Once the mess was finally cleaned Blaire had finally arrived back from doing whatever she did even if it wasn't near midnight, but when her feet met the doorway of the living room her heart slowly sunk when seeing Avery in her ghost form chilling without a care in the world. However, after the girl spotted her she perked up immediately and rushed over tightly hugging her mother's leg as Blaire nervously peered down placing a hand on Avery's back.
"We're out of cookies by the way" Dan spoke who too was in his ghost form sitting on couch looking over at Blaire noticing how surprised and anxious she was acting, but what parent would be if their own child looked like a ghost?
"When did she transform?" Blaire asked slowly calming down, and moved her hand until it was placed on Avery's head feeling the child's odd fiery flowing hair.
"A few hours ago really, but it was because I ate the last cookie and she got mad and tried to beat me up with a wooden sword" he replied grassing on the child to get himself out of trouble which worked as Avery instant pulled away from her mother and growled at Dan who chuckled at how the child thought she was scary. "It's going to take more than a little growl to scare me, kid. Even your mama knows that" Dan added with a grin looking at his claws before peering at Avery with the corner of his eyes until turning his head as well not threatened by anything the child did.
However, their little fun was quickly cut short when a loud explosion erupted nearby, causing everything in the area to shake violently as Blaire immediately pulled Avery in forcing Dan to stand up as that ghostly sense came through, and it was strong. He glanced over at them not wanting this building from possibly crumbling down if it was another powerful enemy trying to take over the world, but something in his gut told him different. Like whoever was here didn't came to take over the timeline.
"What was that?" Avery questioned as a piece of the ceiling dropping in front of them as Dan quickly went over picking the both of them off and left the building before anything else tries to crumble down on them. He gently placed them back down at a safe distance from the building trying to find where the fight is taking place or at least who was causing this disturbance.
"Stay behind me" Dan strictly instructed knowing these two aren't strong enough to fend for themselves, mainly Blaire until she regains the power she had once lost thanks to Dex. Smoke could be seen present in front of Dan as a feminine shadow figure could be seen emerging from the smoke, until allowing them to see a ghost like being with Mageta skin, pink eyes and non fiery burgundy hair, no horns just a ghost wearing suitable clothes to a battle.
"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. Devina, her little rat of a daughter and whoever this guy is.. Who are you?" this new face asked not sure who he was despite looking powerful with how well build he appeared to be, let alone protecting her target.
"It's none of your business, now why are you here? 'cause this place is most definitely not your home, so get lost before I force you to leave!" Dan growled not liking how this threat was treating his friends as Avery hid behind her mother scared of this ghost lady. Blaire wasn't liking this and started to back up after hearing them mention that name which didn't appear to ping into Dan's mind yet of what this threat was referring to/
"Oh, she hasn't told you yet? Your little lady friend there is the emperor's daughter called Devina. And she's only hiding behind that ridiculous fake name to protect herself from what she has done to our home. I'm just here to help finish the job and kill her and that runt before more damage can be done" the threat spoke back as Dan glance over his shoulder noticing how unsettled Blaire had became when hearing such allegations, but he became more aggressive and growled allowing his eyes glow bright red ready to turn feral.
"And you think I give a fuck about what you think about her? Well, I don't. But calling her out like that and threatening to kill her and the kid, well heh... You and I are going to have a problem" he said with a cocky smirk ready to take this lady on and give her a real taste of his power, as his hand went behind his back and started to shoo Blaire away, not wanting her or Avery to get hurt while they fight. She took the warning and picked up the girl and quickly left to find a more safer area, but things were just about to get much worse.
"Mama, why are we running? Don't he need help against the scary lady?" Avery asked not really seeing the problem they would've cause if either of them stuck around, especially with her mother who's still struggling to regain most of her strength in order to actually give them an advantage against these intruders.
"Why are you running, Devina?" Dex's voice called out as he descended in the path she was heading in instantly skidding to a stop confusing Avery, until she turned her head spotting who exactly was there sharing almost the same voice as Kai. The child panicked knowing the shifter very well and with the fear in Avery's eyes made him smirk when she started to squirm in Blaire's arms. "At least the child finally knows who I really am. Quivering in her real skin in front of a superior being, like myself of course" he cockily added having nothing else in mind other than to finally eradicate the killer before more falls down the same road, but in such a weakened state is Blaire really capable of such allegations?
"You stay away from her you monster?!" Blaire growled starting to step back as he slowly began to creep towards them with a chuckle as if what she said humoured him, but even Avery wanted to leave making everything fall in place just like he wanted.
"Me? A monster? Have you ever looked in a mirror recently, Devina? 'cause the last time I remember it was you who killed your mother and almost the entire realm in rage. You do remember that don't you? Because I sure do. And how you murdered my entire family!" Dex spoke up becoming even more aggressive not seeing Jasmine hiding away in the darkness of a nearby alleyway listening to everything he had to say.
