by K T Kaye
“So how do you think they got here?”
“Well you know there’s one of the gateway portals here, and that these portals can only connect...”
“What are gateway portals?” Jason interrupted.
“Gateway portals are the doorways between the different worlds in the empire. So for example, to get from Atlantis to the fey realm you’d need to use one of these portals. Normally these portals can only take you to places within the empire, however if someone managed to re-loop the portal you could in theory…”
“Open it up in the underworld,” Angel finished.
“Bingo!”
“Re-looping a portal, how did they do it? Jet surely doesn’t have that kind of power.”
“Jet doesn’t but he does,” Fern pointed at Jason.
“I do? But I didn’t do anything! I didn’t re-loop the portal! I didn’t even know these portals existed until a minute ago!” Jason exclaimed.
“According to the legends a Master of Darkness can create portals to the underworld…”
“But I haven’t created a portal!”
“I wasn’t finished! Jason’s soul and his powers are connected to the underworld. If Mr Jet got a hold of some of Jason’s soul, he could extract some of Jason’s powers and use them to open a portal.”
“The death cloud,” Alexander muttered, “That’s how he got Jason’s soul.”
“But if Mr Jet needed Jason’s soul, he could have got a Soul Sucker to take it from him easily,” Clover interjected, “Why do it himself?”
“Because a Soul Sucker would have killed Jason. Jason needs to be alive. The portal will only stay open if the Master of Darkness is alive,” Fern explained, “So in other words if we kill Jason then we’ll no longer have to worry about demon attacks.”
“What!?” Jason stumbled backwards horrified.
“It was a joke. Don’t worry we won’t kill you, unless absolutely necessary. To re-loop the portal Jet would’ve also needed powerful fey blood. A person’s soul once removed from their body tends to fade. The fey blood would stop Jason’s soul from fading.”
“That’s why Jet went after Sophie, he needed her blood,” Angel muttered, “Can we destroy the portal?”
“Yeah it’s like the easiest thing in the world, all you need to do is blow it up,” Fern said, Becks nodded in agreement.
“So I need to get to that portal…”
“I? I think the correct pronoun is we. You’ll need help disabling the portal.”
“Disabling it? I thought I just needed to blow it up.”
“You do but if you want to get the communications and teleportation systems running then you’ll need to disable the forcefield first. The same system that’s re-looping the portal is also blocking your teleportation powers.”
“Fine,” Angel hissed, “Jason, Becks and I will head to the portal.”
“What about me?”
“Fern, you’ll stay here. If blowing up the portal doesn’t bring back the systems, then we’ll need a new plan.”
“Sophie and the others haven’t returned yet,” Danny pointed out, “We don’t know how many demons are out there.”
“This place only has one exit, so we’ll probably bump into them on the way. If it turns out that there are no demons out there, then we’ll escape that way. The rest of you be ready, the moment we get the teleportation system working we’re leaving.”
“I shall come with you,” McLean squeaked, “I’ve been looking after the portal for nearly half my life. I know it best, so I may be of some help. Also we have snowmobiles in the shed outside. If we use those, we’ll get to the portal faster.”
“Okay,” Angel nodded, “We need to go. The rest of you, be careful and protect each other. Alex I’m leaving you in charge.”
Fern pulled Angel into a tight hug, as did Rowan. Becks and McLean said their goodbyes to Joel and Fredrick. Jason was attacked by hugs from both Sue and Clover. As Jason pushed them off, he was attacked once again. This time it was Araminta, who hugged him close and whispered “be careful” into his ear. Angel smiled as she watched Jason get repeatedly dragged into hugs by the three girls. The Master of Darkness, despite his strange and foolish personality, was rather popular amongst the Lightning Squad ladies. If Willow and Roxy had been there, Angel was certain, Jason would have been suffocated by all the affection. To her surprise, Angel also found herself attacked by an unexpected hug from Danny.
“This is unlike you,” Angel muttered.
“Be careful,” Danny said pulling away.
“I’m always careful.”
“Liar.”
