Chapter 16

Howie, Luke and Cole stood helplessly by as a large chasm separated them from the rest of the group. From where they stood, they saw Modezarran fall to his knees under the combined wounds inflicted by Kevin, AJ and Brian. As thunder rumbled above, Howie turned towards the forest, hearing something.

‘Khira help us.’

The legion of zittacs that had only moments before disappeared into the forest were now returning, most probably at the call of their injured lord. A mass of teeth and claws moved towards Howie, Cole and Luke, the only thing standing in their way to Modezarran. Exchanging a look with Luke, Howie and the warlock moved to stand protectively in front of Cole. With the zittacs almost on top of them, Howie chanced a glance at Luke, knowing only what AJ had described of the warlock. And here they were fighting on the same side. Feeling eyes on him, Luke turned towards Howie and gave him a smirk, easily figuring out the man’s thoughts. As they both turned back, Luke about to plunge his dagger into the first zittac within reach, a wall of fire emerged before them.

Luke jumped back in surprise, but the zittacs weren’t as lucky and screamed as the fire burned them. Howie could only watch in awe as the fire moved with a life of its own, destroying all zittacs that approached them. Zittacs that tried to avoid the fire found themselves falling headfirst into the cracks formed from the previous earthquake. As more zittacs stubbornly continued to attack them, the wall of fire formed a pathway towards the forest clearly showing an escape for the three. There was only one person Howie knew off that could have done what he was seeing. The graceful movements of the fire all spoke of his little brother’s touch. Making up his mind, he hugged Cole to him one last time before pushing the boy towards Luke. Cole looked up towards Howie questioningly.

"Go with Luke, Cole."

"NO! He’s t-"

//Do what Howie says, Cole//

//Nick!//

Cole felt the gentle touch as his fears were banished and love enfolded him.

//Go with Luke, Cole//

As the fire continued to blaze around them, Luke felt the touch of the mind he once held captive.

//I’m asking you as a friend, Luke. Guard my Cole. Take him away from here to Mat and the others//

An apprehensive silence followed before he continued.

//Will you do this for me?//

//You’re alive//

//I’m talking to you, aren’t I?//

Luke picked up on the humor in Nick’s tone, and the reassurance being sent his way. He gave a mental sigh as he answered.

//You know I’d do anything for you, you good for nothing drake//

A mental laugh, a sound he cherished, answered his reply.

//Looks like we’ll be getting that chance at friendship you were talking about//

And Nick was gone from his mind once again. Gently but firmly taking hold of Cole who still looked at him suspiciously, he made his way into the forest after a nod to Howie who moved towards Nick and the others.

//You think you can make the jump?//

//AJ still owes me lunch so I can’t die yet//

//Think happy thoughts//

//What?//

//Nothing. You know, you don’t have to do this//

//My place is with all of you//

//Then jump, D//

And so Howie did. As he landed on the other side of the large chasm, he breathed a sigh of relief. Turning he could see the remaining zittacs attempting to follow him fall to their doom. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he looked up to see familiar blue eyes stare back at him.

‘Damn it.’

He cursed himself as he felt the tears gather in his eyes. Before he could say anything, he felt arms wrap around him.

"Nicky."

//Hey there handsome//

Kevin thought his heart would stop as heard Nick’s voice echo through his mind. Almost afraid to do so, the memory of his first failed attempt still fresh in his mind, Kevin reached out.

//Nezadi?//

//Did I ever tell you how much I love it when you call me that?//

Kevin was currently fighting for his life and the lives of his friends. He was literally hanging on with everything he had. His claws were embedded in arguably, the deadliest creature alive, and all he could feel was intense joy that the love of his life was there before him, picking this of all times to flirt with him.

//No, Nezadi//

//Well, I do. I love it almost as much as I love you//

Kevin could feel the silly grin start to form and for once in his life couldn’t care less that he was behaving nothing like the fearsome general he was known as. Suddenly, Nick’s head tilted to the side as if hearing something and gave one last smile to Kevin before moving away.

