Retaliation: the beginning

Chapter 60 : "Fire up!"

"open sesame?"

"No. I've told you there's no formula. Stop insisting boy." Azir stated. "no one will pass as long as I live."

"Damn it!" Brian shrugged "He's persistent."

"He's not the only one." Aaron remarked. "Now what?" he sighed.

"I'm looking for information but there's nothing here about giant rock-ish demons." Elias said swiftly flipping the pages of the book.

"I have an Idea." Derek offered for the first time, "Let's kick her ass for information!" he pointed at the seer standing by.

"You may as well try," The seer taunted "what the huntsman failed to do."

In that moment, Shane's nerves kicked in as he held up his dagger and ran for her as fast as the wind only the statue was faster; it flung him aside like a rag doll and settled back to its feet.

"I wish you luck, boy-" was the seer's last words before she got away.

Shane rolled over and glared, blood went down his face but he was far from giving up.

"Don't bother waiting for me." Kimberly muttered under her breath before she joined her brother in the race toward the statue blocking their way. She leaped high enough to reach the statue's eye sight and kicked it as hard as she could, Azir backed away but got a surprise attack from the hunter that was clutched behind his right foot, with a swing of his hand, he slashed the demon's foot with the silver dagger as it crumbled into dust and rocks.

A normal person with any kind of survival instinct would run for cover, sadly Aaron was far from normal, or a person, he was racing up the steps now taking advantage of the distraction the young hunters provided. Once high enough he seized the shot gun the hunters gave him and aimed for the statue's head. That final blow sent the demon back to hell for sure, the statue soon cracked into millions of pieces leaving the boys some time to breath.

The ground was shaking, it was a weird timing for an earthquake, by the time the hunters joined their friends the lighthouse slowly came into their eyesight when the dust cleared.

"Waw I never thought the statue meant what he said literally." Aaron pointed out.

"GG" Shane stated putting his thumbs up and Aaron laughed.

"I've got to hand it to you, for a low level demon," Kim started "You nailed it." She ruffled his hair.

"Hey don't mess up my hair!" Aaron complained.

Elias chuckled; it always amused him when Aaron and the others acted like kids.

"Don't get too excited this was only the beginning." Derek piped in.

Aaron rolled his eyes. "Chill grumpy you're killing the mood here."

The somber mood from moments ago gradually faded as they all gathered outside the old gates of the lighthouse, they all knew what had to be done and they all knew they were in it together.

The flat grey sky was streaked with waves of ash; an artist's rubbing over heaven's paper. The air tasted metallic and sulfurous, like brimstone. The land was silent, grimly waiting.

Brian yelped, leaping back behind Derek. "What is that?" he pointed at the cracked entrance of the lighthouse, strange light emerged from it.

Aaron looked over his shoulder, darklight glittering in his eyes like blue diamonds. "The edge of discord."

Elias moved next to him, staring into the dark rift. "The what?"

The dark haired boy flinched realizing what he said out loud "Em nothing I was just thinking of something."

"Hmph." Shane joined them with Kimberly. "So our theory is correct."

"Don't tell me we have to go in there," Brian said, peeking around Derek's arm.

"You can stay behind if you want," Ely replied, though he smiled. "But we'd have a hard time without you."

"Just close your eyes and hold your breath," Aaron said. "I'll let you know when we hit bottom."

Brian made a face and sighed, "Between you two, it's hard to say no."

"So I guess we're doing this," Kimberly said. She cracked her knuckles and took a deep breath. "Well, ladies first." She poised herself to spring.

"Wait, wait!" Elias waved his arms frantically. "Shouldn't we have, like, some kind of encouraging speech before we go? To fire us up?"

Kimberly smiled, a bit wanly. "I'm so wound up right now that I don't think you could psyche me up any more."

"That's why we should have a speech!" Aaron planted his fists on his hips, turning to Elias. "You're kinda the specialist. Any inspirational words to put our hearts at ease and blah blah blah?"

"Me? Um well..." Elias blinked and shrugged. " 'don't die and let's win?'"

Shane coughed. "Succinct."

Elia threw his hands up in the air, pointing at him. "Isn't this your forte? I mean you're kind of 'the leader'" he air quoted.

"No, I think you covered it fairly well." Aaron applauded "Bravo, very inspirational."

"All right, guys!" Brian fist-pumped and then stuck his hand out. The somber mood had all but lifted, the tension bleeding away from everyone. "You heard him. Don't die and let's win."

Kim laughed helplessly and rested her palm atop Brian's hand. "Can't argue with that."

"Are we really doing this dull gesture?" Derek asked, though he joined in.

"This is not one of my better moments." Aaron grinned and winked at Shane. "Don't hold it against me."

"Minus a million charm points," Shane deadpanned, placing his hand down on Aaron's.

Elias set his hand on top. "However said, the sentiment is accurate." He looked at everyone in turn, and each returned his determined stare with one of their own. "It might not be poetic, but I mean it. Let's all get home safely."