The colossal stone bear lumbers toward me, ground shaking and stops twenty feet away, easily still within its striking distance. The power lurking within Ares must be incredible. It took out at least six trained assassins—all of which carried modern firepower. And what’s even more impressive, it did it without taking very much damage at all, barely a scratch.

  Crap. This couldn’t possibly get any worse…

  “Harrison!”

  I flinch and look over Nannot’s shoulder, towards the pyramid’s gates. Dad, Nicole, and Kane are standing there safe… For now. They have their weapons drawn and pointed at Nannot.

  Then as you would imagine…the shit really hits the fan.

  46

  Just imagine putting high caliber bullets and sharpened stone arrowheads in a blender and starting that bad boy up. That’s exactly what’s going on now. Utter chaos. And I’m right smack in the middle of it. Well, technically the statue of Thoth is in the midst of it all. I’m just bobbing and weaving through it all doing my best not to lose my head…again.

  Earth-shattering booms turn me to my left. Once I locate its origin, all I see is the carnage left behind. The Tiger-woman is in pieces, Kane standing over her, twin cannons smoking. It looks like he took a claw over the left side of his jaw too, digging in and drawing blood. He’s going to have a wicked scar when it’s all said and done, that’s for sure. I doubt the man cares though. He’ll probably think it makes him look like more of a badass, and I can’t help but agree.

  To my right, Dad and Nicole use sheer volume to take out the bat-man, all the while Kane cuts the gorilla-guy in half with another barrage of .50 caliber rounds. Then, they all take off running, trying desperately to gain more distance as they reload.

  The sound of a cawing chainsaw calls out from above me as another of the Nightmares moves in for the kill. The half-human half-hawk swoops down and almost decapitates Nicole, but she masterfully rolls and comes up shooting, twin Rugers roaring to life. Dad and Kane join in and they de-wing the flying freak. Before it plummets to the ground and smashes to bits, I turn and look for—

  I get slammed into from behind, violently flung into one of the longstanding columns. After blowing right through it, I come to a stop in a very painful, ungraceful roll. I probably looked like one of those cartwheeling skiers who loses all their equipment going down a steep slope. I think the term is called a yard sale. Thankfully, I didn’t lose anything, primarily my arms and legs, although they do break horribly. They heal faster than the pain can register, but the sound of my bones breaking is unnerving for sure.

  All of this happens while the monstrous Ares stands and watches. It doesn’t move an inch. Just the beast’s eyes move, watching as the fight unfolds. Waiting for his opportunity to join in.

  A hand grabs my wrist and yanks me to my feet.

  I turn and let loose a punch that would have killed a water buffalo, but hit nothing.

  “Dammit, Hank!”

  I look down and see Nicole on the ground, cowering away from me. She must have ducked my wild strike and hit the dirt. Thank God, I didn’t connect.

  “Sorry,” I say, helping her up.

  She gets right to the point. “What do we do now? We need to get out of here before that thing attacks us.” She motions to Ares. “We don’t have enough ammo to slow it down, let alone take it out.”

  She’s right. I’m the only one that can survive. The last thing I need right now is to watch my friends and father fall while trying to help. It’ll be a guaranteed loss for them.

  “Fall back to the shaft entrance and get the hell out of here. Have Kane call in whatever heavy hitters he has available. We can’t let either Ares or Nannot make it to the surface.” She’s about to argue. “Blow the damn shaft if you have to. If I survive, I’ll find another way out. I promise.”

  I make sure she understands the meaning behind the ‘I promise.’ I want to make it as crystal-clear to her about how I feel.

  “If I lost you after all this, I—”

  “Argh!”

  Nannot screams and leaps straight at Nicole. If he gets to her, there is nothing I can do. I do the only thing I can think of. I shove her away hard, sending her flying into a rough, but survivable landing twenty feet away.

  He lands in front of me, expecting to tear into a very killable human being, but only finds me instead. I’m just as invulnerable as he is, but unlike the others, I’m not scared of dying.

