END ROADS

CHAPTER 81: THAT'S MY MAN!

The vampires stood at one end and the Specials on the other side of the plain. The silence was wanting but we waited for the leaders to give signals for the bloodbath to begin. I didn't know Flora had called more soldiers from all the covens. I spotted Isaac and Angelica the first. Flora still in disguise was standing at the front line with the rest of us. Grey seemed to be in the wild cat mode, which was good for now this had to be done today or never.
The man I had hates from first sight stepped forward; Strong Wood.
"Long time no see y'all, don't say I am not nice to you this time round." He said  slowly "this war is your calling not ours. But that doesn't mean we will go easy on you. We are not that simple!"
"Can we get this over with now?"
He grinned like the devil himself and they circled in. Before I knew it, the two parties were tearing each other apart. The snow was slowly getting painted in red as blood sipped into it.
I was not left behind, I swung my sword and moved my daggers graceful. I moved around making sure anyone from our part did not get overwhelmed. But it was not easy, the Specials were skilled and strong.
I moved away heads rolling on the snow and blood splattered on my face. I was done handling the two Specials when I spotted a Special flanging at Arthur. The distance was too large and my agility was not that good. I was tensed. I tried to rush to his rescue but another figure crossed in between and eventually swinging his claws on the Specials abdomen and tore him apart.
I stood there perplexed,I looked at the man with a sword through his back to the front of his chest in terror. He turned his head and waved his blood stained claws at me. His mouth was covered in blood and the hair hovering on his face made it hard for me to see who it was.
I furrowed my brows trying to scent him specifically. It was difficult, the stench of blood was thick in air. But I got it at last, Keith Gavin!
I rushed up to him trying to hold up his huge frame but he was too big.
"Why did you come? Steele warned you!" I yelled at the big man.
"I told you I will do one good thing before I die!"
"Not today, you could have stayed back. There are a lot more good things you can do" I yelled at him again.
"I don't deserve to live longer? Do I? I killed my woman, I tried to kill you....
"But you didn't!" I was weeping now "you didn't kill me!"
"Don't cry for me like that" he laughed with difficulty "don't make me feel special!"
"You are special Keith"
He smiled bitterly holding my face with his bloody hand.
"Am I?"
"You are very special Keith Gavin!"
He smiled caressing my face sadly "you are the only one who has called me special, Becky " he gagged "in my next life, let's meet when we are in good terms. Will you be my best friend?"
"Of course, I would like to have a handsome friend like you "
He grinned again "its good that I see your face when I am about to cross over. I envy Grey for having such a sweetheart " he grinned trying to keep his eyes open "do you forgive me?"
"I did long time ago, of course I did"  I sniffed wiping tears clouding my view.
"Thank you" he whispered tiredly "let the man rest now"
His hand dropped from my face and he died with a smile. I still could not believe that he was gone, just like that, Keith Gavin was no more.
I stood up, the impact of the shock still too fresh. I picked my sword slowly and grabbed Keith's lifeless hand.
I dragged him away his blood leaving a trail behind, Arthur watched from a distance but was still handling the Specials so he could not look much. I dragged him away and sheltered his body behind the rocks nearby. I drew the sword from his chest and kept him hidden.
"You deserve a descent burial!"
I walked back just in time to witness the earth splitting up into two. The tremble was too large. A lot of people standing at the edge collapsed into the vast opening. Clark was one of the people at the edge, he was stumbling into the gorge. I rushed to his rescue but Xavier crossed in pushing Clark away but it was too late for him, he stumbled into the gorge disappearing into the abyss.
"Xavier.... No ... Xavier....
Then a dark creature appeared in the sky, it's dark wings spread out wide then it dived into the gorge. Everyone watched in horror as the creature emerged carrying Xavier in his arms.
Only a few if us knew what that creature was .
But before he could land, a long golden rope was thrown at him he lost his stability in air and almost dropped Xavier back into the gorge. He threw Xavier into safety and Ethan rushed to catch him to reduce the impact of the fall.
The golden rope kept squeezing and tagging at Grey. He could barely hold himself up in air, he dived into the snow on the other side of the gorge. I panicked rushing forward. But the appearance of my greatest enemy made me a little hesitant.
I stepped back watching in horror as the role that was in seven divisions held seven vampires down including Grey and Alan.
My hand flew to my mouth then the man signaled two swords and pinned Grey down by his wings.
"STOP!!" I yelled.
The man looked at me and smiled wickedly.
