Chapter 94: Family Part 5: A Strange Portal
Azazel paced furiously in his Lair, where the six sins, Helen, Eris and his princes sat awaiting the arrival of James.
"How could we be so foolish to power them up too much? Now we need another sin." Azazel said, as if he were talking to himself.
"Well James has always been the best candidate. Is he going to be a mutation?" Beezle asked nonchalantly.
"Yes, yes and I’m going to have to power all of you up more for our upcoming adventure."
"Is he thinking what I think he’s thinking?" Helen whispered to Eris.
"I think I better go talk to my titans. I don’t think we have many options at this point. Sora’s party is too strong. If we destroy Exteria, we risk losing and we also risk not absorbing Sora and Brie’s full potential."
James finally walked in and the room went silent.
Azazel smiled, "Ah, there he is! James, I have something to ask for you. I’m in need of a sin. Pride had to kill Wrath after the Getz child used his demon art on him. Are you up to the task? You come highly regarded."
"If that is what my Lord wishes, then that is what I will do. Please ensure my family is taken care of." James responded confidently.
"Yes, they will be handsomely rewarded for your efforts and allowed to move into my Lair. Now, this is going to be painful, so please follow me. Helen, if you could come as well, my love," Azazel said.
No one else moved but Azazel, Helen and James went into another room.
*****
"I’m sorry James but this is completely necessary," Azazel said as he strapped James into a standing table, where Helen could reach through and place her arms on him.
Azazel started a demonic ritual, causing the lights to flicker, but James stood brave.
"The seven deadly sins are incomplete, Wrath has fallen, the balance of the world is in danger without them whole, so James willingly gives his soul."
Azazel elongated his nail and punctured James’ neck. Helen began immediately using her goddess healing and calming spells to try to slow some of the pain and convulsions.
James shook violently, foaming at the mouth. His body began to break down, reform, breakdown, and reform again. Helen used all of her strength as a goddess to make sure he didn’t die.
The others could hear the screams from their meeting room.
"I remember this. It was not pleasant. Hopefully James makes it," Pride said, showing a side of him others didn’t typically see.
"I mean I always knew I would make it. I am the sin of pride, after all," he boasted.
After about 10 gut-wrenching minutes, Azazel finally cut the straps to the table and pulled his nail out of James. Helen quickly grabbed onto him and slowly, his body began to form.
This was a new Wrath, not the spider-eque one of old. James stopped growing around 8 feet, but had four legs, a tail, two arms and four eyes. He looked like a scorpion.
"YES YES YES!" James screamed. "I feel so POWERFUL. Whose ass can I kick?"
"Patience James. Your time will come but it is not now. We will be loading up and leaving for Solstice, a planet about 100 miles from here. There are currently 200,000 living souls. We will let the titans trample them and Helen, Eris and I will collect their life force. We will move planet to planet until we are strong enough to push Sora, Brie and their child to their full power and return to start war!" Azazel shouted with glee.
As Azazel returned to his meeting room, he stood in shock. There was a portal and Sora, Brie and their party watched and overheard everything.
"I told you to keep your mouth shut Azazel, but no, you just can’t help it. You have to go on bragging about what you’re going to do." Helen scorned.
"How was I supposed to know the little brat could create portals?" Azazel said as he tried to teleport through the portal.
He bounced off and fell to the floor hard. Xander started laughing.
"Mama, Dada this bad guy!"
The entire party smiled, showing strength in numbers. They stood strong, in unison and said, "Yes Xander. Everyone in this room is evil and wants to hurt Mama and Dada."
Xander’s eyes darted around the room, making mental notes of what everyone looked like. He finally closed the portal.
"How did you know buddy?" Sora asked his son as he gave him a big hug.
"Mama dada full pow-pow bad guy said." Xander tried his best to explain.
"So when someone talks about your mama and dada in a bad way you can hear them?" Brie asked, joining in the family hug.
"Not just bad. Mama dada anyone say I know." Xander continued.
"It appears we have another telepathic god. Xander. Can you hear other people even when they aren’t talking?" Celeste asked very politely.
Xander shook his head no.
Xander looked at his parents with puppy dog eyes. He didn’t know how to explain.
"Can you hear dada now Xander?" Sora asked telepathically.
"Yes dada." Xander said to Sora telepathically. "Mama! Want Mama!"
"I’m here sweetie. We can talk like this because we’re family and it’s a special ability. Maybe you can just hear when other people think of Mama and Dada in a nice way too?"
"No Mama. Just bad thoughts."
"What about regular people? Can you hear regular people talking about Mama and Dada?"
"No. Just bad guy and bad wadees I show you."
"Well, it looks like our little angel can warn us when we’re in danger! That’s amazing Xander!" Sora said while smiling.
Xander shook his head yes.
"Do you prefer to speak normally?"
Xander nodded yes.
The party sat in the living room trying to figure out what Xander’s ability meant. It appeared that he could only sense when a god or goddess spoke, but that would make Azazel a god. So many things ran through their minds until Xander finally said.
"Bad guy not like bad girls. Bad girls weal bad. They steal people."
"You’re a smart kid buddy!" Levi boasted while picking him up and twirling him around. You want to go play with me and Auntie Sasha?
"Mama Dada dat ok?" Xander asked.
"Of course sweetheart. You go have fun!"
Everyone but Celeste joined in to play with Xander out back in their garden. They all started playing tag and Xander was having a blast. He was pretty quick for a little guy. They had the "no teleportation rule," in effect, which he now understood.
*****
"Do you think Athena would be able to help?" Sora asked Celeste.
"I’m not sure, but I think it’s worth a prayer." Celeste suggested to Brie.
Brie knelt and prayed. She began feeling tired.
"Sora I think she’s coming now, I’m really tired. Can I lay on your lap?" she said as she fell fast asleep.
Brie dreamed of peace. No war, just the party doing their usual and Xander growing rapidly. Next, she dreamed of Azazel and the titans destroying planet after planet, until they finally came back, more powerful then ever.
"Sorry for making you drowsy so quickly, but I figured you would want some answers regarding your very gifted son," Athena said while smiling brightly.
"Your majesty! It’s so good to see you. You look beautiful!" Brie said excitedly.
