by Debbie Long
“Hey, saves some for me.” Loki pulls me gently away, licks his lips and crushes them to mine.
I move to wrap my arms around his neck, but then the ground shakes. I am thrown from him as more of these beasts run into the clearing. They are slightly smaller and sniff the air. They let out a howl that rocks the earth. They all turn their heads in our direction with a snap. They growl together and snarl low in their throats.
“Well, shit.” Is all I say before they race towards us and we begin our battle.
Morgan
Shit, this battle is terrible and so much worse than the last. I am covered in goo. My mates are surrounded by demons, and I can’t get to them. These things just keep coming like a plague. I swear this is some sort of allusion. There is no way that all these demons would follow Lucifer, and they look deformed. What should be hellhounds, look like slimy and bumpy.
I feel a hum under my feet and then a voice filters in my head. Child, they are an allusion but real non the less. They are coming from the mountains. That is where you will find Lucifer but beware that he isn’t alone. Then the voice is gone.
I look to my mates who are in the thick of the battle. I realise that no demons are attacking me. They are going around me. I whistle to grab my mate’s attention. “Lift up off the ground.” I shout to them. They don’t hesitate, even though they are tired. I drop to the ground, my hands gripping the grass that is covered in blood and gore. “Help me rid of them, swallow them whole.” I say to her. She happily helps. The ground shakes, everyone stops. I look up to see vines snake up and twist and bind the demons. Before they can fight or utter a snarl, they are dragged into the ground.
When I am satisfied, they are dealt with, my sisters come into view. Clarissa from the woods and Violet shifting back into her human form. “The coward is on the mountainside. We need to go to him.” I say to them.
“I think we have to go alone for this one.” Violet looks at her men when she says this. They instantly protest.
“Guys.” I say, shouting over the noise. “This fight is with him and us three. It has always been this way when he decided to bring us into the world. He will die by our hands.”
“She’s right.” Cole walks towards me, taking me in his arms. “I know you are right. I don’t like it, but I know that you have to go and deal with him.”
“He isn’t alone. I think Axel and Maisy are with him and they won’t be easily defeated.” I look at the dead demon’s littering the floor. “I fear he has altered them somehow, like these demons.” I look up at Cole, seeing the worry in his face. “Look after the injured and take care of the dead. Mother earth will rid the lands of the filth.” I push on my toes and kiss his chin which makes him grin.
“Be safe.” He whispers to me. He closes the gap and kisses my mouth. He moves aside so Kyle, Marcus and Trey can hug and kiss me.
“Be safe too. The demons are coming from the mountains somehow. Keep a lookout and maybe send reinforcement to the border and on the boundary edge.”
“We will.” Kyle replies.
I hug them all before turning to my sisters, who are waiting for me. “Let’s go and finish this.”
Chapter sixteen
Lucifer
“Do you think they will come?” The girl asks again.
I sigh, wondering why I picked these two idiots. They have been nothing but whiny since they came to me. But no matter, they will serve their purpose and fight for me. They will weaken the girls for I cannot touch them. That parts angers me. That part the god Hades set in place when he gave me my powers back. Not that he wanted too, but when Axel used his influence to persuade him, and he had little choice but to obey.
Hades tried and failed to take them away again, especially with Zeus on my side. Then he sent them back when he promised he would bind them to his world if they lost the blasted games. Though I think that was part of his plan. All of this is just a game to them, but to me, it is not. All of this should have been mine years ago, and now I will take it back.
The girl stomps her feet, glaring at me. “Why aren’t you answering me? Did last night mean nothing to you?”
“You were there to please me, nothing more. Now shut up, they are almost here.” I see the sting of my words hit her, but she is nothing. My prize is on their way to me, and that is all I care about.
“You’re sick dude. They are your daughters.” He laughs at his own words. The shifter has always fought me, but he has the same end goal: take his sister down. Not that I will let that happen, I need them alive. “I know you want to weaken them, but in the end, I will kill Violet, not you. Do you still agree to that?”
“I do. When I have gotten what I want. Do with them what you will.” My ears perk up when I hear footsteps, and as they step into view, the last of my demon walks out the portal. I hear a gasp and look up to see Morgan with a hand over her mouth.
“Dad?”
Morgan
I stare at the man that has just appeared. He looks like my dad, but the black in his eyes and the sneer on his face doesn’t remind me of the loving dad I once knew when I was a kid. The man before me is my abuser, my tormentor and someone I thought was dead.
“You died,” I say to him.
“That is what I wanted you to think. The father you once knew died a long time ago. It was never Zegareus that wanted you weakened; it was Lucifer. Then you met those damn fae. I wanted to reel you back in with the old father you once knew. Pretend to be him once again to gain your trust, but that wasn’t the case when Zegareus found me and tried to kill me.” The demon rolls his eyes. “I could never kill you, but I can now.”
“You are not to kill her, none of them will die.” Lucifer booms. Has he been taken tips from Zeus?
