(Eek!! Can you believe it's the end already?!)
(RYAN'S POV)
I shakily crouch down and pick up Ryder's body, teleporting back to the underworld.
I drop her off on a bed, before searching around with my eyes for the rest of them.
Where did they go?
I freeze at the sound of heavy footsteps, then voices.
"Where did they go?"
"Obviously earth! We have to find the little rascals before they do something!"
The gods.
They're here.
I place my hand over Ryder's chest, transporting her to a more secret area before teleporting to New Jersey.
I run around aimlessly in hopes to find the club, sliding into an alleyway where I see the entrance to a nightclub.
Night Sargent.
The name of her club.
That was easy.
I try to go inside, only to get stopped by a bouncer.
"Who are you, and what is you business here?!"
His hand tightens on my wrist and I gasp slightly at the pain, narrowing my eyes.
"Let me go."
"I cannot. It's the rules, sweetheart."
I try to yank my hand free when I feel someone's hand snake around my waist, and their other one pulls my hand from the bouncer's.
"X?! What're you doing?"
"No need to get in a frenzy, Leo. She's with me."
Leo takes a step back before motioning guiding me into the club.
"You found my gift, darling?"
I unlatch myself from him, staggering back.
My eyes widen.
The literal definition of tall, dark and handsome.
Besides the fact that he has a formal sort of hat covering most of his identity besides his grin, he's wearing a dark suit and has a hell of a good smile.
"I don't think that was a gift. And who the hell are you?! I know your name is not just X."
"I will not talk to you here. Come now."
I follow him hesitantly into a dark room which he opens the door for, grinning as I slowly walk past him.
I jump at the door slamming shut, and turn back around to see him already lounging in a desk chair.
"Don't worry your pretty little head and sit down, sweetheart. I'm not one to hurt others on the first date."
"First date?! This is no sort of first date if anything. And I have a girlfriend."
"Unexpected. Not into men?"
"Well...I'm bi. Not that you needed to know that."
I sit down across from him, sinking down stiffly in the chair.
"What is it?! What is your relation to Ryder Sargent?! And why did you hurt her?!"
"Oh the girl gets annoying after a while. After close watch of you going into heaven...I figured out you needed her. And besides...what are you trying to do? Naughty little demon."
"I'm trying to help my girlfriend, sir. And by the way, you didn't answer my question."
His mouth stretches into a grin.
"Oh? Remind me what it was, dear."
"What is your relation to Ryder Sargent?! And why did you hurt her?!"
"Ryder Sargent is my personal assistant."
"Huh?"
"This is my club, honey."
"But you said in the letter—"
"That it was hers? I know. I like to confuse people."
He lights a cigarette and I grimace.
"Not you too. Why do you all smoke?! Put it down!"
"And who are you to tell me what to do, child?"
I glare at him and he releases the poisonous smoke from his mouth.
"I am convinced you're a serial killer."
"Why is that?"
He moves his head as if he's looking at me.
He probably is.
I just can't tell.
"Something about you is serial killer-y as fuck. Now what do you want?!"
"It's easy. Let me possess you."
"What?! Are you crazy?!"
"If I can possess you I'll help you open that portal."
I stare at him blankly.
"But you're already human? You wouldn't need to do that."
"A spirit, honey. Dead."
"At least tell me who you are."
"Xaiden. Incubus and vampire. But now a spirit."
"An incubus?! That's creepy."
"Tell that to my parents, Ryan. Get on the floor."
"Are you mad?!"
"On the floor."
I look at him strangely, laying flat on the cold ground.
"Are you sure this isn't weird? I feel like it is. You aren't gonna kill me, are you?! I still have to find Carden!"
"That will wait a moment, Ryan."
He looks down at me, pulling off the hat that covered his face.
My eyes widen at the sight of his, a bright silver.
He places his finger over his lips, and I watch in absolute horror as he turns into black mist, swirling towards me at full force and into my heart.
I black out, before jolting up with a loud gasp.
I hold my hand over my racing heart, looking around at the room around me.
Huh...that's weird.
I'm in a completely different place...like some sort of temple.
Ahead I see a girl, with long dusty brown hair.
I stand up, and hear something in my head.
