The Elements of Revenge. chapter I Book IV

It was a cold stormy night as Jandar and Rage dropped down out of the storm clouds over Heimdel castle. Their destination was a cave where the leaders and generals of many Keannian cities awaited them. As Rage flew closer to the cliffs, Jandar pointed to a cave where light seeped out from the entrance.
[There.] He sent to his mate. Rage nodded and angled his wings to glide in that direction. In less than three minutes, the pair were walking in pass sentries who watch the hills for anything suspicious.
The cave corridor was long with torches placed every twenty feet or so to light the way. At the end there was a large cavern where the meeting would be held and the nine waited for them. As they entered the great cavern, the nine talked quietly in small groups. When King Philibar of Pelordra saw them, he called for attention in the room.
"Can everyone take a seat." He said. "It's time we begin."
Taking Jandar's hand, Rage led him to the chairs beside the king, their honored place. At the tables head sat King Philibar Windstar of Pelordra the cloud city of the Sky Elves. Next to him on his left sat General Vibius Gauis Herkalus and Captain Manius Regulus Pius military leaders of Sorrowdown. Then Asam Arynn from the golden Phoenician city of Casthor. In his red and gold robes the Phoenix nodded a greeting to Jandar and Rage.
Sitting quietly staring at everyone, Kranko Fearfist was next. He sat there looking annoyed in his dented armor decorated with small skulls and bones. On his head, he wore a long lock held tightly back with a rabbit skull. Being the only Goblin there, his hand never left the hilt of his knife. Beside him sat the representative of the Vampires. Tomz Acros. Jandar and Rage knew him very well from Yadessa's last battle with Lord Larin and Queen Talsara. It had been him who carried Tayor Larin's cursed object into Prafa to bring the city under their spell. Ever since the defeat of Lord Larin, Tomz had sworn to his king to be Yadessa's protector. And he had been doing a good job. When the Sorceress Raven attacked, it had been Tomz who went in and forced her out into the sunlight where she burned. He had also found and saved the young Vampires that had been taken by the hunters and brought them home. So now with Bram Thorn attacking all over the countryside. Tomz had taken it on as his job to stop him. So here he was at the table to discuss strategies on defeating the elemental warlock, Bramble Thorn.
Next to Tomz looking snobbish and regal sat Eldar Mystwinter. Second to the throne of Mystwinter in the Halador forest. Eldar was a tall proud elf who usually did not like to associate with anyone but those of his forest people. But since his city had been captured by Talsara Darkshade, he had asked for help to free his people and was now indebted to those who fought and died to free Mystwinter. So here he was ready to lend a hand against the menace Thorn.
The last two places at the table were held by Bly Sharpwing and Leda Redhelm. Bly Sharpwing of Ammath was one of the most dangerous types of fairies Jandar had ever seen. She was short in her human form, no more than five foot four inches with dark shadow features. Her skin had the dark hue of a plum with blazing red hair. Her eyes yellow slanted up in the corners and her fangs looked sharp giving her an evil visage. She had the slender figure of a fairy maiden with what looked to Jandar like razor-sharp fairy wings on her back. She wore a dark gray cloak and underneath a short dress covered with magical symbols.  Jandar wasn't sure what type of fairy she was, but he could tell she was a warrior, and a deadly one. Next to her sitting high in her chair with a dagger in her hands cleaning her nails sat Leda Redhelm. A very muscular dwarven female. Dark hair and high browed with the looks of a woman who had fought her way through many many battles. She wore leather pants and a bodice breastplate with intricate small gems set in it. In front of her on the table sat her favorite weapon, a mace that Jandar could tell was worn from constant use.
Here at this table sat the twelve convened for the express mission of decided what was to be done about a threat that had been raging in all their lands, Bram Thorn. As King Philibar stood and cleared his throat, the room grew quiet.
"I have called you all here to discuss a monster that has been plaguing all our lands." Philibar gazed across the table at each of his guests. "Something must be done about Bram Thorn."
Voices were raised all around the tables as their anger erupted around the room and people jumped to their feet.
"That bastard came into Sorrowdown and burned half our city!" Vibius shouted. "Four schools and a whole section of the market place was lost! Do you know how many people died? Over two hundred burned. Fifty of the children!"
"He flooded parts of our forest." Eldar slammed his fist into the table. "Nymphs, elves, and fauns drowned along with many elves. The trees will take years to heal. My people may starve while our magic is so badly weakened."
"Be calm all of you!" Philibar held up his hand to quiet the shouting. "I am aware of all the things Bram's done in all our homes. I've heard about the mines he tore down and the dwarfs that were buried. And you, Kranko. His men hunted your people, killed your females. I know the horrors Bram cast on all of us. That's why we're here. To decide what to do about it."
"This Bram sounds almost like Polan," Jandar whispered to Rage. "Should we get involved here?"
[Bram Thorn is just as dangerous as Polan Dressek.] Tomz sent from his seat. [I'm surprised you aren't already involved. Valkar didn't tell you anything about the warlock?]
[Valkar told us about this meet.] Rage told Tomz. [He said it was something we should attend. He never said why.]
[Valkar sends his apology and asked me to explain everything to you.] Tomz looked deeply into Jandar and Rage's eyes. [There's a small village north of Prafa called Shadowbreak. It only houses about fifty vampires but they are loyal to the crown and someone in the village is close to a member of the Zlenka house.]
[Is there a problem there?] Jandar asked.
[Yes.] Tomz nodded. [The village is missing.]
[Missing?] Rage sat forward-looking curious. [What do you mean? The people are missing?]
[No. the whole village is gone.] He explained. [There's nothing there but a large hole in the ground. No cottages, no barns, nothing. Everything's gone.]
Jandar looked at Rage. He knew it would take some great magic to do something like that. Not beyond him, but way beyond most warlocks and mages that he knew in the area. Could it be like when the Academy vanished?
[Have you consulted Insa at the Academy?] Rage asked.
[He told us of the troubles with Bram and advised we come to you.]
[We'll do what we can.] Jandar agreed to help. [ Yadessa has had enough trouble in the last few years, we'll see what is to be done.]
[Thank you.] Tomz sent to them.
As Jandar and Rage turned their attention back to the meeting, Bly Sharpwing had just finished telling everyone about the troubles Bram had forced on her lands.
"Like the Elves, my people's lives depend on magic." She explained. "Without magic, we weaken and will fade out of existence. We are elemental and Bram siphons the magic of all the elements when he works his magic."
"I can work elemental magic to Bly," Jandar said. "All my brothers in our clan can. It's never hurt the nature of the fairy or the elves before. I don't understand."
"As Dragons, you are part of nature." She said. "And your elemental powers don't take from nature like Bram. He's a destroyer, his magic isn't in harmony with nature, it goes against the principles of life as we know it. He must be stopped or many more will die."
"We have another brother." Rage stood to address the group. "He's not a dragon or a werewolf or really even human. He's something different and if you agree to put this Bram in his hands once we catch him, the dragons will help. But we won't be a party to any posses or witch hunts. If you want our help, then you do this our way. "
Rage pushed back his chair and he and Jandar walked to the entrance of the cavern.
"We'll be out watching the storm. Call us when you have a decision."
As Jandar and Rage left the room, it erupted into a chaotic conversation. Leda, Vibius, Manius, and Kanko wanted to refuse the dragon's help. They thought they had enough troops to move in and beat Bram on their own. But Asam,Tomz, Bly, and Philibar knew magic was not to be underestimated. They might have enough force to storm the castle, but what happens when Bram fights back? Do they have the magic to defeat him without the Dragons? So far elven magic, fairy magic, not even Phoenician magic had worked. Maybe the Dragons were what they needed.

Outside on the balcony, Jandar and Rage watched as the lightning flashed through the stormy skies. Fierce winds whipped Jandar's cloak making it wave like some majestic flag. Rage walking up behind Jandar and enclosed him in his arms and kissing his neck.
"What's on your mind?"
"Just a feeling." Jandar leaned back into him. "I don't think this will be as easy as we think."
"At least we don't have a war to fight this time."
"Not yet we don't." He said. "And right now is not the time for us to be involved in a war. Shayn and Ono are away visiting their friends from Pentanthin and Quynn are just beginning to shift. Ranjer makes a great sitter but he's going to need our attention now more than ever."
"I know love." Jandar squeezed his hand. "Maybe this Bram thing won't be as bad as they're all saying."
"I hope not."
Just then a guard came out to tell them the decision had been made. Pulling his cloak tight around him, Jandar led Rage, hand in hand back in to find out what the council's decision would be.

As Vibius Herkalus, Manius Regulus, Leda Redhelm and Kranko Fearfist sat at the foot of the mountain and watched the others fly off, Vibius turned to the others with a frown.
"This isn't right." He said. "Bram destroyed half our city and I'm supposed to just hand him over to them for judgment?  I can't do that."
"The Emperor won't like it." Manius agreed. "He'll want to have a chance to sentence him for his crimes."
"I don't care about your stupid king thing." Kranko spits to the side. "I want to crush him. I want his ears hanging on a string around my neck! I wanna chew his bone!!"
"Then it's settled?" Leda stopped her horse in front of the others. "We take Bram once he's defeated. We show him our brand of justice."
"Agreed." Vibius nodded looking to the others. "The Dragons can have what's left after we're done."
"I will see you all in two days when we storm his castle." Leda kicked her horse into moving. "May the gods be with us."

