Chapter 40
“You should” came a terrified whisper.
“Why are you hiding Hanna?” Beatrice asked.
“I lost control mum, I didn’t...I didn’t mean to hurt them”
Ava picked up the Halo and thrust it in her spine. She took a step forward. “I know sweetpea, we found the bodies at our house and your grandmother mentioned the fight here. She said you were fantastic”
“I don’t feel great about it...I feel...”
Bea took a step forward and asked “feel what?”
“full”
“Ah”
Ava sighed. She dropped to her knees and crouched forward till her knees were pressed against the darkness. “Hanna listen to me, I know this right now is terrifying, but don’t hate yourself”
“Why not? I’m a monster. You saw what I can do”
“Hanna my sweet girl, you are beautiful and yes, you are strong and force of nature, but you know what. A very smart woman once told me it won’t matter if you were quadupligetic or talking head in a bag. We are never going to leave you”
Beatrice turned to her wife, starred adoringly at the woman by her side. Her heart swelled with love at her lover’s declaration.
Ava turned back to her wife, smiled, then reached out her hand. Holding her hand, she turned back to the darkness. Barely making out the silhouette of her daughter. “Sweetpea you can’t help who you are, but you can decide who you become. Monsters aren’t born the way they are, they choose to be this way. Do you want to become a monster”
“No”
“Then don’t” Ava answered. “Don’t be a monster, fight to be who you want to be”
“And we will be by your side” Beatrice added, dropping to her knees. “Every step of the way”
“Promise?” Hanna asked.
“We promise”
Hanna didn’t speak for a while.
Slowly the tips of a feather floated from the darkness. Soon growing larger till the Angelic came floating halfway out of the darkness. Body hunched, low, like a legless dragon. She reached out two feathered wings. Her mother’s, took the wings into her arms.
Suddenly Hanna collapsed on the floor, crying. Her parents scooped as much of the Angelics winged body into their arms.
“It’s okay sweetpea” Ava whispered.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry” Hanna wailed.
“We know, it’s okay, we’re here” Beatrice whispered.
“I’m not going to be a monster, I promise”
Bea smiled in the feathered grasp. She kissed her daughter’s wing and spoke proudly “we know, it’s going to be okay”
For an hour the family were down in the crept.
When those heavy doors opened again. The family were changed. In the arms of her parents, they stepped out into the hall. Finding Michelle already waiting for them. Hands crossed over chest and leaning against the floor. The bundled skin of Hanna’s mortal flesh by her side.
Michelle turned to them, she smiled warmly at the trio. Pulling away from the wall, she walked few paces and stopped in the middle of the walkway. “You three okay?”
“Yes, we worked it out” Ava answered proudly.
Hanna stepped away from her mothers grasp, moving closer. “I’m sorry for losing control Grandmother” she apologised. “I’m going to control it for now on”
Michelle curled her lip. “It’s okay, it’s not your fault the hatching process is uncontrollable. Be proud you saved a few lives today. The fight ended the moment you left for down here”
“I know, I still feel bad about it, taking those lives”
Michelle nodded “of course, as you know and your parents have reminded you. Taking a life should never be the first or easiest choice”
“Yes”
“Well can I still get a hug for the Grandma?” Michelle asked, arms open wide.
Hanna darted forward, engulfing her grandmother in feathers.
The Tarask laughed softly “there we are, it’s okay”
After a while Hanna pulled back and the focused shifted to her pile of skin.
“Oh yes, I took the liberty of collecting it. Now the others are in the Hall. We’ll be back once I taught Hanna to go in and out of your skin” Michelle informed.
“We’ll be nearby if you need us” Ava states.
“I’ll be okay, thank you” Hanna thanked.
“See you soon” Beatrice wished. She walked backwards few steps, dragging Ava back. Then turned and headed down the hallway. Bea made sure they were down away from her daughter before she whispered “it’s going to be okay”
“I know, got my favourite ladies with me” Ava chuckled. “It’s all going to be fine, but I’m glad we had that talk”
“Me too”
It wasn’t long before Hanna, human form, and Michelle entered the Great Hall. Where the entire Crew were standing by waiting for them.
Persephone broke from the group first. Sprinting straight for the Hanna and tackling the woman.
Hanna nearly fell from the embrace. She was stunned for a moment before she melted in the touch. “hey” Hanna whispered.
“Hey yourself” Persephone mumbled against her throat. Persephone soon pulled back, tears eyed, but happy. “Your okay right? It’s all over”
“Yes”
“It’s all back to normal again right?”
Hanna whinged. She shock her head and admitted “no, but it’s going to be good”. Something strange flickered in Persephone’s face. Something haunted. Hanna only saw Persephone hesitation before Addams and Kit sprinted towards her. Taking Hanna into a bear hug.
Persephone slipped out of Hanna’s grasp and back few steps.
“Thank goddess you are okay” Addams states. “You are okay right? Your not being an idiot with a brave face?” She asked, pulling back.
