Settle in for chaos. So many characters. So much drama.
-39-
Niklaus
They just kept coming.
Once the power had gone out all pretense leading up to the fighting had ended and the vampires had launched a full assault. The Strix stormed out of their hiding places in the rooms above them to join with Marcel's army, giving the enemy even greater numbers and all sorts of dark magical artifacts to wield against them.
It had been a while since Klaus was confronted with The Strix but he was now remembering why he hated them.
Right now, he could kill Elijah for creating The Strix. Especially when one brought out a particularly nasty magical artifact that sent him flying into Emeric, who was swelled up and smashing skull after skull between his bare hands.
Klaus made sure to check on Kol before re-entering the fray. His youngest brother was in the middle of fighting Aya Al-Rashid. Klaus wondered if he was needed for just a moment before Kol's hand plunged through Aya's chest and ripped back with her heart in his grasp, crushing it in the next second.
It seemed Kol was doing fine. One leader of The Strix down, in any case.
Shadows dropped all around them like rain, morphing into people who fought with a detached sort of viciousness unlike anything Klaus had ever seen.
The Shade had entered the fight, and they weren't on their Empress' side.
Somewhere, the Alexanders had miscalculated, Klaus thought as he ripped his arm from some miserable vampire's chest just in time to swing it and decapitate another.
They were severely outnumbered. Hundreds to one, it seemed.
Emeric roared in outrage as berserkers broke through the walls of the compound, smashing walls in their haste to join the fighting. Pharaoh moved with gusto– cutting though his own men like they weren't more than insects in his way. Rage was clear in his swollen face, his eyes lighting with some kind of beam that severed bodies in half and broke apart solid structures in an instant, cement and drywall becoming ash all around them.
The sound of the fighting was deafening, battle roars, wails of pain, and the scent of bloodshed.
All would permeate this structure for years to come as their enemies fell, and Klaus would have it no other way.
Perhaps Emeric and Theon's need to exercise a 'show of force' had been misguided. Klaus wasn't interested in rising to their defense. The Alexanders hadn't prepared or planned for betrayal. For five thousand year old beings, god or not, they should've had plans in place for such things.
Klaus always planned for betrayal. He had contingencies for his contingencies at all times. That Emeric hadn't showed Klaus how lackadaisical and trusting the God of War had become.
If Emeric didn't think Klaus was paying attention to him today, he was incorrect.
Marcel swiped at him from behind and Klaus ducked, kicking backwards, just managing to catch Marcel in the thigh as the younger vampire dodged Klaus' aim for his chest.
"Take a look around you, Klaus, this empire is mine. You left it, no, you ran from it. You don't get to come back here and try to take what I've built. Destroy what I have built." Marcellus spat, rage clear in his eyes as he pulled a white oak stake out of his leather jacket.
Klaus paused for just a moment, his own rage escalating to a deadly peak now that the one weapon that could actually kill him was in play. His nostrils flared, eyes bleeding from blue to gold as his hybrid face emerged.
"And yet," Klaus taunted, intent on provoking an emotional response in Marcel, "that 'M' on the wall behind you does not stand for 'Marcel,' Klaus' teeth were bared, venom and saliva shooting out from his mouth as he barked; "It stands for Mikaelson! You lay claim to that which is not yours!"
Marcel lashed out with the stake. Klaus was partially turned, swiping at Marcel with extended and sharp nails. The pointed tips just managed to slash at the stake, knocking it out of Marcel's hand. Both men's eyes darted to the sharpened and splintered wood. With little hesitation, Marcel lunged.
Klaus saw red as he propelled forward, reaching for Marcel to throw him back and gain the upper hand.
He hadn't needed too.
The earth rumbled. Vines sprung forth from the ground beneath them, shattering century old tiles as they rose, tangling around the enemy combatants, Marcel a long with the rest of them. Marcel's rage-filled gaze met Klaus', and Klaus looked away with a glib smirk, feeling that the battle was now well in the gods hands as he looked up toward the source of the emerging foliage.
Vera Alexander stood atop the second floor banisher, hands raised as though praying to the heavens and looking down upon them all with deep distain etched across her features.
Freya stood behind her, keeping three vampires at bay with her own magic until vines crawled up each of the vampire's bodies. And then Klaus watched as the vines began to squeeze each of their captives, all around the room.
