Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.
Revenge of the Wolf
Chapter 30 – The Order of Death.
Jade's POV
We backed off quickly as the creature emerged from the black flames of the firepit. Only Claudia who appeared to be in a trance, remained still.
At first it was only a single tendril shooting out of the flames, but soon we greeted by what sounded like a demonic chorus of bone chilling shrieks.
To quote Clark from the movie, The Thing, "I don't know what the hell's in there, but it's weird and pissed off." I always like that line, thought I never thought I'd have to use it.
When you think hell, demons, devils, you think the classic archetype, a devil with red skin, horns and a pitchfork.
But what came out of the black flames of the fire pit was nothing like I ever imagined. Like something from a Lovecraft story, the creature could best be described as a horrifying cross between a centipede and a plant.
The body of the thing, was greenish yellow and was about 30 meters long and at least 10 wide, consisting of a long semi-segmented body. Where the legs of a the centipede would be was a combination of evil looking claws and various vines and tendrils.
But unlike centipedes, this had no actual head. Instead the body was covered in small patches of flowers. Now I say flowers and you think, nice roses or petunias. No….think huge moving flowers, about 6-10 across with purplish, red petals that move. Did I mention that some appeared to have eyes and some appeared to have rather nasty teeth. There were other flowers that were reddish and I didn't even want to know what they did. All I know is that there were lots of them in small concentrated patches, about 6 feet long and about 1 foot wide.
We were greeted by the smell of the flowers a moment later. It was a horrifying stench that smelled like what you'd get if you soaked rotting fish in draino. I nearly lost my lunch then and there.
As if the thing wasn't creepy enough, the patches seemed to moan as of their own account.
"What the fuck is that?"
Una who was nearby, pointed to her ear and mouthed, "I can't hear you."
I forgot the disco music, which was ironically playing, Disco Inferno, by The Tramps was still up at full blast. I went to turn it off, but Una ran up and yelled.
"Turn the music down, but leave it on. The holographic dancers may distract it."
I quickly grabbed the remote out of my pocket and cranked the music down a few notches.
"What the hell is that?"
Una looked to Julia then to me, "That I'm pretty sure is Demon lord. One of the many rulers of the lower plains."
"I agree" Said Julia as we watched as the creature seemed to be getting it's bearings.
"I expected….."
"A dude with horns and a pitchfork. I've studied some of the old tomes in younger days. "Una Continued. "There are hundreds of Demon lords and they come in all shapes and sizes. But all of them are nasty and should not be fucked with, ever. However, I'd guess that's a very weak one."
"Why?"
"Cause if was one of the more powerful one's, it probably would have killed us all by now. I suggest we stop yapping and attack it, while it's still disorientated and confused."
Un then turned to Dawn. "I know you're not supposed to kill, but…considering that's a demon, from Hell no less, feel free to kill it or anything else that comes out of that pit."
Nodding to Tori, who had come up to me, I then motioned to attack.
Turning into my wolf form, I joined up with Valentina and Tori who were still in wolf form. Once grouped together, we charged. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Una and Dawn, launching their own attack.
As we got closer we could see some of its larger claws, lash out at the holographic dancers. I quickly noted that they could lash out sideways and at a distance of at least 7 meters.
I quickly counted at least 16 set's of larger claws and at perhaps twice that many smaller ones, no more than a meter long. The plant like tendrils were yellowish grey and extended from the underside of the creature, their appeared to be dozens of them.
I hate flowers and I hate bugs, this was the worst of both, but I had no choice, but to try and defeat it.
No One's POV.
The small wolf pack, charged and went directly for what they felt the biggest initial threat; one of the larger sets of claws that ran along the bottom of the creature.
It lashed out at them but they quickly dodged it, allowing them to get at the leg of the claw. Furiously attacking it, they found the skin to be very tough and hard to pierce, with their own claws and teeth. Still they managed to so.
They would have kept at it, if not for the fact that they noticed two things. First the tendrils were moving towards them. Second was the fact that some of the flowers attempted to spray some liquid on them.
So while the three wolves retreated, Una and Dawn, jumped on top of the creature, attacking a bare spot in its skin. They were also forced to retreat when the same happened to them.
Julia who was standing back, started to throw offensive spells at the beast, but they had little effect.
So the battle continued, with the werewolves and Vampires launching quick hit and run attacks at the beast. But at the same time, the creature would actively move towards them when they retreated, giving them little time to catch their breath or talk strategy. Much to their dismay, the thing could move very quickly.
So they continued to attack it and started to beat up on the thing but soon its attacks got more coordinated and faster. They were not sure why.
Tori was the first to get hit with a claw that cut her, but not badly.
They also discovered that certain flowers could shoot small wood like darts. There weren't many of those, but within 10 minutes, they had all been peppered by them.
