Chapter Twenty-Two

Ruby and I spin simultaneously to see Elijah standing there, a smug smile dripping from his face, his eyes darkening and narrowing in glee. My own eyes widen and then transform into slits with rage. I step forward boldly, not caring that he's very strong, not caring that Ruby will probably slap me for doing this, "Who do you think you are? You think you can just barge in here and do whatever you want, take as many lives as you want? It doesn't work like that, Earth doesn't work like that. We're not going down without a fight."

"I very much admire your enthusiasm, my feeble little human." Elijah sneers at me, "But I haven't come here to kill you. I've merely come to take you away. You really must learn to cover your tracks, Ruby. You are becoming a little sloppy."

Ruby shoots daggers at Elijah.

"I'm not going anywhere with you, Elijah. You're the last person I would go anywhere with." I tell him, jabbing a sharp finger at his solid chest, "So go back, battle and I sincerely hope you die."

"Harsh." Elijah mutters with no emotion whatsoever, "However, you are coming with me. You have no choice in this. Either you come with me or I will reveal my identity to these humans."

Ruby gasps; I have no idea what he's rambling on about. "So?"

"So, they'll also go after Rhys and every other angel on Earth. Do you want your boyfriend to be a lab rat? A science experiment?"

I look back at Ruby for help, but her steely gaze is fixated on the ground. I look back at Elijah, exhaling, "Where exactly are we going?"

"Nowhere far, darling." Elijah steps forward to tug on my hair. I slap his hand away, causing him to chuckle with glee. "I knew you'd cooperate. You're a very intelligent girl when you want to be, Donna."

"Shut up, Elijah." I snap, "Can we just get this over with? So I can watch Rhys whip your ass?"

Elijah throws his head back, laughing. Once he's stopped, he looks at me, "My, my. You sure are a treat."

He holds his calloused hand out for me to take and I ignore him, walking past him to the entry to the pathway with as much left-over dignity I can muster. He shrugs and gently pushes me through, as though he's afraid to leave a mark on my human body. When we emerge into the Tower grounds and I wrench myself away from Elijah's repulsive touch, my eyes widen in shock. Hordes of bizarre looking people and things are running around and throwing themselves at each other, wielding swords and pouches of steel, pure rage displayed on their distorted faces. Elijah grins at my horrified expression and pulls me to the left.

He whispers in my ear, his stagnant breath urging me to gag, "I'm taking you to Master. He's going to make sure you join us after your timely death, whether you like it or not. And then, He will be so proud of me that he will give you to me. I'm sure we'll think of some creative things to get up to, won't we?"

I whirl around, throwing a handful of steel at his face. He screams in agony -- a terrible, screeching sound -- and falls to his knees, clawing at his elongated face, making the pain worse for himself. An angel, her wings spread, takes notice of Elijah sprawled at my feet, writhing uncontrollably. She glares at me, her eyes filled with fury, all of which is channelled at me. She glides over, a dagger pointed at me. I un-sheath my own, even though I don't know how to use it.

She launches herself at me and I drive my knife upwards, surprised at myself when her eyes go wide and then glassy. I push her and she falls to the ground limply, blood leaking from her chest profusely. Abruptly, she dissolves into mist. There is no trace that she ever existed. I look around and then proceed forward, only to be stopped by another angel. Where is Ruby? His dark eyes are menacingly dark, his mouth twisted in a grimace. I reach down and grab a handful of steel. Unknown to my extra power, he starts forward and I throw it at his chest and then thrust my knife forward.

Again, the angel dissolves into mist.

I look back, my ears filled with the sound of someone urgently calling my name.

Ruby's here, wielding a long sword. "I've got your back." She tells me. We stand back to back, slowly rotating in a circle, attempting to fend off any enemies. A sprite charges forward and I lunge rapidly, wiping her head clean off. Ruby stares at me, eyes wide with alarm. I shrug, even though my gut is squirming with the instinct to churn, "It had to be done."

