The Myth and The Guardian Book II: Christopher
Chapter 11

Allen backpedalled as quickly as he could, but his speed was inferior to the swift movements of Archie’s sword. The first attack missed Allen’s throat by only centimeters, but the second swing of the fire blade connected with his hand. The third swing was a direct hit to his torso, but Allen transformed into black mist a second before the blade done actual damage. His body reappeared a few feet away from Archie, but Archie was fast and his level of focus gave him an advantage. No sooner than Allen’s body became solid again, Archie was in position and ready to strike again. Allen kept transforming and running from the wrath of Archie and his deadly weapon, but the blade was still making small cuts to his body while in his black mist form.

Christopher was unable to heal properly without his leg which was nearly half way across the room. He could only heal enough to slow the bleeding down, but not completely stop it.

“Help me.” He said in a whisper to all of the people standing close to him.

“We know you’re not Austin.” Joel responded immediately.

“He’s still in here and feels just as much pain as I do right now. We need our leg.” Christopher spoke through the pain.

All of them wanted to help, but all they could see was the monster that only slightly resembled the boy they all loved.

“Alex, please. I need help.” Christopher begged as he tried to reach out her.

Alex moved away from him as he offered her his hand. She was doing everything she could to not cry and feel sorry for the creature talking to her.

“They’re afraid of you.” Austin’s voice spoke weakly in Christopher’s head. “Either you give up and let me have control, or we will both die right here.” Austin added.

“Shut up!” Christopher exclaimed as the anger of being helpless got the better of him.

His outburst startled everyone standing near him, except for Alex.

“Is Austin talking to you?” She asked as she remembered how Christopher acted in the hospital before he healed Jason.

“I’ve seen him do that before when Austin was trying to say something.” She added as everyone looked at her.

“Is she right? Is Austin saying something in there?” James asked Christopher. “Answer me you monster!” James screamed to everyone’s surprise.

“Christopher could feel the rage creep to a rise inside of him, but there was nothing he could do to harm James in his weakened state.

“How dare you raise your voice at me, you worthless insect! I’ll kill you!” Christopher yelled as he tried to grab James’ leg.

The strain of trying to move nearly caused him to black out. James avoided the hand with ease and stood on Christopher’s hand before he could move it.

“All of those empty threats and you can’t even free yourself from my foot. You’re pathetic.” James taunted perfectly.

Christopher rolled a little and grabbed the leg with his other hand, but James quickly punched him in the face and moved back. The humiliation was too much for Christopher to handle. He crawled furiously at James in an attempt to grab him and pull him to the ground. James took three giant steps backwards and stopped moving. Christopher used all the energy he had left to reach James, and he did. As soon as he was close enough to get a grip on James, he drifted out of consciousness.

Archie was hardly trying to hit Allen with the sword as his strikes became much slower. His attacks had gotten poor in comparison to the ones a few minutes earlier, but he still tried with enough effort to keep Allen running. Allen noticed the change in enthusiasm and saw a chance to counter the attacks. He connected his own mind with Archie’s again, but before he could attempt to distract or trick it, he heard Archie’s thoughts.

“Very good, James. Christopher has blacked out.” Allen heard as Archie thought. “Austin, it’s done. I have no idea how much time you have, but you should be able to take control now.” Archie’s thoughts echoed as Allen listened with anger.

“You tricked me!” Allen yawped as he broke his connection with Archie’s mind. No sooner than the words left his mouth, Archie began to attack as strongly and quickly as he had done at the start of the battle. Archie could see the anger in Allen’s eyes as he continued to attack. Suddenly, Allen caught the flaming sword in his hands and pulled it from Archie’s grasp. The impact of the sword on Allen’s hands caused a flash of fire and bright light. Allen tossed the sword across the carpet, but it vanished before landing next to Aaron’s body. Allen released a cry of more anger than pain as both of his hands fell to the ground as the sword went flying across the room.

