Project E.L.M. - Ch 1 demon's fate

Well-fed by his lovers, Gerard Morganason descended the stairs after putting his stolen princess to bed for the day. He savored that he was the only parent the future queen of the vampires had known in her two years of life. My little Portia, my pearl, she would bring the Rosesea Kingdom under my control.

Pulling open the doors to his mother's chambers, he descended into the crystal encrusted caverns below the Appalachian Mountains.

"Mother, come out of the shadows."

As usual, she stood by the reflectionless black water. Her white hair hanging to her ankles. She seemed bent, aged, perhaps her fifteen centuries were finally catching up with her. Or perhaps, the reason he could feel his mother's power was as diminished as his was because of Sebastian's betrayal. The eldest fallen Fae in their clan had gone into the Shadows and released his magic into the night instead of returning it to the clan. He had taken the enchanted manor of malaise with him. No longer would Gerard be able to lure the pure of heart into surrendering or cultivate the succulent harvest of a soul freely given.

"Go away my beloved son, my blessed one, I do not want you to see me like this." Her voice was a thready whisper. Her hair fell across her features as she turned, the hand held up was aged.

"Mother, look at me," Gerard demanded.

Morgana's perfect features remained but the glow of eternal youth was gone. Fine lines creased her brow and around her eyes and mouth. She was still ethereally beautiful in a matured way, but she would never accept her appearance as it was now. Tears ran down her face as she turned away. It made him tremble in anger as he thought, I did this by losing control of the stupid she-wolf and letting her sway the old, lonely demonus against us.

"I will make this right, I promise."

"It is no use, my precious, I am fading. My time is coming to an end. Even your brother could not restore my youth, not that he would. You must never release him, Gerard. You must keep your Blessing as guarded as I have kept the sacred tree." Her voice echoed like distant music. "I feel the light will come for the tree. He will come, he won't be able to resist."

"Your ancient knowledge has almost restored us to our proper place. Using the Dust of Rage only once or twice more will turn all against the wolfen beasts and night walkers. Then, once the humans have turned on them and declared us their only allies, I will do whatever it takes to restore you," he vowed.

"No. You must prepare, my precious," she murmured quietly then hissed hatefully, "That wretched Angelus will come to destroy what you would build for all Demonus. My hands must be ready."

"What are you speaking of, mother?" Her words made no sense to him because Galen hasn't visited her since the night Gerard was blessed, and Galen was cursed. "My brother would not dare come here." He reached out turning her face back toward him. Eyes filled with shadows blink at Gerard then narrowed.

"Not my son the Angelus, my brother the Angelus Merlin Greyson! Merlin knows the dried sap and pollen is used to make the Dust of Rage. He believed all of the Samhain Elm were destroyed when the isle was burned. He will know after what happened that at least one still existed."

"Mother, the clones of the tree worked, let him destroy this one. We have hundreds of them."

"He will know... The grove must be protected at all costs. Is the pollen harvest finished?" She asked, not turning away.

"Yes, Mother, the pollen was collected, and the sap collection will be starting soon." Gerard looked in her eyes, gone was their lethal intelligence, she seemed almost delusional. "You know this, you were there from the spring equinox to Beltane."

She sighed, shaking her head and sending ripples in her white hair, swaying to her feet. "I'm sorry, my blessed son. I... I get confused."

Gerard watched her struggling, then she held her hand out to the obsidian waters. A gray mist appeared; dozens of images shimmered like a multi-stream media feed.

"I have not found your she-wolf. Sebastian placed a scarlet cloak of protection upon her shoulders then she vanished. No fae shall be able to discern her location while she has it with her."

Gerard smiled at her, pressing a tender kiss onto the back of her hand. "Don't worry, Mother, the wolves themselves told us where to find her today. She is barely protected in the area we first attacked. The future Queen Mother of the Wolves is surrounded by maddened wolves who can't even shift and her mate whom she hates. We failed to destroy all the Monarchy wolves, but we will finish the task tomorrow, and then I shall claim their heir for my own. Just as I did from the Covenant Rosesea nightwalkers. One way or another, the Fae Demonus shall rule this world and be worshiped again... Then I shall make Galen restore you."

"You cannot make your brother do anything, he is too much like my brother and his father," she grumbled. It had taken the magic of half their clan to create the changeling magic that allowed her to conceive a son from an Angelus by deception. She had hated Nostradamus almost as much as she hated her half-brother, Merlin, but in her dark vision, she knew she would need to bare the offspring of the prophetic Angelus so that her elder son could be blessed.

"I should have had him killed as soon as you were blessed. Just like I killed his father after he was born."

"Now Mother, you know that to maintain my status as a golden one, we need him to continue to believe that I will free him someday. Merlin filed his mind with the false hope that he could be redeemed too. Let him slave away trying to saving the lost souls of this world so I will not begin to tarnish. As long as he continues, I will grow more powerful and perfected," Gerard reassured her as she ran her fingers through his golden hair. "Carrying his light, give me influence and opportunities I would not have gained otherwise. We cannot kill him."

