by SK Benton
"Oh Ho! And you think I didn't know that?" Johnson laughed maniacally with his head tilted back, as he maintained his sword at poor Liliana's throat. "My father has been in contact with them for years! They get Azul, we get Earth, and you all die. Pretty simple, really… now drop your weapons!"
Reluctantly, Max and Jennie set their katanas on the mezzanine floor.
"Now kick them away, and lose that glove thing too!"
Jennie pulled the gauntlet off and tossed it over in Johnson's direction, as they both kicked their swords off to the side.
"Johnson, you fool," said Max, "Vrol don't share. They kill, consume and move on to their next victims. Do you really think that they'll leave Earth alone? You're an idiot."
"An idiot? I think not. So here is what we're going to do - you are going to fetch that old fool, Draagh whatshisname, and have him undo whatever it is he did to bring us to this shit hole. Then, we're taking a trip back to Azul in your ship, where I'll give it to my father and we'll retrofit some old Exodus barges with SSCC hook drives. We've already amassed quite an impressive list of emigrants who are willing to return to Earth to start over again - this time with true leadership. I'll tell you something else - if this insane place actually is the future, I'm gonna make sure it never happens. All of your wonderful friends will never be born."
"That's not going to happen, Johnson," Max informed the rotting former lieutenant.
"Ok then, the girl dies. Was nice knowing ya. Well, no - not really."
Johnson started to back away into the stairwell, and made a feigned move to slice the girl's head off with his broadsword, still intending to use her as a hostage - but he hadn't noticed something significant. As he was bragging about returning to Azul, Liliana had slowly pulled Jennie's wand out of her pocket, and had it trained on his groin area. Further, Johnson had no idea who Liliana was, or what she was capable of - she was merely a hostage he could use in order to escape.
"Kind sir," the little lycan girl said sweetly, as she looked up into Johnson's ugly face, "could I at least say good-bye to my friends?"
"Huh?"
"Electrincantatio quassatio!" screamed Liliana, her cantus quick-frying Johnson's scrotum.
The vampire dropped his sword and screeched in agony while still maintaining a grip on the girl's shirt, and then tossed her out into the air as a barrier between his opponents and his escape. Max leaped in Liliana's direction, catching her before she hit the ground.
Jennie growled and charged toward Johnson, who had already turned and attempted to flee up the stairwell, being slowed down by the hanging remnants of his smoking ball sack. She grabbed him by the neck before he could get halfway up to the next floor and pulled him back, with the two tumbling down the stone stairs and onto the mezzanine floor. They viciously clawed and punched at each other, with Johnson using fighting skills he had learned in the military. He was no slouch when it came to hand-to-hand combat, but he was missing something that Jennie possessed.
She was full of the most powerful emotion in the universe. Jennie was fighting with love-driven conviction, and not with hatred, as Johnson was doing. She felt wave after wave of energy course through her body, strengthening her resolve, and as she punched, kicked and clawed with Johnson, imagery quickly flashed through her mind. She recalled meeting Draagh, Max, Krynos, Donus and Liliana - the stern, yet kind face of her commanding officer who had sent her off to Earth of the future, her lycan training; learning that she and Max were from the same country-state and had shared values. She saw brave Max - his awkward, smiling face, always willing to help - and their near-kiss. She felt love, and it gave her the strength to defeat her enemy.
Leaping through the air and letting out a wailing scream, she dive-tackled Johnson, and after rolling three times straddled him and started tearing at his chest and face with her enhanced claws while clamping herself onto his lower torso with her incredibly powerful legs. Chunks of rotting vampire flesh flew through the air, as he was being mercilessly overwhelmed and disassembled by the female lycan.
