Chapter Twenty — Part 5

“Well, well, we have unwanted company.” Wastik reached out with his mind and drew the mace back, then tossed it straight at the Hunter.

I jumped in the way, and paid for it. The sound of bones crunching filled my ears, and I lay there puking bile. Breaking a wing is like a cross between having your head bashed in and using a fork to rip your own internal organs out. I lay there, fluttering in spasms, my wing shattered, and along with it, my will. When I looked around, the Hunter was nowhere to be found.

“I knew you’d defend him, it’s in you’re nature, since you’re a guardian. Now look at you, unable to fly or fight. Such a pity, your sense of duty.” Wastik gloated, working me into a corner as he talked.

I dragged myself back, terrified. Not just my wing, but also my arm had been broken, and my will fizzled around me in weak little spurts. I hissed at him as he drew closer to me, the mace hanging in his grip. He limped, at least a little more injured than his words implied. His left ear was missing its point, one of his eyes was swollen and bruised, and his hands were burned from the effects of the stones on his skin. His face was shredded with minor cuts.

“The Central’s chamber will be your grave, little girl.” Wastik said, raising his mace.

Having backed into a wall, I let my head drop, and waited for the inevitable.

He swung the mace down once more, but it never struck home. I looked up from my curled position to see Eohl standing over me, his hand holding the blue tinged mace in a single fisted, milk white grip. His own body glowed golden red, and he tossed me the wand I had left on the ship. Wastik slapped Eohl with his empty hand, but Eohl tore the mace from his grip.

Having done all he could, Eohl fled the mad man, jumping like a cat across the debris that littered the Central’s chamber. He didn’t get far before Wastik caught up to him, slamming him in the back. He took the mace back from Eohl and turned away.

“You can’t beat me, you throwback.” Wastik said.

“No, he can’t beat you, because it isn’t his destiny.” I said. “But I can.” I took my human form, raised the wand, ready to use it.

Wastik turned from Eohl, and as Gracie I was fresh for a fight. The wand started to glow, and then fizzled out.

“Oh, brother, now what?” I moaned, trying to keep from being slaughtered by Wastik. I ran, shaking the wand, dodging his swinging mace with every ounce of clumsy human skill I could muster. I yelled at the wand as I jumped and ducked, scrambling frantically away from Wastik.

“We’re being chased by a really big psychopathic Elf, you crazy wand. Genesis said you’d help me.”

Then I realized that Genesis never told me exactly what the wand was for.

“Elves and Forever Children, damn you all for your ambiguity.” I yelled, trying to keep out of harm’s way.

Eohl yelled at me, “Can’t you use it?”

“No way. It’s not a weapon. I think it’s for fixing broken parts.” I said. In my human form, Wastik would be able to slowly beat me to death, just as he had done to my angel form. He was simply too strong for me to beat him in a muscle fight. Wastik chuckled, feeling his advantage.

“That wand is just a useless piece of wood. Metal, heavy and hard. Now there’s something useful to me.” He swung the mace at my face.

I ducked and dodged, one step ahead of him, trying to keep alive and find a way to stop Wastik. Though there were weapons on the ship, if I shouted to Eohl to get them, Wastik would finish the boy and take them for himself. Fortunately, the central hadn’t forgotten me, and therefore the Scandivat were on my side. Hunter Reed burst into the room, grabbed Wastik by the mace hand, tossing his massive Elfin body into a pile of rubble.

Whistling in his native tongue, his words were heavy with wicked sub-tones.

“It’s over.” He said. “I’ve merged, I’m one, and my people will resume their true journey. We’re going home and starting over.”

Wastik looked at me, at Eohl, at Hunter Reed, and finally at the Hunter Alpha force that worked its way cautiously into the room. Wastik was cornered.

“I think it’s time for you to go home as well.” I said, ready to see him into prison.

“Damn you all.” He whispered turning on the Hunters, his mace at ready.

There were too many Hunters for him to hope to win. Working together, Eohl, Reed, and me could have stopped him. With seven Hunters added to the mix, he wouldn’t leave the Central’s chambers under his own will. Wastik responded almost predictably. Feeling trapped, he chose to fight rather than surrender. He tossed the mace straight into the face of one of the Hunters, and would’ve killed her if not for Eohl.

Eohl’s hand shot out, and the mace stopped cold, hanging in the air. Eohl fell to one knee, drained by his action. Captain Reed took up the mace and faced Wastik. Wastik knew that if he continued to resist, the dangerous new Central would crush him into pulp.

“Damn you all.” He repeated in a harsh splatter of spittle. He raised his hands, slashed out a series of sharp edged symbols in the air around him, and everything turned pitch black.

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