"You didn't allow me to do anything. You forced me to come up here."
"To prepare for our release, Calliope."
As the conversation continued, the people of Powell River were trapped in motion. Each and every one had been unable to move a muscle since the new creature had appeared. Yet they could see and hear everything. Although the paranormals were not under the spell, they too pretended to be stuck in time.
"Enough!" yelled another voice, as a similar looking creature but with larger brown eyes stepped out of the crater, his thin white hair blowing in the soft breeze.
"You know what you must do, Palius. She must be sacrificed," he said, brandishing a small jewel encrusted dagger.
Calliope's eyes widened in horror as Palius took the dagger and moved towards her. "No," she breathed as he approached her with his arm in the air, ready to attack. Calliope froze in fear, as Carmelo and the other vampires made their move at the speed of light, throwing themselves at the creatures. Disarming Palius immediately, Carmelo held the dagger to his throat.
They both laughed, a sound which crackled through the silence, echoing deep into the crater below.
"So our power does not have an effect on you. Do you really think you can kill us?" asked Palius
"Yes, we do," said Carmelo, looking at Calliope before bringing the dagger down on his shoulder blades, removing the creatures wings with a long swipe of the blade.
"My wings," he whispered, before falling to the ground.
Carmelo swiftly threw the blade to Walter who repeated the act on the other creature.
"Now burn them as quickly as you can," said Calliope, rushing forward and taking Palius' wings in her arms. She threw them on the fire which crackled loudly and threw out sparks all around them.
Palius and his friend withered before them, their thin bodies decaying quickly until there was nothing left but a pile of dust.
"Two down... how many more to go?" asked Zoltan with a grin.
"There are more, many more, Zoltan. We will have to act quickly otherwise we will lose this fight," she said, standing atop the crater waiting, wondering why the others had yet to appear.
The people of Powell River, dazed and confused after being released from the strange spell, rallied together.
"What can we do, Gabriel?" asked the Sheriff, who stood by his wife, holding her hand.
"I don't know that you can do anything, Sheriff. These creatures seem to have power over humans."
"Wait," shouted Calliope from the distance, "Perhaps I can counteract their power," she said. "I can try to prevent their power from working over you. But I must set my own power over you first. I will not do it this time... unless you allow me to," she said. "But... it will only make you immune to their motion power, not to anything else. You will still be in danger. You can still be harmed. Please trust me..."
The Sheriff turned to his people and saw they were all in agreement. It was the only way.
"Yes, do it, Calliope. Then we can destroy the Nephilim together."
Calliope lifted her arms and swayed them from side to side with her eyes closed. It was as simple as that.
"People of Powell River. When they appear, you must pretend to be in their power. Let them believe they hold the power over you. Do not move until we tell you to."
A huge clap of thunder could be heard, but it didn't come from the sky, it came from below. Within seconds of the sound, creatures began to crawl from the crater, like hungry lizards waiting to feed.
One after the other, they stood staring up at the sky and grinning, drooling and wiping their mouths with their filthy hands.
"Calliope?" mouthed one, "Isn't she supposed to be dead?"
"Where is Palius?"
"I smell death."
"Free, we are free," said another.
Carmelo watched on as one stupid creature after another seemed to act like a lost rabbit in the headlights. These would be easy to kill, he thought, suddenly jumping into action and calling, "Now!"
Chaos ensued as the whole of Powell River ran towards the creatures, brandishing knives, daggers and swords.
Wings were chopped, sliced and butchered off of the backs of the Nephilim creatures who looked confused as they fell one after the other.
When just one remained, he watched in horror as his fellow Nephilim were killed in front of his very eyes. The people approached slowly, their weapons held high above their heads. He turned to face the crater and shook his head. "No," he whispered. "Not me, I will live," he said, falling forward into the abyss below.
There was silence as the bodies of the Nephilim were thrown onto the huge fire, blue, red and green flames and sparks danced in the moonlight.
Calliope stepped forward and looked down at the huge hole in the ground.
"Do you think he's dead?" asked Zoltan.
She shook her head, "No. Death can only come in the form of the removal of their wings," she replied.
"Then we should go after him," suggested Carmelo just as Jo rushed forward into his arms.
"You're not going anywhere. We've got a wedding to organise," she smiled, leaning into him and he gently planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Wait," shouted Lilly, "what about my father? Shouldn't he have come out of here too?" she asked, tears stinging her eyes.
"And my sister. She was looking for me too. Where is she?"
Calliope turned to the two girls, "There are many people down there. I am sorry to say that some, I feel, have perished."
Lilly gasped and turned to Tiffani. They held each other and sobbed.
"Is there nothing you can do?" Carmelo asked her. "You are Nephilim, after all?"
Calliope's eyes dropped to the floor. "Please do not call me that, Carmelo. I do not want to be Nephilim. I never really did. But, perhaps, there is something I can do."
Lilly and Tiffani's sobs stopped as they turned to look at the woman.
"Can you? Can you do something?"
