by J. J. Egosi
“Though I can’t say I’ve been hit quite like that,” Michael said.
“I’m ready to raise the stakes if you are, Michael.” Ursula grinned.
Michael smirked. Strings of electricity coursed from his scepter, igniting the dusty air.
“If a battle of magic is what you’re looking for, that’s fine with me. I could certainly use the training.”
“You’ll get that and so much more with me. Trust me.” Ursula warned.
She hurled herself back into the battlefield with a blackened storm around her fists. Grinning, Michael struck with his scepter. He clashed his lightning against her shadows, sending the battlefield in a fist of molten black and white.
Alexa, Julianna, and Isabella shielded their eyes from the impact. As the smoke settled, they peaked over their arms to see the battle continue. The state of the battle brought expressions of dread onto some and elation onto another as Ursula appeared to gain the advantage.
Michael and Ursula rushed through the battlefield, sending it in a frenzy of magic energy. Ursula punched and kicked her way through the voltage, breaking forth a path with her shadow magic as Michael unfurled convulsing streams with one ferocious grunt and a swing of his scepter after another.
“I must admit … you’re a tough one,” Michael said with a heavy pant as he continued to thrust his scepter in her direction.
“Don’t patronize me. Or do you just enjoy complimenting your opponents?” Ursula asked, veraciously countering back with her darkened fists.
“Perhaps.” Michael thought back to one of his past battles—his first as the archangel—against the three elementals. “I’ve defeated much larger adversaries, as well. Strong as you are, it’ll take a lot more than fists and shadow magic to defeat me.” Michael said, matter-of-factly, as his attacks inched towards her face.
“You don’t say,” she replied.
She grabbed his scepter by its head, stopping it in its track. “Formidable as your previous skirmishes may have been, none could compare to the denizen I have in store for you, Michael.”
“Do it! End this now!” Alexa shouted with a grin.
“As you wish,” Ursula said.
Michael responded, “Wait, what are you talking about?”
“I feared this would happen,” Julianna said.
“Michael, watch out!” Isabella exclaimed. “She’s going to summon one of her titans.”
Michael gasped. His chest tightened as the skies went black and the wind suddenly grew stronger. He watched with terror dawning over the once glowing horizon as a purple ring appeared on her finger.
“I should have known you’d resort to using a titan ring. A shame you’re willing to take this battle so far,” Michael said.
“There’s no distance I won’t travel for Alexa,” she refuted.
“But, why? What are you getting out of your relationship with her?” Michael pressed. He looked over at Alexa, hoping to get an explanation. Instead, she responded with a disinterested and far off gaze.
“The nature of our bond doesn’t concern you. If I were you, I’d be more worried about the titan,” Ursula shouted.
“A titan,” Michael muttered. He tried to envision such a towering beast—one capable of inciting fear and domination among all those that sought them. He shuddered at the notion of three being in her possession.
“And once I summon him, it’ll all be over for you,” Ursula warned him with a confidently dark smile.
“Don’t do this,” Michael pleaded.
“It’s too late,” Ursula announced. The skies erupted as a vortex manifested among the swirling clouds above. “You had your chance to give up your ring when you did. Now, you must suffer for your disobedience.”
“You haven’t any idea what you’re doing. A power like this could”—
“It matters not what happens to your world,” Alexa interjected before Julianna could finish. “This is the devastation our rings carry and the resolution we possess in collecting the others. If you won’t back down, this is your fate.”
The phenomenon in the sky spread far and wide, for all to see. The villages of both kingdoms took notice, falling into a wave of panic. The people fled into their homes, screaming and closing their doors with the sounds of roars in the clouds.
This is a resolution to serve you, Ursula thought. Terrified as I am, I’ll do this to make you happy with me.
Isabella and Julianna looked over at Ursula, noticing her fist trembling as she raised it towards the clouds.
“She’s afraid?” They both thought.