Hanna shocked her head, grinning. “No I’m actually okay”
“Good” Addams answered smiling.
Kit let her go, grinning mischievously. “So, can I see it your angelic form?”
“Yeah I’ll show you later”
“Cool dude and by chance, how well is your flying?”
“Oh don’t even think about it you two!” Michelle warned playfully.
“We’re just thinking about it” Kit replied sheepishly. She turned to Hanna and saw the girl’s sly thumbs up. She grinned, turning back to her Grandmother. Noticed her suspicious gaze and performed a double take with an offended gasp “What we are!”
“Sure you are!” Michelle laughed. “But if I catch you two flying outside the Cradle, your dead”
“Nothing about inside” Kit mumbled.
“What was that?”
“Nothing”
Michelle huffed with a tight knowing grin.
“Alright you two move over!” Mary states as she and the others cane walking over. Addams and Kit moved out of the way while Mary hugged her niece. “Welcome back”
“Thanks Aunty”
She let go, allowing Lilith to take Hanna into tight hug. Then the circle continued as each member of the family hugged Hanna whispering their best wishes. Mary turned to her daughter and took a stand by her and Addams. Turning down her daughter with knowing smirk “what are you planning?”
“Nothing life threatening” Kit winced.
“We’re just taking a interesting in Hanna’s new development” Addams informed, supporting her girlfriend.
Mary smiled, unconvinced by their argument.
“You are staying here!” Suzanne informed as she pulled away from Hanna. Clutching her arms she continued “Until the house is repaired and Christen and his master are stopped”
Hanna nodded as Suzanne pulled away.
“I’m sure Michelle will help train you”
“I sure will” Michelle spoke with a sly smile. “I’ll teach you everything I know”
“Thank you” Hanna replied.
“Oh but you are helping us fix the damage young lady” Ava informed.
Hanna nodded smiling “I will”
“Didn’t know you had carpenter skills?” Serita remarked.
“Please, how hard can it be”
The Crew shared a knowing glance.
“Here, take this” Camila said, offering her niece a cup of her famous tea.
The girl took the offering with a thankful “Thank you”.
“How about we all head for dinner, it’s been a long day” Jillian suggested and with that, they walked through the hall to the kitchen.
Hanna walked in the arms of her friends on one side and her parents on the other. She looked down the line to her left, to see Persephone walking beside them with a distant look. Hanna continued to focus on her, wondering what’s troubling her as they made their way through the hall.
Hanna didn’t notice the harden state of her family as they walked. The uneasy sideways looks the Crew gave each other.
In the hour and half previous
The Abyss stood on the watchtower that guarded the Cats Cradle. Sitting on the battlement with legs crossed, hanging in the breeze and hands clutching either side of the fence.
The Devil watched the Crew fret, intrigued. They weren’t obviously concerned about her army, they were worried about something else.
Thunder clapped and she turned gaze skyward. To the fast approaching storm. Too fast to be natural. She lost her interest in nature quite quickly. Turning down below, just to watch the last flickers of Tarask portals fade. Taking the infamous Crew along with it. The Devil rolled her eyes and hopped off the battlement. “This is going on too long” she sighed. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her radio and spoke “Christen, status report?”
Radio static on the other end, but no response came.
She turned down to the radio confused “Christen?” She spoke again. “Christen day anything if you can hear me, over?”
The storm drew closer to the church. In the heart, a shadow loomed. Growing tenfold the closer it got.
The Abyss heard the flutter of wings beat behind her. It was barely a whisper in the thunder. The Abyss turned to face it. All she saw was a mass of feathers before she was tackled. Smashing through solid brick and heading straight for the courtyard. She landed on her back and the ground caved beneath her. She looked up to the Angelic above her. Into those dangerous crimson eyes.
Hanna’s Angelic growled at the shadow beneath her. Teeth bared and pinning the shadow to the ground.
The Abyss looked up at her shocked. “What are you?”. Her smile grew as she asked again, fascinated, “who are you?”
The soldiers shouted from their left. Before either could react, bullets roared in rapid succession. Each Bullet collided with the Angelic shattered under touch. Falling beside the shadow.
The Sister Warriors fought hard against their enemy. Yet their enemy weren’t focused on them. They were focused on their master and the Angelic above her.
The Angelic turned to the men and howled.
The Abyss took the distraction to her advantage. She shot a full blast of shadow into the Angelic’s face. It knocked the Angelic flying, then consumed the host. She pushed herself up on unsteady knees. Muscles aching from the fall. She turned back to the Angelic and gazed with horror.
Her shadow should have consumed the creature. Leave nothing but bones. Instead she watched her swarm of shadow be devoured by the hungry wings. She stumbled back. Never before has something stopped her shadow. Stopped her from devouring her prey. This Angelic did and a small part of her felt intrigued by the mysterious creature before her.
Soon the darkness was gone and the Angelic focused on her. Wings flared out and sharp teeth bared. The Angelic started to advance.
