SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Thirty-five
Timothy’s Pov:
“Humph? What gave me away?” the Covenness grinned, pulling herself from my teeth. Pieces of her rotting flesh dangled from my mouth. Its rancid taste forced me to spit out what she left behind. “Your portrayal of Madeline. You failed to realize she is nothing more than my Gamma,” I laughed.
“No matter, soon you will all be dead, and our new God will reign supreme over all,” the Covenness laughed. Our eyes locked, waiting to see who would make their first move. Although I could handle these beasts, I wished now more than ever Amethyst was here to fight alongside me.
“Child of that traitorous Goddess, I can’t wait to bring you to your death. To show her, she should have never turned her back on us,” the beast shrieked. Suddenly, the nest came out from the shadows, and those who infiltrated Eclipse reverted to their hideous selves.
As I glanced in every direction, I noticed they slightly outnumbered me. A deafening roar shattered the afternoon air. The beast’s new God emerged from the shadows, forcing all but the few of us which remain to bow to him.
In my youth, mother often spoke of this beast and with ominous awe. Once he was the deadliest of foes. But this was before he was defeated and locked away, only to be forgotten and wither into the pathetic beast which now slithered before me.
I studied the so-called God before I returned my eyes to the Covenness. “This? This is your almighty God who will defeat my mother and her companion?” I asked in utter disbelief. The beasts gaped at me as if they could not process what it was I had just stated.
“Come on, once it was said, you stood so tall you reached the stars. Now you are barely taller than a large man. We both know these parasites who give you the love and the worship which is sustaining you is not nearly enough to make you my mother or her companions equal. In my mother’s name, you are barely even mine,” I mocked.
“So, you are the pitiful hybrid son of my mother’s granddaughter,” he laughed. “Although her grandfather was not my father, as we are from different houses, yet we are of the same stock. Just like you and Celeste,” he grinned. He knew something that I did not.
“Yes, how interesting, us having the same blood and all, but that makes you no more a God than I am.” I returned his arrogant demeanor, allowing a smile to crest my face. My words enraged the slimy beast.
Despite his weakened state, he charged towards me at an alarming speed. Thankfully, I was still faster. As I leaped out of the way, I shifted to my wolf. The God motioned for the forgone witches to come forward.
“Perhaps you should become better acquainted with those your mother turned her back on,” he laughed as several beasts rushed forward. Before I could reply, lightning bolts rained down from the heavens, just missing the supposed God by mere inches.
“So, the father of monsters still lives. My father may have spared you, but I will not. You have meddled long enough, beast,” the Girl’s voice rang out before she materialized next to me. She flashed me a brilliant grin, and the beast gaped at her with utter surprise.
“Child of my enemy, do you truly believe you can defeat me?” His gravelly voice laughed, clearly underestimating her. The expression of sheer anger and hatred rippled across the face of the Goddess, causing the defected witches to slink back. If this moment had been different, it would have been comical.
From her back, she drew her silver bow, and from her quiver; she drew an arrow forged from a lightning bolt. “Father regrets he’s too busy at this moment to greet you himself, but he has sent you a gift,” she beamed, drawing the bow back. In a brilliant flash of light, she released the bowstring.
The arrow raced towards the beast. Before it reached its target, a witch who had infiltrated Eclipse leaped in to shield the beast from the Girl’s attack. In a thunderous clap, she was nothing more than minute chunks of charred flesh and entrails raining down.
The stench of burning rot choked out the already foul air. Several of the remaining warriors from Eclipse retreated from the battle in order to vomit. The Girl taking notice of this shook her head and rolled her eyes at their display of weakness. “Males,” she mumbled to herself.
The wind shifted. I was not alone in noticing this. The foul beast and its misguided followers’ eyes darted in all directions, trying to find the source of the disturbance. The Girl wore one of her bone chilling grins as her eyes locked on to mine. “See them scurry like rats on a sinking ship? They know their time is up,” she laughed, pointing in the direction where two figures were emerging from the shadows, drawing the attention of the witches.
A glorious light shone from the figure covered in armour I recognize well, Madeline. My heart swelled at the sight of her. Wherever they’d been keeping her, they failed to understand once she set herself free; she was going to be far more dangerous than they realized. My heart fell as I didn’t recognize the woman who emerged with Madeline. I unrealistically hoped it was Amethyst. Shrieks of anger erupted from the nest as they turn their attention to the woman who was accompanying Madeline.
Without hesitation, Madeline charged the nest, cutting down four of the wretched witches. Their God turned his attention to her. Amidst the confusion of Madeline and her companion’s attack, the beasts and their God failed to take notice of the Girl as she retrieved another arrow. With great joy, she pulled back the bowstring as she took careful aim. I, too, took advantage of the situation to make my move on the Covenness. “For Amethyst,” I whispered.
I stalked my pray without being noticed. As I readied myself to strike, a surge of energy, not unlike lightning, hummed from deep within the earth. There was something about this power which was familiar, yet it was not the Girl’s or my mother’s. A maniacal laugh ripped through the battlefield, forcing my attention back to the Girl.
“She’s here,” the Girl cackled, changing her aim with her bow before the hiss of the arrow whizzed just past my ear. Stunned, my eyes follow the arrow. To my amazement, the most beautiful sight graced my eyes. Amethyst snatched the arrow from the air. Joseph was to her right, shifting to his smoky grey wolf in order to charge into battle. The woman who emerged with Madeline rushed to Madeline’s side before both vanished from sight.
This had to be a trick. Amethyst wasn’t alive. I felt the bond snap, the pain I endured. It could have only been her. Dazed, I fell back, looking to the Girl for guidance. Her smile only seemed to beam brighter. Amethyst waltzed towards the equally dazed and confused nest and their God. My head felt as if it was stuffed with cotton. My eyes couldn’t focus. “What was once lost, let it now be rejoined,” mother sang as I sensed her hand on my shoulder.
“Timothy, move!” Amethyst’s voice screamed through my mind once more. Shocked, I jumped back. No sooner than I did this, then the purple flames of moon fire erupted, cutting us off from the nest and their god. My eyes raced to find an opening. I needed to find my way into the fray of the battle. I wouldn’t just sit by and let Amethyst fight such a dangerous battle alone.
“When are you going to realize she doesn’t need you?” Madeline groaned from behind. But my focus was still on the unseen battle. How did a witch and wolf think they could defeat a monster who the Gods themselves could not?
“My companion’s father took pity on the beast, locking him away. They meant for him to never see the light of day again. His crude appearance did nothing but cause those around to be vile to him. Thus, turning his heart blacker than black. This turned him evil and vile, his rage and hate spread to his followers. My heart has nothing but sympathy for him. His life should not have to end this way, but his hate grew. To the point we can no longer ignore it. He’s sworn vengeance on all those who stood by as he was locked away. I have always believed it was my grandmother who led him astray, polluting his mind against the rest of us,” mother sighed. I felt the heaviness she held in her heart with every word she spoke.
“Amethyst will not harbor the same love as I do for this beast. Which is why it falls to her to end him. I will not allow her to fail, Timothy. Should she not be able to do it, we shall intervene once more today.”