Her eyes were lit like fire, as her animalistic instincts - those that lycans would train so hard to control - were unleashed in a full display of indomitable rage. After nearly having stripped all of the flesh and muscle tissue from Johnson's chest, Jennie suddenly dug into his breast plate with the claws of both her hands. His face to melted into a look of absolute, final terror, as she ripped his ribcage open with a sickening cracking sound, exposing his heart and lungs. She quickly rammed her clawed hand into his pectoral cavity, and tore out his beating heart while he still retained consciousness. Without waiting another second she stuffed it into his mouth, dislocating his lower jaw in the process. Then, turning around she commanded, "Lili! Gauntlet! Now!"
The little girl deftly picked up the gauntlet by her feet and tossed it to her best friend and protector, watching as Jennie quickly donned the impressive metal glove and then started to pound Johnson's skull into the cold stone of the floor. She pummeled it over and over again, causing blood to spurt in all directions. As she increased the speed of her punches, her arm became a blur, the woman slamming the metal gauntlet's fist into his face like a jackhammer. Automated nervous responses caused his dying body to jerk and spasm; his limbs flapping wildly about until nothing remained of his head but a puddle of pus, blood, bone shards and rotting gray matter.
"Oh shit… Jennie!" exclaimed the little girl. "That was so cool! We have the best girls club ever!"
Liliana shot her fists in the air and yelped in delight. Lycan children were generally not timid when it came to scenes of gore, and Liliana took an almost unsettling pleasure in Jennie's decimation of their enemy's skull - but then again, the little girl had roasted his testicles, and was quite proud of her contribution.
The victorious lycan let out a piercing howl, and then looked down at the mess she had made.
"And I let you win at billiards, asshole," she said with a hateful glare at where his head used to be. A spent Jennie then looked back at her friends while morphing to her day form.
"Yeah, Liliana. That was pretty… cool."
Collapsing into unconsciousness, she fell over sideways, having completely depleted her reserves.
###
Groggily opening her eyes, Jennie found she was lying down with her head resting on something very comfortable, which ended up being Max's lap. As her vision focused and cleared, she saw his smiling face looking down at her, and above him, Liliana, Draagh and a number of lycans, including Krynos and Donus, now all in their day forms. Krynos peered over and looked down at her, with a great, broad smile.
"My sister! You awaken! I must say, I saw your great artistry in the mezzanine. Spectacular! I should want that you teach my troops how to deal such damage to a vampire!"
Max just sat there, using his fingers to comb out her black locks, while looking at her with the most amazing visage, his head seeming to be surrounded by a halo of light - she thought he looked like an angel, and in a manner of speaking he was one - well, half of one, at least.
"You feeling ok, Jen?" he asked, continuing to stroke her thick, beautiful mane.
"Yeah, a bit weak, but ok. What happened?"
"My dear, you passed out! Tanked! You depleted all of your resources while vaporizing the face of the arrogant fool who traveled to this world with us," exclaimed Draagh as he puffed away on his pipe, which caused Donus and Krynos to wave their hands around in a vain attempt to dissipate the aromatic fragrances of his beloved herb.
"But… is everyone alright?" She looked over a bit and saw Liliana, who was waiting to speak with her.
"Oh Jennie, I am so glad that you shit the bad vampire!"
Liliana then looked at Max with an expectant smile, waiting for approval on her sentence structure, to which he kindly replied, "Honey, as time goes on you'll get the hang of it."
Jennie managed a weak grin, knowing she had lost the battle to keep Liliana from swearing. Attempting to sit up, Max gave her a bit of help, and looking arou
nd, she saw dozens of lycans and a few remaining normals milling about, picking up vampire corpses and carting them off to be food for the guardians of the moat. Lieutenant Roy's battle group had already departed from the castle grounds, dispatching the vampire fugitives as they attempted to escape via the woods past the open plains to the north, being considerably slowed down by the rising sun. Various servants went by with plates of food, enabling the victors to replenish their reserves.
Max held a still weak Jennie's plate for her while she nibbled on some venison.
"Did… did we lose anyone? Is everyone safe?"