Calliope turned to search for somebody. "I believe your friend holds the key to that question. Now where is she? December?" she said aloud as there was a slight commotion as the red haired girl scrambled over fallen columns and bits of broken vehicles, tripping over until she stood by their side.
"I'm here," she smiled, holding onto Lilly's hand.
"I will need you to do what you have been doing and tell me what is going on below ground. If you can contact your friend and get him to tell you everything, then perhaps I can help them find a way out."
December nodded, squeezed Lilly's hand and then turned away.
"Where are you going?" asked Lilly.
"To find Millicent. I feel like I need her to be here with me."
"But where is she?"
"She's helping the wounded."
Suddenly, the realisation hit home. There had been casualties in this war with the Nephilim and there were people who were seriously injured that needed help.
The group began to climb through the fallen structure until they reached the area where the wounded were being treated and the dead were being covered over.
Millicent was found next to Mrs. Dickson, who had sustained injuries to her left arm and leg where one of the flying beasts had pulled her from the ground before Calliope's singing had lulled it away, dropping her to the ground.
"I'll be fine, Millicent, thank you" she whispered, "Go and help the others."
Her husband held her tight in an embrace while Jemima gently held on to her other hand.
"Millicent? I need your help to contact Jack," said December as her ancestor nodded, looking around at the carnage that was left behind.
"There are so many injuries," she said.
"But it's over now," replied December, "the Nephilim have been defeated. These evil creatures that have been kidnapping people for hundreds, if not thousands of years, are dead. They won't be able to do this any-more."
Millicent nodded and smiled before they joined Calliope and a few others just inside the fallen structure
.
December went to sit on the hard floor before Calliope waved her arm, revealing a soft bed of feathers beneath her. She smiled, closing her eyes and focussed hard on the task in hand.
She heard voices as Lilly and Moira came to sit beside her.
"No, I won't tell her yet," Moira had whispered before she fell into a trance-like state, her head throbbing all over.
"Jack? Can you hear me? It's me."
She said nothing for a few minutes and Lilly's heart began to drop as Moira stroked her back gently. "Don't worry, I'm sure he's fine sweetheart."
"Hello?" she said suddenly and Lilly sat upright, "Dad?" she whispered.
"Jack? Is that you?"
December opened her eyes just for a second to seek out Lilly. She took her hand and nodded with a smile before she lay back down.
He was alive. Lilly let out a low sigh of relief, tears welling up in her eyes.
"We did it!" she said out loud, "Calliope helped us. She wants to know everything about where you are. She thinks she might be able to lead you out. But you must describe everything...."
She was silent again for a few moments, before she nodded to herself.
"He's trapped in a large cavern. It's the place where the humans were kept in cages. They were kept there by a beast but when he left them, he smashed the tunnel entrance with its tail, stopping them from getting through. He's released all of the captives, but some of them died. There are over 100 people there..."
Calliope interrupted her, "December? Ask him about the river. Does the river continue to flow through that cavern?"
December asked and nodded, "Yes, they have been drinking from it."
"The river is their only hope," said Calliope as she placed a hand on top of December's. "They must enter the water and swim beneath it until they come up into a slightly smaller cave where they will find a huge cage. That cage will now be empty, but it used to protect the lunar stone. There should still be a fine light shining upon it, at least until daybreak. Place everybody into the cage and then press the stone three times. It will release the opening. But they only have until daybreak. Maybe two hours. They must hurry."
December relayed the message to Jack before she opened her eyes.
"Will they make it?" she asked.
Calliope pursed her lips, "Honestly? I don't know. Over 100 people, most of them very weak, it will be particularly difficult for them to survive under the water, I'm afraid."
Lilly covered her mouth with her hand and shook her head.
"Wait, December. Remember the bubble? Your protection spell..."
December squealed, "Of course. Gather the witches. Hurry..."
Calliope stood up, confused.
"Don't worry, I'll tell you all about it....." said Lilly as she proceeded to tell her how her best friend had saved her life before using nothing but a bubble.
"Genius," said Calliope.
"But wait, you're Nephilim. Can't you use magic to help them?" she asked but Calliope shook her head. "My magic will not work below ground."
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
Jack gathered everyone together and told them the news the Nephilim had been destroyed before he explained about their only way out.
There were cries and sobs as the weaker people realised the enormity of what lay ahead. They might not survive under the water, but they had already been through so much hell that they were willing to give it a try. It might lead them home.
One after the other, people began to crawl into the tepid water, taking long gasps of air before they began to swim towards the lunar stone. Their only hope.
But strange things began to happen when they put their heads under the water. They found they didn't need to hold their breaths. They found they hovered within large bubbles, enabling the weakest people to be pulled along by those who were stronger.
Jack smiled, watching them all smiling under the water, eager to reach their destination. Once again, December's magic was working.
Soon, when they saw a bright light, they all began to swim upwards until they reached the cave Calliope had described, where, just as she'd said, there stood a huge cage.
Zalea, pulling Eric through the water, helped him out before she began to help the others until everyone was on dry land.
