Curse of the Phoenix

Ch.67 -Resurgence

Iara~

Grimm...it's almost done. It's almost over.

Nearly, but don't get your hopes up.

You're still mad at me?

Of course I am. You just killed yourself while I had to sit and watch.

Well I'm here now, and we have a job to do.

You don't have to remind me.

...fine, I'm sorry. It was that or have him kill me, while at the same time, the phoenix would be getting closer and closer to us!

You made the right choice..I'm just not happy with it.

I know..

I looked back up. Every beat of his wings brought us closer to Him. To Aras Thelduin, the mountains where he would emerge.

Grimm was in the lead, while Saphira flew behind us, followed by Lothlorien and Giligan.

Murtagh and Thorn had gone to get the others. We needed everyone if we were going to do this.

I looked back over my shoulder, at Eragon. He saw and nodded, but other than that he didn't do anything.

Looking back over Grimm, I could see the mountain. He would emerge there, I could feel it. But the real question was how to kill him..

Our blades probably weren't an option, he might be able to melt the metal if he chose to. Magic probably wouldn't work either, as he was a being of magic, he could probably deflect anything we tried.

Behind us, Thorn and the others had finally caught up, and were nearing the main group.

With a loud boom that seemed audible for miles around, the mountain began to shake and rumble. Lava began to come out from the center, and it pooled before running down it's slopes, burning a path through the forest.

It was hot, and extremely so, even from a thousand feet up I could feel the air warming.

The volcano itself actually began to erupt, lava and rock shot up into the air, nearly hitting Grimm and I. He probably wouldn't be bothered with his scales, but just in case. I turned back around to look at Eragon.

"Eragon! Be careful, there's lava and rock filling the sky!"

"I know, just watch yourself!"

After that, Grimm landed near the top of a neighboring mountain, so we could wait it out until The Phoenix arrived. Everyone else came as well, and I froze as Virtue landed. I had already seen Dru and Alice...but not Marumen.

And then I saw him. Before I knew it I was running at him. He just opened his arms and let me tackle him.

"Marumen don't ever leave me again, ok?"

"Yeah yeah....can't....breathe...

"Oh, sorry." I loosened my grip and then let go.

With another shake, the mountain shook. Most of us standing fell over, and even the dragons had to crouch to maintain balance.

With an explosion of molten lava, he came.

With fear in my heart I beheld his glory.

Now, he was no mere bird.

He was something more.

In size he had grown greatly so. With his wings several hundred feet across, his tail feathers long and burning, he emerged from the mountain.

His head was topped by a crest of fiery feathers, and his beak looked as sharp as any sword. His eyes were the same pitch black, yet they reflected an intelligence. A hunger.

He flew high into the sky, high, high above the clouds and smoke. The sun was at it's peak, yet the haze gave Vroengard the essence of twilight.

I laid my hand on the hilt of my sword, and readied myself. All of the suffering, all of the pain I had been through came up to this. I drew my sword.

And I dropped it as i felt him attack my mind.

You....pathetic....human!

What do you want from me? Why send me on that mission if you knew I was going to die!?

He had flown over to us, and was hovering several hundred feet away, staring.

Because you, you are...disposable.

Excuse me?

Why would I ever need you? You were only useful when you could buy me a few extra hours. Nothing more.

Then....damn you! Damn you to whatever hell you came from!

Oh, I came from you, dearest child. I have come to kill your pathetic teachers and reclaim what was mine. Die now, in vain.