Chrono X Angel, Book 8: The Sands of Time

Chapter 11

Down below, the fight against Abigail was going incredibly poorly. Sarah's plush body had been torn in half, with the Banshee still controlling the upper portion, if barely. Tatsuya was also in a poor state. One arm broken, the other paralyzed, and neither leg doing too much better. Abigail's new transformation was the culprit for that damage, as she had become some horrifying hybrid of human and centipede. With wings made from thousands of skittering legs, multiple red insect eyes, and a new pair of venom-dripping mandibles, the self-styled Goddess of Fear was certainly living up to her reputation right now.

"You know, I thought this fight would be a little more interesting," sneered Abigail, "I mean even with my new toys, I'm still missing so many of my old ones. I figured you might have an advantage..."

She waltzed up beside Tatsuya, caressing her former teacher's face with her crawling wings, causing the Angel to shudder in revulsion.

"I'm hardly beaten yet Abi," growled Tatsuya defiantly while holding her midsection with her good arm, causing Abigail to burst out laughing.

"Oh come now Ramiel, surely you're kidding right?" She cackled, "I'd say you're already one foot in the grave, but we both know it's only a matter of time anyway. Usoko did tell you right?"

Tatsuya glared wordlessly at Abigail, which told the Witch all she needed to know.

"I heard that the person who took you out did it in one shot, Master," grinned Abigail, "Maybe you were still too weak from this fight for them? Hmm?"

As she reared back to bite Tatsuya on the non-paralyzed arm, a bright red flash of lightning cascaded down from the heavens, striking the mountainside where the temple sat. From down below, huddled behind some debris, Sarah felt the change before any of them did. Usoko's energy had gone down a bit, but it had changed, and there was something else there now. A sensation that had not been there before, a feeling of tranquility. Though she could not see the shrine from where she lay, Sarah knew Usoko had done it.

"That was weird," shrugged Abigail, oblivious to the situation unfolding, "But anyway where was I... oh yeah~"

Before she could go in for the bite once again, Tatsuya vanished in a silvery blur that even Abigail could not see. She whipped around to see a figure clad in silver and pink armor, carrying a strange dual bladed spear in one arm, Tatsuya in the other, and long silver hair flowing down her back.

Back in the future, Altsuko had been observing the situation through Abigail's eyes. The Witch had only left mere moments prior, so the elder pinkette had yet to redress herself from their "bonding ritual" as she observed the ebb and flow of the fight. It was when the newcomer arrived that she began to legitimately panic. That damned goody two-shoes had actually pulled it off??

"Abigail, do you hear me??" Shouted Altsuko directly into the Witch's mind, "get back here now!! She may have the power of a Mettatron!!"

"I don't care what Transformer she thinks she is," hissed Abigail, "I'm not letting that bitch out of my sight!!"

Usoko turned to face the witch, and even in her enraged state Abigail fell back just a little. Usoko's expression was the definition of pure calm, but the intent behind those blue glowing eyes was absolutely petrifying.

"I see your face matches now your soul," quipped Usoko, setting her mother down gently before taking up a combat stance with her new weapon. She gave it a short twirl, causing the two hook-like blades to fan out like a deadly umbrella.
"I'll give you one chance to stand down. You really don't want to fight me."

Abigail's face twisted in rage once more. Just because she had changed up her hair and armor, she was supposed to give up? Her?? Abigail Williams?? The Witch of Salem, the Goddess of Fear, Binder of the Dark Gods??
Never!