Sixteen days, three hours, seven minutes, and fifteen seconds.
A dream.
I was standing at the peak of the Empire State Building, looking down at the ruined land. Skyscrapers stood broken, the entire New York skyline in ruins,buildings slanting and laying one upon another. A heavy snowstorm was blowing, covering the city's valleys in a foreboding sea of white.
In my hand was a weapon. One I had not wielded in centuries. Frostfang. Its blue, jagged blade dripped red with blood, forming a pool around my feet. I turned and saw Joshua standing next to me, dressed in sleek, black combat silk,a Shinobi's garb,but his face was adorned with that damned bloodied clown mask.
"You're running out of time, brother," he said, his voice echoing. I opened my mouth to reply, to ask what he meant, where we were... but words would not come forth.
Joshua raised his hand and pointed to the horizon.
I followed his lead. A heavy mist covered most of the far distance, but I could see it. The sight of it made my heart stop. Out of that sea of white fog, a pair of deadly red eyes stared back, each one as big as a double-decker bus. Heavy and monstrous, a million tentacles swirled from its back.
"Your opponent awaits you," Joshua whispered.
The creature's tentacles wrapped around a building and pulled, breaking it apart like a child would break a twig. It raised the wreckage high above its head and hauled it towards us.
In that moment, I was drawn back with amazing speed, the world thinning into threads before my eyes, pulling me farther away from Joshua and the monster that lay waiting, as colors blended together into a Picasso of despair.
A vision as intense as that wouldn't hit the same without a brain-splitting headache for dessert. I opened my eyes to the beautiful interior of a private plane: white leather seats and first-grade maple wood tables. I could hear the soft droning of the plane's engine outside.
"Ah, you're awake," Catherine said enthusiastically. She turned to the man by her side,the same Joshua I had almost killed. "See? I told you it wasn't enough to kill them," she added. The man just stared on, his eyes bored but conveying a subtle message: if we were all alone, I'd be dead in an instant.
I made to move my hand, but my muscles remained unmoving, my neurons clogged and my very mind shattered into ribbons.
"You drugged me again..." I managed to say, my words slowed and labored.
"Indeed I did," Catherine admitted. "Your metabolism is highly unpredictable, and I couldn't risk you going all divine in my private plane."
"Joshua..." I whispered weakly.
"Oh, don't worry about him. He's right over there," she said, pointing just behind me. I tried for a neural link, but his thoughts were completely blank. I began to fear the worst. He had looked so weak in the metal room.
"You worry too bloody much," Catherine chided jovially. "Your brother is fine. I wouldn't dare hurt either of you." She received a glass of champagne from a blonde waiter. "At least not until Eda is finished with you," she whispered, just loud enough for me to hear.
"Ma'am?" a lady called from the back of the plane.
"What is it?" Catherine snapped. Her eyes were still fixed on me, but her jovial act was gone.
"It's Eda," was the immediate reply. Catherine looked suddenly tired. She sighed, cupping her face in her hands. "Forgive me, Magnus. I'll be right back."
She rose and disappeared toward the rear of the cabin, leaving me alone with my thoughts, a "Joshua" who wanted me dead, and my brother lying unconscious somewhere behind me.
The dream I just had still echoed in my head. When my family had achieved godhood, one of our first tasks was the extermination of beasts and monsters. I had slain hundreds of fell beasts, but nothing could compare to the fear I felt staring into those whirlpools of horror that abomination had for eyes.
Then there was this Eda, and Catherine's betrayal. How had I not seen it coming? Looking back now, she had not been subtle in her deception, inviting two random men, even if we were Sterlings, to something as important as her supposed best friend's debut.
I could not help but wonder if Marticc was involved. Layla had said he had pictures of me in his office, but it didn't add up. Father wanted a marriage between our families for some reason, and I had good reason to believe Marticc did as well.
That left the newest addition to the list: the mysterious Eda. I looked up... my neck and hands had regained a little motor function? Good. But it would not do to let Catherine know. She had no idea how the toxin worked on us; she had said so herself. It was time to play some treachery of our own.
Magnus, you awake? Joshua's voice echoed in my head. I almost sobbed from relief.
It is good to hear your voice, brother.
I believe you'll change your mind about that soon, was his ominous reply. What was the idiot on about?
What do you mean?
My powers... they're back. I welcomed the news with glee. What did he mean by me changing my mind? This was amazing news.
That's good news, idiot.
Mhmm, another annoyingly shrugged reply.
At that moment Catherine made her way back, a sly smile on her face. She stopped just before us and sighed tiredly. "Well, there's been an unforeseen change of plans," she announced.
Her smile disappeared as she produced a jagged golden knife from her belt. "Eda's decided you're not worth the risk." She noticed the petrified look on my face and nodded sympathetically. "I know, I know. I thought we were going to have fun together." She turned to the other Joshua. "Oh well, at least Joshua gets payback for your barbaric handling of his person. Ta-ta."
She handed the knife to the man and proceeded to make her way towards the cockpit, but not before giving a final command.
"Kill them."
A wide grin appeared on the man's face as he rose to his feet, brandishing the knife.
"I'm going to enjoy this," he happily said.
"As will I!" Joshua roared from behind me.
And now please forgive my description of the next few things that happened. Actions followed one another so fast I could hardly keep track. But I will try to put them in order.
The man lunged at me with his blade, and at that exact moment, Joshua sent forth a gush of wind so powerful it tore the plane's hull in two.
The cabin pressurized with a violent roar, heavy winds blasting through the jagged and exposed openings. With a terrified yell, my would-be killer was yanked off his feet, sucked out of the cabin, and dragged straight into the spinning blades of the plane's engine. A fine red mist sprayed into the sky, vanishing instantly.
I saw nothing of Catherine; as expected, she hadn't done us the courtesy of even buckling us in. I was ripped from my seat, my partially paralyzed body plummeting through the thin air toward a vast, endless sea of green.