Nova: Daughters of Darkness (16 page)

"Great, just great! So what the hell
does
kill it?"

"Nova, her water element is the only thing that can safely stop it.."

Nova looked at the beast. It was taller than a draft horse, even more heavily muscled and twice as wide, with long lines of drool falling from its jowls. With every exhalation, it blew its hot fetid breath toward them and Nova could see that its filthy rust colored fur was singed raw in some places.

"Well shit." She whispered to herself. Nova began to formulate a plan to get to the beast without being detected by it. She began to creep around the trees surrounding them, using them to shield her advance. She made it halfway to the hell hound when she heard someone commanding it to attack.

"Kill them all! Tear them limb from limb. I don't care what it takes, just bring me the heads of the daughters of darkness!" Felken was in a frenzy, waving his hands like a mad man, spittle flying from his lips as he screamed commands at the beast. With a disturbingly human like grin, the hell hound responded to Felken's command, using its powerful legs to propel itself into the crowd fighting around the sisters. There was no distinction between dark and light for the hell hound; it tore through the demons and those on the side of light with equal abandon. Once the demons realized the hell hound wasn't on anyone's side but its own, they stopped fighting and ran away from it.

Nova realized she had very little time to make it back to her sisters. Fearing she may be too late, she began to run. She had almost reached them when the hell hound tore through the remaining wall of people in front of Branna and Kyna. Without a second thought, Nova called earth to create a way for her to get above the beast. A hill formed beneath her feet, lifting her into the air. Once she was high enough, she called water to build a bridge of ice, so she could slide to the hounds back. She slid until she reached the beast and before she could second guess herself, she jumped onto the back of its neck, landing in a pile of matted, rancid fur. Gripping for all she was worth, as the beast reared, trying to buck her off.

"Ah! Come on, you filthy dog!" Nova grumbled, fear clogging her throat. "Branna! Kyna! Find something to distract it!" Still hanging on for the ride of her life, Nova was desperate for their help.

"Is she shitting me? What the hell does she think she's doing up there?"

"Seriously Branna, just help me find something." Kyna was looking around trying to find anything that could help them. "I got it, the archers! Get the dryads to bring the archers here and they can shoot it. That should distract it long enough to give Nova a chance."

"So you want to have hundreds of arrows flying at our sister, when she is barely holding on as it is? Come on, Kyna, we can do better than that." Branna chastised.

"Well at least I'm trying! What's your brilliant idea." Kyna was irritated at Branna's condescending tone.

Drake walked up, halting their argument. "Enough! While you two bicker about how to help her, neither of you are
actually
helping. I'll go get her myself." Turning away from them, he ran toward the hell hound, determined to keep Nova safe.

Chapter 24

Nova was clinging with every ounce of energy she possessed, knowing that if she let go she would be trampled or worse. "Think, Nova, think. You're missing something. Rían said it had to be my power, it thrives on fire and air will only feed the flames within it." Nova needed a plan and fast. Suddenly the metaphorical light bulb went on in her head. "Oh! Why didn't I think if that first? Of course water will stop it; I can extinguish the hound's flames from within." She climbed to her knees, and called water to make the rain a weapon she could use. The drizzle in the sky became a swirling vortex and it was headed straight for the hell hound and Nova. Scrambling back from the beasts neck, Nova decided she had to jump. She couldn't interrupt water and Earth would never reach her in time. Asking the goddess to help her, she closed her eyes and jumped from the beasts back. Free falling, she was surprised when she hit something solid and warm. Opening her eyes to see what it was, she was rewarded with Drake's handsome face.

"Hey, fancy meeting you here." She tried to be funny, but her lips trembled; so instead, she wrapped her arms around him, thankful he had been there to catch her.

"I will always be here if you fall, always." Reading her mind, Drake tried to ease her fears.

Reaching the ground, Nova kept her head buried in Drake's neck, loving the feel of his arms around her; enjoying being alive. Finally lifting her head, she turned to see if the hell hound had fallen and wished she hadn't. The scene was gruesome; liquid poured blood red from its mouth, eyes, and nose, mixed with what looked like ash. The beast was weaving and choking. It stumbled, trying to rid its body of the benign substance that became deadly inside. With a final gurgling whine, the hound's massive body fell to the ground with a mighty shudder, its tongue coming to rest inches from Nova's feet.

Nova cringed and stepped back, coming up against Drake's chest. "I need to get back to my sisters." She turned, looking up into his dark, troubled eyes.

Drake nodded. He understood and flew them to where her sisters were still fighting, along with Rían and her parents.

Her mother rushed over and wrapped Nova in her arms. "Thank the goddess you're alright, Nova." Running her hands over her hair, she continued, "We saw that thing fall and you were nowhere to be found-"

"It's okay, Mom," Nova reassured her. "I'm okay. Let's just finish this before Felken can draw anymore hell beasts up here." Running to Branna and Kyna, Nova jumped back into the fray.

Drake turned, looking for Felken, thinking the coward was probably hiding. It didn't matter, he wouldn't be able to hide forever. Eventually, Drake promised himself, he would find him and end his miserable existence for all the turmoil he had put Nova through and for daring to stand against him.

"Felken! You filthy coward! Come out and fight me like a man, and I just might give you the opportunity to beg for your life." Drake snarled, hoping to draw him out with his angry words.

"Ha! The
new
Underlord would never beg a sniveling waste of demon flesh for anything!"

Drake spun around and saw Felken surrounded by his minions, a cocky grin split his face, daring Drake to make a move.

"You think hiding behind your lackeys will stop me from killing you?" With a laugh, Drake launched himself at them, wanting to tear their throats out with his bare hands.

"You're not stronger than me anymore Drake, I now have the same powers you do." Felken sneered.

