Prophecy: Tome of Heart

18. One Great Evil: Part One

It had taken almost everything that was in her, but Angel had managed to avoid being sucked into the portal. Of course, without Qui'hara there to save her, she would've met the same fate as her friends, and she too would be in that terrible place where Toby and Austin now were. But Qui'hara had been there, and she had been saved, and she struggled to regain her strength as the villainess offered no mercy to her plight. Angel wanted to look tough-infallible-but her knee buckled and she knelt to the floor, the throaty laugh of Monica Wright ringing in her ears.

"Be strong, I need you." Qui'hara was next to her in an instant, offering some of her own strength to get her back upright.

"I won't let you down, I promised. You're not alone, just like I said. We can still do this." Angel was courageous, her voice possessing all the energy that her body did not.

"Stubborn until the very end." Monica took her time with them, soaking up what would surely be the ultimate victory. "I wonder how you can stand here now, in front of me as I am, and act like you're unafraid. All the love in the world won't be enough to stop me-no matter how strong you think yours is. I do envy you in a way, you get to leave this life clinging onto that, when it was the first thing I was forced to let go of. I wish I could show you kindness. I wish I could kill you quickly and allow you a painless death. We both know that's impossible at this point though, yet I at least hope you'll give me a challenge."

"Never in all this time did I think this day would truly come, but I must avenge my sister. Zeonya is long dead, and you, Monica Wright, will pay for that." It had taken her too long, but Qui'hara truly did understand now that the sister she had been longing to reach was no longer there. No, it was only her body, her face, the shell of the family she once knew. There was no going back, and this was the only thing she could do now-so she would do it. Without another word the demoness charged forward, her blade whistling as the air passed along the razor sharp edge.

The serum was still working its way through Monica's body, but already a host of new powers had been unlocked for her. Back where it rested at her apartment, her own blade called out to her as if they were connected. There was a quick flash before it appeared in her hand, moving through time and space to be by her side in time to block her sister. It startled Qui'hara at first, but she bounced back and adjusted quickly before diving right in again. Nothing changed, and it was the same old thing as they settled into their deadlock, steel squealing against steel as they twisted and struck at one another.

Every move was matched with equal, and the minutes wore on as they fought, giving Angel enough time to ready herself to join them. She began charging at the villainess, making easy work of the short distance as her metallic fist vibrated with the kinetic energy store within. Monica saw her coming from the moment she set out though, and she adjusted accordingly. She ducked down to avoid the wide swing Qui'hara made, coming back up to ram the hilt of her weapon into the demoness' hand, disarming her as the sword flipped up into the air. It only stayed up there for a second, but the second proved to be enough.

Qui'hara tried to recover after losing her weapon just as Angel arrived, her fist raised and ready. Monica latched onto the cybernetic woman and twisted, arcing around her entire body with enough momentum to deliver a forceful kick to her sister. The velocity sent the younger Karthix demon flying, and as soon as the villainess' feet hit the ground she tightened her grip on Angel and pivoted, throwing her a distance. Yet the faux hybrid landed upright, and she immediately took aim and fired her fist. Monica knew the move by now, and she was just as quick, flinging her sister's sword at her with a flick of the wrist as it came down from suspension.