by R G Peterson
“Where’re the others?” Nick asked.
“Miriam is over there.”
Nick followed Anthony’s finger and saw Miriam resting against a wall. She smiled when she saw Nick looking at her.
Anthony raised his thumb and motioned up. “Grace and Terry were upstairs.”
Nick nodded.
As Nick moved toward the stairs he caught sight of Red lying against the wall near its base. Nick’s heart sank. Red was slumped over, his head lolling to one side, his neck clearly broken.
“Oh, Grandpa Red. I’m so sorry.”
Next to him, Nick caught sight of a very bloody Thomas Wade. A Water or Fire Element must have touched him because his body had erupted in several places as his boiled blood had exploded from his body, his skin nearly translucent, reminding him of Slate.
Nick heard whimpering and turned to the source. Terry’s old posse sat huddled in a corner, their eyes beseeching Nick for mercy. His fury at seeing Grandpa Red propelled him toward them.
“You’ll never be able to hurt anyone again,” he announced in an ominous voice. They tried to scurry even farther away as Nick approached. He reached down and tapped each one once on the head and chest.
“At least not with your powers.”
Their fear turned to relief as Nick turned and headed for the stairs once more.
Sitting on the bottom step Nick came upon GG cradled in Grandpa Henry’s arms. Hearing Nick approach, GG tried to extract herself from Henry’s burly arms. Nick waved her back down.
“It’s okay, Grandma. I’ve got to finish this by myself.”
Henry looked up and gave Nick a wink and a nod.
Nick took a step and stopped, “I love you two. I’ll always remember what you have done for me. The lessons you’ve taught. Thanks. I love you both very much.”
GG stood up and embraced Nick. As she moved away she tried once more to straighten out his unruly locks. She smiled at him, held his face in both her hands and brought his head forward so she could kiss his forehead.
When she released him his attention was drawn to the top of the stairs. Terry and Grace stood twenty-feet above him. They were pressed against each other side-by-side. From that distance, with the air swirling from the haze caused by the fight, it was hard to tell the expressions on their faces. They stayed there unmoving, neither saying a word.
From behind them, Nick heard the voice he knew he would.
“I told you it was futile. You and your friends should have joined me and none of this would have happened. Now look what you have wrought. And to what end? You have lost a great deal. And soon you will lose your one true love. I will not hesitate to kill them both.”
“Nick,” Grace said, but Thanatos stopped her as he jerked her back toward him.
“Say one more word and I will kill you where we stand.”
Nick noticed Grace make a showing of first looking at him and then at the bracelet on his wrist. When she was certain Nick understood, she subtly moved her head toward Thanatos. As Nick slowly ascended the staircase he surreptitiously reached over and placed his hand over his wrist. He immediately heard Thanatos say. “Tell him he’s powerless against you. He can’t win.”
“So you are Aether?” Nick stated. “You may think you won’t stop me, but you’ll fail.”
Nick heard a jumble of thoughts tumble around inside Thanatos’ head, as if two people were trying to talk over one another. Thanatos backed away from the top of the stairs as Nick moved closer, fear etched upon his face. He slid backward as he pulled Terry and Grace toward the perceived sanctuary of his study. Despite all of the chaos and destruction in the rest of the mansion, the study remained mostly undisturbed. Some of the artifacts of Greek masks and weapons had fallen to the floor along with books that were scattered around the room, but everything else remained intact, where Nick remembered seeing it last.
Thanatos retreated to his desk and, in a tone meant to convey firmness but failed, said, “No more. If you move one more step, I will kill her.”
Nick heard Thanatos’ mind say, “Shock the girl and make the boy wither up and die.”
Nick stopped in his tracks. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a figure. It was Ligeia huddled in the corner. He turned to her and gave her a reassuring smile. She returned it with an almost imperceptible bow before looking at Thanatos once more.
