The Rise

by Nathan Parks

  “Chad! Your nine o’clock!” he yelled as he watched a Demon come running out at the human.

  Chad was unable to turn quickly enough; but fortunately for him, one of the Nephelium turned in time to deflect a blow that would have proven fatal. It did catch the former Alliance member across the shoulder, but his head and limbs were still attached.

  The aggressor screamed out as the being was run through by a sword. Serenity did a quick look over to make sure Chad was ok. He nodded to both her and the Nephelium, who had certainly just saved his life.

  “Thanks!” he stated.

  Zarius saw there were overwhelming odds. He was pretty sure that they were not just fighting individual Fallen warriors, but that some of these monsters were elements of Legion. They had to be, because they just kept coming.

  “Chad,” Zarius yelled, “pull back! Do it! Now!”

  Chad gave a signal, and the front defenses started moving backward as they fought. He could see Serenity had a nasty cut on the side of her head, and her hair was matted in blood. There were several Fallen bodies lying at his feet, but he also saw a few Nephelium. The onslaught kept coming.

  “Serenity, time to move!”

  The duo and their Nephelium counterparts each took the fight one last time to the wave of fresh attackers coming through the doorway and then turned and ran past where Zarius stood. They each caught a glimpse of his hands. They watched as he let go of two grenades.

  “Move back!” he yelled as he started pushing backward.

  One of the Fallen rushed forward and caught Zarius in the face. He felt a large gash open and start bleeding. He reached out and grabbed the Demon by the throat, picked him up off the ground, and then body-slammed him. He relished the sound of the spine snapping and the creature writhing in pain. His large, black boot came down with all the force he could muster; and the heel smashed into the tissue and bone of the monster. Blood sprayed up, and he laughed.

  “This would have been a good day for you to have chosen to be a Possessor and not a fighter, Pal!”

  He looked up as the two grenades detonated in the center of the main hall of Eden. As they did, he was knocked backward by the blast. He watched as the explosions rocked the tree. His heart sank. He had guarded that tree with his very existence for so long before leaving Eden . . . ironic that his actions would cause damage to it.

  He felt hands grabbing at him where he lay. He looked up into the face of Isaiah.

  “Well, don’t you have good timing?”

  Zarius tried to find his footing again. His ears rang, and he could barely make out anything Isaiah was saying; but he did make out a few words, enough to get the point.

  “Kadar got through to the Alliance!” Isaiah attempted to tell him.

  “How? I don't understand!”

  Zarius felt hope returning.

  “Well, it seems that Gene has been holding an important secret: there is a Patmos gate here at Eden. When he heard that the Sanctum fell, he informed me that we could reach Scintillantes through it. I knew that we couldn't spare too many from our team, but Kadar volunteered to go through. He is there now!”

  “That is amazing news!” the Vapor expressed through his exhaustion.

  “Get up, Man! I can’t carry you all the way down the hallway!”

  Zarius was able to finally stand and regain his balance.

  “I need you back with Eve and Leah. They are dealing with Legion back there. I think we can cover up here!”

  “What is the plan? We can’t just keep fighting a never-ending onslaught of infinite Immortals, Brother!”

  Zarius paused. Isaiah was right. They could continue to fight, but eventually they would fall due to loss and exhaustion.

  “There is only one way to skip to the end of all this! Go help Leah and Eve. Hold off Legion as long as you can. I know that my brother is behind this, and yet that coward is still waiting somewhere in the shadows.”

  “And?”

  “It is time for he and I to meet face-to-face.” He looked at one of Kadar’s fighters, “Do you think the Nephelium can maintain the fight up here?”

  The fighter nodded, “No doubt, Sir. We got this!”

  “Ok, hold this front. You will know when to shift toward the back. If what I plan to do works, our attackers are going to shift back around to where Leah, Eve, and Tori are fighting with Legion.”

  The Nephelium warrior acknowledged Zarius’ commands and started barking orders to his fighters to maintain a defense up front.