What the...
"Hello, Ryan."
I jump, almost letting out a scream when I whisper silently.
"Xaiden?!"
"That's me. I brought you to your friend, Carden. Good luck convincing her...the girl's a pain in the ass."
********
(HARLEY'S POV)
Arachne suddenly jolts up, and she lets out a stream of curses.
"God dammit!"
We all jolt awake, and she stomps over to us.
"Which one of you little rats told your parents?! Which one?!"
"What?"
Adalee looks at her strangely.
"Arachne, we've been sitting here. For the past two days."
"Oh my god...Athena will turn me into a guy king spider again! I have to go!"
"Wait what?"
Arachne stomps over to Lamia, grabbing her wrist and yanking her up.
"We have to go. Come on."
She glares at us.
"When I find out which of you little pigs ratted me out I'll feed you to my spiders!"
She disappears into thin air with Lamia just as the door bursts open again, and Athena, Artemis, and Hera run in.
"No! My babies!"
Artemis runs forward, untying us from the ropes.
She hugs Adalee tightly, planting kisses on her forehead.
"Are you okay?!"
"I'm fine, mom. Where's Althea?! Aiden?"
Athena frowns, before narrowing her eyes.
"My beautiful child has been brainwashed by them! Those terrible children! They are with Alec, Mal, Pierce, Dean, and all of those awful people! They're on earth and are apparently heading to Faith's Temple by instruction from Bailey, Aiden's mom who they brought back from the dead. You guys are coming with us to stop this. Now get up, if we want to get there in time for them to open that portal we have to go now."
********
(RYAN'S POV)
I walk closer to Carden, and she immediately jumps up, pointing a silver bow and arrow at me.
"Who are you, and what is your business in my realm?!"
I hold up my hands, immediately hearing Xaiden's snickers in my head.
"I'm Ryan Thorne and I'm here because I need your help! Please don't shoot me!"
She lowers the arrow, and drops it.
"Come closer."
I slowly walk closer and she grabs the collar of my shirt, dragging me closer to her.
She stares into my eyes intensely and I blink a few times.
"Get out."
"What?!"
"Get out of her!"
She harshly punches my stomach, watching as I double over and wheeze, a dark matter expelling from my mouth.
More color goes back into my skin, and the black mist forms back into a man.
He hisses at Carden, and she glares at him.
"Quit possessing people you darn incubus! I know you're just using the naive angel!"
"I'm a demon!"
"Same thing!"
"Oh be quiet, Carden. I was having fun."
"Sitting in her brain and going through her memories? Yeah. I'm sure you did."
"Hey!"
"That totally wasn't true."
Xaiden grins and I smack my forehead.
"Carden, we need your help."
"What does he need?"
"Honestly? I'm done living in this realm as a damn reckless spirit. I'm gonna go through that portal and stay dead. Perhaps Ryder will come too."
"Ryder?"
"Me?"
We all turn around, and the same black lipsticked girl I swear was just where I teleported her twenty minutes ago.
"Where the helm did you come from?"
"I followed Xaiden's scent over here...what is going on?"
"Well good. We need you. And Carden."
"What can a vampire do for you?"
"And what can a witch and prophet do for you?"
"Well, you two and a girl we know named Hazel are the Fates."
"The Fates?! Oh hell no! That can't be true! I'm not the girl that cuts thread!"
"Well you are, Ryder!"
They both go silent for a moment, before they both nod.
"Okay."
"Okay?!"
Carden shrugs.
"We'll help you."
I scratch my head.
"That easily?"
Ryder grins.
"Well of course not...you'll obviously have to do something for us."
"Which is?"
Carden and Ryder look at each other then me.
"You let us kill one person."
*******
(AIDEN'S POV)
We land on earth, and I release a breath.
"That was close."
Mal rubs her head.
"Definitely."
Alec grins.
"Who's ready to open up a portal?"
"We still need Ryan and—"
"Ryan and who?"
We all look behind us to see Ryan, a guy, and two other girls.
I make eye contact with them all, my eyes lingering on the guy.
He winks and I immediately look away.
He's giving me a bad feeling.
I snap my eyes on Ryan, who smiles.