Drake made quick work of the first demon and moved onto the next, "You imbecile, you could never have the same powers as me! You may have the powers of the Underlord, but I am not of this world and am far more powerful then you will ever be." He pushed off the demon he was fighting and conjured a sword, running it through the demons chest.

Nova saw Drake fighting with Felken and rushed to help. "I'm going to help Drake!" she yelled to her sisters.

Branna never slowed her bow as she acknowledged her sister with a nod. Kyna nodded as well, but added "Be careful," before setting her focus back on the fight at hand.

Assuring them she would be careful, she started running to Drake, when she was stopped short by something yanking her hair. Spinning to see what had pulled her hair, she saw one of the lizard like demons laying there, impaled by an arrow. She looked up and the fae that had shot him down bowed slightly to her. Shouting her thanks, she proceeded on her way to where Drake still fought.

"Drake, look out!" she shouted as she ran to intercept a demon that had crept around behind him.

Unsheathing her sword, she swung at his legs at the same time Drake swung at his chest. They connected simultaneously, severing his legs and torso, his three parts disappearing into black dust.

"Stay behind me!" Drake yelled to Nova as he moved forward toward Felken. "Enough of this, Felken! Get over here and face me. I grow tired of these games."

Felken trained his hate filled eyes on Nova. "Ah, but the games are just beginning." Moving his gaze to Drake, he said, "I have yet to truly enjoy myself
friend
." Looking around as if something was missing, he grunted and threw his hands up, "Well! What are you waiting for, kill them!"

On his command phooka burst from the trees, heading right for Nova and Drake. Nova recognized them having already faced their kind in Ireland. Those two had been hard enough to kill, so she was sure these four were going to be a bitch.

What is it with these freaks and evil fricking dogs?
Nova thought to herself. Glancing at Drake, she licked her lips nervously. "You think we're going to need some help?"

"It would not be unwelcome if it arrived, that's for sure." The phooka circled them, pawing and snorting in their bull form, the jet black of their skin in stark contrast with their glowing red eyes. One obviously decided the circling was no longer amusing and broke away, charging horns down at Drake. Drake dodged the first swipe of its horns and was ready for the second. He took off the points of the horns with his sword. Seeing his companion having all the fun, another one charged in, with the other two right on his rear. Drake used his demonic power to paralyze one, freezing it mid-run and continued to swing at the other with his sword. The other two switched from their bulky, bull form and into their original goblin form, needing the speed their smaller form allowed. Nova cringed at their appearance.
Man, were they ugly as hell. Hell, what a funny comparison, since that is where they were from.

"Alright, you little shits, bring it." Nova manifested two ice lances, one for each of them. Twirling them expertly in her hands, she launched one to the left, catching the phooka through the eye. "One down, one to go." The remaining phooka emitted a grating, high pitched squeal followed by guttural grunts. It sounded like it was talking to the other two, still in their bull form. When they responded, she knew that it was some strange language between them. The other two switched to their goblin forms as well. The one who had its horns cut now stood there with two bleeding ears, both missing the tips. Drake and Nova were now back to back, ready to take on the three phooka. Just as they raised their swords to attack, Nova's Granda appeared out of thin air beside them, brandishing an ancient looking staff. Raising it high above his head, he slammed it into the ground with all his might, causing a small explosion of force that took the three phooka off their gnarled little feet. They recovered quickly though and came back for more.

Nova looked at her Granda, amazed he had that kind of power and wondering where the staff came from. She didn't wonder for long though, because there were still the phooka to deal with.

Decklin raised his staff again, this time dark clouds gathered over them and lightning struck the perfect ball of quartz at the tip causing it to glow a brilliant white. He pointed it at one of the ugly goblins and it released the lightning within directly at the phooka who was trying desperately to scramble away, obliterating it with one strike. The other two now gave pause, wondering if this fight was worthwhile. Being that they weren't the most intelligent breed of demon, they decided to switch into their dog forms and try again. With their lips pulled back over their teeth, growling and snarling, they went directly for Nova's Granda since he was the most imminent threat at that moment. This time when he raised his staff, nothing happened.

Nova ran for him, seeing he had used up all the power he had at the moment. "No!" Throwing the remaining ice spear she had at one phooka, she hit her mark easily, catching it right in the flank. The force of her throw caused the spear to embed in the ground, pinning the phooka with it. Drake served up the final blow by bringing his sword down on its neck, severing its head from its body. Seeing it was defeated, the remaining phooka turned tail and tried to make a run for it, but Drake flew over it, slicing its body in half as he went.

Drake looked around until his gaze connected with Felken. "Is that all you've got!" He shook his fist at him. "How many of your pets do I have to kill before you realize I am not going to stop until you lay dead at my feet?"

Felken threw his head back and barked an evil laugh. "Kill them all. Every one of these lowlifes are expendable to me. A means to an end, if you will. And I promise you, Drake, it will never be I who lies dead at your feet."

With a growl of frustration and anger, Drake advanced on Felken, "Make no mistake, it
will
be you who dies by my hand. You cannot kill me, nor can you control me. We have been over this."

Felken backed quickly out of Drake's reach. "Maybe not, but I can her." He pointed at Nova, with an ugly grin on his face.

Drake felt his heart skip a beat. "Your fight is with me. She was never here to kill you. It was always me she was meant to kill."

"That may be true, but hurting her will be hurting you. Do I appear to be stupid to you?" He shook his head and clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Drake, Drake, Drake. You mistook my complacency as weakness and that was your biggest mistake. Your arrogance is what allowed me to take your place to begin with. You thought you were unstoppable, untouchable, and you were...until her.
She
is what makes you weak.
She
is what will give me the power to destroy you. And destroy you I will."