Son of Eden, a Paranormal Romance (31 page)

“Why should I believe anything that comes from your mouth? Your kind only knows treachery. You rebelled against the very thing we were created for. There is no honor in that, and certainly no trust.” Alexander grew more rigid with the anger that boiled deep within him. It was bad enough that this Ancient One was present, but it infuriated Alexander that his opponent would blatantly mock him like this.

“Ahhh, it would seem that you have been the one who was lied to, Alexander. Our purpose is far different than the one you have been tricked into believing. They have suppressed you into thinking that you have one purpose here in this existence, yet there is so much more to it all. You are destined to be a ruler, Alexander, a king of kings. There is so much in store for you, if you will just open your mind to the truth. Let me show you.” The Ancient One’s voice was soothing, friendly.

Dante was now only inches away from Alexander. He seemed to have the ability to mesmerize everyone in the room. Emily blinked hard, trying to free herself from the trance. The Ancient One had somehow maneuvered himself within striking distance, and yet Alexander did nothing. Neither did Xavier.

“
He must have some power to hypnotize or something.”

Emily felt eerily relaxed, too relaxed. She wondered if Alexander felt the same.

“Come, just let me show you for a moment and you will see what truly lies in store for you.” Dante reached his hand toward Alexander.

Alexander flinched, but then went still as Dante’s giant hand covered his. Both men’s eyes closed simultaneously.

Emily looked over at Xavier. He stood motionless, as if he too was caught up in the same trance. She could hear her father’s heavy breathing and looked over her shoulder to evaluate his reaction. He seemed just as puzzled and confused as she was.

Alexander stood motionless for only a few moments. Then his limbs began to give way to small tremors and spasms, his body seemed to be reacting to whatever he was being shown. Emily watched as his brow began to furrow and his face twisted in pain.

“
What on earth is he doing?”

Emily still felt frozen; she didn’t know what to do.

Alexander’s face relaxed and as soon as it had begun, it was finished. Dante released his grasp and Alexander opened his eyes.

“You lie.” Alexander stumbled backward.

“Why would I lie about that? You know it’s the truth. You have caught glimpses of it yourself. It is reality and it frightens you. No matter what road you take, her fate will be the same.”

“Enough!” Alexander stabilized himself and repositioned into his fighting stance.

Xavier was finally alert and aware, and closed in behind Dante.

“Come with us, Alexander. Join us, and you can ensure these humans safety. You can ensure her safety.” He motioned toward Emily.

“I would never join you.”

Emily watched as the two Guardians began to circle Dante. But the ancient one never took his eyes off Alexander. Xavier did not seem to threaten him in the least.

“The only way to save all that you love and hold dear is to join us and our cause. Think of what it could be like if you joined us. Things would be as they were meant to be. You will be a ruler, a ruler that answers to no law except the one he decrees. No desires would be placed above your own. No fate you cannot change. Only a fool would refuse. “ Dante kept his tone relaxed, although it now carried a slight edge that wasn’t present before. “Make your choice Son of Eden, but know that only one choice will give you what you truly seek!”

“You’re wrong!” Alexander shook his head.

Seizing the moment, Xavier leaped from behind, throwing a hard punch to the small of Dante’s back. The Ancient One turned with lightning speed, instant fury in his eyes. He grabbed Xavier’s free hand, enveloping it within his own massive grip. One hard squeeze and the bones in Xavier’s hand popped and cracked. He punched Xavier directly in the jaw and sent him flying with a blunt kick to his already damaged chest. Xavier hit the ground with a sickening thump and lay still and silent.

Emily screamed in horror.

Alexander glanced back to determine exactly where Emily and her father were, and then back to where his brother now lay motionless on the floor.

“It doesn’t have to be like this.” Dante’s voice was filled with heat and frustration, any friendly tone gone.

“Then leave and I will spare your life.” Alexander moved in closer.

