Chapter 13

Luke heard Jakati cry out and instinctively moved closer to Nick. To his surprise, he turned to see an arrow protruding from King Marduk’s heart, the light already fading from his eyes. As his body fell to the ground, Jakati turned towards the forest from where the arrow had been shot and waved his hand. A flame erupted and a cry of pain was heard.

"Go!"

Matthew, Allyne and Wesley wasted no time in dousing the fires closest to them, but it didn’t take long for Marduk’s army to notice the intruders. Soon, they were all engaged in battle, Kevin leading the charge with Brian and AJ on either side. With every torch that was extinguished, a wave of shadows blanketed the ground, and soldiers unlucky enough to find themselves within it quickly succumbed.

The full moon proved to be a double edged sword as it prevented the shadows from fully overwhelming the grove, while at the same time provided enough light to fight with. Kevin had only one goal in mind, and with deadly precision he cut down everything that blocked his way to Nick. AJ and Brian were valiantly trying to keep up with the taller man, while at the same time keeping his sides safe, although, thought AJ, judging from the minimal effort being used, just how many soldiers in their right mind would want to face Kevin head on?

Howie and Cole ran as fast as they could, Kevin’s orders clear.

"Find whoever shot the arrow. It’s most probably Jayden, and Myaku would want to know if…"

They had all heard the cry of pain and did not have much hope, but as long as there was a chance to save him, Howie and Cole would try. They knew all too well what it felt it like to lose a loved one.

At the sounds of swords clashing, Jakati turned and cursed to see the torches out and the almost mist like dark cloud moving in. He could see the figures moving towards them, the General in the lead. Grabbing Nick, he pulled him towards the marble pillars, the dagger in his hand.

Luke knew it was time to make a choice. He had no delusions of finding a place among Nick’s friends. He liked to think he still had too healthy a sense of preservation to join up with all these save the world types, but damned if he didn’t admit that Nick was his one soft spot he never knew he had. So, when he found himself holding on to Nick, effectively halting Jakati’s progress, he realized the choice had already been made.

"Release him!"

"I don’t think so." Seeing as how he had no idea how to stop his former teacher, taunting the man would just have to do.

‘And we are back to the tugging,’ Steadying himself, Nick had had the last straw.

//Nickolas//

‘Huh? What the…..?’ Nick looked around, oblivious now to the conflict between the warlocks. That voice he had just heard in his head, it was someone new. Unlike Luke, who had always had to fight to get the upper hand in Nick’s mind, this new presence seemed to have just slipped in unnoticed.

Luke sensed the new presence in Nick’s head as well. Unlike Nick though, his knowledge had come from the fact that he had been unceremoniously removed from Nick’s mind, although Nick seemed to be too preoccupied to notice Luke’s absence.

Jakati, seeing Luke’s confusion, attempted to take advantage of the situation and aimed his dagger for Nick's other hand. His strike was halted however by a strong, firm grip. His dagger fell to the ground and a scream of pain was heard as claws pierced his forearm. Having released Nick, Jakati found himself face to face with burning coals of green ice as he heard a growled promise.

"You shall never harm my mate again." A burning sensation spread through his chest, as claws cut through flesh. Feeling the pain overwhelm him, Jakati was distantly surprised that he was still conscious, alive even. Chancing a look at the General who now held him, he shuddered despite himself to see Kevin’s glare and the slow smile appear.

"You like causing people pain. I think it’s time you had a taste of your own medicine."

Jakati was then turned around and instantly began struggling as he looked upon the wall of shadows before him. A figure detached itself from the wall and approached Kevin.

"Master?"

Jakati finally came to know the bone chilling fear he had purposely invoked on all his victims as he heard Kevin’s response.

"Make him suffer." And suffer he did as Kevin released him into the waiting arms of his shadow creatures.

Luke was worried. As soon as he realized he no longer had a hold on Nick’s mind, he had tried to talk to him only to be ignored. He had expected Nick to try to escape, burn him, punch him, anything, now that Nick was free but instead he stood there passively, a confused expression on his face. Something was very wrong, and when Jakati had released Nick, Luke tried to grab his other hand to shake some sense into him only to be restrained and have his own arm now being twisted around. The pain of the move forcing him to completely release Nick, he groaned as he heard a familiar voice.

"Remember me?"

As he was shoved away, Luke turned and sure enough, there stood the man he had met on Nick’s balcony. ‘What had Nick called him? Ah yes, AJ.’

AJ definitely looked like he was itching for a rematch, and as he pulled out his daggers, Luke cursed under his breath.

‘This is the last thing I need.’

Normally, he would just use one spell or another to dispose of the young rebel, but Luke was surprised to find that not only had he been cut off from Nick, the use of his powers had been blocked off as well.

‘Looks like we are going to have to do this the old fashioned way.’ Even as he prepared to engage AJ, Luke knew with growing certainty that whatever was going on with Nick held precedence over everything else.

‘Now I’ll just have to convince the hothead over here.’

Taking one more look at AJ as he expertly twirled his daggers in preparation, Luke sighed.

‘Definitely going to be easier said than done.’

"Nick! Come on, little brother. Snap out it!"

Brian had been trying to get Nick’s attention ever since Kevin and AJ had freed him but Nick seemed to have other ideas.

//Nickolas//

The voice was so soothing, so calm. It had been so long since things had been that calm for Nick.

//Come to me, Nickolas//

//Who are you?//

Feeling a gentle cool brush against his mind, Nick couldn’t help but smile. It had felt so good to be touched again. To not be alone. He made sure it wasn’t Luke playing games with him again.

//No, Nickolas. I am not the warlock//

//Then who are you?//

//Just someone who wants to take care of you. I would never hurt you//

A spark flashed in his mind. A memory.

//Like Kevin//

Kevin. Instinctively he sought the older man out. Almost immediately he thought he could hear a voice. Not in his mind. From outside. But it wasn’t Kevin. It was………Brian!

"Brian?"

"Yes! That’s it, Nick. Come on. Come back to me, Nicky."

//No!//

Nick winced at the shout in his mind, and his eyes closed again in pain.

//It is a trick, Nickolas. Jakati is trying to trick you//

//Jakati?//

//Yes, you must come to me. I will take you to Kevin//

Nick’s mind was a jumbled mix of emotions, but the mention of Kevin’s name brought a hint of clarity.

//Kevin?//

//Yes, Nickolas. Come to me and I will take you to Kevin//

There was silence then, before the voice continued even softer than before.

//Kevin needs your help//

//What? What’s wrong?//

//He needs you to do something for him//

All comprehension of where he was and what was going on finally left Nick’s mind as he focused on the one thing he cared about more than anything.

//What?//

//There is something by you. Just put your hand down and you will feel it, my Nickolas. Do you feel it?//

//Yes//

//Good, now pick it up, and come to me//

//Where are you?//

//You know where I am, Nickolas. Now, hurry. Kevin needs you//

Opening his eyes, Nick focused on the structure before him and started walking.

Brian was confused as hell. The last thing he remembered was shouting for Nick to hear him. For a moment there, he thought he almost had him, but then he lost him again. It was as if there was someone shielding Nick from Brian, and when he had tried again, he had felt himself flung to the ground, which was where he found himself now. Still slightly disorientated, Brian took a moment to recollect and felt the blood freeze in his veins. From his current position of being on his back, he had a clear view of the sky and saw in all its beauty, the dark shadow slowly enveloping the moon signaling the beginning of the eclipse, the beginning of Jikal’s moon.