Ascension - (Alarian Warriors)

Aveyon stood with her back to a damp stone wall. Peering around the corner she could see two guards stationed outside the large doors that housed the throne room. She knew they both had to be in that room, Ashera and Vexous. There was nowhere else to look. The room was concealed by a cloaking of some sort, she couldn’t feel any pull like she had the first time she had been standing her. She was doing her best to conceal her own presence, but to be honest, she didn’t know if it was working or not.

If Ashera knew she was here, he made no move to stop her or the small army gathering outside. It would be reckless to assume he didn’t know they were here, she only hoped that their preparations would be enough. The glints of metal from weapons and shields that had been enchanted reminded her of that fact. She was growing more anxious by the second, having to remind herself that everyone knew the risks of this mission.

Get Vincent to Vexous, get to Alarious. It seemed easy in her head, but the reality of the matter was far from that. So many faces, both those whom she knew and those she didn’t, staring at her for direction, for leadership. She wasn’t sure what she was feeling at that moment, but she knew she feared the outcome of the confrontation to come. She also held true to the fact that she wasn’t going to back down from this, not now.

Her hand laced with Vincent’s, his feelings mimicking her own, a sense of uncertainty waved through them both, but he was also determined to see this to the end. His blind faith and his love and anchor for her own feelings.

Just as she was ready to order the charge, a high-pitched wail echoed through the halls behind them. Her body stiffened as the anguished cry continued. Someone or something sounded like they were being tortured, the tormented howl was growing louder as it inched closer. And the voice had a familiar sound buried under the agony.

“Damon.” Aveyon and Vincent whispered the same name in unison.

The scream had been on queue, it was too convenient. She was thinking about giving the order to start the raid.

You are in my head are you not? Aveyon’s voice turned inward to her own mind.

She was answered with a hollow laughter, then a reply. Oh, I am simply planning a show for my daughter.

His voice burrowed deep within her mind; it clouded her vision as fear gripped her. Having to forcefully remind herself that he held no power over her, her head snapped back to the door before her.

“Go now, he knows regardless. Stick to the plan.” She ordered out loud. “We are no help to anyone if we end up killed or trapped here. Get Vincent to Lady Vexous!”

Securing their escape to Alarious was their only viable option. At her words a barrage of warriors leapt into action, incapacitating the guards, and bursting through the doors in mere seconds. After loudly announcing their precious they all stopped dead, silence and confusion filling the air. The room was empty except for the gilded cage. Still locked inside was Lady Vexous. She stood before them; her arms wrapped around herself as she stared at them with sadness.

Puzzled, everyone moved slowly, cautiously inching forward into the room. Aveyon had pulled a single dagger from her holsters and proceeded to enter the room, Vincent was moving slowly toward the cage at the back of the room as her eyes darted around searching the darkened corners for anything at all.

Where are you!? Aveyon’s voice turned inward again, only to be met with the same menacing laughter as before. The moment he had spoken to her he had let his presence be known. Her blood was alive with the knowledge that he was nearby and yet still hidden.

“This isn’t right, it’s too easy.” Vincent reached the cage and began inspecting it.

“It is a trap.” Lady Vexous informed them. “He wishes for you to feel triumph, only to take it away. You must leave now!”

“Not happening, we knew the risks,” Aveyon stated.

Vincent quickly got to work removing the binds they held the cage shut, while more warriors took their positions around the room, ready for an attack.

Aveyon was about to ask Lady Vexous the most important question, only to have her voice drowned out by an all-out assault. It was at that point that she realized they were cornered, trapped in the room with only one exit.

The demons came hard, heavy, and fast. Flooding the room, weapons clasped, and blood split, smearing the walls, throne, and people alike. Aveyon stayed beside Vincent, her weapon at the ready. Kirra and Sam on either side.

“Here we go,” Kirra muttered as she lunged forward to intercept the first demon that had slipped through the other fighters. Samuel followed suit with a growl as he leapt into action.

Aveyon’s grip tightened around her dagger as Vincent worked to undo the strands of essence that had been imbued into the large bird cage.

“You must leave me; I will not have you lose your life for mine.” Vexous pleaded.

“I will not leave you; you are the reason we are all here. We need you to show us how to get to Alarious, you are the only one who knows.” Aveyon raised a hand before her, infusing her essence with the fire that lit a lantern nearby. The flame whipped to life and raced through the air to its new master, wrapping itself around her hands and arms like a live snake. Her skin remained unbothered by the fire as her essence merged effortlessly with the element. As the attackers came closer, she used the flames like a whip, fending them off as they tried to reach Vincent as he worked.

