RAGE: THE FINALE!

_{This is the final part of the Dreemport-Scholar&Scribe August Challenge. Find PART ONE HERE and PART TWO HERE}

Author's note: To those who read part 1, I apologize. There was a slight omission. I already corrected it but you don't have to go back to read. I apologize for the length of this one. Hehe. And for better experience, you can read to the phenomenal song of Taylor Swift ~ OUT OF THE WOODS

Dark angry clouds settled in the horizon, the sun seeming to mourn at the loss of light. Mother nature's cries could be heard among the trees. Danger brewed and everyone could tell.

Lenard stood, tall and broad, his hair flaring with the hungry wind. His eyes stared far into the distance, a haunting smirk on his lips as they zeroed in on his target.

Violet sensed his presence before she saw him. She paused, her hackles raised. He knew. He knew they were coming. Question is, how? Also he is meant to be only human, how can she feel him?

"Matyk come with me. The rest, go back. Secure the perimeters of the camp."

Confusion broke our amongst the men, their faces twisted in a frown. One opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Matyk.

"You heard her. Go home." His deep voice boomed.

Reluctantly, they retreated leaving Matyk and an angry Violet.

"He's not human. He's not a star Matyk."

Matyk, understanding the weight of her statement immediately pulled up his guard. His headband glowing with a green hallow, his muscles (both arms and legs) bulging and his eyes taking on a wild green color.

"Is he alone?" He asked

"No but he is waiting for me." Violet started moving again. Matyk wasted no time in following.

"I tell you that something seems to be happening. My master asked that I stayed locked away today. Infact, all gods seem to be staying away from the open today." Gerald grumbled to Monica who was stuffing clothes in a laundry basket.

"Why?" She chanced him a look, also curious as to what may be happening.

"Violet seems to be having a face off with Lenard today."

Monicas' hands shook at the name. Once again, she felt that ache in her chest. Unfortunately, Violet is not the cause of the slight tremor. Composing herself, she continues with the task. Luckily, Gerald is preoccupied staring out the window to have noticed her reaction.

"Well. I hope she succeeds in whatever it is. Lenard is a cruel bastard." Her words are filled with venom. Her eyes are now hard as she lifts the basket with a little more force than necessary.

Gerald's head snaps to her, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Did I just hear you curse?" He grinned.

"Anyone would when it comes to that pig."

Monica was too busy dumping the basket beside the door to notice Gerald sneak up on her. His arms circling her waist. Her nerves visibly relax at his touch. Goosebumps settling on her skin as he lays soft kisses on the spot behind her ears.

"You seem to be furious. If I didn't know better, I'd say you have met him."

And just like that, the safety net broke. Monica struggled not to return to a dark time in her past. Flashes of a dungeon, chains and whips. She could even perceive the faint smells– putrid.

She gently but hurriedly leaves Gerald's embrace, feeling her skin crawl as the memories come back with vengeance. She is safe now. She should be safe now.

"What's wrong?" His face etched with concern. She'd never pulled away from him before. Not even when she's at her maddest.

"Nothing. I just got a bit dizzy. I think I need to sleep." She told him, forcing a smile on her face. She didn't need to sleep, she needed reprieve. She wanted to heal.

Gerald was at a loss. He knew something was wrong, but he couldn't put a finger on it. Is it something I said? He thought. However, he couldn't bring himself to force her to tell him anything.

"Alright. I guess I'll just come back later. You'll be okay?" He takes a step forward, wanting to give her kiss but she moved three steps back. Her face paler than it should be. He freezes, wondering what could be going on and what he could do.

"I'm fine honestly." Her voice shakes a little.

With a slight nod and a reluctant spirit, he leaves her. The moment the door clicks with the lock and she hears his retreating footsteps, she crumbles. Her body shakes visibly, sweat breaking out on her skin. Her eyes remain tightly shut as she tries to force down her demons. The memories coming like a flood.

Chains. Darkness. Hunger. Fear. Him. His hands. His touch...

Her skin crawls till she can't take it anymore and falls to the floor. She curls into a small ball, protecting herself. Like she always does. Like she always had.

Violet trekked across the open, the vast field naked to the beholder. Dead plants and trees were its cover and so was the daunting tower that stood over it on a cliff. Crows circled it, their cries haunting.

Lenard observed as she came to him. He knew she'd seen him. Her loyal dog was waiting on the other side, no doubt thinking she alone can take him. It's not a lie. She would have. Not anymore.

Her red regalia and symmetrical face made his blood boil. He had dreamed of this day, too bad it took a stupid quest to draw her out.

Violet, using her zin, rose to meet Lenard where he floated in the sky. His chest was bare, revealing bulging muscles and overgrown veins. His lower half was clothed in white silk, it covered his feet but was still short enough to not dance in the roaring wind.

Matyk watched the duo in the sky, his skin humming. He wanted to be there but she wants to do it alone. From the corner of his eye, he sees something coming and dodges it. Missing it barely. His eyes adjusted on the young woman, clothed in black, a mask covered her face but her eyes were visible. She walked towards him, hips swaying to an unknown rhythm, her arms opened slightly as she pulls the two life-like whips along.

"It's so easy to fool desperate men you know." Came the deceivingly soft voice.

Matyk didn't say a word, understanding her meaning. It was she the spies saw, not Little Sol.

