by C. J. Lloyd
Violet couldn’t stop smiling. Her cheeks ached, and her jaw cramped. “Not a word, okay?”
The door popped open as Samantha came in fully swathed in her combat wear. “Chopper is ready. You and the others ready to go?”
The once goofy grin faded and hardened with concern, taking on the emotion of the reality that was before them. Violet nodded. “Terra, get the others. Sam, we’ll meet you in the helicopter.”
“Well, execute ... Otherwise, you’ll be teleporting there,” Samantha said with a terse nod.
In the helicopter, the ocean glistened from above. The light blue of the water glowed from the light of the sun. Gentle waves stretched on for miles with no land in sight. It made Violet more curious as to why Elric chose to go back to that place.
Nobody said anything the entire ride over. The memory of the Boston attack was still fresh in Violet’s thoughts, stirring chaotically within her. She wasn’t the only one either as there was a dangerous change in everyone’s passion to stop him. Knowing the truth about Elric’s heritage had become a burden.
“What are Elric’s powers like?” Samantha asked.
With a voice that barely broke over the helicopter’s engine, Terra spoke. “Cold, destructive … relentless.”
Violet stared out the window, trying to put the words together. “Every time we’ve fought him, his powers seem to change. Or, I guess, evolve is a better word to describe it. He’s always learning something new, and he’s always getting stronger.”
Samantha nodded. Violet could tell she was pondering the answer. “Well, using gravity to crush a city with its own weight is definitely frightening,” Samantha said, wiping her shades clean. “Fortunately, fear’s the last thing on my mind.”
Manie shivered a bit. “What do you think he’ll do to us?”
Violet shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. We will stop him.” She thought about Jen. She was Violet’s wildcard. Their last resort.
“Ma’am, I think we’re here?” the pilot shouted from behind the seat.
A small chunk of land expanded as they drew near. Violet studied the island, her jaw clenched as they glided closer. She allowed her powers to flow through her freely, getting her flesh warmed up, focusing on strategy and how she would attack.
Samantha pointed over to a small fleet. “There’s the navy.”
Massive ships crept toward the large island. A few in the fleet broke off, going to different regions to surround the chunk of land.
Sasha’s green eyes widened as she tapped the window. “What are they going to do?”
“We’re making sure no one’s getting away this time,” Samantha answered.
“I have a feeling we’re going to be the ones wishing to get away,” Alfred whispered.
Two jets bolted by high above, their white trails cutting through the sky.
“Sheesh!” Manie jumped. “Those came out of nowhere, huh?”
“What the hell are they doing?” Samantha snatched up a radio from the helicopter pilot. “Wing Five, Wing Five, what do you think you’re doing?”
“We have orders from a higher-ranking officer stating we hit the target.”
“On who’s orders?”
“Mine, the president!” a feminine voice replied.
They watched as four missiles from the fighter jets darted toward a massive black structure that came into view on the island.
“Ma’am, we have the element of surprise. If we attack, there’s no telling what we’ll trigger.”
“I know,” the voice said as sadistic laughter rang through the radio.
“Who … who is this?”
The voice vanished as the radio died.
“Wing five, fall back, fall back!”
“What’s going on, Sam?” Violet asked, her heart starting to race.
She shook her head. “I don’t know, but that wasn’t the president.”
An explosion caused a bright flair of orange as they looked on. The helicopter shook as an alarm began to blare inside. The aircraft dipped and swerved in the air. Violet grabbed on tight to her seat belt, fighting the awful feeling of free-falling.
“We have a hit. We have a hit!” the radio chatter echoed to the back.
Violet grew silent as a ball of orange flames and the pillar of black smoke vanished. She tightened her fist. “This isn’t good.”
A large black mass engulfed the island. The jets flew over a large monstrous hand that snagged one of them immediately and engulfed it. A brightened flash flickered in the blackness.
