, sister," Draken explained softly. "Never fear death, but accept it. If you are to die, it is better to fall with pride and courage rather than fear and shame. You may see a side of me that I never wanted to reveal, sister, but know that this was my choice. To save you, I give my loyalty to another. I may never return to the normal life…living in a nice home, watching you and Covy wrestle about in the bowls, or even seeing your or Covin'thra's new hatchlings…I will miss it. Promise me that you do not hate me for my decision."

"Do not do it," Equinox begged with tear-filled eyes. "There is another way. Pick me up, Draken. We can fly now!"

"If I do," Draken sighed, "Stave will only hunt us down again. This…is the only way. I love you sister. It will be Covin'thra and your job to watch after Father and Mother for me. I know not what he has planned, but if they are not protected, they may be killed instead of me. Promise me." Equinox lowered her head and shuddered, placing one of her forearms out to where it looked as if she was bowing to him.

"You have taught me much," Equinox sobbed, "I shall never forget the true brother that I have, no matter how evil you become." Draken nodded his head slowly and turned over to Stave.

"Let her off of the cliffs," Draken told him. "The second she is gone, I shall recite my pledge." Stave grinned and stepped over to Equinox. He scooped her up by her belly and carried her to the edge of the cliff.

"What are you doing?" Draken asked. Stave turned to glare at him.

"I," he growled, "am making her leave quicker!" Suddenly, he tossed Equinox forward over the cliffs. She squealed in fear, flapping her wings fiercely to avoid falling, but she was failing miserably at it.

"She cannot fly!" Draken shouted.

"I held up my end!" Stave yelled back, as he watched the small dragonet plummet downward in fearful yips and hollers. "She is off of the cliffs, is she not?" Draken barreled past him and skid to a halt at the edge of the cave, looking down in an attempt to see his sister, but it was not a pleasing sight. Equinox had plowed through the trees below and could be seen spread out in a pool of red blood on the ground below.

"YOU KILLED HER!" Draken roared, spinning around towards him. "I came only to save her life, and you took it!"

"I did not," Stave mocked, "the ground did. Now, can we get on with it? After all, I did hold my own part of the deal."

"No," Draken hollered. "I will not serve the murderer of my brethren. You must kill me too."

"What a pity," Stave said mischievously. "If it will make you feel better, perhaps I shall bring her back from the dead?"

"You have no power to do that," Draken scorned.

"But I do," Stave pointed out. "I am a demon. I have powers that none can imagine. Join me, and I bring her back."

"This time," Draken hissed, "I want to see you heal her before I pledge. That way I know that you are not bluffing."

"So be it," Stave told him. "Stay here." Suddenly, Stave ran off of the cliff and spread out his arms to slow his fall. In an instant, he disappeared. Draken watched with teary eyes as the demon reappeared beside his slain sister. Stave whispered a few words that Draken could not understand, but he figured that they must have been evil because the sun above them lost its light and grew dark. Still, Draken held on to his hopes that his sister was going to be alive again, and continued to watch the demon's work. He could see that the pool of blood around Equinox had condensed back into her body, while Stave had both of his hands around the dragonet's neck, where the wound was located. Minutes went by and still Equinox was dead.

"Give her to me," Stave said lowly. Suddenly, Equinox shuddered in his hands. He let her go instantly, and disappeared once again.

"There," Stave suddenly said behind him. "Now it is your turn." Draken looked down to see Equinox groggily waddle off into the forest below, as if she had just woken up from a nightmare.

Find mother, he told her through mental link. I almost lost you. "Very well," he told Stave. "What do I say?"

- - - - - - - - - -

"The army is set," Murtagh told Eragon, as they waited impatiently at the foot of the mountain. "Give the word and they all will advance."

"Do it," Eragon snapped. "Stave is mine and Saphira's."

"I would not have it any other way," Murtagh admitted. "I am sorry for Draken's decision. It is a sad loss on our side."

"He did it for his sister," Eragon said proudly. "Do not feel bad until his life must be taken." Eragon sadly turned away from his brother and mounted Saphira, who was lying on her paws, shuddering occasionally.

He has said it, Saphira mourned. A mother must never have to fight against her own son.

Can you sense Equinox? Eragon asked.

She is in the forest somewhere, Saphira replied worriedly. I feel that something has happened to her as well. Eragon, we must go! Eragon spun the staff that Angela had given him and pointed the tip of it towards the cliffs.

"MOVE!" he roared. Saphira leapt into the air with a mighty roar and was followed closely by Murtagh and Thorn. They all looked down to see over two hundred Elvin soldiers marching through the forest. Eragon looked through the forest as well, scanning for any hazards, but suddenly caught a glimpse of a magenta colored hide moving through the trees.