She huffed and tried to turn away, but he stopped her. "Yet... We will not kill him yet, not until we have gained every flicker of his light and restored you."

She smiled and patted my cheek, "You are such a good son, Gerard."

"You're hungry, Mother. Let me feed you." Gerard placed his lips over hers, exhaling out the soul energy he had consumed earlier from three of his many willing human lovers. She groaned and trembled in his arms, inhaling and sucking at the taste of souls freely given. It always stirred such strong desires to share with her like this.

Hours later, he laid with his head on her chest as she ran her fingers through his golden hair. Softly she hummed, "Such a good son."

Staring up at her through eyes he knew mirrored the complete blackness of hers, Gerard smiled and promised, "Tomorrow, I will bring home the werewolf prince joined to my little vampire princess. We will raise them to believe what we want them to believe. The two most powerful children in generations shall be ours to control. Their kinds will submit, or the human will wipe them out for us, then they will kneel. We may have failed in the last great war, but we will succeed this time."

"Since the fall of the first garden, we have come so close so many times in the last five thousand years. I will not have the strength to endure the centuries until our next chance..." She rose and waded out into the dark mirror pool around the ancient tree with barely a ripple. "Gerard, if you love me, you will separate me from the clan and bring me your brother. I need his energy so that I may seal your blessing forever."

"Mother, no, it would kill you if you separated yourself from our clan to kill him for me." I stood up, shaking his head in refusal. "His light will be used to restore you."

"My time is coming to an end, my blessed son. The great abyss calls to me. Your brother's light is meant for you. It is the only way for you to be powerful enough to overcome Merlin and secure your kingdom." She turned her dark eyes to him; they were as black as the water she stood in, then she sank deeper until she disappeared from view. Her long white hair floated for a moment more then followed her into the darkness of the lake.

VvvvvV

One day later...

The battle against the Ravers and werewolves of Monarch Mountain was surprisingly balanced. They managed to mount a coordinated defense, killing some of his clan. Gerard watched, concerned as the beasts worked together to overcome the Demonus Fae. "They are more clever than I thought."

"Should we help them?" Liam asked.

"Not yet." The Dust of Rage he tricked the humans into spraying into the October Blizzard months earlier was supposed to change the werewolf males into mindless killing machines and yet these behaved completely contrary to his expectations. They fought as the packs of old had. The third Monarch Joshua Vanguard seemed completely unphased by his mutated condition as he directed those like him to kill those sent to capture Quinn and her pup and kill his grandsons, Monarch James and Alpha Commander Jacob.

"The shewolf is there," Liam pointed. The female they rescued from a garden shed last October was kneeling over a wounded wolf when Demetrius seized her and demanded to know where her pup was.

To their shock, instead of fleeing when she was released as a giant rust-colored Raver attacked the Demonus, she shifted to her wolf and bit off Demetrius' hand.

"She's going to get herself killed!" Petra hissed as she watched through a looking glass Liam carried.

"Gerard?" Liam demanded as the two blessed Demonus hovered above the mountain near the battle.

"Not yet," Gerard growled. Changing back into her human form, Quinn attempted to save her wounded protector. "There she is, being her predictable, noble self. Liam, save that wolf for her and... Who is that?"

Even from the distance, they could see the aura of the young Ascended Demonus who rushed out of the maelstrom to aid Quinn as the Demonus Fae, werewolves, and Ravers battled around them. While she healed the wolf, Quinn vanished from sight.

"She's gone! I cannot scry her," Petra exclaimed as Liam swore, "What in the nine circles of hell? I can't see anything below the clouds now."

"She is still there. Hurry, Liam, before she can escape. Petra, get back to the Monarch's offices. Find out where she would go," Gerard ordered as he let his brother's light shine from him. As he approached the battle there was no trace of Quinn but he spied Jacob's Raver trying to save his brother.

"I'll deal with the Monarch and Alpha Commander, search for Quinn and the child. Obscure yourself so none will know your blessed form...." Amphitheater

Skimming above the trees, his golden white wings flapped once as Gerard dropped to the ground. He kicked the silver-gray Raver and sent him rolling across the hail covered ground.

Gerard savored the taste of the awe and fear of the one before him. He knew his darkness showed in his eyes as he stood in god-like perfection with his wings spread. "Where is your mate, Alpha Commander?"

Jacob's gray Raver snarled in defiance, as he tried to stand. Gerard struck him with his wing, and he landed on top of his maimed brother. The Blessed Fae stalked toward the Raver and the werewolf warform with a malicious smile. "You wolves are so predictable, so weak. Dogs that need a strong hand at the end of your leash."

The gray Raver leaped at him and was thrown back down again with the sound of cracking bones. Gerard grinned malevolently. "I am going to kill you now, Alpha Commander. I am going to rescue Quinn from your ambitious brother and raise your son as my own. Your brother couldn't have played better into my plans."

