(Oh, the suspense! You really think I would end it like that did you? No of course! But to warn you this chapter gets a bit crazy. Warning blood and death! If I have to change the rating, say so. Anyhow, Enjoy!)
CH17
The next thing that was heard was blade meeting flesh and a scream that followed…When the Eternals saw their own comrade scream in pain, they were all bewildered. The Titans watched a blade break through the Eternals front armor and was poking out of his torso with blood dripping down the tip of the blade. The Eternal that was signed to kill Raven was gasping for air, with a sword coming through his back and poking through his chest. Behind him was a mysterious white mass…
Suddenly the blade was pulled out of the Eternal and his body fell to the ground. With both sides were still surprised by whatever that killed the Eternal, but when the white shape form came into being, they saw…
Shadow!
By the way Shadow stood there, he looked pissed off. His face was bruised; his body ached and shacked while his head was pounding like someone was smashing it in to a wall constantly. Shadow held his blood stained sword with anger and scorn for the Eternals. His heavy breathing clouded up the cold air, while he kept his eyes on the Eternals, he noticed it was snowing again, but he knew the snow falling around him will turn red with pain and death…
"Shadow?" Raven said nervously, she looked at him then at the Eternal that was about to kill her. "Why?" she asked.
"Because Rachel I can't stand the thought of losing you again." Shadow said. Raven knew she wasn't hearing the same man that tried to force his message on her, he seemed changed… "If I have to kill to protect you, so be it… even if I have protect your friends as a well, you can't help it."
"What of your message?" Raven said.
"You'll know it none the less." Shadow said, he glanced to see the Eternals "boiling" over. The leader of the Eternals seemed really angry. "Besides, for me to deliver this message, I have to be the message." Raven didn't get, and she thought she would never will…
"Prepare for battle!" the Standard Leader of the Eternals shouted. All the Eternals beside and behind reached for their swords in quick succession and preformed battle formations.
Realizing his was in a terrible situation, Shadow knew he couldn't retreat back into the abyss and leave the Titans to slaughter. But he didn't want to be pushed into a situation that can lead him to kill and to be killed. He suffered enough in Azarath. When the time comes, desperate times call for desperate measures.
"Rachel," Shadow said raising his katana before him. "May you live forever."
Raven eyes began to water, no has said that to her since… When she watched as one of the Eternals charged at Shadow, she couldn't believe it. I couldn't be…
When the Eternal raised his sword as he ran at Shadow, Shadow bent his knees while whipping his sword as the Eternal drew near. The sword slashed across torso, sending armor cloth and flesh around. The Eternal fell while scream and clenching himself. A second Eternal whipped his own sword as Shadow returned to stand up, but Shadow's sword. For a moment one of them tried to over power one another, until Shadow used his strength to push the Eternal away and swung his sword downward and caught the Eternal's leg, and sent him to the ground before Shadow thrust the sword into the Eternals collarbone.
Shadow pulled it out in time when two Eternal lunged at him at the same time. Shadow's sword met one of theirs and began trying to hack at each other. The clash as blade met blade, when the other Eternal came in with his sword at the ready. Shadow broke away from the first Eternal when he swiped his katana into the side of the second Eternal's face. He then returned to the first Eternal and elbowed him in the face while the Eternal tried to sneak attack him…both went down. Then Shadow saw more and more Eternals charging.
"Damn it to hell!" Shadow said and he released his white bird claw and caught the nearest Eternal and sent back into the oncoming enemy. He shot out his hand and a blast for his power into an Eternal closer than he should've been sent him down the road. When another Eternal took a stab at Shadow he only stepped back before unleashing his magical whip on him and a few more that kept on coming.
Raven, who was close to the front to see with amazement at Shadow meeting the Eternals as an equal. Not even the combined strength of the Titans including Blackfire could stop them. But one man was. She saw as one Eternal after another either thrown back by Shadow's magic or fall in blood and gore by his sword.
The Titans were more flabbergasted. They couldn't do what Shadow was doing right now, defying the Eternals. It made them angry that it is not them that should be making the Eternals pay and made them feel like weaklings. Terra was happy Shadow was well, but she couldn't help shack the feeling Shadow was about to be in trouble…
The Standard Leader of the Eternals (to clarify, he is an equivalent to a Colonel) grinded his teeth beneath his skull mask. Even though the Eternals kept charging, even those who were hurt, but Shadow's magic and skill with the sword was making him frustrated.