"No!" Bram screamed. "That's not what I wanted from you at all!! Your father's crown is what you were supposed to return with. Without it, I'll have no control over anything in Fay Shrea! Why can't my own wife do a simple task I set before her? Is that too much to ask?"
"I tried." Jameld Thorn cried as Bram raged through the room throwing everything he could grab. "Getting in and out of the Hollow isn't so easy. My father doesn't trust us anymore."
"Then make him trust you!" He turned and faced his beautiful wife. "You have charms, use them on him!"
"It's not that simple my husband."Jameld moved closer and put her hand on his over the five rings on his right hand. "Father thinks I'm dead. He ignores me when I visit the Hollow. He ordered everyone to ignore my presence, it's like I don't exist to him anymore. I can't get near the crown jewels."
"Your father is a Fool!" Bram pushed his hand away from him. "Very well. If he won't give me the crown, we'll just have to take it! I'll take everything he has and grind it into the ground right before I bury him alive! I was going to spare his kingdom of any more pain, but I think not. I think I'm going to make him wish he never got in the way of Bram Thorne!!"

As his mad laughter rang out, his emotions forced the storm outside to a fever pitch. Thunder and lightning crashed into the trees and hills outside Heimdel castle setting off small fires in the forest. Just inside the line of trees, nine men and one dwarven female waited for their fairy spy to return from her reconnaissance mission.
Her task had been to check Heimdel castle to find out what kind of forces Bram had there to back him up. If there were troops, how many and where were they stationed. Were there guards at the gates? Was the castle's barracks full of fighting men asleep or awake. Where there and innocents in the castle being held captive. If there were troops, Vibius and Manius were to lead the assault once Jandar and the others had Bram engage in a mystical battle. If not, there's would be the task of taking Bram into custody once they had him overwhelmed with magic. There were many variables to be checked and Jandar and Rage insisted everything be done right to keep everyone as safe as possible.
"The night air is hard on these warrior's bones," Vibius said pulling his cloak tighter around him. "I wonder what takes the fairy so long?"
"Heimdel castle is no small cottage." Rage said from his place next to Jandar. "There are many halls and rooms to be checked. We don't want to charge in to find and army at our backs do we?"
"I don't think the mad warlock could have an army there with him," Manius said. "He's way too paranoid. He doesn't trust anyone to work for him."
"There are other types of troops a warlock can command that trust wouldn't be an issue you know." Tomz pointed out. "Bram has magic which means he can do almost anything he wants. What's to stop him from building his army from a stone? It is possible."
That thought shut Manius up and sent a chill through his bones. As an elemental, he could create an army of fire and send it against them. Manius prayed Bram wasn't that imaginative or this might turn out to be much harder then they thought.
As they talked quietly, a small magical light appeared from out of the forest and started towards them.
"She comes." Asam pointed. Like a star falling from the sky, Bly sailed on over the forest through the storm. The closer she got to the group, the brighter her light shined until she was right over them. Swirling down, she gently came down to light on Jandar's shoulder. Folding her wings to her back, she shook the few drops of rain off and started her report.
"I went from room to room searching for any soldiers he might have hidden and found nothing. Bram is in the main study raging furiously. We won't need any troops to attack him."
"No troops?" Rage asked. "But doesn't that mean he's alone? Who's he raging at?"
"He screams about my father." Bly told them.
"Your father?" Jandar held up his hand for her to settle on. "I don't understand. What's he got against Valerian Sharpwing?"
Bly looked away not wanting to answer. Jandar looked at each of them one by one for an answer. No one spoke up.
"Ok, Bly." Jandar lifted her up to look closely at her. "What is it? There's something you're not telling us. Out with it."
"Bram may not be alone in there."
"Fine." Rage walked over to stand with Jandar. "Who's in there with him?"
"His wife."
"His wife?" Rage stepped back surprised. "Bram's married? Are you sure she's in there?"
"She has to be there." Bly insisted. "He never goes anywhere without them."
"Wait, them? Who else is in there?"
"Their daughter Mya."
"Tomz!" Rage grabbed him by the shoulder. "Did you know about this? Why didn't you tell us?"
"We didn't know." Tomz had a look of surprise on his face. He obviously didn't know his enemy as well as he should.
I'm going in to get them out." Jandar started towards the castle.
"Wait!" Bly buzzed around and hovered in front of him. "Let me go. I can get them out."
"No." Jandar shoed her away. "Its to risky. You might get hurt."
"I don't care.!" Bly screamed as she flew up to confront Jandar. "This is my responsibility. It's my fault. I have to get them out!"
"Why?"
"BECAUSE SHE'S MY SISTER!!"
Jandar stopped and turned back to find Bly there in here normal larger form with tears flowing from her eyes.
"It's my fault he has her." She cried. "I was supposed to protect her, but he caught me off guard and took her away. We searched but by the time we found them, he was too powerful for me. Jameld was already with his child. Now I have to get her out and away from that monster!"
Reaching out, Jandar took her in his arms and hugged her tightly. He knew she was right. She had to be the one to free her sister. Jameld would never trust anyone else.
"Are you sure you can find them?" Rage asked.
"I will get them out." She wiped her tears. "I have too."
"Go." Jandar smiled. "We'll give you half an hour before we attack. Get them out while we hold Bram in battle."
"Thank you." In a flash she shifted back to fairy size and shot off into the darkness.
"We wait thirty minutes then we move in." Jandar explained. "Asam and I will go in first to get his attention. Once we have him engaged, Rage will wait and attack only if we need him. Eldar and Philibar will wait just in case we need the extra magic."
"What about us?" Vibius asked. "What are we doing?"
"You're going to sneak in and take him once we have him in binds and powerless." Jandar looked at Rage. "Ready?"
"Call me when your ready for me Love." Rage kissed Jandar then ran off into the storm.
"Twenty minutes and we go."

Madness ruled Bram Thorn's mind as he paced back and forth across his study floor. His anger was out of control as a voice he knew to be one of his five masters screamed in his head.
[What do you think your doing? You can't possibly think you can beat Valerian Sharpwing? His magic is beyond your understanding.]
[Your a foolish boy who never could do anything right.] Another said.
[Just give up.] A third voice snickered. [Defeat is all you'll ever know.]
Bram grabbed his head pressing his hands to his ears to silence the voices. But they wouldn't stop. They rambled on and on and on.
[Listen to me boy. Kill yourself.] A fourth huskier voice laughed. [It's all you are good for!!]
"NO." He sent a bolt of lightning from his hand at the table blowing it to bits. "I am Bram Thorn! The greatest elemental ever born! I beat all of you! No one can defeat me!!"
[We'll see.] The fifth voice was female. [We'll see who defeats who. Right now outside they're lining up to come in here and put you in your place. What will you do now?]
Bram's eyes darted from corner to corner as his mad mind raced for an answer.
"Fight!" He ran to the window and threw it open. "Yes I'll fight all of you! And I'll win too! None of you can beat me!! Hahaha ha ha ha!!!!"
He raised his fist and sent bolt after bolt out into the darkness. "Come if you dare! I'm ready, I'll kill you all!!"

Moving with amazing speed, Bly went from room to room searching for her sister and the baby. She started on the first floor checking the dark kitchens and stables. From there she went to the servant quarters and first floor guest rooms. She checked dining halls and the armory, the larder and the throne room. No Jamerld. Finding a stairwell she went higher into the castle. On the second floor, she found the royal bedrooms of the royal family and more guest quarters for higher-ranked guests. The library and offices of the kings advisers and the head of the guards were in one section and still she hadn't found any sign of Jamerld anywhere.
As she turned a corner, Bly could hear the ravings of the mad warlock. Time was running out. She had found Bram but her sisters whereabouts were still a mystery.
There were still two possibilities left. She could be locked in one of the towers of the castle or she could be in a cell somewhere in the dungeons. Bly didn't have time to check them both. She had to pick one and hope she had the right area and Jamerld and the baby would be there waiting.

With lightning raining out from the castle window, Jandar called for his staff and signaled the others it was time to move. Closing his eyes, Jandar reached inside himself and called upon his magic to surround and protect him. As Jandar and Asam stepped out and rose into the night sky, a golden glow spread out from Jandar's body making him light and airborne. Beside him, opening his cloak, Asam threw himself into the air. Flames erupted all around him setting him in the center of a phoenix made of flame. With wings of fire, Asam followed the glowing mage high over the castle. Once there, Jandar raised his staff and roared out his challenge to Bram.

"HEAR ME BRAMBLE TIBERIUS THORN, ELEMENTAL WARLOCK BANISHED SON OF SORROWDOWN. FOR CRIMES AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF KEANNA. WE ARE HERE TO BIND YOUR POWERS AND TAKE YOU INTO CUSTODY. WHAT HAVE YOU TO SAY IN YOUR DEFENSE?"
A blue streak of lightning cracked from the castle window and sped up into the sky towards Jandar and Asam barely missing them. Behind it Bram, surrounded by a mystical blue glow, rose up to meet them.
"I say power gives me the right to do anything I want!" His gray jet black hair waved in the storms mighty winds as his mad eyes glared to Jandar and Asam. "You call me a weak incompetent fool unable to cast a spell correctly! I'll show you who's incompetent!!"
With clenched fist, Bram swung his arm out at the pair. Lightning blasted out of the clouds and struck Jandar like a hammer knocking him back. Rolling away, he quickly recovered and sent his own blast at Bram which he easily shrugged off. With a loud squawk, Asam sent a series of fireballs out at Bram which he batted away while laughing hysterically.
"Is that what you call magic?" Spittle sprayed from Bram's mouth. "How's this?"
He swept his arm up. From below, two huge boulders sprang from the ground and like missiles, flew at Jandar and Asam.
Closing his wings, Asam waited for the last possible second, then swept them open sending heat vibrating out to crash into the one coming at him shattering it into dust that rained back towards the ground.
With a wave of his hand, Jandar made the missile aimed at him completely intangible and let it pass right through him. As he reached out, he collected the dust and debris from Asam's boulder and formed it back into three smaller rocks and tossed them right back at Bram.