Three more jets took off from carriers below and entered the fight. Multiple large hands rose from the dark mass. Fighter jets maneuvered, twirled, and raced around the massive extremities, dodging with great speed. Each counter was supported with missiles and gunfire. The right wing was ripped off one of the fighter jets, sending it twirling to the ground. A small dot ejected from the plane as a parachute hovered just above it.
Bursting from the blackness was the massive skull of a dragon. Black horns curved from its jagged crown. The most potent characteristic was the deep crimson red eyes, large and wide.
Violet’s entire body shook. She clutched at her arm to stop the shivering.
The sight of the beast was like that day when both Elric and Eden lost themselves to their Devas. A sight she hoped she would never see again.
Chapter 14
Dying Hope
The pilot’s voice broke over the radio. “Gonna be a bumpy ride, ladies and gentlemen. If you’re not strapped in, better get nailed down, ASAP!”
Searing pulses of pain racked Violet’s body as she squirmed in her seat, trying to hold it all in. She let out a wail as the pulses became heavier, forcing her to convulse.
“What’s wrong? You alright?” Alfred’s voice broke through her agony.
“It’s the darkness. Elric’s darkness.” The dread of the growing darkness took over Violet’s spirit as she battled the pain. I have to focus, damn it, she thought as another wave of dread forced her out of her seat. The wound on her belly that she received from Elric during the fight in New York pulsed intensely.
Fight it, fight it, fight it! She embraced another pulse that pushed streams of tears down the side of her face.
Violet forced herself to stand and made her way to the front of the helicopter. A ball of energy began to form in the mouth of the beast.
Samantha’s jaw hung open, and her lips quivered. “What … What the hell is that?”
Violet remembered the blast that nearly destroyed half the island when Elric and Eden fought in their monstrous forms, and this time the head of the dragon was much bigger than before. The mass of energy was double the size it was back then.
She concentrated, focusing on everyone inside the helicopter. If she were to bring them to the island, then at least they would be out of range from the blast of the attack.
With a flash, they appeared on the island behind a large structure, an ancient-looking temple of some kind that hadn’t been there before. Sasha and Manie held up the pilot and copilot who struggled to stand.
Violet dropped to her knees. The darkness was heavy, maddening, and had a blistering cold essence that crashed against her own.
An earthquake cracked the land and forced everyone to the ground as the massive manifestation spat the blast forward. The blackness raced through the fleet as an earthshattering crash consumed every vessel and aircraft in the vicinity.
Every life on those ships vanished, consumed by the blackness. Tears mixed with sweat as Violet gripped her chest. The instant horror that filled dozens of men and women in the distance was snuffed out in a breath.
Fighter jets that weren’t even hit by the attack dropped from the sky. The remaining ships began falling back.
Samantha swallowed hard. “He–he destroyed an entire fleet of ships in the blink of an eye.”
“Impressive. You all actually showed. You were right, Elric,” Calamity said.
Violet turned as Elric and his entourage rose from the g
round.
Calamity looked directly at Violet and added, “After what happened in Boston, I figured you guys would be too scared to follow after him. What would the world do without heroes?” Calamity threw her hands up.
Samantha reached for her pistol and raised it at Calamity. “That laugh ... That was … That was you on the radio disguising your voice as the president’s, wasn’t it?”
Calamity tilted her head to the side. “I’m sorry. I don’t know you, but thank you for noticing one of my many talents. I hijacked the command ship, killed everyone on board and sent those jets in to test Elric a bit. Well . . . and to get Enzo comfortable with missiles.” She shrugged. “Apparently, the kid has a fear of being blown up?”
“All those people, those soldiers, you killed them for a damn test?” Samantha’s fingers cracked around the pistol.
Elric stepped forward. “I figured you’d come.” He pushed his hair up as a chunk of his bangs fell between his right eye and nose. “You’re all pathetic.”
His crimson red pupils took on the wild slit of a cat’s.
“How dare you? What gives you the right?” Samantha yelled. A dark hand burst through the ground in front of them and reached for her.
Violet cut through the stream, dissolving it in thin air. She took a step back, swallowing hard.