Nick heard feet scrambling up the stairs behind him, but he dare not take his eyes off Thanatos. He heard a pair of shoes slide to a stop behind him as they scraped across the dust and debris. “Holy crap,” AJ said when he saw Terry and Maddy being held by Thanatos. Maddy shushed him and they went quiet.
“As you see, Nicholas, I can harm you in many ways. All of you are powerless to stop me. You will do as I command or your family and friends will pay the ultimate price.”
Nick touched the bracelet once more and looked at Grace. “Don’t listen to him. Don’t you see? It’s not him, its’…” but she suddenly was unable to finish her thought. Her eyes changed and she said, “Nick do what he says, please.”
He turned his attention to Thanatos who suddenly looked bewildered as he glanced down at the two young people he held prisoner. Nick saw Ligeia glance his way and then back at her master.
Thanatos straightened up and regained his superior attitude. “So what will it be, Nicholas? Join me or watch those around you, who you care so deeply for, die.”
Nick was flooded with uncertainty. What should I do? Wait, I can control him with my mind.
He commanded Thanatos to release Grace and Terry. Nothing happened. So he repeated the thought over and over in his head. But Thanatos held firm. Confused, Nick glanced at the bracelet he was touching with both wrists.
It must be because he’s Aether.
He gave a quick shake of his head and turned to Grace. He decided to do what he had often done when he was unsure of the best way to proceed over the last three years. He asked Grace. He touched his wrist once more, looked her right in the eye and commanded, “Tell me what to do.”
He read her thoughts, “Don’t give in.”
Comprehension showed in Thanatos’ face. “Take it off. NOW!”
Nick saw him look at his wrist and the bracelet Nick had hold of with both hands.
When he hesitated, Thanatos’ expression turned maniacal. “Hurry, or I’ll kill them both.”
Nick slipped the bracelet off his wrist and dropped it on the ground.
With a flick of his head Thanatos said, “Kick it over here.”
“It won’t work for you. It seems to only work for me.” He shrugged as if to emphasize he didn’t understand why, but kicked it over to him anyway.
“Pick it up,” Thanatos said to Terry.
He retrieved it and handed it to Thanatos. He took it from Terry and moved it to the hand that held Grace. He left it there for a minute as one-by-one he scanned the room to see if it worked for him. But after focusing on the third person, AJ, he gave a weak smile and tossed it aside onto the floor.
“It doesn’t matter. You see your brother came to me with a lie.” When Thanatos saw the look on Nick’s face, he smiled, “Yes, I knew, or at least greatly suspected, that it was all a plot to get into my place and confront me. But what I found most interesting was his explanation behind why I should agree to do this.”
He looked at Nick to see if he understood where he was headed. Nick remained impassive.
Thanatos shrugged as if it made no difference and moved forward. “When Terry broached the idea that he would regain all of his powers once you were dead, I passed it off as him being…hopeful, at best. But once I started reexamining the prophecies – with Ligeia’s help of course – I began to see there was merit to what he said. After all, the prophecy states that one will vanquish the other. And we both know you are far too principled to ever seriously harm anyone, much less your brother. When I contemplated it further, I grew to fully appreciate how both you and Terry at one time or another have had all four Elements. So it stands t
o reason that once you are dead, he will regain them. After all, the prophecy must be fulfilled.” He watched Nick to gauge his reaction.
When Nick remained impassive, Thanatos said, “He is much more malleable than you. You have fought me at every turn. You and your noble beliefs. You have read the ancient words. You should realize we tried your way in the past and it failed miserably. But once more we find ourselves in the position, with the help of the One Spoken of in the Prophecy, of course, to capture what we once so easily could have had.
“When you are dead, Terry will lead us, with our guidance of course. Thanks to his father and I, he has a much better grasp of what needs to be done.”
