Queen's note: Thiiiiis close to eating a wraith-burger...

Garnets

Chapter Forty Five:

Retreat to Keep

For just a moment, the Slayer was ready to launch over Lily and tear into the Wraith as he saw what was happening. His whole frame coiled and hands flexed, teeth bared under his helmet as if ready to just bite at one of the silvery blood arteries. This was not what he was remotely expecting to happen when he reluctantly let Lily go. The Slayer could recognize all too well what it looked like when the energy was siphoned off of a soul thanks to being inside of hell far too long. Seeing the gathering towers of… collection to make Argent and hell energy.

The Wraith, Gaia, let go of Lily; he had to quickly reach out to grab her body from falling.

Lily was cold and still between the Slayer's hands, and hot rage started to boil up from his own vain before she coughed.

The Slayer made an interesting, slightly strangled sound. For a moment his building rage was wavering, as he had been sure he could not feel the familiar heartbeat at first. The Slayer pulled the small human body around, seeing something like liquid gold falling from her clutching fingers.

What had the Wraith done to his human?!

Lily looked up, hazel eyes not clouded or clear as she was starting to cry. Still feeling so cold to the Slayer's hands, even through his gloves and armor. He reached for her face, touching the silver and black stain of blood, then pushed his hand over Lily's chest, trying to pulse his energy against the flood of wraith gift in a clumsy attempt to heat up the too cold body. Know enough from broken memories that human bodies could not stay cold for long.

The Wraith was struggling out of her own shell, like rapidly shedding off the outer skin above them. Healed wings and fins fanning out as Gaia grew a bit with being… healed. Just enough that she could start the slower process of self healing. Stabilized with the mix of the offering and gorgon power, to not bleed off wraith energy in dangerous ways.

"...I don't feel good," Lily said, finally looking up, and made a soft squeak sound as she was pulled up and closed into the larger arms of her guardian. It was almost too tight as it became harder to get a breath, but oddly comforting as heat was finally starting to seep back into her.

With how Lily just seemed to give up and not even wiggle to get comfortable. Not reacting to the burned bile and dirt on his armor. The Slayer was snarling an unspoken demand up at the older primordial being as all three sets of their eyes opened.

"Don't take that tone with me, I know you're old enough to scent souls." Gaia said as the 'shed' dissolved into a shimmering sand, or frost, then melting away to the pool far below the walkway. A rainbow shimmer of light coming off the old being. There were several more sets of sweeping fin-like growths along her sides. The membranes of those fins, as well as the healed wings had a distinct golden tint to them, though they were all transparent. "I would never hurt one of my human children, just let the little one rest. She will be fine with a good long sleep to get used to her new gift. You must learn about the young if you want to try and keep her safe, Hellwalker."

"...what's happening?" Stinson asked quietly from the back.

"Shu," Asin murmured to the human. "Quite human. Just wait and be grateful for the culling earlier. This is not our matter to comment on."

Valen was the only one both brave enough, and confident enough to come around the Slayer, reaching into his arms to touch the young woman's chest. Prying those arms loose just enough to get a better look. His fingers then pulled the front of Lily's shirt down partly to check, to make sure there was no concaveness in the chest under the collar bone, or crystal growth pushing out.

"She's not turning, not changing." Valen breathed in relief, though looked worried at how cold the human felt even to his hands.

The warning snarl that came out of the Slayer was not for Valen, but for the sense of mass that was coming up behind the once Sentinel Commander.

Gaia hesitated before touching her whole muzzle to the armor on Valan's back. The Argenta man gave a startled wheeze-like sound at the sudden flood of wraith energy that was bled over to the immortal. Like refilling a barrel that had been down just shy of the dregs. "Only because your mothers still love you, and for that small one's sake, am I doing this."

The Wraith pulled back, getting up into the air well out of easy reach of the Slayer. For a moment twisting and reveling in the feeling of being nearly whole, even if Gaia still had opaque scarring over the mostly transparent body. Well able to keep out of range of the Slayer in this state as he was distracted, Gaia dared to come back touching each of the other Sentinels with a wing, or fin tip, a brush of claws to reinforce the gifts they had more willingly. Though slowed and nudged Rai' with the side of her large head, bleeding over a stronger gift as his was almost non-existent from him sacrificing it to protect his brothers and sisters in arms.

The Slayer was getting up, turning to keep the Wraith in sight. Seemingly torn at putting Lily down to protect his Sentinels, but not wanting to let go of her. Thankfully Gaia sensed that the Slayer's patiences was practically used up and deftly moved away. Down under the walkway and to the far side of the massive room. Lighting her path around what seemed like bedrock to a lower building down below to check on her own charges. Making sure they had not woken from the sleep they were in.

