Chapter 15

‘This can’t be happening.’

Brian couldn’t believe it.

‘Nick.’

"No, no, no, nonononon…"

"Brian, come on buddy. Snap out it."

He could feel AJ shaking him, the desperation more than the words pulling him out of his shock. He realized he was on his knees facing Nick, Kevin’s face buried in his brother’s neck, the tear tracks visible on his cheeks.

"We couldn’t save him, AJ."

AJ could feel the ground trembling beneath him. At first, he couldn’t have cared less. Nick was gone, and it was his fault. But, hearing another roar, louder than before, snapped him out his trance. He wasn’t about to lose anymore friends today. Brian seemed to be coming out of it, but Khira help us, how were they going to reach Kevin?

Suddenly, it was as if an earthquake hit them, its focus the pillars. The marble cracked open, and as the moon began to shine again, clawed hands could be seen pulling itself out, its talons gleaming in the moonlight.

"We have to get out of here! I’ll get Kevin, you get Brian," AJ ordered Luke as he moved towards the older man.

"Kevin," as gently as could, his heart breaking as he looked upon Nick’s slack features.

"Kevin, we have to go."

He might as well have been talking to a wall for all the response he got. Checking, he could see half the creature out. One disfigured wing now visible, and another roar was released.

‘Oh boy.’

"Kevin."

He moved to release Nick from his grasp, but stopped as he heard a growl.

"Kevin, please. Don’t be like this. Nick’s g-gone."

AJ’s voice breaking towards the end. It was the first time he had said it, and it made everything real somehow.

"I’m never leaving him. You go AJ. My place is with Nick."

Kevin finally looked up at him. His eyes clear, his mind made up.

"We can’t do that, Kevin," Brian said as he approached them, Luke in tow.

"We couldn’t do that to Nick. I know that’s not what he would have wanted."

Brian felt new tears threaten as he watched Kevin place a gentle kiss to Nick’s temple.

"Nezadi."

A roar, the loudest yet pierced the night. The creature was finally free. With a swipe of his tail, the pillars that had held him all these centuries were destroyed. Out of the cracked surface from which he had escaped, out came waist high creatures, their scarred, mangled bodies giving them a gruesome appearance as they swarmed out into the grove heading straight for the guys.

"We really have to go!"

Kevin looked up, his heart numb as he watched the zittacs approach. Distantly he recalled an old tale that described zittacs as one of Modezarran’s many vicious creations. A memory came to him then, one of many he would cherish forever.

A very happy fifteen-year-old Nick laughed as he watched Brian, AJ and Howie splashing around in the river. Kevin and himself were just about to join them, when he noticed something catch Kevin’s eye.

"Kevin?"

"Follow me, Nick."

Telling the guys they’d be back soon, Nick followed Kevin into the forest. Quietly they made their way past the thick underbrush, when they finally came upon a clearing. Kevin instructed him to stay low and they watched as a doe licked her fawn clean.

"They’re beautiful," Nick breathed softly to his friend, and they both shared a smile as they watched the scene. A particularly loud cry as AJ, most probably, dunked Brian once again, startled the doe and her fawn causing them to run deeper into the forest.

For some reason, the scene brought back questions Nick had about his mother, his real mother.

‘Had she loved him? Was she happy when he was born?’

Lost in thought, he didn’t hear when Kevin first called him.

Finally snapping out of it, he was surprised to feel Kevin’s hands cupping his face, worried green eyes searching his own.

"What’s wrong?"

Feeling goose-bumps at how close Kevin was, Nick couldn’t help but smile at the older man.

"Nothing, Kev."

"Uh-huh, and AJ’s a priest."

Both laughing at the improbability of the statement, Nick suddenly felt bad. Kevin had lost his family as well, and didn’t need Nick dragging all that out just because he was curious about his mother.

"Really, Kevin. It’s nothing."

"You’ve never lied to me before Nick."

Nick bit his lip and looked down, trying to get Kevin to release his hold, but the older man was having none of that.

"Nicky, please."

After taking a deep breath, Nick spoke in an almost whisper.

"I was thinking about Mama."

"You mean the Quee-…. No, you meant……"

"Do you think she loved me, Kev?"

Pulling him into a hug, Kevin kissed the top of the young man’s head.

"Oh Nick. How could anyone not love you?"

"But she gave me away."

"We’ll never know her reasons, Nicky, but I for one am glad that she did. How else would I have the pleasure of you annoying me every chance you get."

At that, Nick pulled away, a look of mock outrage on his face.

"I do not. You’re mistaking me for AJ. Besides, you know you love me."

When all Kevin did was answer with a tender smile, Nick was embarrassed to feel the blush creep up his face.

‘Why the hesitation to tell me?"

"You’ve lost your family too, Kev."

Pulling Nick back into another hug, Kevin replied.

"Yeah, but I’ve gained another in you and the guys, Nicky."

"We both have."

Looking straight at Kevin, Nick continued.

"And together we’ll keep them safe, won’t we?" More of a statement than a question, Kevin nodded nonetheless, and then smiled as he saw the mischievous look that entered Nick’s eyes as they could still distantly hear the others splashing in the river.

"But for now, I think it’s time to liberate some friends of their clothes."

As Kevin looked up to see the hundreds of zittacs headed their way, the orders left his mouth automatically.

"Regroup and head for the trees. The shadows should be able to provide some cover."

