by Jack Crosby
Struggling to speak, “I’m like a cockroach, I just keep coming back.”
She pushed down even harder. “Truer words have never been spoken.” She looked up at Roxanne. “You abandoned the great Beelzebub for this? You are a blight to my father’s legacy.”
Roxanne took flight straight at her. She scooped her off of me and into the air. “No child, you are a blight to my legacy, the product of a forced encounter! Because of you, I swore I’d never have children again!”
The two struggled in midair as Roxanne flew in circles around the top of the tower. “You won’t have to worry about that as this will be your final resting place.”
Roxanne tried to throw her down, but Sabrina got the best of the encounter and turned the tables. The two women crashed into the floor, but Sabrina was on top. She reached down and put her hands on Roxanne’s head. “I mind melted you once, I can certainly do it again!”
Her hands started to glow and I wasn’t going to watch this. I failed Roxanne once before, I wasn’t about to let history repeat itself. I lowered my shoulder and rammed the Hell witch in the face, knocking her off my Lust demon. Punches rained down on her head, but all she did was look up and laugh at me. “This rage, born from your sexual desire, won’t get you anywhere.”
“It sure does feel good though.”
My next punch was aimed at her heart, but she caught my fist with her hand. “Play time is over; I’ve grown tired of you and your general uselessness.”
I tried pushing against her, but I was losing the battle. She walked herself upright and shattered my hand. Kicking me away, “The three of you will be the perfect test subjects for my new power.” Like before, the power of Tartarus and the purity of Eden sparked in her hands. “I wonder how far into oblivion I can send you?
**War**
“There it is, the missing piece of the Tree.”
Famine approached it cautiously. “It is protected by a barrier. It seems we need to close to rift to Tartarus first.”
Beside the Tree branch was another pedestal. Lying on top was a black onyx that radiated the energy of the forbidden land. “I say we just smash this thing and end it.”
Veronica caught me before I could enact my plan. “No, do not attempt to break it. That would open the rift even wider, possibly destroying us all.”
Wasn’t she just all sunshine and rainbows? “Do you have a plan then? We’re running out of time.”
She approached it and looked down like she was about to do something very stupid. “Using my own essence, the force should be counteracted and closed, permanently.”
I looked over at Famine. “Is she crazy? Or suicidal perhaps? I don’t like this one bit.”
He gave a quick nod of his head and addressed her. “Will that not kill you?”
All she did was smile serenely. “More than likely, but this is something I must do.”
Her mind looked made up, but it still seemed rather hasty and foolish. “Veronica, I know we have a limited amount of time, but you have to let us find another way.”
She wasn’t having it. Before Famine or I could stop her, she gripped the stone with her hands. Immediately, you could feel a shift in the power flow. If she felt pain, she didn’t show it. “It has been an honor fighting alongside of you Horsemen. I pray for your safety as this quest comes to an end.”
As her spirit was being sucked into the stone, “Is there any messages you’d like us to pass on?”
She smiled at me, her body vanishing before us. “No, there is no reason to burden him with the fact I loved him. There was never anything either of us could do.”
With her last words spoken, she completely disappeared into the stone. The power of Tartarus was gone as quickly as the brave angel who sacrificed herself. Looking over at the Tree branch, “Your days are over Hell witch.”
**Derrick**
I looked over at Roxanne. “If this is the end, I can think of no one else I’d want to spend it with.”
She grabbed my hand. “Me too Derrick Grimm.”
The two forces were mixing and this time it seemed to take. Her malevolent face wore a look of pure joy. “How I’ve longed for this day. The power to not just kill you insects, but the power to usurp Heaven itself!”
With horror, we watched as they merged into one. The black and white mixed together into this sphere of pure, unbridled power. Even though we were inside, the power created this vortex of swirling energy and I knew she wasn’t overestimating herself. She actually obtained the power to take on Heaven itself. There was nothing any of the three of us could do. I closed my eyes, holding on to Roxanne as hard as I could.
“NOOOOOOO!!!!”
Her screams broke me out of my reverie. Opening my eyes, “It’s gone?”
“War and Famine must’ve been successful!” Conquest pushed himself up and fired up his bow. “The witch is powerless!”
Sabrina looked devastated. “How is this possible?! I was able to merge them together!”
“We brought back up mother fucker.” I looked over at Famine and gave him the okay. His white celestial fire formed the perfect arrow and he let it go. It pierced her right above the heart, sending Sabrina to her back.
Her loud labored breathing was the only thing I could hear. She wasn’t dead, but pretty damn close. Roxanne shifted back into her human woman figure and walked over to her slowly. “Didn’t I tell you this is how it would go?”
“I hate you mother… I HATE YOU!!!”
Two gunshots were heard; two bullets entered her head and blood splattered all over the floor around her. I closed my eyes, reaching out to feel her soul departing her body. The anger and malice that it was filled with was certainly unhinged, but where she was going, she’d need it.
Walking back over to us, “Let’s go get Oz and head home.”
“That would be wonderful my dear.”
