Raising Sera- Lineage

by Andre Ellison

  Osira gaze was unflinching.

  “You will have no mercy as I destroy them both in front of you."

  Chronos materialized in his humanoid form. As he left Neoma’s body, he unfroze his time spell then possessed Osira’s.

  The possessed horde of humans gathered around Erebus as they still gave chase. He pulled out his sword and swung it frantically.

  Noema looked down at her wrist. She turned towards the cabin and noticed Leo as his body laid dead on the floor. She let out a scream as she ran over towards him. Osira gave chase and covered her mouth. She was not able to muffle Neoma scream.

  "LEO!" she cried out.

  She noticed a twitch from his finger.

  "Let me, GO!" she continued.

  Neoma voice grew louder with each passing moment. It echoed throughout the Bog, attracting the possessed to gathered in numbers. Erebus slashed away as more demonic creatures appeared.

  “Mother...” Osira uttered to Neoma, “...it is time!”

  She held on to Neoma and grabbed the Occulus.

  “You will be home soon,” she continued.

  With a single leap in the air, the both of them vanished.

  ***

  Erebus looked back at the cabin. He fought his way through a horde of the possessed as he witnessed Osira take Neoma and leave. He rushed towards the cabin but stumbled to his knee.

  Two demonic creatures appeared from the top of the cabin’s roof. They slid down towards Erebus and one creature landed on his chest. It held its mouth open while the other one stood in front. With a loud thud, the demon in front of Erebus fell to the ground. As the other demon turned around, it was slumped to the ground as Hecatan stood before him.

  She removed her dagger from the demon’s head. Erebus rolled it off.

  "You didn't need to do that!"

  "What?” she replied, helping Erebus to his feet. “Save your life. You are mortal now."

  "I was ready to die."

  "Oh, shut up," she uttered.

  Erebus picked up his sword.

  "We're not out of the bog yet...” she continued. “More of them are on the way."

  "Don’t waste your time with me... My time in this realm is soon done," Erebus scoffed.

  Hecatan cloneded herself into three. She prepared her twin blades and her minion did as well. As more of the possessed approached from the Bog, a horde developed among them.

  Erebus held his position side by side with Hecatan and her clones. With little opposition, they dismantled a small group of the demonic creatures.

  "Why did you come here?" Erebus uttered with stain in his voice. "Did you find the boy for Ethan?"

  "You want to ask me that now?" Hecatan replied, cutting the throat of an approaching demon. "It was a fool’s errand."

  She stabbed the head of a demon near Erebus.

  “Where’s Osira?” she continued.

  "Chronos has her,” he confessed. “He was here. And now he is headed back to the crater.”

  Erebus fell to his knee in exhaustion.

  “We need to get to Ethan," he uttered.

  A demon climbed up the side of the cabin. It leaped from the rooftop, slashing it’s razor sharp claws down Erebus’s back. As his flesh ripped open, Erebus cried out.

  "I can’t go on."

  “Give me your hand!” Hecatan shouted to him.

  Erebus reached out his arm with hesitation. As two of the possessed encircled around him, he hid his face from their insatiable stare.

  The possessed did not falter. They fixated their beady gray eyes on their target. Their teeth chatted away as their tongues hung far below their neckline. They waited to savor the mortal.

  They both lunged at Erebus.

  Hecatan dropped to the ground and both of her clones appeared in front of Erebus. They decapitated the heads of the possessed humans then disappeared again, returning back to Hecatan.

  She glanced over at the cabin, then looked at Erebus.

  "We need to get to the castle," she ordered. "The demons will soon reach Shangri La."

  A voice cried out from inside the cabin.

  Erebus looked up from his shoulder. His arm was rigid and his hand bent at an angle resembling the shape of a scythe.

  “Is this real?” he exclaimed.

  He looked down at the dead possessed humans.

  “Did I do this?”

  “No,” Hecatan uttered, impatiently. “I killed those two, but you are still needed.”

  Erebus smirked as he limped towards the lodge. Hecatan followed him. As they stood over Leo, they peered down at the immortal. Leo took a deep breath then coughed.