From below, Philibar, Eldar,  Leda, Tomz, Vibius, Manius and Kranko watched the magical battle as it flashed through the sky. Every spell sent was countered and defected causing awe in the unmagical watchers. Philibar and Eldar chatted on the side about different types of attacks and what they could do if the battle came their way.
"And you thought a simple attack by force would have caught him." Eldar laughed. "Bram is way beyond force now. Sorrowdowns whole army couldn't stand a chance against him."
"But four warriors just might be able to surprised him at a weakened moment." Vibius nodded to Manius, Leda and Kranko. "You three, follow me."
"Where are you going?" Tomz asked.
"To do what we were told to do."
Climbing on their horses, the four rode off towards castle Heimdel. Behind them, Philibar, Eldar, and Tomz watched as they rode off.
"Why do I get the feeling something stupid is about to happen? Tomz asked.

"I know why your here!" Bram screamed as blue energy surged from his hands at Jandar and Asam. "Your here for my rings! You want my power, you always did. Well you can't have it! It's mine!"
[What in Rimnar's name is he talking about?] Asam forced his shield into a better position to deflect the blasts.
[I have no idea.] Jandar sent. [He's been rambling nonsense ever since the battle started. We have to find a weak point then I can call Rage in.]
[Be ready. I'm going to try something.]
Folding his wings, Asam went into a dive. His flames burned brighter as more air was fed into the fire. With a quick-shifting of his weight he turned and flew straight at Bram. Bram screamed and hammered him with his blue bolts. Taking the blows on his wings, Asam pulled up and at the last minute brought his tail flames up and smacked Bram right out of the sky.

As Bly reached the top of the tower stairs, she stood in front of a huge door. Shifting to her larger form, she reached out and grabbed the doorknob and turned it. As the door creaked open, a foul smell came out of the room and choked the breath from Bly. It was a horrible smell that once you smell, you never forget. It was the smell of death. As Bly pushed open the door, she noticed she was in a sparsely furnished room. There was only a bed in the room with something in it. It looked like someone was sleeping. Quietly Bly floated over to the bed praying she didn't just found who she had come looking for. Reaching out she grabbed the sheet and pulled it back. As she gazed down at the bodies in the bed, her heart screamed out in horror. Just then something huge came crashing through the roof and tore through the room. Without even thinking Bly shifted to fairy and took off dodging bricks, lumber, and debris. She didn't stop to even think about what she had seen until she was clear of the castle.

As Bram crashed through the floor of the tower, He twisted and came down flat on his stomach stunned. It took him only seconds to recover, but by then, Jandar and Asam had dropped down lower over the hole in the ceiling and were ready with the binding spell. From high above they began to chant.

POWERS OF EARTH.
POWERS OF WIND.
POWERS OF FIRE AND SEA.
WE STRIP THESE POWERS FROM THEE.
NO LONGER WILL THE WIND BLOW.
OR THE EARTH MOVE, WATER FLOW
OR FIRE BURN FOR THEE.
WE BIND THE ELEMENTS
AWAY FROM THEE.

As Bram screamed his outrage, eight rings slipped off his fingers and rolled away from him. With great effort, he climbed to his feet and turned to grab for his rings. Just then, the door to his study was kicked open and Vibius, Manius, Leda and Kranko rushed in with sword in hand. As Bram stepped back, the four dived at him and started stabbing down into his body. Blood rained all over the room as the mad warlock screamed and fell to the floor.
"This is not over!" He screamed. "Even death can not hold me! I will be back, and I will make you all pay. I will make your children pay! So swears Bramble Tiberius Thorne!"

Call out to my Readers.

If you have read this story please let me know. I want to know what you think. I'm new at this and just want some feedback. Thank you. message me at lyricalpoet05@gmail.com please respond. Thank you.

Epilogue. A New Goddess is Born. 70

The sun rose bright and shining on the Wolves Lair as the dragons brought the Tyr family back home. All the carnage from the day before had been cleaned up and Tof had decided to keep the wall Dreik had built. The pits were filled in burying the remainders of the warriors. Things were finally back to normal. The only thing left to do was to start the repairs on Yadessa. Winterhaven, Tir Na and New Keanna had promised to give Valkar and his people all the help they needed to fix their homes. Drake was still lost in himself worrying about Ono. He just couldn't find his way out his private hell. His only hope was to find his pup. And that Jandar would do if it killed him.

Down in the underworld Angela was finally going to meet her father. She had been allowed entry along with Athene, Tanis, Arturus and Adam for a private ceremony. She had no idea what it was for, she was just glad to have her family together at last.
" The underworld!" Tanis said as they walked up the stairs of Nestor's palace. " It's not as creepy as I expected."
" Well that's because this is considered heaven." Athene told him. " Mother, what are we doing her?"
" Your grandmother asked us to come." She told them. " Your going to meet your grandfather."
" Wait." Tanis stopped. " Grandmother is the goddess of the moon, right? Well who's grandfather?"
They all stopped and looked at Angela and waited for her answer. She looked at them and smiled.
" Your grandfather is Nestor, Lord of the Underworld." She waited for their reaction.
" Your serious?" Athene looked deep into her mothers eyes.
" Yes I am." She said. " Now your on your best behavior. All of you."
Angela walked into the palace in the lead followed by her children, then Arturus and Adam. Trumpets began to sound as the approached the main room. All along the hall spirits dressed in dark tunics and trousers with gold lapels and buttons stood at attention. At the end of the hall they came into a grand hall filled with marble statuary of heroes and different gods. Sitting in two thrones backed by Aramis, Atol, Alee Karis and Jax sat Alea and her husband Lord Nestor.
Angela bowed before the thrones. Adam, Arturus and her children followed suit.
" Step forward and be recognized. my daughter" Nestor called to her. Angela stood and walked forward and stopped and bowed again. Alea and Nestor stood and stepped down form their thrones and stood next to their daughter, then bowed with her.
Angela wondered what was going on. Why were they knelling beside her? Suddenly a light began to glow over the thrones. Angela felt the change in the atmosphere. She was in the presents of something much more powerful that Aramis or Alea.
RISE ALEA AND NESTOR. Thundered through the grand hall. IS THIS OUR GRANDDAUGHTER? SHE WHO SENT BALTHAZAR GAELICH TO HIS FINAL REST?
" Yes father." Alea said. " This is her."
WE ARE PLEASE TO MEET YOU GRAND DAUGHTER. She heard. STAND BEFORE US.
Angela climbed to her feet with the help of her father and stood before her grandparent, Rimnar and Saila.
(You are as beautiful as you mother.) Saila said. ( Do you know why you are here?)
" No." She answered. " I don't."
DO YOU KNOW WHO WE ARE? Rimnar asked.
" Rimnar and Saila." She said.
ANGELA GAELICH Rimnar called to her. ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE ON THE MANTLE OF A GODDESS?
She looked at her mother for advice. Alea nodded at he. She was happy her daughter had been asked to take this position.
" Yes."
She said. " I will accept the mantle."
THEN BOW BEFORE US. Rimnar's orb began to glow much brighter. WE GIVE TO YOU THIS POWER OVER DEATH. THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL BE ABSORBED BE DEATH LIKE MUERTE. BUT THAT YOU WILL RULE DEATH WITH YOUR FATHER.
A glowing orb split off from Rimnar and settled over Angela.
RISE ANGELA AND TOUCH THE ORB.
Angela stood up and reached out. the orb settled down into her hand and flashed out to cover her. When the blinding glow dimmed, Angela stood there looking radiant. Her hair was no longer white. All the lines in her face cleared and she looked years younger. She smiled at them all.
BEHOLD. Rimnar announced. WELCOME ANGELA, GODDESS OF DEATH!!
( Welcome granddaughter) Saila and Rimnar began to fade. ( We are pleased.)

The next day back in New Keanna, Jax appeared in Jandar and Rages study with Karis.
" Jandar." Jax walked over and sat with the worried mage. " This is my brother Karis. He is the messenger of my father. He has access to many different realms. My father has granted us permission to search for Ono and Shayn."
" Thank you." Jandar grasped his hand and shook it.
" Don't worry my friend." Karis smiled at him. " We'll find them. No matter where we have to search."
" And we'll bring them home." Jax said. " I promise."


THE END.

