Chapter 60
Cira stepped out of the portal, took another step forward and her foot went straight through the air. She pulled herself back before she could fall off the cliff edge. Kicking stones in her wake, sending them down the edge into the cave shaft below.
She drew her foot back from the edge and looked down, then around.
The light of her portal flooded the space around her and plunging straight down. The air was thin and laced thick with the stench of decay. The edges of the tunnel were of sharp twisted rocks. Above her was devoid of light and the exist was nowhere in sight. If there is one. Cira noted the old blood staining some of these twisted rocks. Below the shaft ran for forty feet to the ground.
Cira moved to the edge, leaned forward and fell.
Ten feet before she hit the ground. The Tunnel expanded into a grand Chasm. She landed on her feet, dust exploded outward from under her boots and the sound bounced off the cave walls. Echoing onward for several seconds before slowly quietening.
“I know you’re here!” she announced, looking around with pensive glare. This empty space was filled with decay, she sensed Reya was somewhere in this darkness. Watching her. Hiding from her. Cira smirked. “Come out and face your death”
Reya’s manic laughter echoed around the cave.
“And who are you to command me?” Reya questioned.
“I am Cira Sandra, Queen of Hell!”
Reya laughed again. This time, the source was moving closer. Creeping from her hiding space and crawling towards Cira. “My, my, you are a long way from home”
Cira traced the source and watched her enemy work their way towards her in the shadows. “You killed my father and now” Cira flicked her wrist out, using her shadow to create a sword. “I will take my revenge”
“You!” Reya laughed. Purple eyes appeared in the darkness, glowing. “You are no match for me little one”
“You got no idea what I’m capable of”
Reya was closing in, now only a few feet from Cira. Mouth open and white teeth glistening with wide manic grin. Her silhouette peeled back from the shadows that hid her. “Oh?” Reya spoke curious. “We shall prove you wrong”
Back in the real world.
Hanna couldn’t believe how fast it took to lose Cira’s scent. One moment she had it, the next, it was gone. She must of hid all trace of where she was going.
Hanna growled, frustrated.
The Hybrid soared higher. Above the clouds, she felt the rumbles of a oncoming storm. The electricity sparkled in the air around her, close, but now expanding outward. The fire within her flared to life and leached outward. The weather was reacting to her frustration.
“Come on Hanna calm down and focus” she growled to herself. She closed her eyes and started controlling her temper. She started with her breathing, focusing on calmer, slow breaths.
The focus worked wonders. The weather relaxed, storm disappearing slowly with every breath she took, the lightning and thunder gradually faded.
With a calmer mind, she used her powers to track Cira down.
In her mind’s eye, she flew across town to the ocean, where an old vessel stood. Onboard the grand ruined ship, was a portal. Sparked red with fury and whirling wildly. Hanna reached out and touched the portal.
Suddenly her angelic senses flared with panic. Her body jolted and her eyes opened wide.
Cira, she was in trouble.
Wasting no time, Hanna dropped from the sky and shot towards the boat. Tearing through the skies above town. She followed her instincts. She didn’t question if the boat she was flying towards was the right vessel. She didn’t stop to check for possible witnesses on said boat. She flew straight for the boat, rounded the deck and flew dead on through the portal. With one touch, she was taken away from her home and sent to a new world.
Hanna flew out of the portal narrowly missing the cave wall. Dropping downward with blinding speed.
At the bottom of the tunnel, laid the bleeding Cira. Curled on the ground and another figure standing above her with broken sword raised above Cira.
Hanna screamed her war cry as she flew down. As she closed in, she sent her wings expanding outward, knocking the figure flying into the cave walls. She hit the ground. Half of her body took the form of a feathered Lion standing over Cira, the rest of her wings formed a tornado surrounding the pair.
“Cira, Cira please wake up!” Hanna begged.
Cira twitched her head back and looked up to see the looming eye of Angelic Hanna and the storm of wings. “Hanna?” she croaked confused.
Hanna smiled. “It’s okay” she said. “I’ll get us out of here, you’re safe now” she promised.
Cira gave her a small nod, before her eyes rolled back and she passed out.
“It’s you!” Reya’s voice growled.
Hanna looked up and watched the woman stagger from the darkness. Clutching one hand to her head. Sword dangling by her side, bumping against her leg as she walked.
“I knew one day we will meet again”
“Nice, I was hoping we didn’t”
The tornado broke, returning back to Hanna. Branching off her back like vines, poised and ready to fight. Hanna faced her enemy with unblinking, stone facial expression. Finally, she will meet the woman who caused heartbreak and terror to her family. Haunted them all her life.