“Well, that doesn’t sit right with me. This girl has been the bane of my life, and I wanted to kill her so many times. Now I will.” He lunges for me as Lucifer roars for him to stop.
I push my sister to the side as his sword clashes with mine. They try to intervene, but I put out my hand. “No, this is my fight.” I scream to them. He comes at me again, swinging his sword at my head. I duck, and I swear some of my hair is cut, which pisses me off. He just keeps swinging in a blind rage. I dip again, placing my hand on the ground to shake the earth. He tumbles to the side, trying to get his balance. I use that little distraction to my advantage and grab my dagger. As he comes at me again, I punch towards his chest with the dagger. He stills, looking down at his chest. I would laugh at his funny face if he didn’t suddenly start to shake and transform right before my eyes.
The demon sheds the human skin that was once my dad. I stare in horror as what I can only describe as an orc looking thing from lord of the rings emerges. He rises from the ground, standing at least eight foot tall. He sneers, showing his sharp teeth that are so black that I retch. His slimy skin looks scaly, and those eyes pierce my soul. I back up slightly, but he follows my footstep.
“Now let’s see who will win.” The snarling voice echo’s around the mountain top.
“Morgs, are you sure you don’t need help?” Vi shouts from the battle she is in with her brother and Maisy. I look to Clarissa who is sword fighting with Lucifer.
“You look like you have your hands full as it is.” I look back to the demon who is still advancing on me. “Just kill those fuckers and end this.” I shout to her.
The demon seems to have enough of cat and mouse and lunges for me. I actually laugh this time because the big bastard is slower. I drop my blade, jumping in the air, flipping over to land on his back. Concentrating on the earth, I create vines to wrap around his legs. I flip back, using my wings to keep me airborne and kick him in the back. He tumbles forward with a roar and smacks into the ground. I land, grabbing my blade, jump on his back again and drive it into him. I twist for good measure when he squeals and roars again. He tries and fails to loosen himself as the vines wrap around his torso and arms.
“Mother earth, take him back to where he belongs.” I say to her. I am
breathing hard as I watch him sink into the ground, still flailing and roaring. As soon as the earth closes, his noise is quietened.
“Morgs! Watch out!” Vi screams.
I twist to see a wolf lunge for me. I have only ever seen Violet’s massive wolf, but this one is different. Maisy swipes at me, knocking me to the ground. She doesn’t waste time and pounces on my chest. She snarls in my face, snapping her dripping teeth. I turn my head to the side, trying not to retch again at her breath that smells like shit that has been dumped, eaten and spat out again. I place my hand to the ground, but she stops me by bouncing on my chest and knocking the wind out of me.
She snaps her teeth again but makes no move to kill me. Then I realise that I have more than one element, it’s just that earth comes easier to me for some reason. I need to get this bitch off me, so I create a blast of air to push her away from me. She lands with a thump against a rock, letting out a whine. Before she can move, I freeze her in a block of ice but leaving her head free, so she can breathe.
Turning to my sisters who are still fighting, but Clarissa seems to be holding her own, though it seems Lucifer is just playing with her. Violet, on the other hand, seems tired. She leaps through the air in wolf form to change into her human form and land on Axels back. He bucks to throw her off, but she hangs on tight and squeezes his neck. I hear him whimper as she clutches tighter. I run over to her, kicking his hind legs. He buckles then I hear a crack, he whines one last time before he falls to the ground.
“Thanks, sis.” Violet says breathlessly.
We watch as Axel reverts back to a human and his lifeless eyes stare up at us. Maisy howls. When we turn to her, she is back to her human self and weeping against the ice.
“Were they mates?” I ask.
“Nah, she is just being dramatic.” She rolls her eyes, and we both look to the battle that is still happening with Clarissa and Lucifer. “Let do this.” I nod at her.
Clarissa
I know this fucker is playing with me. I can see the boredom in his eyes, but when they flick to my sisters, they widen. It is then that I see the fear in his eyes for the first time. I don’t think he realised just how strong we have gotten. We are not the little girls that he saw that day in his home.
I lower to the ground as my sister falls beside me. We stand shoulder to shoulder, looking at the man that started all of this.
“Well, well, looks like my best fighters have been dealt with.” He sneers at us.
“Wasn’t hard, really. They were a bunch of dumb asses just like you.” I fire back at him. His sneer drops and I swear he grows a foot taller.
“You are insufferable. All of you.” He edges closer to us, his sword firmly in his hand. It seems to pulse like a leech, waiting to suck us dry. “Hades told me I wouldn’t be able to kill you. I can, however, weaken you. He lunges for us, his magic whipping out to knock us to the ground.
I land with an oof, but I spring back up and charge at him. My sisters do the same, coming at him from all angles. He smiles like it’s a game, but doesn’t see Morgan drop to the ground, her hands splayed into the earth. Vines snake around Lucifer who looks panicked for a moment. He uses his own magic to cut himself loose. The black tendrils fly towards Morgan, gripping her around her neck and lifting her off the ground.