Death of a Goddess. 69

Muerte sat high on Balthazar's throne In deep contemplation. The invasion of the Wolves Lair had failed miserably. Sure, a few werewolves and vampires had died. And Valkar had been injured, but not one dragon had died. None had even been hurt. But there was still the night walkers, they may still do the job. Balthazar had sent all he created at the Lair. The only problem was, she couldn't see the outcome. She slammed her fist down on the arm of the throne and broke it off. These dragons were going to die if she had to kill them herself, one by one. She got up from the ruined throne and called for someone to attend her. One of Balthazar's staff came in and dropped down to his knees bowing before her.
" You called My Lady?" His eyes never rose from the floor to face her.
"Yes. I did." She grabbed the man from the floor her eyes blazing and her fangs extended.
" Mercy my lady!" He cried in fear as she raised him to her mouth.
" Mercy?" She said. " This is mercy!"
And she tore into his throat and drank replenishing her strength with his life force. The vampire struggled against her to no avail. Soon his body went limp and she dropped him to the floor. She had things to do, like prepare for the arrival of her guest. They would be here soon to rescue their mother. She smiled as she tossed the dead body on the pile of her other victims in the corner.This would be the end of everything she had planned. Once she took the moon goddess's daughters life and her children, she would have all the power she needed to end the lived of everyone in the world. Including the dragons. Once that was done, it was on to the other gods. Her brothers and sisters and her parents the High gods. That thought brought a smile to her bloody lips. Muerte looked over to the altar where Angela lay confined. She walked over and smiled down at her.
" Don't my little moonling." She walked around the altar." They'll be here soon and all this will be over. For everyone."
" Your plan won't work." Angela spat at her. " They'll stop you."
" Who? Your children?" She laughed. " You think they could possibly have the power to stop me?"
" They won't be alone." Angela struggled against her magical bond without any success.
" You expect the dragons to come running to your aid don't you." Muerte leaned down and stroked her hair. " I think they'll be a little busy licking their wounds."
" What do you mean?" She stop her struggling and looked up at her enemy. Muerte turned to the door.
" BALTHAZAR!!"
Slowly walking into the throne room, Balthazar avoided looking at his goddess. Like all the others he kept his eyes lowered until he was reached the altar.Then he went to his knees before her.
" Yes Mistress?"
" She wants to know why the dragons won't be coming to save her." Muerte walked back to the throne. " Tell her."
" I've sent my entire army of warriors and night walkers against them." He told his wife. " They should be overwhelmed by now. Maybe even dead."
" No!" Angela cried. " This can't be!!"
" Ah but it is." The death goddess said. " And news of the final outcome should be here soon. As will your children."
Angela couldn't believe any of this to be true. The dragons can't be dead. What of her mother? What of the father she had yet to meet. She had to stop Athene and Tanis from coming here and throwing their lives away. She closed her eyes and called out to them.
[ Athene! Tanis!] She sent with all her might. [ Stay away! Don't come here! They will kill you!]
[ We come mother.] Came back to her. [ We'll save you!]
[NOOOOOOOOO!!!!] She screamed in her mind. But the contact was broke and they were gone. Muerte had blocked her from contacting anyone else.
" Their close." She said. " I can feel them. Can't you Balthazar my sweet. Your children are coming."
Turning to her husband. Angela pleaded with him to stop this before it was to late for any of them.
" Balthazar." She called him. " These are your children. You raised Tanis yourself. Doesn't his life mean anything to you? Stop her. Save our children I beg of you!!"
Balthazar walked over to the altar and looked at his wife bound there. He still thought she was so beautiful. But that didn't matter. Muerte would give him all the power he deserved. She would make him her consort and a god like her. Angela and the children were the price of his godhood. A price he was glad to pay. They meant nothing compared to that.
" You are nothing to me." He said as he slapped her face. " She is my goddess. She is my life now and she wants yours. And that, I'm happy to give."

Across the lake from the castle high on the cliff. Two lone figures stood. They were on a mission to free someone very important to them from the hands of the mad goddess and her minion Balthazar. they looked at each one last time. 
" Ready?" Tanis said.
" Yes." His sister answered.
They spread their arms and shifted to her raven and his hawk and took off toward the castle.it didn't take them long to get there. No more then a few minutes and they were settled in the throne rooms open window watching their enemy. Muerte sat on her throne while Balthazar. stood beside her.
" You can come down now." Muerte called. " I know your there."
Launching themselves into the room they flew down and shifted back to their selves and stood by their mother at the altar.
" Free her." Tanis told them. " You have us. Free our mother."
" But I want you all." Muerte said smiling at them. " I think a family should die together. Don't you Balthazar?"
" if that is your wish Mistress." He looked at his family with contempt.
" It my wish." She stood and stepped down from her broken throne. " You three will give me the power to carry out my plans."
" And what is that?" Athene asked.
" Why to go on my death walk and spread death to everyone on Keanna." She said. " Sweet death , dark oblivion for everyone."
" Your mad." Tanis shouted. " We can't let you do this."
" But how will you stop me?" She laughed. " Your insects compared to me. A goddess. What can you do?"
" This." Tanis said as he brought his hand together in a thunderous clap. The air shimmered around them and their images faded. Where Tanis and Athene once stood, now stood Aramis and Alea. Muerte stepped back in shock at seeing her sister and her husband standing there. " Surprised to see us? You were expecting two helpless kids to destroy weren't you? Well that's not going to happen."
Alea walked over to her daughter and touched her bindings and they snapped and disappeared. She climbed off the table and hugged her mother.
" Where are Athene and Tanis?" She asked. " Are they safe?"
" Yes they are." Alea told her. " They're in New Keanna."
" And the dragons?"
" They're all fine." Aramis said. " You failed Muerte. All your warriors and night walkers are dead. There's nothing left but the two of you."
" Then I'll start all over again." Muerte fumed,her anger showed in her glowing eyes. " Death will prevail."
" I'm afraid not my wife." Aramis pulled Hazard from behind his back, the flames bellowing out. " This is the end. I can't let you go any further."
Muerte's face showed her shock as she saw Hazard in his hand. Selena's death blade.
" KILL THEM!!" She screamed at Balthazar and pushed him forward toward Aramis.
" NO!!" Angela shouted. " He's mine!"
She stepped out to face her husband. Her hands began to glow with power as her anger grew.
" You thought to sacrifice our children to your death bitch. You imprisoned me for over twenty years denying me my freedom." Her hands formed glowing blades from her magic. " You will join her in death."
Balthazar had that wicked grin on his face. He stepped out to confront his wife and held out his hands to flex his claws. It looked like six inch knives extending from his fingers. He looked up from his claws into Angela's eyes.
" I'm going to enjoy this." He began circling around her.
" Not as much as I will." She sneered at him
Balthazar charged at her swinging out to slash at her face. Angela ducked and sent a sweeping kick into his mid section that knocked the air out of him and doubled him over.
"You thought I would be an easy target didn't you." She said as he stood back up. " Guess again."
Balthazar summoned a power ball and threw it at her then came in and to grab her. She swung her glowing hand out and batted the power ball away and spun on her heels avoiding his reach. Quickly she sent her elbow into the back of his neck and sent him sprawling to the floor. Balthazar howled his rage and jumped to his feet. How could this weak witch be beating him?
Enraged, Balthazar started sending blast after blast of red bolts at her. Quickly Angela created a shield in front of her to reflect his magic away her her.
" Is this the best the mighty Balthazar can do?" She laughed and sent her own back at him. Red and blue blasts streak across the throne room. Balthazar tried raising his own shields, but her blasts were to strong and tore it down. He couldn't believe how powerful she had become. Fear of losing was now beginning to creep into his mind. Balthazar looked to Muerte for help, but she had her own problems to deal with. He was on his own and probably doomed.
Muerte took her place back on the throne as Aramis and Alea came to stand in front of her. Her beautiful hair flowing and framing her lovely face. Aramis could tell she was pumping herself up to be as alluring as she could be to him. Her smile told him she thought it was working.
" You never could resist me my husband." She said seductively. " Even after I had destroyed thousands in some useless war or catastrophe. You've always been so forgiving of me."
" Maybe he has." Alea said stepping in front of Aramis to block whatever magic she was casting on him. "But I haven't. And neither has mother or father. They always saw you for the monster you are."
" You mean the monster you made me!!" Muerte stood and screamed back at her. " You did this to me!!"
" No!" Alea said. " This is you and always has been. A destroyer! A taker of life and anything you wanted without care for those you took it from. Death doesn't mean you go out and kill. It comes to all these mortals and some of us immortals when the time is right. But you couldn't let things happen naturally could you. You had to bring your death to everyone you could, didn't you! Well not anymore!!"
" ENOUGH!!" Aramis thundered. " I'm taking us home where this will end. Home to Fortis!!"
In a flash of light the three gods disappeared leaving Angela and Balthazar to finish there battle without them. Angela knew her mother would be back once there battle was over. Now all she need to worry about, was Balthazar, and he would get what was coming to him.

