by Maggie Walsh
“No, nah-uh, do not go there,” Taylor huffed as he stood, his face angry as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I will not go into this thinking that this is it. That this is the end of all things.” He then turned and stormed out of the room. Gabriel quickly followed.
“I didn’t mean to upset him. I just wanted you all to know how much I love you and how proud I am to be a part of this family,” Lexi said, his voice filled with sadness.
Bailey stood from his seat next to him and straddled Lexi’s lap, wrapping his arms around his mate and holding him tight. Lexi wrapped his arms around Bailey too and buried his face in Bailey’s neck.
Jesse looked at the pair, tears formed in his eyes. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Lex. Taylor just needs a minute. Like the rest of us, this is hard, but you’re right. No matter what happens, I want you all to know how much I love you. You are the best family I could have ever wished for. Thank you all for coming into my life.”
The tears broke free and began to roll down Jesse’s cheeks. Micah pulled Jesse into his arms and held him, trying to comfort him.
Taylor and Gabe walked back into the room, and Taylor stomped his foot. “Hell no, not you, too. Look, I know we are all strung tight right now and things look bleak, but I have to have faith that Aurora knew what she was doing when she made us for one another, then brought us all together. This cannot be it, and I refuse to think that way when I am about to face gods know what out there.”
Micah looked up and turned toward everyone, but still kept Jesse at his side, tucked under his arm, as he said with pride and conviction, “Taylor is right. We have given Aurora and the gods our trust and faith this long, we can’t falter now. Everything that we have done and been through has been leading up to this moment. They have given us many gifts, and we need to focus on those and everything Aurora has told us about them. I know we can do this. Many of us may fall. This has been our inevitable fate, but know that you all stand heavy in my thoughts and in my heart. Know that any of our blood spilled here today will be so that others can live. We will stand as we have always stood…together, and face whatever comes. We must stand firm in our faith and trust in each other. We will stand before a legion of powerful forces trying to block out the sunlight from every man, woman, and child from now until forever and condemn them in darkness to suffer for eternity. We shall make this sacred ground, flooded with tears of blood of our enemy and our victory will become legend.”
Everyone stood silent and proud as they stared at Micah with tears in their eyes. “Well shit, that was a speech worthy of Mel Gibson in Braveheart,” Taylor teased with a smirk.
“I was thinking more like Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings,” Shelby replied. The two teasing broke the tension in the room as everyone started laughing.
The house shook violently, and everyone stilled. When calm came again, they all looked around at one another, and no other words were spoken. Micah looked to his father and gave him a smile, then to Ryland, then Phenex and did the same. His gaze moved to Lucifer who stood to the side, his face angry and arms crossed over his chest. No words were needed. He had already spoken with Lucifer as well as Ryland and Phen. They knew what needed to be done, and he had complete faith that they would see it through. He gave Lucifer a nod, then turned. Taking Jesse’s hand, he walked to the back door, opened it, and stepped out. It was time to face their fate.
* * * *
Kia, Shay, Raffy, Shelby, Demi, Bailey, and Taylor walked hand in hand away from their group about ten feet then stopped. They stood looking at the legions of evil before them. Kia stood in the center with Taylor and Shelby on each side of him, then the others to their sides. Taylor’s eyes turned bright white, then light shot out from his eyes and mouth. Suddenly the same light grew and radiated from the others’ eyes and mouths as well and flashed out over Hades and his men. Rogue vampires within the first half mile of Hades screamed and burst into ash.
Hades smiled evilly. “We are not all vampire, Guardian. You’ll have to do better than that,” Hades taunted and began walking toward them. As he took a few steps, suddenly twenty-two dragons took to the skies, Dante, Dale, Dare, and nineteen of Dare’s remaining dragons, all flying over the horde. Hades stopped to look up. He shook his head, then looked back to them. “Your dragons will not make a dent either.”
Just then, each dragon dropped a large ball, the size of a softball, that they had been carrying in one claw. The balls fell toward the earth, and as they hit, the ball exploded, and a rush of blue powder filled the air. Each blue cloud spread out and filled a hundred-yard area around where it impacted. As Hades and all his men watched, the dragons flew to different destinations above the horde, and each dropped a second ball from their other foot. Again, the balls exploded, and the blue cloud spread out. All the beings in the cloud zones began to sway on their feet, then dropped like stones.