“Don’t egg him on. He has the upper hand here. This is his territory,” she whispered to them.
“I’m surprised you came so quickly and with the military. I assume you’ve joined forces with them?” Elric asked with a dry, raspy voice.
“Man, you’re depressing,” Alfred said through his sharpened canines. Fur began to appear over his dark-brown skin. “You’re nothing but a cocky bastard.”
“Do something about it,” Elric replied, his calm demeanor a reflection of his apathetic tone.
Alfred tore through his clothes, his lean brown body changing with his rage as muscles popped and bones shifted. He grew taller and with a howl of anger, leaped over the group. His face stretched as his nose became a wet snout, and his canines hung from his jaw. This time Violet didn’t try to hold him back. He had to experience for himself the power difference between an Ermakian and a Titan.
“Alfred, you idiot, stop!” Sasha screamed.
“Let him go,” Violet said. She could feel their bewildered gaze upon her, but she wouldn’t allow any harm to come to Alfred. Not this time.
Alfred growled as he ran toward Elric on all fours, his snout drooling, filled with menacing teeth, and his muscular body covered itself in wiry dark-brown hair. Elric’s expression and posture remained the same as he stood still. The dark energy that covered the island vanished, and the true presence of his powers weighed on them all.
Alfred came with a right slash but stopped. His entire body trembled as he stood eye to eye with Elric. Even from a distance, Violet could see the shivering of his body, his fur standing on end. His ears folded as he stepped back, his claws digging in the sand.
Violet threw her hand out toward Alfred and teleported him behind her. He dropped to the ground, transforming back into his human form. His entire body shook uncontrollably.
“Alfred, what’s wrong?” Sasha examined him cautiously. Violet could feel the fear coming from her, too. “C’mon, talk to me. What did he do to you?”
“Violet.” He looked up at her. “I’m sorry, I—” he mumbled.
“Al, what happened?” Manie asked.
“I never believed until I came eye to eye with him. But that isn’t Elric. I don’t know what the hell that is.” He slowly rose to his feet.
Sasha stepped away from him. “Alfred, you’re scaring me.”
Alfred shook his head. “It’s not just fear. It’s more than that. Sasha, Manie, we can’t do anything against him.”
“What are you talking about?” Sasha asked.
“His eyes. Those damn eyes. They aren’t Elric’s.” Alfred was still shaking. “No general, not Blight, not Allure, not even Malevolence is on par with that thing inside him. Violet was right. We messed up. We shouldn’t be here. W-we need to get out of here now.”
“Is that all? You’re a frightened dog?” Elric mocked them.
The other two Titans hadn’t even made a move. They sat back, giggling beside Elric. The girl with the blue hair gave Violet a shrewd look, and the dark-skinned boy with his hair in tight rows shifted his mouth in a cocky manner.
Was this the right time? Bringing Jen here in the middle of all this? What if she got killed? Violet hated making promises with that girl. “I’ll be right back.”
“Wait!” Samantha turned to her. “What?”
Violet vanished.
She returned to the base, appearing inside Jen’s cell.
Jen jumped off the thin metal bed. “You found him, didn’t you?”
“I hope you’re ready because it’s all on you now.” They both took a deep breath as Violet focused. “Are you sure about this?”
An easy breath left Jen’s mouth. “I am. Let’s go.”
With another flash, they returned to the island. That heavy feeling of dread still lingered. Everyone’s eyes widened, and Samantha ripped her shades off as she glared at Violet and Jen.
“Violet … What the hell have you done?” Samantha’s dark-brown eyes became a dagger in Violet’s side.
Samantha wouldn’t understand. She couldn’t. Jennifer being here and coming back after all these years meant something. She was the key. She’d bring Elric back to his senses. Everything was riding on her.
“Where is he?” Jennifer asked.
Violet nodded with a cold glare just over Jennifer’s shoulders.
Jennifer turned, pulling a few locks away from her face. She snapped a hand up to her mouth.
Elric was still. Not even the devastating wave from the blast that blew wildly around them inched him one way or the other.
