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Pathetic.
Felandria had run down the stairs in a panic, she had just taken 20 Magic Missiles and was badly hurt, she needed to flee and take a minute to allow her minor regeneration to heal her.
Ever since the black cloud struck her amulet and turned her into the vampire, she had to be careful, being in the Abyss, far away from wherever her coffin was, if she fell, there would be no resurrection.
She knew she couldn't wait too long, she still had the book, Orcus was at the top of the stairs, slumbering, mouth open, waiting for the book to be thrown in.
She had a mission, her father was counting on her, her friends were counting on her, the world was counting on her.
She turned to see who called her pathetic, she looked up to meet his gaze, rare for her these days, a huge storm giant stood before her, sneering.
You call yourself one of us?
Felandria hadn't had much of a chance to talk with her father, but he imparted enough knowledge to her for her to know who this was.
This was one of the many siblings she never knew she had, Zeus had gotten around, but this was the son of Zeus and Hera.
Ares, the god of war.
Time for me to do everyone a favor and put you out of your misery.
Ares raised his weapon in the air and brought it down upon her, she knew she could not take this hit, but there was nowhere to run.
For reasons she didn't understand, a powerful instinct overtook her and she brought her hand to the amulet around her neck.
The weapon came down with a great force, but hit nothing but air.
Felandria stood there with her eyes closed, waiting for the fatal blow, it didn't come, she opened one eye and saw Ares was no longer there.
Welcome back, Felandria.
She spun around and immediately knew where she was.
This was the underdark, and standing in front of her was the most beautiful man she had ever laid eyes upon.
Chance.
They had met a month before, when the party found themselves in the underdark, seeking proof to bring to the king that the dangers they had warned him of was real, there was a massive, glowing purple crystal on a pedestal roughly thirty yards away, a bat flew towards it and as it flew away, she had noticed the bat was now several times larger than before, she was awestruck by this and hadn't noticed her party had gone ahead of her.
Chance saw her there and introduced himself, they had each felt an immediate connection to one another, he offered to take her to her party, but she soon found herself in a beautiful meadow where Chance proposed marriage.
She found the offer nearly irresistible, which tends to happen when a vampire has you in his thrall.
But her mission overrode her base desires and she insisted Chance take her back to her party, he agreed, but as they flew back, they were struck by a bolt of lightning.
Felandria soon found herself seperated from her body, it was being used by an evil, bloodsucking, perverted old wizard to convince the party to destroy his greatest enemy.
Chance.
The wizard used her powers to take the life of her dear friend Sarah, the party bard, but Vladimir, the dwarven fighter managed to break the gem her soul was trapped in and she drove the wizard out of her body, after which they destroyed his coffin before he could regain his form, destroying him.
Chance was grateful to the party for defeating the wizard, and still wanted Felandria to be his bride, she told him that she couldn't give him an answer yet, but vowed to return to him and give him a decision.
Chance gave her an amulet to remind her of him, and told her he loved her.
Now here she was, standing in front of him, he seemed thoroughly unsurprised to see her.
I knew you would return.
You.....have changed.
You are like me now.
She looked at the vampire who had proposed marriage to her, now standing in front of her, coming up roughly to her pelvis.
Not exactly.
I see that, I'm glad you've discovered just how special you are.
The moment I saw you I knew what you were, I knew eventually you would discover your true power.
Felandria stared at Chance, slowly putting the pieces together.
You did this.
You made me a vampire.
It wasn't the book, it was the amulet, you wanted to turn me so I would return to you.
I wanted you to see what it was like, the feeling of eternity, even considering your bloodline, one such as you would not live forever, I want us to be together for eternity, I want our love to last through the ages.
I also wanted you to be equipped for what was to come, I know of the abyss and what is required to survive, I didn't want to lose you so soon.
Felandria continued to stare at him until she collapsed to her knees, sobbing.
Chance considered putting a hand on her shoulder, but thought better of it.
I was so close.
I was so close to fulfilling my destiny, finally doing the right thing for the right reasons, thinking of others, defending the world from evil, I was going to prove I wasn't just a self centered, overgrown brat.
Do you know what you've done to me?
I wanted you to be safe.
It's too late for that, you took my life away from me.
I told you I would come back, I told you you'd see me again, but you used me, you turned me into this....thing.
Careful, just because I'm a vampire doesn't make me a "thing"
Don't you get it?
I have to destroy the book, but I'm here instead while Ares is probably killing my friends as we speak.
Send me back now, if you really loved me, you'd let me go.
Chance slumped against a nearby wall.
I....
Maybe you're right.
What the hell have I become?
I never should have interfered, I should have trusted that you'd return.
I promise to make this up to you.
Chance reaches around and removes the amulet from around Felandria's neck.
This should be your decision.
Chance takes the amulet and clutches it in his fist as he smashes it against the wall.
Felandria exhales and a black cloud comes out of her mouth, her coloring returns to her skin as the curse is lifted and she returns to normal.
You're right, you have to go back, you have to destroy the book.
But how do I get back?
And how do I defeat Ares now?
My vampire strength is gone, maybe you should have waited to do that.
You don't need it, you're more powerful than you know.
But I know what you need to defeat Ares.
Chance runs over to a cabinet, he pulls out a metallic spear, when he hands it to her, it grows.
This is a Titan Slayer.
You know what to do with it, I believe.
And here's a scroll of teleport so you can get back and help your friends and do what you need to do.
Thank you.
If you never want to see me again, I understand.
I would love nothing more that for us to be together for eternity, but the last thing I want is for you to spend eternity resenting me.
Look, I......
I don't know.
