II. Gods and Monsters

First to Die

The chains slumped uselessly to the floor as their intended captive slid right through them. Amadeus' form had suited quite well to the task. With all his planning, Metatron had not thought that Hades would have any form of prison capable of holding him; an oversight that was easily corrected due to the constant presence of his manservant. Scanning his form was easy when given constant access to him, however, the form had served its purpose. Plates rotated, shifted and clunked into place as Metatron reared to his full height, his wings stretching out and almost filling the room. Metatron had seen the boy and his unidentified companion enter the holding cell and release the male, causing him to come to the conclusion there was no more reason to fake captivity. He let out a long, angry battle-cry, warning all those in the vicinity that the hunt had begun.

Advancing from the chamber, he strode down one of the narrow hallways. He knew that all the caverns somehow linked to the central hallway in front of the main staircase, but did not manage to get very far before being interrupted.

"Stop! How did you get out?" Amadeus called from ahead of him.

Metatron smiled underneath his faceplate as his form shrunk back into the disguise.

"Stop! How did you get out?" He repeated back to him, Amadeus taking a step back in shock.

"You may have escaped your chains," Amadeus told Metatron as he returned to his silver form, "But you will flee no further!"

Metatron completed the change as Amadeus raised both his hands, each once crackling with magical energy. A bright yellow beam erupted from each palm, only just missing Metatron and turning the wall next to him to dust. Metatron let out a second battle cry as he charged towards the human. Amadeus fired two more beams, this time finding his mark and maintaining their flow. The beams brought a halt to Metatron's charge, but Amadeus was shocked to find the hunter did not crumble. He poured more magical energy into the streams, causing Metatron to slide backwards, yet remain in one piece. The cybernetic monstrosity squared his shoulders against the magic, halting his slide backwards before raising his left hand towards the beams. His palm now took the force of the energy, halting the beams' advancement. Every so often a small bolt of energy would cascade off and disintegrate another portion of wall. But no matter how much magic and energy Amadeus focused into those beams, Metatron seemed to just take it. Metatron raised his right leg, then planted it firmly in the ground. This was followed by his left. Then his right again. Metatron straightened his back, keeping his hand outstretched and advanced towards Amadeus. The manservant tried to back away slowly, but Metatron's great strides allowed him to keep pace with him. Amadeus was growing weak from maintaining the magic and his legs started to shake.

"Is there a problem Amadeus? You seem to be exhausted," Metatron laughed mockingly.

Amadeus fell to his knees, sweat dripping from his face, neck and body.

"Remember what I told you? I told you that when this all came to a point, you would be the first to die," The beams flickered and faded, Amadeus' energy finally running out, "Now I aim to complete that promise."

Metatron grabbed Amadeus by the throat with his already outstretched hand, raising him off the ground before reaching to the back of his belt with his free hand. With the speed of a cobra, the right hand struck into Amadeus' stomach, causing him to let out a cry of agony. He felt the tip of Metatron's spear pierce him, blood spurting out onto the metal hand as it retreated. Metatron let out an audible "humph" before dropping him; as if he had suddenly become bored with him. Amadeus tried to apply pressure to his wound, but regardless, he was losing blood fast. Metatron turned and strode away, each footfall echoing off the stone floor. As he walked away, Metatron left a trail of blood as it dripped from his right hand.