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Souls of the Night
105.
Alex raised his sword and heard a shrill screech behind him shortly before Amalia dropped into his neck, brutally ripped the arrow from his shoulder and dragged her claws across his back before Alex could even react. The scream stuck in his throat as the barely fifty-pound female leapt onto his shoulders and pushed off violently to rise back into the air, warbling with triumph. But her kick had the effect of causing Alex to fall forward - directly onto Ares, who groaned under the sudden weight. A shudder went through Alex at the sound, and the second he and the gargoyle looked at each other in surprise was instantly over. Simultaneously, both men acted. The human slammed his head against the gargoyle's brow bone, and the gargoyle ripped a spike from his forearm and rammed it into the human's side.
Alex whirled in the air, trying to glide out of reach, but Ares was quick on his feet, grabbing his legs and hurling Alex across the courtyard against a tree that was raining down leaves under the impact.
"Ohhh always on the back," Alexander groaned dazedly and had just renewed the quick spell to suppress his pain at least briefly when Ares - already a red bruise over the brow ridge - rushed at him, one of his spikes clutched tightly like a weapon, the other hand sharpening the claws against each other like some Gargoyles did before a strike. And Alexander knew he would not have enough time to gather his thoughs. His sword- where was his sword? Just then Ares tripped in front of him. Not over his own feet, but over a thick root. Under which his foot was now wedged. How lucky could a man be? Alex didn't think for long but jumped up and brought Ares to the ground with a roundhouse kick. Then, the groaning gargoyle beneath him, he clenched his hands into fists. Boxing was not one of the most elegant sports, especially not against an opponent lying on the ground, but he had to use the opportunity. He himself was almost knocked off his feet. - by a sharp-edged piece of wood grazing him.
Amalia slid by, fast as an arrow herself, grabbed the weapon again and, spinning around herself, rushed to the ground, giving the stick very much more torque and speed as she let go of it and sent it in Alex's direction. Enough force to break bones if the thing hit him. Alex jumped to the side, but quickly got up again as Amalia tried to get past him to grab the stick - which she must have pulled out of his belt loop during her first attack - again without waiting for its time-delayed return. He jerked his arm up and thundered his fist against Amalia's collarbone - one of the places that web-winged gargoyles needed more than their back-winged kin to keep themselves in the air. The little one immediately lost her balance and slid across the ground, leaving behind a swirling layer of dust. At the cry of pain from the dust cloud, everything in Alexander contracted and the remorse of having hurt the girl who looked so much like Lexington made him stumble and hesitate.
Then he felt the ground tremble beneath him. But it was not a magical event. It was a gargoyle, roaring with rage, on all fours and with white glowing eyes, rushing towards him. Quite untypical for Gabriel, Alex thought, and as he jumped up - higher than a human could ever have done because levitation had already gotten into his blood without him having to think about it - and dropped onto Gabriel's back, he realized why the leader was foaming.
He had hurt the smallest of the clan! Gabriel's sister. No warrior though she could be deadly like all gargoyles - she had proven that. And Alex understood the rage which so stirred Gabriel, whom he had now put his forearm around his neck from behind and squeezed (holding himself so deep in Gabriel's back that the gargoyle could not ram the back of his head against his forehead). Now this creature bucked like a wild horse, clapping his leathery powerful wings together to take off even directly from the ground.
And a gargoyle in the air as agitated as he was now would drop Alex or really throw him off. He wasn't about to become pavement pizza, though - resuscitation or not. Without even a moment to collect himself - something he actually needed as a halfling to cast his spells properly so they didn't blow up in his own face - a loud "Paralysis!" was screamed. But nothing about the gargoyle was paralyzed, nothing made him slow down. Nor did any magic cover his hands. Instead, his tongue went numb. His teeth, his whole mouth became furry like after a visit to the dentist where the doctor had given him local anesthesia after he broke a few teeth in 2009. Backfiring spells usually had worse effects, Alex reasoned, but that didn't help him at all in this situation. However! Alex tore his numb tingling lips apart and bit as hard as he could into one of the wings that had just lifted Gabriel off the ground. His teeth scraped over bony tissue of the wing strut. Skin tore - then the wing went limp and Gabriel crashed. He and Alex had a comparatively soft landing on the not bloody but slippery bits of the death worm. Alex rolled off the gargoyle even as he skidded across the ground. For a few moments there was silence in the castle courtyard and from each of his opponents. With legs that seemed to be made of jello, Alex came to his feet. He was so tired, felt so drained. His head was so heavy and he was frantically thinking about what he could use against Gabriel.
