Godly Opposites

Chapter 12: Shock...

To say the campers trained like madmen and madwomen would be an understatement. By the end of the week, everyone was a proper warrior and a seamless team. The only thing they couldn't defend themselves from was surprise visitors. And one just happened to show up...

A week after Helios (the horse, not the god) had shown up, everyone was taking it easy for the first time. A late dinner and some singing from Xylo and Jake helped everyone relax. And, of course, the second everyone had their guard down, it happened. 

Ritchie was just making a dirty joke to Michael, with everyone laughing at Michael's flustered face, when Mario froze.

"Everyone," he whispered urgently. "When I unsheath my sword and fire my lighting, have your weapons. We have company."

Everyone nodded without a word. Mario ever so slowly reached behind him and grabbed his sword. Quick as lightning, (no pun intended) he unsheathed it and fired a massive thunderbolt over Brick and Brandeen's heads. The black shadow he was aiming at leaped from the roof it was on top of and landed softly in the darkness. Everyone's weapons were out. No one, not even Michael, waited for questions. 

Ritchie lashed out with his whip while Xylo fired three arrows at the figure. It dodged easily, and wrapped Ritchie's whip around its' wrist. At least, what looked like its' wrist. It pulled and Ritchie went flying into the wall, conking out. 

Michael was either angry about his boyfriend, or he was mad about not asking any questions. Whichever of the two, he sprinted forward and swung his sword in the general direction of the shadow's neck. It didn't hurt it, but the impact was enough to knock the shadow into the firelight.

The person was terrifying and absurdly handsome at the same time. His hair was brown and wavy, his build, slender, yet muscular.  Black, curved horns jutted out of his head. Feathery black, ten-foot wings stretched from his back. His clothing went along the same lines: a black chiton, a black laurel wreath, purple shoes, and black and purple gauntlets. And his face...

At first, Jake didn't know what he was seeing. The left side of his face was a normal tan. His life eye was mahogany-colored. But the right side was covered in a reddish-purple burn, with his right eye the same color. It was as a door had slammed on him when he was only halfway inside, cutting him in half.

"Now that we're not fighting, maybe some questions are in order," Kaykrae stated. "Who are you? A spy for Kronos? An enemy I've never seen? A monster untold?"

The stranger chuckled. "All you need to know about is that you are all dead meat. Especially you, Mario."

Mario stared at him. "How do you know my name?"

"What, don't recognize me? I guess my new makeover really has worked. Oh well, I guess that will make things a little easier."

Bri stepped forward. "Listen, Two-Face, I want answers and you're not giving them. What do you want?"

Two-Face smiled. "Well, dear sister, I'm after the same thing you are. Power."

Bri blanched. "Sister?! What are you talking about?"

"Aphrodite is my mother as well. Her children make the best warriors. We understand the need for power more than anyone."

Jake had had enough. He launched himself at Two-Face, Trident drawn. Out of nowhere, Two-Face's weapon appeared: a frightening black spear, with a glowing fuschia jewel for the blade.

Trident clashed on spear and the hardest fight Jake had ever fought so far began.

All Jake could see was a whirl of gold and black. Shadows were everywhere and Jake was getting seriously disoriented: not a good thing to happen during a fight.

Finally, Two-Face made his mistake: he slashed his spear at Jake's head. Jake ducked and kicked the spear out of his hands, bringing him down in the process. Jake held the Trident to his throat and was about to slit it when Two-Face said something that turned everything upside down.

"You wouldn't kill me, would you, Jakey~Poo?"

Jake froze. That name...

A montage of moments Bryan had called him that went flashing through his head. No...it couldn't be true...he was supposed to be dead...

"Bryan?" Jake whispered.

(...Why am I so evil?)