by Danica Rayne
Except for one.
I grabbed Marny’s arm. “That’s him!” I pointed. “That’s Mergarus. He possessed that human’s body.”
The man, who looked like he was in his late twenties, gave me a sinister smile. Without touching it, he lifted a rock off the ground and launched it my way. Callie jumped before me, deflecting it with her katana.
“When can we use the Power of Ten?” I called as he raised his arms and slammed them down, splitting the ground in half.
“Not yet!” she said as she tried to keep her balance. “We have to weaken him first by killing all these supernaturals. They’re fueling his power.”
“But more keep coming in from the portal,” I said. “His power is endless.”
“I know, but every demon we kill will still weaken him. Don’t give up.”
Mergarus lifted his hand toward the ocean, causing the waves to become very violent. They grew more violent by the second, as though a terrible storm was brewing. And then an object bulleted out of the ocean and soared in the air, landing before us.
We all staggered back. It was a humongous kraken. Almost as big as a house.
“Holy crap!” Aunt Bea said.
It shot out its tentacles at Marny and grabbed her.
“Marny!” Elisa cried.
I raced toward it and sliced the tentacle with my dagger. Marny dropped to the ground as the creature flailed in agony, slamming another tentacle into my chest, chucking me away. I knocked into Ryker and sent us into a tree. Spinning around, I touched him. His fur had cushioned me, but was he okay?
He inclined his head before running back to the action.
The supernaturals continued to attack us as we tried to kill the kraken. Some slayers were put down. We were losing energy. The fallen or weakened supernatural soldiers were immediately replaced. I didn’t know how much longer we could put up with this.
“We’re losing,” I said to Callie.
A rumbling sound came from the ocean. I turned my head and saw the waves were violent again. Oh no, another kraken? Something leaped out of the water and landed on the ground. I gaped when I saw a tail attached to the lower half of her body. She held a spear in her hands.
Mermaid.
One by one, more of them shot out of the water and landed before us, each with a beautiful tail and a weapon in their hands. Mermen, too. Soon, there was an army twice as big as ours.
“Need help?” the leader asked as her tail transformed to legs.
I snapped out of it. “Yes!” I said. “But how…”
“The kraken’s under our watch.” She glared at it. “I don’t know what evil creature dragged him out, but he will not claim any lives today.”
The merpeople charged at the kraken while our team took care of the demons. Mergarus pinned his eyes on me, and Callie and Aunt Bea ran to my side.
“Big mistake, slayer,” he sneered. “They’ll die trying to keep you safe.” He raised his hand toward them.
“Not a chance!”
I bolted to him with my daggers raised, kicked off the ground and somersaulted until I landed before him. I hesitated because he looked so human, and that gave him the chance to stretch out his hand, wrap it around my neck, and yank me toward him.
“I’ve got you now, slayer,” he said.
“Wanna bet?” I struggled to say. I drew on all my energy and kicked my leg right into the place no man wants to be hit.
He howled as he released me, dropping to his knees. “Curse these humans and their weak bodies!”
I aimed a dagger at his heart, but he managed to move just in time and it went through his shoulder. Releasing another howl, he grabbed a nearby demon and bit into his flesh. The dagger slid out of his shoulder and clattered to the ground, the wound closing up.
He whipped his hand toward me, but I ducked and somersaulted to the left.
Aunt Bea chucked a mace at him, getting him right in the forehead. Blood poured down his face, but it didn’t seem to hurt him. He pulled the mace out and pitched it back at Aunt Bea. She jumped to the side just in time.
His hand grew as large as a giant’s and wrapped around my stomach. “Silly, slayer. You might have taken the humans, but you can’t take down my army.” He gestured to the hundreds of demons and other supernaturals surrounding our small group. More of our people were down, including Dr. Caldwell, who lay on the ground in his human form, his body beaten pretty badly. One of the slayers had thrown her jacket over him to cover his naked body.
Mergarus was right. We were doomed. I didn’t think we hurt him even one bit.
Something roared from above, and then Mergarus’s body was engulfed in flames. He collapsed to the ground, releasing me, and I quickly rolled away. A large dark creature swooped toward me and swept me off the ground. Liam, in his dragon form. He threw me onto his back.
“He’s weak now!” I called out. “Bring me down to the slayers. Now’s our chance to use the Power of Ten.”
He flew close enough to the ground so I could leap off, but I froze in place. The slayers were fighting each other. They were hurting each other.
Demons must have possessed their bodies. They were controlling them to kill their own sisters.
The kraken lay dead on the ground. The leader of the merpeople walked over. “I’m sorry, but we need to leave now. Land is no place for our kind.” She lowered her head.
“I understand. Thanks for all your help.”
The merpeople dove into the ocean and disappeared under the surface.
“Alivia,” Aunt Bea said. She was huddled on the side, clutching her broken arm. I hurried over to her. “What happened? Are you okay?”
“Sorry, it hurts really badly. One of the monsters tried to rip it off. I’d return to the fight, but—” She bit her lip. “Alivia, this doesn’t look good.”
And with the slayers possessed by the demons, there was no way we could perform the Power of Ten.
