“With pleasantries out of the way, shall we get started? You are point fourteen percent seconds later than you said you’d be.” Fate proposed. For transcendent beings, that was quite awhile.
“So I am.” The Spirit King took the other seat, not bothering to explain himself. Such was normal after eons.
Their powers latched on to each other’s minds and trillions of conversations started at the same time between the two, mundane and serious. To the outside observer it was as if they simply stared at one another like stone sculptures. Neither glowing set of eyes so much as blinked or muscle twitch. All that made them seem to live were rising and falling chests, though neither required to breathe. It was a comfort thing.
For upwards of an hour they sat like this till Armid said in one of his conversations “Recently I felt you use one of your blue roses.”
“I did. A human left my path with a ninety nine point nine four three six chance of sitting on the sidelines, but got himself killed instead. I tested him to find he was compatible with fire and resurrected him as a Fire Elemental. Since his revival he single handedly saved one of the Houses with a one hundred percent chance of destruction had he not been there. He also got Demon Lords to work together against another who rapidly grew to power after his killing to save said House. He is one of interest, Father.”
“A Fire Elemental, you say? I see your memory of the battle and no Fire Elemental has that quantity of Spirit Energy.” The Spirit King thought in the same tone.
“He is a special case that eludes even me and has surpassed my calculations by wide margins.”
“What is his name?”
“Ethan Volorum. His traits are no longer human and I’ve researched his bloodline up to five hundred and six generations back and cannot find who his ancestor is that is responsible for the resurgence of genetic traits that has physically altered his…”
“Ethan Volorum? Firstborn son of Lori Weinburg and Daniel Volorum. Elder brother of Billy Volorum?” Armid said aloud.
Fate sat up as all the trillions of thoughts died into a single one that broke Armid’s monotone and emotionless expression. Anger made the twin suns burn hotter and his strong face reddened with outrage. “Father, how do you know of this? You care not for mortal let alone bother knowing names.”
“YOU DAMN FOOL! You know not what you have done!” the crystal palace violently shook from his yell. His hand went to his sword.
“Explain it then.” Fate rarely saw his father so mad and that was centuries ago, but he knew how to deal with him and kept his gaze level, hands unthreatening on his knees and calm, always calm.
Armid struggled but through grit teeth said “I can no longer see him within my mind either. You should have sensed my touch, Son. Ethan Volorum is a descendant of my oldest enemy who raped a human seven hundred and fifty nine years ago in that solar body I give life to. I discovered the tainted blood running through mortal veins, but humans rarely activate their innate gift and without harnessing their energy, the blood lay dormant and I carefully weeded it out. When I discovered the last two survivors of Zagan’s spawn I brought them together and threw the last few scraps of his taint into Ethan Volorum and tasked him to die and stay in Nothingness for eternity. The line would have finally been ridded out of existence so his traits wouldn’t condemn him. And you go and revive him so he can tap into the power of an IFRIT! His Demon side has been awakened and is taking over. He must die before he fully matures. His human soul combined with Ifrit blood when fully realized will kill us all.”
“Father, I didn’t know you were one to ever jest. If that were true he wouldn’t have a Spirit Guide as soul mate. She would be repulsed by any shred of Demon heritage. Besides, I didn’t detect Ifrit.”
“His soul would mask it from you. And I never jest, Son. Now I must clean up your mess again. I cannot set foot on any protected mortal world, but I’ll not sit idly by as a blended being lives. He must be killed before he fully matures.” Armid stood and opened the doors to think to his finest warriors “General Megann, compile fifty Ifrit slayers from the last cleansing war and go to Earth to kill Ethan Volorum from all existence. He is found guilty of dual energy. You have five minutes to track him down and end it.”
Megann didn’t even blink her eyes, but mentally selected the fifty, plus two more and took to the sky and met up over one of the portals to Earth. She mentally gave the Squadron of Enforcers their orders and led the charge into the portal.
