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Angel In The Attic	By : fusedtwilight Category: X-men Comics > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 5328 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own X-men, it is the property of marvel comics and in no way do i make a profit from this fic.

Chapter List
- 26
- 27
- 28
Angel in the Attic
Chapter 27
Fusedtwilight: Thanks to my beta Lisa for the beta, so here is the Champion's first mission as their own team. How will it go? Oh and I have a poll going on to see which of the Champion's are your favorite. To vote just go to my author page and vote.
In the town of Devil's Keyhole there was a flash of light and the Champions appeared out of nowhere.
They had teleported on top of one of the buildings. They wore casual clothes so they could blend in. Victor, Josh, and Julian wore holographic watches so no one would notice their mutations.
They all peeked over the side of the building and saw no one about.
"It's quiet, too quiet," Rickard said.
"Really, I am not picking up on anything," Wayne said.
"The town has about three thousand people but we should still see someone," Hisako explained.
"Guys something is wrong," Megan stated.
It was hot out, but despite that, Megan was rubbing her arms as if she were cold.
"What's wrong, Megan?" Angie asked.
"Remember those demons I had a run-in back home? Well, I was able to see them despite the fact they could turn invisible. When Magic filled my soul with darkness I sort of gained the ability to sense dark things. I don't see evil right now but I sure as hell sense it," she explained.
"So Eve was right. Something is wrong here," Michael said. "Franziska, can you sense anything?"
"Give me a moment," she said.
She placed her hands on her head and focused. "I am not picking anything up locally...wait...there is something...a group of minds...but...oh, they are afraid. Very afraid. Terrified."
"Where?"
"The town hall," she said.
"Alright guys, let's go check it out. Megan, can you teleport us there?" Michael asked.
"Sure can," she replied.
They appeared in front of the town hall.
Franziska held her head with a look of pain on her face.
"They are inside! I can hear them, they are so afraid!" she said.
"I can hear them inside," Wayne added.
"What are they afraid of?" Victor asked.
"They are being held captive. Women, children, the elderly...and there is someone else...someone...wait...is that-"
Before Franziska could speak further the doors opened and several men stepped out. Closing the doors they walked up to greet the Champions.
"Howdy, welcome to Devil's Keyhole. How can I help you?" the leader greeted. He was a portly man in his forties.
"Hi...um...our car broke down and we need help," Michael said.
"Must be a big car to carry ya'll," the man noted.
"Oh, um...we all drove separately but mine died."
"Well then, we will take you to the garage. Just follow us."
Michael had a bad feeling. The man was acting friendly but there was something about his eyes. They seemed to lack something. Something vital, Michael felt like he was staring into a pit that had no end.
-Michael, it's me, something is wrong. I am detecting no brain activity from these guys. And I am hearing Megan and she is getting a bad vibe from them as well- Franziska said mentally.
"Where is everyone?" Michael asked.
"What?"
"The people, where is everyone?" Michael repeated.
"Around."
Michael's eyes felt funny then, like a second pair of eyelids had just opened up.
It was the same sensation he felt inside his soul world and when he fought Bastion. He almost forgot what it felt like.
He remembered Adonai telling him he had inherited his late wife, Asherah's ability to see souls. He remembered souls as being a bright and radiant light. But as he looked at these men he did not see souls.
He saw a dark mist that filled them up.
"That's okay, I think we will walk around. Maybe get a hotel or something," Michael said.
"Then why don't you come on inside?"
"That's alright, we're good."
The man put his hand on Michael's shoulder using a very tight grip. "I wasn't asking. Take them."
The men all began to walk towards them. Michael slapped the man's hand away. He brought his fist up and slammed it into the man's stomach. The man was not even fazed and grabbed Michael by his shoulders and threw him on the ground.
The Champions already began to defend themselves from the other men. The Champions easily defended themselves but the men didn't seem to feel fear or pain. No matter how hard they were struck they did not stay down.
Julian had launched one of his arms through the air to punch one of the men in the face, breaking his nose but the man did not cry out of or falter.
Josh was defending himself from one of them men. The man grabbed Josh's left hand. "No!" Josh yelled.
