Chapter 27

Larelle rested in the crook of a tree where Arrian had left her before continuing to the confrontation with Azrael. She was suddenly hit with an enormous amount of energy. She recognized the energy; it was her Master's, but it was tinged with anger and hatred. Using the link she shared with her Master she began to call to him.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get through to him. Anger and hatred were clouding his mind and she didn't have the power to break through that dense cloud.

"Stop him!" Stuart yelled.

More men seemed to come from nowhere. The man that had come up to ask to fuck the girls was back; this time he had an AK-47 in hand as he and the rest moved to try to surround Arrian.

All of the men who were similarly armed opened fire. As the bullets flew at Arrian, who was still on his knees, a wall of fire that covered not only Arrian, but also from the dragon that was forming itself from the fire that Arrian emitted from his body. Again, a roar came from within the fiery barrier. The barrier parted as a titanic claw ripped through it. It landed on two of the men and they were immediately cremated beyond recognition. Without warning, another claw emerged killing two more men in the process.

Stuart looked on as fear crept up his spine; he knew what was happening to Arihah. He could not let this summoning complete itself. If he did, he was sure he would die. He had to put out this fire incarnation.

He let his men act as a distraction. Ignoring the women who grieved over the loss of the innocent Sarah, he made his way to face the summoning head on.

Helen and the others crowded around the lifeless corpse of the most charming little girl they had ever seen. No one had a dry eye and Cindy was frozen in place, crying but otherwise not responding. For some reason she saw Stuart move to face whatever Arrian had become.

Something clicked in her mind and she knew no matter what, Sarah was gone, and all that remained was... revenge.

"Kill Him!" She yelled at the fire wall.

Over and over she chanted; each cry becoming more and more hateful.

Stuart held his right hand out in front of him and using his left he drew symbols all around his right hand. As his fingers drew the symbols in the air, water particles in the air began to form the seals he was drawing.

When he had finished, he heard one of the women chanting 'Kill him', and he smiled knowing that in a moment he would stop Arihah's fiery summon.

With no more than a smile on Stuart's lips, the seals around Stuart's hand began to circle around his palm and then a massive torrent of water burst from his palm aimed at the hole inside of Arihah's Elemental summon.

Stuart knew that to stop the fire summon, an opposing element had to envelop the summon to prevent it from taking full form.

The titanic claws had completely incinerated all the men who were shooting at the summon. Just as the water was about to enter the wall, a massive flame burst from inside and hit the torrent of water head on. The amount of steam created was incredible, and the amount grew as both the water and flame were gridlocked in battle.

The battle seemed an even match. Then another flame erupted from the wall and joined the first and pushed the water torrent completely back. Stuart was panicking, this had never happened before. Suddenly he had an idea.

He continued to hold the water torrent with his right hand and with his left he touched the ground, and a massive quake let Stuart know he had accomplished his goal, also the flame torrent had ceased.

Larelle suddenly knew what the increase in energy was and looking inside the seal that tied her to the book; she saw it glowing a bright white. Arrian was using the Summon skill.

Larelle could feel the amount of energy Arrian was receiving...

That can't be right. That is an incredible amount of power and added to master's own; it can be dangerous. Why is he using the Summon? He shouldn't even know how, the knowledge to use the summon is still here in my seal. How? Unless it's not a normal summon. I need to sense what is wrong.

Larelle sent out the sense she had even from inside her book, using Arrian's rising energy she reached out and recoiled when she found the problem.

Oh little Sarah, master is heartbroken, he is angry he failed you, you who were completely innocent. He will kill Azrael now, but if he does, he will die as well. He isn't ready to control this amount of power yet. Larelle sadly thought to herself.

Suddenly, Larelle had an epiphany. There was a way to calm her Master. But, could they do it? She realized when her master knew what his options were; he would choose this option no matter what the price.

The steam had mostly cleared and the wall of fire had all but faded. There, in the middle of the settling steam, stood two figures. One towered over the other and let loose a massive roar.

Stuart shook he had failed to stop the summon; now all he could do was try to flee.

He turned to leave. Then, he stopped when he had completely turned.

"Where do you think you are going?" The figure asked.

"What the fuck?" Stuart asked in complete surprise.

"I asked you a question." Arrian said.

Arrian stood in front of Stuart. Something was different though. Arrian was wearing a long trench coat styled jacket with gloves, pants, boots and shirt. The odd thing was every one of the items looked like they were made of scales.