But I was still standing.
“This ends now!” I raced toward Mergarus again, dodging his large arm as it tried to wrap around me. His body was pretty burned, but that didn’t seem to bother him. I threw myself at him and slammed him to the ground. I threw a punch on his face, holding back from crying out. It was like I punched a stone wall.
“You’re not going to win!” I landed him another blow. “I won’t let you hurt another person. I won’t let you destroy my world!”
He just chuckled as I rammed my fists into him. “You’re on your own, slayer. You think you alone can defeat me?”
“Yes.” Another blow. “Because of you my parents are dead. You’ve hurt my friends. You’ve killed innocent people!”
“And I will kill many more. Starting with you.” He grabbed me by the throat and spun around, smashing my back into the ground. For a second, my whole body grew numb and I thought my spine had cracked, but I was able to move my legs. My kicks had no effect on him, though. His eyes were red with rage as he tightened his hold on my neck.
“Say goodbye to Earth.” He squeezed so hard my vision was spotty.
There was a strange sound in the air, kind of like static. The supernaturals surrounding me dropped to the ground like dead flies. Mergarus’s eyes rolled over and he collapsed to the ground, too.
I quickly sat up. The only ones standing were my team, and the slayers were no longer possessed. What just happened?
Finn raced over, holding out the rectangular device.
“Finn,” I said.
I figured out how to reconfigure it. It targeted all supernaturals not born in our world.
It took a few seconds for his words to make sense in my head. I sprang to my feet and looked around. Ninety percent of the supernaturals were down, the rest just stood there like they had no idea what to do. They were the monsters from our world.
“You did it, Finn!” I gave him a quick hug. “But Mergarus isn’t dead.” I turned to the others. “We have to use the Power of Ten right now.”
“Agreed.” Elisa motioned to
ward the others.
I was about to join them, when something in the corner of my eye caught my attention. It was a wendigo, and she was headed straight for me. I withdrew my dagger and rushed to attack, but then someone tackled me to the ground.
“Hey! What are…?” My mouth snapped shut when I saw it was Finn. “What are you doing?”
He stared at the wendigo who changed course and was headed for Callie. I now noticed that the wendigo looked quite young, like a child.
Finn leaped off the ground and tackled Elisa, who was headed straight for the wendigo with her trident spear drawn.
“Finn, stop it!” I said.
He grabbed hold of the wendigo’s arm and ran away.
“Finn!” I called as I chased after him. “Finn!”
I found him pinning the wendigo to the ground.
“Finn, why are you protecting—?”
She’s my sister.
I gaped at him. “Your sister? I didn’t know you had a sister.”
Me, either. But I know she is. I just know.
She couldn’t be more than ten years old. My eyes took her in, noticing the similarities between her and Finn. The same light brown curly hair and green eyes. She growled silently into the ground, showing her sharp teeth.
Finn stared at her with deep concentration. He was communicating with her. Her body grew still and she stopped growling.
Finn looked up at me with pleading eyes. Don’t let her die. Please.
“I won’t,” I promised him.
Kayden appeared. “What’s going on, Alivia? The slayers need you to do the Power.”
“Kayden, take Finn’s sister down to your basement and tie her up with the chains Ryker uses during a full moon. I’m sorry, Finn, but I need to deal with Mergarus first.”
I understand.
“What do you mean your sister?” Kayden asked in a bewildered tone. “Since when do you have a sister?”
He held out his hands helplessly.
“Take her, Kayden.”
He nodded and super-sped away with her. I quickly returned to the others. “Alivia.” Callie grabbed my hand and pulled me to a circle nine of the slayers formed. “We don’t know how long Mergarus will be out. We can’t waste a single second. Join hands, sisters.”
We did and closed our eyes, chanting the words. I didn’t know how I knew them, but I just did. We chanted them over and over, and then my eyes snapped open.
I stood at the cliff overlooking lava. All around me was desolate wasteland. Was this the apocalypse? The end of our world?
“Yes,” a demonic voice said from behind me. “This is your Earth.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
I turned around and came face to face with Mergarus. But he wasn’t in the human body he had possessed—he was himself, his demon self, wings, warts and all.
“Where am I?” I demanded.
“Where do you think you are?”
“Is this going on in my head just like in Lawrence’s? Are you showing me my greatest fear?”
He smiled but didn’t say anything.
My hands fisted at my sides. “Your army is dead. You’ve lost.”
“I’ve got you trapped in my mind now,” he sneered. “There’s no escaping from here.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You think the Power of Ten could destroy me?” He laughed out loud. “Nice try, little slayer.”
Obviously it did do something or else I wouldn’t be here right now. I was brought here for a reason. But why?
We’re here with you, a familiar voice echoed in my ears. We’re by your side.
I looked behind me and saw the faces of all nine slayers. When I glanced back at Mergarus, I realized he didn’t see them.
You’re all here? I thought in my head.
We’re connected to you through mind and soul, they said. That’s what the Power of Ten does. We become one unit. We’re here to protect you.
But what am I supposed to do? How do I defeat him?
We don’t know. You need to figure it out.
Great.
Mergarus grinned. “Why do you look so scared, slayer?”