Archie focused quickly on his own hands and created bright energy that surrounded each of them, but Allen attacked before Archie had time to think. His entire body once again transformed into the black mist and started twirling around Archie. Archie struggled to breathe as Allen’s mist form twirled faster and sucked the air from around him. Archie opened his mouth and gasp for air, and some of the black mist went inside of his body. He felt his insides go from normal to burning in a matter of seconds as the mist grew hotter and hotter. Archie screamed, and the black mist inside of him shaped itself like a serpent. The serpent was only black for a few seconds before it turned to pure fire. The fire serpent quickly went from Archie mouth to his left ear, out his right ear, up one nostril and exited through his eye. It repeated the pattern over and over until Archie was blind, deaf, and in excruciating pain.

The others watched helplessly as Allen viciously attacked Archie with no signs of stopping. They listened to him scream in agony knowing that there was nothing either of them could do to help him. Archie’s body had returned to his human form as a result of the attack. Everyone knew that this was worse news for all of them.

Christopher’s body soon transformed back to normal as well, and his eyes slowly opened.

“Alex. Where’s Alex?” Austin’s voice came from the body.

“Austin? Is it you?” Alex asked softly as she looked at him.

“Alex, I am so sorry about…” Austin tried to say.

“It’s okay. I will be fine.” Alex replied before he could finish.

The rest of them look more confused than ever as they wondered what the two of them were talking about.

“James, thank you. Thank you for trusting Archie. If I am going to die, I am glad it is as me.” Austin spoke weakly as he looked at James.

“You’re not going to die, Austin. You can’t die. You have to do something! Think!” James said as tears filled in his eyes.

“This body is worn down, and I can feel it getting weaker without the other leg. Christopher’s attempt to heal it only slowed the bleeding.” Austin answered.

Archie fell to his knees and then completely to the ground before Allen stopped his attack and returned to normal form. As soon as he returned to his human form, Allen felt winded and weak. He knelt on the ground and tried to make sense of him being so fragile. He stared at Archie who was unable to move and struggling to heal the damage Allen had done to his body.

“Did you really think that would work? Did you really think I would kill myself by killing you?” Allen hissed at a greatly wounded Archie. “Look at yourself. You try so persistently to save these people, but you can’t even save yourself. One actual attack from me and you’re reduced to moments away from dying.” He added coldly.

Archie managed to heal most of the damage to the inside of his body before he was too weak to continue. Allen stood from the floor and walked slowly towards his helpless brother.

“Why are you doing this?” Archie asked in a fragile voice. “You will never get the medallion again. Gabriel hid it in a location only I can get to. Your plan to get home failed.” He added as he rested.

“You have no idea what plans I have for all of you. This is just a phase of a much more valuable lesson that needs to be taught. I will replace a way to get back home against his wishes. Neither his will, his decree, nor shall his own hand prevent me from doing so.” Allen replied proudly as he formed new hands on his body.

“The medallion is mine now, and Austin in control of the body once more. He would die before he agrees to help you.” Archie responded as his energy slowly returned. “You fail to understand me, Michael. I have seen my redemption in the prophecy, and one of them will fulfill this vision for me.” Allen said with a dark grin.

Austin’s other leg started to float suddenly, and it slowly moved through the air, over the carpet, and towards him. Allen, Archie, and all of the others stared at the leg, and soon turned there gaze to Austin who was more surprised than all of them. As the leg got closer to him, Austin noticed the leg was floating because of a very tiny ball of light underneath it. He looked over and confirmed the hunch that was dancing around inside of his mind.

Aaron had pulled the dagger from his own chest, and he was using what little energy he had remaining to get Austin his leg. Archie was the first to take notice of Austin’s gaze and follow his eyes to Aaron. He was also the next to make the connection as he saw Aaron left index finger focusing on and guiding the leg slowly to Austin. “Well, I am impressed. You just refuse to die, don’t you?” Allen asked as he moved slowly towards Aaron.

Aaron was fearless and continued to focus on getting the leg to Austin. Allen waited until the leg had reached Austin before he placed his foot on Aaron’s hand and broke a few of his fingers. Aaron screamed and rolled left and right on the ground as the pain set in from his fingers.