The Fae drew back to strike the with a killing blow, but there was a blur and a Cursed Fae took the blow meant to end the Alpha Commander's life.

Galen rolled easily to his feet after absorbing the strike meant for the Raver of Jacob Van Guard.

"What have you done, brother?" Gerard demanded, he was enraged that Galen had interfered and now that interference ended Gerard's blessing.

Galen smirked, "I am taking back what is mine and giving you back what is yours, Gerard."

With only one choice left Gerard tackled Galen, vowing "I will kill you before the sun sets, brother."

Galen flipped Gerard over his head, throwing him through the air. "Not today, brother."

The blessed fae's body shattered the tree he collided with. Galen looked skyward then back at the stunned wolves. "Run, Commander. Lightning is about to strike twice."

As Gerard stood again, he tried to inhale as the sensation of his skin ripped away by lightning coursed through his body. His whole focus was on his brother. Galen who held out his hands to the sky like a martyr. Black lightning shot up from Galen as white lightning struck the clouds from Gerard. He couldn't even howl his agony as his blessing was stripped away. A swirl of clouds churned overhead; everything became silent as time seemed to stop. There was a strange crackling in the air as the Demonus retreated from where Galen and Gerard stood facing each other. Former Monarch turned Raver Joshua Van Guard howled and all the Ravers who could shifted to their wolves, did. The normal werewolf warriors of the Monarchy retreated as the air crackled dangerously.

"It's over, golden Gerard," Galen mocked.

"I will kill you before the third dawn, Galen." Gerard snarled back as the second stroke of lightning struck.

White flared around Galen. Black shadow lightning seemed to suck the light from the world as it engulfed Gerard. Gerard shouted in pain as his darkness returned to him. Everyone and most of the trees were flattened by the blasts. The windows of cars and houses were blown inward as the magical concussion struck the center of the Monarch Mountain Pack Territory. Naked, Galen was laying on the charred ground stunned as Gerard rose up looking like every horror drawing of the skeletal angel of death. His black leathery wings spread while he stalked toward stunned Angelus with an unearthly hiss. Alpha Raver Joshua Van Guard growled to a rusty-colored Raver then leaped at the Demonus.

Gerard grappled with the mutated werewolf who bit and clawed at his flesh side. Trying to kill the mutated werewolf war form, Gerard inhaled part of its soul, yet it continued to wound him and refusing to succumb as its life glow was rent from its mortal body. He had never realized how strong the Dust of Rage made those it affected until that moment. There was a shift in the air; a brilliant golden light shone from the opposite direction of the sun. Two Demonus grabbed the creature that was Gerard, dragging him away from the Gray Raver and flew away into the retreating storm.

"Gerard! We must flee. One of the great Ascended Ones is coming." Liam snarled, wearing his Demonus form.

"Quinn?" Gerard hissed, suddenly so weak he could barely get the word out as they carried him into the retreating storm.

"She's gone. There is no trace of her or the pup," Liam revealed as their clan retreated.

"Find them... Find my brother and kill him."

"Yes, Master," Liam promised but as he looked over his shoulder at the light of the Ascended Angelus, he knew he wouldn't be looking until whoever stood across the valley from them was gone. The sky opened in a dense warm rain and the glow of the light physically hurt.

Trading places with another Demonus, Liam ordered, "Get the Master back to his mother. Perhaps Lady Morgana can restore him in some way. The least wounded of you, remain with me. We must find the Redeemed Angelus before the third dawn, or our clan will be weakened."

He took the mirror of his chest plate and looked at Petra's face reflected in it. "Petra, find any property within a hundred miles that is owned by the Monarch Mountain Pack. A red Raver carried Galen away after the Blessing and Cursing was reversed. Find where they would go. We only have three days to reverse the Redeeming. And call Aliza Abbott, they were supposed to have a dinner tomorrow. Tell her... Tell her Galen attacked Gerard and needs to recover so I am protecting him. I will return to being her bodyguard by the end of the week."

Petra nodded. "I will. I have to go. We just received word that the survivors are on their way back to Westcliff and will be returning in the Monarchy Jets. Be careful, Liam."

"I will, sister. We failed to kill the monarch so you will have to endure your time of servitude a bit longer. I'm sorry." He hovered invisibly over the battlefield watching the werewolves leaving with their wounded.

Petra nodded as the face in the mirror faded. Looking at her own reflection, she sighed. "At least, I fed well last night." Then she rubbed her face, staring at her black eyes until they returned to looking like Angelus Fae hazel eyes with golden rings. Turning her face back and forth, she smiled then frowned in worried concern. Adjusting the expression until she was happy with how it looked on her face, she was glad for her forever blessed status.

VvvvvV

Camp NaNoFinMo April 2023 has started and I am trying again to finish this trilogy. Fingers crossed. 

M.M.