Time to leave. The Slayer signed after he finally pried one hand free. Pointing to an open space. With Gaia healed and not spilling energy out randomly to interfere, Vega was able to open a portal almost behind the Demigod.

"Lord, what about–?" Captain Milla stood, still holding the limp, sleeping Heather.

The Slayer snapped out something that was and was not primordial. It very clearly showed his frustration, anger and just holding himself from tearing that wraith apart. That was still a pretty good option depending on how his human would be after the AI and Asa could look at her.

His outburst had all five of the Sentinels snapping to strict attention. Even Valen found old habits of training coming back from before his time in hell. Waiting until the others left, lingering just a moment before going through the portal.

All at once, just as suddenly as the Slayer appeared in Australia, he was gone.

Gaia peeked over the railing, a window curtain stuck on her healed horns. Teal, red and white eyes looking back and forth on the bridge-like path. Even checking under it in case she had been upside down without realizing it.

"Did… did he just leave like that?" The Wraith asked, though there was no one now around that could understand her. Gaia huffed at the rudeness, but then if that gorgon child has not been awake…

Best not to question things.

He would likely crop back up again, but Gaia had many things to do now that she was able to, if she wanted to protect her younger children. But also there were two humans on the walkway that needed healing.

Elsewhere, both not extremely far, so to say, but at the same time a good long distance by rockets without portals. The Slayer was stomping onto the bridge of his Fortress home base. Glancing down at a sad, nauseous sound from who he held.

He altered his pace just slightly to keep Lily level as she still had bad reactions to portal travel.

"My Lord?" Haco asked from where he had been to the side of the bridge. Taking one look at his war king before straightening up on reflex. Standing aside and at attention as the shorter Slayer passed by, heading to medical.

"Where's Asa?" Valen asked as the portal closed behind him.

"Studying the humans in stasis in the healer's chamber…ah, 'medical' area." Haco reported, watching the others from the semi-safe spot. Noting the tiny form cradled between Captain Milla's right arm and lower chest. "...he did take a child?"

"From what I gathered watching." Vega spoke up, "The girl, Heather, has no guardian any more. She directly asked the Slayer for help."

"That would explain a lot more of why," Rai noted, smiling a bit in his helmet. He had been in much the same position when a child, not as small but remembered looking up at the strange outlander that dug Rai out of the collapsed house. Asking for help and being carried all the way back to the nearest Sentinel keep in impossibly strong arms.

Heather?

…Feather?

"Lord Valen." Captain Milla's voice had all the Argenta on the bridge pausing. Not expecting the darker tone in her voice.

Valen stilled before following after the Slayer. Closing his eyes under his own helmet, some small part had hoped that this would not happen just yet. "This is not the time Captain."

"Do not try and deflect," Milla growled, standing at her full height, just that much taller than the older immortal. "What did that mother, Gaia, mean about you giving some of our Wraith mothers to hell?"

"...what?" Haco blinked and as the only one that did not have his helmet on, his shocked expression was visible.

Demand!

The Slayer's primordial speech echoed down the hall outside as he found no one was coming after him. The Sentinels that came to him still needed to be checked after killing the elder Wretched demon.

"Now is not the time," Valen said, taking a step towards the hallway that was still mostly full of stable supplies.

"No." Captain Milla snarled, shifted the tiny human child to give to the quiet Asin.

The bulky Sentinel looked quite lost in his body language, having to drop his weapon to hold the tiny thing with both hands. Glad he had already shut the weapon down back around the wraith. Asin turned to look at Rai for help. What was he supposed to do with something so small? He was a warrior made for fighting!

"Why did the holy wraith call you a Betrayer to your mother Wraiths?" Milla was still growling as she walked closer to Valen. If possible, boring a hole through his back with her glare. "Lord Valen, what happened while we were in the sarcophaguses?"

The once commander tensed, they could all see his form almost coiling before he made sure to let his tension go. Mostly. Valen swung around, the Atlan mech-like optics of his helmet staring up at the taller Milla. Reflectivity growling right back at her. "Because I am a Betrayer, Captain. Because of me, of my need to save my son's soul from hell, my trust of the Order then… I betrayed my mother Wraiths, my King and my Sentinels."

They could hear the gritting of his jaw almost as Valen took several deep breaths. "You were there Milla. You saw how my Vito sacrificed his Atlan, and his life to defend the gates of hell."

"Vito died in honor, he killed the larva Titan that was pinning the Slayer King." Captain Milla came over, "I rode on his shoulders when his Atlan had power. Our war King brought his body back."