“I suppose I should be grateful that you kept me from having to go near those filthy creatures and give the boy the leg myself.” Allen spoke slowly with disgust in his voice.

Aaron was cradling his left hand with the right one, but he looked shocked by Allen’s statement.

“Yes. I was going to give him the leg to heal himself properly. If he dies, everything is ruined.” Allen added in a whisper as he knelt down beside Aaron.

He picked up the bloody dagger and twirled in around in his nearly formed hand. He tossed it slowly from left hand to right hand as he stared at Aaron who was now succumbing to his own fear.

“To show you my gratitude, I am going to do you a favor, boy.” He added as he stood slowly.

He raised a hand over Aaron’s body, and Aaron slowly felt stiff and still as a statue. Allen raised his hand slowly, and Aaron slowly rose to a standing position with his feet floating a few inches off of the ground.

“Archie, help me!” Aaron cried as the tears flowed from his eyes.

“Yes, Archie. Help him.” Allen spoke coldly as he looked at Archie who was struggling to stand.

Amy burst in to tears as she stared at Aaron’s freighted face and bloody body floating in the air. The others could hardly watch as they knew what would happen next. Austin was focusing harder than he ever had to heal his leg and help Aaron, but the process of reattaching the leg was taking too much time.

“You have no idea about the amount of pain I could cause you right now. You are such a brave young nephilim, and I could use your services.” Allen spoke as he placed the dagger to Aaron’s throat.

“Archie, please don’t let him kill me. I don’t want to die.” Aaron begged through the tears in a small voice.

Archie finally managed to stand, but was too weak to do more than hold his body up. “You don’t have to die, Aaron. You can join me, and I promise you will never have to worry about death or fear again. I can see inside you mind, Aaron. You wish to know love and friendship, but Archie, whom you risk your life to help, can never give you this. He is just a dog who follows orders without reason or reward.” Allen whispered to Aaron.

“No, he cares about me in his own way. We are our own little family.” Aaron spoke loud enough to make himself believe the words.

“He doesn’t give a damn about you! He certainly does not give a damn about family!” Allen yelled as he pointed to Archie. Austin’s leg had finally healed, but his body was still weak from the blood loss.

“Don’t listen to him, Aaron!” Austin yelled across the room as he tried but failed to stand.

“Oh you don’t believe me either?” Allen asked as he stared across the floor at Austin. “Ask him who cast me into a burning prison over nothing!” He added furiously. “His own brother!”

“You must have deserved it!” Austin defended Archie as the others helped him to a standing position.

“Still don’t believe he’s as heartless and selfish as most of the people who walk this planet? Ask that man there how Archie got his vessel, his human form.” Allen said pointing at James.

“James what is he talking about?” Austin asked curiously.

James looked across the room at Archie for a moment and then back at Austin who was waiting for an answer.

“Austin, I knew you had returned before any of the others.” James answered with a painful expression on his face.

“What do you mean, James? How did you know?” Austin asked slowly.

“When Archie found out you would return connected with Christopher, and that his brother was looking for you, he asked Aaron to come and see me. Aaron explained to me that full angels require human vessels in order to walk among us. He then explained that Archie was of the highest rank of Angels and needed a human vessel that was completely innocent and pure. That’s when they asked me to agree to make a sacrifice in order to help you.” James answered as the tears filled in his eyes.

“James…Are you saying you did what I think you did?” Austin asked as he saw the pain on James’ face.

“The most innocent of our kind are the infants and toddlers who are too young to do anything wrong.” James tried to continue before crying loudly inside of his own hands.

“James, your son? You didn’t have to do that for us. For me. I am so sorry.” Austin said as he embraced James.

“Alex, I am so sorry I lied to you and your mother. They told me what it was for and I just could not bring myself to say no.” James said as he looked at Alex who was sobbing as she put the pieces together.

“You said his lungs stopped working. You said there was nothing you could do!” She cried as Angela grabbed and held her.