It was too late. Blisters and soars began to grow all over his face. Pustules formed and broke and his skin began to crack and bleed. But never once did he cry out. Never once did he let go.
"These guys don't smell right!" Jacob said.
"What do you mean?" Angie asked.
"They smell dead."
Michael, who was still combating the man from earlier, brought up his hand and hit the man with a low level blast of angel fire to knock him out.
But the second the light made contact with him, the man's eyes flew open and he opened his mouth, letting out a scream. A dark vapor flew out from his mouth and dissipated.
The man fell to the ground, unmoving.
"Holy crap! He was possessed by a demon!" Devin exclaimed.
"How do you know?" Angie asked.
"It was just like on Supernatural!"
"I think he is dead!" Megan said.
Jacob transformed into his Wendigo form and ripped off the head of one of the men. Despite the obvious injury the body continued to fight.
"They all are," Jacob said.
"Michael, take them down!" Rickard yelled.
Michael sent a blast of angel fire at each man. The second it made contact with them the effects were similar as they had been with the first man. They would open their mouths and black mist would shoot out of their mouths and dissipate. The bodies would then fall to the ground.
"The hell?" Julian asked.
"Let's get inside, we need to help the people," Michael said.
They quickly went inside. They found dozens of people locked in the main hall. Just as Franziska had said, women, children, and elderly folk were all locked up. All of them scared, all of them looking like they had not seen a shower or bath in some time and they were all looking very hungry.
They stared in fright at the Champions. But once Michael told them they were there to help they were soon swarmed by them all, asking if there was anyone else and if they had food.
"Hold on folks. Please, we need your help to understand. What is going on?"
A woman holding a small child stepped forward.
"A man came to our town. We thought he was just some random drifter; we got a lot of those around these parts. Once he arrived in town people started going missing. Then one day they all reappeared following the man. The sheriff and his deputies tried to stop him, but this black mist came from the man, whenever it touched someone they...died."
"Please, you have to help my brother!" a young woman in her early twenties stepped forward. She was of Native American descent with long black hair and brown eyes. "He is being kept at the police station. His name is James Proudstar and-"
"Wait, James Proudstar? You mean Warpath?" Jacob asked.
"You know him?"
"What is your name?" Michael asked.
"Bethany. Before I was captured I was able to get a message out to him. Before the phones went dead and we lost all contact with the outside world."
"And no one has been here to see of you are alright?" Angie asked.
"That monster. He makes people into zombies. Makes them act normal and controls them. If someone comes by the zombies act like everything is alright. But if someone gets too nosy then...they are dealt with."
"Alright. Wayne, Megan, Franziska, I want you guys to fly above the town and tell me what you see. Jacob, Rickard, Julian, stay here and protect the people. Hisako, Victor, and Angie, I want you to go and get some food for these people and medicine. Josh and Devin, you two come with me, we are going to save James," Michael said.
"Be careful. If you see the mist, do not let it touch you! If it touches you then you die!" Bethany said.
"Don't worry Bethany, we will save your brother and get you all out of here," Michael said.
Jacob, Rickard, and Julian stayed behind while the rest left to go do their missions.
"What kind of monster could do this?" Megan asked.
"I don't know, I know of a few villains who can drain a person's life-force but not like this," Victor said.
"Whoever he is, he is about to get his ass kicked," Devin said.

Abreal stood in the cave. The drones worked on, not needing to rest or to feed. They worked on and on beyond what their bodies were capable of. But no matter how worn down their bodies became, not matter how much damage they did to them, they did not stop.
They were his puppets now.
Abreal knew the Champions were here now. He saw them through the eyes of his drones.
"So, father's new toy has come to play. Perfect. I should go introduce myself."
Abreal stared down into the pit he had dug out.
"Just a little longer."

Josh, Devin, and Michael hid behind a building, observing the police station.
They could see some officers standing outside holding guns.
"Devin," Michael said.
"On it!"
Devin ran, quickly grabbing all the guns from the officer's hands. Michael hit them all with a blast of angel fire and they fell to the ground, the mist escaping their mouths.
"May God rest their souls," Michael said.
They quickly but quietly made their way into the building. They ran into a few more officers but they were easily taken down.