"I got them! I got Ryder and Carden! And Xaiden. He's a new friend."
Mal eyes him suspiciously.
He smirks.
"Hello, Mal."
"Not you. I thought I banished you?"
"No! I found your little girlfriend going into heaven."
He flicks her head and Ryan grimaces, making eye contact with Mal.
They seemingly have an agreement through their eyes, and Ryder yawns.
"So...where's the blood? The gore? The death? I came here for fun...not this shit."
Carden smacks Ryder with her large bow and she staggers back.
"Ow! Bitch!"
"Shut up! Which of you is the mortal?! Which of you is Hazel Russo?!"
"That would be me."
They snap their eyes on Hazel, and she gives them the death stare.
"What the fuck are you looking at?"
Their eyes move down to the skateboard underneath her arm.
"What the fuck?! Is that a skateboard?!"
"Umm...yeah?"
"Why do you have that?!"
"Because I like to skate...?"
Carden rolls her eyes before shooting the thing with one of her arrows.
Hazel yelps and the thing falls onto the floor.
"My baby! You killed her!"
She bends down when Carden teleports her over to them, narrowing her eyes.
"Okay skater girl, there's more important things then your darn plywood board!"
"Like what?! Taking over the tucking universe with that ugly ass bow?!"
"Hey!"
Carden and Hazel both yelp when two rocks hit their heads.
"Shut the fuck up, will ya?"
We all snap our heads over to Alec, and then the people behind him.
"What?! What the fuck are y'all looking at?!"
My eyes widen, and they snap on his.
"Alec..."
"What...?"
He turns his head over his shoulder before looking back at us with a grin.
"Oh. We're fucked."
We all move our eyes to Ares.
"I don't know about fucked, Alec, but you guys are not opening that portal."
********
We all stare blankly at the gods and their children behind them, and Althea visibly shrinks away.
"Oh no...guys I'm so sorry."
"Save it, Ali!"
She flinches at Athena's voice being raised.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Althea. But this has to stop. This little rebellion and opening this portal. Do you know how much damage that'll do?!"
"No offense, but aren't you supposed to be the goddess of wisdom?"
Everyone snaps their eyes on Hazel who crosses her arms across her chest.
Athena's face starts to contort in anger.
"Yes? And?"
"I thought it was pretty obvious that we were trying to get this portal open to cause damage. Not to cure world hunger. You seem more like the goddess of idiocy."
Athena's eye twitches and everyone's eyes widen.
"Oh shit."
Alec says, and Athena points at Hazel.
"Someone! Get her!"
Abriel appears in front of her and Hazel chucks half of her broken skateboard at his head, watching as he falls with a splat.
"Oh no. Is he okay? Dude? Are you—ahh!"
He yanks her onto the ground, holding a knife at her.
"You're gonna die, bitch!"
"Eek! Get it away from me!"
Hazel flails haphazardly, causing her to get sliced on the arm.
"Ow!"
She gasps when he falls with a thud on the floor next to him, and Xaiden looks over her with a bat.
"You okay?"
"Holy Jesus where did you get a bat?!"
He pulls her off the ground, and I frown as I feel a presence behind me.
"Don't come any closer. I don't want to hurt you."
"Aiden?"
I turn around, and my face softens.
"Zen...please go."
He moves his eyes from mine to everyone fighting behind us.
"I kind of can't."
"Mal promised me she wouldn't hurt you guys if you didn't get involved. Please don't! Go! Run! Do something! I don't want to have to hurt you!"
"You don't have to hurt me, Aiden. You can just let it go, let them go, and come back with us."
"But—my mom, Zen, I've seen my mom for the first time in eighteen years! I met my sister...my friends...I met Alec...I can't leave them behind!"
Zen frowns.
"I understand. And I hope you'll understand this too."
"What?!"
"I'm sorry, Aiden, but we have to do this."
"Do what?! Who?!"
My heart beat picks up in my chest as I feel a knife go through the flesh of my abdomen, and I let out a screech of pain, falling forward when they pull it from my skin.
Zen catches me before I fall, and he looks Harley in the eye.
"Good job. Now we can finish the rest off without interruptions."
*******
(ALEC'S POV)
"Have you seen Aiden?"