Reya stepped into the light and Hanna fought hard not to let her shock break her composure.
Her family describe the woman as a mad woman with a sane woman’s face. A trickster. A cunt, according to her Mum Ava. Even Grandmother Michelle showed her an old photo of Reya, in case the Angelic managed to escape the prison of the Old Gods.
The mask was gone, this woman wore death and madness so well. Half her body was decaying, like a zombie from horror movie. Except no blood seeped out, it was light and bone. The purple light, Reya’s soul, clung to the dying body, trying to fix it. At the same time, gold light was trying to escape, beating against invisible walls in hopes of freedom. Half of Reya’s face was gone, revealing her skull. Her hair mattered, wild and ripped out in places. Her clothing, her armour, torn and soaked in her own blood.
This woman was on the constant verge of death, but refusing to accept the defeat.
“You look terrible” Hanna comment, gloomily.
“Me!” Reya laughed, gesturing to herself, then to Hanna. “Look at yourself, you are a pale imitation of him. Disgusting beast”
“I didn’t mean offence, you need help”
“I don’t need help! I need you dead” Reya paused to smile. “Would you help me with that?”
“And I would help you with that?”
Hanna was taught two different things about how to deal with your enemies. According to her mothers. Ava believed the bigger the cunt, the more they will spill their plans and all their intentions if you keep them talking long enough. The trick is to use the right words against them. Beatrice believe fighting them and defeating them in battle was a better way to solve the issue.
Hanna decided both were effective solutions.
“Why do you want me dead?” Hanna asked plainly.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Reya scoffed amused.
“You tell me, I haven’t done anything to you”
“It’s not about what you done with your existence so far, it’s what you will do. Who you will become and I know what kind of monster you are!”
“And what’s that?”
“Hybrid”
“Yeah I know I am” Hanna scoffed. “I don’t see the problem with that”
Reya laughed, shaking her head. “You are just like him” she sneered. Suddenly she pulled a knife from her belt and flung the weapon at Hanna.
Hanna used the back of one swing to slash the knife. Splitting the weapon in two and the shattered pieces fell to the ground long before they could get close to the Hybrid.
Reya’s smile faltered for a moment. “they taught you well”
“They did” she confirmed. “Whose him?”
Reya chuckled, shaking her head. She took off running, darting to the left, then sprinting straight for Hanna.
The hybrid watched her run, before she decided to meet the mad woman half way. Reya raised her sword and swung down at the Hybrid. Hanna dodged the sword. Slipping around the blade, grabbed her weapon welding hand, pulled down and up under the woman. Throwing the woman off her feet and landing on the ground with a heavy thud.
Reya growled, she swung her sword at the Hybrid. Scattered back and threw herself to her feet. The mad woman snarled at the Hybrid, twirled her sword and dashed forward.
The Hybrid did not attack Reya at first. She dodged the blows against her. The mad woman was fast, but she was faster.
“why. Won’t. you. DIE!” Reya growled, between swings.
“Because I don’t wanna!” Hanna retorted. “Whose Him?”
The Hybrid jumped over the weapon, flew over Reya. Picked up the woman and threw her back into the shadows before the woman could make another move. Reya hit the back of the cave with an earth shattering thud. She crumbled off the wall and fell flat on her face. “Tell me who’s this Him!”
Reya laughed as she attempted to pull herself off the ground. “You’re weak, just like him?”
“Because I’m refusing to kill you?” Hanna question confused. Then her smile broke wide as she replied “Well thank you”
“It’s not a compliment” Reya growled. She pushed herself up onto her knees, huffing and puffing loudly, she looked up at Hanna. “His name was Kenia, he was your father”
Hanna’s mouths fell open and her eyes widen out of her wings. “what?”
“Yyyeeesss” Reya laughed, drawing out the word "They didn't tell you". “He was a shepherd, send to watch over humanity. A weak man, a peacekeeper. He believed that Angelics and Demons can live together in peace, just like we live with the Tarask” she suddenly turned to side a spit. “Foolish” she cursed. She brought herself up to her feet and started walking slowly to Hanna. “I told him, that Demons cannot be trusted. They are loyal to their Dark God Adrial and him alone. He wouldn’t listen”
Hanna often wondered who her father was, but unfortunately no one knew and now finally, after all this time, she will learn something of him.
