Coming Out of Exile: The Strength of A Father's Love
By Moon Mistress

Chapter Six

This Story Is COMPLETE Please Proceed To Chapter Seven If You Have Already This Chapter!

I wanna be your sledgehammer
Why don’t you call my name?
You better call the sledgehammer
Sledgehammer
Peter Gabriel

Ares was gazing into his mirror looking at his sleeping Daughter and Morpheus over her when he heard Morpheus call for Hades. Ares sat up and paid closer attention to the transparent Olympian standing on Calla’s balcony. A sudden chill went through his massive frame causing the God of War to tremble.  There was something moving in the darkness just beyond the gates of Altair Ain.  He leaned into the mirror hoping for a closer look. “By the Gods!” He exclaimed not believing what he was seeing.  “HADES!” Ares shouted so loudly bits of rock and dirt fell from the ceiling of the ancient cave. “HADES! What have you done?!”

The God of Death did not answer him just as he did not answer Morpheus.

“This cannot be.” Ares muttered to himself.

But it was.

Springing from his lonely throne Ares grabbed his battle gear and shouted for his horse Flame as he ran out of the cave.  The mighty black steed came to his call and Ares jumped upon its back riding the wind to Altair Ain.

“He’s got to be CRAZY!” Ares thundered as the horse and he rode the astral plane to the walled city. “Faster you nag! Faster!”

**

All the children and Calla deep in the clutches of peaceful sleep the balcony doors flew open waking Calla as a cold wind came to call. Sleepy eyes rolled open and focused on the doors banging in the wind.  The children began to stir. “Grammy?” Danny asked with sleep deep in his voice.

“It’s just the wind,” Calla said easily, “go back to sleep, my dear.”  Using her magick she shut the doors but they blew open again.  “What the devil?”  Dragging her slender body from the big bed she went to the doors and looked out.  At first all she saw was the night but there was a rank smell on that crisp wind.  Standing on the balcony she walked to the banister and peered out over the sleeping village.  Something was moving out there.  Not just one something but many somethings that were as black as the night around her.  The exposed skin of her arms turned into goose bumps so quickly that it hurt.

“Grammy?” Danny said as he walked out to be with her.

“Get back inside!” Calla shouted. “Now! Go Danny!”

“What is it?” The little boy asked innocently as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.

“Do what I tell you!” Calla demanded.  Her Grandson, looking very hurt, ran back into the room. “By the Gods in all the Heavens!”

Over the six foot high stone walls of Altair Ain the shadows crept and walked through.  Hundreds maybe even a thousand of them. Altair Ain was under attack. Before she could act there was something else riding the wind. Ares appeared from no where sword in one hand and fireball in the other, he began tossing them as fast as he could at the shadows invading the town. “Father!” Calla shouted still unable to believe what she was seeing.  “Father!”

Ares cut his way through the shadows setting them ablaze with one hand and cutting them down with the other.  They sprang back up and surrounded him.

“Father!”  Calla ran into the room where the children were waking. “No matter what happens all of you MUST STAY HERE!” She commanded and ran out the door putting up a protective shield around her bedroom as she went.

“What’s going on?” Aiden asked as he watched his Mother flee the bedroom.  The children walked to the balcony and for the first time in their lives heard the sounds of War.  It made them huddle together in the safety of the bedroom.  Outside the citizens of the kingdom began to awaken only to find their homes on fire.

Nicholas had wanted weapons to be mounted along the wall but Calla said no to that idea years ago. She didn’t want people to feel they were living in some type of militarized zone.  Nicholas had wanted the walls to be at least 8 feet high and she’d said no because it would block out the view.  How she should have listened to her Son!  The warning system in town such as it was consisted of a series of loud bells placed throughout Altair Ain.  If one of these should ring out the alarm the rest activated and rang out the warning so everyone was aware they should arm themselves. The system was crude but that was mostly because Calla thought they would never have any need of it just as she thought they’d never need the fancy alarm system in the museum but Daniel was more persuasive than Nicholas.  Mortals might steal treasures from the gallery but surely no one would ever want to attack their peaceful village.