Angel smiled and turned to her brothers. It didn’t seem real. Roger and Ethan were normally such a lively pair yet here they were, laying still and silent in hospital beds. A hundred and one emotions danced in Angel’s tormented heart. Putting Ethan in a coma had been Angel’s only way of saving him, but she was well aware that it was not the safest situation for her brother to be in. As for Roger, Angel couldn’t process it. Roger had known her best, had cared for her the most and had given her more love then she could reciprocate. And now he was dead. First the traitorous Paris, then the wonderful Elsa, the brave volunteer Angus and now the loveable Roger, how many more was she going to lose today?
Angel didn’t hear Alexander walk up behind her. As the rest of Lightning Squad noisily said their goodbyes and chose their weapons, the vampire gently placed a hand on Angel’s back and whispered into her ear.
“I’ll take care of them.”
“Ethan can’t…”
“He won’t. I’ll make sure he’s guarded. I promise you. I’ll keep him safe.”
“Thank you.”
“Stay alive. No matter what, stay alive.”
“You too.”
“Too late for that. I’m already dead, remember?”
“Well then don’t die again. I can’t lose anyone else…especially not…” Angel didn’t finish her sentence. She didn’t need to. Alexander already knew how it ended. Angel turned to face the vampire. Upon turning the shapeshifter found that Alexander was much closer to her then she had expected, “Don’t die. That’s an order.”
Alexander paused, painted on his signature dashing smile, and said simply, “Yes Cap.”
Angel nodded then stepped away from the vampire. She stared at the rest of her squad. At her family. Each of them as brave and as brilliant as the next. No one else, she told herself, she couldn’t lose anyone else.
“Time to go,” Angel called reluctantly, “Look after each other and we’ll see you all soon.”
With that the four of them left the room. There was silence until Danny suddenly cried out in pain and collapsed to his knees.
“Danny?” Rowan asked, “Can you hear me?”
“Sophie’s in trouble,” Danny gasped, “Didn’t you hear her?”
“We didn’t hear anything.”
“Sophie screamed. No. She wasn’t just screaming. She said something.”
“What did she say?”
“Soul Suckers.”
* * * * *
Willow, Sophie, and Roxy ran as fast as they could down the corridor until they reached a door. The Soul Suckers followed, their movements graceful and deadly. They stood seven feet tall and were covered by shapeless large black cloaks. They had long white thin arms and long fingers with black nails. In their hands they each held a Scythe. Roxy pushed open the door and the trio found themselves in a dome shaped room.
The room was large and messy. A chandelier, lit by only candles, swung gently as a cold breeze whistled round the room. Papers and books were scattered across the floor whilst Bunsen burners, warming vials of bubbling coloured liquid, littered the tables. Willow slammed the wooden doors shut. The trio had been attacked before they could reach the main door. The Soul Suckers had just appeared from the shadows. There had been no warning or dramatic entrance, they had just appeared silently and had begun chasing them down the dark corridors.
“How the hell did Sou
l Suckers get here!?” Roxy screamed.
Before anyone could answer, the soft sound of footsteps could be heard resonating round the room. The girls raised their weapons as the sound of laughter cascaded down from the roof and whispered into their ears. Then the room went silent. Roxy looked up and screamed. Hanging onto the chandelier was a clown-faced Soul Sucker, a scythe in hand. It smiled widely, blood pouring from its eyes. It laughed loudly as its scythe sliced the chandelier, causing it to fall to the floor. Sophie watched as the Soul Sucker’s cloak fell empty on top of the glittering glass mess. The Soul Sucker had disappeared.
Suddenly the door opened, and a group of Soul Suckers floated inside. Roxy shot at the Soul Suckers. Her bullets fell through the Soul Suckers bodies and landed uselessly on the floor. Sophie raised her hand and sent a Soul Sucker flying backwards.
Willow jumped on top of a table and kicked a Soul Sucker. It stumbled backwards. She picked up a test tube filled with bubbling purple liquid and threw it at the Soul Sucker. The liquid caused the Soul Sucker’s cloak to burn. It slashed a scythe in her direction. Willow avoided the blade but fell from the table and landed heavily on the marble floor. She rolled out of the way as the scythe was once again swung in her direction. As she got to her feet, Willow pulled out her knife and threw it at the Soul Sucker. The knife stabbed into the Soul Sucker’s forehead. The Soul Sucker slumped to the ground, thick black blood oozing from the knife wound. Before Willow could catch her breath, the Soul Sucker stood up and pulled the knife from its head. Willow dived out of the way as the knife was thrown in her direction.
