Chapter 19
Angela waited for the Guardian to make the first move and she dodged the attack. She hadn't expected the being to use powers like that and he was so fast that she had to use every inch of her abilities to dodge. She no longer felt feverish but she had no idea what she was going to do. The only thing she could do was fight back with fist and foot and Absolution. She made a choice and charged forward with a swing.
The Guardian laughed and blocked her strike. She could see it burn his flesh since after all Absolution was like the Colt in that it could kill anything supernatural and natural. Yet this thing was laughing it off as if it didn't bother it. She jumped away and held Absolution in both hands. She narrowed her eyes at her opponent. The Guardian said, "You have strength little one. I sense the power within you, a worthy candidate to stand in the presence of the old one."
"Then why are you going to kill everyone in there. There are plenty of good people in there trying to stop this," Angela countered.
"You do not understand. Only the old one and his descendants can open this place without fear of reprisal. The gates have been forced open. Intruders are sensed and there is no distinction."
"Don't you have a will of your own?" Angela had an idea. IF she could talk the Guardian down, then maybe further loss of life would be avoided.
"I must obey. I am more merciful than the one who comes after me."
"You mean there are more of you?"
The Guardian gave a sad nod. "Why do you think there are strict rules regarding the restrictions on who opens this place? You humans refer to the Tree of Knowledge. That is what this place is. Everything that is known and will be known is kept here." The Guardian waved his hand across the Plain.
Angela looked around the area. She then asked, "Is that why the Apkallu exist?"
"Yes. Those that the Creator deems worthy will receive such knowledge and some things flow through the blood."
"Then you can't go on a murdering spree. The heir of Melchizedek is on the other side of that barrier." Angela pointed at the barrier. If she could convince this guardian to stand down, there might be a chance. "Please. You can't destroy everyone in there."
Suddenly there was a rumbling sound. Angela looked around for the source. Suddenly something huge appeared. It was a creature that was supposed to be a myth. A sphinx? Really? Angela looked at the Guardian and he said, "I'm sorry."
The creature was near the barrier. Angela ran as fast as she could to cut it off. At the same time she began muttering something, using the knowledge the Apkallu gave her though she had no idea how she was doing it. She ran up a craggy hill and felt the power build up. She leapt off the hill and flung whatever it was at the creature.
It roared in pain and rounded on her. It was huge and she was tiny. Still she was determined. She ran forward to clash with the creature while the Guardian watched. He had failed but he could still do his job by protecting the gate from further intruders. Angela wasn't watching since she had to keep this thing from passing through. She was flying in midair when she was cuffed across her midsection and she sailed backwards through the barrier.
She landed hard and Absolution slid from her grasp. She slid along the floor creating a blood smear from the wound in her shoulder. She heard the roar and the creature crossed but what came across was not what she saw in there. The sphinx has morphed into the shape of a human man. It was still large and it made Sam's huge frame puny in comparison. Its bronze skin was perfectly colors and he wore a robe like tunic and pants and boots. It looked at everything there and started walking towards the sigil.
Angela started to get to her feet and she shouted at the creature so that its attention was on her. She charged forward and started punching the human body. She obviously hurt the flesh but it only served to piss the sphinx off. In retaliation, it backhanded her and sent her careening into one of the columns which she broke in half. She couldn't help but give a grunt of pain. It was like being hit by a vampire or another Chaser. She rolled over to find that Sam and Dean were shooting at the creature when suddenly they were sent flying and they hit hard. She could hear the sickening crack of bone and cried, "No!"
She was on her feet and running towards the creature who had started activating his powers and was in the process of smiting the rogue Masons. She leapt and landed on the creature's human form and wrapped her arms around the neck. She hung on like a pesky fly and squeezed as tight as she could. Powers and finesse counted very little if you were going in and fighting with everything in the arsenal.
The sphinx growled and tried to get her off. He swung her around but she held on. She saw Absolution and like pure instinct, she summoned it and with it in her hand, she jabbed the tip into the shoulder. She then drove it in. When the sphinx roared in anger, she let go and sprang away. Absolution was still in the shoulder and the sphinx reached up to grab it. It yanked it out and threw it aside as it advanced towards her. Angela stood there and she summoned something deep within herself like she did when she fully activated her healing abilities. A pure white flame grew in her hand.
Suddenly another being vaulted out and landed between Angela and the sphinx. It was the Guardian but he was not wearing the meat suit of the Master. Rather it was his own form like he was a man from the Arabian Peninsula in the classical sense. He had an intense look accentuated by his brown eyes as they locked onto the sphinx. He brought up his weapons, twin axes that he twirled at the sphinx.