"That sounds like music in my ears you know" he squeezed the swords deeper into his wings.
"Stop, please stop!"
"I would have, but I just hate this creatures with my whole being. Some though I would spare them if they came to my side. But I hate them all"
He snapped his finger and around fifty vampires zombied forward heading closer to the gorge.
"A traitor will always be a traitor" he grinned "jump!"
"NO!" But the vampires under his command jumped into the gorge to their death. I tried to hold any of them back, at least one of them back but they all jumped to their death without a second death.
"Stop what, you are doing dad!" I yelled
But the man only laughed like a maniac.
"Dad? Who is your dad?" He looked around dramatically "he is not here. Your dad died... He was a vampire like your husband. But this here is a new being. A being that can control the four elements, humans, sorcerers, vampires and witches as well"
"Why ? Why are you doing this?"
"Because I hate them, I hate all vampires. That includes the idiots who bore me. I killed them with my own hands and ate their hearts. Roasted of course" he laughed wildly "and there is nothing I hate like my birthday, that was such a ridiculous day. Of all creatures under the firmament I was born a vampire. How terrible."
"It was not your choice, you should not hurt others because of that"
"Why not? It's fun, just look at their fearful faces." He rumbled with laughter again "don't they look hilarious? Scared of a sweet and harmless man like me"
He laughed loudly again.
"Stop what you are doing, let them go... Please!"
He suddenly stopped laughing glaring at me fiercely.
"You know something else I hate the most, it is a rebellious child. Why don't you just die like your hopeless mother!"
I glanced at Flora who was still in disguise.
"You know what? I prefer your mother, she played to the sound of my music. Unlike you, a rebellious child who cannot be tames."
He paused and suddenly grinned with excitement.
"I almost forgot, the leader of the traitors..." He clapped his hands and the men walked a figure covered in Hood forward "does she look familiar?"
He raised an eyebrow at me grinning creepily "don't tell me you forgot the fierce woman that tortured you"
Adelyn?!
He giggled "I just hate the kind of theories vampires have, oh she stole my brother from me, oh I hate her, I don't like being a vampire... Blah blah blah blah"
He laughed fiercely again "she doesn't know I know she wants to revenge her dead vampire, to make matters worse... How can you tell a father that you hate her daughter?!"
I could not understand the kind of drugs the man was using. Then he grabbed a sword and swung it carelessly.
My body went limb when Adelyn's head hit the snow and rolled to the edge of the gorge and disappeared into the abyss.
"What have you done, that is my damn sister!" Grey struggled to get on his feet but was silenced when a sword went through his heart.
I watched in horror my knees going weak and I collapsed into the snow. I watched blood pool around his head and his eyes dimming slowly then eventually shut.
"That's my man... You bastard that is my man!" I yelled at the top of my voice until the earth under our feet trembled .
"I know, but he is just too noisy" the man said slowly, I lifted my eyes in disbelief "and him"
He pointed at Alan .
"No! No! No!"
But he didn't listen to my plea, he sent the blade through his heart as well.
I felt like my heart had been ripped off my chest. My chest ached, I trembled as the blade continued to go through flesh until the seventh vampire lay in cold blood.
"That's my man!" I trembled.
... I was happiest when you first gained your powers...
... I was scared the most when you wanted to leave me...
... I am scared...
"Scared?! You fucking died in front of me you idiot! You shut your eyes right in front of me!" I yelled hitting my fist into the snow.
"You are a bit dramatic you know" David said slowly "just relax, I just sucked life out to a half demon, half vampire. It is no big deal."
"That is my man!" I repeated again feeling completely lost. I did not even know what I was supposed to do. There was a gorge between us. He was there in cold blood, under David's feet!
"Are you composite a poem?"
"That's my man you bastard, you took life out of my man you wicked son of a bitch!"
"I am your father!" He yelled
I stood up slowly looking at the beast that had taken life out of my man. Abigail was crying in agony behind me, and the sound of it made me go crazy.
"My father? Over- my- dead - body!" I almost spelt the words for him.
"What are you going to do about it? Go berserk? I am sure you can't handle all this men alone with that trauma. And the beasts."
"You should go check the colour of ashes they make. And of course I will not go berserk, you did nothing wrong!" I said sarcastically "on my side, go left. On the other side go right. NOW! And stay low if you want to live"
"What are you doing?"
"Sending drones to rescue you, before I kill you!"
I reaches behind my back to touch the intricate birthmark, resembling a hand -shaped tree, etched into my skin.