Dante gave a deep evil-sounding chuckle. “You honestly think you can defeat me? You may be a great warrior, but I am from the very beginning. My strength far surpasses yours. I will finish you quickly.” He then looked directly at Emily. “But as for her, I’ll make it slow and painful. I will let her beg for death.”

Alexander let out a deafening cry, and then disappeared. In the same second he reappeared directly in front of the Ancient One, raining a blow across his face.

Dante responded in an equal manner, and the fight became a series of flashes. Each time the two appeared, they were in a new position. Emily could not tell what was going on until Alexander materialized with Dante’s arm locked around his neck.

Her heart dropped into her stomach and she became absolutely sick. She had never seen Alexander in such a vulnerable position.

Her father sprang into action, grabbing the bow that lay in front of him. Before Emily could protest, he was over the counter running directly at the fight with the fragile stick in hand.

There was another series of flashes as Alexander and Dante were using their abilities to change positions and catch the other one off guard. Emily watched as her dad stood confused, unsure of when to strike. The opportunity came when the two appeared to James’s left and the enemy’s back was facing him.

James raised the bow and then hammered it down across Dante’s shoulders. The staff broke in half as though it was smashed against a pile of bricks. The Ancient One didn’t even flinch as the splinters from the broken wood spewed up and into the air.

In what looked like one motion, Dante pushed Alexander effortlessly from his grasp, throwing him across the room. Swooping down and while pivoting on the balls of his feet, he grabbed part of the broken staff off the ground and plunged the splintered end straight into her father’s chest.

There was no way for James to dodge the blow. It had happened too quickly. He dropped to his knees, with a look of complete shock on his face.

“Nooo!” Emily sprinted over to where her father slowly slumped to the floor.

She caught him before his face hit the ground, immediately attempting to maneuver him onto his back. She winced as her movements brought a cry of pain from her father.

“Daddy, no,” Emily pleaded, as she placed his head on her lap. She watched as her father’s face turned pale and his body began to shake.

Dante loomed over them, casting a dark shadow. “See?” He shook his head. “Nothing constant. You’re always changing. Here one minute, gone the next. So weak, so sickeningly fragile.” Disgust oozed from his lips with each word.

Emily glanced up to meet his glare. This time all she could see was utter hatred in his eyes. Every ounce of his beauty was gone. The only thing visible was darkness. Looking into his eyes was like looking into a hole that had no end, like the crushing abyss of the deepest ocean.

“
This is it, it’s over, and we’re all going to die.”

Emily did not cringe at the thought. Instead she took a deep breath; waiting for the blow to come that would easily take her life. She stayed calm; there was a sense of peace in knowing that this would be the end for both her and her father. At least it meant she could see her mother and they would all be together again.

He raised his arm in a position to strike, though Emily wasn’t sure if the strike was for her or her father, their bodies were entwined in a ball on the ground. She watched in slow motion as his steel bar of an arm began its downward decent.

Emily closed her eyes for just a moment. It felt surreal. All of her senses seemed to be heightened, engulfing her mind. She could smell the stale metallic scent of her father’s blood. She could feel the cold moist air that blew through the doorway leaving microscopic droplets of water on her skin. And she could taste the potent flavor of salt that lined her lips from the tears that had rolled down her face. The split second was euphoric, feeling much longer than it truly was.

“
So this is what it feels like right before you die. One last blast from your senses.”

But then she heard it, what sounded like two rocks being slammed together. She opened her eyes to see Alexander’s broad back directly in front of her. He had one knee on the ground in a crouched position and held Dante’s fist in his grasp.

Alexander’s free hand grabbed a three-inch splinter from off the ground and plunged it into the ancient ones inner thigh, breaking the end off with a quick snap. Standing up he landed a hard uppercut to Dante’s jaw that sent him staggering a few steps back.

Dante laughed as he stumbled backward. When he regained his footing he glanced down at his small wound.

“It takes more than a splinter to kill me, Alexander. Surely you know that.” He laughed once more.

“A little bit at a time is all it takes.” Alexander lunged at him and the fight commenced again. The same pattern of flashes began as they engaged in their deathly dance. Each time they materialized, they were in a new position. Emily wondered how anything could be accomplished like this. It was like trying to fight a ghost.

