Empire of Blood, page 33
part #2 of Armageddon Series
Medusa laughed. “You’re joking! Are you going to stand there and talk about destiny? What do you truly know about destiny? You have no more hope! No allies! Everything is against you! You think you can see how everything will end, but you can never imagine what lies beyond. You’re foolish as you are brilliant. Ashur!” As if he were waiting for her command, the old Captain sauntered from the castle’s front gates with his hands tied behind his back. “I think it’s time to start putting the plan together. The Day of Eternal Darkness is only but a month away and we need to have everything ready by the time we can get to the designated spot. My little pet and my dragon army should already be in Alfheim by now and under the Council’s command. You and Jade need to prepare the dragon eggs. I’ll take care of Azrael.”
“Niamh.” Rahim began to cry. Niamh was long gone.
“As you wish, my dark Lady.”
Medusa grinned. Jade circled overhead and met with Ashur by the steps. The dragon sneered at them before Ashur mounted his saddle. To Selena’s alarm, she saw the egg crate was already tied down to Jade’s back. Her throat swelled and her heart squeezed as she watched the two take off and fly towards Alfheim.
“Why do you need Azrael?” Selena demanded.
Medusa shrugged her shoulders. “I guess there’s no reason in hiding it from you now. Azrael is needed to open up the portal to Oblivion so that the rest of our minions can join us. By the rest, I mean an estimated one billion, maybe more. You see, the Lich was only able to overpower Death and escape Oblivion in the first place when the Day of Eternal Darkness last occurred. Now, he is free to go in between realms. However, without the portal in place, we cannot return, nor can his amassed army come here.
“Last time, our Dark Master still wasn’t strong enough to unleash the full power of the kingdom of Oblivion onto your world. He needed something more! While here in your world, he built his army from nothing while searching for a way to bring his demons and undead over permanently. Those who agreed to serve our Master became either part of the Obsidian Order, or were made into the growing undead army you were fighting with earlier. Remember the Orcs and trolls you fought in Alfheim?” Medusa pointed to her regenerating soldiers. “They’ve been blessed by the Lich himself! This is their reward for serving his Dark Majesty!
“Those who he made pacts with in Oblivion can be summoned briefly here, as you’ve already had the pleasure of seeing beforehand. After a while, the spell wears off and they are sent back. This portal will also change that. It wasn’t until later that our Master sought out Ragnarok! Of course, you thought you were the brave little hero and you had to stop him. After the sword was destroyed, his Dark Majesty found a different way! The dragon eggs that you graciously hand-delivered to us were powerful enough to sustain and power the giant portal, but Azrael is the key to open it because of his ties to Oblivion. Once it opens, we will destroy your world and create a new one!”
“No! I won’t let that happen! Not unless you can get through me first!” Selena bravely stated. She took her stance in front of Azrael to protect him.
“Noble to the end, as always. No matter. I’ll finish what I started.”
Medusa’s minions picked up their fight where they left off, and worked together to keep Kiba, Rahim, and the dragons occupied and away from the scene. Azrael pushed Selena away and intervened, but she retaliated and shoved him aside.
“I can handle this! Take care of the others!”
Azrael growled. Instead of leaving her side, he ordered Doragon to hold the soldiers back. “Kiba and Rahim, watch out for our dragons! Selena, I will help you.”
Selena gave him a glare. “No. I can do this. This ends now, and I need to put a stop to this.”
“Then I will stay here and help you.”
Medusa’s cold voice interrupted their moment. “This time, I won’t hold anything back. You and your friends will die here!”
She lifted up her hands and Selena levitated before being thrown across the ground by an invisible force. However, Selena forced herself to land on her feet and she slid across the ice. Her look of trepidation was tempered as she glanced over her shoulder to see Medusa rearing up for a sneak attack.
Selena turned just in time and summoned blocks of ice in front of her to stop Medusa’s sudden fire blasts. Selena stepped back near the edge of the ice and almost fell into the water. She regained her balance and blocked more oncoming attacks. Medusa used a barrage of elemental magic: Selena saw fire, lightning, ice, water, earth, poison, all used with such mastery.
