Chapter 61
“Where the fuck am I?”
Above Ava’s head was a constellation of blue light, passing over her. With red tainted galaxies chasing after. It looked like two worlds chasing after each other in constant circle rotation. The Halo Bearer couldn’t make out the difference between the worlds, but the sight of them was memorising. It reminded her of all the times her family sit on Cat’s Cradle roof and watch the sunrise over the town. Just enough on top of the world to see the city come life.
However this scenery wasn’t enough to distract her all day. Before she could investigate where the hell she ended up. She first checked her body, making sure she could still move. She woken up too many times before to discover her body couldn’t move anymore. Even though those times are long behind her, the motion to check all her limbs for ability to move without resistance was too ingrained in her mind to forget anytime soon. One by one she wiggled her fingers, her toes, her hands, her legs, her hips.
Satisfied she can move normally, she rolled over and stood up to her feet. Ava looked around and found her family gathered around her, unconscious and sprawled on the grass. She spotted her wife and ran to her aid. “Beatrice!” she shouted while she ran. Ava dropped to her feet by her wife’s side, grabbing her shoulders and gently shaking her. “Bea, Bea wake up, Beatrice!”
Beatrice sighed herself awake. Her head rolling side to side, eyes blinking slowly awake. “my love?” she whispered confused. The brunette open her eyes and locked gaze with her wife. “My love” she spoke, relieved in her tone, but still dazed. “what’s going on? Where are we?”
“No idea” Ava chuckled with a shrug. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine”
“Good” Ava helped her wife up to her feet, holding her forearms as she turned to face the rest of her family. “Looks like we’re all here, wherever here is”
“If this is the place where all consumed souls go, then why isn’t it just us” Beatrice observed as she looked around. Taking mental notes of her surroundings.
“Maybe it takes a while to break down a soul? You know like a stomach”
Beatrice shivered at the disgusting thought. “Let’s just make sure the others are alright and then we’ll make an escape”
“Good idea”
The couple pulled apart and started walking to the others. Gently waking them up one by one.
“Ava what have you done” Lilith groaned.
“Hey I did nothing” Ava defended. “I think…”
Suzanne turned to her wives and spoke “This place…is this what I think it is”
“Probably” Jillian groaned, rubbing the back of her neck. “It’s dramatic enough”
Michelle shock her head, crawling to her feet. “No, we’re somewhere else” She looked past the group and her eyes widen with shock. Then softened with sorrow “a place we shouldn’t be”
Her wives looked at her strangely, following her gaze before suddenly leaping to their feet.
“by the gods” Suzanne whispered under her breath.
The rest of the family followed Michelle’s gaze and jumped at the sight.
In the middle of the island, was a thirteen-foot marble statue of a loosely robe man. Thick lushest beard and long locks of hair. Sitting on a gold throne. Hands caressing the throne arms and face starring outward, stoic. Eyes were like galaxies, twinkling with various colours from the rainbow.
The family closed ranks, starring at the figure.
“Is that him?” Ava asked.
Michelle nodded. “All father”
“Are we starring at his grave?” Lilith asked.
“We had to burry him somewhere. This place was his castle and so we carved a marble coffin of his body and filled it with his…remains” Michelle answered. “None of us should be here”
“I agree with that” Mary spoke. “So how do we get out?”
“He’s definitely dead right?” Serita asked.
“He is” Michelle answered.
“Maybe we shouldn’t be starring at him” Camila suggested. “It kinda feels like he’s watching us”
The implication gave the group an uneasy feeling coursing through their soul. To make matters worse, they continued to stare at the marble statue. Until the statue blinked.
The group screamed, clinging to each other out of reflex.
All Father began to move, cracking his head left and right. Gripping the throne and hauling himself to his feet. His movements echoed like thunder. Body breaking to life.
The group moved back. Michelle throwing herself in front of the group. Holding them back.
All Father turned to the group and raised a gentle offering hand. “Please children, don’t be afraid” the statue spoke. His gentle voice caused the group’s grip on each other to tighten.
Ava’s breath got stuck in her throat, his voice, it was the same voice she been hearing since Reya attempted to killed her. “no way” she gasped.
All Father lowered his hand and took a step back. “I mean no harm”
“IS that really you All Father!” Michelle shouted, fear and sadness laced her voice.
He frowned at the tone. He nodded gently. “It is” he answered. “It’s so good to see you Michelle”
She sniffled, blinking back the tears. “It’s good to see you too, was this your doing?”
“It was the only way to talk to you all” he answered, gesturing to the group. His star like eyes moved through the group until they settled on Ava. “Face to face”
‘Holy shit that’s him’ Ava spoke in her mind.
‘I told you we could trust him’ Other Ava reasoned, in a very matter of fact tone.
‘Oh come on, you knew it was him and you didn’t tell me!’
‘Bitch please you suspected’
‘Suspected, didn’t know for sure’
‘Same thing’
‘Is not!’
Ava pulled away from the group, taking several steps forward. Her family tried to pull her back, but she brushed past their grips. “What’s going on All Father? Why do you need to talk to us?”
He smiled at her for a moment. “Unfortunately, not for good reasons” he answered. He knelt to his knees. “I need your help”
“For what?”