"Assistant Troop Leader," The leader yelled and an Eternal besides him looked up. "Get me an anti-hero bracelet and neutralize that freak, but lead a combined assault after it is set and take him down personally." He then reached for a walkie-talkie, pressed the button. "Group Leader, descend."(To note once more, an assistant troop leader is kind of a corporal.)
"Yes, Standard Leader." The Eternal said, in the next few second the ATL got his anti-hero bracelet. "You four," he pointed to some Eternals standing there to chicken to fight Shadow. The ATL gave the Standard Leader's order, when the four agreed they charged…
Shadow was doing quite well, he hasn't got hurt and the Eternals seemed not to realize that they weren't that good of fighters that their reputations gave them when under pressure. They seemed less willing to fight him than they were to attack the Titans and rape Raven, they didn't suspect that a guy was willing to fight them head on. It also didn't help the Eternals when their opponent was skilled with a sword and well gifted with magic…
When an Eternal charged at him head long, Shadow put out his arm and a wall appeared before him when the Eternal smacked into it and stumbled back when Shadow swung his sword into the Eternal's side. The rest of the attacking Eternals were mostly battered and bruised, or sliced up like cheese, either way Shadow proved a little more than a match for them…
Suddenly five Eternals came at him, Shadow raised his sword and cut down the closes Eternal near him and swung his sword horizontally into the second's stomach. Shadow reached out and his claw caught the other and flung him into a car nearby. Then a fourth Eternal shot out a fist that caught Shadow by surprise then the fifth one grabbed Shadow's wrist and cuffed on a bracelet. A shot of electricity went through Shadow's body, and then it was gone.
Shadow retaliated by summoning his whip, when…nothing!
He concentrate again, but same as before nothing. "What the hell?" he said.
"You bet it is hell." The assistant troop leader said before swung his own sword across Shadow's arm. Shadow stumbled grabbing his wounded arm when the second Eternal punched him in the side of the face.
Then a third Eternal (from the car) jumped in the air and landed his feet against Shadow's back sending him forward back into the Assistant Troop Leader's blade across Shadow's chest. The second one slashed at Shadow's back when the third slashed at the side. A few more sword slashes before Shadow tried to fight back when his katana sword collided with the ATL's sword and sent Shadow's flying across the field.
Finally, Shadow was thrown to the edge of the bridge near some stone barrier. Shadow used the barrier to gain some balance when he felt a blade enter his stomach. He tried to scream, but blood came out of his mouth. Slowly, Shadow fell back against the barrier, holding his stomach wound, but was looking at the Eternal standing before him, he raised his sword…
"Stop!" the Assistant Troop Leader order and the Eternal lowered his sword to his side. "I am to execute the enemy." The Eternal near Shadow stepped back while the ATL walked forward.
Raven watched along with the other Titans as they were witnessing the defeat of Shadow at the hands of the Eternals. They all held their breaths, preparing for Shadow's ultimate demise. Terra felt lie she wanted to cry, but they couldn't come out. She was seeing the first man she ever kissed and enjoyed it was about to die and she didn't even know his name…she looked away from the pain.
"Tell me, before you die, what makes a man a martyr?" The ATL asked drawing his sword near Shadow's wounded body. "For you are to be one, fool."
Shadow looked at the Eternal despite the pain he was feeling despite he might die, "'it is the cause and not the death that makes the martyr.'" Shadow replied. Surprised at his answer the Assistant Troop Leader plunged the sword at Shadow. (Napoleon said that!)
With all of his strength, Shadow moved quickly and the Eternal's sword scratched at the pavement and stood up. Shadow grabbed the ATL's arm; with his elbow he smashed the Eternal's arm. The Eternal screamed when Shadow grabbed the Eternal and threw him off the bridge. The Assistant Troop Leader screamed as he fell down the bridge and into the cold and blackened water below.