As I channels her inner power, the birthmark begins to pulse with a soft, pulsating light.  David watched as if waiting for me to blow him bubbles to celebrate his animalistic behavior I chuckled inwardly, no one touches my man!  And remains alive! Slowly, the hand- shaped pattern stretches and morphs, its fingers elongating into sinuous, serpent- like branches that writhe and coil with a life of their own. The once benign birthmark transforms into a colossal tree, its roots delving deep into the earth with a rumble of primal energy. My eyes trembled as they shifted into a deep blue colour and I shut out my conscience. I needed the mad and wild me in action, now!

The tree towering monstrosity that now loomed over the forest, its gnarled branches reaching out like the tendrils of a predatory beast. The leaves rustle with an ominous whisper, and the air crackles with magic as the tree senses the presence of intruders.

David who had now lost his glory urged the Gala warriors to emerges from the shadows, their eyes filled with determination. With the false belief in their childish strength, they assumed I would let any of them escape alive!
As they  drew nearer, the monstrous tree springs to life with a deafening roar, its serpent- like branches thrashing and lashing out with lightning speed. The Gala warriors are ensnared by the tree's relentless assault, their cries of defiance drowned out by the sound of cracking branches and snapping limbs.
Their cries sounded like music in my ears but not at all enough to quench my thirst. Or to kill the bitterness of seeing the man I loved laying in cold blood like that. It would never be enough!
With each warrior consumed by the insatiable hunger of the tree, its roots grow stronger, its branches thicker, and its thirst for blood more pronounced. I  watches in fascination as my creation became a perfect weapon of destruction, its power unleashed upon those who dared mess with my people, my man.
In the midst of the cries, I spotted the very wild beast that put a sword through my man's heart trying to escape trembling like a wet puppy. I sent the branches of the branches to capture the coward and bring him to me.
He dangled in air helplessly and this scene was familiar. I was always that helpless, under his mercies.
"Father?"
"Yes, child"
I laughed at his shaking voice. "Now I am your child ha?"
"You have always been"
"That is good, should I let you go?"
"Please, I am your father, please"
"But you said traitors will always be traitors!"
"But I am your father"
"Oh, that is right!" I nodded dramatically "I should let you go"
I let the tree place him down and he smiled in gratitude. Grateful to whom? The breeze came from a distance and the fine shiny blade moved in air like a speed jet. The blade found it's destination in the escaping wild beast. It tore through his back, crushed last his ribs, through his heart and finally flew back into my hands.
I used the living roots of the tree to cross over to the other side. I approached the man who was on his knees, blood gashing out of his chest.
"Mr. David Gala hue, you made only one mistake while seeking power. You that love is greater than anything else. That's the man I love you killed" I sniffed "it is not like I didn't try to love you, you were not easy to love at all. You are full of yourself, you don't deserve this heart "
I plunged my hand into his chest and ripped his heart out. The organ was still live and beating in my hands. The man gagged in misery.
I touched his forehead "I wish you eternal distress, and may you never be reborn or exist in any realm for infinity!" I stumped his organ under my feet. And the man turned into a rock.

I turned to the man laying in pool of blood, the whole area was covered in blood but only his blood bothered me.
I crawled close to him pulling the two swords on his wings and flipped him over.
I looked at his lifeless face and wept uncontrollably.
"I should have been the fearful one... You left me instead" I looked at the enchanted knife in my hand. It could bring him back to life, then I looked at Alan who was laying beside him.
I came here for them, not myself. It wouldn't be wise to revive Grey for my sake and leave my best friend mourning.
"I will come to you my love"
I placed him down, and took the blade and sliced my wrist. I let the blood trickled into Alan's wound. My mind was hazy, my eyes could barely see anything but when I heard a loud heavy gasp I knew the man was back. A sudden force smacked my back before I fell into a deep slumber!