Immortal Undeath
Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to Marvel or Capcom. I own Farrah/Persiana, Bast, and Leon/Crisis.
Chapter 13: A Moment's Respite
Crucifer, in possession of Daken's body, shook his head, confounded and worried at what he experienced,
"How is this possible? That girl should not have had the power to drive me off so easily! It was like…it was almost like she was a deity or something! The darkness empowered her as it does me! But, why?"
The ancient vampire paced around, kicking up dust as he tried to figure out what was it that gave Troia so much power. He said,
"The look, the attitude, even the voice…they were all different in that night sky. Even her hair shimmered like the stars!"
A thought suddenly occurred to him. Crucifer's eyes widened, and a horrified look appeared on his face,
"No. It cannot be. There is no way this is possible. Rhea could not have…but…that means…"
A horrifying look appeared on his face as he said,
"Rhea did. The scheming witch!"
He lashed out in anger at a wall, smashing it with dark energy.
A voice then tutted,
"My, my. Aren't we tempestuous today?"
Crucifer turned around and saw a man with blonde hair, wearing a sort of regal green robe, and black armor. His head was exposed, and had a soulless, evil gaze as he looked at Crucifer. The ancient vampire shook his head,
"Go away, Neron. You will not bargain for my soul as easily as you have other mortals."
Neron laughed,
"You insult me, ancient Crucifer. I am merely here to offer you the power needed to destroy all of your enemies."
Crucifer looked back, even more agitated,
"And, what makes the Keeper of Souls think that I, a vampire god, would need your help squashing some pitiful mortals?"
Neron laughed again,
"Oh, come now, Crucifer. You would not have come to this place if you did not believe you could defeat them. You did defeat Bast, and that was remarkable, but she has tasked someone with giving a new power to a chosen person. Then, there is Troia…"
He licked his lips,
"Rather attractive woman, I will say. Doesn't she take after Rhea?"
Crucifer raised his hand to Neron, but the king demon's eyes glowed and, in moments, the ancient vampire was on the ground, writhing in pain. Neron looked down at him,
"Pitiful, really. You truly tried to challenge that which cannot die. You are pathetic."
Crucifer then felt the power relent and Neron continued,
"But, it would not be entertaining for you to be killed by my hand. Instead, I will give you the power necessary to carry what you desire; the immediate destruction of your enemies."
Crucifer stood up and nodded,
"Fine."
Neron added,
"Oh, and it will cost you both your soul, and the soul of the body you are possessing."
The ancient vampire shook his head,
"No price is too small. Do it."
Meanwhile…
Hippolyta had separated herself from the others. She was looking out at the starry night sky. The queen of the Amazons was not one to get emotional at a time like this, but, here, she was drying away a tear from her eyes. She shook her head,
"She is so different."
"Hippolyta?"
The warrior queen turned and Captain America was approaching near her. The queen looked away and tried to command a regal presence about her, but Steve said,
"I know you were crying. Is something wrong?"
Hippolyta shook her head,
"My daughter Donna; she has changed so much."
Steve sat next to her and said,
"She's an attractive woman. Both your daughters are."
Hippolyta sniffed a little,
"Thank you, but I fear something may happen to her."
She steadied herself again and explained,
"My daughter Diana longed for a sister to play with, some one more her age. A sorceress cast a spell on Diana's reflection when she was little, creating that sister. Diana has no memory of this, because that girl died and I asked the sorceress to make her forget. A few years later, an abandoned baby girl was found washed ashore, and she looked so much like Diana. I named her Donna, and the two had been inseparable growing up."
She smiled a little,
"They were truly opposites. Diana was disciplined and obedient, Donna was impulsive and stubborn. But, both girls were my daughters, until Rhea came to me in a dream."
Steve asked,
"Who is Rhea?"
Hippolyta answered,
"Rhea is Donna's mother by birth, and a Titan of the stars and the night sky. Seeing Donna the way she is acting and her powers…"
She closed her eyes, fighting back tears,
"I fear she may be becoming more like Rhea than I want her to be. She is my daughter first, Steve. I am afraid of what might happen to her."
The former Avenger placed his hand on hers,
"Don't worry. Donna is your child, and you are the only mother she knows. Plus, she has Diana with her to watch and protect her."
Hippolyta nodded,
"You are right, Steve. But, I fear that those words may ring hollow when Rhea comes and tries to claim Donna in her own perverse way."
Steve shook his head, wondering what else he could say to the queen. He had never been in the situation before, but he was going to do his best to try and make it right.
Next Chapter:
Let's take a break from the fight and tune in to see Satana's wedding! Stay tuned, fellow readers!