Michael’s eyes widened from fear. His lips quivered as the darkness dragged him to the brink of terror. Even the surrounding sounds seemed to be swallowed by the terror of something monolithic approaching. He felt his mind slipping away, then the sounds of shouts snapped him back.
“Don’t worry, Michael. If I can take one down, so can you,” Isabella shouted.
“Yes, we believe in you. Now, take this blue-haired psychopath out, already,” Julianna added.
Michael looked at their smiling faces, disoriented for a moment before taking a deep breath and smiling back. “Thank you.”
He then looked back over at Ursula, noticing the fear in her. Despite his readiness to speak out again, he knew she would ignore him. He bit back his anguish and looked the other way.
“What’s that face for?” Ursula asked. “Are you intimidated by my power?”
Michael looked back, gritting his teeth. “Summon your titan if that’s what you want. As long as there’s someone who believes in me, I won’t back down.”
Ursula smiled. The winds grew stronger and the ground below them broke with the emergence of glowing black fissures.
“A most foolish mistake.”
Ursula smiled as she looked down at the ground. The wind blew through her hair. With a deep breath, she raised her ring-bearing fist high, preparing to chant in her titan’s arrival.
“Oh, mighty beast of Transylvanian delight. Rise from your shallow grave and lead the pack to victory. Never will those from such inferior realms question your might again. Come forth! Lycanthrope, titan of the second dimension!”
With the end of her chant, came a painful pause and silence filled the air. The winds halted, and the ground appeared to calm in place. Until suddenly, a furry hand clad in bloody claws emerged from below, in a chasm of infinite darkness. Michael watched, in horror, as a beast grander than any he’d ever seen pulled itself onto the surface.
“Is that”—Michael said, nearly falling over at the sight.
“Yes! The last titan you’ll ever see!” Ursula stood before the titan: a giant werewolf with sharp fangs and jagged spikes on its back. It stood hundreds of feet, reaching for the clouds.
“Oh, no. It’s the biggest creature I’ve ever seen!” said Michael.
“That’s right. Now, go my beast. Attack him with your Transylvanian howling!” Ursula commanded. The beast howled at the emerging full moon as what remained of the day slipped into the night. The titan’s unyielding stomp created shockwaves across the battlefield that nearly broke the land below them once again.
Blocking his ears, Michael could no longer concentrate on his fighting. “What a roar on that beast!”
The damaging sounds of Lycanthrope battered Julianna and Isabella too as they pushed against their ears in defense. Alexa looked up with glistening eyes. A grin formed across her face.
Ursula called off the beast’s howl and smiled. Calming down, Michael took his hands down from his ears and looked back at her. He breathed heavily as his eyes shook from the intensity of the werewolf’s unbridled rage.
“Why did you stop?”
Ursula looked at him with a callous glare. “That’s the power of this titan. It came from an age when powerful undead creatures known as vampires ruled the world. Then one day, they waged war with another powerful undead race known as the werewolves. Both seeking absolute control of the dimension, they fought until there was only one victor. T
hat victor was the vampires.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Michael asked
“Because this titan is a reminder of its ancestors’ defeat by the hands of their enemy, forced to live the rest of its days as nothing more than a servant to one’s bidding. In this case, mine.”
“That may all be well and true, but I’ll still find a way to defeat it!” Michael confidently said as he gazed up at the snarling beast.
“Fat chance. This creature comes from a whole other world. One I doubt you can remember,” said Ursula.
Michael smiled. “I don’t need to. You said it, yourself. The vampires could defeat the werewolves,” he said.
“What’s your point?” Ursula asked, confused and annoyed.
“My point is; if they can be destroyed once, then they can be destroyed again!” said Michael.
Ursula looked at him and snickered. “How arrogant. Do you realize how much stronger a titan is, compared to a simple pack of werewolves? You’ll die for those words, just like the other disgusting hounds. Lycanthrope, attack with your spine crushing claw!”
