And Also With You ~The Tooth And Claw Books #3

~{ Epilogue: }~

----- July 15th, 2011 -----

I arrived via a Portal which Akio had created  for me as the time had planned. I arrived on the outskirts of Suredale, moving through the streets. I was already feeling the poison returning to my blood, but I paid it no mind for now. I knew they'd arrive any moment now, I really hoped that  it would be Layla I had words I wanted to have with her. I was however disappointed, I moved through most the streets with little problem. When I arrived at the boarder to the school however the fight began. 

Within moments of me arriving I felt all the Magic in the area get sucked away. I knew what was forming so letting out an audible hiss I got ready to fight. Zhànshì; thirty of them appeared before me. They weren't the hollow imitations either, these were the true things. I sheathed Excelsior, knowing I was weak and need what strength I had so Bale Fire was off the table right now meaning that  Absolia would be more effective. I activated my Custodian's Shield and charged at the first of them.  It swung wildly at me, and in response I brought the shield into a block. As the blow landed on my shield, I ended up flying backwards, skidding a few feet before I came to a halt. The shield may be impossible to break so long as I have strength but it didn't mean I wasn't affected by the blow. 

Using Neko reflexes and acrobatics, I jumped onto of his paw with the next strike. The creature tried to throw me off its arm, I used the thrashing motion to throw myself onto its back, and drove Absolia deep into the things skull. It fell to the floor as the Absolution magic pulsated through its blood. It began to fade out of existence and I turned onto the next one. My next blow ready to cut through the things neck, well that was the plan.  Instead however the think swatted me aside, the blow instantly shattering my Clipeum.  I  flew through the air and ended up smashing through one of the windows on the upper floor. I let out a little yelp of pain, standing up.

"Kiem!" I heard Yuguchi yell, feeling her embarrassment.  So clearly I'd interrupted something.

 "Sorry sis." I growled going back over to the window and mumbling to myself. "If you could please come with me and give me a hand I would appraise it."

I then sent the same thought to Jasmine, Irina and Kordia. I then proceeded to run towards the shattered window and leapt out. As I jumped I throw out the Assault Blade on my shield.  While it was still in the air I leapt out after it, landing on it like a surf board. The shield impacted one of the beasts heads, causing it to whimper in pain. I flipped backwards, my Neko DNA allowing me to land perfectly on me feet, as it fell to the floor. The beasts head still ringing from the shield blow; I flipped Absolia around so she was facing up. As the creature landed it found its head impaled and it too died.. The assault blade soon fell to the ground and I retracted it into the shield. Before I could bring it into a block however two of the creatures flew at me. One found its paw imbedded on Absolia the other sliced into my side, leaving me with a bloody hole and sending me flying. I land on the floor hard. The glass in my back was too much for my already depleted energy levels and my shield faded into nothing.

"Looks like we are done for," I spoke, as the remaining twenty eight of the creatures were bearing down on me.

"It has been my honor to serve with you Kiem." Excelsior responded.

"I'm sorry I cannot do more." Changxi  added, a heavy hint of regret in her voice.

"Not if I have anything to say about it." I knew that voice, before the creature could finish me my beloved adopted sister was there, her Industria cutting through the beast with ease.

"You really thought we would hesitate to help you?" Yuguchi growled standing over me. "Hold back let us deal with these things."

"I can still fight Yugu." I tried to reply, but the poison in my veins and the blood loss meant that I stood I almost fell over.

Jasmine caught me before I did, shooting my a frustrated growl. "Not until I'm done healing you."

"Focus... on the wound in my side..." I growled winces as she pulled out the glass. "I can handle the glass."

"What the hell are you even doing here, little one?" Yuguchi called out blasting away with Industria.

"Our usual methods of communication have been compromised, I came to deliver a message to the Demon Sovrans." 

It was at that point the rest of the Coven arrived. Instantly taking stock of the situation and beginning to fight the creatures under the guidance of the Coven leader.

"Celestia, Calum, and Dwane! Keep them contained, we don't want these beasts attacking the rest of the town." Yelled Samantha ordered. "The rest of you all fight them as best as you can, and kill as many as you can. Most importantly, protect Kiem at all costs if he has a message for our royalty it's damned well getting through!"

As she called out that order Yugu and the others pulled me into cover. I winced at each little step and tried to get up once more. Jasmine gave up on removing the glass for now, realizing what I was saying was true. She instead moved to healing my side.

"Remember," Yuguchi spoke, firing off another blast from Industria. "You have to either decapitate them or destroy the damned head." 

"Hold still, it'll make healing your wounds a lot easier" Spoke Jasmine, locking eyes with me. "Or I swear!"

"I can still fight just heal the damned wound." I hissed angrily.

"No you fucking can't as your Guardian-Angel I can feel how weak you are right now." Irina called out angrily. "I'll pin you down if I have too."

"Fine..." I panted, Jasmine now done with the wound in my side moved onto the glass shards once more.

"What are we dealing with here exactly?" Kordia said, currently using her Bale to trick the creatures as best as she could.

"True Zhànshì not the imitations." I hissed frustrated.

"I could use my Justice." Irina said, firing off another Bale Arrow.

"No that would destroy all magic within the school area including the Well." Kordia said shaking her head.

"I have a plan, with the Aura share I did my Justice Includes Absolution magic, so it'll destroy these things just as easily, and more pin point, but if the Demons are near by in the state I'm in I can't promise it'll be confined to them."

Yuguchi nodded and once more called out on her comm. "Kiem is working on it, just buy us a few more seconds, and when I say so get as far away from the Zhànshì."

Once Jasmine had fully healed my wounds, I looked at Yuguchi or her. It went without saying what I needed, and as they were both Demons now, I'd be able to stomach their blood pretty easily. Jasmine pulled out a Scalpel from her medial kit, quickly cutting her wrist, and putting it to my mouth. I fed as much as I needed too then used her Core to heal herself. Once she'd done that I got ready. I used my Justice to deal with them, although moments after channeling it, the combination of Blood loss, the poison in my blood and Channeling the Justice caused me to black out.