Shadow picked up the Eternal's sword on the ground, when the Eternal that wanted to kill him before lunged at him. Using an Eternal's weapon against an Eternal, Shadow sliced Eternal stomach and when the Eternal stumbled near the barrier, Shadow threw him off the bridge…
The third Eternal raised his sword when Shadow was wincing in pain from the wounds, then Shadow moved the sword like he was going to stab himself, when Shadow thrust the sword near his side and pierced into the Eternal behind him. The Eternal groaned when Shadow pulled the sword out, as he fell backward Shadow grabbed his sword from his hand and was holding two swords.
The remaining Eternals standing charged at Shadow. Wounded, Shadow faced his oncoming enemy with curiosity that he almost forgotten about. He swung one sword into one of the Eternals' side while swing the other across another's face. Shadow switched his movement and slashed at another's chest while he thrust the second into one coming from his side.
The Standard Leader of the Eternals was pissed off now, he drew out his own sword and charged along with a few brave, but idiotic fool.
Shadow looked over and saw his sword laying a few feet from him. Only problem was the Standard Leader and few of his buddies were coming after him. Shadow ran for it as he did with the fight with the Beast. He reached when a Eternal managed to slash his sword against Shadow's back. He screamed in pain, in return Shadow plunged one of the Eternal's sword into his attacker's chest, this time Shadow left it. As the Eternal fell dead on the bridge, the Standard Leader was yelling in anger while his sword was held high above his head while he was running.
Looking down at his own sword on the ground, he noticed his blade was pointing right at the leader. Just as the Standard Leader was getting closer and closer, Shadow at the last minute stomped his katana's handle send the blade in diagonally when the leader ran into it and the blade entered his stomach… He was stunned by it, while the Eternal leader stood there, Shadow thrust the second Eternal sword into the Standard leader's chest. While he pushed deeper, blood was dripping, Shadow held in for a second before he let the Eternal stumble backwards a few feet when he pulled out his sword as the leader fell dead on the streets…
Shadow pointed his sword at the remaining Eternals running at them when they stopped dead in their tracks. When they saw their leader fall, they began to stumble back as Shadow moved painfully towards them. For the first time in the Eternals career they were afraid of someone.
The Titans just couldn't believe their eyes. Shadow was wounded, but he has managed to make the Eternals run before him like was some kind of invisible army. They couldn't believe it more that Shadow had killed some of them…
Raven, by now was by her friend's holding Beast Boy's unconscious body, she watched with horror. He has no magic. But he was still performing spectacular skills. His is wounded, but still fights. Is this message really that important that he has to kill to protect me? Who the hell is this guy? Raven asked herself, when she had a feeling that this seemed all too familiar to her.
Just when victory for Shadow seemed intimate, the bridge began to shack. Over the bridge Shadow stopped in his track, the Titans eyes grew wide and fear sank into their very soul… More and more Eternals came marching up onto the bridge in huge masses. Shadow watched the rows of men dressed in black shrouds and armor, wearing skull masks coming closer to him and the Titans. Some held black banners with the "V" and the sword and the words Totus hail ut victoria, vel cado ut mucro of cruor quod ferrum… All hail to victory or fall to the sword of blood and iron, all written in white.
Shadow stood there, he knew he was dead. Slowly he felt his life slip away as blood dripped and was absorbed by his leather coat and uniform beneath. He knew he couldn't quiet without the knowledge that the Eternals were to kill the Titans…
The Eternals stopped only few feet away. None of them move to their swords but stood attention before Shadow and seemed to wait for commands. Then a few moved aside and a Eternal dressed in a shroud red as hell, his skull mask was not the conventional skull mask, but a skull mask with a devilish grin that the teeth seemed sharpened to a point. Above the mask was a dark crown with three pillars, each engraved with a number, "666" the sign of the devil… the Group Leader, head of the Eternals.
"I'm in for it now." Shadow said to himself drawing his sword to arms.
The next thing shocked everyone. The leader of the Eternals was clapping. "Well fought, well fought." He said moving away from the ranks of the mass Eternals behind him. "Your bravery and skill do you much credit. You are more than a match to my Eternals and greater than the Titans."
"I thank you." Shadow said, despite what this man's group has done to him, he showed his manners. (Who wouldn't? The Eternal has a private army behind him!!!)