“Reya has taken Ka'ulua or All Mother as you may know her. I need you all to free her soul”
“Taken?” Michelle questioned. “I thought she murdered her”
He gritted his teeth. “She has done worse then that. She could have killed her, but she choose more terrifying punishment. Consuming a soul gives you life, power. Merging the essence of that soul into your own. Reya did not do this to her. She consumed a God’s soul. A god’s soul may make you immortal, give you all their powers, but there is a cost. The essence of our soul is toxic, it cannot merge with another being and will eventually destroy the host from the inside out. For both parties it is a fate worse then death. Reya had consumed many souls just to keep herself powerful and keep Ka’ulua’s soul prisoner in her body. To add to the torture, she split splinters of Ka’uluas soul and feed them to her supporters”
“The gold light?” Camila comment.
“that was her” he agreed. “You have freed much of her soul already, but until she’s free of Reya, no one is safe” He raised his hand to the left and traced a circle in the air. A thin gold line appeared, tracing the circle. Then light exploded inside the ring and transformed into a window. A window into the realm between realms, the Old Gods homeland.
The group moved forward, starring at the portal with eyes wide. Inside was chaos, Reya stood on the edge of the hill, facing the court of the old Gods. The pine forest was burning and the thrones were dissolving into ashes. Army of Angelics were fighting the old Gods, bringing them down to their knees and dragging the gods to their Master. One by one, Reya opened her mouth wide and purple light flooded out. Burning the body, destroying their souls.
There was tears in his eyes as he starred at the portal.
“How the fuck did she get out” Michelle cursed, shocked and furious by the image before her.
“It was only a matter of time” he advised. “They should have set her free instead of torturing Reya. If they freed her and thrown Reya into the Abyss, then she would have been trapped there indefinite. All that time in the abyss only driven Reya deeper into madness”
“Why didn’t you stop it”
“Because I can’t interfere” All father snapped his fingers and the window disappeared with a quick flash of light. He turned back to the family. “I cannot save her, fate won’t allow it, but you can”
“We’ll do what we can” Ava agreed. She turned to the others for support and they nodded in agreement. If Reya has killed the remaining Old Gods. Then her next step will be going after Hanna again and the family will do everything in their power to prevent that. Ava turned back to the Old god and vowed “We’ll save her”
He smiled. “I thank you all, I will do everything in my power to help, if you shall need it” He raised his hand towards the group and drew a circle. Another gold ring appear and suddenly expanded until it took the form of the Halo. The Weapon floated between the group and him. He closed his eyes and pressed his hand against the weapon. Pouring more energy into the weapon. It glowed with vibrant gold light, expanding outward in various direction until it morphed into the shape of a sword. “This will aid you” he opened his eyes and pushed the weapon. It flew towards Ava at a gentle pace. Light fading until it resembled the Halo again. With now the addition of a solid handle poking out of it’s top centre, a solid gold blade growing from the bottom of the circle.
Ava caught the weapon with both hands and held it in her palms. She eyed the weapon carefully, before gripping the handle and gave the weapon a quick twirl in front of her body. “Well thanks for the gift all father”
“You are welcome, my child”
The others gathered around Ava, inspecting the weapon.
Michelle turned to the God and asked, gesturing to her daughter, “Why her? Why have you been following her?”
“Because I am her creator”
Ava suddenly looked up with suspicious eyebrows “what are you technically my dad?” her eyes widen as she gasped with shock “Oh my god I am Jesus 2.0”
Lillith slapped her forehead. “2.0? oh I’m embarrassed to know you”
“I knew that would bite me in the ass one day” Mary scoffed, rolling her eyes.
The old god shrugged. “I did craft your soul and gave you to Michelle to raise, but I did not do it for this purpose”. “Was my intention that Ava will bring balance to the realms, defeat Adriel and Reya, yes. However I knew a warrior must rise to the occasion. One that can wield the powers of a God. I gave you the ability to perform such duties, but that was all. Gifts. There was only one intention for her” he turned to Michelle and her alone with a look of shared understanding. “she was for you”
Michelle nodded.
He focused back on the group as a whole and spoke “Now I am not sure when Reya will attack your clan, but I know she is coming and trust you will be prepared for that day”
“We will” Suzanne agreed with a gentle nod.
“Then I will send you back” He began tracing another circle, gold light sparkling in his fingertips. Portal opened and he beckon the group towards it. “I wish you good fortune, my children”
“Thanks dad” Ava spoke, giving him a two finger salute.
The old God smiled and repeated the same salute.
“Before we go” Beatrice spoke, stepping in front of her wife. “What about Hanna, why is Reya so afraid of her?”
“Reya was gifted with visions of the future” he explained. “She dreamt of the Hybrid and instead of seeing a being born of love, she saw the child as a weapon. To destroy her. Plagued by visions of death and suffering the lost of her own child” Michelle winced at the mention. “She saw All Mother as her enemy and not her friend. She saw Hanna as her end and not a child. So fearing for the child’s safety, All Mother interfered with fate and sent the child to you”
“poor kid” Serita commented.