They found James in one of the holding cells. He was tied up using chains to a chair. Normally he would be able to easily break the chains and bend the bars but he was unconscious.
They found the keys to the cell and walked in. Josh placed his right hand on his forehead.
"He is drugged. I can sense it in him."
"Can you wake him up?" Devin asked.
"Yeah. Hold on."
Josh's hand glowed a little and James opened his eyes. "What...where..."
"Easy James, we're here to rescue you," Michael said.
"What are you...my sister," he said still groggy.
"Don't worry. We saved her and the others."
James began to strain against the chains and they fell apart easily. He stood up, but then sat back down.
"We have to get out of here...before he shows up."
"You mean the guy who did all this?" Devin asked.
"Yeah, the day my sister called, I had a dream. My brother appeared to me, he said that our sister was in danger; an ancient evil had come to awaken the Anaye."
"The what?" Josh asked.
"My tribe has stories we have never told the white man. Stories that every Apache child is told. Once a long time ago, long before the pale faces came, an evil demon came and brought destruction upon the land. The Anaye was a demon of chaos. Many of our people died and we would have been wiped out had it not been for the arrival of the Diyin Dine'é. With their help my ancestors were able to stop the Anaye and seal it away."
"Let me guess, it is sealed away in Devil's Keyhole," Michael said..
"Yeah. Growing up none of us believed it was true. But during my time with the X-Men, I have seen some stuff that made me believe in the old stories. When I got the call from my sister I knew I had more than an odd dream. When I got in town I went to my people's sacred land. The place where it is said the creature was sealed away. But I couldn't enter it; there was this black mist and I noticed plenty of dead lizards and coyotes by the mist. So I went back into town to find my sister. Only I met resistance."
"The townsfolk," Michael said.
"Yeah. They kept coming at me, no matter how much I pummeled them. It wasn't until I stabbed a guy in the chest I realized they were not alive. It wasn't hard for me to fight them, but then he showed up. That winged freak."
"Winged?" Michael asked.
"Yeah, like you. Only he has four wings and they are black."
"Why did he keep you alive?" Josh asked.
"He said he needed my blood for the ritual to awaken the Anaye. Apparently my sister and I are descended from the shaman who helped cast the spell to seal the thing. He needs us to break the seal. I can't tell you how bad that would be if that happens."
"And does he have a name?" Michael asked.
"Yeah. Abreal."
Michael froze. For a moment he thought he misheard him.
"Abreal?"
"Yeah...you know him?" James asked.
"Michael, are you okay?" Devin asked. "You look like you have seen a ghost."
Michael immediately called Eve up on his communicator.
"Eve!"
"Yes, Michael?"
"What can you tell me about a creature called the Anaye?"
"My records say the Anaye was a demon summoned by the Neyaphem during the war. The creature was supposed to be an ultimate weapon but in the end it proved too chaotic to control and began to rampage. The Cheyarafim worked with the Apache tribe to seal it away."
"And if released how bad would that be?" Michael asked.
"Very. The Anaye is a high class of demon; its presence negatively affects the weather, causing tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and other such phenomena."
"Call Adonai and tell him he needs to get his ass down here now!"
"What should I tell him?" she asked.
"Tell him Abreal is alive and is raising hell. That will get his attention."
"Understood."
"Michael, what is going on?" Josh asked.
"Abreal is Adonai's son. He is the one who wiped out the Cheyarafim!"
"This guy wiped out a whole civilization?" Devin asked.
"Yeah. But I don't know how he lived this long or why he suddenly appeared. We need to get back to the others and get out of town!"
They all left the cell and made their way out of the building. Only to find over a hundred armed people waiting for them.
"Oh, snap," Devin said.
No one moved. The people stared at them with dead blank eyes.
"What do we do?" Josh asked.
"I'll take half and you guys take half. That is about even," James said raising his fists.
Michael wouldn't have been surprised if James could have taken them all on had they been regular people. James' power was he had a superhuman physiology. Strength, speed, reflexes, senses, they were all superhuman. He liked to wrestle bulls and grizzly bears for fun.
"Now now, no need for violence."
The crowd of people parted and a man walked forward. He was tall, about six-feet. He had long dark hair with scarlet tips. His skin was deathly pale and his clothes were extremely baggy. But he was very thin, so it made it look like his clothes were bigger than they should have been.