“So I told him how they tortured his precious humans. Showed him how they corrupted his precious flock and for a moment, he sort reason. He pledge alliance to me and we fought side by side” For a moment she looked rather proud of this notion, the memories of her life with him coming back to her clear as day. Then the smile faded. “Then I learned the truth”
“What truth?”
“His truth, the reason he was born” Reya stated, as if these words didn’t need explanation. Lucky for Hanna, she decided to explain herself otherwise. “Angelics cannot breed, the only way we can repopulate is if one of us die and the Goddess creates another child. That is our way. Death for Life, all by her hand and hers alone. Then he came along, in a time where I fought to defy her laws by having a family of my own. A true family and not of her creation”
Reya stepped into the light and stood there. A haunted look of terror appeared in her eyes as she explained “I tried…they all died…every last of my children died. Oh she mourned with me for their loss, that’s what she wanted me to think. She wanted me to think she loved them just as much as me, but she couldn’t. They were of my blood. She does not know true loss!” a wicked smile appeared on her face briefly as she scoffed “a lion does not mourn the loss of a sheep’s lamb!”
Hanna didn’t know how to react to this story.
Reya scoffed, shaking her head. “They do not and neither does she” Reya spoke. “OR any of the gods in fact, we are just toys for them. My last child died in her arms. His blood was on her hands and she begged for my mercy, claiming it wasn’t her fault. A hybrid angelic cannot survive. Then the next day Kenia was born and I kept a watchful eye on him until I discovered why he was created”
Reya stepped closer and Hanna stepped back.
“He was a test subject, born with the unique ability to bred. For you!”
“Me?”
“You!” Reya snarled. “Murderer, you will lay waste to my people and destroy every angelic. If you don’t believe me, answer me this, how many Angelics have you killed before tonight?”
Hanna didn’t answer. She refused to believe it was true.
Reya didn’t need to hear an answer. Hanna’s silences was enough and she smiled at the hybrid’s reaction. “It’s too late, your destiny has already begun”
“What did you do to Kenia?”
“I caught him trying to make a deal with the King of Hell. Alliance. So I killed them”
Hanna’s eyes flared red and her teeth bared. “You killed my father!” she snarled.
“He betrayed me, what do you expect me to do put him into the naughty corner”
Reya stepped forward, her smile twisted wide baring teeth. Her head titled slightly and her eyes began to glow with intense purple light. “You believe me right!” she spoke. Her voice echoed in whispers around the cave, closing in on Hanna.
Hanna looked around, then focused back on Reya. “what the fuck?”
Reya straighten her head and gave her a slow nod. “Trust me!” she urged.
Hanna’s brain started to burn, images flashed before her eyes. All from Reya’s point of view. She cursed under her breath at the Mad Angel. Visions of Reya’s Goddess flashed before her eyes, such a beautiful woman with a smile that lit the sun. Ebony skin woman with rainbow eyes and full head of silver curls. Hanna fought back against the invading memory, trying to throw Reya out of her head, but the woman was stronger then her. Grandmother Michelle warned her about Reya's powers for visions and mind control. Religiously teaching her how to reject such invasions to the mind.
“See what she did!” Reya said. “See it”
The memory flashes darken. Her Goddess’s happy demur vanished. Giving way to a heart broken woman, covered in blood. Hunched over the body of a bloodied child. A boy, no older then ten with similar facial features to Reya and same eyes of Michelle. There was no doubt who his parents were. Reya’s heartbroken screams tore through Hanna’s mind. Causing the woman strength to buckle.
The scene repeated again, the image of All Mother bloodied and holding Reya's son's in her hands tried to burn inside her brain. Then it changed to a storm and Hanna was in the heart of it, flying directly towards her covered in blood, lightning and fire bursting from her wings. Below, the rest of the Angelic race, Humans, Demons and Tarasks laid sprawled on the ground, torn apart and burned. The Hybrid and Reya were the only survivors, but not for long. The Hybrid charged straight to Reya with mouths wide open.
Hanna shut the images from her mind, looked up at Reya and watched the woman start closing in. Smile unchanged and eyes unblinking. Hanna gritted her teeth and turned her attention briefly to Cira. Wondering if Cira was subjected to the same fate, same visions or did she use her powers to torture Cira with the memory of her father’s death. Hanna turned back to Reya and glared. “No!” she commanded, severing the connection and forcing Reya from her mind.
The Angelic paused mid-step. “No?” she asked confused.