The sphinx said something in a language that Angela could barely understand. She thought she detected the word traitor. The Guardian said something back and held up his weapons. She took the moment to try to summon her weapon. As much as she wanted to check on the Winchesters, she had to finish this. They were alive, that much she knew and that was fine for now. She could fix them up and they would be on their way.
Absolution wasn't responding at the moment. She could see it shake but if she wanted to admit it, she was growing exhausted. She then heard a growl and the Guardian clashed with the sphinx who had a weapon that looked fierce. It was staff like but there were axe heads on both ends. She had never seen anything like it before but it had good clout as she watched the Guardian move. She then realized that she still had the white fire burning on her hand. She looked at it and frowned at it not sure how she did it. She then had an idea. All she had to do was imagine it was like the apple she had thrown.
The moment came when the sphinx's back was too her. She took aim and threw it. She watched as it sailed through the air and hit the sphinx square on the back. It roared in pain and turned towards her. It looked at her as if it suddenly realized something. Angela backed up slightly as it started to advance towards her. It then said, "You are the chosen one. You are the one who will bring Absolution."
The language was in Sumerian and Angela found that she could understand it. She looked at the sphinx and replied, "I wield Absolution."
The sphinx laughed and replied, "You do have strength and you are the daughter of your blood. Tis a shame that the gates have been forced open and I have to destroy you."
Angela then heard, "Angie, catch!"
Alex watched as Angela disappeared across the barrier. It was only a short while later that she was flung back out where she skidded on the ground. He noticed that it caught the attention of Sam and Dean and they were racing towards her. Then came out the sphinx. How he knew that, he had no idea but he knew that this one was out to purge the gates of all intruders. They were running out of time.
He pulled hard on the spear but it had gotten stuck again. The growls of the sphinx were heard and then there was the sound of gunshots. He turned to see both Winchesters flying through the air. Alex heard the crash and Angela's one syllable word. That made him only the more desperate. With a final tug, he pulled the spear free and fell backwards, partially landing on Kelly.
"Alex you're heavy you overgrown beast," Kelly shoved. She didn't mean it in a mean way but she hadn't expected him to pull so hard that he fell back. Also because of the way he landed she was a little embarrassed at the whole thing.
Alex blushed and apologized. He got up and gave Kelly a hand up before reaching down to pick up the spear. He lost track of Angela who was obscured by the bulk of the sphinx. He said, "We have to get Angie the spear. The spear will send the sphinx back through the gates and I can seal them."
"What?"
Alex realized what he just said and paused, a little confused. He knew what he was talking about but he couldn't think for the life of him where he knew that from. He said, "Um that's what I think will work?"
Kelly and Mason looked at their friend. He was just as confused as they were. It was Kelly who said, "Well whatever you said, we better do it. We don't have any other option."
Alex nodded as he got a hold of himself. Whatever was going on could be answered later. He gripped the spear and looked for an opening. He watched as another being jumped through the barrier. He could tell that it was a lesser guardian and he was going to stand against the sphinx. It was then that he noticed Angela and he saw her hand glow. She was holding fire?
He had to admit that ever since he met the trio that waltzed into town, things had been rather weird. Thing was though he felt comfortable with that. He trusted Angela and by extension the Winchesters. Granted some of the things that Angela told him were supposed to be impossible, he was willing to become a believer.
He watched as she waited until the sphinx's back was towards her and threw what was in her hand at him. It hit the sphinx square on the back causing it to roar in pain as it turned and advanced towards her. Alex made ready to throw the spear in her direction but paused when the sphinx spoke. Alex found that he could understand the language even though he didn't know what language it was. He listened but didn't understand what the sphinx meant by bringing Absolution. He brushed it aside and shouted, "Angie, catch!" He threw the spear towards her.
"Cool beans," Mason breathed as he watched Angela take a running leap and catch the spear in midair and spin around into a landing. He thought it was cool when Alex kicked ass the first time he met him. This woman was something else.
Alex was thinking similar thoughts as Mason when he spotted something and tugged Kelly and Mason to follow. It was the least he could do. He said, "Come on Kel, Mas."
He led the way to where Dean Winchester landed. He was out cold and a quick assertion told Alex that it was broken ribs. His search also revealed a medallion around the elder hunter's neck. Alex recognized it as the emblem of the knights of the Order of Melchizedek but it was a temporary honor. That he knew because he asked his dad about them when he found them in the desk at home.
Looking at the elder Winchester he knew what had to be done and went to work. He didn't know how he knew but it felt right and he was going to follow it. Kelly and Mason followed his lead as he dragged Dean towards his brother and began saying something that neither of his friends knew but he did. He muttered the words and he felt something to be at work as he took the medallions from each of their necks. They were gold so they would do. He asked, "Mas, you got a flashlight? I need a power source."