Michael looked into his eyes. They were blue with yellow flecks. But despite their vibrant color they were cold as ice.
Abreal stared at them dispassionately. His face was a blank mask of cold indifference.
Michael took a deep breath. He didn't know if it was the knowledge he was facing a man guilty of the genocide of his own people or something else. But looking at him Michael felt fear.
"So, you're Michael. You look a bit like my father. Something I am sure he boasts about," Abreal said with a cool tone.
"You're Abreal," Michael said.
"I see my reputation precedes me. Yes, I am he."
"How are you alive?"
"During my purge, the Cheyarafim mounted a last assault on me, had the war not weakened them they might have stood a chance. Many died, but in the end they achieved their goal and sealed me away. A group of foolish humans found me and released me. Since then, I took some time to recuperate and familiarize myself with this a strange world."
"Why are you doing this?" Michael asked.
"The Cheyarafim are gone...more or less. But my mission still remains."
"What mission?"
"To purge this world of all life," he said.
They all stared at him in horror. "But why?"
"Why not? Life is just a joke. A hell that we are stuck in. I am merely trying to free all those poor souls of this world from that hell. The Anaye will help see to that."
"But there are seven billion people in the world!" Michael exclaimed.
"Exactly, someone needs to thin the herd."
Something in Michael snapped. Seven billion people were nothing more than cattle to him?
He summoned his spear and rushed at Abreal.
"Michael!" Josh yelled.
Michael stabbed at Abreal with his spear but Abreal caught the blade with his hand.
"Father did teach you. You have the same technique as he does. Rush in and make a fool of yourself."
Michael jumped back. "If he was here you wouldn't be talking smack."
"Well he is not here. Just as he was not there for the Cheyarafim. Look what happened to them."
"Yeah, well, you didn't do a good job at wiping them out. Looks to me like genocide isn't your specialty."
"Maybe not, but I am an exceptional master of coldblooded murder."
Abreal raised his hand and a jet of black vapor shot out and hit Michael in the chest. He felt like he was being struck by a stream of freezing ice. It was colder then Ice-Man's ice blast.
The mist dissipated and despite feeling a bit cold Michael was unharmed. Abreal did not seem surprised or shocked; his face remained blank and cold.
"Looks like you're losing your touch." Michael raised his hand and shot a beam of angel fire at Abreal. It hit him in the chest and sent him flying back.
Abreal stood up, he had a burn mark on his chest but it quickly faded.
"So that is why you did not die. You also have father's ability. The holy fire is pure life; it's the core essence of creation."
"I call it angel fire," Michael said.
"Catchy. Now then." Abreal held out his hand and there was a puff of black smoke and a long broad jet black Scandinavian-like sword. He held it up, pointing it at Michael. "Time to die!"

The rest of the Champions were all back at the town hall.
They had brought supplies for the people and were caring for them all.
-Rickard, can you hear me?-
-Franziska?-
-Listen, Michael and the others are under attack-
-Do they need help?-
-Wayne, Megan, and I are going to help, but I should warn you hundreds of people are headed for the town hall-
-Hundreds?-
-Yes-
-You guys help Michael, we will hold them off-
-Be careful-
Rickard turned to the others. "Guys, we're about to have company."

Michael and Abreal fought in the air while Josh, Devin, and James fought Abreal's horde.
Abreal had taken off his jacket, revealing his four black wings.
They clashed their weapons against one another and sparks flew as their blades slid together.
Michael pointed his staff at Abreal but he vanished in a puff of black smoke and then reappeared.
"It seems my father taught you well," Abreal commented.
Michael spoke into his communicator. "Eve, did you get a hold of Adonai?"
"I got his secretary. She said he is not taking any calls. He is having his monthly pedicure and pedicure."
Michael rolled his eyes. "Tell her that the message is from Michael Bronson. Tell her if she doesn't tell him to get his ass over here I will see to it she is fired!"
"Right away, Michael."
"I see father is still unreliable. Some things do not change," Abreal said.
"Stop this now, you don't have to do this," Michael said.
"Why would I do that? What I am doing is mercy. The Anaye will free them all from their torment."