“Archie, how could you do that to them?” Austin asked in a loud voice and he released James from the embrace.

“Austin, I needed a body. I do not know how else to explain it to you.” Archie replied.

“So you just took a child from people I care about?!” Austin said in a raised voice.

“I did not take anyone. I asked, and he agreed.” Archie replied casually.

“But you didn’t tell me he would surely die until after you had already taken his body. You made it sound like he would be alright once all of this was over.” James blurted out through his sobs.

“I did no such thing, James. I told you there was a small chance that he could live if I did not need to transform. You are not angry at me; you are angry because you know I had to transform more than once. Any hope you may have had of him surviving being my vessel are now gone. That’s why you’re upset. I am sorry you have to face this reality as it happens, but you knew it was more than likely this would happen.” Archie replied firmly.

“He’s right, James.” Alex spoke as she wiped her eyes. “He’s still gone, and the fact that he helped Austin do something important for all of us gives his death meaning. I just wish you had told me the truth.” She added softly as she hugged James who was still not in control of his emotions.

“I couldn’t, Alex. I couldn’t even look you or your mother in the eyes. I hate myself! I can’t even look in the mirror without seeing his little smiling face. He’s all I ever think about, and, as much as I know that what Austin has to do is important, I just can’t forgive myself. I am so sorry.” James sobbed into Alex’s shoulder as he confessed. “See the amount of pain he causes? See how he doesn’t give a damn about any of you?!” Allen screamed to them all. “Look at him, he doesn’t even care! Allen added as he stared at Archie.

“That is not true. I do care. I care about all of you as much as I am allowed to care.” Archie defended himself.

“Austin, he is lying to you now just like he has been lying to you your whole life.” Allen spoke with great certainty.

“What is he talking about, Archie? What did you lie to me about?” Austin asked growing frustrated at the idea of more secrets being kept from him.

“Please do not do this right now.” Archie begged Allen with panic in his eyes. Allen looked at his brother and responded to his plea with a empty look.

“Ask him who your father is. Ask him who is responsible for you being here and having to do all of those horrible things to the people you love.” Allen spoke directly at Austin.

Austin stared at Archie and felt a pain shoot to his throat as Archie’s eyes looked embarrassed and guilty. A quick sensation shot through Austin’s mind followed by an unfamiliar vision.

“Does Austin know?” Archie asked Christopher in the scene inside Austin’s head. The sensation went away, and Austin stared directly at Archie trying to fight back tears. “All this time, it’s been you? You’ve known all this time and never told me?” Austin asked through a breaking voice.

“Austin, please allow me to explain. I was…”Archie began.

“He was following orders! You are just an assignment!” Allen interrupted with a boom.

“It’s not like he says, Austin. I was assigned to protect you and make sure you learned what you needed to know when you needed to know it. This does not mean I didn’t care.” Archie tried to explain.

“How long have you been watching and protecting me as you put it?” Austin asked firmly.

“Austin, try to understand that…” Archie tried to speak.

“How long?!” Austin demanded.

Archie paused for a moment and stared at Austin.

“Since before the first family found you when you were still an infant. I am the reason they found you.” Archie answered slowly.

Everyone stared at the agonizing look on Austin’s face as he processed the information. “Everything I’ve been through and done. All of those innocent people and families who are gone because of me, and the fear and torture I live with daily, could have been prevented. All you had to do was be there for me and give me answers. All you had to do was love me half as much as those people and these people.” Austin said as his voice broke on every other word.

Archie did not have a response that would ease the boy’s obvious pain.

“Austin, it’s more complicated than that. If Archie did not tell you, it had to be for a good reason.” Aaron interrupted before Allen placed the dagger a little deeper into his neck.

