Destined: 2 Be Continued

48. Supreme Buildup

Silas stepped into the eating room with Alex and August in tow. "Why are you waking us up? Where's Jeremiah? Who's this guy with the fedora?" Alex complained sleepily.

"I told you, my name is Silas Fitch," Silas answered. "I'm waking you up because Jeremiah was taken. I'll have you know I also told you that." Alex woke up immediately at the words "Jeremiah was taken." He must not have heard them the first six times that Silas said them.

"Do you have any idea where Vilor is?" Heather asked as she led Penny and Belle into the room.

"Of course. He's under the surface of the same island."

"That must be why the decoy burst through the sand!" August concluded, clearly feeling smart. Silas nodded. "Exactly. So if you could turn back..." August got the idea and went to the engine room to change direction. Silas brought everyone up to speed.

"You went into Heather's bedroom without knocking?" Belle asked, clearly offended. Heather slapped her torso reassuringly, and she shut up.

"I've changed direction," August said as he came back in. 

"Good," Silas responded, giving a nod to his monkeys. They turned into liquid Impervium and fused together with him.

"Once we are ready and at the island, we will go and destroy that evil moth," Castle rumbled. It had been a few weeks since he had been in this form, but he knew what he was doing. 

"Uh..." the rest of the Destined hesitated, staring at the twisted metal man-creature with knife-like fingers that was standing right between them. Castle waved off their fear. "Do not worry about my combat form. Go, get ready, and we will do battle."

The other Destined ran off to get ready. Castle looked at his arm made from twisted metal tendrils. He flexed, and lightning pulsed through the cracks, just like he liked it. There was a reflective surface on the buffet table. Castle looked at it, seeing the spiked and horned head with glowing red eyes. Soon, he would be rescuing the one that saved him from a cage just like this form; surely that must be ironic.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Halberd was nearly complete. He was fully encased in the beautiful cocoon that his master had weaved for him, the one that transformed him into his true form; the form he would be free in forever. The power radiated throughout him even though it was not yet complete. As Halberd formed into the perfect servant for his master, Vilor, he liked to imagine what his new body would be like. Would he be like a moth, in the image of Vilor? Would he be a bear, like his old version so loved to transform into, back when he was a master of shadow? Or would he be like the loyal soldier Marionette, who was nearly human?

Halberd looked at his left arm. It was rippling with shadow, a murky, whispy substance. Gentle gray smoke slowly curled off of it, adding effect to his shadowy skin. He loved it, oh, how he loved it so. He so wished to see how he truly was in every part and not just his arms. He knew he would be beautiful; Vilor was a careful planner.

"We are almost in full bloom," Halberd heard his master rumble. Halberd knew that his master was talking to him; there was no other thing around, especially not one that was nearly in full bloom like Vilor and he were. Just a few more moments, a little more power, and he would be free. He pushed and ripped, and Vilor seemed to be overjoyed. "My creation, you are waking! Awaken, if you can! Your ability to break out of the shell will signify that you are fully formed!"

Halberd obeyed and continued to try and tear the cocoon. He heard a rip and grinned. Light came from his mouth; now he knew his teeth glowed. He pulled again, trying to claw his left arm free. Once he succeeded, he continued with his other arm, then his legs, then his torso. He slipped out and landed on the cavern floor below. 

He looked in a pond nearby. His head was amazing--eyeless, but with glorious white teeth, with two axe blades on the sides, tilted slightly back to align with his skull. Smoke curled off of him like he was burning. 

Halberd turned back to Vilor. His master was in a cocoon a hundred times the size of his, which was pulsing with light. Halberd knew his master would be free in his own time; until then, he must protect him and destroy the Destined.

Yes, yes, that was his mission.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"There it is!" Alex cried out, pointing to the island for the second time. Silas Fitch--or rather, Castle, nodded. Heather pulled open the door. The Destined really were going to fight Vilor, and this time, he would not escape. But that was not their only mission. No, they also needed to free Jeremiah from Vilor, so that they could have their friend, ultimate power booster, and makeshift leader back. 

"Are we ready?" Castle asked, the wind rushing into the cabin. Everyone nodded and jumped out of the door. Wind, assisted by the powers of Castle and Silas, slowed the down so they landed gently on the sand. There was a hole in the ground; that must have been where the Vilor decoy came from. 

"There is no turning back," Castle reminded them. "I have no idea how powerful Vilor could possibly be. If his decoy was strong enough to nearly defeat you, then we might all be doomed."

"But you're Castle," Alex mentioned. "You kind of killed all of the other Destined."

"I was in dragon form," Castle shot back. "The only time I would be able to achieve such power is if Jeremiah put his full force into me. That would be the only way. However, Jeremiah may be fighting against us, and such a thing might not be possible. Still, we have that chance to win, and we will take that chance. Come on, we can't let Vilor develop any more, if he still is." 

The Destined jumped down the hole.