  "What should we do with him?" Erebus asked.

  Hecatan watched as Leo opened his eyes. As he glanced up at her, she turned her attention towards the two dead men against the cabin wall.

  "There's no way we can leave him here...” she uttered. “...he’s too dangerous."

  With hesitation, Erebus nodded his head.

  “Alright then...” she continued. “...he’s coming with us.”

  A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH

  Sacrifices

  Ethan stumbled as he exited out of the portal. He landed in a cache of snow along with the dog that trailed behind him. Ethan clutched his body for warmth as the dog trampled along beside him.

  Ethan stomped towards the animal. He put the hood of the cloak on top of his head. The harsh wind blew across his face as he surveyed the enormous crater. He coughed then looked up. The flashing red light of an ATT (Apex transmission tower) was familiar to him. He looked down at the dog.

  "Now what?" Ethan uttered.

  The dog whimpered as it looked back at him.

  Ethan extended his arm in front of his face. He spun in a circle then finally came to a halt. The distance of the horizon became less visible to him.

  "It's a complete washout in this direction, I doubt that's a coincidence."

  Ethan and the dog entered into the blizzard. They traveled over the frigid tundra, each step becoming more and more irritating. As the cold wind blew in crescendo, the light in the sky grew more and more dark.

  Ethan breathed into his cold hands then covered his ears. With little visibility, he faintly made out the contour of the dog which was barely just below his waist.

  The dog ran out ahead of him. It let out a bark then disappeared in the storm.

  "Hey!" Ethan yelled out. "Hold up!"

  The chill of the wind blew down his neck. As the trail of paw prints vanished in the accumulating snow, Ethan followed the sound of the dog’s muffled voice. Deeper into the storm he trampled. A few yards here, a few yards there. Oblivious to the world, he stopped. Ethan fell to the cold wet ground. His lungs burned with an intense heat.

  The sound of panting drifted in the wind. Ethan looked up. The dog sat next to an ice block.

  We made it, Ethan thought as he stood before the dog. I'm here... just like I promised.

  "Sera," Ethan hollered.

  He trampled through the snow towards her.

  “Sera!” he repeated.

  She didn’t respond from her inanimate state.

  Ethan approached the ice block. He reached into his back pocket and took out the piece of parchment. He opened it up and read the inscription out loud.

  "Animus apertus," Ethan uttered.

  He looked up at Sera. Nothing happened.

  "Animus apertus," he yelled, this time with less patience.

  Still nothing.

  “Come on...” he scoffed. “DO SOMETHING!”

  He pulled out his pistol and tossed the paper aside. The parchment vanished as it blew in the wind. He pounded on the ice block with the butt of his gun. Unable to penetrate, he took a step back and held out his pistol.

  He fired a shot at the block of ice.

  A small cracked form as an ice chip broke off. Ethan banged his pistol against the emerging crack. He continued to pound his fist as the fissure began resealing itself.

  He took a step back and hel
d out the pistol again.

  The dog growled at Ethan.

  Ethan lined up his shot. He squeezed the trigger but immediately turned around.

  He leaped out the way as Pontus emerged. The titan expelled a thunderous roar as it slammed his fist down on the ground.

  Ethan avoided him, but was held by the titan in a makeshift palm. Ethan kicked the human-sized fingers. As the snow turned to ice, the hand clutched into itself. It grabbed on to Ethan and pulled him underground.

  The dog rushed to his side. It dug up the snow as Ethan sunk deeper.

  "Move back!" he yelled.

  The dog stopped digging.

  Ethan gasped for air. As the snow crushed beneath his feet, he gradually began to sink. The dog took a few steps back. It turned around and promptly ran towards the storm.

  Pontus rose from the snowy depths.

  "You've messed with the wrong Titan," Pontus sneered.

  He held on to his torso as he approached Ethan.

  "There is no stopping the fate of the girl. She is the key to absolving the lifestream.”

  The titan stood high above Ethan.

  “There are far worse fates than death, human.”

  “Sera!” Ethan hollered. "SERA!"