"But he died in hell." Valen almost snarled at the old pain, flexing his hands meeting where Milla's eyes would be. Not backing down and keeping his spot, "Vito's soul left his body and was trapped there with countless others. I know the Slayer found his body in the rotting blood of the titan, but it was too late. My son's soul was trapped in hell to feed those in that realm."

"I trusted the Order of the Deag when they came to me," Valen looked like he wanted to rip at his armor for a moment. His hammer, even in its collapsed form, felt like an impossible burden on his back.. "Even though I knew they were suspect after seeing everything the Slayer did in hell. Seeing their forms starting to degrade… I was weak enough to listen to them. To hear they could get Vito's soul back if I… if I…"

Valen looked up and then down at his hands as he made a strangled sound. "I put faith in Deag Grav when I was weakest. I will fully take responsibility for that Milla. Letting him take the key from me… at least one key. I lost eight of my wraith mothers on top of my son that day. Even when I tried to come to my senses, the Khan Maykr had already given them to hell. I followed after my Lord who had already left to the heart of hell. He was so close to Imorra that I could not find him, and then… and then the Order severed all portals. My sentinels were scattered with his. Even the ones that held tight to the Gatebreaker's shoulders and back.

"We were all lost, because I was weak, Captain." Valen looked up, well aware of who was behind him. "That's why I am a Betrayer. My Vito's soul was not let go, he's bond and used by the Khan Maykr to control her world eater. Neither of our souls are able to die by anything short of likely my Lord's hands."

A hand burning with primordial power clamped around the back of Valen's neck. He winced as he felt himself dropping to his knees in a mix of defeat and resignation to the next few days of pain if he was going to be executed. Knowing he would not die and just take time to heal.

There was no blade, just a hot burn of the Slayer's power as he stood beside Valen's form as he stepped around.

The Slayer growled low and deep in his chest, staring at the Sentinels. Haco was already kneeling, knowing better to be involved in… whatever was happening. The heavy class sentinel dared to peek up to look between those standing. His sword brother Asin looked incredibly awkward as he started to reflexively kneel to their king but the tiny unconscious human in his hands had him not sure.

The Demigod pointed at Asin and Rai, then behind him with a guttural sound. Letting go of Valen to do so, as he was making it clear those two were dismissed to get the child, and Rai (who still had the Wretched's pearl-blood on him) back to medical.

He stepped over to the taller Milla, no hesitation and still clearly angry in his body language. Growling low and deep as he kept walking, the Slayer was not going to tolerate any sort of infighting and had every intention of stopping it before it started. He made the Argenta woman back up before she gave in and knelt.

Mine.

"I'm still yours my King." Captain Milla said, looking down, aware Zanin was already sitting on his knees to the side. She wished for that kind of faith right now. "I don't understand though… why?"

Mine!

The Slayer motioned to Valen behind him, the too Haco and Zanin. Broken. All broken. My broken Sentinels. All you. Do not need you. I want my broken.

It was hard for him to focus on signing and it showed with the short phrases. The Demigod almost dented the deck as he stomped. Making sure Milla was focused on him. No. Fighting. Think. Heal now.

The Slayer turned, growling a warning at Valen for good measure as he walked back into the hall. Scanning over all the stable supplies that were still being put away. There had been a lot stripped out of that store they had been in… that morning? Earlier?

"They are not fighting, but not moving." Vega reported in the Slayer's helmet speakers only.

Separate if needed. The Slayer signed, grunting as he saw Rai lingering just outside of the medical area without his helmet on. He stopped and stared up at the young Argenta man, noting that Rai had a fading silver shine to his eyes.

"Tell me how much you trust him my Lord." Rai asked, looking back down at the Demigod. "That's all I ask."

I trust Valen. The Slayer signed with no hesitation, and then pointed inside of medical. Trust him with my flower.

Rai looked inside before straightening and saluting. Making the choice to trust and have faith in his War King. Surprised at seeing some notable tension leave the Demigod's shoulders. Rai could not help the smile as his eyes were partially blocked as the Slayer reached up to place his hand on his head.

The Slayer gave a pat before grasping Rai's chest plate and pulled him into the medical area. He suddenly felt old again as the not quite man remembered when he could hold Rai much like Lily for a few years.

Why did things he liked have to change so much?

….when did Rai get so tall?

The Slayer spotted the armorless Asa, noting how she was gently rubbing her left hand on Lily's side. While at the same time finishing the deep scan with Vega assisting. Having already taken a blood sample, Asa was just waiting for the medical table to finish getting an image of Lily's chest.

It was the dull, numb expression on the human that had the Slayer coming back over. Reaching up to take his helmet off, setting it on another bed near as he came to stoop at the head of the table. It took a second and a soft chuff to get Lily to look up and away from the display.