A pleading cry erupted from Marcel's vampires and The Strix. The berserkers fought against their restraints as they tightened. Some Shade were caught, others were able to vanish before the vines crept onto them. Blood began to seep from the captives' orifices as their organs began to burst under the vines' pressure.
No one seemed to notice the Shade that crept toward Emeric. But as hyper vigilant to the Pharaoh's movements as Klaus had been, he did.
Klaus had a split second decision to make. Save Emeric, and gain the Pharaoh's trust in doing so. Or allow the biggest threat to himself to be eliminated here and now.
Emeric deserved to lose his power and his life, Klaus reasoned, for all that the god had done to his sister. For allowing himself to miss the mutiny that rose whilst he did nothing to prevent it. For all the things he'd said on the jet on the way to New Orleans and if Klaus was being honest… for Emeric's ability to see right through him.
But if he let Emeric fall when he had the ability to do something about it… if Isolde found out…
A heartbeat later, Klaus had the syringe in one hand, the other pushing Emeric out of the way by his shoulder. Klaus cursed internally. Angry with himself for being so easily led by his affections for Isolde.
Emeric turned around, meeting Klaus' eyes. Klaus had only a moment to feel his pride and ego swell before the scenery around them shifted and changed.
There were no vines.
The building was intact.
There were no screaming Vampires, struggling Berserkers, or creeping Shade with syringes. No white oak stake laying upon the ground for Klaus and Marcel to fight over. There was just Klaus. Kol. Freya. And Marcel, who was clutching his head between his hands, a deafening roar of grief and disbelief coming from him as he sank to his knees, facing the opposite direction of where Klaus was looking.
So Klaus and Kol and Freya all shared a look and then turned around.
Thousands of bodies littered the compound. All still. All silent. As if death had come for them quickly and silently, like a wraith. A thief who stole their souls and left their bodies to slump over as lifeless husks. Each falling atop each other in an instant. There was no bloodshed. No destruction.
Just bodies.
A slow clap was heard from above them, where Klaus had last seen Vera.
The Alexanders stood side by side. Emeric. Vera. Theon. Rebekah stood off to the side, wide eyed and worried as all Alexanders looked down their noses in a way that caused Klaus' blood to boil, his rage getting close to a bursting point he couldn't control.
Emeric leaned forward, bracing crossed arms over the banister.
"We couldn't resist testing you without Isolde around to spoil it," the Pharaoh laughed with a cocky smile that made Klaus wish he had actually gotten his hands on a syringe full of neurotoxin so he could jab the god of war with it his damn self, "oh not to worry Klaus–I killed all the enemies and traitors the second the power went out. Theo here arrived just in time to drop an illusion over you all so you would think the battle raged on."
The anger in Klaus' entire being was reflected by Kol's tone when he responded to Emeric, stepping up beside his brother.
"You've got to be bloody joking! What is it about us that is such a hardship for you to accept? We have done nothing but temper our behavior and responses to you and yours. We have been more controlled than ever before, and we've expelled quite a lot of effort to do so. To be better. To be worthy. So what is the problem, Emeric?" Kol hissed, vampire face remaining visible as he bares his teeth in his anger.
"Oh, use your head," Theon snapped, his face contorting with a viciousness that none of them had heard from him before, causing both Kol and Klaus to tense, "the neurotoxin wasn't part of the illusion, you fools. Do you think we would believe that just because you're mated to Isolde means you would, in a pinch, try to keep us from being injected with it? Because we would do everything in our power to prevent white oak from touching any of you–" Theon produced three white oak stakes out of thin air and waved them for empathize before disposing of them the way he had earlier, "- but would you do the same? After all that has been revealed. Knowing that Isolde would one day rule the lot of us–that you could very well be at her side during her reign? A reign that could last for the length of the planet's existence? And on a more sentimental note; knowing that Emeric had hurt her the way he did, and the lasting effect that it has had. What would you do when presented with the option to rid yourselves of one, or all, of us? That was a question that needed to be answered."
"I'm not convinced we have the right answer, brother." Emeric said before Kol could speak again, watching Klaus with a critical eye. And Klaus knew that Emeric understood exactly what had gone through Klaus' mind before he made the decision to 'rescue' the Pharaoh. "But, we have an idea of the course that would be taken. That can be enough for now."