What fighting technique, what move could a gargoyle of his size stop? Oberon wanted to see fanciful, entertaining magic, not cheap tricks like paralysis. What spell to cast that wouldn't seriously injure Gabriel? It was clear to him that Oberon had intended EXACTLY that. The ruler of the third race - his ruler - wanted to see him doubt, falter, perhaps fail. To show him his place. Or to teach him humility because he had finished Oberon's children before without thinking for a second about their welfare or honor. In the back of his mind, his spider-sense reacted (yes - he had that - what magical boy wouldn't?) and he turned around the second Gabriel kicked at him.
The Gargoyle kicked him in the chest so hard that Alexander's bones cracked and he was thrown back. He had barely raised his upper body again - dazed, in new massive pain and breathless - when an arrow pierced his face. No! Not quite pierced. Grazed. The pain that ran through his cheek was enough to make Alexander come to senses instantly. He jumped up, yanked the arrow out of the ground, dodged Gabriel's tail whip. Ares, who had not only managed to free his foot but also to take one of the closer arrows, was already on his way to a second one, which lay at Oberon's feet. But Alex would not let him have it. He hurled the arrow he had taken towards the archer.
"Fulmenos venite multiplicare!" he shouted, and the arrow became not one big but dozens of smaller glistening lightning bolts. These - now no longer lethal- hit Ares in the chest, who was hurled against the magical barrier and slumped to the ground directly in front of Oberon's throne.
The sisters gasped indignantly.
"Lord Oberon," Selene announced, "- the little human is using human sorcery!"
"Your law, Lord.", Phoebe joined in, and Luna added. "No foreign magic except Avalon's own."
"Hush children," Titania said as seriously as her lovely voice would allow. "Human magic, perhaps, but modified, improved. And, after all, I don't need to remind YOU that magic that is part of someone - as is the case with Alexander through his human blood - is not bound to the law. Nobody knows this better than my wise, equitable spouse. This is and was your luck."
Oberon looked from the squirming sisters to Titania. Beautiful and righteous. Wise and of cutting reasoning power - who could not fall for this being again and again?
"Oberon's law is unequivocal here," he confirmed, waving the sisters away.
Gabriel rumbled. One wing though hanging limply, it didn't stop him from throwing himself at Alex and raising his deadly paw to rip open his opponent, who had let his smallest most vulnerable sister scream. Just a blink of an eye later, he found himself facing his mate, who lay gasping beneath him.
"Gabriel!" shrieked Ophelia, "What are you doing! it's me!" she screamed in pain and Gabriel froze for a second. Long enough for his partner to brutally kick him off of her, spinning around high in the air with a glare coming from her white (white?) glowing eyes and mouth that blinded and froze him. And with the absolute immobility, his bestial, uncharacteristic rage instantly fell away from him. Not a temporary paralysis spell but powerful magic. Which had turned him into an eternal living statue.
Exhausted, Ophelia fell to the ground, only for her to turn back into Alexander. Gabriel wanted to say something, but no sound came from his lips. He couldn't even blink, couldn't even breathe because the muscles and bones that enabled him to do so were stiff and rigid - although he suspected he wouldn't suffocate... He was laying on the floor, and from his fixed eyes he saw Alexander rise, drenched in sweat. Briefly he looked around ... then limped to the elevated seats of the almighty rulers.
There was cheering and restrained clapping from hands, clawed paws, wings, tentacles.
And Gabriel saw and heard Oberon laughing.
"Pleasing. Most delightful, my lad. That was really a close call. Against two children, leader of my honor guard, and two of his gargoyles, you proved yourself valiant. A cheerful first day."
"Cheerful. Indeed, my lord," Alex croaked, sounding piss-poor.
"Levitation without a spell. Body splitting and illusion without a spell. That was really impressive - for diluted blood." The corners of Alexander's mouth twitched at the remark, which Oberon had meant as a great compliment but which was at the same time an insult. Nevertheless- not only magical talent but also common sense was inherent in Titania's grandson and he did not let on but humbly bowed his head. "Thank you, my lord."
"That was a neat little trick. Stick and wire. And that with the flying piece of wood. Primitive but with effect," the ruler generously admitted, which by his standards was almost like a knighthood for Alex.
"The first is called a galotte, mighty lord. A primeval torture and murder tool of the humans."
"Of course. Adorable."
His eyes broke away from Alex and searched the ranks of the audience. Obviously looking for a new opponent for his step-grandson. Alexander's eyes slid to his grandmother, who smiled at him and imperceptibly jerked her head toward her husband, which Alex took as an invitation to now make a demand of his own.
"Oh, great Oberon," he spoke aloud, which made the ice-blue eyes turn to him again. Alex struggled to muster his most winning smile. "I love to humor you. But as you said - my diluted blood forces me to rest. How about a break before my human body breaks?"
His master frowned. But he was generous after the fight.
"Very well. A rest may be granted you. Strengthen yourself and do this - what do these humans keep doing?"
"Eat?" tried Dionysus to help him from the ranks.
"Yes - but no."
