by Nathan Howe
Good. James left and went searching for information on Petrice.
Petrice
A foreign room greeted Petrice. Where am I? The last thing she recalled was a skirmish with zombies. Spector, whoever that was, set up the ambushes and controlled the zombies. He had twisted her family against her and made them hate James and her.
Petrice rolled onto her side. Her head throbbed worse than it did after her twenty-first birthday. All the training she has been through, and injuries, none of them compared to this. Opening her mouth then shutting it. She wanted to scream. To let out the anger, to make it go away.
“Good, you're awake,” a robust man said. Next to him stood Chilling and James. “I'm Doctor Gary. Let me check your vitals then you can talk to your friends.”
Petrice nodded. He used an ice cold stethoscope on her back. “Breathe in for me.” She took the biggest breath she could. “Okay now out.” She exhaled. “Okay. How do you feel?”
“Like I've been run over by a semi-truck.”
Dr. Gary nodded, “Can you stand for me?”
Petrice gingerly sat up in the bed. Her head spun. “Ohh.”
She fell back to the bed barely able to even sit up. The world went in and out of focus before it settled back to normal.
“Okay. Dizziness. To be expected. Having that much Netherworld sent into you can wreak havoc on your body. But you should be fine in the next few days. Your cousin got you here just in time.”
Petrice glanced at James. “Thank you.”
“I owed you.”
She smiled. They saved each other now. Petrice sighed. Now, more than ever, she was thankful she rushed James here. It had already been worth it, but this made it doubly so. Not only did it save his life but hers. Petrice had trouble dealing with the fact that James had to go through the alterations he did. No matter how much he seemed happy. It couldn't be easy adjusting to it. The doctor left the room.
She eyed Chilling. “What happened?”
Chilling stepped forward next to her bed in the tiny room. James was on the other side. “Spector revealed himself. Do you remember that?”
“Vaguely. My memory's fuzzy.”
“Side effect. Don't worry in time you'll have them back.” Chilling stared blankly past her. “Well, he used the Stone of Azuria on your brothers. They are beyond our aid now. Nothing we can do.”
Petrice cried. No! “Are you sure?”
Chilling nodded. “I'm sorry. Once that much Netherworld is forced into you, there's no turning back. If we tried, we'd only make the connection deeper, bestow power from the Netherworld into them. As it is now, they can't wield Netherworld powers. So that's a plus.”
Small victory. “What did Spector do to me?”
“Instead of transitioning you into a Netherworld minion, which he could have with the power he pulled, he attempted to kill you. Sent more darkness into you than I have ever seen. You should have died Mortal. You have a strong will.”
“That's one way of putting it,” James said. Heavy bags hung under his eyes. Petrice imagined him keeping vigil over her while she slept.
Her will might be strong, but not comparable to other Ardents. They could manipulate it to increase strength and endurance or to heal. Almost all Ardents had strong wills. Colby and Valiant Rush had the ability to tap into theirs.
“How long has it been?” Petrice asked.
“Three days,” James said.
Damn. “Oh.” Petrice realized just how lucky she was. To be out for three days. Most don't bounce back from injuries like that.
“Thankfully nothing has happened. We've been on high alert across the city. Especially in Djinn Park.”
“I'm sure the Withering are happy about that.”
James grunted with a smile. “Oh yeah. Djinn Park is on the up and more.”
“Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Once this is over it will go back to the way it was,” Chilling said.
James frowned. “I hope not.”
Petrice adored that James was an idealist. Hoping for the best, trying to make things better around them. “I guess dozens of meetings happened.”
Chilling nodded. “Several a day. At each of the buildings. Most led by Invincible himself. He's pissed.”
Having Invincible mad at you was enough for Petrice to stay good. He might not be as strong as her brother Scott, but he was close, and the stone mallet he carried was wicked. It scared the daylights out of even the hardest of Ardents.
“Is there any Netherworld left in me?”
“No. They are good here. I've assisted them over the years to learn ways to remove the taint if they are able to respond fast enough. And you are free.”
Days later Petrice walked around the room. Her strength was coming back. The more she moved around, the faster she recovered her power and energy. James kept an around-the-clock vigil on her, leaving only when summoned to a meeting or forced to go on a patrol with one of the other heroes. The heroes increased the patrols, using even those in training. Petrice itched to be with them. Hopefully soon.
Over the last few days, her family had visited, her mother was worried about her. She tried to convince her to retire from the Hero Coalition. She could take up a job in the normal world away from Ardents. That wouldn't happen, Petrice loved working for the Coalition. It was part of her. The room filled with flowers and gift baskets others dropped off for her.
James walked in with Chilling and Invincible. “You appear better,” Chilling said. He hadn't been back since the first day she woke.
“Thank you. Can I leave yet?”
“That's why we are here,” Invincible said who stood at the door. “They've cleared you. Not for patrols, which is unfortunate, but to exit the hospital. You can go home, or you can stay here.”
“Home.”
James stepped over to Invincible. “Aren't you worried that Spector will try to kidnap her?”
