The Dragon Witch

by Drako

  Victoria rolled her eyes. “You’ll understand if I don’t trust you. You get bored easily.”

  “I doubt I’d ever get bored around you.”

  Brandon rolled his eyes. “I’m going to get a drink.”

  Victoria waited for him to leave to question Ares. “What’s your game, Ares? You don’t offer help unless there’s something in it for you.”

  “It remains to be seen whether I’ll get anything out of this or not, but I’ll help out anyway.”

  Victoria clearly wasn’t convinced. “I hate riddles. Speak clearly for once.”

  “Look, I have an interest in the outcome of your mission. Everything you do is connected to the bigger picture. Stopping this warlock is a step to stopping Lucifer, which brings us closer to stopping Cronus. I like a good fight, but even I know when to avoid a fight. A clash with the Titans would piss dear old Dad off, and that causes me problems.”

  That was logical enough for Victoria, although she knew he wasn’t telling her everything.

  “So exactly how are you supposed to help me?” she asked.

  “How’s this?” Ares turned to the door and launched a ball of fire at the man he saw leaving the club. It struck, sending the man flying out of the door.

  “Was there a point to that?” Victoria asked irritably.

  “You’ll want to question him, since he was about to head back to that warlock you’re hunting,” Ares answered.

  Victoria made her way outside, finding the man lying on the ground with smoke coming off of him. The skin on his back was charred black and he wasn’t moving. Victoria sighed as Ares appeared beside her.

  “Did you kill him?” she asked.

  “Don’t you know how to check vitals?” Ares smirked. “Of course I didn’t. We need information from him.”

  “He’s no good to me unconscious either,” Victoria argued.

  Ares kicked the man over on his back, then leaned over him as he winced. “Wake up.” He slapped the bruised face of the man, then grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up, slamming the painfully thin man against the wall. His tattered shirt fell to the ground and he winced again in pain.

  Victoria noticed the man was unusually pale, his face sunken in as if malnourished. His rib cage was clearly visible and he appeared to be no older than about eighteen or nineteen.

  “He’s a puppet, Ares, and a new one at that.”

  Ares looked back at her with a cocked eyebrow. “This isn’t my first run in with warlock tricks. I know what he is. The fireball was to break his link with his master.”

  “You can break spiritual links?”

  Ares gave her a dull stare. “I’m a god. I can do anything I damn well please.”

  Victoria folded her arms across her chest. “Drop him.”

  Ares released the poor male, who fell hard to the ground. “Fine, have it your way.”

  Victoria shoved him aside. “Shut up and let me do my job.” She began chanting, casting a spell to bind the male in place.

  “Nice. Do you have a spell to make him talk?” Ares asked.

  Victoria ignored him and spoke to the male. “You’re going to tell me where you were headed to report to your master. Otherwise, I’ll have you over to the god of war here for some eternal punishment. Talk and I’ll free you completely.”

  “There is no freedom for me, even in death. He has my soul.” The male’s voice was dull and emotionless.

  “As long as Balthas has your soul, I can free you. Just give me the information I need to take him out.”

  “I was set to meet him in Kinloch, out in the county. There’s an old gas station there that’s not used much.”

  “You do realize that if he’s not there I’ll roast your ass for all eternity, right?” Ares asked him rudely.

  Victoria glared at the god. “Shut up.”

  Ares grinned at her but remained silent. Victoria turned back to the male.

  “Don’t send me blind into an ambush. How many guards does Balthas keep?”

  “He has an army of servants like me from all races. He never moves with less than a group of twenty.” He looked to Ares. “Can you place me somewhere I can’t be found until you stop him? If he finds me now, he’ll kill me and retain my soul.”

  Ares thought for a few seconds. “Fine, I’ll put you in a safe place. But if I find out you’ve lied to me in anyway, whatever Balthas could do to you will be a picnic compared to what I do.” He waved his hand and the male disappeared.

  “Where did you send him?” Victoria asked.