"Equinox!" Eragon screamed. Saphira looked down as well and quickly dove to scoop up her child. She picked her up tenderly in her forearms and quickly passed the dragonet up to her father.

"Where am I?" Equinox asked, as Eragon cradled her.

"You are safe," Eragon told her. "Where is your brother?"

"He told me to find you," Equinox explained. "That is all I remember."

"Give her here," Murtagh suddenly said beside him. Eragon stroked Equinox's brow and slowly stretched his hands out to pass his child to Murtagh.

"If I do not make it," Eragon said, "take care of them. Covin'thra is at home alone and she may be frightened."
"I have already sent someone to watch her," Murtagh said with a smile. "Nasuada is watching her."

"I would not trust anyone else during these times," Eragon admitted. "Til death, friend?"

"Til death…brother." Thorn broke away from Saphira and flew down to take Equinox to a safer place while Eragon and Saphira remained on course.

The forest is quiet, Saphira pointed out. Keep an eye out. As soon as she said that, hundreds of Stave's men converged onto the elves below from the right and left sides. They appeared almost mysteriously, slicing and hacking away at the unprepared soldiers below.

"He knew…again," Eragon sighed, tighting the grip on the staff. "Keep firm, love. We must finish this today." Suddenly, Saphira took a massive hit to her stomach from another dragon…her son.

"Draken!" Eragon screamed. "You didn't!"

"He did," Stave yelled back from astride Draken. "Let the family feud begin!" Eragon watched as Stave summoned a bright green sword forth that was blazing with fire, and grasped it with his right hand.

No, Saphira cried. I must kill my first child?

It will not be necessary, Eragon told her. He did not choose him as his rider, which means that…?

He can still live if Stave dies! Saphira cheered. Come on son! Let us see how tough you really are! Saphira roared and pushed all of her weight forward to propel towards her son. Eragon gripped Saphira's sides with his legs and positioned the sharp end of his twin-scythed staff in preparation to swing it at Stave's neck.

"Your death is at hand," Eragon shouted to him. "Your body has tasted steel several times, but your throat is about to swallow it!"

"Go ahead and try!" came Stave's reply. Saphira crashed into Draken's belly with full force, causing him to bellow in agony. She avoided biting or slashing her claws at him, even though every inch of her body wanted to kill him for his decision. The two dragons remained tangled together as their riders slashed and sliced at each other astride them. Metal could be heard smashing against metal, and sparks flew off in different directions when the edge of the staff collided with Stave's fire-sword.

"You fight like a hatchling," Draken taunted Saphira in a demonic style voice. He craned his neck down and clamped his jaws behind his mother's right ear. He hollered and quickly broke free to plan another attack.

Do you not recognize me? Saphira asked him. I gave birth to you!

Stave is my only master now, Draken thought back. All who stand in our way…will die.

"Son!" Eragon called to him. "You bring this on yourself!" Saphira charged again and Eragon lifted up his weapon to strike, bringing it down across his son's own chest. Blood splattered onto Saphira's scaly face as she watched her child be ripped open by Eragon's staff, but Eragon was wise and did not slice it deep enough to end in tragedy, but the wound alone was painful, and Eragon had an idea.

"Master!" Draken called out in pain. "Heal me!"

"No," Stave called out. "Press on, beast! We must win first."

"Do not do what you did before," Draken called out wisely. "Do you wish to lose me just like your last one?"

"Shut…UGH!" Eragon's tactic worked and Stave was too occupied in the conversation with his own dragon to pay attention to the battle around him. Eragon leapt off of Saphira and smashed into him, knocking Stave from his steed. They were only twenty feet from the ground so both dragons knew that they could not reach their riders in time. Eragon hit the dirt hard and rolled to a stop, but Stave had stopped altogether without rolling. Both leapt up to their feet and quickly took to their fighting stances while their dragons waged war above them.

"Your head will look nice in front of my doorstep," Eragon taunted, as he stepped forward to swing his staff at the demon, who easily parried it.

"Enough talk," Stave shouted. "Show me!" Both swung and parried each other's blows, oblivious to the Elvin battle that was raging around them. Soon, every soldier and elf had stopped their fighting to watch Eragon and Stave's duel. They encircled the two enemies and made it so thick that neither one could escape the battle. If Stave had disappeared, he would be seen as a coward in front of his men. Eragon leapt into the air and brought his staff down on Stave's green fiery blade with a sickening clash. Stave merely pushed him off, and placed a firm kick to his stomach. Eragon fell down from the blow, clutching his belly with one hand, and his staff in the other.

"So a mighty rider falls to a kick in the gut?" Stave mocked. He raised his blade up and prepared to thrust it into Eragon's heart. "Taste my fire!" He brought it down with all of his might, but Eragon quickly countered it by slicing his foot with the end of his staff, completely severing it just above the anke. Stave hobbled around in complete shock over what had occurred and finally gathered the strength to asked how.