The largest hand Michael had ever seen—a paw large enough to take out an entire building—came straight for him and met him.
Michael pointed his scepter towards the beast’s hand, harvesting electricity from the stormy skies like a lightning rod.
The electricity reached the tip of his scepter, only fading into the darkness upon arrival. “What’s happening?”
“I guess the howl from my beast was so loud, your scepter didn’t hear you call out to it!” said Ursula, smiling. Maybe try something else. That is if you can. And fast.”
Michael watched the gaping paw break through the atmosphere, reaching toward him with a blackened pulse surrounding it. Trembling with fear, he gritted his teeth and attempted to evade its traps with flight, only to find that his wings were just as unresponsive.
“My wings, they won’t work!”
He evaded the assault just in time. His inability to fly didn’t make an ounce of sense to him.
“I suppose you’re not the archangel of legend you once were. Once you’re in range of its howling attack, it renders your flight capabilities worthless and will be for the rest of our battle. Oh, well,” said Ursula.
Michael’s widened gaze wasn’t going anywhere as the titan came straight for him.
“We have to do something,” Isabella screamed.
“You recall the rules Alexa made. No one is to interfere,” Julianna replied.
“But”—
“If we were to step in, that would give Alexa the excuse to do the same. And with two more titans in their possession we can’t afford to take that risk,” Julianna explained.
The reality set in for Isabella as she stared at the undying smirk across Alexa’s face.
“In that case, Michael will have to brace the attack,” Isabella said.
Julianna nodded as they both watched the descent of the titan’s hand with anxiety swelling.
“Great work, Ursula. You’ve made me proud today.” A proudly smiling Alexa said.
The titan’s hand crashed like an earthquake. Michael screamed in pain when he took the full force of the devastation. Julianna and Isabella shrieked with terror. The fear locked them in place.
The fist slowly rose from the ground, leaving its ruins behind. Michael laid there, unconscious and swept away by his self-doubt, phasing out the cries from his friends, as they ran to his aid.
My powers. They failed me.
The attack transported Michael to the darkest part of his mind, once again. He gazed around, questioning what had just occurred.
Was I not good enough? Was it my destiny to lose? And who is that Ursula woman to Alexa? What does she want out of her?
Suddenly, his eyes burst open to the sight of Isabella and Julianna tending to him.
“Impossible! No one’s ever survived an attack from that titan,” said Ursula.
“You fool. He’s not just anyone. He’s the archangel!” said Alexa.
“You’re right. My mistake.” Ursula tightened her fists. “My titan will just have to attack harder.”
“I’m so glad you’re alright.” Isabella helped him to his feet, gripping him in her arms. “I was so worried about you!”
“Likewise, my sweet Michael,” Julianna said, doing the same.
“I appreciate your concern. Thank you.” With their help, Michael returned to his feet and fixed a stern gaze at Ursula.
“I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but it ends today. Titan or not, you’re both finished!” Michael declared.
Ursula and Alexa responded with a stunned look. “Finished? Surely, you jest!” Alexa shouted. “You can’t fly and your scepter doesn’t even work anymore. The only one here who’s finished is you!”
“You’re wrong. As soon as I break this little partnership of yours, it’s all over,” said Michael.
“I beg your pardon?” Alexa replied.
Michael set his sights back at Ursula. “Ursula, why is it you stand by such a cruel woman. I want to know.”
“My decisions are none of your concern,” Ursula insisted.
“I’m aware of that. And I know I can’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do, but just hear me out. I grew up in a house where the highlight of my day was hiding from my masters, hoping to avoid my regular beatings, even if it meant two beatings the next day,” said Michael.
Ursula went into silent thought. “What’s your point, Michael?” she demanded. She tried but failed to hold back tears from trickling down her face.