  I land a massive blow to the side of his head, concentrating on another pressure wave between my fist and his head. I increase it exponentially and cave in his skull. Then, as his body goes limp, I grab him and hurl him into the stone forest, breaking his body in several spots. That should buy us a few seconds at least.

  At least… I hope it does.

  Kane and my father join me, having already helped Nicole to her feet. I notice she’s limping and holding her ribs, deflating some of my recently discovered warrior persona.

  Dammit. I knew I pushed her too hard.

  She sees my concern. “I’m fine Hank, thank you.”

  “You sure?”

  She nods. “Could’ve been worse.”

  “Like how?” I ask.

  “Like, dead worse.”

  I know she’s right, but I still feel bad about doing what I did. I could have killed her if I reacted with any more force.

  It’s then I realize something. Everything I do is based on my reactions, which for me is mostly an emotional response. Could I use that for a better, greater good? Something inside me says I can. But how?

  Okay, what are my strongest inner feelings? What drives me the most? I look around at this once beautiful world and then at the people who are with me.

  My dad is an easy one. I mean he’s my dad. The guy’s my hero, no question, even though I’ve never told him that to his face for fear of embarrassing myself. The man dug me out of the gutter when I was at my lowest and gave me a job. He gave me new life, a purpose. One that I really love regardless of how I act.

  Kane has turned into a most trustworthy ally and partner in crime. The man has been by my side from the moment this crap started. What’s even more remarkable, is that he’s never once questioned my judgment or stepped over any line even though we’d only just met.

  And then there’s Nicole…

  The tough-as-nails, blonde with an iron will. She has forced a new emotion building within me I thought long dead. Love. I think I love the woman. I know I undeniably have strong feelings for her for sure. The pain and agony she has felt in her life are like a beacon to me, calling for me to help her. I want to hold her. I want to tell her she’s safe—not that she can’t handle herself or anything. She’s proven that much and then some for sure.

  My father, Kane, and Nicole, I care for these people, deeply. I would do anything for them. My family, my friend, and my…something else. They’re what matters most. And that emotion is what drives me now.

  Love.

  I know it sounds pretty cliché and made-for-TV, but it’s the truth.

  It’s like the way the three brothers loved their sibling, and how the mighty Thoth loved his son—even after his treachery. They forgave him for what he’s done. It’s blind, unconditional affection.

  I turn and look towards the imposing form of Ares. He still hasn’t moved but is now looking in our direction, his saucer-sized black eyes staring at us. Wait, black eyes? They aren’t red or even bleeding. Nannot has no control over him. Come to think of it, his eyes weren’t bleeding when he first emerged from the forest either.

  I wonder…

  I get an unbelievably crazy idea and decide to keep it to myself. I don’t think the others would approve either way.

  “Go,” I say, motioning to the courtyard exit.

  Before anyone can argue, I turn and walk straight toward Ares. The immense creature is even bigger when you’re less than three feet from its lowered snout, which is eye level with me now.

  It doesn’t move or blink. It just stands there and watches. I lift my hand in a non-threatening posture like I’m about to pet an unfamiliar dog. The beast lets out an almost nervous snort but doesn’t attack. I calmly place my hand on the tip of its nose and close my eyes.

  FLASH!

  I see more pain and torment. It’s the same as the others—as Rhonar. The torture these things went through is almost too much to bear. It’s sickening. But Ares is different. I can feel something else in there. I can feel another consciousness, like a hidden brain within the monster’s brain. I feel an almost human presence in there, scared and subservient, but it’s clearly there. It’s like a person’s consciousness got plucked out of a body and implanted into this one.

  I’m not sure if Ares can understand me, but I try anyway. “For the crimes against you, I am sorry, and for your crimes against humanity you are forgiven.” I then project my feelings as much as I can into the beast. The love I have for my family and friends and the loss and emptiness I have inside of me for what Nannot has done.

  “You’re free from his will, you must feel it. He cannot invade your mind anymore,” I don’t have a real reason for saying this, only that it feels right. Must be more of the knowledge handed down to me. “He’s taken a new host and can't hurt someone of your strength. Do not fear.”