Kol
Kol was livid. Beyond livid, even.
Betrayal was Klaus' shtick. Elijah could be considered a betrayer as well, only because he was quite twisty with words. Kol, on the other hand, would not betray those who were important to him or their families. He simply wouldn't. Period.
That the Alexanders thought Kol to have the ability to be complicit in Klaus' machinations to bring down any of Isolde's family members grated on the last end of his frayed nerves, and he snapped.
"We wouldn't see to the destruction of any of you, for the same reason you wouldn't seek to end us, Theon. What it would do to Rebekah to see her family destroyed by her soul bond would be even worse if it were one of you destroyed by us. I understand Emeric," he gestured wildly at the Pharaoh, who was glaring down at him with regal self-importance that angered Kol even more, "having the inability to see that much, as he is the one who remains unbound to my family and hasn't given us but two hours of his consideration. But you should have just the tiniest bit of faith in us."
Emeric rolled his eyes with a scoff. "Two hours?" The Pharaoh shifted into a Falcon and swooped down, becoming a man again without a second in between. Face just a foot from Kol's.
"I've given your family ten centuries of consideration. I have found you lacking in each of them. You, all of you," he looked at each of them, including Rebekah, annoyance plain, "seem to think that because of your bonds to my family that I have to meet some predetermined level of acceptance. But you have not earned anything from me." Emeric emphasized with a vicious slash of his hand. "In fact, you could work tirelessly for a millennia more and I would be perfectly justified in never accepting you as kin in any way. The only worth any of you have to me," Emeric's eyes glittered darkly as he pinned each of them in place once again, "is the happiness of my siblings. In this, at least, you've been proficient."
Emeric didn't have to say it for Kol to pick up on the threat.
Emeric didn't care about them. In fact, he'd rather see them dead. Should they cease to bring happiness to Isolde, Theon, or Vera. Their lives would be forfeit.
Marcel seemed to wish to remind everyone that he was there and the vampire surged upward, toward the Pharaoh. Kol caught the glimpse of a syringe and, annoyed as he was to do so when he was quite incensed at Emeric's fucking attitude, Kol surged forward, pinning Marcel's arm underneath his foot.
"Read the room, will you?" Kol grumbled, crushing Marcel's arm underneath his foot. The vampire screamed in pain. "Now is not the best time. The adults are talking."
"More like arguing," Nik interjected, crouching low to look Marcellus in the hate-filled eyes, "I didn't raise you to become this big of a fool."
"Oh, you mean this wasn't your handiwork?" Emeric snarked as he leaned down to grab the syringe, examining it closely before pocketing it. "As hot headed as he is, I thought it might have been your influence at play."
Kol watched Nik's jaw tighten, his eyes narrow dangerously.
These two were giving Kol a bloody headache.
"Why did you leave him alive?" Kol asked, trying to divert Klaus and Emeric from lunging at each other. As much as Kol wanted to rip into Emeric himself, he wasn't stupid. Klaus wasn't either but the hybrid was getting angrier with every jibe and Kol didn't think his brother had the fortitude to actually fight the eldest Alexander, even if Nik thought he might in the wake of his anger..
"He's your kid, isn't he?" Emeric shrugged, as if it didn't matter to him, but it clearly did because he'd left Marcel alive. "You might be a deadbeat father," Nik growled low, but Emeric continued, "but you raised and turned him. He's your responsibility. Do as you see fit. I will say, from what I've observed over the last century, that until recently Marcel Gerard did a great job with New Orleans. He was a good leader, then. Has the potential to be again, if given laws to adhere too. A jurisdiction, if you will."
Nik grit his teeth and looked down at Marcel with an expression Kol couldn't really decipher. If he had to guess, Emeric's information had created some turmoil within his brother.
Nik cared for Marcel, Kol knew.
But Kol hated the little bastard. He'd been the reason Kol had been imprisoned in the bloody box this last time. He'd been the reason Kol lost a hundred years. And there was little Kol wanted more than revenge for that slight against him, and he couldn't take it out on Klaus, lest Isolde be upset with him again. After they'd just made up.