Ethan and Kanade lounged in the bed-hammock with Panther in his cat form lounging by their feet, still assimilating all the knowledge revealed. The cool sea breeze was relaxing in the late afternoon inside the cabin as the weather, as he guessed correctly, turned to a storm that hadn’t hit yet. Kanade lay peacefully naked with her head on his shoulder and eyes closed to enjoy it all and Ethan was comfortable, trying to process just what he was, now that he knew at long last.
Peace shattered as the barrier alarm went off and died seconds later. They all sensed the tremendous and overwhelming power coming rapidly and what it took to break through something he personally created.
“Climme-filan!” which in Blood Speak literally meant ‘Auto-equip!’
Armor disappeared from the second floor and snapped instantly onto his body. Ethan changed the enchantments on all his armor and gear into Blood Speak since it was easier to remember and sounded to him exactly as it would if he didn’t know he wasn’t speaking English. Gauntlets, shield, undershirt, boxers, jacket and pants instantly appeared on his body while flinging himself out of bed.
Kanade also sent the command and a full length, strapless red dress dropped down onto her naked body. The shoulder edges came up in points and showed a classy amount of cleavage. Crimson sleeves came down past her wrist, but she gripped an enchanted golden chain with a flat amulet she designed with the greatest protection she could possibly make now that she was also mystically stronger.
Panther instantly changed from cat to Balam with his massive claws fully extended as he yowled low “Damn, it has happened. Our worst fear.” He went to go out first, but paused as Ethan growled and saw a hand raised and silently gesture to hide by the door.
“Ethan Volorum! Show yourself!” Came a female command from outside as dreary sounds of flapping wings came from every direction.
“No! It can’t be.” Kanade paled.
“What is it?” He whispered and put a hand on her shoulder.
Kanade’s gaze closed with her eyelids as her bottom lip trembled. “She can only be here on his orders… Spirit King knows…”
“I know you are in there Kanade! Both of you get out here now!”
Kanade gulped and straightened up. If she was going out, she’d do it with dignity. Kanade wrapped her left arm around his right, holding the long gold chain in her other and they walked out into the gloomy, cloudy, late afternoon day.
Ethan was glad he had worked with Nagai so he wasn’t pissing himself as he saw at least four dozen Enforcers hovering out on the air with murderous glares. Ten stood on the ground in a semicircle.
All but one had their light lances aimed, arms cocked back, right at him.
Except one woman standing right in front of them. The woman had wings blacker than darkness itself. In fact, each of the clearly visible Enforcers had obsidian wings and had more power than any other Enforcer Ethan had ever felt before. It boggled his new senses. Each were between fifteen to sixteen feet tall and wore gold pants. Men were naked from the waist up and women wore tops that had ropes crossing over even their six pack abs. Even the woman standing out front with golden eyes glaring was solid.
“Is there a reason a bunch of Enforcers are breaking onto my island and threatening me without provocation?” Ethan growled, but no weapons were launched without a signal from the woman who clearly commanded this squadron.
“Ancestor, what is the meaning of this?” Kanade asked right after.
“Child, step away from him right now.” Came the emotionless order.
/> Kanade stiffened and shook her head. “Not until you tell me why you came here, Megann.”
“Megann? As in Megann Cerulean, matriarch of your clan? My oldest mother- in-law?” Ethan asked his wife, not once looking away from the danger in front of him.
The matriarch removed her helm and a stern, but exotically beautiful woman with glittery skin barely in her early twenties looked back. “I truly wish it was not I ordered to do this, Children. Especially to my youngest and brightest descendant, but I see the proof with my own eyes and felt the power of the spell which blocked us that required more than half my forces to break.
“Ethan Volorum, you are accused and found guilty by Armid the Lightbringer, Spirit King of the Spirit World as a creature of two powers and as an Ifrit, breaking the Accords set in place for over five centuries. It will be quick if you do not resist. You are no match.” Both knew her gentle tone was a lie. She loathed speaking every syllable.