Fleeing into the yard Calla uttered two words she never thought she’d say as she grabbed the rope on the warning bell which was near the front door to the manor house. “To Arms! To Arms!” She cried as she yanked on the rope and the bells below came to life filling the still night with their strident warning. The sound of the bell echoed through the darkness along with the sound of her panicked voice.  “We’re under attack!”  Fear and tears welled up in her eyes as she watched the shadow creatures wreak havoc on her sleepy kingdom.  Who want to attack them? They had no enemies.  In nothing but her bare feet and nightgown she ran down the hill toward the village as she tried to think of what she should do.  In mid-spring she disappeared from the walled city only to reappear in Bink’s cave. “Get up!” She shouted at the two dragons. “Get up! Someone is attacking!”

The dragons that had been cuddled together sprang to their taloned feet in a great rush. “What?” Bink asked but soon heard the cries in the village below. The two flew off together raining down fire from above and trying to be careful not to set any more homes on fire. Not that it mattered, wherever the Shadows went they set to burn whatever was nearest them. 

Next, Calla teleported to the elvin village that was already beginning to show signs of life and light. “Archers! Archers! To Arms!” She called out frantically as she ran through the woods looking up at the village in the trees. “Archers!”  From their tree houses high above her elves began rushing down the spiral staircases to the forest floor below as they grabbed their bows and quivers.

“What’s happening my Queen?” Elrond, leader of the elves, asked as he shouldered his quiver.

“I don’t know!” Calla shouted. “Go! Go!”

The handsome blonde elf led his soldiers to the battle while dwarves swarmed down the hillside battle axes in hand.

In his Sea Kingdom Poseidon awoke to the call and rushed to the surface to see Altair Ain burning.  His first thought was to send a tidal wave which would extinguish the fires and wash away the intruders but he quickly realized it would also wash away the kingdom.  Rising high into the air on a wave the likes no man had ever seen before he began directing water from the palms of his hands to put out the fires springing to life all over the kingdom.

Ares, God of War in full battle regalia and in his glory as the heat of the battle overtook him, welcomed all comers and did not hesitate to slay them or at least try.  His sword did no good.  As he hacked and slashed his way through the Army of Shadows they fell only to spring back to their feet.  The fireballs in his hands had another affect, they did not get up from that!   Ares set his sword to blaze; fireballs streaming from one hand and flaming sword in the other he cut a swath through the invaders with his nostrils flaring like those of his horse and his gigantic heart racing just as fast he rode through the Shadows at full speed, “Take that you bastards!” Ares shouted as he let loose a barrage of fireballs into a crowd of the Shadows.  In the midst of the fray he saw Calla standing there unarmed as she tried to ward off the Shadows with her magick but they were closing in on her.  “YA! Go! Go!” Ares shouted at the horse that reared up on its hind legs and sprinted for the Queen.  “What are you doing?” He shouted at her. Calla turned around just in time to see him charging at her at full speed, Ares reached down with one hand, grabbed her and hoisted her onto the horse.

Calla grabbed hold of him with a fierce grip. “What ARE they?”

“The Shadows of the Undead.” Ares returned. “Hades’ Army, he has let them loose from the Underworld.”  Hades said he had something planned but Ares never dreamed it would be THIS.  Hades was upset at his lack of business but Ares never dreamed he would go this far and commit treason against a Queen and kingdom that still celebrated him every October.  No one celebrated Ares here.  More than this, Ares never though the souls Hades was thirsting for would be those of the UPs. He had to be out of his little mind to do this!  “FIRE! You fools! FIRE!” Ares shouted out to the largely unarmed UPs who were flooding out of their homes. “BURN THEM!”

Hearing the order the elfin archers lit their arrows on fire before taking aim and shooting them into the air.  The night sky lit as though a meteor shower were passing very close by. Hundreds upon hundreds of flaming arrows rained down from the night sky.  The terror stricken UPs threw down their blades and their lances and whatever else they’d armed themselves with as they ran for anything they could find that would burn.  Duncan MacLeod who’d been woken from a sound sleep by the clanging of the bells was fully engaged in the battle. Hearing Ares’ words he broke a nearby oil lamp to douse his blade with the oil and set it afire before returning to hacking and thrusting with the blade dispatching whatever Shadows came his way. Ollie and Chantel who’d run down from their mountain home upon hearing all of the commotion now lit their heavy clubs on fire and began bashing them down upon the ground sending massive shock waves through the Earth knocking several people off their feet.