“Yes, All mother always one to defy fate to ensure the safety of the living. Especially those of her creation”
Ava reached over and grabbed her wife’s hand. Bea turned back to her and smiled at her wife. She looked over to the Old god and asked “So are we going to see you again?”
“Fate will decide” he answered. “Until then” he stood from the ground and moved back to his throne, taking his seat.
The group moved towards the portal. Ava and Beatrice stepped forward first, entering the light, followed swifty by the others.
Michelle was the last to enter. She turned back to All father and asked “My son, where did his spirit go?”
All Father bent his neck forward, twisting to face her. “His soul was reincarnated, Ka’ulua couldn’t save your son’s life. His body was killing him, but she could give him a second chance in another form”
“Where is he?”
“You know where he is, you already met him”
Michelle’s face scrunched up, thinking back on all the faces she met over the years. Then her memory focused on one child. One boy she helped raised over the years. One that she went through Hell to rescue and has been sick since his birth. She looked back to All Father, asking without sound, if her theory was correct.
His smile grew kinder.
She sighed relieved and whispered “Michael”
“the process wasn’t natural and the boy suffered initially in his life, but the soul was saved”
Michelle sighed, biting her lip. Ecstatic her son had a second chance in life, thanks to All Mother. However, she doubted this knowledge will help ease Reya’s suffering if she ever found out the truth. For the reason this war started was through misunderstanding. How would the mad Angelic react to learn her son had been reincarnated into another form. Would she cease the war or will she try to kidnap their son.
“Thank you, All Father” Michelle thanked, turning her back on him and wondering through the portal.
The portal closed behind her and he turned back to his world with a deep sigh. “good luck” he whispered.
Back in the Human world.
The family arrived back in Suzanne’s office. They looked around and locked eyes with the teenagers, Hanna, Kit, Addams, Michael and Aaron. Whom gathered at Suzanne’s desk with various maps and reports scattered before them. The two groups looked at each other stunned.
Kit smirked as she spoke “Where the Fuck have you guys been!”
Suddenly the group converged on each other into one big bear hug. The teenager’s hugging their respective parents and guardians. The clang of the Halo bounced along the floor between the group.
“seriously where have you been” Kit’s voice muffled in her parents grasp.
“How long has it been?” Michelle asked as the group pulled away, slightly, just enough so they can all look at each other clearly. Michelle focused on Michael with new eyes. Running her fingers through his blonde locks.
The man noticed his mother’s affection and turned to her with curious look. “you okay Ma?”
She laughed, dragging him back into arms and kissed his temple. “never better”. He pulled back, but her arms was firmly locked over his shoulder. She turned to Jillian, wrapping her free arm around her waist and pulling her into her side. Suzanne moved to Michael’s free side and hugged him side on. Michelle leaned over to Jillian and kissed her lips.
“are you going to explain yourself miss!” Jillian teased.
“I will, later”
“6 months” Hanna answered, unaware by her grandmother’s strange behaviour.
Beatrice and Ava focused on their daughter with shock in their eyes. The room tensed at the declaration.
“6 months?” The couple repeated shocked.
“oh Hanna I’m so sorry” Ava apologised.
“it’s okay, we’re happy your back. Just tell us what happened”
“Oh we will, we got a lot to talk about”
“What happened?”
“Long story short, we meet God, Halo got an upgrade and Reya is back”
“WHAT!” the Teenagers and Michael screeched.
Aaron frowned, looking to Hanna for answers. “Whose Reya?”
“Bad news” Hanna explained, turning to the child. She bent down to her knees, facing him eye level and asked “Can you please go get your mother?”
He frowned, pouting his lips. “Are you sending me away for adult talk?”
“Not yet, Cira will want to hear this. Can you please find her for me?”
“okay”
Hanna grinned. She leaned over and kissed his forehead. “thank you”
He turned his back and took off running out of the room.
Beatrice and Ava eyed the situation curiously then turned to each other. Ava’s smile widen with a knowing smirk while Beatrice narrowed her gaze with an unconvinced shrug.
Ava turned to their daughter and asked “So you three have gotten closer?”
“Yeah I’m helping Cira raise him”
“As his…“ Ava trailed off, her smirk widen with hinting implications.
“not now darling” Beatrice warned, whispering into her wife’s ear.
Ava rolled her eyes dramatically and groaned. “okay fine” she replied. She focused on Hanna and spoke “okay you’re mother’s right, we got a lot to talk about. We have some things to explain”
Hanna nodded. “Actually I have a few things to explain as well, you might want to sit down for it”
Ava and Beatrice frowned, wondering what could possible have happened while they were gone.
Aaron soon rushed back in before they could question her. Dragging Cira by the hand straight for Hanna’s side. The group moved into seating arrangement. Hanna taking front and centre at the front of the desk. Cira hopping onto the desk by Hanna’s side. Lifting Aaron onto her lap and wrapping her arms around the child. The rest of the group gathered around the trio. The Gang lined up surrounding the front of Hanna while her friends stood by her side.
Hanna turned to Cira for support and Cira gave her a reassuring nod. Hanna focused back on her family. With Cira’s support, she recalled the events which happened while the family were gone.