"Despite everything you've done you are still no match for the Eternal might." The leader of the Eternals said. "Let's see, I have the man power. I have the power over you're fate and the Titans. And the only thing standing in my way of imaginable victory is…" the leader made sure his words sound bitter and insulting. "…Yourself. Injured, battered and defeated. What can you do to change all that?"
"I can kill you." Shadow replied, holding his sword outward towards the leader.
"Come on Shadow. There is no point for you to die. What a waste of a great warrior. You have everything a Eternal needs. Why not join us?" the leader said.
"Give me a reason," Shadow asked.
"I can give you power beyond over everything. You'll have riches beyond you're widest dreams and I can fulfill every desire you request. You can be the most feared man in the world." The leader said.
"Only?"
"Only you just step aside. Let us destroy the Titan horde and all that is yours."
Shadow didn't say anything else. The Titans now watched in suspense. Their lives hang in the balance. If Shadow accepts the Eternals' deal, they were dead. If not…?
"You claim to be the judge of right and wrong. You think you can fulfill my desires. No other man has control over another's fate. For I am a messenger with a message that can't die. If I am to die, let it be now." Shadow said preparing for the leader's final order…
"You are willing to die for them?" The Head Eternal said pointing at the Titans. "You are going to stand up for that witch from hell?"
"For I am too from hell. And yes. For I stood up against people like you before years ago. I took my stand when demon fanatics were seeking, who you call Raven. I hide her, and when I was asked were she is, when I didn't I was nearly killed. Yes, I am willing to die for her, and her friends so be it. But you won't get to them until I am dead." Shadow said it…he was glad, he felt human again.
Raven gasped. It couldn't be!? I thought he was dead? It just can't be him?
The leader didn't reply but raised his hand, and all of the Eternals behind him drew out their swords. The Titans waited anxiously for the Eternals to charge, but they didn't…Why?
"Grab the wounded and recover the dead." The leader shouted. "Leave the Titans and him alone." He turned his attention to Shadow. "Damn me if I can't respect that." The leader said, finally he sighed as he lowered his hand and the Eternals behind returned their swords. "I guess you just bought the Titans time to prepare. We didn't anticipate you. I figure we will rethink our strategy." AS the Eternals grabbed what the leader order and returned to retreat, "Till then, good day." The leader turned to the Eternal army behind him, and then began marching back from where they came. Till only Shadow and the Titans were alone on the abandoned bridge.
The Titans began to move, they looked around to see blood staining the road. The place smelled foul with the stench of death. As they moved forward, with Cyborg carrying Beast Boy they slowly walked to Shadow, who still was standing where he was before. He gripped his katana as it dripped blood into the snow.
Shadow's body winched in pain from the slash wounds across his body and the stab wound from his belly. His body began to shack, he was tearing up. When he released his sword and let it fall to the ground. With his hands, bloodied from the blood of his enemies he reached up to the strap from under his helmet and loosened the strap. And with his might he pulled off his helmet from his head and let the helmet fell to the ground as his sword had…
Soon Shadow's long white hair came into the light, but the pure whiteness of it was stained with red from a mass gash wound on his head. His long pale face showed bruises and cuts. His violet eyes showed the pain and horror in them as they seeped with tears.
Shadow reached into his pocket and pulled out the old photograph of Raven and her family, along with the penny she treasured that he took so long ago. For the first time, Shadow looked at Raven's twin brother, Edgar… Slowly he smiled same to those of Edgar. He closed his eyes and closed his hand crumpling the photo and opened them.
"Hope," Shadow said as he felt his knees collapse from under him.
Robin and Speedy caught Shadow and gently laid him to the ground. The others looked at each other for solutions, Robin began ordering, but Shadow didn't hear them. He was gazing at nothing spectacular. As the Titans tried to patch his wounds with whatever they had, Shadow didn't fell Terra holding his hand or feel Raven's combing his hair back and seeing her almost terrified face as she looked away, like Shadow had when he glanced at the picture of Edgar long ago…
And neither did he remember being carried away, as Shadow's world turned into darkness…
(I have to say, this was hard to write. Poor Shadow...just when I was getting use to him. But what of his message? What is to happen? Review and hope!)