"Life is not torment! Yeah it can really suck, but it is filled with beautiful things! Like love, friendship!"
"Love? Friendship? What nonsense. Meaningless words people come up with to give their worthless lives meaning. I thought I saw the truth in your eyes. But it seems you are still just a child."
"Trust me pal, I know what pain is. I watched my family die. But I also know the glory of God's love and that is what keeps me going!"
"God? You think God loves?" Abreal let out a cold laugh that sent icy shivers down Michael's spine. "God is a sadist. Haven't you figured that out?"
He raised his blade and was about to fly at Michael when an invisible force hit him causing him to fall to the ground. Michael saw Franziska, Wayne, and Megan flying to him; Franziska had her hand held out having hit Abreal with her telekinesis.
"Michael, the others are under attack!" she yelled.
"Get Devin, Josh, and James and go help them. I will take care of Abreal," Michael said.
They flew down and helped the guys who were being swarmed. Franziska kept them at bay, while Megan teleported them all away.
Michael flew down and landed several feet from Abreal who was dusting himself off.
"So there is another of the Cheyarafim flying around?" Abreal asked.
"You stay away from her, Abreal," Michael said.
"Your attachment is a weakness. Didn't Yahweh teach you that?"
The crowd of thralls began to close in on Michael.
"He taught me lots of things. Like this!"
A flash of white light shone from Michael, when it hit the thralls Abreal's mist rose from their mouths and they all fell to the ground. Abreal had shielded himself using his wings.
He lowered them and saw his thralls were gone.
"I won't ask again, Abreal. Stop this!"
"The only way you can stop me is to kill me. But it does not matter, I have what I need."
Before Michael could ask what he meant he vanished in a puff of smoke.
Michael called Rickard on the communicator. "Rickard, come in!"
"We're okay, Michael. They are retreating!" Rickard said.
Something wasn't right. Why would Abreal and his thralls retreat? And what did he mean by 'he got what he needed'?
Michael spread his wings and took flight. He had a bad feeling about this.
When Michael got to the town hall he saw the signs of a battle.
The people had barricaded themselves in, using everything from chairs, to desks, to statues, to try and keep the thralls out.
When Michael walked inside he found Josh healing some people who had been injured; luckily no one was seriously hurt during the fight.
But James was arguing with Rickard.
"Why the hell weren't you watching her?!" James yelled.
"I am sorry, we will get her back, James. I swear!" Rickard said.
"What's wrong?" Michael asked walking up to them.
"My sister is gone!" James said.
"Bethany? What happened?"
"I don't know, one of the thralls must have grabbed her. We tried to keep them out but they just swarmed us. They managed to get in and it was mayhem!" Rickard said.
Michael knew then what Abreal had meant when he said he had what he needed now.
"Abreal has her then that means he is going to awaken the Anaye. Which means he will take her to where it is buried," Michael said.
"We need to go now!" James said.
"We need to get these people out of here. Rickard, I want you and Megan to escort these people out of town. Take them somewhere safe. The rest of us are going to go save Bethany and stop Abreal."
Rickard went off to go get Megan so she could help the townsfolk get ready to leave.
"So...are you guys with the X-Men?" James asked.
"No. We're kind of freelancing," Michael said.
"Nice. Guess being one of the X-Men gave you a taste for heroics, huh?"
"You could say that. Don't worry, James. We'll save your sister."
"I know we will. And after that I am going to rip off Abreal's wings, one at a time. I knew some of the people who lived here. They were good honest people and he killed them. He will pay."
"Be careful James, don't take any risks. Abreal wiped out a whole civilization. He is not someone to underestimate," Michael said.
"I don't care who or what he did. He touched my sister, he is dead."
Michael knew when James said someone was dead, he meant it. He was never one for idle threats.

Bethany tried not to look down.
If she looked down she would scream.
Hanging over a bottomless pit will do that to you.
When the thralls had swarmed into the building she had been outside the main hall making sure all the windows and doors were covered. Some of the thralls had found her and dragged her away before anyone could realize what was happening.
Now she was in a cave over a dark pit, hanging by her ankles, which were tied to a rope.
"Sorry to leave you hanging like this."