  “Somewhere that he can’t be a threat. As a soulless vessel, he could be used to infiltrate places Lucifer can’t go, like Olympus. I sent him to purgatory.”

  “Well, I suppose that works.”

  Brandon, she called mentally.

  The area darkened for a second and Brandon appeared. “Are we leaving?”

  “Yeah, we’re going after Balthas, the warlock that’s after Adonis. I assume you’d like to come along.”

  “I’m definitely coming,” Brandon told her. “The sooner we kill this bastard, the sooner I can get away from Adonis.”

  Ares studied him, his eyes seemingly seeing into the depths of his soul. “You’re strange, kid, but I like you.”

  Victoria rolled her eyes. “Let’s go.”

  Eleven

  Cronus walked through the cold dark halls of the home of the Moirae. He’d waited eons for this moment. Finally, he would come face to face with those three miserable wenches and rid the world of them. He would soon gain the throne again, and as king of heaven and earth he would dictate the fate of all things that lived and breathed. This was merely the first step to the fall of the Olympians.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” Lucifer asked him.

  Cronus restrained from back handing the dark god, though he could understand Jarel’s incessant urge to destroy him. “Must I explain myself again? It is their fault that Zeus was able to overthrow me. If not for them uttering the fateful words that my son would overthrow me as I overthrew my father, I’d have remained king of the gods. My children would be my servants and all would be right with the world.”

  “This seems like something that would unravel the universe.”

  Cronus felt a tick in his jaw, once again suppressing the urge to pummel the irritating being that called himself a god. “There must be some reason why your mother thought you were worthy of saving but for the life of me, I can’t understand it. Now unless you’d like me to take back the gift of life she gave you, kindly shut the hell up. If you’re scared, go run back to your realm and let Jarel slaughter you. Heaven knows he’d be doing me a favor at this point.”

  Lucifer scowled. “You’re an unappreciative fuck. I suggest you remember I’m the one that revived you, and I’m no fresh out of the mother’s womb god. I’m just as old and just as powerful as you.”

  Cronus stopped and rounded on him. “Do not ever consider yourself my equal. I have no equal. It is by my will that I walk in this world again, you are merely a tool I used. As it stands, you’ve shown me no other use and I could easily dispatch you. You breathe because I choose to be lenient but do not think that you have the authority to question me.”

  Lucifer glared back at him. “I am the father of all evil, you pompous bastard. I suggest you realize that I am not your servant. I fear no god, including you. Your revival serves my purpose, not yours.”

  Power radiated around the two, and they seemed ready to spring at each other. In the end, however, Cronus turned and continued down the hall. Lucifer glared after him for a few seconds, then continued after him.

  Cronus entered the room where the Moirae sat waiting. Their mystical loom had disappeared, and they seemed to be waiting. The former god king frowned, confusion evident.

  “You are here unprotected, yet I’m sure you knew I was coming for you.”

  “Yes, we knew, as we know all things,” Atropos responded.

  “We have no fear of our end,” Clotho added.


  “It is our time,” Lachesis concluded.

  “How anti-climactic.” Lucifer came to stand next to Cronus. “There won’t even be a battle. The hags will simply accept death.”

  “There is a reason to everything the Moirae do.” Cronus frowned at the women. “So why do you merely accept your fate? Why do you not fight me?”

  “Alone we could not hope to defeat you, though if we wished to remain, we would have gone to Zeus, where you could not reach us,” Atropos answered.

  “You seek us out of revenge and as a strike against Zeus, thinking our death will somehow aid your cause,” Clotho added.

  “In the end, this moment is mostly useless, as it will not help you in the slightest.” It almost seemed as if Lachesis smiled, as her voice held a hint of amusement. “This will not give you additional power, and it will not affect Zeus in any real way. It will give you a hollow victory for our power adding to the curse your father cast on you as you slew him.”

  Cronus ground his teeth, his power beginning to build. “You witches caused my downfall. You assured that Zeus would come into being and overthrow me.”

  “You created your own downfall, as you are his father,” Atropos told him.