  The weight of the snow crushed Ethan’s chest. His vision was fading and his muscle grew numb. He looked up at the titan and fought for each breath.

  The titan leaned forward. It grimaced as it looked in Ethan’s blue eyes.

  "You're not like the other...” Pontus observed. “You’re an Awoken."

  Ethan did not respond. His breath was too precious.

  "Pitiful," the titan continued.

  Ethan looked off in the distance. He stared at a small silhouette in the storm.

  "Yeah," he uttered faintly.

  Pontus turned around.

  "I am an Awoken...” Ethan continued.

  Pontus held out his hand. He summoned a pile of snow and dumped it onto Ethan.

  "Foolish human!" the titan replied.

  Pontus turned around. In from out of the blizzard, the dog leaped at his face.

  The titan held his neck. As he stumbled back, the clouds turned green in the blacken sky. The dog stood positioned, ready for another attack.

  A chunk of snow rushed towards the titan. It regenerating his wound. His eyes glowed with an icy blue fury. The wind blew strong at his back. As the snow turned to hail, the clouds began to open and a stream of green energy rained down upon him.

  “Give me more time,” the titan vexed.

  He stumbled as he made his way towards Sera. He reached out his hand and summoned the ice to melt. As the top of the block thawed out, Sera was exposed to him.

  “I’m ending this now,” he uttered.

  The titan turned to crystal and his arm formed into an ice shard.

  He swung it at the child.

  Osira caught his blow with her hand.

  “Sheath yourself!” the woman commanded.

  Her eyes glowed yellow with an ominous appearance.

  The titan reshaped his blade into an arm. He snarled at Osira then turned towards Neoma.

  “Close her up!” Osira demanded.

  Pontus acknowledged the woman and reformed the ice block. Neoma stood in silence as she gazed at the child.

  A hand rose from a mound of snow. Osira approached the dune as Ethan fought to unbury himself.

  “Gather your strength,” she whispered.

  Ethan spit out a chunk of snow. Steadily he continued to climb.

  “That’s right, Ethan... come to me.”

  Osira leaned over in front of him. She lifted his chin and his head surfaced.

  “Don’t die yet.”

  Osira grabbed Ethan’s face.

  She stared at his light blue eyes.

  “Oh, what a mess I’ve made,” she uttered. “I can finally remember... The promise we shared... the secert we both kept... You have yet to fulfill that pledge, Ethan...”

  Ethan stared back with glossy eyes.

  "Look at you...” she continued. “How do you intend to protect the child when he can barely protect yourself."

  Ethan’s head tilted backward.

  Osira released her grasps.

  “Worthless,” she scoffed. “This is the man who Belmont has promised?”

  "No," Ethan uttered in a whispered. He forced himself to respond. "I will not die for you."

  Osira stood up.

  With incredible force, she hauled out Ethan from the snow. He hung in the air as she held him with one hand.

  “Then die for nothing,” she scoffed.

  She threw Ethan down then kicked him in the face. Blood seeped from his cracked lips. It dripped from his mouth to the snow.

  He glanced up at Neoma. She turned her face as he clenched his body from the shivering cold.

  “Please,” Ethan uttered. "You can stop this!”

  Neoma looked at Sera. She placed her palm on the frozen prison then glanced back at Ethan.

  The dog stumbled towards her. She met it halfway and noticed it carried a paper from its mouth. She gathered the parchment and unfolded the scripture.

  "Animus apertus."

  Osira approached her.

  "What are you doing?" she roared.

  Neoma closed her eyes.

  “Releasing the chains that keep you all bound..." she replied. "Rex vero animum tuum."

  The clouds parted as a beam of light shine in the distance. It melted the ice block and covered the crater. The castle of Azure was seen in the distance.

  As the storm settled, Pontus covered his eyes.

  The green energy raced towards the castle. Azure disappeared in the sky.

  "Insulate woman," Osira uttered. “What have you done to the kingdom?”

  Neoma opened her eyes.

  "What I should have done a long time ago..." she replied. "...I’m taking control of this family."