So Kol moved faster than Klaus could realize what he was doing. Before Klaus could stop him.
Marcel's heart was in Kol's hand in a second. And a couple things happened instantaneously.
Rebekah screamed in sorrow. Oh, oops. Should Kol have allowed the two former lovers a chance to catch up? He wondered this as Nik growled and gripped Kol by the neck, slamming him against the nearest wall.
And then real, actual vines snapped around them both, wrenching them apart.
"If you're done with this frivolous in-fighting, boys," Vera interrupted with a raised brow as Emeric's jaw ticked as he glared at Kol with a hint of malice in his gaze. It was clear that Emeric had wanted Marcel to live, but hadn't stopped Kol from killing the boy. Pharaoh said nothing, and he turned around to look at his sister as she continued, "I would like to get to my portion of tonight's events. Since you've seen to the death of about three legions in a matter of a couple minutes and left none for me to play with."
"Fine, do what you will," Emeric stepped on corpses as he headed toward the stairs, his back towards them and Kol knew that was a gesture in and of itself that stated how much he cared for Kol and his family, how lowly he regarded their capabilities, 'then we shall offer our aid to Isolde."
"I'm surprised she's not yet with us." Theon grumbled, patting a distraught Rebekah awkwardly on the shoulder as Vera began to levitate. Kol supposed it had to be strange, watching his mate grieve for her former lover right in front of him. He wondered what was going through Theo's mind in that moment, when Rebekah cried out as Kol killed Marcel.
"You will pay for that, Kol." Klaus growled darkly from where he was a few feet away, ignoring the Alexanders completely.
Kol rolled his eyes, glaring at the hybrid. "Oh come off it Nik, you would've let him live and he would have risen against you in another hundred years or less. Eventually, you'd have killed him yourself. I did you the favor you've done for us so often when you kill the people we care for– I saved you from later heartache and betrayal. Your sentiment was clouding your judgment. Those are words you've spoken to each of us before. So you're welcome, brother." Kol spat at Klaus, ignoring Klaus' outraged growl to focus on Vera's continued ascent into the air above the compound.
"Hush now, gentlemen, fight later," Theo waved at them from above them, eyes not leaving Vera, "the High Priestess is about to make a declaration."
"A declaration?" Freya asked, coming up between her brothers with arms crossed. She'd maintained her silence throughout everything and Kol wondered why, considering she'd risen to their defense so easily on the jet.
He didn't get a chance to observe his elder sister when Vera's voice boomed above them, echoing for miles and Kol wished his hands were free so he could cover his ears because the sheer volume hurt.
"Practitioners of New Orleans, hear me."
But Vera didn't get a chance to get any more words out as the ground beneath them shuddered violently just before a deafening roar swept through the city.
"Oh by the Gods," Emeric sagged against the wall at the top of the stairs, smacking his head back against it, "there she goes."
Vera was descending with haste, releasing the vines that held him and Klaus in place as she dropped to her feet. Klaus, in his confusion, didn't even bother attacking Kol again, but Kol knew their argument was not yet finished.
Seconds later, the temperature plummeted and a thick layer of ice began to form over the ground and the bodies. Vera and Theon produced flames from their fingertips, Theon ushering Rebekah along as they all rushed downstairs to meet up with Klaus, Freya, and himself.
"Is that?" Kol started, and Theo nodded, interrupting.
"That'll be the monster. We need to move before–"
Another deafening roar rang through the city, the sound of buildings toppling reached them just as the southern wall of the compound collapsed in on itself. They all froze in silent horror as the dust cleared just enough to see the enormous dog-like creature that rampaged across town, tendrils sprouting from all over its body, whipping and lashing viciously.
Even Nik was speechless as they watched on, unmoving as the monster stepped around and slammed its body against one of the largest buildings in the city, proceeding to stomp on another. Obliterating both in seconds.
Emeric was on the phone, Theon fishing his own out of his pocket, just as several people appeared inside the compound at once. One screaming in what must've been excruciating pain, by the sound of it.
Kol turned to look at the newcomers. Elijah. Elijah was the one screaming. That knot of anxiety inside of him tightened even further as Nik was by Elijah's side in a second, the rest of them following.