Twice one of them had been grabbed by the tendrils and found themselves being drawn closer to the beast while other flowers attempted to spray them with something. Each time, another had to stop their attack to free their comrade.
After 20 or so minute, they had managed to knock out 4 of the bigger claws, and hurt it somewhat. The vampires, had managed to wound it's back in several places. But for all they'd done, the damage seemed to have little effect. By that time, they had all been cut in several places. The wounds weren't bad, but the creature seemed to be trying to inflict death blows for some reason. It seemed more interested in hurting them and wearing them out, though they weren't sure why.
After managing to take out a smaller claw, Jade and the others retreated, only to have the creature not chase them this time. Instead it moved to the edge of the room.
"What the hell is it doing?" Asked Tori, who had resumed wolf form.
As the creature reached the edge of the room, several tendrils grabbed some of the empty wooden chairs and drew them in. There the larger claws smashed them, with the tendrils picking up large chunks of wood.
Una and Dawn moved back. "How nice, it's making wooden stakes for itself."
"Una, Julia, can we beat it?"
Una answered the question. "Well I have good news and bad news."
"What's that."
"The good news is that, we've hurt it and held it off."
"What's the bad news?"
"It's trying to wear us down and believe me, we will tire out due to exhaustion and wounds, long before it does."
By then the creature barreled towards them, forcing them to scatter.
During the fight, Claudia had largely been ignored. Due to the fact she wasn't attacking and she was behind a force field spell anyway.
It was Tori, who started to wonder just what the wizard was doing. Just why wasn't she attacking, the demon was for sure.
It was then Una shouted. "Ignore the legs, go for the flowers with eyes, BLIND THE THING!"
So the group switched tactics and attacked the numerous flowers with eyes. But as always, the stalks were almost like iron and nearly impossible to break.
The battle raged on for another 25 or so minutes and by now they had all been beaten up pretty badly. The creature was also wounded, but they could hardly tell, how much. Things were starting to look grim. The demon was getting closer and closer to dragging someone towards it. It would only be a matter of time, before it succeeded. What would happen then, they didn't know, but it wouldn't be good.
During one attack, Tori got knocked backwards into the wall, briefly knocking the wind out of her. As she recovered, she spent a few seconds watching Claudia. She appeared to be in a trance, but her hands were moving ever so slightly.
Curious, Tori watched a few seconds more as Claudia's hands moved left and then did the creature. Beginning to understand, Tori ran to Julia.
"She's controlling it!"
Julia who was in the middle of casting a spell, stopped and looked at her with confusion. "That's not possible. A minor demon you can control, but this is a thousand times more powerful than any demon…."
An attack by the creature charging for her, caused her to dive to the side and the battle resumed.
It didn't make sense to Julia. How could the wizard control a demon lord? That was supposed to be impossible, for any wizard. Even with the mass sacrifice and the circlet, that still shouldn't be possible.
As the fight continued, that thought kept running through the back of her mind.
Meanwhile Jade who had attacked again, managed to bite off a smaller claw but was too slow in getting away. Within seconds, more than 6 tendrils wrapped tightly around her.
She struggled but even more wrapped around her, and soon she was being pulled towards the beast.
Unable to break free, she knew she'd be the first one to find out what the creature had in mind.
She did, until a streak of black suddenly appeared. It was Una, smirking away.
"Can't take you anywhere." Joked, Una as she dodged one tendril with a wooden steak while freeing Jade.
By now the situation had reversed with the group being on the defensive while the creature was on the attack. The tide had turned and now they were starting to lose the battle.
Julia who was still thinking about Claudia, shouted to Una "How can she be controlling it?"
The vampire hadn't paid any attention to the wizard either, but looking she realized that indeed she was. From all her knowledge, which was extensive, she also knew that was impossible.
Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly spotted Valentina get hit pretty badly by one of the large claws, resulting in a large gash on her side and apparently a broken front leg.
It was only due to Dawn's intervention, who carried her to the side, did she not get killed on the spot.
Though still alive, Valentina was out of the fight. The fight was now a losing battle, with the remaining group trying to stay alive.
In the old days, Una spent a lot of time with the ancient Vampire Serapis, hearing tales of wizards and lost civilizations. Suddenly, she remembered, a tale that predated Ancient Egypt. How a great sorcerer enslaved a major demon and used it to destroy the army of a rival kingdom. It was then Una remembered how he did it.
Running over to Julia, she said. "Claudia has an Arthaz."
Julia's jaw fell open. She had heard of such a thing, but never heard of anyone making one. She had to hold that thought, as once again the creature attacked her and Una.
Now beaten and bloodied, Jade hurried over. "Have any ideas, because we're starting to get our asses kicked here."
"I do."
"What?"
"She's controlling it, which should be impossible, but in ancient times, certain men of powers make an object called an Arthaz. It can act as a amplifier for a wizards powers, making them almost godlike. I only dimly remember my teacher telling me about them. No one's been able to make one in centuries."