“No. Since he showed himself and revealed his plan I'm certain you and Mortal are safe. He'll be doing his best to understand the Stone of Azuria, to harness the full power of it.”
“Can it let him take over the city?” Petrice asked. She walked around the room picking up the few things people brought her to take home.
Chilling nodded. “Easily. You can summon hordes of Netherworld creatures with the stone. It was kept hidden for a reason.”
Great. “Let me go out. Try to find Spector.”
“Mortal, we are searching for him. Chilling here with the Netherworld and people in the streets, Plus our psychics,” Invincible stood tall filling the room, stern. “If I thought you'd be able to aid us I would let you. I need you to recover.”
Petrice nodded.
Spector
After revealing himself, Spector poured over the book probing it for the keys to harnessing more of the Stone of Azuria. Chilling made his skin crawl. If anyone stopped his plan, it would be him.
More and more of the Stone revealed itself to Spector. Learning to use the Stone of Azuria wasn't easy. Much more was involved than throwing Netherworld at it. Doing so wrongly risked killing oneself, something Spector wanted to avoid.
A throat cleared behind him. Spector stood and spun. Super and One Rush stood in front of him. “What?” Spector asked annoyed. He'd lost track of his thoughts.
Super nodded and walked closer. “Reports coming in that Mortal lived. That she is now well enough to depart the hospital in downtown.”
That couldn't be. Spector sent more Netherworld darkness into her than he'd done to anyone. It should have led to a slow, painful death. It infuriated him that she could have lived, it must be that Chilling. “Your information must be wrong.”
Super shook his head. “No. Boss. It's correct.”
“Fine.” Spector huffed barely containing his anger and disgust. “It's no matter. I'll kill her soon enough. It's time to make the final preparations. Tonight the assault on Cynosure begins. Go ready the rest. Make sure these idiots understand their part. I will not tolerate any mi
stakes.”
“As you command,” Super said. One Rush hung his head while Super frowned. Sure, they wanted to take over the city but for themselves. Not surprisingly, they had contempt for Spector now. Once Spector controlled the city he'd show his dominance over them. He would make them crawl to thank him for what he's done for them. But that was for later, and he’d enjoy every moment of it.
Spector went back to the book. He read the passage over again to make sure. The path was clear to him now. Spector collected the book and walked to the center of the warehouse, his throne room. He was eager to get started and begin his reign of terror. The thought of the people in pure horror of him propelled him to walk faster.
He set the book in the middle of the room on a small podium. He pulled out several bottles of blood, a mix. The book told him several types of blood mixed, specifically Phoenix, Elf, Fey, and Human. He used the blood to draw a unique design from the book on the floor. The most intricate drawing Spector had ever seen. The work took him an hour to draw. When Spector finally finished the design, he trembled with excitement.
Sweat poured down his back and face as he finished the work. It was hard and tedious, and at times frustrating, but it was worth it. Taking a step back, “Perfect.”
Now it was time to perform the actual magic and access the Netherworld. Spector chanted in Latin following the book to the letter. He pulled the Netherworld into himself, more than he ever attempted before using the Stone of Azuria. Once he reached the peak, he pushed the Netherworld darkness into the blood on the floor as he continued to chant.
The world darkened around him. The floor vibrated under his feet. His head spun. This was to be expected from tapping this much Netherworld and channeling it into another object. Spector continued on. The book didn't tell him the time it required. But it made sure that he kept chanting and channeling into the blood.
Spector's eyes watered, his body ached from the exertion. Would this actually work? It took longer than any other Netherworld trick he'd done so far. Was the book wrong? Spector sweated from head to toe. His body wobbled. Right before he was about to give up a lone figure formed in front of him.
A Lich. One of the most powerful creatures that called the Netherworld home. Spector read of them but never seen one. Grave Knights formed around him, with many other dark servants of the Netherworld. Soon not only the Lich and Knights rose from the ground but more zombies and ghouls. And not in just the warehouse, but around it. Stretching out into the city.
The Lich stepped forward and channeled dark matter into Spector. Spector continued the spell. His own power exploded to extreme levels as he had hoped. More and more of the Netherworld flowed into him. More and more creatures erupted under his influence. He'd be able to take over the city.
He ceased channeling. The spell complete. He went back to the throne room and summoned Super and One Rush. They arrived a few minutes later.
“Are the preparations all set?” Spector asked.
“They are.”
“Good. Go. Attack downtown. Concentrate on the Hero Coalition. You will have the support of the largest Netherworld army the world has ever seen.”
James
Outside the headquarters in downtown James waited with Petrice for a Hero Coalition SUV to drive around to pick them up. “I could've flown,” Petrice said.
James shrugged. “I can't fly, and you shouldn't be alone.” James scanned the street in front of them. Something's off. He couldn't place it. The air thickened around him, the scent. Close to that of zombie or a mix of it and something else. “What is going on around here?” James’ body tensed further as he tried to focus on the threat.
“No idea.” The sun suddenly blacked out, bordering an eclipse. The air cooled around them dropping twenty degrees instantly. James shivered and continued to search for the cause. This couldn't be good. Around here, darkening sky’s were always followed by a dangerous Ardent.