She dodged more before being finally knocked into the ocean.
Hysterical, Thor cried out: Selena, no! The water was cold. It felt like being stabbed by a thousand daggers at once. Selena began losing consciousness as she continued to sink. Selena!
An expression of determination appeared on her face. She quickly turned around, created a mighty whirlpool of water, and used her magic to launch herself straight for the surface. The water became a monstrous tornado after breaking through the ocean’s embrace. She propelled into the air at amazing speed, and towered everyone high above the ice.
Medusa looked up at the swirling maelstrom of water with dismay. Selena landed between her and the soldiers. She swiftly moved her hands, and the water then formed around her in a circle. As it began to expand outward in a shock wave, Medusa disappeared.
“No! Get out of there!” Azrael cried out to her. He ran after her, but he wasn’t fast enough.
Medusa then reappeared right behind Selena with her sword at the ready, and quickly sliced off her left hand.
At first, it felt an uncomfortable sensation in her left arm. Then, it felt like it was on fire. Blood poured forth from her wound like water. The snow and ice were dyed crimson.
Selena dropped her water attack and grabbed her arm, screaming in both pain and horror.
“Do you love how sharp my sword is?” Medusa taunted. “It’s like yours: made of dragon bone and steel! It’s enchanted with the demon’s fire! I can cut through anything!”
Thor roared and attempted to reach his handler to protect her. Kiba summoned tall stone walls that parted the sea of soldiers so that her and Rahim could get through to help as well. Azrael moved with such inhuman speed to intervene while praying under his breath.
They were all too late.
Selena heard a faint hiss tickling in her ear. The blood drained from her limbs and built up pressure swelled within her chest. Her heart was beating incredibly fast and her body went numb. Before Selena could even realize what was happening, her chest and back completely tore open. Her blood pierced through her in the shape of a spear.
“Just as I said before,” Medusa whispered in her ear, “you and your friends will die here!”
The last thing she heard was Thor’s voice screaming within her fading consciousness:
You promised me!
Chapter 30
“No! Selena!”
Rahim jumped off the saddle and was getting ready to run over as Selena's body fell, but Azrael was faster than he was. He darted across the ice and grabbed Rahim’s shoulders to pull him back.
“Don't! Get back!” he yelled.
Thor’s terrifying roar shook the very foundation of Snowhaven. He forced his way through the line of soldiers that were still waiting to attack them. However, most of them began to flee after seeing the rampaging dragon. Thor charged directly after Medusa. She held up her hand and a blue barrier surrounded her. He crashed into it, but kept bashing his horns and claws against the wall of energy.
“Thor, stop!” Rahim yelled; the dragon didn't listen.
Kiba, with tears flooding her face, pushed Azrael away and ran to Selena's corpse. She knelt beside her and stumbled through her prayers to Artio.
Medusa smiled and flickered her wrists. The blue barrier exploded in all directions. The force sent Thor backwards.
“You are weak,” she mocked, “I just killed your rider. What are you waiting for? Finish me!”
Thor hung his head low, breathing hard as he tried to keep his stance. Medusa laughed maniacally.
“Oh no,” Azrael whispered. “Kiba and Rahim, get back! Doragon, cover us!”
Doragon quickly opened up his wings and engulfed the group close to him. Being careful with his tail, he gently reached out and pulled Kiba and Selena’s body over.
A purple aura appeared around Thor. As his breaths grew deeper and heavier, lightning struck the ground in front of him. With a swish of his tail, he summoned screaming winds and dust clouds that circled around. The brewing storm threatened to render his allies helpless within Doragon’s shelter.
“What is happening out there?” Kiba asked, but Azrael created a red barrier of energy over them for protection.