“
How do you kill Casper, let alone punch him?”

Emily’s head jerked from left to right as she tried to keep track of the battle. But, her question was suddenly answered when the two appeared and it was Dante who looked confused.

“I told you it just takes a little bit at a time.” Alexander threw a firm hook across his opponent’s face.

Then in a hundredth of a second he appeared behind Dante, grabbing him by the neck and throwing his body to the ground. It happened so fast it appeared as though Alexander had a twin.

Dante hit the floor with such force that the hardwood surface cracked and splintered beneath him. It only took a moment for Emily’s mind to process what was going on.

“
The sliver! Dante has healed with it still inside him, he can’t shift forms anymore!
”

Emily felt a real sense of hope budding from within her.

The Ancient One was up just in time to block an attempted kick. But, before he could retaliate, Alexander appeared in a position at Dante’s side, driving his elbow into his abdomen. Alexander flashed back to face him, his forearm connecting with Dante’s face as it came down in reaction from the previous hit.

Alexander’s blow caused blood to pour out of his enemy’s nose. It was the first time Emily had seen any blood come from the seemingly invulnerable being.

The backward motion of Dante’s head was now countered with Alexander appearing behind him, delivering a shattering kick to his enemy’s spine. This not only caused the most severe case of whiplash Emily could ever imagine, but it landed Dante right in front of her.

The Ancient One weakly climbed to all fours like a dog, and then slowly rose to a kneeling position. He was close enough that Emily could see straight into his golden eyes, now filled with pain. Before she could panic because of his proximity, Alexander appeared behind him.

“You are no brother of mine.” Alexander placed both of his massive hands on either side of Dante’s head.

Emily closed her eyes tightly but could still hear the loud crack.

She looked up in time to see the Ancient One fall lifelessly to the floor, just inches in front of her.

It was over. He was dead. Emily gawked in disbelief at what she had just witnessed.

Alexander stood still, his only movement from the rise and fall of his chest as he sucked in large amounts of oxygen. He stared at the lifeless body before him.

Then, as though someone had dumped a can of gasoline on it and lit a match, the body burst into flames. It was an instant pile of ash, leaving no smoke or singe marks. Emily felt no heat from the supposed flame. The only evidence was the mound of dark soot that remained in the place where the Ancient One’s body had fallen.

“Is that what happens to Guardians when they die?” Emily asked as she reminded herself to breathe.

Alexander nodded his head in silence as he continued to stare at the ashes.

Emily scanned Alexander’s body. He was covered in blood and she wasn’t sure how much of it was his. He didn’t look as though he were badly injured at all.

She then glanced back down at her father. His breathing had become more labored and his face was even whiter than before.

“Daddy, you hold on. We’re going to get you some help.” She looked up to Alexander. He was instantly gone. The beeping of the phone came from the kitchen and Emily heard three numbers being dialed.

Her father took a quick intake of breath, and then groaned with pain. Four inches worth of the bow was still sticking out of his chest near his heart. She knew it was not smart to remove the object because it could cause him to bleed out, but she also knew that he was in a great deal of pain and that these could be his last moments.

“I’m so sorry… This shouldn’t have happened.” Emily tried to control the sobs that were rising in her throat. She needed to be strong for him. He needed to see that she believed everything was going to be okay, even though that was a lie.

“Everything….” Her father struggled to breathe and speak at the same time. “Everything happens for a reason, you remember that.”

“Daddy, don’t talk that way. Don’t talk like this is it for you.” The tears flowed down Emily’s cheeks.

“You promise me that….” Her father took a deep breath, wincing with the pain it brought. “That you’ll keep swimming. Just keep your head above the water and keep swimming and you’ll make it.”

Emily was nodding her head because she couldn’t speak.

“I can’t do this, I can’t lose him. I’m not strong enough.”

“I love you, sweet Emmy.” His voice was barely above a whisper.