Ungodly Chaos Book Three of the Ungodly Series

Chapter Eight: Past, Present Future?

Cern slammed a fist into the wall and cursed.

“Cern! This is my Aunt's home!” Emma scolded. She tried to struggle upright and Luci rushed to help her up. Cern growled at him and he backed off, hands up. “Cern!” Emma snapped again.

“He admitted to attacking you earlier. I won't apologize for feeling uncomfortable letting him near you.” Cern snarled. He strode to Emma's side and pulled her into a seated position, supporting her back until he could get pillows propped up behind her. She held a hand to her head and suppressed another whimper.

“How long before this nightmare migraine goes away?” She whispered. Cern sat down beside her on the bed, holding her hand. His thumb rubbed soothing circles on her skin.

“There's no telling. Until you heal.” Cern sounded pained as he said it. Emma reached out her other hand towards Luci and felt his fingers grip her own. Cern made a noise in the back of his throat.

“I need both my boys right now.” Emma sighed. “Because there are some terrible things I need to tell you both.” Emma could feel the tears on her face before she saw them landing on her lap. “First: Cern, I need you to go check on Phoebie. She's been attacked by Bel.” She looked at him with such a horrified expression that he knew there was no way he could have refused her even if he had wanted to. He bowed his head, tightening his grip on Emma's hand.

“I'm afraid to leave you alone.” He murmured.

“Please Cern.” She replied, but he nodded and stood. “Wait! She was at the college-but Bel was there! What if he attacks you?” Emma cried, gripping his arm and wincing as her head exploded in pain again.

“I'll take care.” Cern responded softly, and kissed her gently on the head, easing her back against the pillows.

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Phoebie dragged Rafe backwards.

“Come on, come on, come on! Hollow bones or not, you're going on a diet fat bird!” Phoebie griped, watching as time began to spin back up to normal speed again. A hand landed on her shoulder and she shrieked and lost all control of time within the room. When she next looked around, she was outside and Cern had a hand on her shoulder.

“You.” She made a face.

“This is not how this situation played out the first time.” Cern murmured. He knelt in front of Rafe, then looked up at Phoebie with concern. “He's in very bad shape.” He informed her seriously.

“I have to get him to my Aunt, she can heal him...” Phoebie was babbling, but trailed off as Cern shook his head.

“Your Aunt is injured, she would never be able to fix him in time. You have no choice but to make a time-jump to the past before all this started to seek her help and Bel's help before the Darkness infiltrated. It's what you did before.” Cern reached out a hand and touched Phoebie's temple. She jerked to the side like she'd been shot as the memories were forced into her mind.

“But.. how do I do that?” She wailed and her grip on Rafe tightened.

“I'm not certain, I just know I overheard several of your discussions and you need your Familiar to do it.” Cern responded.

“But look at him!” Phoebie screeched. “How's he supposed to help me like this?!” She demanded. Cern sighed.

“I can offer you both a little bit of power, it will feed you both long enough to hopefully get you there, but that's all I can do. I have to help your Aunt as well. She was attacked by a parasite and it's done some damage to her brain.” Cern answered softly. That sobered Phoebie and she dropped to her knees beside Rafe.

“Is she ok?” Phoebie's lower lip trembled.

“She will be. Don't worry. I will care for her, and she's a Fertility Goddess. She is life, so she shall be fine.” Cern soothed, then knelt in front of them both again and placed his hands on both Phoebie and Rafe's shoulders. Warmth radiated from his hands and Phoebie yelped as Cern's hand suddenly felt like a stove burner that had been left on.

“Damn Bee, your screeching could wake the dead.” Rafe croaked and the next instant Phoebie was crying against his chest. Cern sat back on his heels, taking several deep breaths.

“You'd best hurry. That won't last you long, and his bleeding will only be held back as long as the power holds. I suggest you figure out what you have to do quickly and get moving. See you on the other side kids.” Cern stood and strode away from them, disappearing again. A roar from the building beside them shook the windows.

“Uhh, we really need to go Rafe, like right now!” Phoebie screamed. Rafe let her yank him to his feet, and he shook his feathers out as he rose, crying at her to get her to climb on swiftly. She clambered onto his back apologizing for pulling feathers and screamed what Cern had said and her idea on how to get them to the past. Rafe shivered but took several stumbling steps and rose into the air. Cern nodded his approval from the shadows of the building and went back to Lynne's house as Bel exited the building bellowing Phoebie's name.

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“There was absolutely no way. But now, I'm not so certain.” Emma laid her head back down against the pillows.

“But the Chaos God? To give him access to all this power? They're called CHAOS GODS for a reason, Emma!” Luci objected. Emma tightened her grip on his hand.

“He could free you from the Hound Luci.” She buried her face in Luci's arm. It was so rare to have some semblance of the old Luci back that she couldn't help but to cling to him, even if she knew that at any moment he could turn volatile or withdrawn. Luci was quiet for several very long moments.

“Do you think that's still possible?” Luci asked her quietly.

“Yes.” Emma replied just as softly. “I have to believe it. I can't lose you Luci. I..Bel.. we gave up too much to get you back.” Emma choked back a sob. She felt Luci tense. “I love you too much to give you up.” She murmured against his arm.

“What if this is all that's left of me?” Luci asked. “What if.. parts of me are trapped in Purgatory or Hell? Or have been consumed by the Hound?” It was one of the things that ate at him most. What if he was lost? What if he no longer was who he used to be?

“Then we make new memories and create more of you from that. You were always special Luci, you're just being overshadowed by a creature that's trying to beat you down. I know you can't help it.” Emma kissed his forearm softly and laid her head on his chest. She could hear his heartbeat, too fast for a human's. It was a strange thing, to hear his heartbeat. Real, but illusion. “When was the last time you took some of my blood, Luci? You've been avoiding me so often.” Emma reached a hand towards his mouth and traced his lips. He scoffed.

“Lately the Hound makes me bite you whenever we're intimate. I've taken quite a bit of your blood.” Luci grabbed her hand and laid it on his chest, holding it within his own.

“That doesn't mean you're not in need.” Emma responded quietly. Luci hesitated.

“I could use a few drops.” Luci admitted and Emma reached past him towards the bedside table, but he gripped her hand again and stilled her movements. “Let me.” He murmured, and reached into a drawer to grab a lancet. Bringing it to her finger, he pricked her finger so swiftly she didn't even feel the pain, only realizing it was over when he pressed her finger to his lips and the blood dropped to the crease. His tongue darted out and drew the ruby-red drop of blood in and Emma spasmed. In her mind's eye she saw Bel reaching into Luci's Hell Hound Form and ripping the pure spirit that was Luci out and crushing it within his clawed hand. Emma was screaming when she came out of the vision and Cern and Luci were both trying to bring her around as she arched and seized on the bed, gripping her head.