Author Note: I'm so sorry for the slow update. This chapter was both hard to write and sad. For some reason, I couldn't control and continue typing for a while. Ever time I go to the bottom to work on the chapter, I would be sent back up. Again. And again. And again. I sent a bug report and hope this won't happen again. It's a pain and a waste of time.
And I want to shout out to Susanna D. They are one of most loyal followers of this story and help me a lot with their constructive criticism. Susanna D, you are awesome and thank you for liking and following my story since the beginning. Thank you! And I wish you a happy birthday! Hope this
As for the long wait, one, it was the winter break and I had a stressful and tiring break with work, working on scholarship, medical problems and dealing with young family members. I really need some time for myself to relax, even though I feel relaxed when writing this story. Also, I said I would take a long break after modifying my story. But it had to go on longer because I live in Colorado. On Thursday, December 30th, the Marshall fire destroyed many homes and ruin many people's lives for the new year. I was close to the fire and had to evacuate my home. Thankfully, my home was spared and my family in the area are safe too. But I was so shaken up, it caused me to have a major case of writer's block. Luckily, I'm alright and going to school. I hope this bad thing doesn't happen again. The COVID-19 pandemic is already enough for us to handle. But we just need to take a deep breath and take another step.
The ground starts shaking and cracking, making people scream. My eyes widen in horror as I see Bellroc and Skrael floating in the air.
"GET HER!" Bellroc shouts and points their flame staff to me.
Then Shadow Mephits appears from the floor, making people run chaotically in horror. It feels just like the attack in New Jersey. I run around, looking frantically for my parents and friends, yelling their names. I hear booms and things crashing around me, noises blaring in my head. "Mom! Dad! Blinky! Jim!" I scream as I frantically scan around, but the crowd blocks my view, some even bumping into me, almost making me trip on my heels.
"Claire! Claire!" I hear Dad's voice behind me.
I turn around and see him with Enrique in his arms, crying, Jim, Toby, Douxie, Archie as a dragon, Blinky, AAARRRGGHH!, and Mom. I run and make my way through the chaotic crowd to them. I collapse into Jim, and he wraps his arms around me.
"Are you ok?" He asks with worry in his voice and eyes.
"We have to get my family to safety!" I shout breathlessly, ignoring his question. "We have to get them to safety!"
"We will!" Mom says determinedly.
"Watch out!" Toby screams.
I look behind me and see a fireball being thrown at us. I raise my hand, open my palm, and blast out purple flames to destroy the fireball. "Here's the plan. Zoe, Archie, and Douxie go and find Aja and Krel and tell them to help us and give Toby and Jim weapons." I say as I point to them. "Then fight off Bellroc, Skrael, and the Shadow Mephits. Mom, Dad, get you and Enrique to safety. Jim, Toby, Blinky, AAARRRGGHH! help get everyone else to safety." I explain before we duck, hearing a loud boom over our heads.
"You can't be serious!?" Dad says, horrified.
"Yeah! You can't fight in a dress!" Toby adds.
He's right. I can't fight in this condition. "I am!" I protest. "I have to try! For my family's safety! If we don't do something, we're all dead!" I add with determination and start running.
"Claire!" I hear Mom shout, making me stop and turn around. She pulls something from her purse, and I recognize the handle. "Catch!"
She throws the handle, and I call it, opening my palm out. "Azazazuth-Kinekn-Thoon!" I shout, making the handle fly to me, and my Shadow Staff opens. In less than a second, it comes to my hand, and I see purple flames fly around my arm. It hits my necklace, and the magic spreads across my body, engulfing me in my magic. I levitate off the ground and watch my dress turn into purple armor. I land on the floor with a thud. Anger and adrenaline boil in my chest, and I feel the magic flow fast through my body. I hear someone say "Badass," and Shadow Mephits surround me. I fight them off one by one with my staff and purple fire, making them scream and squirm in purple flames. I look up towards my friends and meet eyes with Douxie. His face turns serious; he nods slightly and changes into his outfit in Camelot. Listening to my instructions, my friends help lead my family to safety, and our friends who aren't armed. Blinky and AAARRRGGHH! take off their disguised pendants and turn them back into their original forms. Zoe joins the fight, transforming out of her black dress for more fighting attire. It looks like what Douxie's wearing, but it's pink instead of blue. Archie flies by and breathes fire at the Shadow Mephits. I hear a scream and turn to see Daniela, her dress scorched and dirty, surrounded by Shadow Mephits.
