Astrid, Lorelai, Elania, and Chase stood in front of the Cloister Idol in the field outside what was formerly the mansion. There had been some planning but not much. Getting to the Closter was one thing, but there were so many variables that were unaccounted for when they would arrive. Nothing was fully in place aside from: make it there, keep moving from place to place, kill Fereneses, and not get caught.
“Are we ready?” Chase finally asked. Astrid nodded and Sparky merged.
Chase held out the blade and turned it. There was a flash of light and they landed on the Cloister in the Native tower on the Ethereal plane. Sparky glowed and sparks flowed in and out of their system
“Oh the pleasures of being back in a free flowing energy system; I’ve missed this,” Sparky said.
They exited the tower only to step back in for a bit as Cloister clergy passed by.
“If mom is still at home, she’ll be on our side and home isn’t far from here.” Astrid said motioning up the street. They made their way up the street and over to Astrid’s home. They knocked on the door. Astrid’s mom opened the door and embraced her. “Hi mom,” she said as they both cried for a bit. Her mom let everyone in. Sparky unmerged.
“Astrid what are you doing here? Your father sacrificed himself to keep you safe.”
“I know mom. Fereneses has been sending enemies after us. He even sent the dark archangel Gallia after us. He has to be stopped and that’s why I came back.”
“Fereneses is visiting Ethra today. The clergy that guard him are still at the citadel.”
“How do you know this?”
“What started out as paranoia became a bad habit. I know where he is most of the time. I guess I didn’t notice his trip to Purgadum.”
“Then that is where we go.”
They exited the door and Astrid’s mom gave one final hug. Crossing over to Ethra, they noticed Fereneses leaving the school.
“He’s not going to go down easy.” Lorelai stated.
“Alone no,” said Chase, “but with our combined strength we have a chance. Astrid, don’t release Darius until it is necessary. There’s a good chance the clergy will pick up his presence.”
Fereneses crossed over into the Cloister Relica. It was a museum that the basement doubled as a reliquary for the weapons he had been sending the enemies with at Astrid. Sparky sped in and brought everyone out. Then they stood in front of him. Fereneses cracked a smile.
“I didn’t think you’d be this stupid,” he said with a chuckle.
“It stops here and now.” Astrid stated.
“No it doesn’t. It’s futile to think otherwise. You coming here only allow me to finish what I started.” Fereneses said glaring. “But alas if you were asking for a death sentence, allow me to grand you that request.” He held out a hand and all the glass in the museum shattered. The items hovered in the air. “Shall we begin?”
Sparky ran forward. Fereneses motioned and grey jars with silver etchings flew at them. Chase ran up and made a slicing motion with his blade. The jars shattered. Astrid made hand signs and produced two tornados she sent forward chase got out of the way as they moved. Sparky sped around Fereneses sending bolt after bolt but he deflected the blasts. The tornados started picking up glass and items from the museum. Fereneses moved his hands and arms back and forth dissipating the tornados. He pushed his hands forward and everything gathered flew at Astrid and chase. Astrid shielded chase with shadows until the bombardment broke the shield and sent them flying backwards. Sparky ran up with fists only to have Fereneses catch it and blast them out of the museum. He threw item after item at Astrid who deflected with shadows. What she didn’t notice was the spears appearing behind her.
“No,” Chase yelled. He saw the blast stuck in a wall, jumped forward and took 4 spears to the chest. Astrid turned around in horror as Sparky sped in with an immense amount of energy. They blasted Fereneses against a wall. Astrid got to her knees in front of Chase. “Protect the madams until the day I die,” he said coughing blood. “My final contract is done.” Chase took 2 more coughs and died.
Sparky in a rage increased the intensity.
“Fuck holding me back. Can I have at him Astrid?” Darius said.
“Indeed you may,” said Astrid touching her seal.
Darius took over, made a long list of hand signs and pressed his hands on the ground. A large wave of shadows came charging at Sparky and Fereneses. Fereneses pushed back against the energy and sparky took off running. He took a knee, placed a hand on the ground and the other in front of him. The wave hit Fereneses head on. What was left was a haze of black. The shadows began to dissipate. Darius made a hand sign and cleared it up. What was left on the opposite side of Cloister Relica was Fereneses holding up Sparky by the neck. Darius made hand signs and flew forward.
“He won’t make it in time before we die.” Lorelai said
“No fucking shit Lori,” Elania barked. “Well at least we can say we tried before dying.”
“Not we Eli,” Lorelai stated.
“What do you mean?” Then Elania understood. “Lori don’t you dare.”
“You were the daughter I never got to have.”
“No we do this thing together. It’s the way it’s always been.”
“Not this time Eli. I will always care about you.”
“LORI,” Elania shouted as they unmerged.
Fereneses was now holding up Lorelai by the neck. Darius landed next to Elania. Lorelai gave one more look at Elania. Tears were flowing down their eyes. Lorelai exploded.
“We have to go,” Darius ordered trying to pick up Elania.
“No… Lori,” cried Elania.
“We have to go now.” He picked up Elania and flew out the hole in the museum.