  “You formed his desire to rule the universe, as you went back on your word to your mother, you locked his brothers and sisters away and intended to do the same to him,” Clotho continued her sister’s line of thought.

  “Had you been as a father should be, he’d never have fought you, and would have used his power to assure your rule. It was your actions that gave validity to the curse your father made,” Lachesis finished.

  “Enough!” Cronus thundered. “Prepare to finally meet your end. I tire of this pointless conversation.” He conjured his famed scythe. “For failing to protect me, the true king of heaven and earth, you will perish and I will decide the fate of all that breathe from here on.”

  “You may try,” Atropos started.

  “You will exert your authority whenever you can,” Clotho continued.

  “And you will fail,” Lachesis concluded.

  Cronus raised the scythe. “No, I will succeed where all others have failed. I am the one true master of fate.” He swung the scythe in a deadly arc, one slash taking the heads of the three women.

  Immediately, the castle quaked as the power of the Moirae was unleashed into the universe. Not only did they feel the tremor, but so did the rest of the worlds. In his world, Jarel looked up, his eyes seeing beyond his realm and his senses attuned to the death of the mysterious goddesses that had always controlled fate. In Shevat, Desdemona did the same, with a smile coming across her face. In the mortal realm, Andreas and Kazarian awoke from their sleep, along with Krazas and Demun while Victoria, Brandon, and Ares stopped in the midst of their journey across town. High on Olympus, Zeus himself frowned as the great halls shook while the other gods looked around in confusion. The only time Olympus ever felt tremors was during a fit of rage from their king, but Zeus was not enraged. It became evident almost immediately that this was a sign of the death of a major being, and Zeus knew instantly who it was. He looked down into the mortal world as storms kicked off across the globe, the universe protesting the loss of the makers of destiny.

  Back in the home of the Moirae, the tremors ceased as the bodies dissolved. Cronus turned to Lucifer.

  “Now that that’s taken care of, we can leave this abysmal place,” he told him.

  “Go right ahead. I’ve got some things to check on in the mortal world,” Lucifer responded.

  Cronus narrowed his eyes. “You’re not allowed in the mortal world.”

  Lucifer smirked. “True, but I influence it frequently. I have servants to check on, and make sure they are acting under my will.”

  Cronus waved him off. “Go, do what you will. I have an army to restore.”

  Lucifer vanished. Cronus took one last look at the room before filling the palace with his power in an act of pure destruction. As he vanished, the palace imploded, soon leaving no sign that it had ever existed.

  On Olympus, the king of the gods sat on his throne, his handsome face slightly marred by a frown. His blonde hair was long, hanging just below his shoulder and his beard was the same color. Currently he was dressed in a long blue robe with a large lightning bolt down the back of it. His blue eyes sparkled like the lightning he wielded regularly and he sat waiting rather impatiently.

  Ares finally appeared before him. “You rang, dear Father?”

  “I do not like waiting for you, Ares. You are the god of war and you have duties to fulfill.” Zeus voice thundered even when he wasn’t yelling.

  “I am fulfilling my duties, Father,” Ares responded calmly. “We know Cronus is working with Lucifer. I’m merely following leads to track Lucifer and hopefully weaken their forces.”

  “And do you have any leads?” Zeus asked.

  “I was following a lead when you summoned me to track one of Lucifer’s warlocks. Lucifer is unable to enter the mortal realm in physical form, but he’s long influenced it. Any link we can get to him will weaken Cronus’ forces.”

  Zeus narrowed his gaze on his son. “Do not try to sugarcoat your activities with me, boy. You’re down there because of Victoria Damone. You know full well that the cooperation between Cronus and Lucifer is a loose one at best. Lucifer is too much of a coward to enter direct confrontation with the gods until he’s sure he can win.”

  Ares had no ready reply for his father.

  “Tell me, do you think that my vision has faded? Do you think I no longer see throughout all the realms? I am the king of heaven and earth, the ruler of the gods. I knew more at birth than you know in all your years of life. So, are you ready to cease glazing over the truth and talk business?”