"Elijah needs help, he's been injected with–" Finn began. He was covered in dust and grime, concern plain across his face like Kol had never seen from his stoic oldest brother and that alone was enough for that anxious pit in his stomach to double in size.
If Elijah died. Kol would burn this country to the bloody ground.
"The toxin?" Vera rushed over, falling to her knees just feet away and sliding on the ice, gripping Elijah's shirt to stop her from sliding past him. "Where?" She asked, already pulling the dress shirt apart as Theon joined her, hovering his hands over Elijah's torso.
They seemed to be running some kind of diagnostic magic over Elijah as Finn told them where he had been injected.
"Gaius is dead," a man Kol didn't recognize said, and Kol watched Emeric pause in his phone conversion, ending the call immediately and nodding for the man to continue, "Isolde–" whoever he was, he addressed the Alexanders like equals, and that was more telling than the fact that the man had Artemis in his arms. This must be Apollo. "- was questioning Marcus and Gaius snuck up behind during the confusion, stabbing the vampire in the neck with that toxin. That's when she lost it, shredded Gaius to bits, froze his blood as it rained down all around. I haven't seen the monster fully emerge in three thousand years, this is fucking bad, Emeric. My father is not going to be pleased with this."
"If Zeus feels the need to descend from Mount Olympus to speak with us, then he had ever been invited to do so." Emeric's face betrayed nothing. Kol wondered if Emeric cared what Zeus thought, if that was as much of a threat to him as Paul had just made it seem to be.
"But only on Egyptian grounds, right?" Paul grumbled so low that Kol had almost missed it.
"Is Elijah going to be alright?" Freya's voice cut through all the noise of Isolde's monster raging ever closer to their position.
"It's been over two hours now since I was injected and I am still unable to walk," Missy said from Paul's arms, "and I can't pull on my power. I was unconscious right after being injected though– so maybe it's a good sign that Mr. Mikaelson has not lost consciousness."
"What can we do?" Nik was asking, a wild look in his eyes.
"You can be quiet and let us work. We don't have much time before the monster is upon us and I'll need to focus on sending it to the Prison World. We're trying to isolate the toxin from Elijah's bloodstream so we can move it back out of its entrance wound. It's not healing, at least, that'll make it easier." Vera explained distractedly as she joined her twin in hovering her hands over Elijah's chest. "We should be able to get it out of his system. The problem we will encounter is how much damage it has caused while it spread."
Kol grit his teeth and ran both hands through his hair and over his face. So many things were happening at once Kol was just barely keeping up with it all. As Vera mentioned Isolde having to be banished to a veritable tomb Kol's stomach dropped in a way that made him feel nauseous. He met Nik's gaze. The hybrid brother looked even less thrilled with the idea than Kol.
Emeric interrupted before anyone could ask a follow up or make alternative suggestions. "Dainn, Finn, as the Empress is currently indisposed and Marcus has turned traitor Shade chain of command falls into my jurisdiction. I need your field report."
Since when was Finn considered a ranked Shade? Kol had missed something, somewhere.
The hulking giant of a Shade was looking around with detached eyes at the scene both in and outside the compound. At Emeric's command, the former Viking snapped to attention and trained his eyes toward the Pharaoh. Not looking directly at him, but just to the left of him.
"Marcus' goal is to obtain godhood."
Emeric's brows shot up at this and a laugh of disbelief huffed out of him. "What a fool."
"He got away when Gaius stabbed Elijah," Finn continued, drawing up to his full height, "but we were able to get the origin of the toxin out of him before escaping the mausoleum he held us in."
Finn continued to inform the Alexander's of all that was learned whilst he was captive. Kol found himself in shock over his older brother's information gathering. He once again met Nik's gaze, seeing a calculating look fleck over his face.
Perhaps he was realizing it had been a huge mistake to leave Finn in a box for so long.
Or perhaps he was just trying to find a way to work Finn's newly discovered talents into his future conniving machinations. With Klaus, it was presumably the latter.
"The toxin is separated, I'm leading it back through the entrance wound," Theon announced, focused on Elijah and nothing else that was going on around them, even as the monster pressed ever closer.
Kol had no wish to watch how the toxin was pulled from his brother's system. Instead, he gazed across the city as what looked to be gas explosions began to rock what buildings remained. Isolde's monster left nothing upright as it passed, growling and howling as it went. It seemed to be searching for something. And its hunt was leading it ever closer to the compound. It wouldn't be long before it was upon them.