Mason fished around in his pocket for the little penlight that he carried all the time. "Will this do?"
Alex looked at it for a moment and studied it. It was not a huge source but it was enough. He said, "Yeah that'll do. Now I need something for the charge, a ruby."
Kelly reacted quickly and her fingers went to her ear. She took out one of her ruby earrings and held it out to Alex. "Is this good enough?"
Alex looked at the ruby stud. He knew that a larger one existed but like he was going to call and ask someone to bring it. Besides a ruby was a ruby. He replied, "Yes. Thanks Kel."
He took apart the penlight and began to work with it. He knew what he needed and started to work with it. When he was finished, he took the medallions and then held the live wire he created. He touched the charged end to the first medallion. A light began to shine as he began saying something in the language that seemed right. When he was finished, he had a small round loaf. He held it up to inspect it. Finding it to his satisfaction, Alex then took it and slid it into the elder Winchester's mouth. He then proceeded to do the same with the second medallion while his friends watched in awe.
Angela caught the spear in a half twist in midair and landed on the ground. She looked forward as she flung the spear to rest on her back with a determined look. Instantly she recalled the first weapon that she had ever trained with. It was the first one her father had taught her.
"You need a wide stance in order to center your balance. It's not just about fancy twirling tricks."
"Yes Father."
Her father gave her a slight smile, "A staff is merely the extension of your arms. When you throw your body behind it, it can hurt twice as hard."
Angela bent low as if ready to spring while the sphinx looked at her and tried to advance. She spotted Liam who had miraculously survived the initial smiting along with his allies. They were getting ready to move. Not diverting her gaze, she moved her hand out and gave a slight movement to warn them back.
Listening, she heard them move back and Liam telling them to clear out. She also heard the members of the order that were still alive helping the injured out. She recognized one set of footsteps as belonging to Alex's father. He would be searching for his son, just as long as he didn't attempt to engage the sphinx. She lowered her body more and put an extra spring into her muscles.
The sphinx was impressed with the mortal's skills. When she caught the weapon that had been tossed to her, he paused for a moment after catching a glimpse at it. It couldn't be… How would one be in this place? He twirled his weapon more for comfort rather than to define his attack position. He started becoming uncomfortable that she wasn't moving. He looked at the Guardian and saw that he was frozen in his own position as well.
Angela didn't have to need special knowledge to know that her opponent was becoming uneasy with her just standing there. It was one of the tactics she developed herself and it certainly pissed off her sparring partner at the academy. She made the mental checklist as she adjusted her posture slightly to ready to spring. At the right moment, she made a visible adjustment to a different position.
The sphinx moved to be ready to defend. He eyed both his opponents as they adjusted their positions but they still didn't attack. It was agitating and he growled. "What are you waiting for?"
Angela looked the sphinx in the eye and a slow smile came to her face. At his second growl, she moved swinging the spear like a staff. It clanged against the sphinx's weapon as she made clean strikes. At the same time, the Guardian moved and added his own strikes with hers. His axes were good at deflecting the bladed portions of the sphinx's weapons.
The sphinx's blood was up and he put strength behind every swing he gave. It was cakewalk with two opponents yet this made a nice change from the boring drills. He managed to swing his weapon across and hit the girl across the face. She whirled around from the force of the blow allowing him to put his staff across her neck and pull into a chokehold.
Angela was slightly disoriented from the blow and was pulled into the chokehold. She felt the pressure on her windpipe and reacted. She brought up her leg and used it to hit the sphinx in the face. He released her and she backed away and brought her staff up to strike. The sphinx was too quick and the thrust she had been barely able to block drove her into the ground. She felt the spear press into her chest as she looked up at the sphinx.
Suddenly he was knocked aside and the Guardian came into Angela's view. She watched as the Guardian swung his axes at a fast pace towards the sphinx. She took in deep breaths to get the air back in her lungs when the Guardian was flung aside. The sphinx stood and looked at her. He said, "Get up. You can hardly expect to fight me down there. Not after what I did to your friends."
Angela risked getting her ass kicked if she reacted in anger. She glared at the sphinx from her position and let her muscles tense. She then moved and flipped herself upwards. At the same time she twirled her staff in the manner of boxers throwing shadow punches. It allowed her to regain her stance in another position to strike.
"Damn Angie. I never expected you to take them all out with just a staff." John Winchester looked at her as she held up the broken staff in two hands.