//Be back soon, Kev. Howie needs me//

"Howie?"

Brian and AJ were having one hell of a time trying to get Modezarran to stop trashing around. The sound of Kevin’s question however brought their attention to him and as they turned towards where the older man was facing, they saw Nick moving away towards three figures in the distance. Brian turned towards Kevin and was surprised to see him smiling. Hesitantly he asked.

"Khira?"

Kevin’s smile threatened to split his face as he answered.

"Nick."

AJ let out a whoop of joy even as he clung harder to the back of the creature.

"Knew Nicky wasn’t going to let a few cuts keep him down."

The others shared the sentiment although they knew their healing would take more time. Nick’s death was something that was going to haunt them for some time yet, even if they did have him back.

Modezarran wasn’t about to let them forget whom they were dealing with. He still wielded his deadly claws, and even as his struggles increased his loss of blood, he was determined to take them down with him. As if in tune with his emotions, the ground began to rumble once more. Brian looking up for the first time from Modezarran’s back, noticed that the grove ended just beyond a few trees in a sheer cliff drop. The struggling creature’s movements were bringing the lot of them closer towards the cliff, while the rest of Jakati’s soldiers had long ago abandoned the grove.

"We have to force him off the cliff!"

"Easier said than done, Brian!"

AJ answered followed by a grunt of pain as one of Modezarran’s flailing claws connected with his leg. They all knew the moment they released their hold on the creature and made it to the ground, Modezarran would have ample opportunity to kill them. Kevin used his claws to scale the creature’s neck like he would a mountain and Modezarran released a deafening roar in protest.

"Oh shut up already!"

AJ felt like he was going deaf and the pain in his leg wasn’t improving his disposition. His own hold on the creature was growing weaker, and he could tell Brian and Kevin weren’t doing that much better either. From Brian’s glances towards the grove’s edge, AJ guessed they weren’t that far from the cliff.

//Let go, guys//

//Nicky!//

AJ heard Brian’s response over his own and realized Nick must have linked them all together. Only problem was, Modezarran seemed to have heard Nick too.

"NICKOLAS!"

His roar boomed across the grove and the quaking earth only intensified.

//Let go now, guys//

Out loud, they all heard.

"You are dying, Modezarran."

As they slid to the ground, Modezarran’s attention fully centered on Nick, they turned to see him standing by the now smashed trees, courtesy of Modezarran’s previous trashing. The path to the cliff’s edge, now visible was clear, only Nick standing in Modezarran’s way. AJ, struggling to stand on his injured leg, found a supporting hand going round his waist and turned to see Howie by his side as they exchanged tight smiles before focusing once more on Nick.

"All your plans have failed."

As Nick continued speaking, the others could see him taking steps back towards the cliff’s edge, Modezarran unconsciously following.

"And I will make sure you never hurt us again."

Nick had stopped walking and Modezarran had come to stand just before him. The towering presence totally enveloping Nick in shadow. Modezarran, by now severely affected by the blood loss was more animal than anything else, raised his talons to strike a deadly blow. Just before the talon could make contact, Modezarran heard Nick whisper a prayer.

"Rest in peace, Modezarran."

And flames rose to surround him, their heat so intense, Modezarran jerked back in response and finally fell to his death down the razor sharp jagged edge of the cliff face to the stormy waves below.

AJ, Brian and Howie all screamed to see Modezarran fall, Nick still trapped where he stood. They rushed to the edge, only to find the spot deserted. Frantic, they searched around only to see Kevin rooted to his spot. Brian recognizing the intense shine to the green eyes, turned to see a pool of shadows making its way towards the older man. Seeing the moon covered in dark clouds that had moved in and were threatening rain, the shadows were able to gather right at Kevin’s feet. And ever so slowly, the shadows rose and started to take shape. Now, the figure of a man stood before him, and in the blink of an eye, the shadows fell away to reveal Nick, blue eyes shining as he finally, after all this time stood within arm’s reach of Kevin.