Legacy 112: Noah's Arc
Part 5
Xxx
Present,
As a predator looking for her next meal, the Empusa stood at the bar and overlooked the nightclub. She was thirsting for something, young love or heartbreak. Each emotion had its own delicious flavor. She was soon drawn to a young couple on the dancefloor. The sexual tension between them was calling to her like an addictive drug. They were perfect. When they left the dancefloor to find a private place, she followed them in silence.
"You're mine now." The Empusa whispered as the couple went up some stairs.
As the Empusa made her way through the crowd, she suddenly sensed another presence in the club. The sickly sweet power of an empath filled the room. The Empusa turned around and saw the witch from before. She admired her guts for showing up again, considering her powers were worthless against a demon like her. If the witch wanted to go for round two, she was more than welcome to join the party. She smiled at her before heading up the stairs.
When the Empusa reached the top of the stairs, she saw he couple sneak into a storage room. When she entered the room behind them, the couple was making out against a wall. The girl was tugging at the guy's clothes while he was greedily grabbing her ass. Both were overflowing with lust and a little guilt. She guessed both of them were cheating on someone.
"Look who's being naughty?" The Empusa remarked.
When the girl noticed her, she pushed the guy off her and pulled down her skirt. "Who the hell are you?" She asked angrily.
"Hey, babe." The guy said arrogantly. "Enjoy the show? Always room for one more."
"Are you kidding me?" The girl called out as she shoved him.
"Temping as the offer is, babe, I have something better in mind." The Empusa replied.
The Empusa shot forward in a blur of speed and pushed the guy to the ground. The girl screamed and tried to run away, though the Empusa appeared before her in a blur and conjured a ring of purple energy around her neck. The girl's eyed widened in shock and she froze.
"Move and my ring will cut your pretty little head off." The Empusa said.
"What the hell are you?!" The guy called out as he crawled back.
"Hungry." The Empusa replied.
Using her speed, the Empusa charged at the guy and pinned him against the wall. She used energy rings to bind his hands above his head and smelled his neck. She placed her hand around his throat and started absorbing his delicious emotions.
"Get away from them." A voice called out.
The Empusa rolled her eyes as she turned to the witch that followed her. She was not alone. She was with another witch, obviously her sister, and the hot Whitelighter that had saved her during their first encounter.
"Haven't you learned your lesson?" the Empusa asked. "Your powers can't harm me."
"Careful, Prue." The Whitelighter warned her.
"I didn't just bring my powers." Prue replied as she held up a potion. "Let the innocents go. You've already hurt enough people."
"Still upset about that hottie in the suit?" The Empusa asked.
"He was still an innocent. Just like them." Prue said.
"You can't do anything as long as I have these rings around them." The Empusa said. "Move and I'll kill them."
"I don't need to move." Prue said.
The witch looked at something behind her and the Empusa turned around. There was a glass bottle floating in the air. Before she could move, the bottle hit her in the head and knocked her down. She lost focus and the energy rings around her prey disappeared. The Whitelighter ran to the couple and quickly orbed them away.
"What the hell?" The Empusa called out.
At that moment, the air rippled behind her and a third witch appeared. Another sister with the power of invisibility. The others were simply a distraction. The Empusa leaped to her feet and tried to attack with energy blades, though the witch became invisible again. When she turned around, the second sister ran at her and levitated, kicking her in the face. The Empusa was kicked back several feet and crashed through a stack of old chairs.
"Quick, the spell." Prue said.
The invisible witch appeared again and the three witches gathered as the eldest grabbed a piece of paper. They held hands and started casting the spell.
"Vixen who feeds on love and pain,
We witches three shall end your reign."
As they finished casting the spell, Prue raised her hand and threw the potion. The Empusa knew that if it hit, her life would be over. Luckily, she was faster than these witches could image. Using her incredible speed, she threw a blade of energy and struck the potion mid-air. An explosion followed that threw both the Empusa and the witches off their feet.
xxx
Many years ago,
Covered in a white and golden robe, Noah orbed into the Heavens determined to fulfill Calliope's last wish. He had been fooling himself for years, the council would never change. Not as long Odin and those like him ruled. If he wanted things to be different, he would have to force the matter. Odin and the others needed to be dealt with before any change could occur.