Brian and the others wasted no time in following Kevin, Nick clutched preciously to him, their relief palpable to see some life return to their friend. The zittacs caught up to them however, just before they could reach the tree line. Fortunately, they were close enough to be under the cover of the tall trees that Kevin’s shadow creatures were able to form a protective wall around them, Howie and Cole having joined them just barely.

"Jayden’s alright. Myaku has h-"

Howie totally forgot what he had to say as he caught sight of Nick in Kevin’s arm, pale skin and so, so still.

"No."

Falling to his knees by Nick, the whispered denial left his lips. Running a hand over the side of Nick’s face, he looked up to see Kevin shaking his head at him. Giving Nick another kiss, he let Howie hold him as Kevin got up to join Brian, AJ and Luke.

Within the protective wall the shadow creatures had created, they could see the zittacs viciously fighting it out with the shadow creatures, both clawing and shredding each other The odds were stacked against them, and Kevin realized it was only a matter of time before the shadow creatures were overwhelmed. Even though they were remarkably resilient, the sheer number of zittacs would eventually tip the scales in the enemy’s favor.

Howie didn’t know what to do. The whole time they had been coming after Nick, he had never let himself entertain the idea that they could be too late. It just couldn’t happen, but now, here he was holding his best friend’s body. As a pair of small feet came into view, Howie looked up to see Cole’s tear stained face, the chaos surrounding them nonexistent.

‘What the hell do I say?’

Laying his head on Nick’s still chest, Cole saved Howie the trouble. Rubbing his cheek against Nick’s tunic, Cole unwillingly let his tears soak the material.

Howie, about to place his hand over the boy’s head almost died of shock when Nick hugged the boy closer to himself. But it wasn’t Nick’s voice he heard. Instead a feminine voice sounded.

//Do not cry, child//

Cole barely felt the arms surround him but at the words, he lifted his head to come face to face with Nick, golden eyes staring back at him from the familiar face. Very slowly, he pulled away from Nick never once breaking eye contact.

Howie watched as Cole backed away slowly, and wondered what he was going to do. It’s not everyday your friend’s body comes back to life in your arms, so as always, when in doubt, he called to the one person he could always depend on.

"Kevin!"

Watching as Modezarran stretched his wings, Luke voiced what was on all their minds.

"The moment he leaves this grove, we’ll lose all chance of ever defeating him."

"What the hell can we do to stop him?"

"And even if we could think of something, there’s still the problem of getting past the zittacs to him."

Suddenly, almost as if hearing them, Modezarran turned his gaze upon them. As he started walking towards the group, an almost curious expression on his face, AJ couldn’t help but remark.

"Well, we wanted him to stay."

Exasperated, Brian turned towards his friend.

"And just what do you want us to do once he gets here? Offer him a meal?"

"Kevin!"

Howie’s cry caused them all to turn and gasp as one to see Nick staring back at them through golden eyes, his wounds healed.

Nick.

Alive.

Instinctively reaching out with his mind, Kevin was the first to speak.

"You’re not Nick."

//No, but I’m afraid there is little time for explanations. There is one last chance of defeating Modezarran//

Her voice resonated through their minds. Soothing, with the feel of a summer breeze as it warmed their soul. Without a doubt they recognized her for who she truly was.

"KHIRA!"

Modezarran’s roared cry brought reality brutally crashing back on them as they realized he was just beyond the shadow wall, the zittacs having moved on to enter the forest seeking out more victims. Both Brian and Kevin distantly realizing they’d better do something soon before the Terayanu were slaughtered.

With a swipe of his talon, Modezarran managed to shatter the shadow wall, and Kevin feeling the pain of the shadow creatures, ordered them to retreat. Now it was truly going to be all up to Kevin and the rest.

Looking down at them, it was clear Modezarran was only interested in Khira/Nick. His presence almost suffocating all those around him with the malice he radiated. A smirk grew on his face as he approached his former captor.

All of them struggled to remain still as they heard Khira’s voice in their heads once again.

//Modezarran cannot be injured or killed as his magic acts as a shield covering his entire body. Observe where I place my hands. In Nick’s body, I will only be able to channel enough to weaken that one point. You must strike him there//

Even with Modezarran towering over them, they could pick up the regretful note in her voice.

//You must do what I could not, all those years ago. You must kill my brother//

"Sister! You have failed!"

Enfolding her in one of his wings, Modezarran bared his teeth as he bent his head towards his captive. Reaching out a hand, they all saw as Khira/Nick placed her hand over his neck. In that instant, the image of Nick shimmered and they could vaguely make out a vision of a beautiful woman. Nick’s features becoming sharper, a definite feminine cut to it.

As if just realizing what was occurring, Modezarran let out an angry snarl and with a viciousness characteristic of his cruel nature, the creature moved to snap Khira/Nick’s neck.

"NO!"

Kevin lunged for all he was worth towards Modezarran, his claws extended towards the creature’s neck. Piercing Modezarran, a flash of lightning lit the sky as thunder erupted around them. Modezarran’s disbelief at being injured quickly gave way to shock as he tried to shake Kevin off, but the man was having none of that. He dug his claws in deeper and as Modezarran fell to his knees, he was joined by Brian’s sword and AJ’s dagger. His grip loosening, Khira/Nick fell from Modezarran’s grasp. Kevin looked to the beloved face even as he dug his claws in deeper, and so was the only one to see the golden eyes looking up at him shimmer to blue.