“I’m saying you don’t have to live that abusive lifestyle. I escaped it and so can you. Now, the master I once hated is one of my closest friends.” Michael looked at Isabella and smiled. Taken by surprise, Isabella looked back and blushed.
“What are you trying to tell me?” Ursula said, now trembling in her voice. “That Alexa is abusive? That I didn’t deserve to be hit?”
Michael paused in disbelief. He remembered the bruises Hecate wore across her arm, wondering if Lucifer manipulated her to feel the same way.
“I’m telling you it’s not too late to stand up to your inner demons, Ursula. More importantly, I want you to take a stand against Alexa and show her you’re your own person who can make your own decisions in life,” said Michael.
“My own person?” Ursula wondered.
“Yes, if there’s anything I’ve learned from my past battles, it’s that the life you live is your own. No one can take that from you,” said Michael.
He recalled his encounter with Hecate and contemplated the way she left their world. The parallels were as similar to him as they were frightening.
“My own life.” Ursula pondered with reluctance. The malice she held within melted.
Taking notice of her calming demeanor, Alexa gritted her teeth.
“Don’t listen to him. He’s full of shit. Do you want that imbecile as your master or would you rather stay with me? Just think of the life I’ve given you. He’ll never be able to do the same!”
“The only life you’ve given her is one of abuse and broken self-confidence,” said Michael.
Alexa responded, “You know nothing!”
“She clearly never wanted to fight me and is only doing this because you ordered her to,” he said with a ferocious look. He then focused his attention back on Ursula, doing his best to calm himself.
“You don’t have to be submissive to anyone. Don’t serve her and definitely don’t serve me. Just serve yourself from now on,” he said with a welcoming smile.
“Serve myself?” asked Ursula.
“Yes. Learn to respect yourself, Ursula. Otherwise, you’ll get stepped on by bullies like Alexa your entire life,” he said, looking over at a sneering Alexa.
“Respect myself?” Ursula said as if none of this ever occurred to her.
“Yes. You’re a kind person. I can sense that. Dig deep and you can find the will to embrace that kindness and leave tha
t darkness behind,” he said with an assuring smile.
Alexa watched with a thundering scowl. With her jaws clenched, her breaths grew fierce. Julianna and Isabella held back tears, basking in the warmth of Michael’s interaction with Ursula.
“Michael truly is a compassionate spirit. Even going as far as aiding his adversary,” said Julianna.
“And for good reason,” Isabella added, “We’re after the same thing. When push comes to shove, we’d be better off colluding.”
Ursula looked around her. The gazes piercing through her from every direction trapped her. She took a deep breath to calm her frantic breathing.
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. You just have to try”—
“I can’t!” said Ursula, cutting Michael off, as a fit of panic came over her.
The ground beneath them crumbled away as the debris levitated. Ursula screamed in pain.
“Ursula, listen to me!” Michael pleaded.
“What’s happening to her?” Julianna asked with a frightened stare.
“This anger. I vaguely remember feeling this way during my battle with Hecate, but it was all so hazy.” Isabella desperately tried to recall it.
“You’ve done it now. I hope you’re happy!” said Alexa.
Ursula’s aura grew as she shattered the surrounding debris. She looked at Michael with blaring crimson eyes as the sclera around them blackened.
“You won’t brainwash me, Michael. I’m tired of listening to what others tell me. Whether it’s you or Alexa, I’m done.”
“But, that’s what I’ve been saying all along. Just be yourself. Not what someone wants you to be,” said Michael.
Those eyes. Is she also an etherial demon? Isabella thought.
“I was told for so many years that the me I was born as was not worth being,” Ursula said, shedding a tear.
“That’s terrible. No one should ever be denied who they are,” said Michael.
“But Alexa she gave me a chance,” Ursula argued.
“No, you gave her a chance and she failed you,” Michael refuted. “Ursula, I saw the real you before our battle. An unusual, yet very innocent and endearing woman who just wants to smile. That is the real you. Not this insecure and enraged mess.”