“How about now, Bitch?” Panther came outside and every Enforcer drew back, Megann included. It was clear they feared Panther and didn’t realize he was there till he came out so his masters could activate their armor. “Good to see you all remember me from the old days. If you’re throwing ultimatums at my master, allow me to do the same. Leave this place and I won’t have to kill any of you.”
“You associate with Demons!” Megann spat at her youngest descended grandchild. Forgoing the hate she tried hiding.
“To keep my angel alive? Yes, I would. If the Spirit King got to know my angel rather than send a kill squad first, he would see right away he isn’t evil. Please don’t do this, Ancestor. Please.”
“Orders are orders, Hatchling. I will also end your suffering after… Personally.” Megann put her helm back on and as soon as it began to flicker into flame Valande and Mikhale dropped down, grabbed Kanade and ripped her away from her love with a blood curdling scream. Her charm also fell so she was ultimately defenseless.
All hell broke loose as every lance was throne faster than the eye could blink. Ethan growled, but Panther appeared in front and swiped long opaque claws through the air and destroyed every lance before it got near his master as if batting away a fly.
Ethan roared, burst into flame and the Enforcers had thought the mission would be quick and clean, but they were wrong. Panther was a dark blur, taking on Megann and ten Enforcers who were on the ground with him all at the same time as lightning split the heavens over the island. Ethan though was fueled with need to protect himself and Kanade. His last stray thought before slamming down into single-minded focus was from the matriarch’s last words. She plants to kill Kanade too! Fuck no!
It was hard to fight against Enforcers with thousands of years of experience, but he made up for it with desperate passion as he converged in on five men all as big as himself. His fist powered right into the chest of one while his tail wrapped around the wrist of another with a sword trying to clip his wings. On the ground, Ethan had no grace, but in the air he surprised these fighters, kicking, roaring and blinding them in fire. He tried roasting them, but they were all magically protected. And their power was no laughing matter either. Ethan flipped himself over one woman, grabbed her wing joints and twisted till they loudly broke and she fell screaming.
A group of them created a spell which made his fire flicker out just enough to see through as he used it to blind and they capitalized on the clear fire to coordinate their ruthless attacks.
Kanade though was imprisoned by her own parents and pulled far from the action as the air shook and rumbled. She couldn’t struggle to free herself because they held her in such a way that she’d have to hurt them to get free. The spell placed before she even hatched was what kept her immobile and both Mikhale and Valande knew it. In fact they were downright grinning in a way that had Kanade staring in horror. They were enjoying it.
They were specifically chosen to hold Kanade prisoner so as to get Ethan alone.
Panther roared as he attacked with a fury to save his new master and six ancient Enforcers already lay dead and burning at his feet, his deadly claws destroyed like razors with power to kill even the toughest Enforcer soul. The biggest threat was General Megann as her light sword and lance held him at bay while he flitted from battle to battle, seeming to be in over a dozen places at the same time as more came dropping, swooping in or shooting spears from distance to keep him occupied as the greater danger.
A light sword burned through Ethan’s left wing as another deflected off his mystical leather armor. He roared and punched the man between the eyes, two spikes glowing from the gauntlets pierced eyeballs and his left leg swept and powered into the midsection of a woman which shot her like a comet down into the island in a broken heap. Damage to the wing was minimal, but it was clear they wanted him grounded so he refocused his attention on protecting his only advantage. Flight. His tail wrapped around a man’s neck and a sharp flip make the momentum break his neck.
Killing bodies made matters worse as their spirit forms could still fight and the ethereal weapons could still effect material. He didn’t know how to truly kill them.
The scale shield was perfect for deflecting thrown lances and for clonking helmets to ring ears. The dual energy spells were perfect to deflect. Sadly he didn’t think to add it to the leathers. Too late to start now.
Then as he fought two, he felt a blade sear through his left wing and it elicited a scream from him, a pain filled roar that shook over fifty miles and caused turbulence in the air itself.