Roxy ran across the room, a Soul Sucker close behind. She grabbed a Bunsen burner and threw it at the Soul Sucker’s head. The Bunsen burner bounced off the Soul Sucker and fell to the floor with a clang. Roxy ran towards the door but was blocked by the clown-faced Soul Sucker. Roxy stumbled backwards.
The Soul Sucker grabbed hold of Roxy, it pulled her close and whispered in her ear, “Roxy… come to me…”
Sophie’s fey ears could hear the Soul Sucker’s soft tones from the other side of the room. She jumped into the air and shrank to a fairy’s natural size. She flew across the room and landed in front of the clown-faced Soul Sucker. She grew and took off her sunglasses. The Soul Sucker turned to stone. After putting the sunglasses back on, Sophie grabbed Roxy and pulled her from the Soul Sucker’s grasp, just as the Soul Sucker burst from its stone prison. Roxy’s eyes were clouded over.
Sophie slapped Roxy, “Snap out of it! You are an incredibly powerful mind witch. Your mind is yours. Don’t let someone else take over!”
I am a mind witch. My mind is mine. I can fight this. I can beat this, Roxy told herself, my mind is mine. My mind is mine!
Just as Roxy was about to break free of the Soul Sucker’s telepathic hold, Sophie was thrown across the room. Sophie landed heavily on top of a bookshelf. She watched as the clown-faced Soul Sucker once again grabbed hold of Roxy. Sophie jumped down from the bookshelf and took off her sunglasses once more. She turned to stone any Soul Sucker that looked in her direction. However the Soul Suckers quickly broke free and chased after her.
Roxy stood in front of the clown-faced Soul Sucker, unable to control her own mind. The clown-faced Soul Sucker pulled out a gun from within its cloak and Roxy copied, pulling out her own gun.
Sophie clicked her fingers and Roxy’s gun quickly flew from her hands. The clown-faced Soul Sucker growled and, using unrecognisable words, ordered the other Soul Suckers to attack. Sophie was quickly surrounded by Soul Suckers. The fey clicked her fingers and a ring of fire rose up around her. The Soul Suckers doused down the flames with their cloaks and grabbed hold of Sophie. They dug their nails into her skin, pinning her to the floor.
“Roxy!” Sophie shouted, “You’re not a puppet! You’re the master of your own mind!”
The clown-faced Soul Sucker handed the possessed Roxy a gun and smiled, “Don’t listen to her. You want to join me. You are one of my children. You must join me in the end. This is your calling Roxy. This is what you want. Come to me.”
The clown-faced Soul Sucker pulled a second gun out of its cloak and placed it next to its head. Roxy copied, pressing her gun against her head. The gun felt cold against her skin. Roxy was terrified. She didn’t want to die, but she couldn’t stop herself. Her hand shook as she tried desperately to gain control. A war raged inside her mind. Her powers battled against the Soul Sucker’s. She was losing. Roxy took back every mean word she had ever said about Angel, as she desperately wished the shapeshifter would come and save her.
Please, I’m sorry for everything, just save me, Roxy pleaded, I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die like this. Please save me!
“Come to me, my child, come to me,” the clown-faced Soul Sucker’s soft voiced trickled into Roxy’s ear.
“Roxy fight it!” Sophie shouted.
The clown-faced Soul Sucker pulled the trigger.
And Roxy copied.
Sophie screamed as Roxy Ash dropped to the floor.
Dead.
The clown-faced Soul Sucker then turned to Sophie. It lifted her up. Its cold hands grabbed her face, forcing their eyes to meet. Sophie’s eyes glowed grey as she attempted to turn the Soul Sucker to stone. However the Soul Sucker didn’t get trapped in a prison of stone, instead its skin absorbed and stole Paris’ powers. Before Sophie realised what was happening, Paris’ gorgon powers were gone. Her eyes returned to their original purple colour. Sophie grabbed her dagger and stabbed it into the Soul Sucker’s chest. Instead of blood, hot toxic gas escaped from the stab wound. Sophie choked as the gas hit her face. The clown-faced Soul Sucker laughed and stabbed its fangs into Sophie’s neck.