Hades turned back to face them, anger marring his features. “You still have not stopped enough of my beings. We still outnumber you!”
Suddenly Gabriel, Micah, Lexi, Crew, Xander, Xavier, Haven, Laylen, Liam, and Raith appeared four feet before Hades and Minos, surprising the god and demigod. Each of them touching the other like a chain linking them to Gabriel. Gabriel threw his hands up, freezing time. Everyone but those with him, as well as Minos and Hades stopped. Immediately they all lobbed handball-sized white balls at Hades and Minos, hitting each of them in the chest, and some of the others behind them. As the balls impacted, they exploded, releasing the same blue powder.
Minos and Hades coughed and waved their hands about in front of their faces, trying to get the cloud away. As they did, Gabriel made them all disappear again. Moments later, they reappeared standing beside a twin of themselves back beside Jesse and the others.
While Minos and Hades were distracted, the dragons took flight again and dropped more of the large balls over the crowd, and more of the evil horde fell to the ground. Hades yelled out his rage, and the ground shook. His enraged glare turned to them. He bared his teeth, but suddenly he swayed, and his eyelids became heavy. Minos dropped to the ground beside him, a few seconds before Hades himself plummeted to the ground, out cold.
“Now!” Micah ordered.
Dante, Dale, and Dare joined them as well as Taylor, Shelby, Bailey, Raffy, Shay, and Kia. Demi ran into the tree line at the side of the house where Lucifer and the others waited. Once their group was all together again, they joined hands and Micah looked to Kia, then Taylor. “Remember, we know something they don’t. Anything is possible in a dream. Take us in Kia, Taylor.”
They all closed their eyes, and the blackness within began to swirl and shift. Jesse felt like he was falling, then his feet hit a hard, flat surface again and he opened his eyes. They were all still there, but they stood facing Hades and his legions, who also stood as if nothing happened.
“Do any of you have any last words?” Hades asked with glee.
“They stand an ocean,” Jesse said.
“Then let us swim in their blood,” Micah replied through clenched teeth, then took off at a run toward Hades.
Hades’s eyes opened wide at the unexpected move, but he quickly covered it up and ran toward Micah. Minos headed straight for Jesse as he just stood there unmoving. Once Minos was within three feet of him, Jesse’s wings opened and flew into the air, high above Minos’s head. Minos stopped and looked up. “Nice trick, pup, but I am still stronger than you,” he sneered and raised his hands, looking like he too was trying to take flight, but nothing happened. His face showed his surprise and frustration. He opened his hands, concentrating on the palms, but again nothing happened.
“Missing something, asshole?” Taylor taunted as he floated past and kicked Minos in the head.
Jesse looked down at the battle below. Micah and Hades were in a battle of fire and energy balls. Taylor was playing with Minos. Crew would appear in front of one of the enemy and thrust his sword out, severing their heads, then he would vanish and reappear again behind another
one.
Over a hundred Baileys stood shoulder to shoulder, each with a sword as they faced off against whatever came at them. As the creatures fighting Bailey began to throw energy blasts and demon spears, Bailey’s sword got bigger and lightning bolts shot from the tip, sending the bolts into whoever stood before him.
Lexi, Raith, Xavier, Aaron, and Xander stood together, joining all the forces of the elements. Aaron slammed his hands against the earth, causing a massive earthquake, then Lexi would lift the earth up like a wave, slamming it back down on top of some of the enemy. Raith grabbed some of that soil in the air as Lexi lifted it and he added water, creating a wave of mud. Then Xavier would add his fire to it, and Xander would turn it into a raging tornado, swallowing up everything in its path as screams of torment rang from within the funnels.
Rory stood facing five demon Nephilim, his hands held up in front of him as waves of energy pulsed out, slamming into the Nephilim. They fought against the onslaught, and Jesse saw when Raith turned toward his little mate, threw his hands up into the air, and a forcefield was thrown up between Rory and the Nephilim, stopping them from getting near Rory. Rory looked to Raith and blew him a kiss, then turned toward a group of demons going after Dale.