"It was an accident! I have no control over my power or my anger, but it doesn't mean you have to kill my daughter because of it. She is innocent" Blaire responded standing up for her own child as Dex just 'tsk' at her refusing to believe anything she was trying to cover up for and incident that almost costed them everything.
"As if I would believe that. Even Apollo knows not to fall for your tricks anymore, and he's the second strongest warrior we have for when you dare to return back home. He will kill you and the king is going to watch as your lifeless head is cut off along with your core" he stated stepping even closer as Blaire's back touched a wall stopping her right there and then stuck at a dead end surrounded by rubble holding even tighter on Avery who quivered in her mother's arms.
"Mama, I want to go back to Dan. I don't like it here" she started to sob going back into her human form and wrapped her little arms around Blaire's neck, as Dex stopped uncomfortably close to them and reached out for Avery.
"I should've killed that brat when I had the chance" he growled grabbing the girl's shirt with his claws somewhat triggering something with Blaire as her eyes glowed a deep blue, revealing sharp set of flesh ripping fangs forcing him to freeze when hearing that familiar deepened growl she made. "You don't scare me, I have most of your energy anyway making me far more powerful than you'll ever be! You're a worthless, pathetic, debilitated excuse of a mother!" Dex continued to open his mouth tugging at Avery's shirt as the child refused to let go of its mother unless giving it a much more aggressive tug, yanking her from Blaire's neck leaving somewhat red marking behind from the child's hands.
"Mama!" Avery cried reaching out for her mother who went silent for a moment taking in what happened as Dex turned away ready to properly take care of the child in the open before everyone's eyes to witness such cruelty. However, just as he emerged with Avery in hand Dex didn't even had the opportunity to speak when Dan stepped up.
"Put the girl down before I make you!" he growled glaring at Dex who confidently stood there waiting for him to throw the first punch, but no one moved knowing how powerful his venom can be once properly injected.
"And yet you aren't even trying to get her from me, I wonder why?" Dex responded with a chuckle mocking him as he started to move his index finger near the front of Avery's neck and brought out his claw where his venom is stored, it's how it gets into the target's system. "I wonder what she'll do if I were slit this child's throat open, as I slowly bury my hand into its chest and crush her delicate little core within the center of my palm, hm?" he explained what his intentions were in great detail not wanting the area he emerged from, as a set of deep blue glowing eyes peered through the shadows before darting out at unimaginable speed hitting Dex in the side of his ribs, sending him flying through several buildings as Avery was released from his grasp before he flew, allowing Blaire to catch her while the others went silent on what had just happened.
Everything went silent seeing how serious the look on her face was, as her eyes were no longer a silver-grey, but the same deep blue Dan saw when they first met within the cellar. This energy was different more in control and he knew it wouldn't last long, as more numbers popped up out of nowhere seeing their target resisting to accept their fate.
"Just give up, Devina. Your time to live has come to an end, so stand down before we make you" one of the other ghosts spoke being more coloured with green and turquoise along with some scars on his body from past fights. Blaire stood there silently glaring at the remaining 3 who dared to stand up to such a threat, but she can sense some fear starting to build within them.
"Then come at me.. I ain't scared of you" she coldly growled putting the girl down as they ran away from Blaire directly to Dan knowing that being in the way was only going to cause more complications.
"While that rage remains in control you aren't, but once it fades you're nothing other than a useless bag of flesh to us. Sadly we can't kill you here as the king wants you killed by his hand back at home where a traitor like you belongs to die a long and painful death!" they hissed pointing only at Blaire who growled squinted her eyes at them putting Dan and the others in a very tough predicament since none of them really saw her fight until now, and such power doesn't normal come to you so easily it is mostly earned.
"I am confused now. Is her name Blaire or this Devina this ghosts speak of? What else is she hiding from me?" Dan thought not sure of what to believe already knowing a serious talk was needed between them once things are settled down. Avery was scared not wanting to watch her own mother potentially being ripped apart by these imposters, as the first one being female finally moved going directly in for an attack, but to her it was too slow as Blaire dodged before instantly grabbing their arm yanking them back repositioning her hand that quickly grabbed their neck and slammed them into the concrete solid ground with a echoing thud.
"How is that possible? Dex said she was as weak as a human, so how is she already this strong?!" one of the male exclaimed to the other two as their bare witness noticing Blaire's claws come out and pushed them together to form a more tougher and sharper weapon, before plunging it directly through their chest grabbing the heart where all cores are located and ripped it out.
"This is for listening to an idiot who knows only the defects of me. I only kill if anyone dares to harm my cub" Blaire growled glaring up at the others who froze in fear as she grinned at them and crushed their teammates core right before their very eyes.