" Your goddess has abandoned you." Angela stared at him smugly. "Everything you planned and hoped for is gone."
" There's always your death to look forward to." He moved toward her raising his claws ready to continue their fight. She smiled and waved him on. She raised her glowing hand. Balthazar hissed and rushed at her slashing wildly. He connected and slashed across her chest. She bought her hand up and stabbed him in his shoulder. He howled and pulled back. Quickly she kicked out and hit him in the face knocking him flat on his back. In a flash she jumped on him stabbing down for his chest. He raised his hands and sent a blast at her to end the battle. Angela crossed her power blades in front of her and blocked it but still fell forward at him. As she fell she stabbed down and sent the blades into his chest.
"Nooooooooo!!!!" He screamed as she stabbed down again and again and again.
" You will never threaten our children again!!"
With a swift slashed at his neck, she decapitated him and his head rolled away from his body and burst into flames. Angela climbed to her feet and walked from the room as his body burned to ashes and blew away.The gleaming city of Fortis, home of the god was once a wonderful beautiful place before Muerte returned. Now it was just a blazing star in the night sky. But in the center of that star Rimnar's palace still stood free of the burning flame that surrounded it. Until now no one but the mighty god and his mate could enter it. But that was about to change.
In a flash of magic and light, three gods appeared in the center garden of Rimnar's palace before the two throne. Alea and Aramis bowed to the thrones and the glowing orbs that sat in them in respect of their parents. Muerte spit at them. Thunder rolled as her expectorant hit the ground.
" Rumble all you want old ones." She called out. " You have no power over me!"
I HAVE POWER OVER ALL. Thundered the high god. YOU FORGET YOUR PLACE!
" I forget nothing!" She said. " Even you must bow before death!"
WE SHALL SEE BOLD ONE. Aramis and Alea had never heard their father so anger before. He was the most forgiving of gods, but not now. He had reached his limit.
WE WILL GIVE YOU ONE LAST CHANCE TO REPENT FROM YOUR EVIL WAYS, DAUGHTER.
" Or what?" She laughed. " You'll banish me again? Remove my power? We both know I'll find a way to get it back, don't we."
SILENCE!! Thunder and lightning crashed overhead. IS THAT YOUR ANSWER?
" This is my answer!" She raised her hand and sent a blast of dark energy at the thrones.
HA! HA! HA! HA!. Laughter echoed through out the halls. YOU THINK TO CHALLENGE ME? SO BE IT!! ARAMIS, ALEA. CHOOSE WHICH ONE OF YOU SHALL BE OUR CHAMPION.
" Father." Aramis called to him. " Is there no other way?"
" You plead for me husband." Muerte smiled. " How sweet of you. Why don't you just come and enjoy my embrace of death."
Alea looked at Muerte with such disgust. As Aramis begged for her life she thought only to end his. She had had enough.
" It will be me, Father." Alea walked to Aramis and put her hand on his shoulder. " Give me Hazard."
Sadly he handed her the now quiet scimitar. Soon as it was in Alea's hand it burst into flame ready for a fight.
" Come sister." Muerte said as she conjured her own blade. " The moon shall glow red with your blood tonight."
"Maybe witch!" Alea said. " Maybe not."
In an instant Muerte charged at her opponent swinging her sword for her head. Alea brought Hazard up to counter it and the swords met with a clash of sparks. Spinning around quickly, Muerte tried to slash at her mid section. Hazard moved with anticipation of ever move Muerte tried. It was like the blade had a mind of it's own. What she didn't know was that it did. Hazard was the perfect weapon. As long as Alea had the will to fight, it would fight almost for her. As fast as she could, Muerte reached out to touch her and send death in to the moon goddess. Pulling back, she sent her fist into Muerte's face for two quick blows. Muerte backed up shocked that anyone would dare hit her like that. Angry from the assault, Muerte stabbed at her then bought her sword up in a upward slash trying to disembowel her. Alea jumped back avoiding the strike. Pushing on at Alea, she swung her sword like a bat trying to bring her down. Ducking beneath a blow, Alea kicked out and connected with her knee. Down she fell to the floor of the palace. With another swift kick to Muerte's chest, the death goddess screamed out and dropped her blade. Alea looked at her evil sister laying there on the floor defeated. This was her chance to be rid of her. She raised Hazard for the final blow but could do it.
" Its done." She said lowering her blade and turning to the throne. " It's in you hands now Father."
" Not quite." Muerte grabbed her sword from the ground and rushed at Alea.
" ALEA!!" Aramis jumped to stop Muerte. Alea turned and sent Hazard into Muerte's chest. Muerte dropped her sword and staggered back. She couldn't believe what she saw extending from her chest. She looked at Aramis, then up to the thrones.
" Father?" She cried." Mother?"
She fell to the floor her life slipping away. Aramis went to her and bent to hold her as she began to slip away.
"I'm sorry love." He said. " I didn't what this."
She reached up to touch his face tears running from her eyes. He took her hand.
" Forgive me?" She whispered.
" I do my Love." He bent down to kiss her lips. She smiled it him and died in his arms. It was over. Alea went to her brother weeping and knelt at his side.
" I'm sorry." Alea said. " She gave me no choice."
" I know Alea." He smiled. " This was her destiny."
GRIEVE FOR HER MY CHILDREN. Rimnar said. BUT YOU ARE RIGHT. IT WAS HER DESTINY. NOTHING COULD CHANGE THAT.
Aramis and Alea stood and stepped away from her body as Rimnar lifted it up and sent it into the heaven.
LOOK UP. He said as he placed her in the sky as a group of stars that resemble her in all her glory. SHE IS AT PEACE NOW. FINALLY SHE CAN REST. YOU WILL FOREVER FIND HER THERE.
" Thank you Father for honoring her." Aramis bowed to the throne.
SHE WAS MY CHILD TOO. He told them.
(SO ALEA.) Saila spoke out. ( WE HEAR WE HAVE GRAND CHILDREN. BRING THEM BEFORE US IN THE UNDERWORLD PLEASE.)
" As you wish mother." Alea smiled as they left to go back to New Keanna.