"Why?"
"They can take decades to make, with hundreds of spells cast on it, to prepare it right, plus if the object is ruined or despoiled in anyway, it won't work. Besides, most wizards didn't think it was worth it, as an Arthaz can only be used once and only for a short time. Only that, would give her the power needed to control that thing."
"What does it look like?"
"I don't know, it can be anything, only that it has to be nearby, close, very close. Oh wait,…I know how to….."
Neither of them noticed the creature barreling towards them. Hitting like a freight train, Julia was thrown backwards against the wall and knocked senseless.
After being knocked backwards and was about to attack when she spotted, Dawn. The vampire had been wrapped up with several tendrils, while one of them was about to jam a wooden stake through her heart.
Turning back into a wolf, Jade charged and leapt. Managing to get there just in time, Jade sunk her teeth into the tendril grasping the wooden stake, biting clean through it. She then clawed at the tendrils holding Dawn until they released her.
By now, Una, Dawn, Tori and Jade were locked in a desperate battle with the demon and each knew the fight was nearly over.
Soon Jade found herself wrapped up and again she was being pulled towards the beast. Turning back into human form, she hoped that would help free herself.
As she did, she looked up to see the larger than life painting of Livia glaring down at her. Suddenly replaying the events of the start of the fight, she knew what she needed to do.
"If I'm wrong, were all dead. Here goes nothing!"
Using the last of her strength, she broke free, pulled the scissors from her boot. Then with careful aim, Jade tossed the scissors directly at the painting.
A second later the scissors jammed into the painting just to the left of Livia's leg, piercing the canvas.
Almost instantly, Claudia opened her eyes wide, dropped the circlet and screamed. "NOOOOOO…."
The demon was free from her power and soon she'd be the sole object of its fury.
As if someone had hit a switch, the demon roared with fury and turned its attention directly towards Claudia, who was only feet from it.
The wizard tried to flee, but being so close, she was nearly instantly wrapped in its tendrils. One of which wrapped around her mouth leaving her unable to cast any spells.
The others, now that the demon was ignoring them backed off and watched what happened next. Wrapping around her tightly, the tendrils, quickly wrapped her tight. As they pulled her closer, other flowers sprayed her with some liquid or sap.
Then carefully, the tendrils deposited her on the creatures back and let go.
Claudia tried to get off, but the others could see that the sap, was literally cementing her to its body.
"HELP ME PLEASE JADE….PLEASE!" Shrieked the wizard, as she vainly tried to pull herself off. She however was stuck fast to the beast and no effort on her part could break her free.
A moment later, several pink tendrils, looking different than the others, started to emerge from the beast, only inches from Claudia and began to burrow into her skin.
Julia who had woken up, came over and could see what was happening.
"My god!"
Jade continued to watch the process grimly. "I broke her Arthaz, that painting there and now that demon lord is pretty pissed with her."
"What is it doing?"
It was only then did Jade have time to study the various patches of flowers on the creature's body. Much to her horror did she realize two things; they were all vaguely humanoid shaped and all moving, as if struggling to get off. She also noticed that if you listened carefully, each patch was moaning in torment.
Jade continued to watch the now terrified wizard, scream for help. "It's….planting her."
The tendrils burrowed deeper and deeper into her body until about 20 second later, something sprouted out of her chest.
It was one of the flowers that populated the other patches. Soon more joined it, popping out of Claudia's body.
With each one, the wizard looked to be in more and more agony, yet still alive.
Jade pointed to a different patch. "That one…the others….they were all people that….pissed it off. I think they're still alive somehow, in continual agony. Serving as gardens of a sort."
They watched in horror as yet another small flower sprouted out of her left eye.
Though her head hurt, Julia had the presence of mind to run scoop up the fallen circlet, while the creature as busy tormenting Claudia. Once in hand she began to use its power to return the creature from where it came. If she didn't' the fight would quickly start back up.
After casting a spell, a tremendous wind began to rush through the chamber, pulling everything towards the black flames in the center. While not strong enough to effect Jade and the others, the demon, quickly began to be pulled towards the pit.
"HELP ME!" Screamed Claudia, until yet another flower began to sprout out of her mouth.
Una meanwhile was gloating. "Sorry Bitch…fucking with demon lords is a seriously bad idea. That thing is going keep you alive in torment, probably forever…..have a nice day."
Julia shook her head. "She's doomed…that thing must keep its victims alive, only then can they serve as proper gardens for its flowers. They all look like they're in horrible agony."
Jade, however watched quietly as the creature with Claudia, cemented to its' back was drawn closer and closer to the doorway back to hell.
This woman had tormented her and her mate, and now Jade was watching her torment as it was just beginning.