"Intercourse?" suggested Succubus, Incubus and Zeus simultaneously, and the latter earned whistles from the bystanders and a scowl from Hera.
Oberon waved it off.
"That other thing. The one that takes longer."
"You mean sleep, my consort. Sleep."
"Ah yes-that. An hour's sleep for you - young Alexander."
"Uhhh," his gaze went to Titania, who placed a gentle hand on Oberon's arm and whispered something to him. He frowned again disapprovingly. Then he took a deep breath. "Six hours be granted to you."
"'Thank you, Oberon."
The Lord of All Fey slapped his hands together, dissolving the event and simultaneously the barrier that had protected all bystanders. Titania delegated various children of Oberon who were skilled in healing to the ring. The best ones scraped together the burnt crawlers. Others gathered up pieces of flesh from the death worm. The sisters had the unworthy task of caring for the gargoyles. Luna placed a hand on Ares' chest where he had been struck by lightning, and the burn closed more residue-free than Stone Sleep ever could. Immediately he was on his feet, glaring hatefully at Alex again as he limped past him, and then began to pick up honor and arrows.
Titania rose and moved to him, though it was really hard to tell if she was floating or just striding very lightly to him.
She stroked his cheek and her magic made his skin tingle and his every wound heal instantly. Lightness filled his head and limbs.
"That was a good varied fight. You turned out so much better than I dared hope."
"Thank you, my queen," he whispered, looking coyly at the ground. He would never call her grandmother, grandma, or granny. And she would never demand it because that would be unworthy of a ruler of her stature.
"I am always irritated at how quickly you humans grow up and age. One word from you and I can take the burden of time from you," she offered and he found it difficult as always - despite the lightness of her form - to say no under the pressure of her power. Strangely, even harder than in front of Oberon.
"I'm not ready for that yet, mighty Titania. I ... see a purpose in aging. It doesn't make me forget what I am."
"You are more human than a child of Oberon. But your powers will always elevate you above men."
"That's why I don't rule out using magic someday to take certain ... human blemishes off me. But it is not yet time."
"As you wish, my child. My grandson." With that, she turned back to her spouse who had been watching the conversation with detached yet fascinated interest. They both disappeared into thin air, withdrawing themselves to where many children were streaming towards the main hall because there, as every night, plenty was being served. Others would later sit in front of mirrors, water bowls or crystal balls to stream their movies and series.
Selene, who had unwillingly tapped Gabriel on the forehead and thus healed his injuries, had already disappeared. Alex and the gargoyle who had tried to kill him a moment ago were shaking each other's forearms.
"No bad blood?"
"Never, friend," Alex returned, raising his arm and whistling - which sent the flat piece of wood, wherever it may have been lying, flying back into his hand. Unfortunately, this only worked when the wood heard his call, so he had to refrain from this trick during the fight.
Then they wandered to the group of a dozen gargoyles who were swarming around Amalia, who was now - healed by Phoebe - praised from all sides for this good first fight and looked as if she had never been happier. But when the gargoyles noticed Alexander, some of their expressions darkened. A crimson male with horns like Brooklyn's, prominent nose but humanoid face stood protectively in front of Amalia and growled. Gabriel put a hand on his shoulder, pushed him aside, and smiled at him and the others.
"No bad blood among warriors," he reminded them.
Alex leaned toward Amalia, who looked at him expectantly. But he smiled, this time not smugly or mockingly, but very gently. He bounced the object up and down in his hand.
"You used my own weapon against me," he said, and Amalia looked up at him defiantly. Not an overbite - but unmistakably a piece of Lexington. "Yes, I did."
"And you knew how to wield the weapon. Even made up for its flaw, with your body."
"Yes. By the design and your handling of it, that was obvious, wasn't it?"
Alex laughed at that. He weighed the piece of wood in his hand. "This- is called a boomerang. It's mostly seen as a toy in the human world but can have a treacherous power. I think ... it suits you better than me." He held the piece of wood out to the delicate female. She blinked in surprise and timidly accepted what was offered to her, stroking the silky surface with her claws as if seeing the thing that now had a name for the first time.
"You give me this ... boomerang?"
"Yes. It shall be yours, little sister. No one can wield this weapon better than you."
"But I scratched you," she said incredulously, tears in her eyes.
"And I punched you. We put up a good fight and this is your honorably earned trophy."
"Thank you," she said, and though she grinned, her lower lip trembled. As Alex turned, he heard other gargoyles behind him praising her, congratulating her and admiring her terrifying new weapon. Tonight was the first time she had fought. She had suffered pain and had lost. Tonight was the best night of her life.
"That was very generous." said Gabriel, walking with him a few more steps.
"Not generous. Well deserved. She caught me off guard. I can still feel her claws in my back now. You should be proud of her."
"I am. I see her in a new light. And everyone else. Did you see the way Benu stood in front of her? I already know he's going to court her."