“You do not need me, only the boy.” Vexous insisted in a panic, her eyes following every attack.

“That really is no help.” Vincent let out through greeted teeth. “I don’t even know what I am.”

Lady Vexous looked between the two confused. “He has-” She was cut off as a body was flung into the cage. Rattling it to its core, the goddess stumbled backwards.

“Sorry!” Sia called out.

“Got it!” Vincent explained jumping to his feet. He kicked the flimsy door to the cage open and held his hand out to the goddess.

Vexous looked on wide-eyed, as though confused as to how quickly he had broken through the enchantment. Reaching out she took his hand, there was a moment between the two as Vexous’s mouth fell slightly ajar. But as a body was flung into the cage with a grunt she quickly stepped over the edge of the cage and to her freedom.

Aveyon wrapped the fire around a demon’s nearby ankle and wrenched the whip toward her. The assailant landed with a head thud, knocking the wind from his lungs. Jumping over the body, Vincent and Vexous followed, as the demon attempted to reach for the goddess Vincent’s boot came down hard on his face, jarring it unconscious for the time being.

“Everyone-” Aveyon was cut off as a mighty roar echoed through the hall and into the room. Gods, what had they done to him? It didn’t matter, they would take him with them kicking and screaming if they had to.

Everyone escape to the fissure, we have her. She re-laid the message mentally, connecting with so many minds at once intently drained her a fair amount, fatigue creeping in. But it was the only way to be heard in this mess.

She wasn’t sure how, or where the demons were coming from, what was worse was the living dead had joined the fray now. They had one of the two pieces they needed, all that was least was to get Damon and the goddess to the fissure. They would open a way to Alarious once back on Earth if only they could get back.

Dodging an ooze-covered clawed strike she reached the doors. Her eyes widened as she watched an enormous hand grip one of the door frames just above her hand.

“No...” She whispered breathlessly as her heart sank.

His glowing red eyes focused on her immediately. He ripped the door from its hinges and hurled it through the air, it slammed into a group locked in battle hitting friend and foe alike. The sound of breaking bones and screams erupted in the room as the thing, that once was Damon, entered the fight.

He had bulked up considerably and his skin was unnaturally black. Or rather coated in a black substance that oozed and dripped from every opening. He looked like the dead creatures, mindless and leaking the same black substance, was he even still alive?

He took a step toward her, and the world fell away, she could hear Vexous and Vincent telling her to run, but it was as if their voices were muffled. His form blocked her exit. Fear, regret, and failure had her frozen, utterly motionless. She couldn’t believe what they had done to him, he looked far worse than the creatures they had encountered in the past. Completely consumed with rage and hunger, a hunger for her flesh.

A massive talon came plummeting down toward her. Her knees felt weak, she’d failed him.

Someone grabbed her around the waist and huddled her backward into a room. Her body collided with the ground as the beast’s fist impacted the ground, cracking the stone. Clearly getting past beast Damon was not an option anymore. He completely blocked the entrance to the room. She watched on slummed in pure horror, slummed on the ground as he caught an elf’s blade as they attacked. Yanking the elf closer, he took hold of the elf’s arm with his enormous hands and pulled the limb apart. The sickening sounds of tearing flesh and snapping bones were all she could hear as she watched blood spray. She flinched as her face was splattered with the thick red liquid.

A dwarf had attacked, burring his weapon deep into the beast’s flesh. He looked at the protruding stick, retrieved it and rolled it around in his grasp before he hurled it back at the attacker. The sword impacted the dwarf at such high velocity that it sent the being flying across the room. The sword impacted the wall, the dwarf struggled for a moment until his body fell limp still pinned to the wall. It was pure carnage. They were doomed. They couldn’t escape this; he was too powerful.

Vexous had acted fast, grabbing hold of both Vincent and Aveyon. Vincent stared at the goddess in disbelief, not knowing she could move that fast. She had grabbed the two pulling them both out of the way. She grabbed onto Aveyon’s shoulders and abruptly pulled her to her feet. The strength and speed she had put Vincent and the other Alarians to shame.

“I thought your powers were-” Vincent began to question as he was forced to roll out of the way of a lunging enemy.

“Still remain stolen, but I have never been human.” She informed. “Retrieve everyone we will escape through there.” She pointed to a small wooden door that was tucked away to the side of the room.