  Ares bit his tongue, knowing it was never wise to anger the king of the gods. “What would you have me do, Father? You have Athena here to strategize.”

  “Yes, I do, but you need to be fortifying your forces. It won’t take Cronus long to gather an army, and he will march on Olympus as soon as he does.”

  “Would it not benefit us to have the Dragon Witch, along with other witches, ready to fight for us?” Ares asked.

  Zeus cocked an eyebrow. “Witches will fight for us automatically, if I deem it necessary to use them. Do you not have your own personal army?”

  “Of course, Father, and they are always at the ready for you.”

  “And yet you choose to spend time with the daughter of the Black Dragon God.” Zeus didn’t phrase this as a question on purpose.

  “She interests me,” Ares ventured cautiously.

  “Interests you? That term could mean your destruction in the end.” Zeus’ gaze was unreadable.

  “I don’t intend to use her as some passing fling. If I did, I’d never have spoken to Hecate about her.”

  Zeus snorted. “Did you bother to speak to her father? Hecate you could fight, Jarel would destroy you.”

  Ares scowled. “Father, I’m well aware of what I’m doing. I have no intention of harming Victoria at all. And not only because of the consequences I’d face from her father. The woman actually appeals to me. She’s not like the goddesses here or the mortals I’ve had in the past. She’s not some delicate little flower, and she’s not horribly abrasive and offensive like Eris was.”

  Zeus studied him silently. “I will make this deal with you, Ares. I will allow you to assist Victoria as you wish. However, you are still to answer my summons immediately when given, and when the time comes your army had better be ready for the assault Cronus is planning. If I have to slaughter his entire army myself because you were too busy trying to win over a woman, you will not like the end result.”

  “I’m always at your service, Father.” Ares bowed low.

  Zeus waved a hand, dismissing him, and Ares vanished.

  “You were eavesdropping, old friend.” Zeus turned to his right, where Jarel now stood. “That’s not like you.”

  “I observe when necessary, and th
at was necessary,” Jarel replied.

  “What brings you here?” Zeus asked.

  “Surely you felt the demise of the Moirae,” Jarel responded. “Your father will only grow more bold. He assumes that you rely on the Moirae to keep your reign intact.”

  Zeus scoffed. “He’s a fool then. The Moirae don’t answer to me any more than anyone else. But of course, destroying the weavers of fate would make him bold. My father was always arrogant, and each move he makes will make him more so.”

  “At least you’re prepared for him. I’m surprised you haven’t sent Heracles after him yet.”

  “I think it would be wiser to let him come to me. Let him think he can catch me by surprise. I’ll fortify my forces and crush him when he finally makes his move.”

  “Sound enough strategy. But don’t assume it will be a walk in the park. Your father is no weakling, and he, like you, has the ability to resurrect gods by himself. He doesn’t need a whole ritual.”

  “Yes, but he does need time to recharge after each resurrection. He can only do one at a time.” Zeus gazed off, his eyes peering into the mortal world. “Thus far, he’s done nothing. I suspect he’s biding his time.”

  “Or perhaps he’s looking for the one other being that truly posed a challenge to you,” Jarel suggested.

  Zeus frowned. “Do you think he’s fool enough to release Typhon?”

  Jarel shrugged. “Typhon was by far your greatest challenge. However, Cronus’ arrogance would allow him to think that since you defeated him once, he can defeat him too. Or perhaps because they are brothers, he thinks Typhon will not rise against him after.”

  “I’m positive I can defeat Typhon again. However, I can’t defend myself against Cronus if I have to take Typhon out.”

  “That is what you have an entire pantheon of gods for.” Jarel smirked.

  Zeus waved that off. “Remember my last battle with Typhon? He scared the hell out of the others. I fought Typhon alone, and it took me quite a bit of time to recover after I’d beaten and imprisoned him. Cronus is smart enough to attack me immediately afterward. Then the rest of the gods would be easy pickings.”