"I think the monster is hunting Marcus." Dainn interrupted Kol's thoughts, standing beside him with crossed arms and a deep frown. "He's still around somewhere. Hidden. Waiting the monster out so he can slip away."
"Even should he get away today, he will never find rest or safety. We will destroy him. It is inevitable." Emeric said, flanking Kol's other side. The three of them watched the monster rage on.
"Without powers Missy is susceptible to these temperatures," Paul stated, moving to block their view with Missy still in his arms. "We need to move before the beast makes its way here."
"We're going to stopper this used toxin and utilize the syringe of the pure mixture that Emeric has to develop an antidote," Vera informed over her shoulder, holding up a glass jar Kol hadn't seen them conjure or collect, "so you'll want to stick around us while we work on that."
"This is why I love the Egyptians, y'all are so smart," Missy grinned widely, looking around the smashed building and the horde of bodies all around them, "and scary. Very scary."
Emeric ignored Missy and nodded to Paul. "Go to Isolde's estate in Virginia, I'll let Samael know you're coming."
"Very well, vincere aut mori," Apollo said, sweeping into a shallow bow before he was gone with no flare, no fanfare, just gone in an instant.
Vincere aut mori. Conquer or Die. Emeric caught Kol's narrowed gaze and shrugged.
"It's his catchphrase or something, he always says it when he leaves. Sounds more like a 'God of War' phrase but he did it first so, oh well."
Odd. Apollo was an odd god. Though, if any of them remained true to their mythos Kol supposed most of them were strange.
Elijah's gasp drew everyone's attention to him as he struggled to sit up, clutching his chest. Kol watched Elijah meet Nik's eyes, give a slight nod, and Nik's body language unwound a fraction. Freya relaxed her stance a bit. Rebekah hit the ground on her knees, practically shoving Theo out of the way to throw her arms around Elijah, who hugged her back just as fiercely. Finn, too, seemed to drop some of his tension just a little bit. And that Finn had been so concerned over Elijah's well being said a great many things that Kol would shift through later, when he had time for contemplation.
"You're not entirely out of the woods, so take it easy until we clean up here and have more time for a thorough examination." Theon clapped Elijah on the shoulder twice.
Vera got to her feet, dusting frost off her knees, then spun around without a word and began to slide across the ice toward the opening in the wall. She turned back just as Theo was getting to his feet, holding a hand out for Rebekah who had separated from Elijah.
"Now onto business," Vera flew into the air, no slow ascension this time, and hovered higher than before.
"She's going to draw the monster's attention." Kol pointed out, just in case he was the only one thinking about the consequences of drawing that enormous city-wrecker to their vicinity.
"That's the point, mate." Theon informed him, now patting him on the shoulder as he walked by to stand beside Emeric. Kol was beginning to think Theo was being condescending. "Vera still has to dole out the witch's punishment. Two birds one stone sort of deal."
Once again, Vera's voice boomed and echoed over even the monster's bellows. "Practitioners of New Orleans, hear me," she began, the monster pausing its tirade before whipping its face around to stare in their direction, "you have misused the power granted to you by your ancestors. You have slaughtered children in the name of gaining more than your earned share. This behavior is unacceptable, unjustified," the monster hollered, structures crumbling to dust all around as the shockwave hit them and sent Kol sliding backward into the newly standing Elijah, "thus I thereby decree, within my power and authority as the High Priestess, you shall lose your ability to wield the power of your ancestors. Your ancestors will pay the price of your misuse of magic."
Vera raised both arms in the air as the monster began to run toward them.
Kol had never seen souls raised from their graves before, but ghostly flashes of human silhouettes raised into the air rapidly all around the city. He swiveled his head, trying to wrap his mind around this bizarre imagery as the flashes raised and dissipated into the atmosphere.
The monster paused, and then he rose to sit on his haunches.
"What is he doing?" Rebekah asked, wiping at her eyes as she came to stand beside Theon.
The monster's tendrils all fell flat against his back and his strange snout opened in four directions, pointing upward towards the dark sky.
"No idea, I've never seen it do anything like this." Theon breathed, attention on the beast just a mile away from them.