Ryan shakes her head softly, frowning.
"No. I can help you find her though. Me, Carden, Ryder, and Hazel basically came up with our plan to both distract the gods and their kids and also get the portal open. They'll be able to perfect it without me."
She waves to them before standing up, searching around.
Her eyes land on a spot close to the entrance of the woods and grabs my arm, dragging me towards it.
"Where the fuck are we going?!"
She places her finger over my lips, narrowing her eyes.
"Shh!"
She stops at a spot, pointing at a significant amount of blood on the ground.
"What the fuck is that from?!"
"I don't know. I suspect it's Aiden. She branched off as soon as the fight started, I can tell she doesn't like them. I assume she came over here...and then someone took her."
I stare at her incredulously.
"So scientific, Ryan. But really...what if she's hurt?!"
"Then that indicates it."
My eyes snap on the yellow haired guy, and I move them back to Ryan.
"Go back and perfect your plan, Ry."
Her eyebrows furrow.
"Wait what?!"
"I think I found our guy."
"You mean—"
"Yes. I believe he knows where she is."
********
(AIDEN'S POV)
My eyes flutter open, and they move weakly around the room.
Where am I...?
"Aiden...looks like we finally meet."
My eyes catch on a guy that looks Luke a twenty five year old version of Harley, with brown hair, tan skin, and fiery hazel eyes.
"Who the fuck—"
"Hephaestus."
I try to sit up, grimacing.
"What the hell happened?!"
"You were stabbed in the stomach. We had to get you away from them."
"What is this?! A cult?!"
"Not necessarily. You just aren't safe with them. Not one bit."
"Aren't safe with who?! Alec?! Mal?! Hazel?! My own mother?! I come to think they're just fine."
"Brainwashing. They're brainwashing you. Aiden, you were just meant to be delivered to your father and that's it. Not these shenanigans."
"Like the same thing wouldn't happen! My father plans to use me for the same exact reason! Power! War! I don't see the difference!"
"You will soon, Aiden. You'll be okay soon."
"Umm...what?! I'm concerned."
He stands up, making his way towards the door.
"Hey! Dude! Get back! What?!"
He leaves, and I sit there, flabbergasted.
What the fuck just happened?!
I lift up the blanket to look at the wound, hesitantly placing my hand over it.
Focus, Aiden.
Do what Alec taught you.
Focus, focus, focus—
I feel a warmth come from my hand, and blue light bonds the skin back together easily.
I look down in awe, blinking.
"Holy shit. I did it!"
I stand up, slipping on a piece of paper.
"Ow, fuck!"
I look down, cocking my head to the side.
"What the..."
My eyes scan the letters, and my face goes stark white.
Good luck getting out of here, Aiden. The place is protected with anything you could possibly think of. And if you do...well...I'll see you on the battlefield.
- H
********
(ALEC'S POV)
Ryan grabs my wrist again.
"Wait! What're you gonna do?!"
"Easy. Get the information out of him. And if he doesn't give it willingly?"
I grin maliciously at Ryan who looks alarmed.
"Then I'll simply force it out of him."
*******
I shift into a cat, discreetly sneaking up behind him before shifting back into a human, grabbing the collar of his shirt.
I flip him around easily, glaring into his eyes.
"Where is she?!"
"What?"
Zen looks at me like I'm crazy, and I grin.
"You know who I'm talking about...where's Aiden?!"
"I don't—"
I glare at him, tightening my grip.
"Like hell you don't know where she is! Where. Is. Aiden?!"
"Ask Harley, okay?! Ask—"
He gets dropped when someone hits the back of my head, watching as I fall splat on the floor, out cold.
"Althea?!"
"Oh no! I'm sorry!"
She looks at Zen then down at me, shaking me slightly.
"Alec?! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hit you that hard!"
Someone placed their hand on her shoulder, guiding her backwards.
"It's okay, Ali. I got it."
*******
I wake up in a bright room, and rub my head.
"What the fuck?! Am I dreaming?!"
"Yes you are, Alec."
I snap my head around, and she looks at me, sitting on some sort of throne.
I stare at Athena.
"What is it?"
"If you really wanted to help her, if you really loved Aiden, Alec, you'd do this."