Nick looked at him impassively, “And how can you be so sure? It’s a guess, at best, don’t you think? So if you kill me, and Terry doesn’t get all four powers back, where does that leave you? Oh, and just so you know, we found some more prophecies. They were much clearer than the 8th Mayan one or any of those we found on the pyramids in Puebla, Mexico. It says the second of two – meaning me – is definitely The One, confirming what we found or knew earlier. So you see, I’m the One Spoken of in the Prophecy. Although, as you know, I would have much preferred it to be Terry and not me.”
Thanatos looked at Ligeia, then back at Nick, his uncertainty evident. He regained his composure and said, “Well, I guess we will have to do it the old-fashioned way. We will take it by force, with Terry leading the way.”
Nick regarded Terry. He peered deep into his eyes then turned back to Thanatos and scoffed, “I don’t think so.
Thanatos’ anger rose. “COME HERE,” he screamed.
Nick didn’t budge.
“That is up to you. Stand there and watch your girlfriend die or come here. It is either she or you. You decide.”
Thanatos looked over at Ligeia and motioned for her to move to where he was standing. She haltingly crossed the floor and stood next to him. Upon being released Terry moved cautiously away, a mixture of feelings playing across his face. Everyone in the room knew Terry was desperate for it to be him. But they also sensed that he didn’t want it at the cost of his twin having to die.
Nick didn’t need to force an adrenaline rush – his body was filled with an overabundance. He searched his mind for what would happen next, then moved forward without hesitation.
When he was within an arms-reach of Thanatos he said, “Let her go. I will let you do what you want with me.”
“NO!” Grace screamed. “No, Nick, no!”
He looked at her and gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s alright.”
An arm reached toward Nick and he moved with lightening-speed. He grabbed Grace and pulled her away from Thanatos as he tried to shock and kill her. Nick’s counter touch prevented the electrical current from reaching her heart. He pulled her away with such force, it threw her across the room, out of harm’s way. She fell face-first, breaking her fall with her hands and slid to a stop. She rolled over to see what would happen next.
Before Ligeia’s touch reached Nick’s shoulder, he tapped Thanatos on the forehead, then the chest in rapid succession. He had moved so fast his hand was but a blur. Thanatos’ body shook and he gulped in a massive amount of air. His eyes scanned the room, disconcerted. A second later Nick looked down at Ligeia’s hand holding him tight and offered her a look of extreme gratitude and unconditional love.
He turned toward the others and smiled. It was reminiscent of the time Thanatos offered them that same malevolent expression.
Chapter 66
“I have known all along I was the One Spoken of in the Prophecy”
“What are you staring at? I have known all along I was the One Spoken of in the Prophecy. Did you not just hear me? I will renew the earth. For far too long people have polluted and ravaged our planet. It is time to reclaim it so that it once more becomes habitable for all living creatures. For all of those who stand in our way, they will be annihilated.”
“What, what is going on here?” Thanatos said as he looked about his massive study. “Terry, what are you and all these other people doing here? And Nick, but, but…how? All of you, get out.” But his voice was weak and uncertain.
Gayle and Henry had entered the room in time to hear Nick’s diatribe and froze when they saw him view everyone with contempt and malice.
“Nick, Nick,” Grace pleaded. “You can’t mean that. Any of that.”
She watched Nick struggle. His eyes clear one moment and glossed over the next. His face turned malicious once more.
“You should know me better than most. How can you not see that this is what I have been ordained to do? This is the reason I was born. This moment has been predicted for millennia. Join me. All of you. Earth was a paradise at one time. It can be again. But we need to act, and soon, before it is too late.
Thanatos staggered away from Nick and Ligeia to the far side of his desk. He snapped his fingers and was surprised when nothing happened. He reached for the pitcher of water resting there and was crestfallen when he couldn’t make it do anything.
“Ligeia, tell me what this means. What has happened here? Why have I lost both Fire and Water? Please, tell me what is going on.”