“Dragon, Dale!” Jesse yelled, and immediately Dale shifted into a dragon and went to Rory who climbed on his back. Dale flew high over their heads and breathed fire down upon the horde as Rory threw magic spells at them, making some drop in pain and writhe on the ground.
Nicco ran toward Micah when he was hit in the chest with a fireball, and his shirt became engulfed. As Micah stepped back, Nicco ran in and mirrored every one of Hades’s moves. Every time Hades lobbed an energy ball, Nicco lobbed one at him of equal power. If he threw a demon spear, Nicco threw one at him. Hades finally realized Nicco had the power of mimicry and turned from him.
Hades’s gaze met his, and an evil smile came to his lips. Hades ran toward him at top speed and jumped into the air. Jesse dropped down hard to the ground, one knee down then twisted his body as he hit and threw up one hand. A hundred demon spears appeared of out thin air and flew toward Hades. Some sailed past him as others impaled him, throwing Hades far. Jesse shifted into a T-Rex and ran toward a group of demons that had Shay and Kia pinned down.
Shay sliced his hand through the air toward one of the demons, and a slit appeared across the demon’s throat. Blood began to spurt and pour out of the opening. The demon’s head fell back on its shoulders as he sank backward to the ground.
Jesse opened his wide jaws and grabbed two demons in his mouth, then chomped down on them. He twisted his head and opened his massive mouth at the same time, flinging the demons away from him. Jesse looked back toward Shay and Kia and found Kia being held by four demons as Shay shot blades at them and screamed.
Cass, in wolf form, leapt into the scene, wrapping his jaws around the throat of one of the demons and ripped it out. Blood spewed everywhere, then Cass turned and attacked the next one. Liam rushed over with a demon spear in his hand and rammed it into the back of one of the demons as another one jumped on his back. A large Nephilim ran toward Liam and ripped him away from the others and held Liam above his head. Thaddeus stepped in and raised his hands. Liam flew from the Nephilim’s grip and floated through the air, landing next to Xavier. Then Thaddeus vanished.
Jesse felt a sting to his leg and looked down to find Minos there, driving a sword into the limb. Jesse roared and quickly shifted back to his human form, his angry gaze locked on Minos. “I have had enough of you. You and your minions have caused me and my family enough pain and suffering. Now it is time for you to suffer,” Jesse said through clenched teeth.
“What are you going to do, pup, turn into a giant lizard again? Nice trick, but you still don’t have as much power as I do.”
Jesse straightened as a smile crossed his lips. “Then why did you need a sword to attack me if you are so powerful, asshole?”
Minos flinched back slightly, but then his smile matched Jesse’s. “Because it was handy. Now prepare to meet your maker,” he threatened as he raised his hands.
“I have already met all three of my parents, Minos. Ryland and Phenex as you know, but I have also met my mother.”
Minos’s eyes widened. “But you were born of a fae father.”
“Yes, but that along with Phenex’s demon and angel blood could never create a demigod. I know you have wondered for so long how I am so powerful. I get it from my mother, and she wants to see you suffer in the deepest pits of hell for eternity, too. Your wish is my command, Aurora!” Jesse yelled out.
Chapter Six
Minos’s eyes opened wider. “Aurora! Fate is your mother?”
“Me, too, hole ass,” Noah said, suddenly appearing beside Jesse.
“Welcome, big brother. I think it’s time we take out the trash for our mother,” Jesse replied.
“Me, too. I say we wet his pants first,” Noah said and thrust his arm toward Minos and ropes appeared, flying toward him, but Minos was able to step aside, avoiding them
“No! How can Aurora have mothered both of you? And how did we not know you were brothers?”
“Never saw that one coming, did ya, fucktard?” Jesse threw up his hands, and two lightning bolts sprang out, shooting toward Minos. He jumped out of the way, falling to the ground, and rolled before regaining his footing. “If you are so all-powerful, Minos, why do you run from me? Come and get me, asshole, or can you not feel your powers?” Jesse asked with an evil smile.