"Do what? What the fuck are you talking about?!"
I sit there on the ground, staring up at her.
Athena looks down at me.
"You'd go into the portal when it opens and never come back."
I give her a look.
"How in hell is that meant to help Aiden?! If anything it'd crush her. After all this time...just for me to disappear completely?"
"Trust me, child. Even if it doesn't seem like it, which it doesn't, you'd be doing the both of you a favor."
I stand up, and she holds onto my shoulders.
"You are a strong young man, Alec. And even if you don't show it, I believe you have a good heart and soul. That good part of you wants what's best for Aiden. And that's for you to leave. When you wake up, go and help them open that portal so you and the rest of your little group can go. Althea will guide Aiden back safely. She's my daughter."
I blink a few times.
"Sorry, Miss Wisdom, but the reason of this isn't getting through to my head. Love ya and all, but I'm seeing no actual point to this."
Athena facepalms herself before sighing.
"I knew you wouldn't get it. But you have to."
I cross my arms over my chest and she frowns.
"Right now Ryan and the others are working out their plan to distract everyone else in order to open that portal. The only way to close it is for someone to go inside. That's why Carden and Ryder asked for a sacrifice."
"A what now?! When the hell did that happen?!"
"Not too long ago. In order for them to help Ryan agreed to give them one. If that person would be you it'd be good for Aiden."
I stare at her.
"You're just trying to convince me to jump in a portal to kill myself, Athena."
"I'll make sure she forgets you and you forget her."
I roll my eyes.
"And how will this benefit me, Miss Athena?"
"Because I'll give you a third of my powers if you go, Alec."
*******
(RYAN'S POV)
Alec is gone. Aiden is gone.
But the show must go on.
Or opening the portal must go on.
"Okay, guys. While Dean and Mal distract them, I'll help Hazel, Carden, and Ryder perform the ritual to open the portal. But I must warn you...in order to close this portal we need a sacrifice."
"Sacarfice?! What the fuck?!"
I turn my head to Mal.
"Yes. Sacrifice. Someone has to jump in for it to shut again forever."
Mal and Dean look at each other.
"That's scary as hell."
"Tell me about it."
They both stand up, and nod at us.
"We'll go distract. Don't mess up."
"Thanks for giving us so much pressure, Dean."
They both disappear around the corner, and that's when the chaos really started.
********
(AIDEN'S POV)
I release a breath, running full speed at the door and shoulder chucking it for the fifth time.
I stumble back, my whole left arm radiating with pain.
Holy shit...I'm never gonna be able to get out of this fucking room.
Wit a minute...Pandora must be able to help!
"Pandora?! Pandora?!"
Someone appears and I jump slightly.
"Huh? Someone's calling me?!"
Pandora snaps her eyes on mine and hers widen.
"Aiden?! What're you doing here?!"
"Hephaestus trapped me in this hellhole! I need to get out! I have a feeling something completely awful is going to happen. Something in my gut is telling me that portal's gonna open...and we're not gonna be able to close it. Or escape it."
"That's creepy. Really creepy. But I'll help you. Just hold on."
"Huh?"
She grabs onto my hand, teleporting us into the woods.
"Faith's Temple is right there...and the portal's inside. Please be careful."
"I will. Thank you so much Pandora. If something happens...just know I love you. You're my favorite little box girl."
"Thank you...I love you too, Aiden. You're my favorite little goth girl."
I give her a soft smile as she fades away, and begin to run as fast as I possibly can towards the portal that's opening right before my eyes.
********
(RYAN'S POV)
Ten minutes earlier...
We sneak by as Mal and Dean do their confusing and also stupid distraction, and we approach the portal.
"Okay, Ryan. How the hell do we do this?!"
Hazel looks at me, seemingly panicked.
"You guys just have to stand in a circle around it and chant these words: When dawn goes down to day, open portal, open portal. We have your sacrifice, we have your sacrifice. Open up with our will, take the person and shut without delay."
"That's very weird."
Ryder says, and Hazel nods.
"I'm going to have to agree with that one."
"Be quiet! We don't have enough time! If we don't open it before dawn, it won't ever open!"
Carden rolls her eyes.