And then the monster breathed in. The souls that were rising suddenly changed trajectory and were sucked into some kind of blue tornado-esque vortex that sprang from the monster's mouth as Vera descended, landing delicately in the middle of the group of Mikaelsons and Alexanders.
She turned, wide eyed and pale, trembling slightly as she looked between her brothers. Kol glanced at the other two Alexanders who, too, had gone quite pale.
"It can't be," Theon whispered, his eyes becoming glossy in an instant as utter fear was written plainly across the god's face, "all this time. It shouldn't be possible. How could we have missed it?"
"What's going on?" Freya asked, closing the distance between herself and Vera to run a comforting hand down the goddess' back.
None of the Alexander's answered that, but even Emeric was showing signs of fear in the way his face slackened and his eyes widened as the souls were consumed before them.
"I'd like to be informed on what has you all so out of sorts over this," Elijah spoke, his voice weak and he leaned gingerly on Finn, Nik helping to support his other side, "I take it this is not normal behavior for the monster?"
"I thi– we think…" Vera began, not turning her gaze from the monster, "well, we know there is only one deity that could consume souls… and I sent these souls to him…"
Isolde
Floating in the void wasn't new to Isolde. Each time the monster came forth Isolde was pushed back into the area he inhabited whilst she was the one at the reins. She'd always found it comforting, a calming embrace before she had to return and deal with the fallout of the monster's devastation.
She watched the monster wreck the city of New Orleans. Toppling structures, creating mayhem. Drunkards on the street ran to escape and the monster would drop its enormous paw atop them, reducing them to nothing but mesh on the sidewalk. Isolde watched it all in the ripples that made up the floor in this dark void.
"Do as you must, monster, destroy it all if you like. Just leave my family and my bonds out of your tirade and we will have no trouble." Isolde whispered in the dead space– hoping that with the strength they had been gaining together he would be able to understand and hear her.
"I have no intention of going after your lovers, my dear." Isolde glanced all around at the echoing sound of a voice so familiar she thought her mind was playing tricks as it continued. "Through them you have begun to regain your strength. I couldn't have found better for you."
"You sound quite human." Isolde spun around, hearing footsteps echo and splash over the ripples. "You say I have begun to regain my strength. I suppose that is why we can speak now, if even just a few words at a time when I am in control. Answer me this. What should I call you? It's been forty-five hundred years and not once have I been able to ask you who and what you are."
A figure appeared in the corner of her eye. The silhouette of a small man, short in stature and skinny to boot, came into view wearing a modern pair of black jeans and a black hoodie. Did he have control of his own image in her mind or was it just that she was picturing him this way?
"Jack." The monster said quietly, not pausing in his approach.
"You're a few millennia too old to be named Jack," Isolde's eyes narrowed as the figure came closer, pulling the hood of his jacket off and revealing himself, and Isolde's heart stopped at the face that stared back at her. So much like her own. The green, green eyes she saw in the mirror daily looked back at her and Isolde whimpered before she could control herself.
"Well since the rest of you decided on Western names I thought Jack would be fitting, 'Jackal God' and all. 'Jack Alexander' has a nice ring, I think. Loathe as I am to take the family name Horus decided on." Anubis said, raising his hands in surrender with that soft, soft smile he reserved for her only as Isolde's throat went raw and tears welled in her eyes.
Anubis reached her, wiping her tears from her eyes before wrapping her in a tight, so very tight embrace. "Please don't be upset with me, Mune, I had to. Apophis was going to invade Ra's space inside of you and I had no choice but to send half of myself in to save you from becoming one of his servants. I had no way of telling you until now, or I would have."
"Anubis," Isolde wept, ugly sobs shaking her entire body and the tears falling rapidly as she clutched him as close as she could without hurting him. Together they collapsed to the rippled ground. Neither let go.
Note: Don't fuck with gods, man. There is no universe in which you win.
Tell me what you think! Anubis being the monster was a twist I planned from the beginning and have been pushing to get to since like.. Chapter ten or so. This is also the reason I haven't used Rami Malek for any of the other Alexanders, despite him being Egyptian. He's my Bis! The next chapter finishes out this one and is like 80% Anubis/Isolde memory lane I hope you all will enjoy.