  Osira grabbed Neoma.

  “I am the king!”

  “You are the usurper... you stole the scepter”

  Chronos appeared through the face of Osira.

  “A child of Uranus,” Neoma continued.

  Ethan dragged his legs as he crawled towards Sera. The dog followed behind and joined him in pursuit. As Ethan hovered above her, he placed his ear to her chest and waited. The pulse of her heart resonated with a beat. A tear crept out as he smiled with joy.

  "Enough of this," Chronos boasted.

  He ejected from Osira.

  Neoma stepped back. She glanced over at Ethan as he laid beside Sera.

  “GO!” she shouted at him. “You need to leave immediately!”

  Ethan did not reply.

  Chronos grabbed Osira.

  He pulled out his dagger and Neoma turned around. She watched as he held the woman hostage.

  "Spare your friends life,” Neoma continued. “The girl is not yours to protect-"

  "QUIET!" Ethan shouted.

  He looked down and watched as Sera slept. He brushed his finger against her face.

  "She is mine to protect,” he uttered. “Even if she is of your descent.”

  Neoma touched his shoulder.

  “A father to the child you can never be... for what she is... she has no place with family.”

  She grabbed Ethan’s chin and pulled it towards her.

  “Her place in the universe is not with you. She’s an artifact, nothing more. I lost my daughter... She is not Jubilee."

  Neoma paused.

  She watched as Sera took in a breath.

  “The child is a curse now... we must not wait.”

  Ethan looked down at Sera and gripped her hand.

  "Please," he begged. "Just leave me here... with her."

  "Let her go," Osira interupted. "It’s over... we’ve failed her, Ethan."

  "Never!" Ethan uttered. "I'll never stop... I’ll never-”

  Ethan slumped forward as he laid across Sera. He eyes closed shut and his breath seemed to linger in the cold frigid ai
r. Pontus approached him and let out a grunt. He pulled the human from off of Sera. Ethan was dead.

  "NO!" Osira screamed.

  Pontus picked up the girl and swung her over his shoulder. Neoma smiled as she looked up at her son. Pontus walked passed her and slapped his mother with the back of his hand.

  "You are a fool," the titan scolded.

  Foam dripped from the mouth of the dog. It jumped up at Pontus and leaped at his throat. The titan kicked the animal and it landed in the snow. The titan laid Sera on the ground. The dog lunged again.

  Chronos threw Osira. He approached Neoma and held out the Occulus.

  "Your plague on this world has transpired for far too long. I will no tolerate the mercy of your existence."

  Neoma stumbled backward as she fell over a rock.

  Chronos hovered above her.

  "Wait," she pleaded. "I am still your mother."

  "You're the mother of the Cyclops... the destroyer of Azure.”

  Chronos lowered his head.

  “If I returned a mortal like you to the glory of the Titans... that attempt would be futile."

  Chronos gripped the Occulus and summoned a golden light from it. His cosmic scepter appeared and materialized beside him. He glanced at Neoma then banged his staff on the ground.

  “Sero,” he commanded.

  Neoma arched backward in a violent jerk. As her body glowed with a radiant green, she screamed out loud and fell to the ground.

  "Don't," she cried out. "The lifestream will kill me!”

  "You've been human to me," he replied.

  He aimed the Occulus at his mother and directed the lifestream to penetrate her.

  Neoma fell to the ground. She screamed in agony as the aura young Brontus was ripped from inside her.

  "Resurgemus," she cried.

  As the child ripped through her stomach, she repeated those words.

  "Resurgemus... Resurgemus!"

  Suddenly she stopped screaming.

  ***

  The dog attacked Pontus from behind. The titan caught the animal and threw it over his shoulder swiftly. As the dog fell to the ground, Pontus formed an ice shard from his hand. He shaped it into a lance and threw it at the canine. The lance approached the belly of the dog but came to abrupt stop.

  Osira held out her hand. Kneeling on the ground she winced in pain. A dark shroud protected the dog, as Osira summoned a barrier around it. The lance stood suspended in air as it was lodge into the force field.