Spiritus Animalis (Empath #2) ✔️

Chapter Twenty-Six

Alex found himself caught between a rock and a hard place. Abigail arrived just in time. But unlike before when she had her wolves, Alex hadn't seen them He was pretty sure that Jennifer sent them away. Alex backed up toward the river. It rushed through the forest filling the silence with rushing water. They were near the edge where the river divided the forest. Sweat dripped down Alex's whole body and he had been out of breath from all the running. Abigail on the other hand didn't seem to worry about it. In fact, she was pissed. Her face had turned red, and she looked like she was ready to create a storm.

Alex thought back to when he first talked to Abigail, never in his life had he realized that she had made valid points. However, now the question remained... should he tell her. As if reading his expression, Abigail eased up a bit.

"Alex, I'm not here to attack you," she said.

Alex paused. Even though things were tough, at least he could talk to her. Abigail's eyes softened, they no longer held anger more sympathetic. Alex's palms were damp with sweat. Unsure of what he would say, he remained quiet.

"Do you believe me?" Abigail questioned.

"Why do you care?" Alex asked. "Last I checked you really didn't care too much about us, you thought we were all bad people,"

"No! that is not what I thought at all," Abigail stated. "I want to know why, why you would steal an angel's grace and what your end goal of this would be. Why would you summon something so demonic that it would destroy all the good in this world?"

Alex rolled his baby blue eyes; no way was he going to admit that she was right. How else would she try to get inside his head. He stood stubbornly, not willing to answer her questions.

"Alex, deep in your heart there's some good left in you, can't you do something?" Abigail asked. "You haven't done very bad things I'm assuming but if we're right then once you and your friends are done helping that demon, he'll throw you aside,"

Of course, Alex knew about that. He scratched the back of his neck; his cherry red hair blew in the breeze. His stomach churned like he was ready to throw up.

Abigail desperately wanted to help Alex out, she could see how much he had changed. All the weight from his friends and the demon were starting to fall over him. His eyes were tired and almost sunken. It was like he hadn't slept in days. His cherry red hair was a jumbled mess. And he looked like he'd lost a ton of weight. Barely even any muscle. Something was beating him up. If only she could talk to him like they were friends, but at the same time, she didn't want him to think she was coming off too strong.

"You're exhausted, I can see it in your eyes," Abigail inched toward him. "I don't know what you were talking to Ezra about before your friends stole his energy, but you can tell me now,"

"Why should I?" Alex demanded; eyes filled with exhaustion. "You don't even know what it's like, hell your spirit animals aren't even around you right now if you hadn't noticed."

She knew that something had happened to her animal spirits. It felt like a strike to the heart. The wolves energies were there but then they had vanished. Wishing that she could find out what happened to them, she pushed the thoughts aside. Her focus was to get Alex to see her side of the story.

"Right now, I care more about what happens to you," Abigail explained. "Now answer my questions,"

Alex hesitated but noticing that she wouldn't stop until she got an answer, he had no choice but to respond.

"I only asked for a second chance," Alex said. "If Peter can get a second chance, why couldn't I?"

Peter and Adam were face to face with each other both weapons were in their hands, and they were waiting for one or the other to make the first move. Peter gripped his staff ready to attack. Adam held his own weapon a large roman spear made to represent what the soldiers used back during the roman times.

All animals and bugs silenced. Like they were holding their breath. Adam made the first move. He attacked peter swinging the spear. Peter held up his staff above his head blocking Adam's attack. He parried. Struck Adam in the chest with the staff. Adam stumbled. Seeing his chance, Peter tripped his enemy causing him to fall on his back. Adam fell with a big groan. Anger seeped through Adam's entire body. he almost got blinded when Peter went for the vial. Adam rolled out of the way, now able to see what Peter was planning he took that as an advantage and when Peter came down on him again, he placed his spear in front of him just as the staff came at him. Adam blocked it and pushed the staff away. Pushing himself up to his feet, Adam kicked Peter in the stomach then used his spear to hit behind Peter's legs. It caused Peter to land on his knees. Peter held up his staff yet again and blocked it pushing Adam back. Getting to his feet, Peter swung his staff and caught it under his arm.

"Well, I'll be damned," Adam laughed. "You've been getting better, haven't you?"

"Whatever gave you that idea?" Peter questioned.

"Let's see what else you can do," Adam smirked.

Adam pointed the spear at Peter as he thrusted forward. Peter reacted simultaneously and hit Adam's spear with the other end of his weapon. Wood hit wood almost like a splintering, but neither of the weapons had broken. Using the staff, Peter rolled the spear under his staff so he could grab Adam's. With such force, Peter broke the spiritual weapon a large amount of energy spread throughout the forest as Adam stumbled into a tree.

Peter approached his ex-friend ready to take the vial, but another force of energy blocked his way. He stumbled and entering the clearing he saw Jennifer approach. Her hand out. It had occurred to him that she was the one who caused the energy to hit him. It was meant to protect Adam that way people like him couldn't get close to the vial to take it.

"Don't even try it sweetheart," Jennifer said. "You have no business attacking him,"

A sideways smirk appeared on the girl's face, and it sent chills down his spine.

"It won't work!" Peter announced. "How else are you going to get the tears of misery!"

"We'll find a way, and I'm sure that we can easily get that from a local wiccan store," Jennifer responded. "But what you need to do right now is get lost,"

Jennifer closed her eyes as Peter backed away. The same burst of energy hit him sending him flying further into the forest.

While Abigail and Alex were talking, she heard a scream coming from somewhere in the forest. She paused and looked around distracted by that. However, she looked up at the trees and saw that someone had fallen. She paused and the person landed right in front of her. The familiar brown hair was what caught her attention.

"Peter?" Abigail said.

She ran over to him discovering that he'd been groaning. Abigail turned to ask Alex for help, but he had vanished leaving her and Peter alone in the forest.