The Shadows of the Undead flooded into the village cutting down anyone and everyone in their path with delight.  Some held ghostly weapons in the shadowy shapes of spears or swords. Others had what looked like crude wooden shields but in the dark and the obscured light of the battle it was hard to tell anything about them other than they were black as the night and moved with the speed of jaguars.  Everywhere they went they left behind screams of pain and anguish echoing into the still night.

Riding behind her Father Calla summoned up what command over fire she had—which was not as good as Ares’—and tossed small fireballs at the intruders as they rode through them.  Seeing her upon the horse the Shadows of the Undead made a beeline for her. The hoard surrounded them as they reached up for her trying to pull her off the horse. Their touch was colder than ice in winter. “Get off of me!” She shouted as one them grabbed hold of her nightgown and gave a mighty tug almost hard enough to pull her from Flame’s back.

“Don’t let them touch you!” Ares demanded. “Their touch is Death.”

“Now you tell me.” Calla huffed and put up a glowing protective shield that encased her, Ares and the horse. “Where did they come from? Why would Hades do this?” She would have put a shield to encompass the whole of the kingdom but it was far too late for that and if she did so she would only trap the invaders leaving them no room to flee. 

“Why ask me?” Ares growled and tossed another gigantic fireball into the fray a group of Shadows caught fire and howled as they burned.  “Before you ask, I had nothing to do with this.”

Calla hadn’t thought of that just yet but it did seem a convenient time for her Father to appear after all these years.  With any grace from the Gods there would be time for talk later.  Ares, surrounded by the Shadows, pulled back on the reins. Flame reared up one more time and then leapt over the Shadows and to a safer position.  From above Bink and Dryana blew great streams of fire assuring their escape.  Unsatisfied with the puny fireballs she was conjuring Calla searched inside herself for a stronger weapon and soon streaks of lightning began shooting from her fingertips through the shield.  Upon landing on the Shadows the dark creatures exploded with howls of pain never to be seen or heard from again.

“Good!” Ares shouted.  “Keep firing at them!”

The Shadows of the Undead were everywhere and all around her the UPs were dying as Altair Ain burned. Thatched roofs caught fire and the wind blew hot embers from one home or business to the next with great speed threatening to destroy that all had been built.  Calla stood up on the back of the horse and Ares growled before he yanked her down again. “Stay behind me!” He ordered. “You’re the one they’re after!”

“Why me?”

Ares turned to look at her from over his brawny shoulder and gave her a look of disgust before turning his attention back to the battle.

The horrible wails and sounds of battle brought the children to the edge of the protective shield Calla put up around them.  “Ares!” Athena shouted. “Look! Ares and Mom!”  All of the children looked past her to see Calla and Ares enrapt in the battle to defeat the intruders. “We have to help them.” Athena cried.

“No,” Aiden said quickly. “We have to stay here. There’s nothing we can do for them.”

“Speak for yourself!” Athena admonished her Brother. “I’m not a child I don’t know about you, Addy.”

“Mom said to stay here.” Aiden said as he snatched out to grab hold of Athena’s arm while she turned to go back inside, he just knew she was going to bolt through the door. “We don’t even know what they are.”  Amy looked like she was ready to jump into the fray with Athena but Brigid, Lilly, Colleen and Danny were another story. “We have to stay here and look out for them.” Aiden said in a strong but quiet voice. “What happens if someone gets in here? They can’t defend themselves.”

Athena looked at her Sisters and her Niece and Nephew to see them cowering together holding each other and their hands over their ears to block out the screams coming from below. “Fine.” She said through gritted teeth.  Outside the Shadows were getting closer to the house.  “Get back away from the edge.” She ordered of all of them. “Get in the room!”  Only to grateful to comply the children ran back into the bedroom.  “You better be right, Addy.” She threatened and then stormed off after them.

Riding on the back of the mighty steed Flame with lightning bolts flying from her fingertips Calla turned back to look toward the house and saw a small group of Shadows making their way up the hill. “My children! Father!”

Ares turned the horse around but didn’t want to leave his place in the battle since he was doing such a good job of holding most of them at bay.  “Poseidon!” He called out to his Uncle who was high above the kingdom doing all that he could to dowse the flames springing up all over the town. “Get the kids out of here! Take them to your kingdom!”  He saw the worried look on Calla’s face. “They can’t go there,” Ares explained. “They will be safe under the sea.”  The God of War thought it over for a second, she was very useful here but, “you should go with them.” Ares advised. “You should get out of here.”