"Help!" She screams, looking around, terrified. "HELP!"
A Shadow Mephit launches at her, and she covers her eyes, but I shoot a purple flame at the Shadow Mephit and portal to drop where my cousin is.
"Claire! What-Who-How did you do that?! What the hell is going on?!" Daniela says in panic and confusion.
"Daniela! Stay close to me! Trust me!" I shout before another Shadow Mephit leaps to us. I hit them off with my staff and blasted them with purple fire, protecting my cousin, but Daniela screamed as purple-flamed Shadow Mephits surrounded us. I grab her hand and open a portal under our feet, making us fall into it, not helping Daniela's screams. We land on the ground, me on both feet, but Daniela falls on her butt. I kneel and see wounds on her legs and arms. I touch her and try to heal her wounds, but she freaks out again and struggles, making it harder for me to help her.
"What the hell are you doing? Why are your hands glowing?" She cries as we hear booms and crashes around us.
"Shhh! Shhh! It's ok, Daniela. I'm trying to help you. You're hurt and need help, but you need to trust me!" I hiss at her.
She nods frantically, and I heal her wounds, making blood rush to my head.
"Claire, you're bleeding!" Daniela says worryingly, touching her nose.
I feel the blood drip on my lip, but I wipe it away. "It's fine! I'm alright, but you need to get to safety." I protest.
"Daniela! Claire!" I hear Uncle Sebastian shout. We look and see him running up to us. His suit is ripped and dirty too. He kneels and places a hand on my shoulders, looking at us with panic and terror. "Daniela, Claire! Are you two alright?" He asks worryingly.
Daniela is speechless but nods her head. "Yes, Tío! We're alright!" I confirm with him.
"Claire, what are you wearing?" Daniela asks, studying my body.
I look down at my armor. There's something different about it. It's more blending into my body and resembles Jim's Amulet armor. Really? She picks that out of all the questions and what's going on. "It's armor! It will protect me!" I reassure her. "We need to get you to safety!" I add, looking at Uncle Sebastian. He nods his head, and we get up. Uncle Sebastian leads us to where my family gathers, shaking and crying in fear. Some of them are injured, and Barbara tends them to their aid. I hear Dad call my name behind me, and I turn around. I see him in dirty and ripped clothes with Enrique crying in his arms. I run over to them and hug Dad, but someone is missing.
"Where's Mom?" I ask, worried and slightly scared.
"Helping other people in the courtyard," Dad says clearly.
I feel my blood turn cold. No. No! No! No! Mom can't be out there. I specifically told my parents not to be in the fight. I turn to the courtyard and see Jim, Blinky, Toby, and AAARRRGGHH! helping my family get to safety, but I don't see Mom. "Where's Abuela?!" I hear someone in the crowd shout worryingly. My heart drops to the floor. I quickly run back out to the courtyard, desperately looking for her and Mom while hearing people screaming my name behind me. "Mom! Mom! Abuela! Abuela! I cry out, looking frantically for them. I see around me falling debris, magic beams blasting, and loud booming sounds. I see Douxie trying to fight off Shadow Mephits as best he can.
"Claire!" I hear Jim call out behind me, and I see him running to me in a ruined suit and holding a blue akirdion sword. "All of your family are safe, but it won't last long!" He tells me in a calm but shaky voice.
"Where's my mom?" I ask.
Jim raises his eyebrow. "What do you mean? Isn't she with your family?"