"Most are well, my dear girl," stated Draagh, "but sadly, we lost Kangor and Wilhelm, as well as a number of normals, in defense of the castle."
Jennie focused on the old mage, her eyes closing slightly, as she noticed he looked more pale than usual.
"Yes, I shall visit with their families tomorrow and bring them tales of great feats and ultimate sorrow," Krynos said while keeping his voice low.
"And… all the vampires? Did I kill Johnson? Is… he dead?"
"Oh yeah, Jennie, he's definitely dead. Well, unless vampires can live without heads… or brains… or hearts," said Max, "and we're gonna spend the next two weeks just trying to clean the spot on the floor where you pounded him."
"No! We shall leave the stain, albeit without the stench of rotting flesh, as a reminder to any who enter this castle uninvited in the future. None shall invade and leave with their lives," exclaimed Krynos, in a louder voice, again smiling and looking around. He then barked out some orders to staffers who continued to clean up the corpses and piles of ash, while Donus raced off to coordinate the efforts.
"My dear young lady," said Draagh, "when we first met, I knew that you would be formidable, but I had no idea that you would partake in such wanton violence. Oh my, it was quite impressive. Quite impressive, indeed."
The old mage, being quite satisfied with his addition to the conversation, went back to puffing on his pipe, much to the chagrin of those close by.
"Jennie," said Max, "I'm just glad you're safe. You kicked ass… and YOU, Liliana, you saved us all! I am really proud of you too!"
Liliana blushed, her little pigtails bouncing as she rocked back and forth on her heels and toes while twiddling her thumbs behind her back.
As Jennie was helped up to a standing position, she looked around to see that there was no major damage to the castle - Vladros had arrived with the intent of murdering everyone there and leaving the structure intact for his own personal occupation, hence the lack of pyrotechnics or massive catapults hurling giant boulders at the walls. His confident arrogance was truly his undoing.
"Liliana, will you help me get Jennie to her quarters?" Max asked the young lycan girl.
"Oh certainly, Max…. and Max?"
"Yes?"
"Would you like to join our girls club? It really is quite fun!"
"Well, I think girls clubs are only for girls… aren't they?"
Jennie gently took Max's arm and guided it around her lower back for support, as she put her arm up over his shoulder.
"Max, I think Liliana and I could use another member. She's right - it really is fun. Ever zapped a cat before?"
Chapter 27 - Celebration
After having cleaned up and slept for a number of hours, Jennie awoke to see the sun near setting over the horizon as the moon waned on the opposite side of the sky. As she relaxed in her plush bed she heard light snoring next to her, that coming from Liliana, whom she had let have a sleep over. She watched the amazing child and wondered why no one had ever claimed her. Brushing the girl's bangs out of her face, she thought she would give her a bit of a haircut when she had the time. It made her sad that she would be leaving their world soon, but they had their own planet to protect.
Maybe I can visit again one day, she thought as she slid out of bed and tried to figure out what she would wear for the party that night.
Suddenly, an idea came to her. She rushed to her wardrobe, pulling out the white leather battle outfit that Draagh had given her - the one that had started out as a ceremonial Azul military uniform, and then had been converted to a tango dress.
Holding it to her face, she concentrated, "Draagh, are you there? Hey, does this thing still work?"
"Jennie! What a pleasure to hear your voice. I assume that you slept well, my child?"
"Yes, quite. Thank you, but I'm afraid I have nothing decent to wear to the feast tonight."
"Oh dear, are you telling me that you own indecent clothing? I would have never thought."
"Draaaaagh! I didn't mean that. What I mean is - can you set me up with something…stunning? I mean to ask a certain guy to dance."
There was a momentary silence, and when Jennie was just about to think out his name again, Draagh responded, "Of course my dear! Of course! What color do you prefer? Tell me what it is you would like."
As Draagh and Jennie continued their telepathic visit, Liliana sat up, stretching and yawning as she looked out the window, noticing it was the end of the day.