She had won, finally gotten her vengeance, but reflecting on her own torment, it suddenly felt like a hollow victory. Jade found no satisfaction in watching Claudia's pain, in fact it seemed to only feed her own.
"This is what I wanted, isn't it?""
Somewhere in her mind, a song lyric from the Public Image Ltd, Song, The order of death rang in her mind.
"This is what you want, this is what you get.
This is what you want, this is what you get.
This is what you want, this is what you get."
The others watched the demon, as it reached the edge of the black flames and began to retreat back into them.
All of a sudden, Jade ran to the wall to where a metal torch holder was fixed to it. The torch holder was black, about 2 feet long and at the bottom, came to a sharp metal point.
Jade quickly ripped it from the wall, ran towards the demon and threw it like an impromptu spear. The object flew through the air with great speed and within seconds, buried itself into Claudia's chest, right about where her heart was.
The wizard jerked suddenly and just like that, went limp and quiet. The effect on the flowers growing out of her was immediate, as they began to wilt.
Hissing angrily, the creature roared, taking its tendrils and ripping Claudia off its body, tossing her to the ground, as it vanished into the flames.
With a final incantation, by Julia, the flames turned from black to their original color "It's over…it's gone and I've sealed the doorway. Good call Jade, the painting. I don't think we would have lasted much longer."
Una turned to Jade and growled. "You put her out of her misery. Why in the hell did you do that? She would have suffered in torment, probably alive and forever. Don't you want that?"
Ignoring the Vampire, Jade walked over to Claudia's body. The once mighty wizard lay there, her one good eye, open staring blankly into space, the disgusting looking flowers that had sprouted from her body now were all just as dead as she was. Picking up the corpse, Jade tossed it into the flames and watched it burn with a distant expression. "I wanted to win and I did win. She's been stopped and I got my revenge. As far as the torment, there's been enough torment, enough pain, enough misery; for me, For Tori, for everyone. I just want it to stop. Leaving her like that, wouldn't have taken away my nightmares or make me feel any better. Besides…I'm better than her, better than that. So yes, I showed her mercy…maybe just maybe; it will help me live with my torment, by ending hers. So if you have a problem with it, then fuck off."
Dawn was quick to intervene, rushing to calm Una down. "Una baby. You didn't see it as you were busy fighting the creature, but Jade saved me. She's right, leaving Claudia in torment, wouldn't help anyone. She did the right thing. Just calm down."
Tori quickly walked over to Jade and hugged her, whispering in her ear. "I love you so much and I'm very proud of you."
Una looked to Dawn, kissed her than walked to Jade, extending her hand. "Thank you. And I'm sorry. You made the right call."
Half an hour later, the group, with the exception of Una sat in Claudia's office, recovering. They were all bloodied, bruised, tired and due to the fact they hall were covered in demon goo/blood, smelled terrible.
"I've bound her wounds, their bad, but not life threatening. Plus her left arm is broken. We still need to get her to a doctor." Announced Julia who was attending to Valentina. "Looks like someone is stuck, taking me out on a second date."
Valentina smiled, but quickly grimaced in pain. "Happily."
A moment later Una walked in. "I took care of the servants. And I didn't kill them, though that would have been a lot more fun. Since they're all wanted by the police, I hypnotized them and ordered them to leave the castle and immediately turn themselves into police. But I also told them to not remember anything about what they've seen here. They're leaving now."
Dawn smiled. "Good, we can get Jenna and leave."
Tori stood up. "We forgot something. Who is Claudia's second in command. We can't afford to let them go."
Jade nodded. "She's right, we can start to search around for some clues, but we may not find any. That will give her 2nd in command time to go underground."
Just then, Jade, looked over at the couch a few feet away and spotted some tiny objects underneath it. Curious, she walked over and scooped them up.
Opening her hand, Jade could see she was holding the shells of 5 red pistachio nuts.
"I wonder….." Mused Jade to herself.
Everyone watched as after Jade studied the nuts carefully, began to search around room. Not on the desk or in drawers, on the floor. She searched behind things, under things and in corners. When she finished she was holding more than 20 pistachio nut shells, which she had found on the floor but not in any of the 4 wastebaskets in the room.
With a smirk, Jade announced. "We don't have to search; already I know who it is."
"Who?" Asked Julia.
"Never mind that, I need you to call an emergency meeting of the wizard's council. I need you to extremely vague as to why. Just tell them their lives are in danger, but they need to meet ASAP. We've got one last fish to fry."
The song title, "The Order of Death" is from the Public Image Ltd. song of the same name. Lyrics used without permission. The song is unusual, in that the lyrics consist of the same phrase, sung over and over. Good song though.
So what do you think of Jade's decision; which in my opinion is the most important part of the chapter. She could have left Claudia in torment, but instead decided to kill her, putting her out of her misery as an act of mercy.