Stuart recognized what Arihah was wearing. It came to every Elemental at some point in their lifetimes. While not their true form, this scale-like clothing is a manifestation in Elementals. And it represented something bad in warrior's; it was a manifestation that was terrifying to nearly all opponent's. The only beings who did not fear such a manifestation were other Elementals.

In 'civilized' Elementals it meant maturity and coming of age. In a warrior or in this case, the Caliph, it meant, power, pure undiluted, raw power.

Stuart ad taken on a dreamy, far-away expression on his face.

"Speak!" Arrian literally roared.

The ground shook as, the fire summon made its way to Arrian, incinerating everything within its range in the process.

A dense purple fog began leaving Stuart's body.

Arrian watched as the fog left the human body and waited for Stuart's true identity to emerge.

"It's been a long time your majesty." Zareas spit out with disgust.

"You will die Azrael."

Zareas began a deep belly laugh.

"You stupid fool! I am not that weakling brother of yours. I am the last Harbinger who manipulated your weak minded brother and lead to the destruction of the Harbingers and The Elementals. You and I are the exceptions. Your brother has been nearly assimilated by me and soon all that will remain of your pathetic race is a memory to be forgotten in time."

"I see. It no longer matter's. Farael is outside your reach; you will never find it in time." Arihah spoke.

Arihah shimmered; his sword came into his hand, and he twisted the blade to the side. The blade began emitting small green sparks that resembled lightning.

Arihah looked back at the fiery incarnation, "Guard them," he said as he gestured towards his family. The summon merely nodded its head and moved near to them.

Arihah turned his head and raised his free hand in time to grab Zareas sword as it was heading right through his face. The sword had pierced Arihah's hand but Arihah still pushed it back. His hand healed completely once the sword was out.

"I, Zareas will kill you, Caliph of the Elementals." He sneered at the last part of his sentence.

"Die." Arihah spoke the word and ran his sword through Stuart's chest.

<Arrian stop this!>

No he killed Sarah! He must pay! he must suffer! he must DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<No Arrian Sarah can... b... ved... >

Silence!

Arihah retracted his sword and watched as purple ooze fell from the wound, then it stopped and the wound began hissing. The wound closed and a smirking Zareas looked at Arihah.

"Your brother and I are connected," he said closing his eyes, "he is mostly gone now. In minutes he will be gone forever."

Zareas didn't say more, he attacked Arihah. Arihah met the attack with renewed vigor and watched as sparks rose as the swords collided. The swords pulsed with the incredible amounts of power emanating from Arihah and Zareas.

Arihah pushed his sword out, knocking Zareas back.

That immense power that was rushing through my body has stopped; I wonder where it came from. Either way, my body is back to normal, all that is left is to kill him.

Arihah moved so fast Zareas had no time to guard against the knee that was violently shoved into his face. After driving his right knee into Zareas face, Arihah turned left and drove his left foot into Zareas chest; the impact was so great Zareas skipped along the ground, like a stone skipping across water.

Arihah took a moment while his opponent was down to walk over to the seal Zareas had placed on the ground.

"Stupid fool." He murmured.

He took his sword and walked to the outer most edge of the circle seal, and slammed his sword right into the ground; its effect was instantaneous. The seal rose off the ground and was sucked into Arihah's sword.

<Master! Please stop! There is a way to->

Quiet! Sarah is gone and He will pay for that! Even if it kills me!

Larelle kept quiet.

Arihah, fell to his knee's holding his sides.

The power is too much! His body isn't ready yet! If I don't give the power back it will kill everyone here when we self-destruct. He used that summon, but it isn't a proper summon. I have to use that technique to reduce as much energy as possible otherwise...

Arihah stood still; he was in tremendous pain. He noticed Zareas was already up and chanting something, he turned and saw the effects of Zareas chanting had.

Two creatures in dark robes materialized and placed a chain around the Elemental summon. They were pulling trying to sever its head and dissipate the energy which would create an explosion; but with the amount of energy present it wouldn't be a small explosion.

Arihah took his sword and flung it at one of the creatures and then turned to face Zareas. He knew he had hit his target as a shriek he emanated from behind him. He took off his left glove, and watched as his bare hand was exposed.

Using his index finger from his right hand, he focused as much energy as he could and began drawing a seal on his left hand with his index finger. So intense was the energy in the index finger that it sliced open his hand as he drew the seal. Finally having the seal drawn, he leaned down to place the seal on the ground. As he did, he felt a small rush and ducked his head as the creature had swung Arihah's sword at him. Arihah pointed his index finger at the sword and began waving his finger in random patterns. He was pleased to see his sword move on its own and sliced the creature into many pieces.