Violet charges towards him, her wings lifting her so she can kick him in the chest. He catches her foot, throwing her back and onto the ground.
I race to Morgan, aiming at the blackness and slicing at it. Lucifer laughs as my sword goes right through. I see Morgan start to go purple. Lucifer aims that magic at Violet, and she too is lifted into the air.
“You foolish girls. You think you can defeat me? I am all evil. I am the fallen, and I will rule all.” He laughs again, and I know I have to act fast. He will either kill them or render them unconscious and take them.
I feel something then — a rumble under my feet. A wave washes over me, and I smile as a serene, loving feeling overcomes me. I feel her. I feel her presence. I let her in, knowing she is there to help me. Through her eyes, I see tinted green — the hues all around me, warm and welcoming. Before me, I see the black that seems infected and doesn’t belong in this world.
“Lucifer.” The voice that falls from me isn’t my own, but a soft sound that rings clear throughout the mountains. “You are not welcome here. For too long, you have tried and failed to take over the lands that are not your own. I choose you to rule the dark lands, and even that wasn’t enough for you. I will take back what I gave you, and no more will tarnish the lands with your darkness.”
Lucifers eyes bulge as the darkness is drawn from him. I see it swirling around us like a dark cloud. I see his wings vanish. I see the hate-filled rage in his eyes. Mother earth doesn’t let up, she just continues to draw from him. When the last part has left his body, he tries to grab at it, but it moves from him to sink into the ground and vanish from sight.
She leaves me then, and I fall to my knees with tears in my eyes. Lucifer wails, falling to the ground and grabbing at the earth. When I rise, my sisters rise. We circle the dark prince. He looks up at us with a barking laugh.
“Come to finish me off? Come to kill me and take over what is mine.” He snarls at us as we come closer.
“I think death is too good for you. What we have planned for you will ensure that you never darken these lands again. You will never darken the souls of demons, and you will never rule.” Morgan's eyes gleam as she speaks. “Hades” is all she says.
Hades appears like a dark avenging god. His blue hair still perfectly in place. His blues eyes shine as they stare down at Lucifer, who is shaking with fear. “It’s a pity really to send you to Tartarus, but it has to be done.” He clicks his fingers and chains made of smoke bind Lucifer. “It took me a while to find the key, and once he is there, the key will be passed back to Zeus.” He nods towards us and lifts a crying pathetic Lucifer off the ground.
We watch as Hades opens up a portal and they both vanish into it, never to be seen again.
~
Life after the battle was devastating. So many lost their lives. So many villages were burned to the ground. Once we took care of the dead and Morgan rid the lands of any darkness, we were at peace once more. We rebuilt the villages and then the parties began. We drank so much, danced and rejoiced.
Weeks later, I watched as Morgan was crowned. Her silver crown sat high on her pretty head, and I couldn’t be prouder. A castle was built just for her in the centre of all the lands. It was a magnificent building. White and gold, with turrets and even a moat and draw bridge. The kings and queens accepted her as their leader and were happy for her to marry their sons one day.
Then Morgan and I watched as Violet was announced pack leader of the wolves, bears and feline shifters. She wondered about the air shifters but thought that they would have shown themselves by now if they wanted to be found. She still struggled with her eagle but was content for now.
They came with me to the dark lands where I, too, was crowned by my own grandfather. He looked so proud when I sat on my throne, in my new castle with my mates stood proud at my side. My sisters cheered and I couldn’t help but laugh at the looks they were getting. It wasn’t every-day that light fae walked these lands, especially royalty and angels at that.
After the party, I walked through the garden with my sisters.
“It’s quite peaceful here.” Violet says. “The garden is lovely too. I can feel her here.” She sighs, breathing in the unfamiliar scents of the flowers here.
“I can feel her too. I can feel her more every-day.” I reply to her. “I wonder why I couldn’t before.”
“I think you were fighting a battle within yourself, and when that battle was won, and light touched your heart, you let her in.” Morgan gives me a smile and puts her arm around me. “Do you think the gods are happy that we aren’t knocking on their door to take over their world?”
“I think so, or they would be here claiming what is theirs.” I l
ook up into the dark sky and see a lightning flash. “I take that as a yes, they are happy with us.” I laugh as do my sisters. “I am glad you came into my life, both of you.”
“Me too.” Violet and Morgan say at the same time.
We laugh again. I put my arm around Violet and pull her close. We all cock our heads to the side as our mates walk behind us. They circle us, and I feel their love filter through, even Morgan and Violet’s. We all stand in silence, breathing in the air and just being content with each other.
For once, I am finally happy with my family and my new friends. I feel Jade, Beth, Daphnae and Heracles join our fold our circle. This is what a family means, togetherness and love. That is what I will take with me to rule these lands, and I know my sister feels the same way.
“We do.” I hear them say through my mind. I smile at them.
The breeze blows, wrapping us all in a warm hug. We all feel the sweet caress of mother earth as she binds us as one: my family, my home.