“No!” Hanna insisted. The Hybrid screamed, releasing a high intense pulse of energy from her core. It strike Reya and carried her flying back to the other end of the cave. Slamming her into the stone, then burning into her body.
Reya fell to the ground, landing on her face. She looked up and shuddered “you’re stronger then I expected”. Her mouth twisted to a snarl, she scrambled to her feet and threw herself into the air. Flying towards Hanna.
Hanna met her half way. The impact was loud crack. In the air they fought with blinding speed of twisted claws, wings and teeth. Flying around the Cave, slamming each other into the walls and roof. They twisted and tumbled, tearing each other limb by limb.
One of them was going to make it out of here and Hanna wasn’t going to let Reya win.
Reya bit down on Hanna’s wings, drawing blood and letting the liquid fill her mouth.
Hanna yelped. She lashed out, slicing off Reya’s arms and throwing the woman to the ground. The woman landed with a thump and a groan. Burst of gold light took the opportunity and flooded from Reya’s wounds. Fluttering away from their prisoner. The Mad Angelic looked up, swallowed and screamed. Her power flooded out of her being and flew to Hanna. The Hybrid reacted, screaming a powerful war cry. Blue lightning burst from her mouths and collided with the purple energy beam. Consuming it, flying down and striking Reya. Setting the woman on fire and the woman screamed with pure painful cries.
Hanna took this opportunity to flee. She flew to Cira, taking the woman into her arms and then straight up. Hanna could hear Reya’s shouts following after her. Gold light chased the Hybrid and Cira, nipping at her toes, but dared not touching her. Hanna dared not look back. They entered the portal, leaving the prisoner behind.
Back in the real world.
Hanna and Cira flew out of the portal, flopped to the ground and rolled away from the device. Hanna ensured Cira had a safe landing by wrapping her wings protectively around the woman. The gold light followed swiftly behind, disappearing in the air. When they skidded to a halt, two of Hanna’s wings peeled away and flew towards the portal.
After two strikes of their wings, the machine was severed. The portal went into overdrive and exploded. Destroying the only gate to Reya’s hell.
Fire consumed the deck for a few seconds. Hanna braced for the impact, hugging Cira tighter.
When the flames vanished. Hanna carefully removed herself off Cira and crawled back into her human skin. After a few seconds, the transformation was complete. Her back wings were out on full display, feathers arched and scanning the area for any signs Reya escaped while her back was turned.
There was nothing.
She spread her influence to the entire world. Still there was no a scrape of Reya’s spirit in this world.
Hanna sighed with relief, falling back to their knees. “thank fuck for that” she sighed. Even if her parents were on their earth, the last thing anyone needed was Reya’s return. That being said, her next crucial focus was on Cira Sandra and her well-being. “Cira?” she softly called out, turning her body to the Queen of Hell. Her shadow form laid on the ground, barely moving.
Hanna quickly crawled over to the woman, hovering by her side. She touched the shadow body and gently shock the body. “Cira? Cira? Cira can you hear me?”
Nothing, but the pattered sharp breaths of restless sleep.
Hanna gathered the Queen in her arms, in bridal style, clutched to her chest. Hanna turned down to the woman a final time and reassured “it’s okay, let’s get you home” Hanna turned up and took off into the skies.
Hanna didn’t leave the Cradle until she was sure Cira Sandra was safe.
It took until the following day for her to take off fling around the city, searching for Persephone. She followed the scent straight back to her ex-girlfriend’s room. Floating outside the window, she found the woman hurrying packing a bag. Racing back and forth across the room shoving her precious things in the suite-case.
The hybrid knocked on the window. “Persephone?”
Persephone looked up and smiled at the Hybrid. “Finally!” she spoke, racing for the window. She threw open the window and took Hanna’s hand. “Come on get in!” she said, dragging the woman inside. “You saved me the trip”
“Trip? Where have you been?”
“Just. Out” Persephone shrugged and continued packing.
Something wasn’t right.
“what’s going on?” Hanna asked concerned.
Persephone zipped the suitcase with a flick of her wrist and slammed her hands onto the lid. “Look” she said. She turned to Hanna and informed “I can’t do this anymore, I want to live a normal life and I won’t get it here”
“What?” Hanna spoke startled.
“I just can’t do it!” Persephone stated, shaking her heads while dramatically throwing her hands in the air. Her hands dropped to her side and she took a step away from her suitecase, towards Hanna. “This life here is too fucked up. I don’t want to spend my life fighting to stay alive, that’s not what I signed up for”
“That’s not what any of us signed up for”
“Yeah it sure looks like everyone has!” Persephone scoffed.