Four soldiers broke front he fight and sprinted forward. They aimed their guns at Hanna and started to fire.
The Angelic turned to the men and howled. Turning full body to the men. A few beats of her wings and she heaved the mass of wings two feet off the ground. Stretching out her wings to the limit.
“Get back!” The Abyss called. She looked to the soldiers and shouted “GET BACK!”. She morphed into cloud of shadow and flew across the field. She tackled the Angelic before it could fly for her men. She carried the creature across the yard and slammed body into the wall. The solid brick cracked under weight, stretching to the very top.
The Angelic fought back. Wings slashing into the shadow wildly and teeth biting. The Abyss held on. She slammed the Angelic back into the fence then started to devour the living flesh in her hands.
Lightning cracked overhead, echoing down to below. Electricity in the air started to crackle. The Angelic’s eyes started to spark with light blue light.
Hanna’s Angelic drew back a breath, then breathed out blue fire. The Abyss shot backwards. Flames burning her shadow. Carrying her several feet away before they vanished completely. Then in a flash the Angelic was flying towards her. It took the shadow devil and flew it up to the storm.
Their bodies twirled in the air, limbs tangled trying to fight each other and break the others grip.
The Abyss felt the electricity in the air started to crackle. She knew she had no chance to think, only react. If her shadow powers wouldn’t kill this winged creature, then she will burn it. With every fibre of her body, red flames burst from her body and straight for the Angelic. The same moment the Angelic’s blue flames burst from her body.
The two flames collided as they continued to sky rocket through the beating heart of the storm. The energy growing between them. The glow of red and blue swirling each other through the clouds could be seen throughout the town.
Suddenly their powers exploded, splitting the two off and falling below. The Abyss hit the ground hard, body tumbling before rolling onto her back. Hanna hit the wall, tumbled over and fell face first to the ground.
The Abyss turned to the Angelic, body broken and powers drained. She hoped for victory, but was surprised the Angelic still stirred. She watched her enemy recover first. She watched her soldiers race to her and more race to the Angelic. The Angelic turned on the soldiers and ripped them to shreds till nothing remained. Till the only soldiers alive were the ones by their Masters side.
From this distance, she could see the glimmer of crimson dim and change into grey. Then those grey eyes locked with her and she, stared back.
“RETREAT!” One of her Soldiers shouted.
The Abyss was picked up off the ground by several of her men before she could think of protesting. Carrying her out, with more shielding her from the enemy. The Abyss watched their loyalty put to their paces. Then drew back to the Angelic. Watching the Angelic draw itself off the ground and face her, but did not follow. She watched the Angelic to all else faded.
In the late hours of the night
In the depths of an old abandon steel factory. Where soldiers loyal to the cause worked, the noise echoed through those dusty halls. In a room that once used to be a ceo office.
The Abyss startled awake from her day dream. Slumped in the makeshift desk. She looked around, then sighed. The memory faded from her mind. She turned down to her desk, to the blinking laptop set scanning every camera in this world. To the single black pencil drawing of her new enemy. The mystery winged Angelic.
She had no idea who this creature was or what it was. No idea this creature was Hanna, her angelic side. This mystery intrigued her more then frustrated her failure today.
A steady knock at her door and she turned to it. Straighten her back and flung her legs on the desk. Knocking the drawing to the floor. “Come in” she spoke.
The door opened and in staggered a sweat drenched Christen. She watched him bear collasp at her door. So she changed into reflection of him before they went their seperate ways. When he wasn’t so warn and frighten. Christen turned to her, head low as he spoke “My master, we have a problem”
“Let me guess, it was a big murderous ball of feathers and it massacred everything in its path?” The Abyss asked.
He looked to her frighten. He nodded “how did you know?”
“Cause it found me” she answered. “Now tell me, how did you survive?”
The shame was clear and no attempt to hide it was possible. He dropped his gaze and answered “I ran”
“You ran?” She laughed darkly. She kicked off her legs from the desk. Dug her elbows in the desk and dragged her chair closer. “You know how I feel about cowards Christen!”
“I had no choice” he admitted in softest whisper. “It killed them all”
“It?” She questioned. “Not a he or her, who was it?”
“I don’t know, all I could see is feathers..I..I-I had to run”
“Then find out!” The Abyss demanded. “Find it and bring it here”
Christen looked up at her shocked. “Master?”
“You need rest subjects to ensure that portal is stable. What better that thing. Now go catch it and bring one of those subjects up here. A strong one” she pushed herself back. An unnatural smile drew wide as she continued “I’m starving”
He nodded and fled the room.
Once he was gone, she stood up and marched out of the room.
Striding through the building, she headed straight for the heart of the building. Walking to the walkway. She dragged the railing with both hands and turned down to the three quarter portal below and the people tirelessly working on its creation. She watched them work. Finger tapping on the metal and once again, her mind drifted back, to the Angelic.