I shake my head frantically. "No! She's in the crossfire! And so is Abuela! I have to find them!" I cry, shaking in fear. Jim's face becomes pale, speechless. We hear more booms and look toward the battle. We glance at one another and run into the fire. I run to Douxie and Zoe while Jim runs to our other friends, and we all fight together while I keep my eyes out for Mom and Abuela.
"What's that!" Zoe asks, pointing to a stream of green and then orange, hitting the debris, and they explode. We looked around but had no success in finding the source. "Who shot them?" She adds, concerned.
"I don't know, but we must worry about protecting Claire's family right now!" Douxie shouts and shoots a blast at a Shadow Mephit, and Archie burns it.
"Claire!" I hear Mom's voice shouting in the distance.
My heart races as I hear Abuela's voice calling my name. I want to know if they're safe, and I want to run up and hug them. "Mom! Abuela!" I shout but don't hear a response.
"Watch out!"
We look up to see Bellroc shooting a massive fireball at us. We split up and leaped away from the blast, making us fly a couple of feet as it exploded behind us. I fall to the ground, grunting in pain as I hit hard the concrete floor. I try to get up as I hear a crash behind me. My ears start ringing and drown most of the noise around. I see a woman shooting orange magic from her hand in the distance. I squint my eye to try to see the figure's features, and my stomach flips. It's Abuela. No! It can't be.
"Claire! Watch out!" I hear someone scream, but it seems so distant.
I feel something hot behind me and turn on my side. I see Bellroc throwing a massive fireball at me. My mind freezes, making me unable to blast anything with my magic. I scream in fear, ducking and covering my eyes, but a woman whips in front of me, and I look up to see Mom and a bright green glow bursts from her hand, hitting the fireball. I stare at my mom in shock with wide eyes and an open mouth. What the hell?! Green dissolves the fire, and it disappears. Mom turns around, looks at me worriedly, and gets to my level.
"Claire! Are you ok?" She says, scared, touching my shoulder.
I'm still shocked at looking at her, stunned. "Mom... How-how did you do that?" I ask hesitantly, but a boom is heard behind us, snapping me back to reality. Mom grabs my hand, and we run towards my friends, where Shadow Mephits surround them. "Fire! Mephits are vulnerable to fire!" I shout at Mom.
"Got it!" She replies.
We launch at them with magic fire, and the Shadow Mephits scream in pain. "Guys!" I shout at my friends.
"Ophelia. Did-Did you just do magic?" Douxie asks in shock.
"How did you do that?" Toby adds.
"It's a long story, but we need to stop this before someone gets hurt." I turn and see Abuela.
My heart skips a beat, and I run to her. "Abuela! Why are you out here? It's not safe!" I ask frantically.
"Don't worry, Claire. I can fight. We need to protect our family!" She says with determination.
"No! Get out of the fight! You're going to get hurt!" I protest.
"Mom, listen! She's right!" Mom hisses at Abuela.
"No! I'm going to fight! We need to protect our family!" She protests to all of us. Then, a Shadow Mephit launches at her, but she shoots a magic spell, making it fall back, screaming with orange flames. "Don't argue with me. I'm the Head of this Family!"
I don't know how I can argue with that. We hear another boom behind us, getting me into action. "Guys, I have a plan!" I say, making them look at me. "Douxie, Zoe, make a force field around my family in the hallways! Toby, Jim, Krel, and Aja, set a perimeter for the battle! Douxie and Zoe, when you're done, join me, Mom, Archie, Nari, Blinky, AAARRRGGHH! and Abuela!" I demand to everyone in a clear but directed voice. Everyone, especially Jim, stares at me, stunned. They all nod their heads and rush to their positions. Douxie and Zoe create a force field while the rest fight off Shadow Mephits. Douxie freezes the Shadow Mephits, and Archie burns them. Then Skrael and Bellroc fight back. Bellroc throws daggers at us, and we jump out of the way and create force fields to protect ourselves. I see one of the daggers on the floor and notice it's glowing green and red and as thin as a pencil. The area becomes black as the dagger dissolves on the floor.
"Watch out!" Nari shouts next to me. "Those daggers are poisonous!"