"I've been craving a fight for years now. A true fight." Her eyes lit up like fireworks; ambers glinting with murderous intent.

"Dance with me?" She said and rushed towards him.

"A pleasure Violet." Lenard says

"You knew I was coming. Where is she?"

"All gods knew you were coming for me. You didn't exactly keep it simple. You were looking for something. Someone. It's a coincidence when you raid two of my military camps, three is not. What do you call the fifth? Sending a message."

"Where is she?"

"Who? The blonde? She escaped or maybe I let her. She was no longer of use to me."

Violets' eyebrows creased. Sol wasn't blonde. She had dark hair.

"Ahh. Do not be confused. You see, after finding a way to not just be human, I set out to replenish myself. Taking in the zin of many dead gods proved helpful. I'm glad that Monster didn't take you so early. You wouldn't be here." Lenard gave a deceptively boyish grin. He advanced slowly towards her. She didn't move back nor did she care to follow him with her eyes when he circled her. His veins thrummed once again. She's the one. She was perfect.

"I did raid a small village hoping to find a young one that I could breed. As you probably know, I can't breed a normal human. It would be a disaster."

"An abomination. You are not a god. You're a counterfeit." Violets' voice came.

Lenard froze. Despite himself, he hated how much that were true. Violet remained calm even when he entered her personal space, his finger tips brushing locks of her hair.

"Well yes. Which is why I need a true one. You see, I do need a seed when I die. None of those girls could take me. The one with blue eyes was promising."

Violet reacted, turning to face him.

"Ahh. So she's the one. I loved her dark hair. It's rare you see those ones with eyes as exquisite as hers. But she was weak too. Soon, her hair turned blonde. I despise blondes. I could have ended her but she escaped. I had no interest in going after her at all. Not worth my energy."

"Where is she?" Violet bit out. She could feel her control waning.

"I don't know. She escaped. I don't care. Let's move back to the main topic shall we?"

Violet caught the change of atmosphere and looked down. Matyk was over a figure, he seemed to be choking it. Lenard followed her eyes.

"Ah. I knew she was good but I thought she'd last longer. Haha."

Violets' eyes returned back to him. Her face breaking into a crooked grin.

"You don't have her. That makes killing you a lot easier."

"And you for the taking." Lenard replied.

Thunder rumbled as they clashed, matched in battle.

Monica twisted at the slight pain in her chest. Her body seemed to be on fire. She rose, looking around her trying to make sense of this engulfing heat. As she stood, a pain slashed through her lower abdomen and the tear of fabric rung through the room. She looked down, her dress was open at the side. The mark was glowing brighter and the heat seemed to spread from there.

Another pang of pain slashed at her legs and she collapsed, moaning. In throes they came, harsh and unforgiving. One went through her head, making her wheeze at the sheer velocity of it. She screamed just as the pain intensified and a purple hallow encompassed her. Like a flame, it burned all over her skin till like a light, she was gone, silence falling over the room.

Lenard and Violet engaged in an intense battle, flashes of light here and there as they summoned their powers. Violets' trusted sword hung over them, it's handle glowing a faint purple. Matyk saw it and his eyes widened. With frantic movements, he began searching above, his eyes darting from one corner to the other at the promise of a savior. Violet was loosing this fight, he could feel it. Her movements were slower but he couldn't engage. Not unless she summoned him.

"If I can't have you whole, decapitated would suffice." Lenard chuckled eeriely. The veins on him popped and enlarged, twisting with a disturbing finesse. Thunder clapped and lightening zapped across the sky. Violet stretched out her arm for her sword but it didn't come. She turned and that one moment of distraction was enough. Lenard sent a raging storm towards her.

Matyk yelled, "NO". Trying his best to reach her even when he knew he wouldn't be able to.

Violet was a little too late to move. However, a beam of light flashed with urgency, and Violet found herself flung from the sky, landing roughly to the ground, unharmed. But that couldn't be said for the figure that laid lifeless across from her.

Blonde hair...

Violet rushed across, her eyes taking in the burns and bruises on the pale skin of the motionless Monica. Her heart ached with a velocity too strong, too passionate. Then she saw it. The mark! Little Sols' mark!

Her eyes widened, her vision blurred and her chest grew tight. A scream ripped from her, forcing her head up to the sky. Red streaks appeared among dark clouds and grew thicker. With resolve, she stood, her entire body radiating; Rage!

Before Lenard could retreat, he was struck. She didn't stop, she kept summoning, rendering blows after blows. Each for the years she'd endured. For her. For Sol.

Matyk took in the pale young woman on the ground. She was like porcelain. Small and fragile. With a careful and well calculated swoop, he scooped her in his arms. His large frame daunting to her small one. His chest squeezed with a fierce possessiveness, internally swearing to protect.

Lenard laid spineless on the ground as Violet had taken away his essence, his life force.

"I won't kill you. It will." She said and motioned to his veins. She recognized a silk worm when she saw one. He won't last a day without the Zin to feed it. She turned and walked away just as Lenard's cries broke out.

Violet felt tears pour out her eyes. It was all over. She reached to Matyk who cradled her sister like a prized possession and suppressed her smile.

"She's still alive." He said in a gruff voice. She nodded, eyes fixed on her sister. She was here. Not an illusion.

"Let's go. We'll send Nook a message from camp. I'm coming home."

_{Source: Lead Image by Dima Valkov from Pexels}