Bethany looked to her right and saw Abreal standing close to the edge of the hole.
"I promise this will be over soon. Sadly, the ritual can only be performed at twilight. It's symbolic you see, the fall of light to darkness, the end of the Anaye's imprisonment. I had intended for your brother to be the sacrifice. The magic is stronger in him then you. But you will have to do."
"My brother will save me! And when he does he is going to kick your pale ass back to hell!"
Abreal did not show any fear or worry.
"You should not place your faith in others, child. You will only be disappointed."

Michael and the others looked out to the mountain where they were heading.
Rickard and Megan were back with the remaining townsfolk, transporting them out of town to a safer location.
James took them to the place where, according to legend, the Anaye was buried. It was supposedly under a small mountain.
But just as he said, it was surrounded by the same black mist Abreal controlled.
"He must be using it to make sure no one interferes," Angie said.
Franziska tried using her telekinesis to move the mist but it did not so much as budge. It continued to float menacingly above the ground.
"Well that didn't work," she said.
"We could try flying over it," Wayne said.
He spread his wings and flew into the air over the mist. The mist reacted; it reared back and struck at him. He managed to dodge it and began to fly back to the others but some of the mist brushed his wing.
He let out a gasp of air and fell to the ground, luckily landing away from the mist.
"Wayne!"
Everyone ran to him. He was breathing hard and looked really pale. Franziska cradled his head in her lap.
"Are you okay?" she asked him.
"It touched me...I...I...could feel...my life...fading," Wayne said.
Josh healed Wayne. He stood up on shaky legs.
"Okay so obviously the mist can move on its own, so flying over it is not an option," Victor said.
"Maybe I can walk through it if I armor up," Hisako suggested.
She summoned her armor and walked toward the mist.
"Be careful," Jacob warned.
Hisako extended her hand slowly to the mist. The fingers of her armor touched it and to her shock the mist moved through her armor. Before it could react she quickly pulled back away from it.
"So much for that," she said.
"Maybe we should wait for Megan to come back and teleport us in," Angie said.
"I have an idea," Michael said.
He held his hands together in front of him as if he was in prayer. The group was surrounded by a dome of white light.
"Follow me, do not go out of the dome," Michael instructed.
They followed Michael as he walked through the mist. It was not able to penetrate his barrier. It moved around it like mist would over and obstruction. Wayne held onto Franziska's hand, the memory of his near-death brush with the black vapor made him feel very fearful of the ebony vapor.
Michael had remembered what Abreal had said about the angel fire being pure life so he figured the mist wouldn't be able to get through the fire.
They continued to walk toward the mountain. James led them to the mouth of a cave.
"In there. I can smell my sister," James said.
"It's dark, I can't see anything," Angie complained.
"I can," James said.
"And for those of us who don't have night vision…" Julian started.
Michael held up his hand and it shone with a white light.
"Alright, everyone. Be on your guard," Michael warned.
They walked into the cave. There was no black mist in the cave. Abreal may have figured no one would be able to get past the black mist outside.
"I remember coming here when I was a kid. My brother John held my hand, I was so afraid," James said.
"Aw, was wittle James afraid of the dark?" Devin asked, poking fun at James.
"Would wittle Devin like it if I broke his legs?" he asked.
"Shutting up now," Devin said quickly.
"Well what do you know, miracles do happen," Angie said with a grin and Devin scowled at her.
James stopped walking and pointed to the wall where old cave drawings could be seen.
It showed what appeared to be a tribe of people living harmoniously.
"Before the Anaye showed up our tribe thrived. We lived in peace with the world. The land was good to us, providing us with plenty of fruit and vegetables and buffalo to hunt."
They walked down a little further until they saw the same tribe, only now many of them were dead or fleeing the image of a giant winged monster.
"Then the Anye came, and with it the land turned on us. No one could fight it, no one could reason with it. It never stopped. And for the first time in a long time our people faced extinction."
They walked a little more and saw a new set of drawings. It showed dozens of winged beings flying from the sky and attacking the Anaye. Michael thought the leader of the winged beings who carried a large sword, had a remarkable likeness to Adonai.
"But just when it looked like all hope was lost, the Diyin Dine'é appeared and saved us from destruction," James said.