"Firstborn, you come with us!" Bellroc shouts and raises their flaming stone staff. I feel the ground around us grow hot. Suddenly, flames circle me fast. I try to find a way out frantically. But there's no way out.
"Claire!" I hear Mom and Jim shout.
"You and our sister will be ours to cleanse this world!" Skrael shouts and laughs maniacally.
"No way! You're not going to take any of us!" I shout at them and try to extinguish the flames with my magic. Nari hugs me and clutches my leg. I don't mind and do my best to stop the flames, but the fire can't cool down, making me dizzy and lightheaded from the heat. Shadow Mephits surround my friends, Mom and Abuela, and Skrael shoots ice at them. They try hard to fight it off. Then, I hear a burst of loud laughter behind me. I turn in that direction, and my eyes widen. In front of me, the Half-Troll with a devilish smug on their face. Anger rises at the sight of the monster, and a blast of my magic distinguishes the fire around me. "Nari, run to Blinky and AAARRRGGHH! to tell them to help me! Stay with Douxie." I order her, and she obeys. I hit more Shadow Mephits, and the Half-Troll slowly walks closer to me.
"I told you we would come for you. Because you didn't comply the first time, everyone you know and love will die!" They shout at me, snickering cynically. "But I can always offer another chance."
At the time, Blinky and AAARRRGGHH! stand behind me. "No fuckin' way! All of my family are safe, and we will defeat you! You will never win, and I will never join you!" I protest, slamming my staff on the ground and staring the Half-Troll down.
"Claire! Get away! Get out of there!" I hear Jim shout.
"Then I guess you won't come quietly." The Half-Troll says before launching at me.
I defend myself by making them fall into the portals, and they fall face-first on the ground. They lost their temper, anger in their eyes launched at me and struck me in the stomach, throwing me and landing hard on the ground with a loud thud of my metal armor. Even though I had armor on, the punch's force knocked the wind out of me. Now I know what it would feel like if Half-Troll Jim hit me. I hear him and others scream my name. I hear AAARRRGGHH! roar and hit something.
"Half-Troll, stay away from Claire!" He shouts.
"That's right! Claire stays with us!" I hear Blinky announce.
I feel a hand on my back, helping me get up. "Claire, are you ok?" I hear my boyfriend's voice.
I come to my senses and try to get up. "No, but I'll be alright. I have healing powers." I groan.
"Claire, every time you use your healing powers, you become weaker the more you use them," Douxie says calmly.
"But we can't stop! We have to protect my family and our home!" I protest in determination.
Then, we start fighting again, coming quickly. Mom, Archie, Abuela, and Zoe fight Bellroc and Skrael while Toby, Jim, Krel, Aja, AAARRRGGHH!, Blinky, and Douxie fight Shadow Mephits and the Half-Troll, but something didn't feel right. As we fight, Bellroc screams as Abuela shoots a massive blast of orange magic at them. She's only a few feet in front of me. Bellroc screams and shoots a dagger. Before I could react, I saw one hit Abuela's stomach. My mind and blood freeze as I slowly see her fall back, responding to the hit of the blade. As her body hits the ground, my heart sinks. No! Bellroc poisoned my grandmother. No! Someone hurt her. No! She's in pain. I feel my anger go past the tipping point, magic flowing faster than I ever thought in every part of my body. I don't want anyone else to get hurt. I begin to lose my senses again and lose control. Adrenaline rushed through my veins. "No. No! NOOOO!" I cry loudly, feeling an explosion in my chest. I feel light comes to my eyes and don't feel my feet on the ground. I hear a wolf growl and feel myself growing in power to the point where I can't control it. I scream my pain out and feel everything explode through my skin. I don't see Bellroc or Skrael in the sky when everything is gone. I feel lightheaded, fall, and hit on a hard surface before seeing black.
Author Note: Phew! This was an intense action scene with a uncertain conclusion. Everyone is apparently safe. But where is Bellroc, Skrael, the Shadow Mephits and the half troll go? And is Abeula going to be ok? Find out next. Please review!