I lifted my chin. “I’m not.”
“Really? Were you scared here?” He stretched his hand over the lava, where a scene began to play.
“No, Daddy,” five-year-old me said as I clutched onto the bike handles. “I’m too scared to ride without training wheels.”
Dad kissed the top of my head. “It’s okay if you’re scared. Everybody gets scared, even grownups. But you know who a true hero is? Someone who overcomes their fear. Someone who is brave. You’re my brave girl, Alivia. You can do anything.”
“A hero?” I asked. “You mean, I can be like Wonder Woman and Supergirl?”
“You can be even greater than Wonder Woman and Supergirl!”
I twisted my nose. “No one can be greater than them. But I can try to be like them.”
With a proud smile, he kissed the top of my head again. “Tell me when you’re ready to let go.”
He held onto the back of my seat as I pumped my legs. “Let go, Daddy!”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure! Let go.”
He did as I asked and I rode like a pro, no trace of fear left on my face.
“Look at that smile,” Mergarus taunted. “I’ve never seen a prouder father.”
“Stop it,” I ordered the demon. “Stop accessing my memories.”
“What’s the matter? Are they…hurtful?”
He waved his hand again and another scene started to play. Me at twelve years old standing outside a house, wearing a pretty light blue dress. Tears stained my cheeks.
“What happened, honey?” Dad knelt down before me and stared into my eyes. “Why are you crying?”
“No one wanted me at the birthday party. They all looked at me like I was a disease. Especially the boys. None of them like me.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” He gathered me in his arms, kissing my temple. “This is a hard and awkward stage for boys and girls. I’m sure the boys want to get to know you but are too nervous.”
“Am I ugly, Daddy? Is that it? Or maybe I smell?”
“No, Alivia.” He pulled back and looked into my eyes. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. You are amazing. Forget about them. One day, you’ll meet an amazing boy who will be crazy about you. He’ll make you so happy.”
My eyes lit up. “You really think I’ll meet a boy one day?”
“Of course. And you’ll get married one day and have kids—”
I slugged his arm. “Daddy, I don’t want to get married and have kids. I just want a boy to like me.”
“And one will. I promise you, Alivia, that you’ll have a boyfriend one day.”
“How sweet,” Mergarus said. “He actually thought you’d live a long, happy life.”
I glared at him. “I will.”
The scene shifted again, to me at sixteen years old. As it started to unfold, I realized this took place only weeks before my parents were murdered. I lay on the couch in front of the TV, a blanket wrapped around me, a hopeless and dejected expression on my face.
Dad, who had just come home from work, placed his briefcase on the coffee table and sat down near me. “How’s it going, Alivia?”
I shrugged.
Worry lines creased his forehead. “Are you okay?”
“Sure,” I said sarcastically. “Just peachy.”
“Want to talk about it?”
I sighed as I reached for the crumpled piece of paper I had chucked on the table. “Look for yourself.”
He carefully unfolded it and scanned the page. A disappointed look clouded his face, but then he pasted on a smile. “It’s okay. Math has never been my strong suit, either. You’ll do better next time.”
I groaned as I hugged a cushion to my chest and banged my head against the armrest. “I suck at everything.”
“Alivia—”
“I clearly have no social ski
lls, so that rules out over half the jobs that need strong communication skills. I suck at math so I can’t be a computer programmer or engineer, or do anything financial, or other jobs that need math. I nearly failed my psych test last week, so I obviously can’t help people.” Another groan. “Can’t I just be good at one thing? What kind of future am I going to have?”
“Sit up, honey.”
I did as he asked, and he scooted closer to me, sandwiching my hand in his. “I know these are tough years. Trying to figure out who you are as you grow closer to adulthood. But you’re putting too much pressure on yourself. You still have time to figure out what you want to do with your life. You’re still young, the sky’s the limit.”
“But kids are already working on their college applications. They’re doing all these extra-circular activities, like student government and law club, and some kids are even interning. And what am I doing? Sitting here watching TV or reading a book. I’m probably the most boring and stupidest person on the planet.”
“Listen to me, Alivia.” He looked into my eyes. “You are not boring. You are not stupid. You can do anything you want. Mom and I have been drilling this into you since you were little. You have your whole life to figure out the kind of person you want to be and what you want to do in the world. Nothing can hold you back. Only you can pave your own path.”
“But how am I supposed to pave my own path when I have no idea what path I even want to be on?”
He leaned forward and kissed the top of my head. “You’ll figure it out. Mom and I will be with you every step of the way. You’ll be okay, sweetie. You’ll be okay.”
His words faded away as the scene ended. I tasted salt on my lips.
“Aww, how sad.” Mergarus pouted. “He actually thought you’d succeed in life and that he and your mother will be around to watch. What a shame.”
My hands fisted at my sides as I glared at him again. “The only reason they’re not here is because of you. But I’m sure they’re watching us and are eager for me to have my revenge.”
He laughed so loud it echoed through the desolate land. “You actually believe that?” He laughed again. “Though I suppose your mom is probably watching. She is, after all, stuck in the shadow world as a wrath, isn’t she?”
