Part 25 (1/2)

She nods, ”Could have been worse.”

”Like how?” I ask.

”Like, dead.”

I know she's right, but I still feel bad about doing what I did. I could have killed her if I reacted with any more force.

Then I come to realize something. Everything I do is basically based on my reactions and my emotions. Could I use that for a better, greater good? Something inside me says I can. But how?

Okay, what are my strongest inner feelings? What drives me the most? I look around at this once beautiful world and then at the people who are with me.

My Dad is an easy one. I mean he's my Dad. The guy's my hero, no question. Even though I've never told him and would probably be too embarra.s.sed to tell him to his face. The man dug me out of the gutter when I was at my lowest and gave me a job. He gave me new life, a purpose. One that I really love.

Kane has turned into a most trustworthy ally and partner in crime. The man has been by my side from the moment this c.r.a.p started. He has never once questioned my judgment or stepped over any line.

And then there's Nicole. The tough-as-nails, blonde bombsh.e.l.l with an iron will. She has forced a new emotion building within me I thought long dead. Love. I think I love the woman. The pain and agony she has felt in her life is like a beacon to me. I want to help her. I want to hold her. I want to tell her she's safe-not that she can't handle herself or anything. She's proven that much and then some for sure.

My father, Kane and Nicole, I love these people. I would do anything for them. My family, my friend and my...something else. They are what matters most. And that emotion is what drives me now.

Love.

I know it sounds pretty cliche, but it's the truth.

It's like the way the three brothers loved their sibling, and how the mighty Thoth loved his son even after his treachery. They forgave him for what he has done. It's blind, unconditional love.

I turn and look towards the very imposing form of Ares. He still hasn't moved but is now looking in our direction, his saucer-sized black eyes looking at us. Wait, black eyes? They aren't red or even bleeding. Nannot has no control over him. Come to think of it, his eyes weren't bleeding when he first emerged from the forest either.

I get an unbelievably crazy idea, but decide to keep it to myself. I don't think the others would approve.

”Go,” I say, motioning to the courtyard exit.

Before anyone can argue, I turn and walk straight toward Ares. The immense creature is even bigger when you're less than three feet from its snout, which is eye level with me now.

It doesn't move, or blink. It just stands there and stares. I lift my hand in a non-threatening posture, like I'm about to pet an unfamiliar dog. The beast lets out an almost nervous snort, but doesn't attack. I calmly place my hand atop the tip of its nose and close my eyes.

FLAs.h.!.+.

I see more pain and torment. It's the same as the others. The torture these things must have gone through is almost too much to bare. It's sickening. But Ares is different. I can feel something else in there. I can feel another consciousness, like a hidden brain within the monster's brain. I feel an almost human presence in there. It's like a person's consciousness got plucked out of a body and implanted into this one.

I'm not sure if Ares can understand me, but I try anyway, ”For the crimes against you, I am sorry, and for your crimes against humanity you are forgiven.” I project my feelings as much as I can into the beast. The love I have for my family and friends and the loss and emptiness I have inside of me for what Nannot has done.

”You are free from his will, you must feel it. He cannot invade your mind anymore. He has taken a new host and doesn't have the ability to hurt someone of your strength.

He grunts when I say someone and not something.

I continue, ”The others fought on pure animalistic instinct, not feeling the difference. But you're smarter than that. You're stronger than that. Aren't you?”

I'm guessing on the not having the ability part, but I believe I'm right. I think that's why Ares never attacked. Plus, he being the first and best of Nannot's Nightmares gives me the belief that he is stronger both physically and mentally, built with no weaknesses. I'm a.s.suming that's why his eyes aren't bleeding like the rest and why I could approach him without losing my head.

PFFFF.

I open my eyes at the sound of a relaxing sigh coming from the obsidian bear.

CRAs.h.!.+.

The ground around us buckles and bounces. Columns tip and busts topple to the ground. The only things not affected are Ares and I.

”Is that all you've got!” Nannot bellows, still putting himself back together. He's standing in an impact crater that's about two feet deep, having just landed from the air above.

I look at my friends and then back to Ares. We both turn as one and face our foe. Dad, Nicole, Kane and even Nannot, all give me understandably confused looks.

Glancing back over at the rest of my team, who have since moved farther away, I shout, ”Go, we've got this!”

47.

And I thought Kane was an absolute beast! Nope, not even close. Ares is in fact an absolute beast. Literally. The Mac-truck sized black polar bear fights exactly like you'd think. He's very ferocious and extremely unrelenting in his a.s.sault. He starts by running and leaping straight into Nannot, who tries and miserably fails to protect himself with a strong gust of wind. Ares falls from the sky like a giant razor blade missile, tearing into the wannabe G.o.d.

I guess finally having the ability to revolt against his creator without fear of reprisal is too much for Ares to handle. He does not stop, he just keeps clawing and slas.h.i.+ng and biting Nannot, until there's nothing left but a smear of gore on the stone floor. The broken pieces of Nannot are indiscernible and impossible to identify. Even the best CSI in the world would have no shot.

HRRRN.

I glance over at Ares who just grunted in what sounded like concern. I then turn my attention to the direction he is facing and see the impossible. The limp and disfigured form of Nannot is moving. Well, twitching would be a closer description. Still, it isn't good either way.

It's then I see a leg start growing back where a b.l.o.o.d.y stump should be. I gag at the sight. Until now I've never actually seen what it looks like when one of us regenerates. It's as putrid as you might think it would be.

I see thigh muscle weave itself back together, along with bone and other tissue. I can actually hear the slurp as the knee joint reforms and the sound of it audibly popping back into place. The other leg is also re-growing at the same rate, as are the arms.

Okay, this isn't working. I need to change tactics. But what?

HRRRN.

Ares nudges my hand with his snout and forces his head under it.

HRRRN.

Huh, smart piece of rock. Then I remember that there's human intelligence in there somewhere.

Maybe I can use the same mental will I tried on Ares, but this time on Nannot. Kind of like the force in that movie from a galaxy that was really far away.

I put my hand out and focus. I focus on all the good things in my life and the good things in the world. I visualize an invisible energy beam filled with these thoughts and feelings shooting out from my palm and hitting Nannot square in his ugly mug.

I get slammed back by a gust of wind, knocked to the ground, hearing him cry out in anger.