"Okay, okay!"
They all hold hands, and their eyes start to glow as they chant the words:
"When dawn goes down to day, open portal, open portal. We have your sacrifice, we have your sacrifice. Open up with our will, take the person and shut without delay."
********
(ALEC'S POV)
Athena walks towards me, and smiles.
"Listen here, young one. You are going to go now. Don't disappoint me."
"You act as if I'm your child. I won't disappoint you, mother."
I wake up, now in the forest.
I really just transported.
The heavy feeling in my chest indicates the portal was opened.
I hear a growl, and turn around to see some scary looking goblin thing.
I grimace, before throwing an orb at it.
That also proves the portal opened.
They got the weird ass creatures out.
I stand up and shift into a raven, flying over the area.
What a mess.
Wait a minute—
I see Aiden running towards the temple and soar onto the ground, shifting back into a human before grabbing her arm.
"Aiden?!"
"Alec?!"
She flips around, and stares up at me.
"W-Where did you go?! The portal opened! I don't know what to do now."
"I was just knocked out. Not that bad."
I stare into her wide eyes, and rub her cheek with my thumb.
"I just want to let you know something..."
"Yes?"
She reaches her hand up to hold onto mine, squeezing it once before letting it go.
"If I'm not here with you physically, I will be mentally."
"What?! What're you saying?!"
"Always go with your heart, love. Follow what it desires."
She frowns.
"Alec, you're scaring me."
"Don't be scared of the darkness...it's only there to help you."
I disappear and she looks around, frowning.
Too bad it'll have to end this way.
********
(AIDEN'S POV)
Everything seems to go in slow motion as people are thrown back from the force of the portal opening, and Carden, Ryder, and Hazel continue to chant the words over and over again as they hold hands, floating off the ground.
Creatures and demons of all sorts escape the portals as a large vortex comes above in the sky, lightning and rain coming from it as more flying beasts come from it.
I'm seemingly frozen in time, staring blankly at him as he treks closer to the portal.
What is he doing?
The thought runs through my mind.
I hear a cry of pain and snap around, seeing Althea on the floor.
She has a huge gash in her stomach, and struggles to fight against a dog looking creature that continue to feed on her flesh.
"Hypnos? Hypnos where are you?!"
I begin to run forward as I hear a whooshing sound, and then hear a familiar booming voice.
"Aiden! Have you got your—woah. What is happening?!"
He moves his eyes around, and they catch on Althea.
"Poor girl."
"Help her! You must help her! That is what I wish of you!"
"You wish me to help her?!"
"Save her! She looks like she's dying!"
Hypnos shrugs, and simply throws a ball of magic at both Althea and the dog-beast, watching as the thing vanishes and Althea's wounds close up.
"Thank you for your service, Aiden. Remember, if you ever need my help again, call for it!"
His words echo in my ears as I run towards Althea, grabbing her in my arms.
"Are you okay?!"
She coughs, before looking up at me with teary eyes.
"I-I'm okay..."
Her eyes widen as they catch on something behind me, and she lets out a yell.
"No! Stop!"
I turn around just in time to see Alec at the face of the portal, reaching forward as if to go inside.
"Alec!"
I scream his name as loud as I can, jumping up from Althea's arms before running forward, watching as he slowly turns his head over his shoulder.
A single tear slides down his face as his smiles at me, giving me a half wave.
"No..."
I feel my heart crush as the next words escape his mouth.
"I have to go for a while now, love."
"What?! No! What're you doing?!"
"It's for the best, sweetheart...you'll do great out in the real world..."
His eyes move to Althea who's sobbing behind me, then everyone else looking in fear.
"You have all of your new friends to stick by your side."
"But—no! You...you can't leave me! Not now!"
I grab onto his arm, sobbing as he looks down at me.
"I believe in you, Aido potato."
"Please...stop! Don't leave me!"
He turns around, the wind of the portal blowing his hair as he takes my face between his hands, placing a kiss on my forehead.
"I'll always be right there."
He moves my hand over my heart, and tears pour from my eyes as he goes halfway into the portal.
"Is this the end?!"
He turns around one last time as the portal consumes him.
"No, Aiden. It's just the beginning."
**********
The End.