Chapter Seven: Events Collide
1810 Words
Phoebie felt her Aunt whisper through her mind. Even Gods and Demons had vulnerabilities, Emma whispered to her, and with a sigh, Phoebie relinquished control.
“Bel.” Emma's voice whispered past Phoebie's lips. Belial jerked and released his hold on Phoebie in surprise. It was enough. An enraged scream from Phoebie blasted Bel backwards, cracking his spine on a table edge. He groaned as he landed, still weakened from his time in Hell. Phoebie knelt beside Rafe, who had also gone flying, until Bel's grip loosened when he hit the table.
“Rafe, Rafe!” Phoebie cried, shaking him. He was unconscious, and in no state to be fighting. Phoebie was afraid he was dead. “RAFE!” She screamed. He groaned and made a face.
“What's the air siren for Bee?” He complained, fighting his eyelids open, only to see a furious Bel heading right for them. “Phoebie, look out!” Rafe yelled, shoving her to the side. Bel's claws sank into Rafe's torso and Rafe expelled a pained gasp.
“NO!” Phoebie screeched and time began to slow around her.
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Cern shoved the front door open, shielding Emma's head with his upper arm. For a brief moment, her body had gone transparent, and she had become nearly weightless. It had terrified Cern. He couldn't follow her into death, but he would do his damndest to keep her alive. Cern bellowed for Lynne before realizing she wasn't at home. Of course she wasn't. He had just gone in search of her! He cursed at himself for his foolishness and tried to restrain his steps as he rushed towards the bathroom. Laying Emma's body in the tub, he ran cool water and grabbed a hand towel, soaking it so he could wipe at her wounds. He needed to see what was still bleeding and how bad everything was. He was cursing and growling as he dabbed at her many wounds. He had no choice but to rip her clothing off of her to get at some of them. The scratches were from claws. Cern wanted to tear the world apart to find the culprit as he watched the red-stained water swirl down the drain. When he reached her face, Emma finally gasped and moaned. Tears began to stream down her face and she turned into the arm that supported her head and shoulders.
“Bel..!” She sobbed and Cern, who was at first overjoyed she was coming to, felt a twinge of jealousy.
“No, little Goddess, it's me, Cern.” He murmured softly, trying to keep the hurt out of his voice.
“No...Bel..” Emma gasped and her eyes opened, stained with blood, the capillaries had all burst in the whites of her eyes. “Bel attacked Phoebie!” She wailed, clutching at his shirt. Cern twitched at her intensity and appearance. As she moaned and closed her eyes again, the ruby on her forehead fell into the tub. Cern instinctively jerked away from it, watching it warily. It sat at the bottom of the tub for a few seconds before turning to an engorged red spider, filled with Emma's blood. It scrambled unsteadily to its feet. Cern cursed loudly and grabbed Emma to his chest, yanking her from the tub. The ruby spider scuttled the length of the tub and disappeared down the drain. Cern was taking no chances, he stuffed the towel in the drain and took Emma from the room quickly, laying her on her bed. He stuffed more towels under the bathroom door and put warding on the door and windows. That thing would not be getting near Emma again unless he knew about it.
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Older Phoebie and Rafe
Bel and Emma's Home
Alternative Plane
Phoebie was trying to control her breathing. The memories were catching up with her, twisting and turning, what had happened, and what changed. Rafe.. The attack. Did he die? She remembered Bel's claws digging into Rafe... No, he couldn't be dead, because the children.. Phoebie held onto her stomach in desperation. But what if.. what if they disappeared too...
“Bee? Are you ok Bee?” Marian asked her, putting a hand on her forehead and pushing Phoebie's head up in that way children do without much thought. Marian looked in Phoebie's eyes. “What's wrong Bee? You feel.. different.. Your emotions are a tornado.” Marian made a face.
“Marian.. where's Rafe?” Phoebie could barely push the words past her numb, dry lips and Marian made another face.
“Uhh, Bee... You're getting old. Rafe's out flying with your twins.” Marian let Phoebie's head go and crossed her arms and Phoebie nearly slumped with relief, then stiffened in surprise.
“Twins?” She practically shrieked. Marian slammed her hands over her ears.
“Too loud Bee, too loud!” Marian yelled.