"Demons are not the only ones who can play tricks!" Eragon shouted, as he kicked himself up to his feet. "Try fighting with one leg!" Suddenly, Stave snickered and shook his head. In one instant, his severed foot reattached itself to the rest of his body, as if it just slid into place perfectly.

"Come on, Eragon," Stave mocked. "I know that you can do better." Eragon roared in anger and swung wildly for Stave's face, but it was blocked easily. He then pushed the staff outward with his other hand in an attempt to slice Stave with the back end, but that too was blocked by Stave's free hand, who caught it and pushed it back.

"I tire of this," Eragon muttered. "I will defeat you…?"

"It is impossible!" Stave shouted back. "I am far too powerful to fall. Once I kill you, I will listen for Saphira's bellows in the sky. When you both are dead, I will attack your children and make sure that Draken is all that remains of the dragon race!"

"NO!" Eragon roared, lunging at him yet again. He fought with sheer fury, tossing the ends of the staff to and fro in order to take the demon's head, but all of his attacks were parried. Suddenly, Eragon dropped one of his hands off of his staff and wrapped it around Staves' neck, tightening his grip to choke him. Stave placed his free hand over Eragon's and struggled to break free, but Eragon was determined. With one quick jab, Eragon forced the tip of the scythe-like blade into Stave's chest, twisting it mercilessly.

"Let's see you disappear again," Eragon whispered to him. "Do it!" Stave looked around at his men that were surrounding him and Eragon. All of the followers had a look of disbelieve on their faces; they expected that a demon could never be defeated. Before Stave could speak, Eragon withdrew the blade and removed his hand from the demon's neck. With another mighty swing, Eragon brought the blade up and through Stave's neck, slicing from one side to the next Stave stood in shock as blood began pouring from the wound, but Eragon was not finished yet. He turned around with the staff and swung even harder, completely beheading him. Blood splattered all over Eragon and the soldiers around him as Stave's head bounced around on the ground below, while his body still stood upright. It took a few seconds before Stave's body crumpled to the ground, but when it did, Eragon knew that it was all over. He had won.

- - - - - - -

Draken! Saphira shouted, as she quickly rolled to avoid being torched by the fire he was breathing. Stop that! I am your mother!

You are nothing but a hindrance, Draken thought back to her. After I kill you, nothing will stop us! He roared and blew out another hot jet of flame, which Saphira narrowly avoided.

You are under his spell, child! Saphira tried to explain. Do not force me to kill you!

You cannot kill me! Draken replied. I am invincible! My master has told me so. Suddenly, Draken looked down at the battlefield to see his headless rider lying on the ground with the elves gathered around him.

Looks like he was not as strong as he predicted, Saphira taunted, as she saw Stave's bloody torso. Draken suddenly began flying in a dazed manner, before completely collapsing. He fell almost two hundred feet, crashing down into the forest. Saphira watched her son plow into the trees, but she was not worried. She knew that Draken was strong and a fall of only two hundred feet is not deadly to a dragon so large. Nonetheless, the spell had been broken, and Draken was normal again, hopefully.

You did it, Saphira told Eragon. Stave is gone for good.

What of Draken? Eragon asked her. Is he…?

No, she replied with a chuckle. He is unconscious after knocking down a few trees. He passed out after he saw Stave.

Good, Eragon said. He should be free of that spell. It was foolish of him, but he did save Equinox.

Yes, Saphira replied, diving down towards her husband. We all can have our foolish moments. Eragon?

Yes?

Take Stave's body, Saphira muttered, and burn it.

- - - - - -

"Mother?" Covin'thra asked as the door of her home flung open. In walked Nasuada.

"Sorry," Nasuada said humbly. "I am here to watch you until they return."

"Okay," Covin'thra replied. "I have been alone for quite sometime, may I be allowed to stretch outside?"

"As long as you stay close," Nasuada told her. Suddenly, the door behind her was knocked down, and three of Stave's followers marched inside. Covin'thra growled and leapt out from her bowl.

"Who is first?"

Little sly humor there to keep things moving, but STAVE IS FINALLY GONE! YEAH! Well, did he suffer enough…humiliation, mutilation, abomination…for what he had done to Eragon and Saphira? God I hope so lol. As you can tell by the cliffhanger, this is not ending. NO U.S. Decision! Instead, I will link it to the dragon heart idea, but I just have to figure out how :) It is really fun to keep this going, and my writing skills have improved even more thanks to this! I am thinking…because I have a few that want to see a modern day ExS story…that I will do another one, a spinoff of this should I say, based in modern times, but time alone will tell. Important thing: It will not be on this story lol! Till next chapter!

PEACE!