Ligeia gave him a condescending look and rebuked him in English. “Nicholas has removed them. You are no use to me anymore. It is a good thing that I stepped in and prevented you and Warrington from killing Niko. The two of you were such fools. You thought you had deciphered the prophecy, yet were so wrong. Both of you thinking that Terry, being the first-born, had to be The One because it was his birthright. Reckless men who believed in the irrational ancient concept of primogeniture. You disgust me.”
The hatred in her eyes repulsed him and he moved away from her stumbling back toward the windows.
He beseechingly looked to the others in the room. “Help me, please.”
Ligeia focused her attention on him as he continued to move closer to the window. Suddenly he turned and ran as fast as his old legs would carry him and launched himself through the glass and out to the rocky cliffs below.
Maddy and Grace screamed, “No,” but much too late to stop him.
As Ligeia focused her attention on Thanatos, Nick shook his head as if awakening from a bad dream. He turned and touched Ligeia’s forehead and chest. She leveled her gaze on him. When his touch had no affect on her, he blanched and examined his hand as if it had failed him.
She gave Nick a condescending smile and said, “Your powers have no effect on me. After all, I am Aether.”
Nick was devastated. It had all been a ploy – a wicked, vicious game to her. The woman he had grown to trust more than anyone outside his immediate circle had been his true enemy all along.
“No,” he murmured. “It can’t be.”
“Yes, I am afraid so.” She stared at him and once more his eyes went blank.
Nick turned his attention on Terry, “Are you still with me? Or have you abandoned me like these others?”
He hesitated a split second and then said, “No, you and me, bro, all the way.”
Nick reached out and took hold of his hand and they shook.
Grace pleaded with him, “Nick, come back to us. Come back to me.”
He swatted away her plea with a swipe of the back of his hand. “Join us or die. Those Elements who are not for us are our enemies. And must be dealt with swiftly.”
Grace moved toward Nick deliberately and without fear. She talked to him in a soothing voice as if her tone alone would snap him out of whatever trance he was caught in. As she reached him his hands flew up and grabbed her by the throat, pushing her back across the room. She was a moment away from passing out when Nick eased the pressure on her neck. He looked at her with love then let his hands drop, staring at them bewildered.
“No,” Ligeia said, “She will hold you back. You must end her life now.”
With that she doubled her concentration on Nick, who moved toward Grace once more. From across the room AJ launched himself at Ligeia. She swung her attention to A
J and he seemed to pass right through her, crashing into the desk headfirst.
She waved her hands at his face and he screamed out, “My eyes, my eyes, I’m blind, I can’t see.”
She smiled down at him sneering, “You are not even an Element. What good are you?”
She turned her attention back to Nick who had stopped and watched the action unfold, powerless to do anything.
“AJ,” he started to say before Ligeia mentally took hold of him once more.
“You are a stubborn one. I will say that for you. But over time, you will come to be as pliable as Alastor proved to be. Now finish her off.”
GG rushed forward and placed herself between Grace and Nick. “Nick, snap out of it. This is not you. You and Grace…you love her. I’ve known it from the beginning. You couldn’t hurt her. You love her too much.”
“Get out of my way, old woman. She means nothing to me,” but it was said with much less conviction than Nick had expressed a moment before.
Henry rushed forward to protect GG and Grace. He hadn’t moved but three steps when Nick held up his hand. It was as if Nick had thrown up an invisible barrier stopping Grandpa Henry from moving any farther. Then he pushed his hand forward and Grandpa Henry was thrown backward landing hard on the ground.
“Leave me alone,” Nick shouted.
GG stepped into Nick and slapped him. The sound reverberated around the room. It stopped Nick in his tracks.
When he looked at GG she offered him a warm loving smile and said, “Come back to us, Nick. We all love you.”
Nick swung his attention to Grace who gave him the loving smile she saved just for him. “We do. We all do.”
Nick hesitated and turned toward Ligeia who said, “Niko, you are The One. You must fulfill your destiny and that of the world.”