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Rafe nearly fell out of the sky. He hadn't been flying just moments ago. There were sharp, shrill calls from behind him and he jerked mid-air, twisting and nearly running into two smaller Raven Forms following along behind him. They brushed their wingtips along his and he could smell the worry emanating from them, but more than that, he could smell their patronage. They were his. His and Phoebie's. Rafe was stunned. Memories started over-riding what he knew and he had no choice but to let out a strangled croak, calling to the two Ravens as he looked for a place to land. His mind was overwhelmed, and he shook it repeatedly until he could stumble to the ground and collapse into human Form. His body trembled and the two small Ravens landed nearby, calling to him first in shrill, upset Raven cries, and then in human voices as they raced to his side.
“Daddy! Dad!” A young boy and girl raced towards him, beautiful each of them. Each resembled Phoebie, but with his dark hair. He nearly sighed with happiness, but his mind was so scrambled, trying to overwrite everything he knew he could barely answer them when they shook his shoulder in fear.
“Are you ok? Daddy! Dad!” The girl looked at her brother in fear, who shook his head and sprouted wings, struggling into the sky.
“No wait. Where's he going?” Rafe croaked.
“Don't worry Daddy, Emmett's gonna go get Mommy.” The little girl answered.
“It's too dangerous. He's just a fledgling!” Rafe cried out, forcing himself upright. His head was pounding and he could scarcely see straight, it made him nauseous. With a groan, he leaned forward, placing his forehead against the ground. If he should throw up, hopefully it would be easier this way.
“Daddy? What's wrong?” The child asked, patting his back awkwardly. Rafe nearly chuckled, probably would have if not for how his head and stomach felt.
“Time sickness.” Rafe mumbled with a sense of irony. It seemed the changes were finally catching up to them. The problem was, how many things were changing around them, and how long would it take for all of it to catch up?
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“Where is she?” Emma heard Lucian's frantic yell before she was fully awake. She placed a hand to her head and rolled over with a groan.
“Please be quiet..” She whispered. She felt as though someone had shoved her brain in a blender and pushed puree. Her head hurt so badly she whimpered and wished she was still unconscious. She remembered everything that happened, and the tears began to flow immediately. Bel had attacked Phoebie and Rafe, and Emma had no idea if they got away safely. She had to make an assumption they did, based on past events, but everything that had happened recently could have changed all that. She remembered the Chaos God's warning about being punished for messing with time. Emma pulled herself towards the edge of the bed. Cern was arguing with Luci in hushed tones, but Luci's voice broke over him again, making Emma want to scream.
“You don't understand! I.. the Hell Hound.. we attacked her!” Luci's voice was full of worry, and close to the door. Then the door was blasted off its hinges, followed by a black furry shape that crashed into the opposite wall. Emma whined and gripped her head with both hands. Cern stormed into the room, all attempts at being quiet and considerate gone.
“So YOU are the one who did that to her?!” He bellowed. Emma wished she could claw her own brain out, wondering if it would stop the pain.
“I don't... I don't know..” Luci's wolf Form howled.
“Stop, stop, stop.” Emma was breathing.
“I will END YOU!” Cern roared and Emma couldn't take anymore. She felt as if her head exploded. Or maybe imploded, and then exploded. Everything around her froze for a brief second before Cern was tossed against one wall, Luci against the wall opposite him, and both were rendered mute. Their mouths formed empty screams and their bodies fought to free themselves, but Emma just slid herself off the bed, still holding her head between her hands. She sat on the floor by the bedside, whimpering until her head calmed enough for Emma to look blearily at Cern.
“Luci.. didn't do.. I mean.. Bel.. I had these visions. Oh my head.” Emma rocked briefly before realizing her head screamed at every tiny movement. The two men abruptly fell from the walls, their voices restored.
“Emma!” Cern cried out and she winced. He went flying against the wall opposite her.
“Don't yell.” She mumbled. “My head, it hurts so bad.” She whimpered.
“You had a.. parasite.. attached to you. It induces a dreamlike trance, but unfortunately, the results are quite nasty.” Cern said softly. Freed once again from the wall, he moved slowly towards her.
“What kind of parasite?” Luci came to attention, shrinking back to his human Form.
“It was a Ruby spider. I don't know who set it on her.” Cern murmured and Luci sucked in a deep breath.
“What's that?” Emma's mouth felt like mush and she was desperately rubbing her temples as if she could ease the pain. Cern captured her hands.
“It feeds on your blood.” Cern made a face. “And brain fluids.” Emma jerked her head up and groaned. “In return, it puts the victim in a state of trance, to keep them compliant. Some gods use them to induce visions.” Cern winced and Emma moaned again.
“The Chaos God.” She whined. Cern and Luci came to attention at that.
- Writer