Quickly, they carefully ushered everyone into the cage as Jack located the lunar stone which twinkled below the light that shone down from above.
But there was a problem. The stone wasn't reachable from the cage.
He would have to stay behind.
Just as Zalea had managed to get the last person into the cage, she turned and saw his predicament.
"No, Jack," she said with tears in her eyes. "I will stay. After all, I am not as far from home as you are."
"No. I won't leave you here. I promised to get you back to your sister and I promised everyone else I would get them home. I'm not leaving you here," he said, pushing her back into the cage. But before he got the chance to close the door and bolt it shut, Jack was shoved inside and the bolt was locked.
Turning to see who had done it, he cried out loud, "No....no.....no....Eric...."
But the next thing he knew, there was a huge flash of light, the cage seemed to explode into pieces all around them and they were thrown to the ground.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
"Jack?" said a sweet voice to his side. "Jack?" it repeated.
Opening his eyes, he was forced to squint at the bright light that shone down from above.
"Sorry, I just needed to check your eyes," said the woman in the white coat, turning off the small torch. "I think you're going to be just fine."
"W...w....where am I?" he asked.
"You're in the hospital."
"Which...h...hospital? he asked.
"Powell River."
Jack couldn't help but let out a cry as tears filled his eyes. "I'm....home?" he whispered.
"Dad? Dad?" screamed a voice as Lilly came rushing in through the door and threw herself on him as the Doctor smiled and exited the room to give them some privacy.
"I'm so glad you're all right," she sobbed until her voice was hoarse as he did nothing but just smile, crying as it hit him he was finally where he belonged. He was home, with his little girl. Well, she wasn't so little any-more.
Eventually, Lilly looked up and stared at her father.
"I thought you were going to die. You were in a coma," she said nodding, wiping the tears from her face.
"How long was I under?" he asked, trying so hard to keep it together.
"Three days."
Suddenly, he remembered what had happened. "Eric..." he groaned. Poor Eric. The man was a hero.
"How is everyone?" he asked.
"The family is okay," she whispered, "but one of our close friends is seriously ill."
"Oh honey, I'm sorry... who is it?"
"His name's Monty. He's taken care of December ever since she was a little girl. He's the nicest guy," she sobbed.
"I'm so sorry," he said, holding her tightly in a long hug.
"Son?" said a quiet voice from the doorway.
"Dad?" Jack said, watching Gabriel hobble into the room with a walking stick. He looked so much older than the last time he'd seen him.
"Dad," he blurted out before tears began to flow between the two as they hugged each other tight. Lilly stood up and watched before she tiptoed out of the room and let them have some quality time together. After all, they hadn't seen or spoken to each other for nearly sixteen years.
#
Monty was being cared for at home, after refusing to go to the hospital. He was well aware of the severity of his injuries and he certainly didn't want his final days to be spent in a hospital room, so Moira had agreed he should be at home with those that love him.
"Monty, oh Monty darling," whispered Ruby as she hovered by his side. "I wish I could help you. I wish I could do something. I feel so darn useless just hovering about like this."
"Nonsense," he coughed, "You know I love
your company, regardless of whether you're dead or alive," he chuckled, smiling.
"Mother," said Moira, "perhaps Monty ought to rest a little?"
"No Moira love. I'd rather have Ruby with me, if that's all right with you?"
Moira smiled and patted his hand before she gently helped him sit upright, just a tad, so he could take a little sip of water.
"I wish I could hold your hand, Ruby," whispered Monty as he looked at the woman he loved. The woman he had always loved, ever since he had first laid eyes on her spirit, he knew she would have been the one for him. It didn't matter that she wasn't alive. He just loved being with her. He felt she was his soul mate.
"Oh Monty, I wish I could hold yours too. I have always wished for that to happen, my darling. Oh Monty, I do love you. I'm sorry I never told you before..."
Monty's eyes lit up.
"You love me?" he choked and she nodded energetically, "Oh yes dear. I do, from the bottom of my no longer beating heart," she laughed.
"But...but...I love you...too," suddenly his body was limp and his eyes closed. His heart beat for the very last time.
"Nooo," wailed Ruby as she hovered over the love of her life.
Moira rushed to her side, followed by December and Lilly as they all shed tears over the death of their dear friend.
"He's gone, mother. I'm sorry."
"He told me... he told me... that he loves me, darling," laughed Ruby, hovering directly above his body. "And I loved him so, I loved him so much. I can't bear it. I can't bear that he has gone," she wailed.
"I haven't gone... not yet, Ruby," said a voice from the doorway as Monty's spirit hovered towards her.
"Monty?" she cried, rushing towards him. She stopped just before she reached him and held out her hand. He did the same.
But when they met in the middle there was a flash of electricity, followed by a loud crackle.
Ruby yanked her hand back, as did Monty, while the three others looked on in shock.
"Did you... feel that?" Ruby asked wide-eyed and he nodded, holding out his hand to her again.
She touched him and her hand didn't go through him, she felt him. Really felt him.
"Oh my...." whispered Ruby as the two fell into each other's arm in a long embrace.