A soft whisper echoed into her head, “Give in. Let go. Come to me. You want to come to me.”
Sophie screamed and sent a telepathic warning message into the mind of the only person who would be able to hear it.
Danny.
From the other side of the room, Willow watched as the Soul Sucker bit into Sophie. Willow ran across the room, narrowly avoiding a scythe as she did so. She jumped onto the clown-faced Soul Sucker’s back, pushing both it and Sophie to the floor. The trio sprawled across the marble floor as the other Soul Suckers began to circle them. Sophie’s eye’s glowed dark purple as she slammed her hand down.
The room trembled as her palm hit the floor. A purple light exploded from Sophie’s body and pushed the Soul Suckers backwards. Willow grabbed Sophie’s hand and the pair ran towards the exit. The Soul Suckers, who had swiftly recovered from Sophie’s attack, followed them. As Sophie and Willow reached the door, Alexander, Joel, Fredrick, and the rest of Lightning Squad entered.
Araminta was the first to react. She pounced on top of one of the Soul Suckers, knocking it to the floor. She swung down her sword, but it was blocked by the Soul Sucker’s scythe. The pair fought. Their blades crashed against each other. Araminta jumped onto one of the tables. She picked up a flaming Bunsen burner and threw it at the Soul Sucker. The Soul Sucker stumbled back as its cloak began to burn. Araminta cut off the Soul Sucker’s head. The vampire smiled as the Soul Sucker’s headless body fell to the floor.
However her smile soon faded as the Soul Sucker’s headless body lifted itself up, doused down the flames and placed its head back onto its neck.
Upon entering the room, Joel had been immediately attacked by a Soul Sucker. The pair had fought but Joel had quickly lost. Joel’s sword clattered to the ground, swiftly followed by his head.
Fredrick had lasted longer.
His swordsmanship had saved him from his first attacker but had distracted him from his second. For as Fredrick disarmed one Soul Sucker, a second sneaked up behind him and cut off his head. Clover laughed as she watched the twins die. She raised her hand, it glowed red and the Soul Suckers quickly left her alone. Clover kicked Fredrick and Joel’s heads out of the way, sending them rolling across the bloody floor. The witch then headed towards Roxy’s body. After checking that her squad-mates were dis
tracted, Clover knelt next to the body.
“What a shame,” Clover whispered into Roxy’s ear, “I was hoping to kill you myself.”
Clover gently placed her hand against the gunshot wound. She let Roxy’s blood dye her fingertips then brought her fingers to her lips. Clover smiled as she licked Roxy’s blood from her fingers. The sweet taste satisfied the witch greatly. Clover pulled out her wand and pressed it against Roxy’s heart. Her wand glowed red as it sucked up Roxy’s powers and what remained of her soul. Once completed Clover walked away from Roxy’s body. She silently slipped past Danny who had been pinned to the ground by three Soul Suckers and headed towards the bodies of the fallen twins. Clover quickly repeated the task on Joel and Fredrick’s bodies. Clover then returned to her shadowy hiding place, where she watched as the fight continued.
Fern (as always) was not happy.
She fought, back-to-back with Alexander, against four Soul Suckers.
“Why don’t they just die like normal demons!?” Fern hissed as she flicked her wand and set the Soul Suckers on fire. One of the blazing Soul Suckers stepped forwards, grabbed hold of Fern, and pulled her into a burning embrace. Fern cried out in pain as the flames stroked her skin. She flicked her wand, water poured over her and the Soul Sucker, extinguishing the flames. Fern pushed the Soul Sucker off of her and picked up a fallen scythe. She stabbed the blade into the Soul Sucker’s chest. The Soul Sucker pulled out the scythe with ease and laughed.
“Don’t laugh I’m trying to kill you,” Fern snapped. Alexander zoomed behind the Soul Sucker and snapped its neck in half. The Soul Sucker dropped to the floor.
Fern smiled, “Nicely done grandpa.”
“Stop calling me that. What the…?” Alexander backed away as the Soul Sucker pulled itself up, its neck still broken.
“Oh that is disgusting,” Fern exclaimed. She picked up her sword and with a clean slice cut off the Soul Sucker’s head. Even then the Soul Sucker’s body didn’t fall, it just picked up its head and placed it back on to its neck.