We both lunge and attack until we're closer to the Tower. "Ruby!" I shout over the raucous clamour of roars, "I'm out of steel!!"

"We need to get inside." She yells back, "I need to get you to Rhys. He'll be on the roof." We both fend off two more angels before retreating into the Tower. Ruby dashes to the panel and presses the secret buttons so fast, her hands are a blur. The wall hisses and pulls back, allowing us entry. We both race up them, our earlier indiscretions long forgotten. The two of us burst into Rhys' bedroom and I fight the compelling urge to go and curl up under the covers of his bed until this is all over and we can go back to being ourselves and not some super human battling machines who have been programmed to kill without hesitation.

Ruby goes over to a door and keys in a security code on a keypad beside the door. Not for the first time, I wonder why everything is so high-key and top-secret in the Tower. The door clicks and Ruby frantically wrenches it open, thundering up the stone staircase and hauling me up behind her. I struggle to keep up, what with my mortal speed up against her immortal, rapid speed.

We're out on the top of the Tower. People surround the circular boundary, aiming a bow and arrow down at the interspersed chaos. "Rhys!" Ruby shouts over the commotion. Immediately, Rhys whirls around and scoops me up in his arms, "What are you doing here? Ruby, I gave you the responsibility..."

"It's not her fault." I interrupt, "Elijah came and he forcefully brought me here. He was going to take me to the Master to reinforce the idea that I'm going to be an angel when I die."

Rhys looks, alarmed, at Ruby for the confirmation he needs. Ruby nods. Rhys swallows, fighting a snarl, "Where is he?"

"I threw steel at him. He's not going to get up for a few hours." I say with a triumphant smile glittering on my face.

Rhys grins with pride, "That's my girl. I always knew you'd beat him up some day."

The door leading inside bursts open and a flurry of angels rush out. One of them catches me unaware and grasps my arm, twisting them behind my back, holding me prisoner. I have been in unfortunate positions before, though. I drive the heel of my oot up into a very sensitive place and when he doubles over, I shove my elbow into his face, making him reel back in shock rather than pain. Now free, I snatch up a sword, looking at the long and sharp blade, wondering how much it would hurt. I realise the angel is recovering and is coming at me once more.

I hold the sword out at him, the point angled at his face. He circles warily, trying to find an open spot to get to me. Bored, he grabs the sword and pulls. Fortunately, he pulls a little too hard. As I am pulled forward, the point of the sword pierces through his chest and out through his back. I wince as he dissolves into mist. A grotesque moan snags my attention.

I whirl around to see an ogre towering over Rhys. For a moment, I stand there, thinking that he looks nothing like Shrek. Then he has Rhys by the throat and my train of thought squeals to a stop. I watch Rhys turn a putrid shade of red and then purple.

My heart constricting my breaths, I start forward, my sword firmly in hand. A sprite blocks my way. I glare at her, rage channelling through me like a flood, "Get out of my way, you idiot!"

She smirks sardonically, twisting her pretty features, "If my friend, the ogre, doesn't finish Rhys off, I'll do the job myself!"

I glower at her, angered. I pitch the whole pouch of steel at her body, making her writhe in agony. Catching her off-guard, I lunge forward and wrap her hair around my hand, pulling her up to her feet. She screams and an all-too-familiar melodic voice cries out, "My daughter!!"

The battle stops -- you could hear a feather drop -- and everyone turns to look at me with astonishment. Even the ogre has stopped strangling Rhys, who is staring at me warily, his eyes bloodshot. The crowds part to let a wizened old man come through. He looks so similar to Merlin that I have my doubts for a moment there. But, no. This is the Master because of whom this whole destruction has occurred.

The knowledge and power in his voice has gone, leaving only a vulnerable and desperate father in it's place, "I'll give you whatever you want, whatever you ask for. Just please don't harm my daughter! Return her to me."

I stare at him, deeply tempted to run my sword across his daughter's throat. After all, she had been boasting about wanting to kill Rhys. Everyone stares at me with baited breath. I open my mouth.

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