Mistletoe (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 6

Disaster met us the moment we stepped through the portal.

I shockwave of energy ripped through our group. The deafening hum of Nesters and rabid growls of Wolves follow.

We slammed into the ground, dirt and forest debris covering us.

"Jamie!" I hear Killian's voice through the ringing in my ears. He crawls over to me, blood seeping across his chest.

"Killian, watch out!" Cartrite yells.

He snaps into focus, catching an incoming Omega by the throat snapping it before throwing the body to knock a Nester from the sky.

I get to my feet fully taking in the scene, blood coming from my forehead dripping down the right side of my face.

Mosea waited for us. Her army was on us quickly. The Cantu moved through the crowd with fury, slicing with sword and claw.

Raiders shot Nesters down with lightning precision, any that did get close being beheaded fluidly.

Above them all was Mosea. Hooded and watching the chaos ensue.

I unholster my bow, shooting three bolts toward her.

With frightening speed she appears beside me, launching a fist into my head. I stumble, dropping my weapon when a knee hits into my stomach.

"Pathetic, Hunter," She says, hand at my throat. I struggle against her grip as the fighting continues around us. She lifts me up and I peer down at her.

This was not the being I'd come to recognize. Her skin was sickly, thin strands of grey hair framed her face.

But her eyes are what paralyzes me. Deep pools of purple strobing with power.

"I will enjoy claiming your soul tonight." She begins to chant and unlike our last encounter, the draining is excruciating. With every word, my power is siphoned and burning me from the inside.

I feel the ground and gasp for air. I look up to see Mosea thrown backwards a few yards.

"Her hubris was always her biggest weakness." A hand appears before me. I look to see Hao looking down at me, his robes gone, instead he sports a black steel harness and black pants.

"Hao, how did you know?"

"Never mind that right now, Jameson. I took the liberty of collecting you some herbs to boost your healing. I also called in some friends."

Looking back out at the battle, I see the Silverfangs turning the tide. Colt strikes down a Goliath with immense speed, ripping its throat out before turning his attention to a Nester. Stripping it of it's wings and he throws it aside.

Near him stands Neo, barely moving an inch but decimating enemies. He a flick of the wrist his magic disentegrates a swarm of Nesters.

"Jamie, focus," Hao says unsheathing the two hook-swords from his back, "The battle is far from over."

"Heads up, Luna!" Mike calls out tossing my sword out to me. I catch it just in time to strike down an oncoming Omega.

Hao and I rejoin the fight. He slices through enemies with fluidity I didn't think someone of his size would have. He fights very much like Benny.

I sense it before I catch sight. I maneuver around and Omega's jaws as Killian intercepts it, just in time to cut through the projectile.

"Damn you, Hao! Fucking traitor!" Mosea fires off another blast. I catch it with my magic, redirecting it back to her. She takes the strike to the chest, stumbling in her flight.

In a blink I dash to her, aiming to connect a swing of my sword to the length of her neck.

Her magic blocks the blow.

Our dance commences. She matches me strike after strike. Even with her body withering away, there's no break in her defense.

She moves back, making a small distance between us. Her magic collects in her hand reaching out like a tendril. I cut through the appendage attempting to close the gap.

But the closer I get the more tendrils rise from the dirt and the distance grows great. I rip through the attack finally, and scan.

Fuck. No sign of her.

"Mom, no!" I turn to the sound. Killian's arms locking Colt in place surrounded by the corpses of the last of Mosea's forces. His agony washes over me and with it a smell I'm all to familiar with.

Death.

I follow his gaze to find Cartrite in Hao's arms. A blade buried into his chest and Mike backed into Neo's chest. The numbing sensation of guilt nesting into my bones.

"No!" I run to his side, taking Hao's place. "Cartrite, please stay with me."

"We're right here, Mom," Colt whimpers nuzzling into the crook of his neck. "Please don't go. Please!"

"Not happening, Kid," He weakly chuckles. "I'm sorry, Pup."

"She was coming for me. It's my fault!" Mike's body vibrates with the sound of his sob.

"I put a tracker on Mosea before she fled. I injured her pretty bad. Take her down Jamie." He takes a shaky breath, looking over to Killian and Colt. "Take care of your brothers. And give Allister a kiss for me."

Those are the last words that leaves his lips. After a deep, short sigh. I stand and turn away. I will not stomach watching the life leave his eyes.

Colt lets out a howl, the pain and grief reverberating through the forest.

Neo comes to my left, face unclear. I can't read him, his presence muted. In his hand a device.
"He said it was a new invention of Benny's. Technology and magic."

I take it and follow the  path.

*

I track for what feels like hours. The device hums to life on the edge of a clearing. I raise my sword, pressing forward. At the middle sits Mosea.

Her clavicle is slashed deep. Blood pour from the wound. She hobbles, pains groans escaping her frail lips.

"You killed my Uncle!" I yell.

She jerk around to face me, her hood ripped off and tattered. Her sickly face glares back at me.

"You damn Hunters. Always in the way," She snipes. "I wanted the Corti!"

"You'll never have him."

Her eyes narrow and she projects more if her tendrils.

I sprint through them, feeling every vein in my body pulse. I cut through the largest of them, landing directly in front of Mosea.

Our eyes meet for what feels like an eternity.  I stare into her eyes. The eyes she used to fool me. The eyes of a murderer and a manipulator.

But just for the briefest of moments, I catch a glimpse of something else. Something sad. Something almost human.

I hear the thud of her head and the crumple of her body. I gasp for air, my mind spinning. I drop to my knees, my sword clambering against my thigh to the ground.

It's over. It's finally over.