“Thor’s losing it! Just… no! No!” Rahim shouted and slammed his fists against the shivering ice. He reached over and pulled Selena closer. She was dead. Rahim didn’t want to believe it. He couldn’t… “This is your fault.” Before Azrael had a chance to ask what he meant, Rahim decked him hard in the jaw. “This is your fault!” he shouted this time. Azrael stumbled back. “Selena is dead because of you! You planned this, didn’t you? You knew she was going to die! Why didn’t you help her? Why couldn’t you warn us? Oh, don’t get me started! I don’t care about your Divine forsaken code! Why did you let her die? Our lifespans… every time you looked at her, didn’t you see how much time she had left? Didn’t you? Answer me!” Rahim’s voice sounded fragile, as if it and his heart would break any moment. He was about to strike Azrael again, but Doragon roared at him to stop.
Breathless, Azrael looked over at Kiba. Her hollow eyes glared into his soul. Her face glistened with tears.
“Show me what the Dark Master has granted you, dragon!” they heard Medusa scream at Thor.
Azrael looked back at Selena’s body, then at Doragon. His thoughts shifted back to the doe and the fawn, then to Tiamat.
I have to do this, he said at last.
Doragon didn’t argue; instead, he lowered his head and nuzzled his handler’s face. With a determined gaze, Azrael reached for Selena’s body.
“What are you doing?” Rahim tried to get him to let go, but Azrael pushed him away.
“I’m keeping my damn promise! Doragon and I might not return. No matter what happens, after all is said and done, get yourselves out!”
Before either of them could question what he meant, Azrael touched the ground with one hand. After muttering a prayer, he created a black hole underneath him, Doragon, and Selena. Shadow hands, much like the ones Medusa used, crawled out and began swinging around. They latched onto Azrael and Doragon and pulled them and Selena into the abyss. Kiba and Rahim screamed and moved away as they submerged into darkness, and then the hole vanished.
Azrael stood while carrying the corpse in absolute emptiness. Doragon was no longer a dragon, but had transformed into a spirit particle that floated above Azrael’s head. They were in the realm in between the dead and the living.
Azrael muttered a few words in the demon language and a giant door appeared behind a white veil. In the middle of the gate was a large skull with a scythe behind it. A banner was engraved above that bore the words: ‘Soul Gate’ and ‘Revelation.’ The door’s black stone archway had etchings of the same shadow hands that pulled them in.
Azrael placed Selena’s body down before going to the door. “You gave me hope again,” he whispered, “now I'm going to give it back.”
He reached up and put his hand on it. The door vibrated from his touch and it creaked open. Inside was a dark abyss with Selena's white soul laying on the floor as if she were sleeping.
Doragon drifted forward and floated inside the gate.
Are you ready?
Azrael was anxious; he didn’t know what would happen if he ever brought anyone back. He fought through his fears and worries, and nodded. This was the right thing to do.
He gently picked up her soul and, as the gate began to close and with Doragon following, walked back to rejoin Selena's soul with her body. A bright light glowed around her and disappeared. Unfortunately, her wounds were still there.
Azrael attempted to heal her as quickly as he could, but she was still missing her left hand and her back refused to mend. Medusa used powerful dark magic to strike Selena down. It felt like her energy was so twisted. He swore under his breath for not being able to help her be rid of the scar. She stirred in her spot before taking her first breath.
Selena was alive, but unconscious.
Azrael worked on summoning the same circle as before around her but just as he was about to begin, he heard an eerie laugh.
“I knew you would fall for my trap.”
Azrael muttered a few unpleasant words. Doragon’s spirit particle quickly darted over and hid inside his master’s shirt. One of the shadow hands reached out, latched onto his leg, and began pulling him back.
“Curse you, Venexus,” Azrael uttered.
“Don't blame me for your ignorance.” The Lich walked casually from behind the Soul Gate. “You knew that one day, we would meet again at where it all began. I have all of the dragon eggs. Now I just need you.” The undead necromancer waved his hands and summoned black pools around him. The acid gave birth to the small creatures that walked forth. “Your power now belongs to me!” Azrael quickly slashed his hand at the shadow that held onto him and recited his spell once more. The Lich may take him, but he needed to get Selena back. “You will now serve me, Death. The Day of Eternal Darkness draws nigh! There is no hope for your world anymore!”