As he walked through the Heavens, Noah saw the golden doors of the vault appear before him. It was where the most ancient and powerful artifacts were kept, such as the essence of the Gods and all of their creations. Calliope was sure one of those artifacts could help him. Noah walked up to the vault doors, where a Whitelighter stood watch.
"Elder." The Whitelighter said as he took a bow. "How may I help you?"
"You can get out of my way." Noah replied.
Noah raised his hand and struck the Whitelighter with a bolt of lightning, knocking him unconscious. He then stepped forward and opened the vault doors. As he stepped inside, he saw the countless ancient and powerful artifacts that had been gathered over the centuries. He stopped when he recognized the artifact Calliope had meant. On a white pillar stood a simple golden apple. The Apple of Discord, created by the goddess Eris to spark dispute and strife among those it affected. It was perfect for what he needed to do.
"Perfect." Noah said.
"Noah, what are you doing?" A voice sounded and Noah turned around to see Kyle Brody standing behind him.
"What I should have done years ago." Noah said as he grabbed the apple.
"Did you attack that Whitelighter?" Kyle asked. "What has gotten into you?"
"The council has gone too far, Kyle." Noah said. "They are corrupt and they need to be stopped."
"I thought you had given up this ridiculous idea." Kyle replied. "What happened?"
"Calli is dead." Noah said. "Odin is responsible."
"Oh God. Noah, I'm so sorry about Calliope, but this…" Kyle said.
"Stop." Noah said. A golden wave of energy was released from the apple, engulfing Kyle. "You know I'm right. The council is corrupt. They need to be replaced."
"The council needs to go." Kyle said determined as the apple affected his mind. "You're right. I've denied it for years, but things need to change."
"Then come." Noah said. "We have to gather the others."
Noah headed out of the vault, following by Kyle. As he made his way through the Heavens, he used the power of the apple to influence everyone he came across. He had soon gathered an army of Whitelighters to stand against the council. As they headed toward the council, Noah swore to himself that Odin would pay.
Xxx
Present,
Prue heard a buzzing in her ears as she crawled up from the floor and looked around for her sisters. The explosion had knocked them all off their feet. Penny was lying beside her and Payton a bit further back, both unconscious. Prue reached out and tried to wake Penny, though it didn't work. The blast knocked them both out. Prue sat up and looked around for the Empusa. Has she been vanquished by the blast or was she still alive?
A groan of pain from the other side of the room answered her question. The Empusa slowly rose to her feet and tried to stand. Her side had been impaled with a metal rod, which she pulled out with a little discomfort. Prue started to panic. The potion and spell were the only way to vanquish the demon, meaning she was powerless against her once more.
"That hurt." The Empusa said as she tossed the rod away. "Looks like your little plan failed."
The Empusa stepped forward and created an energy blade in her hand. Prue slowly rose to her feet and tried to stop trembling. She was scared, she was powerless, but she needed to protect her sisters, at least long enough for Noah to get them to safety. She softly whispered his name.
"I can tell you're scared." The Empusa taunted her. "You should be. I'm going to make you watch as I kill your sisters. Then I'm going to take your pain before I finally take your life."
"I won't let you touch them." Prue replied.
Prue focused her emotions and sent a blast of psionic energy at the Empusa. The demon smiled and held out her hand. As she absorbed the blast, the wound on her side healed. She then flung an energy blade that pierces Prue's upper arm. She cried out in pain as she fell to her knees.
"Stupid witch." The Empusa replied. "There is nothing you can do to defeat me. I can absorb everything you throw at me."
The Empusa formed another blade and walked toward Prue. It was all over now, there was nothing more she could do. At that moment, Noah appeared in a swirl of orbs and ran at the Empusa. He tackled her and they rolled over the floor. Noah got up and ran to Prue.