“When Archie and I were connected, we met a woman not unlike your Alex, and she loved us. That loved produced two equally special children trapped inside a single body. One was as good and kind as my brother thinks himself to be, and the other was ambition but confused and angry like me. Together, the three of us can make sure nobody else has to hurt. We can create our own destinies and never have to wonder about who we are or feel abandoned or alone ever again.” Allen spoke softly as he slowly removed the dagger away from a frightened Aaron. “You can join me, and I promise you will never have to say goodbye to anyone you love again. You will never have to hurt them like the two of you were forced to do for all those years. I shall spare anyone you ask me to spare, and all I ask in return is you embrace and trust me like the father you’ve always wanted. All the answers to those burning questions inside of you can be found if we work together.” He added in a sincere tone.

Austin felt instantly confused as he considered Allen’s promises and offer.

“Austin, you can’t trust him.” Alex spoke as she held his hand. “You are the most special person that any of us will ever know, and you can get everything he’s promising on your own. I believe that because I believe in you. I love you, Austin.” She added sweetly.

“We all love you, kiddo. That’s why we’re here.” Angela said sincerely.

“Yeah, you already have all the family you will ever need. We have always loved you, and you have to trust us to keep doing that.” Joel spoke kindly.

Austin stared at them and knew he could trust every word they said to him, but Allen’s words had more of a hold on him. It was as if they were the perfect combination of words that unlocked something inside of him.

“Listen to them, Austin. They are the ones who keep you as good as you are now. You have to have faith in that feeling and make the right choice.” Aaron added without regard for the consequences of his words. “He’s the devil, Austin. No matter what he says, he will always be a pathetic lying monster with a huge ego. That’s what all of this is about when it comes down to it.” Aaron added.

“How dare you speak of me that way you dirty half breed!” Allen yelled as he stabbed Aaron’s floating body in the leg.

Aaron let out a grunt as the dagger entered and exited his leg, but he kept his eyes on Austin the entire time.

“See what I mean? He will say anything to get his way, but all he cares about is his ego. He’s just a big headed child throwing a temper tantrum because he lost his girl and his daddy won’t let him come home. He’s the weak one. So, how can he possibly help you get anything?” Aaron forced himself to say to get a reaction from Allen. “Enough!” Allen yelled as he finally stuck the dagger through Aaron neck.

“NO!” Archie yelled as his eyes and hands began to glow a bright white.

Allen formed a little ball of black mist with his right hand.

“You will obey me, boy. One way or another, you will fulfill the prophecy!” He declared loudly as he threw the ball at Austin.

Austin was in complete shock from watching Aaron get stabbed. Alex saw the ball and jumped in front of him as if out of instinct. The black mist hit her in the face, and her eyes became black again.

“I will obey you, master.” She spoke in a strange voice as the trance took immediate control of her.

A white portal opened directly beside Allen and Aaron. Archie took a single step forward and his body became a type of white lighting and struck Allen. The impact knocked them both through the portal, and Aaron’s body was sucked inside of the portal as it began to close. Alex was in a dead sprint towards the nearly closed portal on the other side of the red carpet.

“Alex, stop!” Austin yelled as he tried to chase her but was too weak and fell as he put pressure on his newly attached leg.

James took off after her as soon as Austin yelled for her to stop. She was nearly to the carpet when she jumped in the air and dove. Her body was coming down too quickly, and her legs were going to land on the carpet. James dove directly at her and gave a loud scream as he reached out his hands and pushed her safely to the other side of the carpet before she landed.

His feet landed on the carpet and flames appeared around him instantly. The flames stood him up directly on the carpet and engulfed his entire body for only a few seconds. He was about to scream as the flames wrapped themselves around him, but he vanished before he could. He was gone, no body, no clothes, and no ashes remained. He was completely gone.

Alex landed on the other side seconds after the portal had vanished, and the trance was instantly broken.

“James!” Austin and Joel yelled at the same time.

Angela, Amy, and Joseph were in complete shock after watching him be surrounded by fire and vanish completely.

“He’s gone, Joel. He is gone for good.” Austin spoke slowly as the reality settled inside his head. “Because of me.” He added with sorrow in his small voice.