Chapter 31 – The End… For Me
In the days after the showdown with Sabrina, there was a lot of sadness. Veronica, one of my all-time favorite angels, had given up her life to neutralize the threat. Her moving on hit me harder than even I would’ve thought. “I just can’t believe there wasn’t another way.”
Michael was in the room with me. I noticed he too was taking her loss exceptionally hard. “She always put others first. It was her most valued quality.”
I reached over to him. “As long as she lives on in us, her spirit will never fade.”
Not long after our chat did he leave. He said he needed to get back Upstairs and file a report on this misadventure. I could only imagine the amount of paperwork Sabrina had caused and all the headaches that went along with it.
I sat there alone thinking about all the crazy shit Veronica got me involved in. She’d gone from being Yuri’s understudy, to a friend, to the slayer of Abaddon. Damnit, why was I crying again? I grabbed my beer and finished it in one gulp. Closing my eyes, I said one last prayer for my friend, hoping she’d gone to a much better place.
Later that day, Oz sought me out, wanting to talk. “Are you sure Jacoby wasn’t up there? I know what I heard and what I saw. She called him back.”
First, let me tell you have much in awe of Oz I was. When we found him on our way out of the castle, his wings were fully spread behind him. I had to do a double take when I saw the ghostly whitish grey chains weaved into them. When he told us what happened, it just affirmed that Oz was a truly kick ass kid.
As for Jacoby, where ever he disappeared to, it wasn’t back to Sabrina. Sorry kid, he wasn’t there. It was just her until the bitter end.”
He seemed really disappointed. “I thought he’d be coming home with us, for better or worse.”
I didn’t know where my wayward son had gone and that really bothered me. Like Oz, I wanted to at least start the mending process with him, but it seemed like it wasn’t the time or the place for it to happen.
For the Grimm family, there was one more thing to go over. At dinner, as the three of us were eating Roxanne’s famous
stuffed chicken, I decided to bring it up. “So team Reaper, what are your thoughts about moving to the Garden of Eden?”
Both of them stopped eating and looked at me. “So, you were serious about that dad? That’s really an option for us?”
“Yes Grimm, don’t joke about things like this.”
I was certainly not joking. “I’m dead serious (sorry intention pun). I mean whatever you two decide, I’m totally cool with, but it’s my home so it’s your home.”
Oz looked a little apprehensive, but Roxanne was never one to hide her feelings. “You told me you would have to call in some favors. What sort of favors are we talking about?”
“Well Michael listened to my proposal and he said you could live there with me under one condition.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What condition is this? How much am I going to hate Michael?”
I popped down on one knee and pulled up a ring pop. “You just got to say yes to this one question – will you marry me?”
**The next day**
We were due at the courthouse at one in the afternoon, but time was such a fluid thing. Roxanne was bent over the bed, her makeshift wedding skirt pushed up and me fucking the shit out of her. With her six inch heels, I had to reach up a little bit, but hot damn did it feel good.
She bent her knees just a little bit, giving me leverage to finish deep inside her. She even looked back at me, licking her lips. “Come on master, fill me up with your hot seed! I promise I’ve been a very good girl!”
When she started talking like that, it drove me crazy. My hips sped up, sliding in and out so easily. One the lust thrust, she winked at me. I started to shake the orgasm was so powerful. I kept thrusting over and over again until there was nothing left to give her.
After I less than gracefully pulled out, “How naughty would it be if I didn’t clean up? You think they’d notice all of your juice running down my leg?”
“Holy shit baby, you need to stop.” I knew she wouldn’t. “We need to get down there to make this official.”
She gave a very teasing lick to that ring pop she was wearing. “Just because we’re doing this doesn’t mean my answer is yes to Eden. I’m binding myself to you for all eternity mainly to keep you alive.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
She was cleaning herself up, which was also incredibly hot. “Let’s face it, without me, who knows how many times you’d be dead. Over that time, I’ve grown to love your stupidity and ass-hattery.”
All I could do was shake my head. “You’re unbelievable, you know that?”
“I certainly am.”
**A few months later**
“Are you guys serious? You really want to live there?” Khloros was going to be even more thrilled than I. He bugged me practically every day if Roxanne and Oz had made a decision.
There they were, my smoking hot Lust demon wife and my kid, smiling at me. “Mom and I talked about it and we know it’d make you happy.”
I jumped into the air, my fist punching upward. “We’re going home!”
Roxanne grabbed me from my celebration. “There are a few conditions to this.” Ah man, of course there was. “Number one, Oz is free to return to Earth at any time he chooses.”
I could live with that. “It’s your life kid, but could you stay at least until you’re eighteen? I’d feel better about that.”
“I think I can manage that dad.”
Back to Roxanne. “Number two, I am who I am and won’t change because we’re living in the Garden.”
I’d already told Michael this would be an issue, so the two of us spent some time ironing that out. “What we do in the privacy of our own dwelling is no one’s concern but our own. And trust me, after all you’ve helped do and been a part of, you might even be considered a celebrity there.”
Her eyes sparkled when I said that. “Celebrity status aside, there is one more condition.”
We’d made it this far okay, so I guess one more couldn’t hurt. “Okay shoot.”
