Chapter 27: From The Ashes…
[General POV]:
Contrary to historic context, Max's death didn't create a Nexus Vorti, or any kind of shockwave/release of power like one would've expected to come from the death of a powerful witch. Nature hadn't took back its power and no one connected to Maximus felt his death.
Hell, his special stone — the Verbatim stone — glowed with its usual level of radiant power, conflicting what the three men had certainly seen with their very eyes.
And yet, the three men were certain of it: Maximus Bennett was dead. They had seen him fall, taking out all 220 witches, werewolves and vampires with him in that display of mysterious but powerful, mystical thunder.
"He's… dead… Just like that?" Kai was the first speak as the three men stood before the now-white-haired witch's corpse. "Well… this is awkward."
Neither of the other men spoke… Until one did.
"I… I can't believe he's dead," Kol said, verbalizing the thoughts of all who were present, as he stared wide-eyed at the corpse ahead. Then he furrowed a brow, as if thinking of something he hadn't before. "Wait, that is odd."
"What is it?" Sebastian asked Kol, curiously, but Kol was too busy looking around them at the charred remains of 220 supernaturals. "Kol, what is it?"
"The Nexus Vorti — It never happened," Kol explained, confusing Sebastian, but Kai had an expression of someone who instantly understood. "The death of so many supernaturals in one place — let alone one of the most powerful witches on Earth — it should've released a ton of magic power."
"It didn't," Kai realized, eyes widening. "A Nexus Vorti really didn't happen."
Realization seemed to dawn upon Sebastian, as all 3 pairs of eyes locked on the corpse that was Maximus.
It seemed like time stopped, as all three held their breath, and moments later…
PSSSST!
Fwoosh!
The 3 men took a step backward as the corpse began smoking, before getting lit aflame in a golden orange inferno, completely shocking the three men present.
"Quick, put it out, Kol!" Sebastian urged.
"Adiuuator!" Kol thrusted a hand towards the flames, as he attempted to doused the flame with magic — To no avail. "It's not working."
"What do you mean it's not working?" Kai asked, annoyed.
"I mean, it isn't working!" Kol shot back. When Kai made a face, Kol asked, "What? Do you want to give it a try? These flames…are different — It's magic isn't something that can be extinguished with magic."
Kai went quiet, choosing to silently take the Original vampire's word for it.
Eventually, the flames did go out and all eyes returned to Max's corpse — Or, rather, what was left of it, anyway. Now, it was a hardened shell of hardened ash.
Only, Kol was certain he saw movement, and, when it happened again, the others had a reaction, so he was certain it had moved. And moments later, an ash-covered hand made its way out of the hardened ash statue that was Max's previous corpse.
The movement had Kai and Sebastian take a step back, and caused Kol to want to join them, but he fought against the instinct, choosing instead to see the process through to the end.
Eventually, Maximus had broken through the ash and stood up, clearly well once more.
"Well," Maximus watched the 3 men looking at him like he had just come back from the dead, which was ironic considering he had. "This is awkward."
"Wa… How?" Seb asked, perplexed. "How are you still alive?"
But, before Max could answer, someone else had.
"Because," Kol said, eyes locked on Max in both appraisal and awe. "You're part phoenix… Aren't you?"
Max merely smirked in amusement, mentally already thinking of ways to obliterate this mysterious organization known as the 'Hand of Nature'…
[Maximus Westphall-Bennett POV]:
Maximus was pissed.
He had ensured there wouldn't be a Nexus Vorti of the 220 supernaturals who had died by his hand by harnessing their spirits at the moments of their demise, intending to add their essence to compound his own magic power.
Unfortunately, what Maximus hadn't taken into account about using Alzur's Thunder, was that it always takes its due — whether life force, magic, or something held very dear. And it took some of Maximus' lifeforce; that is how he died — But that second time, it took what he had harnessed — All 220 supernaturals and their souls. Taken. Before he could even assimilate their power.
It pissed him off.
'What a bother. I'll never use that spell again,' Max thought to himself, keeping his calm on the outside, but on the inside, he was fuming. Taking a breath, he released some of that anger through his nostrils. 'Well, at least I was still able to regain any lifeforce I lost. In fact, I would argue that my lifeforce is slightly stronger than it was before. Is this because of my resurrection? Do phoenixes become stronger the more they die? Or…is it that the older they are, the stronger they become when they resurrect? Interesting food for thought, I supposed.'
Max stood on the patio of the motel room, overlooking the parking lot. It was still raining outside, but he placed an umbrella spell over the motel room, allowing him to enjoy the night evening air without worry.
He was dressed in a pair of soft, black and grey patterned pajama pants and a black t-shirt. He had showered and changed, as his clothes had been covered in ash from his resurrection and had to be washed.
'As others learn of who I am, of what I am, it's only a matter of time before someone figures out I can be felled by a golden arrow,' Maximus thought, hand on his chin. 'It's not difficult to learn a phoenix's weakness. Maybe I should remove that weakness with my biokinesis? Or use Logomancy to figure out a solution to complete destroying such a weakness?
'Also, that organization… I can tell what came after me was just an assault team. I sense they are more than just 220 members strong. It's probably safe to assume that they will become a recurring thorn in my side until I do something about them.
'They've obviously been watching me, and, supposedly, they're the reason why Travellers are cursed to begin with. If this is true, then they are much more powerful than I anticipated. I'll have to be careful — And deal with them, and soon. But first—.'
"Hello, Beautiful," Kol's voice sounded behind Max as a pair of hands clasped around Max's stomach and a mouth of teeth and fangs was felt breathing and nibbling the nape of his neck.
"Mmm…Kol," Max sighed deeply, then felt a warmth ahead of him as well as behind. Turning slightly, Max looked up, noticing that Kai was there with lidded eyes…
"And Kai," Kai said, hands at Max's waist as both men assaulted both sides of Max's neck. Max tilted his head back in surrender to give both men more access.
'First, I can enjoy this night,' Max thought, contentedly. 'Then I can plan my revenge.'
[General POV]:
[Unknown Location]:
In a shadowy room, lit only by 7, raised computer monitors, a man obscured in shadows stood at attention. He was in the middle of these screens, explaining the situation to all 7 screen monitors that showed shadowy, vaguely humanoid, digital forms on.
"We sent 220 operatives at the thing and all failed," the man began. "However, we will succeed a second time, because what we sent before were our first timer agents. I've sent the triplets this time. Victory is assured."
"Be sure that it is, General," one of the figures stated. "This being is dangerous. Its survival jeopardizes our whole organization."
"Don't worry. If the travellers were brought to heel, what chance does a boy of 16 years pose in the face of an organization that placed a curse on the strongest magic wielders on Earth? Against the organization that put the kill on the Original Witch's son to push her to create the vampire species? Who orchestrated the betrayal of Malivore?" The man smirked. "He may be a monster, but he, too, shall die. Like all the others."
"Hail the Hand."
"Hail the Hand," the 7 figures on the screens echoed.