"We have to get out of here." Noah said.
"First get my sisters." Prue replied.
Noah nodded and ran over to Penny and Payton to orb them away. Before he could reach them, the Empusa rose to her feet and held out her hand. A ring of purple energy appeared around Noah's neck, stopping him in his tracks. The Empusa forced him to turn around and face her.
"You're brave, risking your life to save your charges." The Empusa said. "You must care a great deal. Let's have a taste."
The Empusa shot forward in a blur of speed and placed her hands on his face. She leaned forward and kissed him to absorb his emotions. After a moment, she backed away and laughed.
"That was a rush." The Empusa said. "You have so much repressed emotions. So much anger and regret in your past. But she makes it better, doesn't she? I can taste your love for her."
"Get away from him." Prue said.
"And you love him." The Empusa replied. "That makes all of this even better. Nothing tastes better than heartbreak. I shall take everything you love away from you before I kill you."
The Empusa turned to Noah and continued absorbing his emotions. Prue screamed, desperate to find a way to stop her. She could not sit there powerless as the demon killed the man she loved. She just needed a way, but it seemed hopeless. She was going to lose everything because the demon was stronger than her. She started crying, knowing it was hopeless.
"Prue." Noah pleaded desperately.
Prue heard him and realized she couldn't give up. She needed to be stronger than this. People were depending on her. The people she loved and the innocents she was meant to protect. She needed to believe that her desire to protect them was stronger than her fear. Stronger than the demon. When she accepted that truth, she suddenly got an idea.
The Empusa fed on emotions, but as a demon, she could never truly process them. If emotions were only a source of energy to her, she could get full. If she reached a point where she could not handle them anymore, she would overload. Prue knew her emotions alone would not be enough. She needed to do something she had never done before. Not even her mother had ever done it, but her namesake had.
"Let go of him." Prue said confidently as she stood up.
"Finally grew a backbone?" The Empusa asked amused. "It won't matter."
"Yes it will." Prue replied. "You want emotions, I'll give you what you want."
Prue fired a blast of psionic energy at the Empusa. The demon let go of Noah and absorbed the blast with both her hands. Prue knew this was it. She reached out with her empathy, further than she had ever done before. She became aware of the emotions of everyone in the vicinity, the people in the club downstairs and on the streets. She had never felt power like this. She channeled all those emotions and poured them into her blast. The Empusa screamed as the blast became too much for her and was thrown back.
"What the hell?" The Empusa asked as she crawled up. "So much emotion. I can't… It hurts."
"You may feed on our emotions, but you will never understand them." Prue said.
The Empusa screamed as threw several blades of energy. Prue channeled her power, stopping the blades in mid-air. She then threw them back at the demon, who barely managed to avoid them. Prue waved her hand and the ring around Noah's neck disappeared.
"Prue, you're amazing." Noah said.
"It's not over yet." Prue replied. "It's still not enough. I need to channel even more."
Prue closed her eyes and reached out ever further with her empathy. Soon she started feeling the emotions of everyone in the city. The crushing weight was almost overwhelming, but she needed to hold on. She would not let this demon hurt anyone else.
"I won't lose to you!" The Empusa screamed.
The Empusa threw several more blades, though Prue waved her hand and they faded away. The Empusa formed two blades in her hands and shot forward in a blur of speed. Prue matched her speed to avoid her and threw her across the room.
"You wanted to taste pain?" Prue noted with a smile. "Have some."
Prue focused all the emotions she had gathered into a final blast of energy. The Empusa tried to block it, trying desperately to withstand its raw power, and fell to her knees. Prue kept going and forced the demon to absorb everything she threw at her. All the emotions in the city, both negative and positive, flowed through her. Eventually, the Empusa reached her limit and screamed as she exploded in a rippling wave of energy.
Prue was thrown back and landed in the arms of Noah. As the emotions left her body, she felt weak. She smiled at Noah, who softly kissed her. She then gave in to the exhaustion and passed out.
xxx