Shuddering from the sudden realization that they are in the presence of the one they have been tracking, Cer and Miyas quickly turn to locate Quinn.
“It’s AUNTIE QUINN!!” squeals Punkin, as she darts from Cer and Miyas’ side back towards the town’s edge.
Standing on the edge of town, a figure opens their arms wide to receive Punkin. “Come, let’s play.”
“No, wait!” Miyas shouts after Punkin while her cloak opens up as she jumps to intercept Punkin.
Tracking Miyas and Punkins, movement, Cer looks in the direction to where Punkin was headed and sees the light blue aura of Mayor Chastity. No hiding it now, let’s just call it out for what it is. “We know it’s you Quinn. You can stop your charade now.”
While grinning, Quinn stands up to look directly at Cer and Miyas, as her aura shifts to a dark red, outlined by a hazy gray with streams connecting to an inner aura of mucus green encapsulated by the same outer dark gray aura. “So, Miyas. I should have known you’d be tracking me. Off the isles finally? What got you to leave? Another promise from our miserable sister Claire? Or some warning from that wretched Eve who thinks she and only she can manage the dead and lost souls?”
Puzzled, Cer looks at briefly at Miyas and then back to Quinn. What other promises did you make to Claire? What are you… would you… nevermind. I need to handle Quinn before asking questions. Her aura is being influenced by some kind of death or corruption. It is corroding her. “Quinn, leave my daughter out of this. Is it me you are after? Are you still mad at me?”
“I did not bring your daughter into this. I didn’t know she existed until I saw you outside my gates. She is the one that wants to come to me of her own volition. I gave her a chance to leave.” scowls Quinn.
“She is only 3! How is she supposed to find her way around on her own?” shouts Cer before turning attention to Punkin, who is standing behind Miyas who successfully intercepted her. “Pupu, come here. Quinn is not going to play nice. She is dangerous.”
Looking back sadly at Cer, Punkin pouts as she begins to walk slowly towards Cer. “Awww but I miss Auntie. I never knowed her and I wanna know her. She wants to be my friend, daddy.”
“Yes I would like to be your friend and I can take better care of you than your daddy.” interjects Quinn with a warm and playful tone towards Cer.
Turning back to Cer, Quinn shoots a telepathic message. You left me alone to fend for myself! Mother is the one that trained me and looked out for me. Then you all left me! I don’t need you or Miyas anymore. Your daughter holds the key. I can feel it in her. Chaos and Order. She is the full moon, I can feel the sunlight in her. You have know idea how to foster that magic. She is beyond your ability to manage!
Assuming Quinn can read thoughts as easily as she projects them, Cer thinks of a response hoping Quinn is actively connected to Cer’s thoughts. She is a child and does not need to be managed or fostered! She isn’t like us. She was not cast out or hunted. She has me! She has a family! She doesn’t need to manage magic! Whatever your plan or scheme, whatever your goal is, leave her out of it.
Piercing Cer’s thoughts, Quinn sends her thoughts like a red hot knife. Too late, brother! We know of her and we now need her! Do not get in our way or you will cease to be in this realm just like Claire.
Filling with pain and anguish from the memory of Cer’s final moments with Claire, Cer feels mana finally enter into Cer’s palms and forearms. “What do you know about Claire’s death?!?!”
Hearing the break in the audible silence, Miyas and Punkin look at Cer “Huh?”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Miyas looks back at Quinn and immediately casts a dome spell around Punkin. So you are telepathic too huh. What lies have you already told Pupu? What lies are you telling Cer?
Smiling at Miyas, Quinn responds aloud. “None. I cannot get in her head. She has a stronger will than you both combined. I tell no lies. What lies have you lived, sister!”
Without warning or any discernible preparation, Quinn leaps to from the edge of the town to where Miyas stands and raises her hand to strike Miyas with mana concentrated into her palm from her aura.
Porting between Quinn and Miyas, Cer catches Quinn by surprise, blocking her attack before she could land her strike on Miyas.
Jumping back to avoid any possible counter attacks, Quinn gathers mana from nearby plants, draining them of their life force and begins to mutter an incantation while conjuring a tangible gray auric field around her for protection.
While scanning Quinn’s auric field, Cer draws mana from within and charges forward in an attempt to to interrupt whatever spell Quinn is casting. I have seen that magic before. Nin was surrounded by Nothing. It seems like Quinn is the source of Nothing. This is different though. She is controlling it. “Quinn, this is chaos magic! Did you manipulate Nin with this?”