“I won’t leave my people!” Calla cried.

She was a good and loyal Queen and Ares didn’t argue with her over it.  Instead they watched Poseidon swoop down upon the balcony and walk through the shield Calla put up.  “Come with me now!” Poseidon told the children. “We’re going to my kingdom. Hurry!”

“We’re not leaving!” Athena said defiantly. “Take them if you want.” She pointed to the non-magickal among them.

“All of you.” Poseidon told them. “Don’t argue with me little girl.”

Being to small to put up much of a fight Athena stomped her foot on the ground in anger and frustration.  In the end they all did as they were told, Poseidon teleported them to the Cliffside and called up a great bubble of air. “Get in.” He told them. “Quickly.” The Shadows that had been making their way toward the house now saw them trying to escape and were running toward them at full tilt.

“But…but….but….” Lilly stuttered.

“Just walk into it.” Poseidon told her.

“Mommy!” Danny cried. “What about mommy?!”

Annie, yes what about her, from the look on the boys’ face she was in the house but he couldn’t leave them here alone. “I will go back for her.” He promised. “Now get into the bubble!”  One by the children walked through the bubble without bursting it when they were all inside Poseidon sent it to his kingdom at the bottom of the ocean ensuring their safety.  Calla felt a great sense of relief wash over her as the bubble went out of sight but that soon changed when she saw Poseidon dashing toward the house and she realized Annie was still inside.

“Go back!” She shouted at Ares. “We have to get Annie!”  The Shadows changed direction as soon as the bubble began to sink and they raced back toward the house.

“I can’t leave the battle,” he returned and cut down several more Shadows with his flaming sword.

“Fine, I’ll go.”  Calla didn’t like that idea as it would leave her Father unprotected she left the shield around as she disappeared from the back of the horse.

“No!” Ares shouted. “Get back here!”  It was too late. Calla was gone.  Ares continued to fight hoping now to stave them off until Eos rose in the sky and banished the members of Hades’ Army for the day. It wouldn’t be long only an hour or two he could keep this for days if he had too now that he’d been re-energized by the thrill of battle.  “Scum!” Ares shouted at the Shadows. “Go back where you came from or I’ll send you to Oblivion!”

“Annie?” Calla shouted out as she appeared in the hallway near the room Annie was sleeping in.

“Mom!”

She sounded scared. Calla threw open the door only to watch Annie disappear from her sight caught in the harsh grip of someone who looked familiar but her glimpse of him had been too brief to be sure. “NO! ANNIE!” Calla cried out.  “Bring her back!” She demanded.  It was too late. Annie was gone.  Before Poseidon could appear in the bedroom Calla disappeared only to reappear on the hilltop by the front door.  Rage, uncontrollably and overpowering, took her. “NO!” She screamed out in one long burst of angry air.  The yell was so loud it drowned out the battle below and some turned their heads to look up just in time to see Queen Calla Jackson start to glow with a radiate blue light it appeared to be the same light which protected her and Ares earlier but it was soon apparent that it was not.  The aura that encased her suddenly subsided back into her and shock wave emanated from her small body so forceful that it knocked most off of their feet no matter how big they were.  Her eyes closed for a moment and then opened when they did there were not mere streaks of lightning shooting from her fingertips but great huge balls of them shooting out from each digit in rapid succession. Calla, lost in the heat of the battle and the rage within her she laid waste to all the Shadows in one great big blitz mowing them down from her place on the hilltop without taking a single step.  The UPs down there stopped battling and took cover as Queen Calla’s lightning balls hit their targets and the Shadows exploded into a thick oily mist that stuck like tar to everything it touched.

And then there was one.  Calla’s eyes trained on it and she disappeared from the hilltop to stand in front of it with a massive lightning ball in her hand. “I’ll let you live so you can take this message to your Master; tell him that I am coming and he will not be pleased when I arrive. Tell him to stay away from this place.  Tell him if he touches Annabelle Lee I will cut him down. Go now! Tell him!” She shouted into its blank black face and suddenly the Shadow fled into the ground at its feet and Altair Ain was safe for the night.

End of Chapter Six
Coming Out of Exile: The Strength of a Father's Love
by Moon Mistress
a/k/a Lisa Beth Darling
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Chapter Seven