"Guys, look at that," Angie said pointing to one of the figures.
They looked and saw the Diyin Dine'é she was pointing at. He had four black wings and carried a sword.
"Abreal must have been there all those years ago when they sealed the Anaye," Michael said.
"That's how he knew where to find it," Jacob said.
They continued to walk down the tunnel, looking at the next drawing.
It showed the Diyin Dine'é flying above the beast while several humans danced around it. The Anaye appeared in a circle.
"The Diyin Dine'é and the Apache joined forces and together sealed the beast here. My people swore to guard it and make sure the Anaye never returned again," James said.
"So the Anaye is buried beneath the mountain and Abreal will use Bethany as a sacrifice to wake it up," Michael said.
"He won't lay a finger on her! If anyone has rights to kill her, it's me; I am her brother! Big brothers have that right," James said.
A small smile tugged at Michael's lips. For a moment he was reminded of his brother Paxton. He remembered before his mutation activated, he and his brother would play.
One day when they wrestled outside Michael had managed to wrap his arms around his neck while Paxton tried to throw him off.
"You little brat! I am going to kill you!" he had said.
"You can't, you're my brother!" Michael had said, holding on for dear life as his brother swung him around.
"Big brothers always have the right to kill their little brothers!"
They had laughed and roughhoused until their mother had called them in, then chastised them for rolling around on the ground and getting dirty.
"Honestly, what am I going to do with you two? Thank heavens Mya isn't so dirty," she had said as she wiped their faces with a wet towel.
Michael took a deep breath and pushed the memory aside. Now was not the time for reminiscing.
"Let's hurry up. Franziska, can you sense Bethany?" Michael asked.
Franziska put her hand to her head. Michael noticed telepaths tend to do that when they want to focus their powers. He never understood how putting your hand to your head helped them focus their abilities.
"I sense her, oh, she is so afraid! Abreal is planning on doing the ritual at dusk."
"When is that?" Wayne asked.
"In thirty minutes," Angie answered, checking her watch.
"We need to go now!" James said.
He ran down the tunnel, disappearing into the dark.
"James, wait!" Michael yelled.
There was no response.
"Damn, come on guys!" Michael said and they quickly hurried down the tunnel after James.
James ran as fast as he could, he could see perfectly in the dark so he did not have to worry about tripping or running into a wall.
He could still hear the others calling for him, even though he had left them far behind.
He did not come across any thralls on his way through, though he did see plenty of tracks on the ground.
He knew the layout of the tunnels well enough to know where he was going. He remembered when he was a child and he, along with several other Apache children, were taken to the heart of the mountain.
That is where his sister would be.
She was all he had left now; John died all those years ago, he would not lose another sibling.
When he finally got to the main chamber he found Bethany hanging over a giant hole. He did not recall it being there before; he wondered how long it took to dig it.
"James!" Bethany yelled.
"Hold on Beth, I am going to get you down from there!"
"James you idiot, it's a trap! He knows you are here!" she said.
"I don't care, I won't let you be harmed!" James yelled.
"I would be more worried about yourself."
Abreal walked from the corner of another tunnel.
"So glad you could make it. Now I have two for the price of one."
James pulled out his hunting knives. He looked around, listening for the sounds of anyone else, like the thralls, but the air was silent.
"If you are expecting the thralls, then don't worry. They are all gone," Abreal said.
"What do you mean?" James asked.
"He had them all jump into the hole, James!" Bethany said, her voice shaking at the memory.
"Why are you upset?" Abreal asked. "They were already dead."
"You're a monster!" Bethany yelled at him.
"Wait until you see what is sleeping below," he said.
"Not happening, freak!"
James threw one of the combat knives at Abreal. The winged mutant did not even try to dodge it; he just let it hit him in the chest.
James smirked, knowing it hit him in his heart.
The smirk died when Abreal merely pulled the knife out of his chest, not even wincing. The wound quickly healed itself.
"Question. My mist drains a person of their life-force. So if it drains it, where does it go?" Abreal asked. "The answer is me. The life-force is drained by the mist and absorbed into my body where it is stored. This keeps me young and helps me heal from any unfortunate injuries."