"Oh, I've never seen myself as a matchmaker before," Alex lied happily, then got serious. "Unfortunately, it's not that easy with Ares. Even the last time I was here he was so hostile. He really enjoys kicking my butt." Gabriel laughed out loud, which made Alexander wince and look up at him in confusion.
"It's not that," said the leader of the Avalon clan. "I know Ares, and that's not it." Then he patted him roughly on the shoulder in encouragement and made his way to the banquet hall.
Alex shook his head in irritation at the last words. Where Gabriel had chosen Amalia because she was delicate and seemingly unsuitable and thus, at the latest when she was injured, incited the will to fight in other gargoyles, he had chosen Ares not only because of his quick reflexes and archery skills but because he really had no problem shooting an arrow into the butt of Titania's grandson. Yes - Ares had "missed". How easy it would have been for him not only to pierce his shoulder or scratch his face but to inflict mortal wounds. But he wanted Alex to suffer pain and continue to fight in pain. Titania had healed his wounds, but he still felt the sting of Ares' armspike in his side, as if the Gargoyle had injected him with a slow-acting poison that could not be completely removed from his body.
Alexander was sure he was imagining the burning, but this cruelty was unlike anything he knew from his own clan. But ever since his last and penultimate stay on Avalon - for him more than four and eight years respectively, for everyone here only a few months ago - he noticed the orange gargoyle's loathing whenever he was in sight. And hadn't he always felt those strange scowls from Ares during his pre-penultimate guest appearance here - when he himself had been only fifteen? What on earth had he done as an adolescent to justify this behavior? Had he blown up anything that belonged to Ares? A tree from which he had wanted to make a new bow or arrows? Killed a porcupine to which the gargoyle had kinship feelings? For him, this was so infinitely long ago.
He had stopped under one of the trees at the edge of the castle courtyard, looking up into the canopy of leaves that was black to human eyes. A mild breeze - as there always were only mild breezes and favorable winds around Avalon - rustled the leaves. Even deeper shadows fluttered between foliage and branches like scampering ghosts.
He patted the bark.
"Thanks for before," he said softly. " Wouldn't have been necessary, but thank you."
Something above him cracked and a branch fell to the ground right next to him, not heavy enough to hurt him but it would have been sufficient for a small bump. "Alright, I admit the root thing was helpful. Happy now?" In reply, only a low whisper from the darkness of the crown.
Alex looked around and when he was sure that the few remaining children and gargoyles didn't pay attention to him, he muttered a word averted from all eyes which made his cell phone appear in his hand with a short silvery flash. More words and he had created a time barrier around himself. He basically did not expect to find a call or a message. From his point of view, his training on Avalon lasted just over three days, but more than three months passed in the normal world. But everyone knew how quickly time passed for him. Other parents would have checked on him at least weekly, but David and Fox Xanatos were clear about his circumstances. Besides, he was already too old, self-reliant, and capable of defending himself that the most powerful man in America and his wife, both mentally and physically quick-witted, had to act like mother hens. His college friends knew he was spending three months at a private academy under the strict tightly timed curricula of special instructors and would not return their calls or messages. And the Gargoyles knew all the more that Oberon was not to be trifled with, and that he would be pissed off if his student frittered away his training time with modern toys.
Although it really stung Alexander to hear how the new Gargoyle Nathaniel Sharif was doing. Whether he could already fly? Whether he was already going on patrol? Even if it was hard to imagine a battered fragile figure like Nathaniel as a dedicated crime fighter. And how were things going between Lexington and his "friend," he wondered. Alex chuckled at this very different facet of Sharif's new life. Lexington could be pretty dogged. No doubt in three months he would probably manage to take his relationship with Sharif to another level.
Alex turned on his cell phone. Only out of habit and because the technology had to be powered up more often with Avalon's crazy time in order to avoid system damage, Alexander turned it on even though he knew he could be punished for it. As expected, it took a while for the device to "acclimatize". Then it went ping-ping-ping several times as messages and missed calls came flooding in. Irritated, Alex stared at his phone. Almost all the messages were from Lex. Others from Brooklyn. Even from his father. More than forty calls, an almost full mailbox! Alex listened to the first message that had arrived a few hours ago. Which corresponded to the week before last in the human world. His jaw dropped as he listened to Lexington's voice. His eyes went wide and anyone watching him at that moment - and knowing what a cell phone was - might have thought he was about to hear something extraordinary. Which was true. He didn't bother with the middle calls and immediately switched to the recording of the last voice message. And anyone who followed his facial expression would have been certain that he had to wish him condolences.
A rather long battle - divided into two chapters. Combat scenes are difficult for me but I hope you could follow. And isn't Amalia cute? - I thought it was a nice idea that Lexington's little sister and Brooklyn's little brother could become a couple. And what's that creep Ares's problem?
Thanks for reading, Q.T.