I don't know if I can ever truly forgive you, I do feel a tremendous connection with you, vampire or not, but I need time.
Time I won't have if I don't go back.
Goodbye, Chance.
Felandria opens the scroll and casts the spell, disappearing.
Chance sighs and slumps against a wall, sliding down to the floor.
Goodbye.
I'll miss you.
Vladimir swings his hammer, knocking one of the small demons into the one next to him, taking both of them out, Morgan and T'elth stand back to back, taking out the demons one by one.
Ares appears in front of them, chuckling to himself.
This is what he sent to do his dirty work?
Old man's slipping.
Nothing will distract me from my Great War.
Ares swings at Morgan and T'elth, but is stopped short as a spear runs straight through his back and pokes out of his chest.
Vladimir peeks around Ares to see Felandria, no longer undead, holding the spear.
Deus Ex Felandria
To be continued.
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Felandria pulls the spear from Ares's chest.
He turns to her, still solidly on his feet, the wound not affecting him nearly as much as one would think.
He snarls and backhands her, knocking her to the ground.
You dare strike me?
I am his true son, you're just a bastard.
Consorting with these mortals, you really think you can stop the inevitable?
You're almost out of time, Orcus will awaken shortly, and then you will have failed.
To think Father entrusted you with this mission, a selfish, weak, vain trollop.
It will be the last mistake he ever makes.
And as for you....
Ares kicks the spear away and steps on her chest.
I want you to watch, watch as I kill your friends one by one.
Starting wi
Ares is silenced by a hammer striking him square in the temple, Vladimir's throw dead on it's mark.
Ares staggers and falls to his knees, Felandria gets to her feet and makes a beeline for Orcus, book in hand, Ares regains his bearings and spots Felandria headed towards the demon, Ares grabs a nearby stone and hurls it at her, striking her in the back and sending her sprawling.
The book flies out of her hand as he stands and walks towards her, twirling his sword in his hand.
On second thought, I'm just going to kill you now.
He raises his sword and stabs her in the gut, as he does, a bolt of lightning strikes the ground between him and the rest of the party, Ares pulls his sword out of Felandria.
Stay out of this, Father.
Two more flashes and there are now three Titan Slayers stuck in the ground in front of Vladimir, Morgan and T'elth.
Vladimir pokes one with a finger, then pulls it out of the ground.
It'll do.
Ares reaches down and grabs Felandria by the throat, picking her up off the ground and dangling her in midair.
One more move and I snap her neck.
Felandria coughs and a trickle of blood runs down her mouth as she struggles to breathe.
b..buh.....
What's that?
Brother?
I am not your brother, you are nothing but an insect.
She shakes her head frantically and Ares loosens the grip on her throat just enough for her to gasp in some air.
Oh, I'm terribly sorry, that's not what you meant?
Go ahead, amuse me, what is it you were trying to say?
burning hands.
Felandria raises her hands and aims a cone of flames at Ares's face, he screams and drops her to clutch his hands to his eyes, she collapses in a heap.
Now.
Morgan and T'elth each grab one of the other Titan Slayers and they join Vladimir in charging in and stabbing Ares simultaneously, Morgan in the chest, T'elth in the side and Vladimir in the stomach.
Ares stops screaming and falls to the ground, Felandria slowly crawls towards Orcus and picks up the book, she drags herself to the mouth and tosses the book in as she falls unconscious.
The others rush to her side and roll her over, T'elth checks her wound and her pulse.
She's still alive, barely.
The elven Druid casts a heal spell and the wound seals itself, but Felandria remains unconscious.
Morgan looks to Vladimir.
How are we supposed to get her out of here?
She weighs double all of us put together.
I don't know, but I don't want to be here when the demon wakes up.
Perhaps I can assist with that.
The trio turn at once and see Zeus standing there, looming over them.
He bends down and scoops Felandria into his arms.
Follow me.
A swirling portal materializes on the wall, Zeus carries Felandria through and the others follow.
To be continued.
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Felandria wakes up in a soft and fluffy bed, she starts to sit up but a gentle hand on her shoulder eases her back onto the bed.
Easy, Felandria.
You've been through a lot.
You've been asleep for two days.
Did we win?
Yes, daughter, the book is destroyed, we are safe.
Your friends are fine, I have asked them to return to their village.
But I wish to speak with you on an important matter.
What is it, father?
Felandria, I have failed so many of my children, to be certain, I have sired some fine offspring, and I love every single one of them, but most of them are not terribly fond of me, I still have a few whom still hold a degree of affection for me, but the majority have denounced me.
I wish to be a better father, and it's time I started.
So I ask you to remain on Olympus, allow me to be a father to you now, guide you on the path to glory.
I can see you one day achieving your destiny, you have within you the potential one of us, of entering the pantheon.
What say you, my dear?
Felandria smiles as a tear runs down her cheek.
Father, you have no idea how long I have dreamed of finding you and hearing you tell me you waned me to live with you.
There is nothing in this world I would love more than to live here with you.
But I can't.
You say I have the potential to become a god like you.
But I don't deserve to be, not yet, anyway.
You wish to prove yourself to me, but I'm the one who must prove myself.
I must prove to you and the other gods that I am worthy of ascension, but more importantly, I have to prove it to myself.
I want to earn it.
I would like the chance to earn such a blessing.
Zeus sighs and shakes his head, chuckling softly.
You really must be my daughter, stubborn as a mule.
Very well, I know just the realm for you to do so.
A world where someone like you will fit in just fine, you will be on more equal footing among its residents.
Once you have fully recovered, you may journey there and prove yourself.
I wish you the best of luck.
You won't regret it, father.
I swear you will be proud of me.
I already am.
End.