“So you’re running away!”
“Yep, I want to live and I’m not going to be doing that for much longer here!” Persephone stated, moving closer. “I don’t want to die and I don’t want to see you die either. I love you! Despite everything. I love you! So come with me!”
“What?” Hanna spoke, stepping back.
Persephone closed the distance, taking Hanna’s hands into her own. “Come with me” she begged, with encouraging smile. “We can see the world, do whatever we want, whenever we want. Don’t you want to wake up every day knowing everything is fine? We can live a normal life together” she informed. She tugged Hanna forward. “It’s you and me Hanna, always has, always will”
Hanna frowned, sucking on her lip. “not this time” she whispered. She took her hands back. “I can’t leave my family behind, not like that and right now they need me, I need you”
“No! No I’m not going back there, I had enough and I want a normal life away from-“
“Away from us freaks!”
“From Death!” Persephone yelled. “And yes you freaks, but I love you too much to let you go like that! No matter how much you frighten me and your angelic side has always frighten me! But I learned to ignore it, because I don’t want to leave you Hanna, but if you don’t come with me then I will go!”
Hanna couldn’t believe this was happening. “no…please..don’t go” she begged.
Persephone shock her head. “Why won’t you come with me? Is it because of her?”
“Who? Cira?”
“Yes her, you let her under your skin and let her turn you against me. We were happy before she came around!”
“This has nothing to do with her!”
“It has everything to do with her!” Persephone growled. “Do you know who she is!”
Hanna nodded.
Persephone’s eyes widen and she stood back. “And yet you still with her? After everything she has done to us?”
Hanna nodded.
Persephone was shocked. She expected to reveal Cira’s secret and Hanna to see reason. To listen to her, like the old days and come with her on a new life outside this hellish town. She didn’t expect Hanna to know the truth and welcome it. Yet the woman was always more forgiving then her. “You love her, don’t you?”
“Yes, she’s my friend”
“She’s the Devil, are you seriously telling me you’re in love with the Devil”
Hanna didn’t react, further proving her point.
Persephone was now losing all her hope her lover will join her. “Come with me” Persephone asked, for a final time.
“No”
Persephone gulped. She grabbed her bag and let it drop onto the floor. She dragged her suite case over to Hanna, stood up on her tippy toes and leaned closer to her lips. “I love you” she kissed her for a final time. Feeling the tears patter on her skin. She poured all her feelings into the kiss, knowing this will be her last.
Persephone broke away and moved around Hanna, heading for the door. Hanna’s head dropped, crying. Persephone stopped at the doorway, looked back and watched Hanna stand in her room. Persephone waited a few seconds, hoping the woman will change her mind. Turn back to face her at least one last time. Change her mind and come with her, but she didn’t move. Persephone turned her back on her ex and walked away.
Hanna dropped to her knees the moment the door shut. Collapsing on the floor in a fit of sobs.
When Cira Sandra woke up, her first thought was of Hanna.
She doesn’t know how much time has passed since she passed out. She turned to her side and noticed the gathered flowers. Her human appearance starring back in the reflection of the flower vase. She looked around the empty nursing station and shot out of bed. If Hanna wasn’t here, she will go after the woman and out she went. Striding through the Cradle.
The Devil found Hanna on the roof. Legs to her chest and watching the sunrise. Cira approached steadily and asked “may I sit with you?”
Hanna nodded.
Cira closed the gap, taking a seat beside Hanna. She frowned at the redness around Hanna’s eyes. The pale blue in her eyes. The frighten quiver of her lip. “what happened?”
“Persephone, she’s gone”
Cira bit her lip. She could say a thousand curses at the stupid blonde for breaking Hanna’s heart once again. However that’s not what Hanna needed. First she raised Hanna’s face up and cupped the woman’s face, guiding Hanna’s attention to her. Once her heart broken friend was looking at her. She leaned up and kissed her temple. Then took the woman into her arms. Feeling the hybrid cry in her arms. She whispered every sweet nothings and reassurances she could think of. Hoping once all the pain was cried out, her friend will be better.
Until then, she will do everything in her power to fix Hanna’s broken heart.
Outside the realms
The Crew laid scattered on green grass field. The roar of wind and the hum of energies surrounded the group. Ava laid in the middle of the group. She was the first to start waking up. She opened groggy eyes, blinked several times and turned her attention to above.
Her eyes widen and she cursed “Holy SHIT!”