From the distance, Violet saw the awkward movements of his lips. It was as if he was trying to speak, but nothing came out. An expression of confusion and almost a strange hint of horror took over Elric’s face.
He stepped forward, and his crimson eyes returned to the dark-brown they once were when he was younger. Soft and broken. It had been a while since Violet saw those eyes.
Jennifer took one cautious step after the other.
Violet knew she was in as much shock as Elric. The myriad of emotions coming from Jennifer brought Violet to tears. Then a sudden gust of joy from Elric. It’s ... it’s working?
The wall of hatred Elric built was crumbling.
“V, was this a good idea?” Eden asked.
“It’s the only choice we have now, the only chance we have of surviving.”
“Elric, it’s me, Jennifer.” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she crept closer. The wind whistling over the crashing waves flung her locks around.
“Jennifer, be careful, okay?” Violet said.
She nodded, not taking her eyes off the one she had been away from for so long. “It’s been a while. I-I thought you were dead, but I never gave up hope.”
Violet’s eyes widened as she felt it, a glimmer of light within Elric. It was faint like a dying heartbeat, but it was there.
Then a shift. A foul essence of darkness turned the tides.
A nightmarish pulse riddled Violet’s arms with goosebumps. The shift in Elric’s energy was so subtle and ice-cold. No. No. No! She watched as Elric winced, and a tear rolled down the right side of his cheek.
A pale finger raised toward Jennifer, and from the tip, a black stream ripped forward. The force sent a wave that made everyone cover their face.
To Violet, it felt like time slowed. But she was helpless to react.
The black stream smacked clean through Jennifer’s chest, bursting inside her. Violet looked up to see the wound, watching the blood soak the back of Jen’s shirt. “Jen!”
Jen fell, breathing heavily and grasping at the hole in her chest. Violet looked up to see Elric’s eyes burning a crimson red with a strange tr
ance of disbelief.
Violet raced to Jen and flipped her over to help heal the wound, but the blood kept coming. She looked up at a disheveled Elric.
“Why?” she cried.
Jennifer’s eyes widened, tears rolling down her face in streams. She held onto Violet’s hand, then looked up to see Elric’s cold eyes.
With trembling lips, she asked him, “Why? Don’t you know, I love you?”
She whimpered.
He grabbed his face, digging his claws into his forehead. “This is a new world, Jen. Wherever you were, you should have stayed there.”
Violet placed her hand over the wound, trying to heal it. “Jennifer, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Was this your plan, Violet?” Elric asked with a shake of his head, wiping tears from his face. “I told you in Boston that if she were still alive, I would kill her myself. Apparently, you still take me as a joke.”
Eden rushed over, and Violet allowed him to stand guard. “How could you do this to the only person who loved you? The last person left on this earth who would do anything for you? She was willing to sacrifice it all for you.”
“Because now that I’ve killed her, I’ve proven to myself that nothing will tie me to my past. This is the end for all of you and this awful way of life.”
Violet focused on Jen. “Don’t talk. Just stay with me. Just stay with me, okay?”
“You’re talking ... in my head?”
“Yeah, so you can conserve your energy. Just focus on me. Just keep talking, alright?”
Jen’s eyes shifted to Elric. “You know he’s still in there, somewhere. I just know it.”
Violet began to panic as Jen’s heartbeat weakened. “I believe you. I do. But you have to stay with me.”
Jennifer’s chest slowly rose as her heartbeat faded. “Don’t worry about me. He’ll protect me. He–he promised.”
A pulse rocked the ground as a wave erupted from within Jen. Cracks rippled through the sand as the island began to shift.
From out of Jen, a thundering white light blanketed everyone.
Violet was sure the light enveloped the entire island, but she couldn’t see anything to confirm it. After being in the darkness for so long, Violet was surprised by the warmth that followed. Everything about it was embracing and comforting. She felt stronger and it was almost like she could overcome anything with this reinvigorating downpour of power. If it had a scent, it would be as smooth and rich as honey.