She was standing in the middle of a pile of demons that were inside a large devil's trap. She shrugged her shoulders as she stepped out. She replied, "Fighting with a staff requires one to make quick judgments. Sometimes you can distract them with shadow swings to gain a better position to strike." She looked at the demons on the ground. "They didn't know what hit them. Well they're all yours to interrogate…"
Angela waited for the sphinx to make the first move. He lunged forward and she sidestepped to let the weapon slide right past her. She then brought the staff spear around and gave a firm strike to the sphinx's back. T add insult to injury, she dragged the bladed tip of the spear across the sphinx's back to draw blood.
The sphinx roared in pain and twirled around to strike back. Angela ducked and rolled forward. The sphinx's weapon was stopped by the Guardian's. The Guardian took the opportunity to step up his attack and he was joined in by Angela. The sphinx however knocked the Guardian away but not without drawing blood. That left Angela alone with the sphinx but she was up to the challenge.
As she battled the sphinx, she found herself remembering the old tricks that she had learned. They were much more effective than some of the more flashier moves that she picked up from some of best martial arts masters but that had been her father's philosophy. Simpler was almost always better. It had been proven time and time again. She was able to block the sphinx as she drove him back towards the barrier. If she got him across, the gates could be closed. She kept pushing and pushing, changing her moves to make sure the sphinx had no clue as to what she was trying to do.
Angela was good but so was the sphinx. He managed to knock her staff down and gave a couple of punches to her face. She countered with a punch and a kick and pulled up her staff and started swinging. She then heard, "Use the spear Angie! It'll send the guardian back to the Plain!"
Angela stepped up at the same time the sphinx did. She knew that he wanted to stay in this realm and do what he was ordered to do. She would not let that happen. Unfortunately when she moved it put her back to the barrier and she was starting to fall. In a last ditch effort, she twisted the spear upward and thrust it forward. The last thing she heard was a roar and the sphinx being pulled across the barrier. Angela let go and fell onto the ground and just took a deep breath. She could feel the sore spots all over her body now. Suddenly a hand was thrust in her view and she gripped it.
"I can't believe it."
Angela looked up to see that it was the Guardian that had helped her up. She then looked around, "Sam. Dean."
"They're okay Angie," Alex said as he came out of his hiding place. To prove it Sam and Dean came out looking a little confused but otherwise unharmed. Alex said nothing else but walked towards where the sigil on the floor and stood ready to close the gates. He looked at the Guardian who was still standing next to Angela.
Angela looked at the gate that was still open but nothing else came out. In fact the only person she could see was the overseer. He seemed to watching everything with great interest. She looked back at the Guardian and said, "Well I guess you got to go back now."
"I don't know if that is possible."
"You guard the place right?"
"I have disgraced myself by disobeying." The Guardian studied the woman before him. She had managed to convince him to turn against the sphinx. He then spoke in the Sumerian language, "There is a reason why things are the way they are."
Angela narrowed her eyes slightly but said nothing else. She gave a slight nod. She then said, "Thanks for your help… for what it is worth." She held out her hand in the warrior gesture.
The Guardian looked at her for a moment and then grasped her wrist and gave a shake. He then said something in Sumerian in a whisper before turning and crossing the barriers. He might have hell to pay but this gave him something to think about. As soon as he crossed the barrier, Alex said something and the gates began to fold together. It sealed up into a seam of light before disappearing.
Angela gave a slight sigh before putting a finger a sore spot on her face near her lip. There was some blood on her finger. She looked at it before giving a slight raise of her brow. She then noticed Gideon and made a motion to Alex. When he saw his dad, he ran towards him with his friends leaving the Winchesters with Angela. She looked and said, "Well this was exciting."
Dean looked at her as if she were crazy, "Angie you would find this exciting."
Angela shrugged her shoulders. "Well at least the job is done. Now where is Absolution?" She began looking around for it until it was held out to her by Dean. She gave a slight smile and took it. "Now I think a football game is in order." She then headed towards the exit leaving the brothers to watch her.
Dean leaned towards Sam, "Sam I think we picked up crazy and it decided to stay."
Sam wasn't so sure. He watched her leave and he couldn't help but think that maybe whatever that guy said to her bothered her. Trouble was she was like Dean and hid behind sarcasm and humor. He could only just wait until she wanted to talk. He winced slightly at the bruises on his torso and followed his brother.
A/N: All's well that ends well right? The gate has been shut and the players are more or less unharmed. What will happen now? Find out next time on the final chapter of The Order of Melchizedek...
Source Note: The whole thing Alex does with the electricity and the ruby are descriptions of the electrolysis process used in electroplating but using some older knowledge like the ruby. All of this can be found in Lawrence Gardner's Secrets of the Lost Ark.