  The Vapor turned to Isaiah, “I will be back.”

  He looked toward where Chad and Serenity were standing. Their chests were heaving, and each of them had taken a beating but were still alive. That was what mattered.

  “Kadar’s fighters have the front. I want you both to go with Isaiah. We are about to draw our enemy into one area.”

  “How are we . . .”

  Chad stopped with his question as he saw the look of finality on Zarius’ face. These orders were not meant to be followed by questions and answers; these orders were meant to simply be followed. The three headed toward the back of Eden as Zarius fought his way upstairs and into the empty hallway. He stopped for a brief second to catch his breath. His face was bleeding badly and he reached up and touched the gash.

  “That is going to leave a nasty scar.”

  * * * * *

  The Dominions rushed forward almost immediately after Mantus began the attack. The general’s back had been turned, and one of them swept through him. He yelled as if his insides were being ripped out. As the Dominion exited his body, Mantus swung short with one of his swords. Gideon thought it was one of the most bizarre things he had ever seen. The sword swung through the entity as if nothing was there, yet it left a large hole within the wispy Guardian. The Dominion attempted to attack Mantus again, but quickly dispersed into thin air as the Fallen’s sword found its final mark on the supernatural being.

  Denora had two blades and was turning to her right and left as she kept the spawns of the Abyss off her. Her team was holding their own. She caught sight of Mantus and the Alliance members through the mayhem and began to fight her way toward them.

  “Kadar, get your team in here!”

  Kadar didn’t respond verbally but was able to catch Ki’s attention and nodded. As he did, Ki motioned for those of his team standing near the door to open it, giving them the green light to attack the demonic onslaught.

  “You don’t have to tell me twice!”

  Gideon pulled out one of his guns and started taking deliberate and well-aimed shots.

  The door opened. The rest of the members of the two squads, as well as the waiting Nephelium, rushed in. Denora turned just in time to catch the new wave of defenders. It took only one second as she watched one of the Nephelium use a crossbow and take out one of her fighters, as well as release another bolt into one of Mantus’ warriors, to realize she had been double-crossed. She turned, looking for Kadar. Their eyes met, and she snarled as he flashed a “gotcha” grin.

  She looked around and watched as the number of her and Mantus’ fighters were dwindling. This was not going to be the victory she had hoped for; she had to make a choice.

  The dark leader of the Abyss was covered in blood. He had held his ground as a fighter, a leader, and a formidable foe. His beard dripped with a combination of blood and sweat. The burn of his muscles and deep wounds made him feel alive, but he could feel the world closing in.

  As he fought each attacker, he looked past the fighting and realized the change. There were Nephelium fighting alongside Alliance members; they were attacking both his fighters and Denora’s. Kadar had played his role well. The Fallen general felt the mortal wound before he even realized it had been dealt.

  Mantus had never seen her before, but that didn’t matter. She would be the last being that he would ever see. Her eyes were as fiery as her hair; but it was the smile that she had on her face that, in a very strange and bizarre way, brought peace to him. He looked dow
n to see her katana buried all the way to its hilt into his abdomen. He fell to his knees. He reached out to her, but not in a threatening or aggressive way . . . more as one would reach for the soft beauty of a rose found growing in the middle of a desolate parking lot.

  “Thank you.”

  Blood poured from his mouth as he tried to speak more. Bristol maintained the pressure on her blade, but did not pull away from the outstretched hand of this Fallen. His leathery, tough skin was a stark contrast to her fair, soft skin.

  “Thank you for releasing me from my agony and failures. Who are you?”

  She knelt down and looked the strong and evil warrior in the eyes. There was no anger . . . no hatred. She didn’t despise him, for Bristol knew that in a different time and place this could be her. She defended what she believed to be right, but she couldn’t help feel a twinge of sorrow for him.

  “My name is Bristol.”