The statue of Titus wobbled before toppling to the ground. James sprinted as fast as he possibly could, moving Petrice out of the way. As if materializing out of nowhere, Super and One Rush stood in front of them with legs wide and curled lips. Both their fist trembled as they glared at them. Scott and David were truly dead to James. Packed tightly near them reared up the cause of the terrible stench. Not only zombies surrounded them, but creatures James only recently learned of. Liches, grave knights, dark servants, and much more that James didn't remember the names of.
“Bring enough?” Petrice asked.
Spector must be around somewhere using the stone to summon these. It was the only way to summon them to earth. They didn't want to trespass on our plane like zombies and ghouls. But once summoned, they would cause more damage than the others. These beings were pissed off after being ripped from their home.
“You think this is a lot,” One Rush said. He stepped forward, waved his arms while he spun in a circle. “This is only the beginning.”
Great. Chilling warned them that if Spector figured out the stone, he would have infinite power. This wasn't going to be easy.
The sirens at the headquarters sounded. A little late. Above the building, James saw many of the Ardents who fly taking off. The whole island of downtown must be under attack. Spector had the force of the Netherworld behind him now. All James had was nanobots and a mechanical arm.
Petrice stood next to James in a staring contest with David. Neither moving. Petrice's skin flushed in anger. “You will not get past us,” Petrice said. She took an aggressive stance thrusting herself forward. “You worthless pile of garbage.”
James gasped. Petrice never talked that way.
Super grunted and nodded to One Rush. He lifted his leg. James wasn't going to be tricked with that one again. He snagged Petrice and rushed out of the range of the barrage.
“You can't run from us,” Super shouted at him and leaped into the air chasing. One Rush raised his hand into the air, lightning from the sky struck him, and he disappeared. A lightning strike erupted in front of James, and One Rush now stood there with a grin on his face.
“Don't look so surprised.” He punched James in the face knocking him into Petrice, forcing them both backward. Damn, that was quick. Lightning fast, James was still unable to keep up with that, not even with his super speed and reflexes. He slid backward with Petrice behind him.
When he finished sliding, Petrice flew up into the sky to avoid another attack. “I'll alert the others.”
“Hurry!” James shrieked.
Super landed behind him and swung. James let the nanobots take over. If he didn't, he'd be a dead man in seconds. James became Broken, the hero. He let control of his body go allowing his body to react before he even thought. Super lunged at him, Broken eluded him, dodging to the left.
Super's eyes widened. Stunned that Broken easily avoided his strike. “You are quick. But not fast enough.”
Several Netherworld creatures surrounded him. He had nowhere to run.
Petrice
At the top of the building, a line of heroes flew off in every direction. From this height, Petrice saw the destruction that occurred in a few short minutes. If the attack was sustained, the city would be destroyed beyond repair. They had to find Spector and the Stone of Azuria.
Chilling stood on the edge of the building, enveloped in a shroud of darkness from the Netherworld. His eyes glowed a bright blue, standing in stark contrast to the black cloud that surrounded him. Petrice landed on the roof, Invincible walked over. “Broken is surrounded on the ground, by both Super, One Rush, and countless Netherworld creatures,” Petrice said.
Invincible nodded. “Watch Chilling. He's sifting through the Netherworld in hopes of a clue to stall Spector. I'll aid Broken.”
With his giant stone mallet in hand, he leaped off the building. Petrice watched as he plummeted to the ground below. He couldn't fly. But his invincibility would protect him. He was truly invincible, hence the name. Even with all that, jumping off the tallest building in the world seemed dang
erous to Petrice. She hoped he'd be enough to delay the horde that assaulted the building below.
Petrice kept one eye on Chilling and the other on the Ardents taking flight, many of them carried others. Pixie flew over to her. “I can't believe Spector summoned so many. It's unreal. All of downtown is under attack.”
Fires erupted over the skyline, and buildings erupted. An explosion sounded in the distance, total war had broken out. People ran for their lives. Shouted in terror. The roads flooded with panicked, angry people, horns beeped, crashes lined the streets around the building. Petrice's heart sank. Her home the city, in ruin.
On the roof, a radio had been set up. From it blurted reports from members of the Hero Coalition and Cynosure PD.
“Hopefully Chilling can locate a way to Spector fast so we can end this before nothing is left.”
Pixie nodded. She glanced below and squinted her eyes. “I'm needed.”
She flew down the side of the building to aid in the struggle, her bow out ready to join the fray when she was close enough. She shrank closer to the ground, almost impossible for Petrice to see if she fired. A hail of arrows, ripping through a horde of the Netherworld creatures.
All that remained on the roof was Petrice, Chilling, and Kraftig who was manning the radio. She turned to him. “How bad is it?”
“Could be worse.”
“How so?” she asked with concern.
“We got word from Djinn Park almost immediately. The HQ there sent out forces to slow down the battles across the city. But they showed up all over the city. Not just here. We weren't ready for that. The Midtown building is in bad shape.”
No! Petrice wanted to rush to add in its defense. She didn't want to lose her home base. As much as she didn't mind working in downtown, midtown was where she belonged.