"...I don't want this." Lily said softly, trying to not look at the oddity on the display now.

John reached out, trying to mimic Asa's soft movements as he petted his human's head. His large hand covering over Lily's eyes, John looking at the display for the first time.

"I've never seen anything like this, " Asa admitted, the Argenta woman tapping over the display, "As you can see here, my Lord, her heart is still functioning perfectly fine and as normal. Moving blood just fine, but it's not muscle anymore."

"Nothing else has been affected Lily," Vega added in a surprisingly gentle tone, seeing how the young woman tensed. "Your blood work is the same. The only difference is the painkillers Healer Asa just gave you."

"...am I going to sleep for the next few days now?" Lily asked under John's hand, seemingly fine with him blocking out the world like that.

"No, the dose is adjusted to you." Asa rubbed the younger woman's side and back.

"Oh… coma sounds nice right now." Lily muttered, reaching up to hide her face in John's palm a bit more of that would help. His hand felt warm at least, and he gently scratched her scalp.

"I'll need to fix a different scanner to confirm, but from what I can feel…" Asa spoke as she spread her left hand on Lily's back, the right pushing between her arms over to her chest. Making sure to keep the human's heart between her hands as she carefully extended her own wraith gift. Different from the pure warriors… and looked surprised.

Asa could feel how the Wraith had drained a lot from Lily. More than what she thought possible for someone with a young soul. Lily was a good hundred years younger than Asa (not including stasis time). There was no void though, as it was filled back in with a surprisingly pure wraith gift…

"The mother Wraith gave you a healer's gift." Asa spoke up in the quiet, sounding surprised as she recognized how things felt. Glancing at the Slayer as glowing green-blue eyes watched her. "It's like mine, but flooded into you. I can sense it's tied to your soul. If anything, you feel more stable than when we first met, definitely more stable after that Wretched. Atlan?"

"Other than physical trauma, the only difference between thirty hours ago and now, is the heart." Vega spoke, keeping a close sensor on his human charge. "You are fully human, Lily. It's more like a biomechanical heart replacement in functionality."

"You are still mortal, just like Rai and I." Asa hummed, rubbing her fingers on Lily's shoulder. Glancing at the Slayer as he was listening and watching intently to everything said. "She might live longer now, but I doubt there'll be any other changes."

As long as there was no one trying to do soul manipulation on the human. As long as she stayed safe away from anyone's attention.

"Unless someone has a scanner like this, and time," Asa looked back at her king, "I doubt anyone can tell she has a… gorgon heart? Under the new wraith gift."

Lily curled up on the glowing table at the word 'gorgon'.

Asa paused and patted the human's hip, her voice going gentle. "Do you want to go lay down in one of the side rooms where it'll be quiet as I work on the warriors?"

There was a hesitant pause before Lily nodded under John's hand. Asa smiled, relieved as she and Vega had talked about making sure she had some time with just him to talk if needed.

"Would you take her to the room?" Asa asked the Slayer, knowing he would be the most trusted right now. Then pointedly stared at his hands where he left black stains on the human. "You should get cleaned up too, my lord."

John huffed, but shifted to grasp and pull Lily up and off the scanner, ignoring the small protesting sound she made. He gave a broken humming sound, and a half smile at finding Lily just tucked her head down against his chest plate. Lily curled up in the stronger arms as John carried her out and to the left. Getting a glimpse of Valen slowly walking down the hall from the bridge area.

He was surprised at himself, being able to loosen his muscles to be gentle again with his human. John's fingertips just barely brushed the dark red coloring on her neck. Pausing as Lily flinched in pain.

At a soft, almost whine like sound, Lily looked up, but finding that there was just confused worry on John's face. He did not seem to be angry anymore.

A shadow moved in her peripheral and Lily closed her eyes, scooting to the very edge of the bed. Ducking her head and closing her eyes tight before resting her forehead against a massive bicep. Finally making herself speak up "Can…will you come back?"

"Mmhm," John gave an agreeing sound, reaching up to pet Lily's short blond hair. Even dirty it still felt soft to him. The not quiet man reached out, picking Lily up again and then setting her down on the bed. Flipping the lower half of the blanket up and over the human, and getting a small half laugh at the motion.

He looked down at Lily curling up under the blanket on her right side, watching him back. John stooped before leaving, his own right hand resting on the human to feel the reassuring rise and fall of her breathing. Pressing his head against her own.

Reassurance.


Reviews!

Red Viy: I hope he would be proud .o.

xfirestonex: No, no tiny Sentinels here lol Lily does not have the mentality to be a fighter like them. She's (mostly) still human. a lot of that gorgon energy was drained out of her