  “Please, Bristol. I have lived a long time, and I have fought many battles. Do not allow me to slip from existence as just someone passing into the darkness. Release me with the respect and dignity of a warrior.”

  She contemplated his request for a brief moment. Then with one hand upon his matted beard and the other upon her sword’s hilt, she began to sing. She sang a song of love lost, a warrior dying, and the desire to return to the fields of home.

  She was so focused on her enemy’s eyes that she did not even realize that as she sang, the fighting ceased. Her voice rang out where just seconds ago the sound of fighting and dying shattered a world of angelic glory. Now, every single warrior—friend and foe—stopped. The echo of her melody reverberated off the marble hall.

  The light from Mantus’ eyes slowly faded as her voice continued on to the last chorus of her song. She cradled his large frame as he slumped over.

  As the general passed away in the Angel’s arms, the rest of the fighters began dropping their weapons. This fight was over; and as Bristol looked up from where she sat, blood of a fallen warrior covering her arms, she saw that even the most hardened demonic fighters had tears swelling in their eyes. This mighty warrior, no matter his flaws and faults, had garnered the respect of both friend and foe. It also did not go unnoticed by any of those present that this warrior had passed away as an exile returned home.

  Chapter Fifty-One

  The two remaining Council members who had been kept from the battle unless needed now stood within the Hall of Heroes. They had argued against not fighting, but Ki had been adamant. He knew that they considered the Council null and void; but he had expressed to them the importance of ensuring that if the battle was lost, there would be someone who understood the old ways, as well as the way things were moving forward. The Fallen who had surrendered had already been taken away. The Alliance leaders, Kadar, and the two Dominions all were grouped beneath the statue of Alfonso.

  “I hope that we never have to see blood shed here again,” Gabriel stated.

  One of the Dominions spoke with a very monotone voice, “Our time has come and gone. What is left of our existence we will spend within the realm of Lustrata.”

  “Peace be with you, Ancient Ones. You have performed your duties well and admirably.”

  Nemamiah touched the fingertips of her right hand to her forehead and then to her lips as she bowed her head in a gesture of respect.

  “And to you.”

  With that, the two ancient Guardians of this angelic sphere vanished.

  “Kadar, what is your next big scheme?” Gideon asked as he sat down on the base of the statute.

  The Nephelium laughed, “Not sure. You know me: a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of guy.”

  “Well, we appreciate all you have done here. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we may owe the Nephelium a thing or two,” Ki laughed.

  “Maybe, but I’m not ready to fully turn over a new leaf. I just couldn’t see an outcome worth noting for myself or my Clan if the things went down the way Denora and the others had hoped for.”

  “Speaking of Denora,” Bristol piped up, “what happened?”

  “As far as we can tell, she retreated when she realized they were outnumbered.”

  Kadar smiled at Ki’s response.

  “The look on her face was priceless.”

  “Before we rest too much, we have friends who still need your help,” Gabriel chimed in. “Kadar, care to lead this group through the Patmos you came through?”

  The Nephelium smiled, cracked his neck, and responded, “No rest for the . . .”

  “Don’t say it!” Gideon laughed. “Let’s go finish this war!”

  The fighters gathered their belongings and headed down one of the wings of the hall, following Kadar.

  “Gideon, before we go, I need to share something with you.”

  Ki stopped the Angel as the rest of the group continued forward.

  “Don’t, Ki. I don’t need to be told. Jackie and I were close enough that I heard her last words pass my ears as Denora killed her. I know she is gone. I knew it, but I guess wanted to believe it wasn’t real. Now, this moment, we fight. Denora will pay for all the bloodshed and pain she has caused one of these days . . . maybe today, but if not . . . one day.”

  * * * * *

  Victoria’s will and body had given out from the continual onslaught from Legion. She had collapsed out of exhaustion. As she did, the aerial activity ceased. Legion had taken form again but then vanished back into the shadows.

  Eve attended to Victoria. She had dragged her back from where she collapsed and was now checking her vitals.