She rubbed her stomach. “I want to be a mother again, to have your child.”
Words were failing me, not even knowing what to say. So I said the only thing that came to my mind. “Oh boy…”
Epilogue
It was certainly weird being back on Earth. The three years spent in Eden really put a new perspective on things. I could’ve stayed if I wanted to, but I had something important gnawing at me. I needed to find my brother Jacoby.
Dad and Roxanne took my decision as best they could. I was nineteen and had learned a lot training with the Eden Battalion. I was ready to go find him and end this divide in the family once and for all. The only problem, I still didn’t know where he’d disappeared too.
My friend George always had feelers out for me, hoping to get some word or trace of where Jacoby went. For three years, there wasn’t so much as a blip on the radar of Death’s lost child. I came to realization that my journey might be useless and end with me finding a corpse or worse, never finding anything at all.
Dad teleported me back to Philly, the place I was most comfortable with. Before I went, I promised my little baby sister I’d come home safe one day. Little Veronica was cute as a button, totally obvious she took after Roxanne.
It was probably close to midnight when I walked up to the old house. Dad’s private investigative business still owned the place and the key worked. I went to unlock it but realized the door was already unlocked. I opened my backpack and pulled out my weapon. I’d gotten so proficient at calling my fire, that I wasn’t worried it was unignited.
The door creeped open and I entered. The place was dark and dusty. There hadn’t been anyone living here since we left. Off to the side I thought I saw something, but it turned out just to be a shadow. I slowly walked through the office part and into the living area.
As I entered the kitchen, this time I did see someone. Sitting at our old table sipping a cup of coffee was an incredibly hot girl. She looked a few years old than me, someone you’d probably see at a goth club. She had purple hair, a halter top and skirt combo, and thigh high latex boots. Maybe even a high class hooker?
My sword flared to life, the reddish glow of it putting off enough light to see her clearly. “Who the fuck are you and why are you in my house?”
The girl’s beautiful green eyes met mine. “Oz Grimm, the prodigal son of the Horseman Death has come home.”
“You know me it seems, but again, who the fuck are you?”
She stood up, a few inches taller than me. “You needn’t worry about me, I’m a friend. Cassandra Zane at your service.”
I wasn’t convinced and kept my weapon level with her. “When your dad is Death, you can’t take people’s word at face value. Why should I believe you?”
She reached out and her soft, warm hand touched my forearm. “Because Oz, I can help you find your brother. All you have to do is trust me.”
Oz Grimm is taking over the mantle!
Look for his first adventure this fall when The Witch Wars begin!
Welcome to the Bonus Room.
Here are some stories that will prepare you for Oz’s upcoming adventure!
Merciless
A Grimm’s Reapers Tale
Chapter 1 – Ahoy Matey
“Cappin’ Fletch, we got a vessel approachin’ we do.”
I pulled out my brass spyglass and looked in the direction First Mate Anders pointed in. Sur enough, off the portside of the ship was a merchant cruiser. “Anders, get the boys ready. We got ourselves a pay day coming!”
Anders looked alive. “Aye aye cappin’!”
The short man scurried off to rouse the crew. I knew my band of bloodthirsty animals would be willing and ready to do whatever it took to capture that ship. With that in mind, I retreated below deck to my quarters to grab my pistol and blade. None were as feared on these waters as me, Captain Argus Fletcher. Though those who knew me just referred to me as Captain Fletch, the Merciless.
When I returned topsid
e, Oggles was steering my ship, The Black Cat, towards our target. “Get us in range of the long cannon. I want to make a good first impression.”
He gave me a lumpy look and spun the wheel hard. As the ship turned, I looked down and screamed, “Prepare the Cat’s Tail! I want these merchants to cower in fear.”
The Douglas Triplets signaled at my command and began preparations. The thrill of the chase and capture was on. I returned to the highest point, ready to watch everything play out. The Black Cat was the fastest pirate ship on the Eastern Seas. I had no fear that my target would escape.
The winds favored us this day, blowing hard with the ship, allowing us to gain great ground. Through the spyglass, I could now see their captain shouting orders to his crew. I couldn’t read lips, but I gathered he was giving them orders to prepare to be boarded and to protect their cargo. Good – I never liked it when sailors gave up without so much of a fight.
“Prepare to fire!” It was one of the Douglas Triplets, but I didn’t know their individual names. Hell, I didn’t care to be honest. “Fire in the hole!”
A few seconds later and the water rocked with the sounds of the Cat’s Tail. The long cannon sent its ammunition towards the other ship and the aim was true. The iron ball shattered their main mast, leaving them a downed duck in the water. With nowhere to go, it was time to fight.
In no time, our ship caught up to theirs and the boarding party was ready. I joined the team and tossed the first rope across. No one wanted to be the first, but if the captain was willing, his crew was inspired. At six foot one and close to two hundred pounds, I had little fear of being overpowered. Two sailors rushed me as soon as my feet touched down on their wooden deck. I shot one in the chest with my pistol and engaged the other with my sword.
He was skilled no doubt, his sword play kept me on my feet. As we were dueling, my crew stormed forward and fights were breaking out everywhere.