Judgement (The Twelve) (58 page)

Jennings didn’t waste a moment, a
t his command
the remainder of his team
ran forward filling in the gaps
between Anvil and his immortals, opening fire on full automatic as they ran
.
Coffee looked on with contempt as not one single round hit a target.
Instead each bullet flattened in mid air to fall noiselessly to the ground but still they fired. Coffee
blew them a kiss and as one they fell to the ground asleep.

Coffee
had witnessed
Panther
die
“Th
ose humans
show
ed
courage
and will make fine Shades.
”

She pointed a finger at Patch, “But you shall die slowly for what you have done!”

Cougar t
h
rust Slash away with his feet, did a back flip and spun to see his fallen brother. He let forth such a heart rendering howl, that it filled the
heavens
.
Forgetting Slash, Cougar sprang through the air towards Patch.

It was a mistake to ignore a master knife fighter,
Slash dr
ew
two short throwing knives
and
let fly
.

But with a cats sixth sense,
Cougars body swayed this way then that
in mid air, b
oth knives missed
!
He landed
realising he couldn’t ignore Slash,
wi
th a look of absolute hatred
directed at Patch he screamed, “You’re next bitch!”

Cougar spun about
and
launched himself
back
towards Slash. Slash tried to side step but with a vicious sweep of his right hand
s
fully extended claws
, Cougar ripped away
a good part of
Slashes face on the
left
side
,
he
fell to his knees
,
gripping his face
in agony
.

Claws was waiting for orders and at Coffees command scuttled forward like a giant spider directly at Anvil but veered away at the last second to
leap over him
to
attack Patch
, who  was coming after Panther at a dead run
.

A cloud of smoke rose from another open grave near to Bulls Eye. It was Ghost. The creature swarmed toward
s hi
m
. Bulls Eye reacted swiftly b
y
emptying every single bullet into her. It slowed her
down
some
but didn’t stop her.

Chris saw the danger and
commanded a
mini tornado
to form directly in front of Bulls Eye
.
Ghost  was caught
in the cyclonic force, which also managed to blast Bulls Eye away from danger.
Bulls Eye groaned, blinked dust from his eyes, looked up at Chris, spat out a mouthful of dirt and mumbled, “Thanks a bunch.”

Coffee made a hand gesture and Ghost was sucked out of the tornado which die
d
away. The creature semi solidified to stand at her right hand side.

Chris took this moment to call out to his half brother, “Edge your father loves you
,
as do I. Join with us and God shall forgive thee.”

Edge
was still locked deep in thought, he jerked his head up when Chris called his name, “I’m beyond redemption!”

It wasn’t overlooked by Anvil that he didn’t just straight refuse the offer. Chris tried to approach Edge but Coffee made a gesture and he found he couldn’t advance another step, instead he shouted, “
I forgive
you
, father forgives
you
, God forgives
you
, come step over to
stand by your
fathers side.”

Edge instinctively took a half step forward but one look from Coffee had him quickly step back, “I…cannot.”

Huntress however had other plans, “I don’t forgive you one little bit. Die you bastard!” She fired point blank with her special arrow.

Edge brought up his sword lightning fast to deflect the arrow which exploded! He was thrown in one direction and a surprised Coffee in the other. Coffee was quick to regain her feet as Chris stopped Huntress from shooting at Edge again, No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t pull the bow string.

Huntress spun to face him, “Damn you Chris let me revenge Hot Cross!”

Chris looked sad, “I cannot.”

She spat on the ground, “I hate you!”

Coffee
had
noticed
Edge hesitate
, “Ghost from this moment on thee stand at my right hand side.”

Edge
sat back upright and
looked
towards Ghost
was
a facial expression
filled with loathing
.

Chris
was about to reply when he suddenly frowned,
closed his eyes
,
pressed a hand to his forehead
and said
. “Something’s not right.”

The ground
suddenly
shuddered underfoot
as
lightning filled
the
ruby red fire.
A deep wide fissure opened up, dividing both warring parties.
The Twelve moved back away from The Dark,
allowing
both sides
to
regroup.

The ground moved again and this time it was more than a tremble, this was a full blown earthquake.

“Not good!” shouted Priest

The earth shuddered and heaved once
more. Chris shouted to be heard, “This is Gods anger. One of the Twelve fights against us!”

Anvil stared around at
his people. Everyone was in his or her place. All had suffered attack
or
injuries.  No one stood out as a traitor
He noticed Slash
’
s face, “Priest
Slash needs your help, now!
”

Anvil
turned his eyes outward to
look upon
The Dark.
Each
passed examination
, none appeared friendly
. Finally
his eyes came to rest on Ghost on he understood.

His voice rose so that all could hear, “Chosen One hear my words and prey pause for one moment in our fight
.”

Coffee thought about it as the ground continued to shift under her feet, “If it has anything to do with what
’s
happening. Explain.”

Anvil raised his voice
and his head
to
wards
the very heavens, “
Once long ago we had another comrade. His name was Chameleon. Our friend had the gift of camouflage; he could at a moments notice take on the appearance of another person or object. His gift was truly one given by God. Alas, our friend vanished one morning and despite our best effects,
he was lost unto us
.”

Coffee
snarled
, “You
r point?”

Anvils voice lowered, as he looked upon Ghost
“The very ground trembles with the wraith of God. In his rage he shows unto me that which has been lost.”

Anvil pointed his hammer directly at Ghost, “Reveal you
r
self!”

A beam of golden light sprang forth from Anvil’s weapon to strike and surround the swirling cloud that was Ghost.

For a moment nothing happened then slowly the cloud seemed to solidify and there before them stood a figure dressed in a black leather hooded cape. The person was wearing a full leather face mask and tight fitting leather gloves.

Priest gasped, “Chameleon!”

Patch looked even more shocked, “You tried to kill me at the house!”

The man known as Chameleon slowly turned his gaze towards Patch, “Not kill but capture. I wished you to be with me as mine.”

Bulls Eye staggered under the shifting ground, “
It can’t be true
, you’re a woman
!”

Chris spoke with the voice of Judgement, “So it has come to pass that our missing friend returns as our enemy. The scales have been balanced, so let it read.”

T
he ground stopped its violent shaking and the sound of deep rumbling died away. The lightning vanished
,
leaving the sky blood red again.

Speed was
climbing slowly out of his hole in the ground. He
rose to his feet and brushed dirt from his trousers, “Chameleon I searched for you for a hundred years.”

Priest just shook his head, “How could you!”

Chameleon turned his gaze towards
him
, “I don’t expect your blessing Priest.” He looked at Anvil, “Nor your forgiveness.” Finally to Chris, “Nor do I ask to be judged.”

Slash
was holding a hand to his badly wounded face, ignoring the pain he asked
, “But why?”

Chameleon lifted his hand to snatch away the mask
, then his gloves
. His face
and hands were
once more beautiful, “Because The Dark healed me.”

Huntress gasped, “Your burns are….”

Edge
interrupted her with
laughe
r
, “We found him spying upon us and trapped him. Instead of killing him, I offered to heal his wounds and restore his looks.
I offered nothing in exchange. He freely
c
a
me over to our side.”