Minos’s eyes narrowed as he clenched his jaw. “You did this to me? But how? How did you take the powers of a demigod?” he demanded.
“I have my ways. Did you bother to wonder why all the other smoke bombs that were dropped all had blue powder, yet the one that my mate hit you with was purple?” Jesse stated and laughed maniacally.
“You found a way to take my powers? I have severely underestimated you, Heart, but I will still kill you. Then once you are gone, Hades will kill your mate and all the others, then your precious father will finally be mine. Nephilim!” Minos called, but nobody came. He turned to look around the battle and saw that no demon Nephilim remained.
He turned back to face Jesse, and Jesse smiled as he raised his hand. “Bye-bye, asshole. Now die!” As Jesse yelled out the word, he twisted his wrist, and Minos’s neck snapped violently in the same direction until it ripped from his shoulders and his head went flying. It hit the ground with a thunk and rolled away. Noah stepped closer and held his hands down toward Minos, and fire shot from the palms, engulfing Minos’s body.
“Christian!” Raffy yelled, and Jesse turned his attention in the direction it had come from. Christian was in midair, a long spear impaled in his chest. On the other end of the spear was a large demon with a twisted, mangled face. Raffy ran up behind the demon and threw up his hands, his face contorted with rage as tears ran down his cheeks, and the demon exploded into a gross mass of blood and bits, showering over them. Raffy dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around Christian’s head, pulling it into his lap as Raffy cried.
“Adam, run!” Viktor shouted, and Jesse swung around to see Adam running away from a group of twenty or more demons. He threw energy blasts out behind him as he ran, but Adam stumbled and fell. Another group descended on him, pilling on top of him. Viktor ran faster than the eye could see and dove under the demons before they covered Adam completely. The demons clawed and ripped below them into the pile as they grunted and yelled. Suddenly, the mound flew up into the air, bodies flying in all different directions, and Viktor stood, covered in blood from head to toe, with an equally bloody Adam in his arms.
The twenty that had been chasing Adam continued toward them, then froze in place. Jesse looked to the other side of Viktor and saw Haven standing there holding his hands out, his gaze intense as it stayed focused on the twenty demons. He was using his power of immobility on them. Laylen walked toward the group, and one by one, he sliced his angel sword across their necks, decapitating each of t
hem. Once they were all dead, Haven dropped his arms, and he and Laylen ran to Viktor, whose body was ripped to shreds, with many large gashes covering most of what Jesse could see. Vik swayed on his feet, then dropped to his knees. Haven and Laylen each caught an elbow and kept him sturdy.
A large pterodactyl flew overhead, and Jesse’s brows rose. It swooped down and gripped a demon in its jaws and another with its sharp talons, then flew off.
“Shelby. He’s such a show-off,” Taylor said from beside him, and Jesse turned his head to look at his best friend. Taylor was breathing heavily and was covered in blood and scratches. “How’s Adam?”
“Not good. He’s still breathing, but I’m not sure this whole you don’t die in real life if you die in a dream is real. We need to broaden our imagination and end this now,” Jesse said.
Abruptly, everything stopped. All sound faded, and all movement seized. Jesse looked around to see just a quarter of Hades’s men, as well as Hades, still standing. But most of their side were now on the ground motionless.
The world around them became fuzzy and wavy like air over hot pavement in the summer. A cry was the only sound that rang out, and Jesse turned to see where it had come from. Kia dropped to the ground, but Shay caught him and went to his knees. A large demon spear stuck out through Kia’s chest, and Shay cried uncontrollably.
“Dreams are a wonderful thing, aren’t they? But did you know that if you kill the dream walker in a dream, he dies on the other side, as well, and everyone in the dream with him gets sent back whole and in one piece? It wasn’t until I saw your T-Rex that I realized that’s what those powder balls were. Something to put us all to sleep. Then it was only a matter of finding the dreamwalker and killing him. Very smart, Prime, Heart, but you can’t outwit me. Now the real battle begins. Who will be left standing now?” Hades said, then threw his head back and laughed. Everything swirled and churned, then went black.