“That’s a dead end.” He protested.

“We’re going to Alarious from here, there’s no other choice.” She looked toward Vincent sternly. “This is what he wants, you realize?”

“We have no other choice.” He repeated before darting off to help what remained of their diminishing army. With Vincent’s assistance, elven fighters and dwarfs alike piled into the small room. Only fifteen or so warriors remained on top of the group they knew. Slamming the door shut, many hurriedly tried to barricade the door.

Aveyon’s panic was taking hold, she’d been dragged by the goddess into the small room, her breathing was heavy as her mind reeled with what she had seen. People were literally being torn limb from limb.

Do you like my gift? His haunting laughter echoed through her mind. She screamed clapping her hands to her ears. “GET OUT OF MY HEAD!”

“Steal yourself, child. He is merely toying with you. Your weakness is allowing him to get to you, you can block him out.” Vexous’s voice cut through the chaotic air, silencing her mind.

She was right, she had control of her own mind now, why was she allowing him to speak to her? She couldn’t panic and freak now, not when everyone was counting on her to get them out of there. Not when there was so little time left.

She looked up to see the frightened, blood-stained faces of the small platoon that was left. Was this the end? She had brought everyone to this place hoping to bring an end to the conflict. Had she just led them to their deaths instead?

No! This was not the end! A heavy thump could be heard from the other side of the door. She could only guess Damon was ramming the door. She couldn’t help him here, or anyone for that matter. She needed to get to Alarious, and now!

“What do I do?” She asked catching the white-haired woman beside her by surprise.

“How can neither of you not know... It is indeed faint but, Vincent has an intact aura, or at least the power of one.” Vexous explained.

Vincent frowned. “What?”

“I created them; I would know the presence of that essence anywhere.” She moved closer and placed her hand on his torso.

“Oh.” Her expression changed to shock as realization struck her. She turned to Aveyon. “He is the aura, in its entirety.”

“What!?” Vincent and Aveyon responded in unison.

The door was rammed again, and splinters of wood came flying off. It creaked and cracked as it struggled to remain within the door frame.

“HURRY, Get us out of here!” Kirra pleaded as the elves moved forward and tried to keep the door closed using their bodies.

“Aveyon, you need to reach into Vincent like you would for an aura. Channeling his power through you, do not attempt to pull it out, or away from him. Vincent, you mustn’t fight the feelings that come, accept them. It is a unison between hoist and aura that you must mimic.” Vexous’s instructions took them by surprise.

“But I’ve nev-” Aveyon tried but was cut off.

“You’re the only one that can, it will only accept you.” Vexous cut her off.

“Why?” She motioned toward Erosvent, who had thankfully made it into the room with them. “There are other Alarians that have travelled before, they would be mo-”

“Aveyon, it is your aura, and this is not a normal merge. It will only recognize you.” Lady Vexous’s expression was sad.

Vincent looked ghostly white at the information. “What exactly does that mean, about me? What am I exactly?”

Vexous’s gaze moved to him, she could tell he was afraid of the answer, maybe he had even guessed.

“When the aura fell to earth it had no way of getting to its current hoist, so it created you. However, it also destroyed its original form to do so. The exact sequence of events I do not know, but I am guessing that you were created as a means to find its hoist.” Vexous told them.

“We have no time to discuss this! It will have to wait.” Aveyon felt harsh, but there were too many pressing matters at hand. She cringed as another loud bang sounded; they were running out of time.

Vincent uneasily nodded at her. “Do it.”

Looking at everyone in the room, they had already lost so many. “I’ll need some time.” They all nodded to her.

Kirra was the one to speak through greeted teeth. “We will hold them off as long as we can, get the fissure open. Everyone else, PREPARE YOURSELVES!”

Another mighty slam bounded against the door causing the tension in the air to increase as the wood cracked and splintered. The demons were slowly breaking through. Having no choice but to trust them, Aveyon moved to position herself in front of Vincent. She didn’t really have any other choice; it was this or accepting their fate. They were so close to finishing this, she could feel it. If there was a chance, she wasn’t about to give that up.

Vincent’s shirt was already tattered and torn so he quickly tore the remains off, preparing himself for what was to come. Placing her hand on his chest, she could feel the seeds of doubt sprouting within his demeanour. His mind was alive with questions, fears and wonder.

A hint of sadness filled her as the most consuming thought nagged at him. If I was created by her aura to find her, are my feelings for her real or preprogrammed?