He disappeared in a puff of smoke and reappeared behind James. Before he could react, Abreal stabbed him in the back. Bethany screamed James' name and watched in horror as he fell to his knees.
"Too bad you don't heal fast."
Abreal walked up to the pit, ignoring the weeping Bethany.
He lifted up the knife and held it over the pit.
"The blood of a Cheyarafim mixed with the blood of an Apache. With the bodies of several hundred people offered as sacrifice."
He tossed the knife into the pit and held out his hands.
"Now I offer the life I have absorbed from the mortals of this land."
Dark mist shot out from his hands and went into the pit.
Abreal began to chant, not taking notice that James was crawling to him.
The mist stopped and Abreal lowered his hands.
"It is done," he said.
James grabbed his leg and stabbed him in the ankle with his other knife. Abreal just looked down at him, unimpressed.
"And so are you."
Abreal raised his hand to blast James with his mist, but before he could a beam of white light hit him in the chest and sent him flying into the wall.
The Champions had arrived.
"That's enough, Abreal!" Michael yelled.
Abreal dusted himself off.
"Glad you could make it, Michael. Though I fear you are too late."
Just then the room began to shake and a red light began to rise from the pit.
Bethany began to scream and thrash around as she looked into the pit.
"The Anaye comes, and with it, death."
Abreal vanished and as time passed the room began to shake more and more as the glow from the pit grew brighter.
Julian used his power to get Bethany down safely and Josh quickly healed James.
"We need to go now!" Michael shouted.
They began to run back through the tunnel they had come from.
The tremors were becoming more and more intense, and chunks of rock was falling from the roof. Franziska and Julian used their power to shield the group.
But then the tunnel collapsed ahead of them.
"Damn, let's find another way!" Victor said.
"No time, this place is coming down!" Jacob yelled.
Michael called Eve on his communicator.
"Eve, can you teleport us out?"
"Yes, Michael, I require a minute. The mystical energies around you are making it tricky to lock onto you."
"Hurry up!"
Just then the same angry red light that was shining from the pit began to glow from down the tunnel.
"What the hell is that?" Angie asked.
"Eve, get us out now!" Michael yelled.
"I got a lock," Eve said.
Just before the light hit them they were teleported away.

They found themselves at a distance from the mountain with black clouds filling the sky. A vortex, like the eye of a hurricane, floated over the mountain.
Lightning struck at it, blasting off huge chunks of rock.
There was a huge explosion and the whole mountain imploded.
Then there was a deep angry bellow that issued from the dust, and the Anaye stepped forward.
It was massive. It was a hundred-feet-tall, it had the head of a bull, the wings of a bird, and the body of a man. It had cloven hooves for feet and a long serpentine tail. Its skin was an angry red color like burnt skin, and its eyes were black.
It opened its mouth and a jet of fire shot out into the air.
The wind began to pick up and it began to rain. Lightning flashed in the sky, illuminating the horror that had been unleashed upon the world.
"Well, we're boned," Devin said.
"My God, look at that thing!" Jacob exclaimed.
There was a flash of pink smoke and Rickard and Megan appeared.
"Hey guys, we got everyone to saaayyy- what in the hell is that?!" Rickard yelled.
"A very big problem," Michael said.
"How are we supposed to stop that thing?" Angie asked.
Michael turned to Megan. "Get James and his sister out of here!"
"No, I am staying!" James said.
"James, no!" Bethany shouted, grabbing his hand.
"I have to Beth, this thing almost destroyed our people. It is our duty to stop it once again."
"Last time it took an army of the Diyin Dine'é to stop that thing. I don't see any around now!"
"Actually, you are looking at one right here," Josh said pointing to Michael.
"There is another. But apparently getting a pedicure is more important," Michael said with a scowl.
James handed his sister to Megan. "I will be okay Beth, I promise."
"You better James, I can't lose you too," she said.
"You won't, I promise," James said.
Megan took her away and they all looked to the Anaye. It was beginning to move towards them.
"Alright Champions, let's do this," Michael said, holding up his spear.
Fusedtwilight: I admit I had to tweak the mythology on the Native American stuff the Anaye and the Diyin Dine'é are Navajo myth. Next chapter they fight Abreal and the Anaye, can they win?
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Angel In The Attic