The Battle for The Wolves Lair. 68

As the sun began to sink out of the sky, Jayce and the Shadows flew patrol over the Wolves Lair. They had met Valkar, Azeal and Cutter coming in and sent them to Tyr manor to see Jandar and Rage. Valkar told them the warriors wouldn't be far behind. Jayce thanked them and took the Shadows higher into the sky. There they spotted them crashing through the forest toward there destination.
[ Rage.] He sent out. [They're almost here!]
[Get back down to the wall. We want you to keep us inform about what they're doing out there.] Rage said. [ I don't want you or Graym fighting from the air. I don't want your wings damaged.]
[ We're on our way.] He sent. Signaling the others to follow him back to the Lair, he dropped down to fly above the approaching enemies as they neared the wall. Dreik had dig many pits out side the wall to slow them down. He knew it wouldn't stop them. They would just scramble up the other side. But it would give them time for final preparations. As Jayce watched, Ariel and Toric flew in. He sent them on to the manor too.
From over the wall, Jayce watched the warrior arrival. They were massive great insect like creatures with huge claws and pincers. Gray armor covered their bodies. They looked very formidable and deadly. From inside the city you could hear their roars quite loudly.
[ Their here!!] Jayce sent to everyone. [ Only a few miles away!]
Jandar and Rage ran from the council room where they were checking the city plans and headed for the gate. There had to be more they could do to protect his parents home he thought. But he didn't know what. They had strengthened the perimeter. He had called in help from all around. Now, all they could do was fight. And that they planned to do.
Outside the council building they ran into Dreik, Ariel and Toric heading for the gate.
" Is everything ready?" Rage asked.
" My wall is strong." Dreik told them. " But sooner or later they will breach it."
" That's ok." Jandar said. " We're not planning on a siege. I want this done tonight one way or the other."
" What about Alee or Jax?" Toric asked. " They could be a big help."
" This is our fight." Valkar said as he and Azeal walked up. " We have to do this ourselves."
" I agree." Rage nodded his head. " Besides, I sent Jax after Ono and Shayn, and Aramis and Alea have their own problems to deal with."
[ That doesn't mean I can't help.] Came from the air as a bright ball of light flew in. It hovered in the air then flashed out blinding them all for a second.
" Alee." Jandar smiled. " What are you doing here?"
" My rides over." He said. " You didn't think I'd let you down did you?"
" No, I didn't." Rage shook his hot hand. " But as Valkar said. This is one we should handle. You've all done so much for us."
" Not just for you." Alee told them. " This is our home to and my sister is the cause of all of this."
" Not Balthazar." Azeal stepped in. " We would have had to deal with him anyway."
" He's in league with her, young prince." The sun god showed his bright smile. " And your enemy is our enemy. Aramis, Jax, All of us. Aramis asked me to watch over you. Your all important to us."
" Then do as he says and watch over us." Rage said. " Let us deal with the vampires. Don't step in unless Muerte shows up. Trust us."
" As you wish King Rage." He said as he began to glow and become the ball of light. [ I'll be watching.] And off he streaked into the sky.
As they watched him fly off, Jayce called out to them.
[ Here they come!!] He said. [ They're almost to the wall!]
" Lets get up on the wall." Rage shouted as they all ran for battle.The forest around the Wolves Lair was totally devoid of all natural animal life. No birds flew in the air or slept in the trees. There were no rabbits or small animals scrying through the brush. All had fled from the things that now approached the newly walled city. Trees fell and bushes were ripped out of the ground to make way for the lumbering beast. From the wall they watch them roaring and screaming their way forward. Dreik had built a deep moat around the Lair and filling it with creeping vines. To anyone looking at it, they would think it was just a carpet of vegetation. Something they could easily walk over for there was only one way around it. And that lane was hidden. If you didn't know where it was, you'd never find it. Soon they reached the moat and began falling in. One after the other they went in screaming and struggling with the vines that wrapped around them and tried to keep them there. These were Dreik's plants under his control. They were all covered with thorns that tried to rip into their armor but were unsuccessful so Dreik began closing the pits and crushing and burying the few he caught. Like insects they began climbing the walls to get into the city,their claws and pincers stabbing in as the moved up. At the top of the wall Jandar, Rage and the others started blasting fire and magical bolts at the oncoming warriors. Rage sent streams of flame down at them burning them off the wall. Screaming in pain they fell to the ground bellow. Next to him Jandar stood with his staff blazing. Bolt after bolt shot from his staff striking the monsters killing them quickly. The loud vibratory blasts of Banshee ring out as he used his sonic blast on them. Slowly but surely the warriors were dying. But there were so many they couldn't stop them all before the reached the top. The first one over the wall was close to Rage. Quickly he shifted to his dragon form and grabbed it as it tried to stab him with one of it's sword sharp legs. Rage grabbed it with his teeth and threw it to the ground. With a roar he launched himself at it and dropped down on it's chest and tore into it in a frenzied attack.
The warriors carapace cracked as he bashed at it. Soon it was dead on the ground and Rage turned to find the next enemy. By this time everyone had abandoned the wall and were fighting in the streets of the city. He looked to the left and saw Icicle in dragon form freezing warriors and shattering them into pieces with a single blow. Azeal and Valkar fought like madmen going from warrior to warrior. Azeal fighting with Justice glowing blue as it sliced into the monsters. Valkar at his back using magic and force to keep his son safe. As another warrior came it him, Rage saw Tof and his fellow werewolves rip into the enemies like the pack wolves they had shifted to. With a mighty blast of flame, Rage blasted the oncoming warrior in the face burning it to death then looked for Jandar. He found him at the wall with his staff raised casting spell after spell into the fray.
[ Love!] He sent out. [ Take your dragon form before you ran out of energy! Use your rage to shift!]
Jandar threw back his head and howl and began to shift. In seconds he was roaring and swatting at warriors. Rage jumped to his side and battled beside him.
Suddenly a loud noise caused them to look up just in time to see Blink and Eheren come flying in. Both of them blasting away at warriors as they dropped to the ground. Lightning bolts and Blinks dark energy dispatched warriors swiftly as they moved into the courtyard.
All through the city battles raged. Jayce armed with Salvation fought his way threw the yard with Graym and Pelic. Many warriors were sent into the dark oblivion of Pelic's cloak to add their life energy to his while Retribution and Salvation hacked warriors to pieces. On and on the fight went for hours until only a few warriors were left. Many vampires and werewolves were killed in the fighting but luckily none of the dragons. But they were growing exhausted from fighting and slowing down.
The battle was almost over. Only three warriors remained at the top of the wall. Two leaped down to engage Rage and Jandar, while the last advanced on Azeals back. He had just dispatched a warrior and was about to turn in the direction of the oncoming threat. But he would not make it. He father the king of the vampire nation knew that.
" NOOOOOO!!!" Valkar screamed as he launched himself at the warrior to protect his newly found son. The warrior raised it's claw to strike at Azeal when Valkar intercepted the blow with his sword. His eyes glowed red with anger and he extended his own claws and jumped in the warriors face slashing at its eyes. Azeal turned and saw his father battling for his life. With a sudden swing the warrior pushed the vampire king back. But Valkar recovered fast and sent blow after blow onto the warriors armor to no affect. This was a very strong warrior. Balthazar had made this ones armor very strong. Howling in pain and swinging blind, the warrior was able to knock the sword from Valkar's hand. Seeing his father without a weapon, Azeal threw Retribution to him.
" Father, catch!!"
Leaping high to avoid the strike, Valkar caught Retribution and stabbed down as he landed into the warriors head sending it hurling off the wall. Azeal went to his father and hugged him.
" I thought it was going to kill you." Azeal cried.
" Not today." Valkar hugged him back and patted him on the back.
Down below, Jandar and Rage had just finished killing the last two warriors when Ariel called a message to them.
[ Jandar, Rage.] She sent. [ We have big trouble.]
[ What now?] Rage asked.
[ Nightwalkers.] Toric sent.
[ How many? Jandar asked.
[All of them.] He said. [ There are hundreds of them coming. They'll be here in a second.]
Jandar looked around the courtyard. Everyone was totally exhausted from the battle. They didn't expect another wave of enemies and he wasn't sure if they could handle this. Not hundreds of enemies.
As Azeal and Valkar released each other, a breeze blew across Valkar's back. He turned and Cort was standing in front of him smiling. Valkar relaxed when he saw his old friend.
" What took you so long to get here?" He asked reaching to gasp his hand. Suddenly Cort thrust a sword into his stomach. Valkar's eyes opened wide as he fell against his son.
" I came when my Lord Balthazar told me to come." He laughed. " At your weakest moment."
" FATHER!!" Azeal screamed in shock as he held his father and laid him down.
" Your next young Prince!" Cort raised his sword to strike.
" Fuck you Traitor!" Azeal grabbed Retribution from his fathers hand and sent it straight through Cort's vampire heart. " Fuck you and your Lord!!"
" Arghhhhh!!!" Cort yelled as he burst into blue flames from the salvation stone in the blade. Soon he was nothing but ashes raining down over the wall. That was the moment the night walkers came flying over the wall.
[ Here they come again everyone.] Rage sent out to them. [ Get up! We're not done yet!]
[ Yes you are!] They all heard. It was Alee the sun god. [You've proved yourself. Now it's my turn. Shield your eyes!]
Suddenly Alee's small glowing orb became as bright as the sun. Screaming from the sight of their worst enemy the sun, every night walker burst into flames and fell to the ground as nothing but ash. The battle was over. They had won and every single night walker and warrior Balthazar had made was dead. Rage and all the rest of them howled or roared in victory. Jandar looked up and saw Azeal holding Valkar,
[ Rage!] He sent to him. [ Valkar's hurt!]
Together both shifted back to their normal forms and ran up onto the wall. Azeal was holding his father and crying.
" Help him." He looked up at them with tearful eyes. " Please!!"
Jandar took off his chain mail and opened his shirt. The wound was in his stomach. Thank god it wasn't in his chest. He would recover in time. The wound was even closing as they watched.
" Azeal look!" He pointed to his wound. " It's closing. He's going to be fine. Just get him fed and in the house to sleep and he'll be fine in a few days."
" He is?" Azeal looked closer and saw he was right. He hugged his father close to them.
" I thought I was losing you." He cried into his shoulder. Jandar helped Azeal to his feet and Rage picked Valkar up. He carrying him back to the manor as everyone cheered.
" Balthazar sent all this at us." Azeal opened the door to the manor and they took Valkar up to a guest room. " We have to stop him or this won't end."
" Don't worry." Jandar said as Rage put Valkar in the bed. " I think he's about to get everything that's coming to him."

Lost in Another Place. 67

Panic filled his mind as Ozmun ran through the forest. He could hear the howls of the tracker beast on his scent chasing after him. From the sound of the howls he knew they were close and he didn't have much time before they caught him. If only he could get the collar off, then he could change and get away. But it was locked on him tight. Where should he go? Where could he hide from the high ones. They controlled everything and everyone. There was no where he could go where they wouldn't recognize him in the collar. Ozmun was 5' 7" dressed in a cloak and rags from working in the mines. He was broad shouldered and he had a lithely matted chest. His head was bald and his face had a ragged beard he tried to keep short. But shaving wasn't easy as a slave. All blades were not allowed. It was death for any slave caught with one.
Hearing the sounds of his pursuers snapped him back to reality. He had to find some way to lose the trackers on him. Pushing through the dense bush, Ozmun was surprised when he fell off a ridge and landed in a ravine in a stream. Rising up on his knees he wiped the water from his face and looked around. Under the ridge he saw a cave and he smelled something foul. He got to his feet and walked closer to investigate. He was right. The smell was coming from in there. There must be something dead in there rotting. Ozmun stepped in,holding his nose to try and keep the overwhelming smell out. He thought the smell might cover his scent and throw off the trackers after him. He moved a little ways in, far enough that he wouldn't be seen but close enough that he could watch the entrance.
The sounds of his pursuers grew closer as he waited quietly. Ozmun looked for some kind of weapon to fight with. He found a long thin stalactite hanging from the ceiling. He reached up and grabbed it by the base and pull until it broke loose. He weighed it in his hand and swung it around. It would do as a weapon.
He could hear them outside of the cave searching for him. He stepped back a little more and readied himself for a fight. Even though he knew he didn't have much of a chance against them. Sweat ran down his face as he waited to see what they would do. If only he could get this damned collar off. Then he could change his form and become something that could fight them off. Quietly he listened to what was going on outside of the cave. With hope, they might move off and he would have his chance to run.