"How dare you kill Shely you cold hearted beast!" they growled as Blaire got up from the lifeless ghost's body, while essence fluid of their core dripped down her hand as she stood there silently glaring at them planning on how to kill them, but just as painful.
"Shouldn't we be doing something other than just standing here?" Danny questioned looking around at both Dan and Jasmine who too was unsure of how to deal with this, as Dex came back walking towards Blaire before spotting Shely's dead body below her, he froze for a moment and glared up at Blaire with nothing, but rage as he growled like a feral beast.
"Imma join the fight, so take the kid and get out of here. I don't want anything bad happening if none of us is around incase they decide to follow you" Dan responded handing Avery to Danny wanting both him and Jasmine to leave this to the two capable of actually killing these creatures without holding any grudges or regret. Danny sighed taking the girl and was about to leave with Jasmine without at least saying something to him first.
"Fine. Just make sure she doesn't lose control or we're all be in for quite a ride" Danny said not wanting either things to occur if they fail to stop these things before they decide to destroy the town. Once out of the way Dan finally joined in forcing him to exchange eye contact with Blaire, who glanced over her shoulder for a moment until they appeared back at Dex, but he wasn't there. This wasn't good and they knew it.
"Where did the bastard go?" Dan said walking up to Blaire who scanned her eyes around the perimeter, but nothing could be found other than his remain two buddies who finally decided to come over and fight.
"Probably hiding away knowing that I'll tear him apart limb by limb, just like these fools for picking on my daughter" She growled not really seeing herself or how feral she had became, but what mother wouldn't? It is only natural for one to be filed with rage after someone tried to harm their own flesh and blood.
The two worked together oddly in sync with every attack, block and dodge made against the last two remaining ghosts, but just as Dan held the last one by their throat they let out a chuckle.
"What's so funny? You're about to get your neck snapped by my hand, and core ripped out by Blaire and you think it's funny" Dan asked a little offended as his red eyes glowed squeezing a little tighter around their neck, giving them a very realistic reminder that he won't hesitate to do it.
"You idiots don't truly understand what's really happening, do you? Dex isn't here, he never was because YOU made her look away! Everyone you care dearly about is going to die and it's all your faul-" just before he got the chance to finish Dan broke his neck as Blaire ripped out the core from their chest. The words echoed in his mind for a moment before clicking on what they were referring to, but with the time that had been wasted he was unsure if there was anything they could do.
"Why is it so quiet?" Blaire asked turning to Dan who stood there hearing nothing other silence and the wind that rushed through her hair. "What did they do?" She asked again unsure of what to feel when filled with so much motherly rage.
"I made a huge mistake.. I am so sorry" Dan suddenly began to apologise giving her that sad softening glance in his eyes making her mind race through what he could be blabbering on about, as her eyes returned back to normal.
"W-what are you on about? Why are you apologising? What is happening, Dan?!" Blaire exclaimed in utter confusion until finally the sounds of a nearby distant explosion could be made, bringing her to rush over near the corner and glance down the broken street spotting Danny fighting with Dex, but Jasmine appeared to be hovering over something. It wasn't clear what it was or what she was doing, Blaire just knew it wasn't anything good. However, a sharp upsetting feeling could be felt digging within her chest, not pain only built up emotion of some sort confusing her even more. "What is happening to me? Why is my body acting up like this?" She thought before starting to make her way towards Jasmine as Dan tried to stop her by reaching out, but his body wasn't letting him. He pulled it back the closer she got allowing him to keep a distance away from Blaire the more they approached them.
"No.. No no no no!" Jasmine could be heard screaming holding something with ghost like blood that could be seen almost all over her body, as she trembled.
"Jasmine?" Blaire called out slightly choked up still confused as Jasmine's eyes darted up spotting her coming closer and closer.
"Please don't.. You don't want to look.. Please" she pleaded glancing down at whatever she was crying over, knowing either way Blaire wasn't going to listen hearing her footsteps suddenly stop when finally seeing exactly what it was.
Her heart immediately sank as she gulped trying to keep whatever feeling was coming up from bursting out, but it was useless. Her eyes kept glancing back and away from what remained of Avery. She was completely ripped open like a beast had torn into her flesh and took out the one thing that gave her life.
"My.. My baby" Blaire started to choke stumbling closer before collapsing down onto her knees in front of Avery's now deceased body. "What has he done to you..? You didn't deserve this.. It was supposed to be me not you.. ME!" She began to break down as her hands violently shook reaching out, gently grabbing underneath Avery's shoulders slowly pulling her up until she was completely cradled in her arms. "My sweet little baby girl.." Blaire started to sob loudly over the loss of something incredibly special, gently placing leaning her head against Avery's while tightly hugging her close, feeling how cold she was. How limp and pale her body became. This child was most definitely gone.