"Oh no, Jennie! We missed breakfast! We were going to eat breakfast together!" to which she made a sad, pouty little face.
Jennie finished her silent conversation with her mentor and teacher, and then sat down on the edge of the bed while ruffling up the girl's hair, and then trying to put it back into place.
"I have something better! We're going to a party - how does that sound?"
"I am to attend a party?" she asked excitedly, but then appeared to become a bit sad.
"I've never been… and, I have no pretty dresses."
"Aw, don't you worry, sweetie. I already set us both up with something to wear. Now, the party isn't for a few hours, so let's grab something to eat, ok?"
"Ok! Yay!"
The two quickly dressed and left Jennie's room, with the older of the two seeing something colorful out of the corner of her eye. As they moved down the hallway Jennie looked back, only to see the pink ribbon that her little friend had tacked to her door. She barely noticed it before, having been so preoccupied with the preparations for the full moon, and was almost completely concentrating on herself.
The child probably has nothing, yet she gave me that.
Jennie was suddenly overwhelmed with sentiment, and turned her head slightly so that her young friend wouldn't see any potential tears. After recovering and controlling her emotional near-outburst, she smiled and took the little girl's hand, going to the mess hall - having made a decision that would change her life.
###
Max woke up, rolled over and almost fell out of his bed, being so close to the edge. Grabbing the large post of the great wooden frame, he steadied himself and then sat up straight. He had eaten a bit before going to sleep, but was famished and wanted to have a snack before getting ready for the party.
He went to his washbowl to splash some water on his face, but stopped and looked at himself in the mirror. He had somewhat changed since arriving in the Rhönen Dominion. His face was a bit more chiseled, especially around the jaw, and his chest and shoulders had expanded out quite well. Best of all, his stomach was a rock. He was never more fit in his entire life, even though he was always naturally strong for his size. He ran his hands over his well-defined abdominal muscles, impressed with their formation. All of the abdominal workouts he had done in his life never got him the results he was looking at in the mirror. He clumsily tried to fix his hair, which hadn't been that length since he was a youth, always having kept it regulation-short and befitting of a military officer during his adult years. Now it was longer and tended to hang in his face, but he rather liked his new look.
Must be all the protein I've been consuming, he thought to himself.
Not knowing what he was going to wear for the party, he went to pull out the dress whites that Draagh had conjured for Donus' birthday party, but was shocked to see an attractive blue leather outfit, made of a soft, almost metallic-looking scaled hide with which he was unfamiliar. It ha
d a v-neck collar and appeared to have been exquisitely tailored. Best of all, the jacket and trousers fit him like a glove.
"Draagh, did you make this for me?" Max thought, mentally calling out to the old mage.
He listened, but his grandfather didn't answer.
###
Out on an open, grassy field walked an immortal being - someone as old as time itself - heading toward a collection of trees. There was smoke from a campfire wafting up through the leaves, and the smell of freshly cooked hares permeated the air.
Looking up at him from her seated position on a fallen log was the recently banished Alea.
"Alea, how good it is to see you, my dear," said the old mage.
"Hullo, Draagh. I assume you defeated Vladros' forces?" she rhetorically inquired.
"Yes, oh yes. We did indeed, yes, but may I ask… how did you learn of Vladro's attack? You were not privy to that information earlier, were you?"
"Oh no. Not at all… I happened to run into someone after the attack had already begun. He was quite… quick to spill the beans."
She then looked at her former lover with intense sadness, as her eyes welled up a bit.
"I do not know why I did what I did. It was like I was…"
"Yes my dear, I know. You were being controlled - in more ways than one. Although Siegfried was only a minor-mage, and not a very good one at that, he did excel in the art of suggestion."
Alea wiped her eyes and busied herself, as she took a cast iron pot off the fire, stirring the stew within that she had recently crafted.
"I only wish I could go back and correct my mistakes. That poor girl… what did I do?"