  He grunts when I say someone and not something.

  I continue, “The others fought on pure animalistic instinct, not feeling, or knowing the difference. But you’re smarter than that. You’re stronger than that. Aren’t you?”

  I hope I’m right on the not having the ability part, but I believe I’m right. I think that’s why Ares never attacked. Plus, he being the first and best of Nannot’s Nightmares gives me the belief that he is stronger both physically and mentally, built with no real weaknesses. I’m assuming that’s why his eyes aren’t bleeding like the rest too. It’s why I could approach him without losing my head.

  Releasing our connection, I open my eyes at the sound of a relaxing sigh as it emanates from the obsidian bear’s nostrils.

  The ground around us buckles and bounces, toppling columns and white marble busts to the ground. The only things not affected by the sudden jolt are Ares and me.

  “Is that all you’ve got!” Nannot bellows, still putting himself back together. He’s standing in a two-foot deep impact crater, having just landed from the air above.

  I look at my friends and then back to Ares.

  Ares snorts again, and we both turn as one and face our foe. Everyone, including Nannot, gives us an understandably confused look.

  Glancing back over at the rest of my team, who have since moved farther away, I calmly say, “Go, we’ve got this!”

  47

  And I thought Kane was an absolute beast! Nope, not even close. Ares is, in fact, an absolute beast. Literally. The Mac-truck sized, living shadow of a polar bear fights exactly like you’d think. He’s unbelievably ferocious and unrelenting in his assault. He starts by running and leaping straight into Nannot, who tries and miserably fails to protect himself with a strong gust of wind. Ares falls from the sky like a giant razorblade missile, tearing into the wannabe god.

  I guess finally having the ability and wherewithal to revolt against his creator without fear of reprisal is too much for Ares to handle. He doesn’t stop. He just keeps clawing and slashing and biting Nannot, until there’s nothing left but a smear of gore on the stone floor. The broken pieces of Nannot are indiscernible and impossible to identify. Even the best CSI in the world wouldn’t have a shot.

  Ares calls out to me in concern, almost whimpering. My shoulders fall when I step around the hulking mass and see the impossible. The limp and disfigured form of Nannot is moving. Well, inching would be a more apt description. Still, it isn’t good either way.

  I cringe as a leg starts to grow back where a bloody stump should be, gagging at the sight. Until now I’ve never actually seen what it looks like when one of us regenerates. It’s as putrid as you might think it would be. In the times I’ve witnessed Nannot piece himself back together, he wasn’t missing any limbs.

  Ugh.

  Thigh muscle weaves itself across the bone, meeting with other tissue. I can actually hear the slurp as the knee joint reforms, followed by the sound of it audibly popping back into place. The other leg is also re-growing at the same rate, as are the arms.

  Okay, this isn’t working. I need to change tactics…

  As if sensing my inner struggle, Ares nudges my hand with his snout, forcing his massive head under it.

  Huh, smart piece of rock.

  Then I remember that there’s human intelligence in there somewhere. Maybe I can use the same mental will I tried on Ares, but this time on Nannot. Kind of like the force in that movie with that galaxy that was really far away.

  I put my hand out and focus. I center on all the good things in my life and in the world. I visualize an invisible energy beam filled with these thoughts and feelings shooting out from my palm and hitting Nannot square in his ugly mug.

  I get slammed back by a gust of wind, knocked to the ground, hearing him cry out in anger.

  I sit up with a moan. “Well,” I say, getting to my feet. “It seems like I hit a sore spot.” I glance to Ares. “Good, let’s do it again.”

  Trying again, this time using both hands, I get into a more athletic position. I dig my right foot into the ground and lean forward onto my left leg, this time ready for the fight. I think of Dad, Nicole, and Kane. I secretly wish they were here fighting alongside me, giving me strength, but I realize deep down it would have been impossible. It was the right call to have them head back. Only one of us can come back from the dead after all.