Outside the cave mounted on their huge tracker beast, two Overseers climbed down and searched the grounds looking for their query. They were dressed in loose fitting trousers and boots. A heavy jacket like coat with a hood with there faces covered all in black. The huge saurian tracker beast had gotten them to the ravine, but there the tracks and scent disappeared. They found no footsteps showing which way he went. All they knew was that he had been there.
" Which way do we go?" The taller one asked looking around. He sniffed the air and all he could scent was the smell of death. The shorter one looked toward the cave. He walked to the entrance and screwed up his face and pulled back coughing.
" Ugh!!!!" He ran back from the cave. "Nas. He can not be in there! Nothing could survive in there! That stench would destroy our sense of smell and the trackers would be useless for days or worst."
" I think we should check it. Kru" His partner said. " We are charged with returning the escaped beast to Daru. If we fail, we will end up taking the beast place in the mine."
" Then you go in." Kru pulled down his face covering revealing his reptilian nature. " But I warn you. What is in that cave could carry the Laris disease. And you know what that means."
" Lose of our minds and death." Nas said as he stepped back away from the cave and thought about the disease.
" We tell Lord Daru it is dead. We say it was trampled by our tracker beast and killed as it ran from us."
" We can find another human."Kru said. " Trample it and no one will know the difference. There just animals anyway for us to feed on."
" So we abandon this hunt?" Nas asked.
" If you want to go in there." He said. " I will wait out here. But I am not letting you anywhere near me once you come out. And I will tell everyone where you have been and what was probably in there with you."
" Then we will never talk of this again." Nas looked at Kru. " Our failure. Pledge to me now with blood. It is dead, we saw it die."
" I swear." Kru told him. " I saw it die under the feet of this very tracker beast."
Nas reached to his side and pulled out a wicked blade with a razor sharp edge. He ran the blade across his hand and watch the green liquid flow free. He looked over to Kru and gave him the blade. Kru took it and slashed his hand and held it out. Nas grabbed his bloody hand and there oath was sealed as there hand began to glow.
" If either of us breaks this vow." Nas growled. " Dead will follow on swift wings."
With out looking back at the cave, or another thought about the human. Nas and Kru climbed back on their Saurian tracker and rode off.

As they left, Ozmun stumbled out of the cave gasping for air. He crawled across the stream and lay on his back taking in huge gulps of air. They had abandoned the search for. But that didn't really mean much. If he gets spotted by any other Savonti, he'll be right back in the pens or on a plate for Daru or some other lords dinner. He sat there with his head in his hands wondering what to do next. Their had to be a way to end the slavery of the people of Pentanthin. He couldn't be the only one that wanted to be free and rid of the people that enslaved them. All these years of being victims of the reptilian race that made food of them. Ozmun got to his feet and made a decision. He was done running and being afraid of them. He would fight them even if it meant he would end up dead. He would free Pentanthin from bondage no matter what it cost. And the first thing he had to do, was get this damn collar off.

Ono opened his eyes to bright sunlight shining in his face. He raised his hands to cover his eyes and sat up. His head was pounding with a headache and the bright suns in the sky blinding his didn't help. Then it hit him. Suns? Did he just think there was more then one sun in the sky?
He uncovered his eyes and looked up. He did see two suns blazing in the sky. Where the hell was he? Then he remembered Shayn. He jumped to his feet and screamed his name
" SHAYN!!!"
He looked around panic beginning to settle in. Where was he? He had to find him.
" I'm here." He heard off to the left of him. Quickly he turned in the direction and saw him laying under a stand of trees. Ono ran to his side and knelt and hugged him with tears filling his eyes.
" I thought I had lost you for a second." He held him tight against him.
" You can't lose me." Shayn kissed his cheek. " Your stuck with me for the rest of our lives."
" Thank Rimnar for that." Ono helped his mate to his feet. As Shayn bushed himself off he looked around. They were in a dense forest that looked totally unfamiliar to him. Then he looked up and saw the suns and his mouth dropped open in shock.
" Ono." He said. " Where are we?"
" I don't know." Ono told him. " But we're not on Keanna that's for sure."
" Then where are we?"
" I don't know!" Ono said. " But don't worry. We'll find a way home. Or they'll come find us. We just have to keep our wits together."
" How do you feel?" Shayn asked him as he turned him around to inspect him. he found many cuts and scratches.
" I've got one terrible headache." Ono said smiling.
" Let me fix that." Shayn reached over and placed his hand on his forehead and sent his healing powers into him. Seconds later the headache was gone and all the cuts and scratches were healed.
" Better?" He asked.
" Much." Ono reached for him and kissed him.
" What now?" The blond boy asked.
" We look around I guess." Ono shrugged. " There has to be somebody here somewhere."

Preparations. 66

High on the ridge over Balthazar's castle, Valkar woke up. Azeal was on watch observing the castle while Cutter slept sitting in his meditative position. Feeling the fullness of his bladder, he got up and walked around the side of the cliff and relieved himself. He had a decision to make. He didn't have the forces to take Balthazar on himself. Yadessa was in ruins and what was left of his people were being cared for by the werewolves. But they would end this. Either him,or his allies. Balthazar Gaelich would not hold them in his grip much longer.
" FATHER!!" He heard Azeal calling.
Quickly he retied the fastening on his pants and hurried out to see what his son wanted. As he turned the corner, Azeal waved him towards the ridge where he was watching from.
" Look!!" he pointed out towards the castle. Valkar held up his hand to shade his eyes from the sun and saw what frighten Azeal. There he saw strange creatures he had never seen before heading toward the border of Yadessa. There were going to Tir Na. Valkar knew what was happening. They looked like what Angela had described her friend Sting to look like. These were Balthazar's new warriors. They were huge scorpion creature with deadly looking stingers and claws. There bodies were covered with what looked like grey shells. He could see human parts on the bodies to, arms and legs. Monsters, Balthazar was creating monsters. Valkar thought that knowledge had been lost in the century's. Hi ancestors once used magic like this.
" Father." Azeal said " What the hell are they?"
" Something out of our past the I thought we'd never see again." He told his son. "Go wake Cutter. We have to beat them to there destination. Hurry!"
Azeal ran back to wake the dragon from he sleep. Valkar knew he had to warn Jandar and Drake of what was coming.
[ Jandar!] He sent out.
[ Valkar.] Came his answer. [ Hows things in Yadessa?]
[ In ruins.] He said. [ But that's not the problem. You remember the stories of Baron Valkar's monster warriors?]
[ Yes.] He could feel Jandar's confusion.
[ They're real.] Valkar concentrated and sent Jandar the scene he had just witnessed. [ There on there way to Tir Na. I'm taking Azeal and Cutter and heading there to help. All my people are there.]
[ We're on our way. I'll warn them.]
" Azeal!" Valkar called. " We have to find Cort. He should come with us."
" He was here before we went to sleep last night." Cutter and Azeal came walking out of the small cave shelter.
" We have to get to Tir Na." Valkar told them.
" Father, what are those things out there?" Azeal insisted his father tell him.
" Those are horror's from deep in our past." He said. " Long ago our ancestors learn magic that could make strong deadly warriors by mixing different creatures with men or vampires to make horrors to use in battle. I thought that knowledge had died long ago in the past. But there they are heading to Tir Na. We can't let these things get there. All our people are there. Ranjer's there."
Azeals complexion was usually pale, but the thought of Ranjer in the path of those things was most frightening.
" You see what I mean now?"
" I understand." Azeal grabbed his scabbard holding Justice and strapped it to his side then looked at his father and Cutter.
" Lets go!" He said.
Cutter shifted to dragon and they climbed on his back. Taking a running leap off the cliff, Cutter spread his wings and they were off for Tir Na.
[ Cort!] Valkar sent out. [ Balthazar is attacking Tir Na. Meet us there.]
Valkar listened for his answer for a few minutes. Nothing came. He thought it strange that one of his most loyal companions didn't answer. But he didn't have time to worry about it now. He had more important things to worry about. So on they flew.

Deep in the dungeon of Balthazar's castle, Angela sat alone in her cell. Balthazar hadn't come down to visit her yet, but she knew he would very soon. As far as he knew, he had her. That meant he had won. And to a point, he was right. He did have her. But he hadn't won and she wasn't the weak wife he had dominated for so many years. She was much stronger now. She had more confidence in herself. At last she knew who she was and he couldn't take that away from him.
Angela stood and walked around the cell. It was the same cell Adam had helped her escape from months ago. Angela looked up and saw all the runes that kept her from using her magic. She wondered if she was strong enough to defy them. She raised her hand closed her eyes and concentrated. In her mind she picture a light forming in her palm. She opened her eyes and there it was shining brightly. A smile spread across her face as she made it grow brighter. Suddenly the sound of footsteps echoed down through the dungeon. He was coming. She closed her hand and killed the light and sat back down.
" Wake up my sweet wife!" He called as he stepped in front of her cell. " Welcome home my sweet. I've missed you."
" I haven't missed you." She said looking into his eyes. " You sick bastard."
" Ohh!!" He made a sad face. " Is that any way to talk to your loving husband?"
" You never loved me!" She spat at him. " I was just something to use to you. You have no idea what love is. You never did!"
" Don't anger me bitch!" His face twisted in anger,
" Or what?" She said. " You'll kill me now? Your bitch goddess won't like that will she?"
She could see the anger building on his face and wondered how far she could push him. Her dazzling white hair flowing out making her look radiant, she walked over to the cell door and smiled at him.
" Has anyone ever truly loved you, my husband?" She asked him. " A pet? You mother? Have you ever even had a friend? No? Doesn't that tell you something about yourself? Your a fucking monster. Far worst the those things you made and you deserve that witch you call your goddess. She's all you'll ever have and know this. She'll never love you, she can't."
Balthazar's eyes glowed with rage as his hands shook and he reached for the door and through it open. She stepped back smiling and raised her hands ready to do battle with him. He stepped into the cell towering over her with murder in his eyes.
" STOP!!" Thundered all through the castle as Muerte appeared outside the door. Both Balthazar and Angela looked out at the flawless evil goddess standing there. She was dressed in a long red silk gown the color of blood. Her hair almost the same shade and her eyes glowing red, she stared furiously at them. Quickly Balthazar fell to his knees and averted his eyes from her in fear of her wraith. But not Angela. She stood tall and faced her in defiance.
" So your here at last." Angela said walking past Balthazar to confront her.
" Yes I am daughter of the moon." Muerte said. " And you should be on your knees before me."
" I have no fear or respect for you." She turned her back to the death goddess. " All you can do is kill me. Then you will deal with my parents."
" HOW DARE YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON ME!!" Muerte raged. " I CAN DO FAR MORE THEN KILL YOU BITCH!!"
" Then do it!! Angela turned and screamed at her. " Do your worst! My father will welcome me in the underworld. And if you try hiding me like you did to them. I will be found and freed. It may take time but many won't rest until they find me. But you and Balthazar will be put down by then. So do as you wish Hag!!"
" Its not you I want. Well not you alone." Muerte waved her hand at Angela and bands of magic wrapped around her confining her. " It's your children I want."
Struggling against her bindings, Angela fell to the cold stone floor. She didn't understand. She thought Muerte wanted her for revenge against her parents. What could she want Athene and Tanis for?
" You look puzzled moon child." Muerte smiled at her. " You want to know what I want with your children?"
" It doesn't matter." Angela sneered at her. " You'll never get them. I sent them to safety."
" Oh, I'll have them my dear. " Muerte laughed. " You can bet they'll come to save you. In fact, I think there on there way now. So why don't we get you ready for a family reunion."
" Nooo!!!" Angela struggled against her bonds. Muerte threw back her head and laughed as she turned from her. She looked at Balthazar.
" Bring her."
" As you command." He gestured at his struggling wife and she rose into the air and floated behind him as they left the dungeon. Fear filled Angela's heart for the first time. She wasn't afraid for herself, but Athene and Tanis. She had to find a way to stop this. She couldn't let them died. In her head she screamed for her mother and the father she had yet and may never meet.