Battle paused in surprise when the fire completely vanished, but Ethan had a symbol in his mind and his glowing fist blurred as a somewhat shield looking violet pattern of energy appeared, in the blurring sweeps of speed that impressed Panther as he took opportunity to kill five more who were distracted and mesmerized.
“RA!” he roared as he punched the center of the shield and like someone ringing a gong with a battering ram powered by a great strength, ropes of lavender appeared all around and instantly bound the surviving attacking Enforcers in an unbreakable binding magical material and as the spell hung in the air it jerked both body and spirit forms into a painful ball of limbs.
Ethan though continued to tumble to the ground without his lost left wing and Panther was right there, claws retracted to catch him. “Master, what was that?” The Balam helped place him on his feet.
“A mental popup that appeared when I wanted to… huttttttt…” He gasped as his body stiffened and eyes flew wide.
In the air, were the only ones unaffected by the spell, as they weren’t targeted since they didn’t attack, were Mikhale, Valande and Kanade. Mentally Valande screamed “Mikhale! Break his wards! I’ll finish him off. We are all that remain. I’ve never seen such a spell and it could kill us all!”
He agreed, let go of his daughter’s arm and wing to draw his sword and focused every spare drop of Spirit Energy till the blade of pure light hummed in his hand with power to cut even a planet in half with one swipe like an apple to a sharp knife. Silent as an owl after prey, Mikhale swooped low and in from behind the Balam and Ifrit filth. His sword made a full sweep with every shred of strength its owner had and cut off both of Ethan’s legs above the knees, destroyed the enchantments protecting the enemy and swooped up before colliding into a tree.
Valande kicked her daughter, conjured her lance to follow up her mate’s attack and threw it with a scream at the open wound where his left wing had been.
It was unprotected.
She threw it with a grin.
Ethan’s gasp for air didn’t come as he looked down while falling back to see half of the left side of his chest was completely gone. Just gone. He felt nothing as shock took over from the vanishing ethereal lance. Panther yelled “MASTER!” And Kanade shrieked “NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!”
Panther tried to stop the bleeding, but Ethan knew Valande aimed perfectly for his heart as he saw her crinkled eyes through eyelets to know her enough to know when she smiled with success above. The wound had blown out over hal
f his left side like a paper hole punch. It cut clean through and was impossible to stop. Ethan knew Panther and Kanade spoke true, Enforcers were made to kill him. His own new family.
Ethan knew it was the end, but his last vision was of a blue winged angel.
His mortal eyes closed forever, capturing that sight he would love forever.
Epilogue
In the crystal castle taller than the tallest mountain stood the Spirit King and Fate gazing at the scene of Blue Angel Isle the moment Valande struck true. Fate had created a screen to watch it all. Fate watched stoically while Armid showed a smirk. “We were not to late after all, Son.”
Both beings stiffened as a power comparable to theirs touched their minds. Zagan too watched from his diamond palace in Demon World, consumed from all sight in fire except for two narrowed red eyes. He thought “Checkmate ASSHOLES!!” and laughed loud and mad as he withdrew from their minds.
Spirit King and Fate looked with fear at each other, for they didn’t know what Zagan, the Fire King of Demon World had meant and that wasn’t good for them. The good feeling Armid had of success was destroyed. Smug smile turned to a grim, smoldering hatred.
Back on earth, the worrisome growth in Ethan right chest, that escaped the light spear’s damage, was actually an underdeveloped heart that forced itself to go ‘Thump Thump’ ‘Thump Thump’
Be sure to read the conclusion to this story in: Atavism of the Ifrit
Be sure to read other books by this author:
Balancer’s Cycle
Balancer’s Soul
Changer’s Blood
Keeper’s Knowledge
Harmonizer’s Evolution
The Item Trilogy
Untamed Gift
Furion’s Trials
Ra’van
02 Wrath of Flames Page 57