  “He is toying with us,” Leah expressed as she retrieved several different weapons from the different caches they had set up in and around the patio. “I can’t help but feel that, just beyond the shadows out there, we have more enemies than we are aware of.”

  “Are you kidding? Legion alone is more than we can handle right now!”

  Eve rearranged some of the patio furniture to help create a makeshift barrier around Eve.

  “Leah, Eve, it’s Chad. Serenity and I are coming into the patio, so please don’t attack!”

  The humor in his voice brought temporary, comedic relief to the two fighters. A moment later Chad and Serenity came through the door from the main building into the stoned patio area.

  “Well, good to see you both just chilling . . . oh, and Victoria sleeping!” Serenity smiled.

  She carried a medical bag over her shoulder. She quickly knelt down, unzipped the bag, and began to prepare a cannula to get an oxygen flow going to the teen girl.

  “She checked her pulse, got the oxygen going, and then started preparing an IV bag.

  “We have a lot of company out front.”

  “Where is Zarius?” Leah asked, keeping an eye out for potential movement or attacks.

  “Not sure what he is doing, but he headed upstairs and told us to back up you three. The Nephelium are taking a beating. The main hall is in shambles,” Chad answered her question as he started topping up several of the magazines of ammo.

  “So . . . why are you all back here, then?”

  He shrugged, “Don’t know. Like I said, Zarius took off and told us to come and back you up.”

  “That is because of plan ‘B,’” the Vapor stated as he walked in behind where Chad kneeled.

  Leah quickly turned and looked at him, “Are you sure?”

  “It is the only way to get them to stop toying with us.”

  He walked past them to the open-arched doorway that led from the patio out into the yard. He carried a worn and rugged backpack over his right shoulder.

  “Wait! Is he doing what I think he is about to do?” Eve asked.

  She kept inside the patio but walked to the archway of the door and stuck her head out to watch the Vapor walk into the large expansion of the back property.

  “That is plan ‘B’, and let’s hope he knows what he is doing,” Leah expressed with no emotion.

  She wasn’t sure Zarius’ plan could be carried out. It w
as a risky move, but he seemed certain of it.

  The Vapor felt the snow give way under each footstep he took. The air was crisp and even exhilarating. At any other time, he would consider it beautiful and captivating . . . well, of course you would have to remove all the dead bird carcasses and feathers that were dotting the white, snowy landscape with black carnage.

  Zarius could feel eyes watching him from the shadows. Every twitch, every step, every breath he made he could feel his enemy watching like a pack of ravenous wolves waiting for the prey to stumble. The Vapor was very purposeful with each move he made. He kept his eyes forward-focused on the center of the lawn, but he kept alert on his peripherals.

  The team didn’t watch him as much as they watched the wood line and shadows. They were fully aware that he could be sacrificing himself, making himself easy bait.

  A noise behind Leah made her swing around with two handguns facing outward toward a potential threat. She was startled at the sight.

  “Tanisha! What are you doing up here?”

  Zarius’ wife had both Lano and Lada with her and looked confused at the question.

  “Zarius told me we were in the clear, that it was safe to come up here!”

  “I never heard anything like that come across the comms. Chad? Serenity?” Leah turned to them. “Anything?”

  They both shook their heads. She looked over at Eve, fairly certain she already knew what the Nephelium was going to say. She also shook her head.

  Tanisha pulled the twins closer to her, her face turning white.

  “I know what I heard.” She looked down at the twins as she spoke to them, “You both need to come with me.”

  Lada shook her head, “Not yet.”

  “Excuse me?” Tanisha raised an eyebrow as she knelt down beside the little girl. “Remember we are trying to be safe.”

  “Not yet, please. I need to help.”

  Lada let go of Tanisha’s hand as she walked over to where Victoria was lying, an IV attached to her arm. Serenity was monitoring the oxygen levels. Lada crawled up beside Serenity and looked up at her and smiled.