Flying would take to long so Jandar used magic to get them all to Tir Na. in the city center he appeared along with Rage, Dreik, Blink, Icicle, Banshee and Jayce and the shadows. As they took there first steps, Jandar stumbled. He was very tired from transporting so many at once. Rage reached out and caught his mate and pulled him close to him.
" Are you alright?" Rage asked.
" I'm fine. Jandar said. " It just took a lot of magic to get us here."
" Then you will rest at your parent place for now." His arm around his waist they all walked up the cobbled lane.
" I don't have time to rest." Jandar pushed himself away from Rage and tried to walked on his unsteady feet. Rage stopped him.
" You will get some rest and let me take care of this." Rage told him. This is my family to. I won't let any of them get hurt. You understand me?"
Jandar opened his mouth to answer but he saw the seriousness in Rage's eyes and stopped. He knew better then to argue with Rage when he looked like that. besides, he needed to recharge.
" I'll do as you say." He pulled into a kiss.
" Pelic, take him to the manor." Rage let Jandar go and watch as him and Pelic walked away. then he turned to the others.
" We're about to be invaded by Balthazar's warriors." He said. " You all know what they are. Strong scorpion creatures fast but stupid. Watch out for there stingers, the poison is fatal and Shayn isn't here to heal us. Jayce, I want you and the shadows in the air. None of them can fly and since the suns still up for a few hours, we won't have to worry about nightwalkers. I want to know the minute you see them."
" We won't let you down." Jayce and Graym spread their wings and took a running start and launched themselves into the air. Rage knew they would do there jobs well.
" Dreik." He turned to the dwarf dressed in brown. " I want a wall around the Wolves Lair. i want it high and wide. i want it as impenetrable as you can make it."
" I have a few ideas that will help." Dreik smile and run off pumping his short legs.
" Blink." The dour man cocked his head when he heard his name. " Once it gets dark. The three of us will have the job of protecting everyone left here. I'm going to try and get as many as we can out. But they'll be here soon. So in counting on both on you."
" Its just going to be us fighting?" Banshee asked.
" Hell no!" Rage turned and led them through town. " Drake has werewolf troops and Valkar sent his people here to. we should have plenty of help."
As the talked Jandar brother Tof walked out of the council building and met them.
" Rage, Im glad your here." He shook the dragons hand." Wheres Jandar?"
" At the manor." He said. As they talked they headed for the manor" Tof, we have to get the woman and children out of here. How's Drake doing?"
" He's a bit lost." Tof looked worried. " I've never seen him like this before. Where can Ono be?"
" We'll find him." Rage told his brother in law. " Don't worry. In the mean time, we have to move these people out of here."
All around the Wolves Lair troop were rounding up the people. Werewolves and vampires working together for the first time in century's. Rage was amazed to see it. He knew Valkar would be to. He wonder when Valkar was. Last he had heard, he was on his way to Tir Na. Where could he be?
[ Valkar!!] He sent out.
[ Yes Rage.]
[ Where are you?] He asked.
[ Following the warriors.] Valkar sent. [We are a few hours away.]
[ How many are there?] Rage walked in to the manor with Tof. Drake was sitting at a window staring out at nothing. Jandar came over with Sharone at his side.
[ Valkar?] Rage held up his hand to stop them from talking for a second.
[ Less then one hundred.] Valkar sent back. [ We'll slow them down.]
[ No, just get here. I want us all together.]
" Sharone." Rage looked at Jandars beautiful sister. " Why are you still here?"
" I have to take care of father." She walked over to her father carrying a drink for him. He looked up and smiled and took the drink.
" You have to take them and go." Jandar said." Its not safe here."
" No." she said adamantly. " This is our home. We'll fight for it if we have to."
" And I'll put you all to sleep and send you on your way if I have to." Sternly Jandar faced her. " I mean it. Either you take Mother and Father and get to safety, or I'll send you, and you know I can do it."
" No you won't." She said as her husband Aggar and Tof joined them.
" Whats going on?" Aggar asked. Tof looked at everyone in the room. Like Aggar he wanted to know why they looked so upset.
" Aggar." He turned to him. " Take them to safety. I'm putting you in charge. Wheres Ranjer?"
" In his room." Sharone said. " With Mother."
" We don't have much time." Rage told Jandar.
" Get Blink." Jandar said as he started for Ranjer's room. " He can get them out quickest. Tell him to take them to our manor and hurry back. I'll get Mother and Ranjer."
" Now see here!" Sharone yelled at them. " I'm not..."
" Yes you are!!' Aggar stopped her, pulling her to the side. " There right. You have to go and now. We.re being invaded, you understand? We can't defend the Lair knowing your here and could get hurt. Take them and go, please."
" OK." She reached up and kissed her husband, " I'll do as you ask."
As they talked there was a knock at the door. Tof answered it to find Blink there waiting. Rage waved the dark man over.
" How are things going?" Rage asked.
" Jayce hasn't seen anything yet." Blink told him. " I told them to fly out further then report back. Dreik built a wall around the Lair that rivals the one we have at home. It will hold them for a while. But were not in this for a long siege, right?"
" Right." Rage said looking over as Jandar carried Ranjer down the stairs with Tressandra following them.
" Blink, Im glad your here." Jandar put Ranjer down. He looked up at Bink and scurried behind his big brother hiding from the stranger." I need you to take my family back to New Keanna where they'll be safe."
" No!" Ranjer cried. " Im scared."
Blink knelt down in front of Ranjer, pushed the hair from his face to show the dragon tattoo and smiled. Rage and Jandar looked at each other in surprise. This was the first time they had ever seen him smile. He had a nice smile hidden behind that scowl.
" Little one." He said. " I'll let you fly on my back all the way there. And maybe I'll show you how to hide in the dark. would you like that?"
" Can I Jandar?" He asked pulling his hand. " Please!"
" Your not scared?" Blink asked. " Its gonna be dark?"
" I like the dark." Ranjer smiled. " I can see in the dark real good."
" You'll hold on tight and be good?" Tressandra asked him.
" Yes Mother I will."
" Then you can go." Jandar said. Ranjer hugged his leg and smiled his thanks. " I don't want him riding on your back through shadow. You hold onto him just in case he gets scared."
" Don't worry." Blink smiled at them. " I'll take care of him as if he were from my own egg. Who else am I taking?"
" Me and my husband and daughter." Tressandra went and stood by her husband in his chair.
" Then lets get you out of here." He walked over to help Drake from his chair.
" Come on dear." Tressandra whispered to him. " We're going on a trip."
" Have you found Ono?" He asked getting more agitated as they tried to get him up. " Wheres my boy? We have to find him. Jandar where is he!! Help me find him!!"
Jandar and Tof hurried to there fathers side to help him. He was getting stronger as he became more upset. Jandar placed his hand on His fathers head.
" Quiet now father." He whispered to him. " Everything will be alright. Sleep and dream of us in better days. Dream of Ono as a cub. Rest now."
Drakes slowly stopped struggling and fell back in his chair. His eyes grew tired and he fell asleep. Jandar bent over and kissed his fathers forehead then looked up at Blink.
" Get them out of here." He said. " Mother, ask for Rose. She's Blaze wife. She'll get you rooms and all settled in. This won't take long."
Jandar stood with his mother and Rage as Blink carried Drake out. With tears in her eyes, Tressandra kissed Jandar good bye.
" Be careful." She said and walked out the door.