Right as Cer’s leap nears Quinn, a force of dark mana pulses out knocking Cer into the air and away from Quinn as she continues to utter her incantation. You didn’t think you could actually reach me did you? I can cast spells and read your thoughts at the same time brother. I know you even before you think. I know your darkness.
Hearing Quinn telepathically, Cer’s eyes close in surrender as Cer’s body falls from the air with great speed from the magical force of Quinn’s defense. You can read me, but you can’t read him. Jacob, please…
*Snap*
In an instant, Cer’s body disappears before making contact with the ground.
Before Quinn can even realize what is happening, Cer’s body reappears behind Quinn within her gray auric field. “You cannot keep out what is part of you. I am your shadow, and in your darkness, I grow to embrace you.”
Grinning, Quinn clasps her hands together and the gray auric field solidifies into a black dome sealing both Quinn and Cer inside and binding Cer’s body with dark magical shackles attached to Quinn like a puppet master “I knew you’d do that… I watched you tap into your curse to save Nin. I told you, I can read your thoughts. Ha!”
Turning around with a wide grin, Quinn faces Cer as Cer’s body goes limp and begins to siphon Cer’s mana. “Not so tough anymore huh, brother. I don’t know why mother favored you. You aren’t as strong as you once were with your own demons. Now I have you, I will do what you couldn’t- I will bring an end to all demons and suffering. I will consume it all!”
Fighting the enchanted shackles and the magic that binds Cer, Cer slowly looks up to stare Quinn directly in her eyes. “Then you should know that I will willingly give up all my magic to bring you home. I will not fight you, I came here to do as I always have as your shadow, grow in your darkness and embrace you. You can have it all, just be warned, it is a heavy weight carrying the sins of the world and demons- I will be here with you.”
Without warning, Cer’s body goes limp again and releases countless souls and demonic energy which begin to bind to Quinn’s mystic will and spirit.
Smiling from the rush of power and magic entering her, Quinn squeezes Cer’s shackles even more. “Just like taking juice from the pomzure.”
Siphoning the last of the escaping souls from Cer’s body, Quinn releases her shackles and Cer’s body falls to the floor.
“No!!! DADDY!!! YOU STOP NOW!” screams Punkin as she begins to run towards Quinn.
Amused, Quinn patronizes Punkin while kicking Cer’s body away from her. “Oh my little niece, Pupu. I don’t wish to hurt you, let’s play nice now.”
Leaping into the air with Kylan fully supporting her, Punkin launches at Quinn with her bubble wand preparing to swing and cast a bubble. “YOU GO TO TIME OUT!”
Before Punkin could swing, Miyas launches her ribbons at Punkin’s ankles and holds Punkin back from advancing. “Titan, now!”
Appearing out of Punkin’s hood, Titan opens its mouth and launches a barrage of bubbles towards Quinn.
Leaping back from the onslaught of bubbles, Quinn performs a hand seal and mumbles under her breath as dark arms appear out of her back and begin to deflect and pop the bubbles at a rapid pace. “You won’t stop me from finishing the Reaper’s Rite. I am going to take you to hell with me Miyas.”
“Let me go!” yells Punkin as she struggles to swing her wand while being bound and held back by Miya’s ribbons.
Raising her arms towards the sky, Quinn yells “Luminectra Devoureh!”
Suddenly the sound of crackling breaks through the air and dark lightning strikes down on Quinn, releasing large forms of gaseous demons containing dark lightning like rapidly moving thunder clouds, cackling with lightning laughter as they rush towards Miyas.
“Kylan now!” yells Miyas.
Opening up and wrapping around Punkin like a pouch, the hood of Kylan rises upright with two golden eyes appearing on the hoodie. A loud rumble that shakes the air resonates from the hood like a lion purring from its chest.
Suddenly, Kylan along with Punkin hidden in its folded pouch, become engulfed in a bright iridescent flame and a bright light emanates from its horn.
As the light touches the dark gaseous demons, they incinerate immediately and disappear.
As soon as the light reaches Cer’s body, Miyas whispers words. “May the moon grant you the mana and materia to mirror your mystic will.”
“Took you long enough Miyas. I knew you had a trick in there somewhere to open up my mana gates.” As if waking from a nap, Cer slowly pulls off the ground smiling, and stands up to look at Quinn. “You forget I am The Demon Shriver, it is my curse to carry the weight of the world’s demons until they can find peace. Now that the darkness is bound in you, it is mine to consume.”