The Palace Beast
Chapter 101 - Eris & Neena

Eris pursued Neena from one kingdom to another until Neena decided to hide out in her Mystic Cave near the waterfall of 'No Man's Land.' Eris didn't give up but vowed to Zeus that she must bring Neena to him.

Eris is the goddess of strife, discord, contention, and rivalry. She is the perfect goddess to hunt and bring witch Neena to Zeus. As the goddess of strife, Eris has absolute and divine authority over strife. As the goddess of discord, Eris has absolute and divine authority over discord and she can control and manipulate shadows.

She stood on a high mountain staring down at the Mystic Cave where she believes Neena is. After a while, she bends down and picked up a stick. With the stick, she drew a circle and after she has drawn the circle, she whispered into the circle, "Cerberus, come forth."

There was a violent shaking on the ground she stood on. Suddenly there was an eruption behind her like that of a volcano. Out of the eruption emerged Cerberus. "Why do you summon me Eris?" he said making his way towards Eris. Eris swirled and then grinned in excitement. "I am glad you answered my summon with haste. We have work to do."

***

Neena was hidden in the darkness of caves; rock formations called 'speleothems' droop from the ceilings like icicles, emerge from the floor like mushrooms, and cover the sides like sheets of a waterfall. The icicle-shaped formations are called 'stalactites' and form as water drips from the cave roof.

Neena being aware of the great danger outside quickly leans by the rock of the cave. She took a deep breath and then conjured an orb. "John Willie, I summon you wherever you are, hear my summon and come to my aid." After she has said this, the orb fell from her hand. She was losing strength from the wound she sustained from Eris when she stabbed her with a spear. The spear was meant to kill her but she used some of her powers to stop the spear from killing her.

Eris' spear was designed by her brother Ares. The spears they bear can kill any immortal no matter the power they possess but Eris was disappointed to replace out the spear didn't kill Neena. Zeus instructed her to bring Neena to him but Eris will stop at nothing bringing her dead or alive.

Neena is losing strength. She staggered towards the other corner of the cave where some spirits' herbs are growing. She was panting heavily. Her healing isn't complete. As an immortal witch, she possessed the ability to heal if injured. For years she has thrived but Ares found a way to design a spear that can kill any immortal and she has fallen a victim to that. She's doing all she could do to stay alive. 'This is not how this will end,' she thought to herself plucking one of the spirits' herbs.

Suddenly, she heard the growling from behind her. Swiftly she turned in her defense she stretched out her hand for her spear. It was Cerberus. Her own spear can as well eternally kill any immortal. With her left hand placed on her bleeding abdomen, she held the spear with her right hand and pointed it towards Cerberus. "Walk away now and I will spare you."

"You intervened with my plans with the stranger from the world beyond. Now you have to pay with your life." Cerberus growled and pounced at her. He opened his mouth wide to bite her, but from behind he was blasted off Neena with a wind blast.

He angrily picked himself up. As he turned to know who it is that interfered with his fight, behold, he saw John Willie standing behind him.

His countenance was that of a god. His entire body was covered with blue flames and flashes of lightning. His eyes glowed blue and flashes with lightning. He opened his mouth to speak and spoke like the rushing of mighty water, "You will walk away from Neena now!"

"This is not happening."

Cerberus was shocked and lost at the same time. The last time he saw John, he was floating away from him and now he's standing before him with the appearance of a god. 'This is the same weak mortal I wanted to prey on,' he thought to himself. He didn't want to give in to fear. He ignored John and started making his way to Neena to finish what he has started.

Before he could get close to Neena, John appeared before him. He grabbed Cerberus by his neck and lifted him above the ground. He held him against the rock.

Seeing this, Neena picked herself up from where she has been lying. She was still bleeding but the joy of seeing John stirred up her hope of living. "What are you waiting for, kill him," she said shambling towards John who was still holding Cerberus to the rock.

"Not today," John glances at Neena.

"Why not? If you don't, he will keep coming after us."

"There's no us," said John as he releases Cerberus from his grip and let him slump to the ground. His countenance returned to normal. He glanced at Neena again, "If you summoned me to kill for you, I will not be that errand boy you are looking for."

Cerberus seized the opportunity once more as he picked himself up, he pounced at Neena. He sank his claws deep into Neena's chest going for her heart.