The Lich’s demons over powered Azrael just as Selena’s body was pulled into the void.
In an instant, she was brought back to the mortal realm. Kiba and Rahim sat next to her as they were still protected in Azrael's barrier.
“She’s back!” Rahim cried out. He put his hands on her shoulders and shook her a little, but she did not stir. “She’s not waking up!” he put his ear to her chest and felt relaxed when he heard her heartbeat.
“We need to tell Thor!” Kiba cried out.
Thor roared and opened his mouth to spew out a purple and black beam with lightning circling around it towards Medusa.
“Yes, that's it! Show me more!” she yelled out.
“Thor, stop it!” Rahim reached over and banged his fists against the dome.
Lightning began striking in circular motions surrounding Thor; he beat his wings, and the dark storm turned violent. The rest of Medusa's demonic armies began circling them.
Thor stood up on his hind legs with his wings folded outwards as if he were preparing himself for another roar. However, Rahim watched in fear and horror as the purple aura around him grew from collecting the energy of the elements. Thor created a black ring of darkness that orbited him, and with one final cry, he released it.
The ring grew to titanic proportions as it stretched outward in a shock wave. It shattered the barrier that protected Selena, Kiba, and Rahim. The ring continued to grow and disintegrated Medusa and her army into dust.
“Thor, stop this!” Rahim ran over to him. Thor snaked his head over to look at him; he saw that the dragon’s eyes were clouded by a purple glow. Thor shook his head and the storm grew heavy. Lightning struck across the ice and cracked through. The towers of the castle came crashing down from the strikes. The waters from Turquoise Ocean turned into giant and terrifying waves that could easily over turn a ship. “This isn’t you! I know you wouldn’t do this! Please, Thor! Selena is alive! Azrael and Doragon brought her back!” Ignoring his fear that Thor would strike him down too, Rahim ran over to embrace his neck.
Thor bared his fangs and backed away. The purple aura around him disappeared and his eyes returned to normal.
Rahim put his hand on Thor’s snout and looked him in the eye. In that instant, Thor relaxed when he returned Rahim’s gaze. He whipped his head around and watched the rise and fall of Selena’s chest; Rahim was right.
“Uh, you two.” Kiba pointed upward.
The growing vehement storm circled above their heads as the torrential rain and snow hammered down.
“We need to get out of here, now!” Rahim called out. Thor looked up and from his maw escaped a lamenting roar. “It’s not your fault!” It was as if he understood what Thor was saying. “We’ll figure out a new plan later but right now, we need to leave! The ice isn’t going to hold us much longer!”
The winds turned fierce as a lightning bolt struck down between them and cracked the ice in two. Kiba became separated from the three and was swiftly carried away by the ocean’s dark waters.
“Help me!” she cried.
“Kiba!” Rahim cried out. He immediately picked up and moved Selena’s body over to Thor. Thor quickly grabbed the two and hoisted them on his saddle, and then flew into the storm to chase after Kiba.
She held onto the edge of her piece of ice as the rough waves moved her further out, but she was slipping. “Help!”
“I can’t see her!” Rahim yelled. Thor roared once more and followed Kiba’s scent but just as they reached her, a huge wave knocked the ice over. She tumbled into the depths below. “After her!”
Rahim tightened his grip on the reins and held and his breath as Thor dove through the icy waters.
Kiba swam upwards to reach them, but was constantly being forced down by the rocking waves. Thor stretched out his talons and grabbed her before stretching out his wings to swim back to the surface. However, just as they poked their heads out, another huge wave crashed down on top of them, forcing them to stay under.
Thor arched his neck to look at his companions and saw the grave looks on their faces.
This was the end.
As they began to lose consciousness, Thor cupped his wings together. A small blue light appeared in the middle of his chest as he channeled the energy of the water around them. He then expanded his wings outward and the light grew to create a large air bubble.
Thor turned in the water and forced his way through the surface and into the sky, soaring ever higher to escape the devastation. He turned his head around and saw what remained of Snowhaven: only a sheet of ice covered in debris.