  I snap out of my daze as I get hit with a heavy-duty surge of air. Reacting on instinct, I block most of it staying on my feet. It does slide my back a little, but I don’t lose my focus. I counter, projecting my will into every ounce of strength I have, which is to say, a lot, considering I’m immortal and all.

  “Rrrar…get out of my head!” Nannot shrieks while increasing the intensity of his maelstrom. It’s like I’m in the world’s most powerful wind tunnel.

  The sound of the world ending almost makes me lose my concentration…until I realize it’s just Ares roaring, moving in for the kill. I’m still in such awe by his morbid bloodlust. He honestly wants to slaughter his former master. He takes pleasure in it.

  He goes to pounce but gets knocked to the side by a bolt of blood-red lightning as it hits home and obliterates the earth beneath him. I watch as the big stone beast gets flung, eventually skidding to a halt, as it takes out five of the royal statues circling the courtyard.

  I’m honestly in shock that anything could be powerful enough to take down Ares. The creature has seemed so indestructible for the most part.

  I continue my attack of kindness, but chance a glance over and see the now smoldering giant slowly getting to his feet. There are a half-dozen fist-sized craters in his right flank. But he could care less about the battle damage as he just roars again, charging his enemy for a third time.

  I can’t let Ares get destroyed, I think. I need him as much as he needs me right now. I push even harder this time, holding my breath and grunting, thinking it might help.

  It does, but only a little. Another massive bolt of lightning screams down and sizzles past Ares, barely missing him and striking a column. It explodes in a shower of rock, leaving a three-foot stump, the other nine feet gone.

  “Dammit,” I yell and flinch. That bolt was a lot bigger than the last.

  Let’s try something different.

  I hold my pose, keeping my left hand extended out. I then bring my right hand up so I can see it and close my fist. Again, I visualize the energy I’m using, but this time will it to appear. A strong green aura wraps itself around my hand, making its way up to my elbow and stopping. It moves like water but sizzles like an electrical current.

  Just like the three priests used while trying to defend Atlantis from their brother, I think to myself, slowly starting to smile. They fought and used a strange energy like this as their weapon of choice.

  With speed that betrays his size, Ares moves in and grabs Nannot’s wrist, clamping down and yanking. Nannot screams in agony and is then thrown high into the air, landing a hundred yards away. The mammoth beast roars again and charges after his prey, the ground rumbling and protesting after every heavy footfall.

  I hold up my other hand and encase it in the same swirling energy. Feeling bold, I hold out my hand Iron Man-style and try to fire a burst. I send a stream of the energy spiraling out of control and almost decapitate the statue of Thoth. If he had a five-o-clock shadow, I would have given the big guy a shave for sure.

  Okay, so I guess we’ll just stick with close combat fisticuffs.

  I tell the aura to stay put and not recede, and it obeys. Then, I grin. It actually stays put! I even start thinking about random stuff, purposely lapsing in concentration, seeing if it’ll disappear.

  Puppies. Harmonicas. Pizza. Toboggans.

  Nope, it’s still there and glowing with the same power as before. I then tell it to extinguish, and it does. Flame on, flame off. Despite the danger, I can’t help but be excited, thinking this is pretty damn cool.

  A bomb goes off close by, and I spin, watching as Ares goes airborne again. This time he lands hard, tumbling into the stone forest, smashing a dozen of the trees. The sound of him moaning in pain makes me stumble back in shock.

  Oh damn.

  Ares is hurt.

  Nannot actually injured the goliath! Nannot then lifts himself off the ground and slowly drifts over to where Ares stopped, following the audible whimper and trail of destruction towards his target. Through the psychotic cackling of the real Nightmare of Atlantis, I hear the sparking and popping of electricity. Static fills the air, making the hair on my arms stand on end.

  I look up, towards the cavern’s ceiling, and see a swirling cloud start to form. It’s quickly getting bigger and more intense by the second, directly over Nannot and Ares. Miniature crimson lightning bolts crack and discharge in every direction, threatening to strike anything and everything within range

 

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