“Austin you can’t blame yourself for…” Joel began to say while still in shock. “Yes, I can. He wanted me, and Alex protected me. James saved her from something that happened because of me. He sacrificed his child to help me. He just lost his life because of me!” Austin cried as he pounded his fists on the floor. Austin could feel Christopher’s elation inside of him, and he heard his dark and twisted chuckle inside his mind.

“That’s right, Austin. Aaron and James are both dead because of you, and the rest will die too. There’s nothing you can do about it.” Christopher said in a sick whisper.

The words made him feel anger that would frighten him normally. He could feel himself succumbing to the rage that Christopher shows so openly. He felt his insides squirm and saw his hands begin to change into something more monster than human. Christopher was feeding off of his rage again, and Austin knew he would not be able to regain control of the body a second time. He began to grunt loudly and his entire body started to shake and tremble as Christopher grew stronger.

“Austin, please! You have to calm down! You have to stay in control!” Joel exclaimed as he saw Austin starting to transform back into that demon like body of Christopher.

Austin felt Joel’s hand touch his shoulder, and Angela knelt down and hugged him.

“You are stronger than he will ever be.” Angela whispered as she held him.

“Just let it all go, sweetheart.” She added in a comforting voice that reminded Austin of Susan.

The memories began to flood his mind the moment he thought of his other families. He remembered all of the warm moments and laughter he had shared with them. His hands began to return to normal as he held on to those happy memories of the people he loved. He stood slowly and stared around at the Wilsons, and he could feel how much they loved him. He looked across the room at Alex who nearly died trying to save him. She loved him more than she loved herself. His eyes began to glow a burning white color as he stared at her and remembered her smile. He remembered how it felt to hold her and kiss her. He knew what it was like to love and be loved in ways Christopher would never understand. That was his power, and he felt stronger because of each and everyone one of the people who loved him. His body began to float in the air towards the statues, and he felt a warm sensation spread throughout his entire body. He felt a calm he had never experienced before in his life.

He reached the statues and stopped in the middle of them, and his body was level with their eyes. Their eyes opened and showed the same burning white glow that his possessed. He closed his eyes and really thought about, his friend, Dr. James Farmer. James had given up so much just to help him, and he asked nothing in return. He sacrificed everything out of hope, kindness, and friendship. He sacrificed everything out of love. The thoughts rushed inside Austin’s mind, and he allowed them to take away all of the pain and anger he had felt. He closed his eyes and focused on an image of James’ smiling face.

As he embraced the moment, the white glow from the statues shot from their eyes and hit his body. His body began to glow and feel warm, but there was no pain. He felt safe inside the light of the statues in ways he had only ever felt around his families. He opened his eyes and the tears began to flow openly from his eyes.

“Thank you, James. You’ve kept me safe at a cost I can only try to understand, and you saved her when I couldn’t. You saved her for me, my friend, and I replace my strength in people like you.” Austin whispered as if James were standing beside him. There a bright flash of blinding light, and Austin was thrown from the sky and landed beside Alex. He looked up as he made contact with the ground. Stuck between the light of the statues was complete blackness in the shape of a boy that looked like him. Austin smiled as he saw Christopher trapped up there. He knew that he was now free of him, and he could finally be as good as the people who loved him. He closed his eyes and drifted into a peaceful sleep beside Alex.

A portal opened a few feet away from him, and Archie emerged from it in a hurry. He stepped out and looked up at the statues and Christopher trapped between them. He immediately grabbed Austin and Alex and jumped through the portal. The portal closed as he stepped through it. A few seconds later, another portal opened next to the Wilson’s, and Archie stepped out of it.

“I don’t know how you did it, but you people just saved his life and probably the world.” Archie said in a grateful tone.

“It wasn’t just us.” Joel said as he stared at the spot on the carpet where James last stood.

Archie noticed James was no longer with the rest of them. He could not hide the shocked expression on his face as he realized what must have happened.

“He saved her, didn’t he?” Archie asked.

“No, he saved them.” Joel replied still thinking about his friend.

Archie nodded his head after Joel finished speaking.

“Remember, deep breaths.” He said to all of them.

They each followed his request, and they all stepped through the portal one by one.