Off the coast of the lake there was a small island that existed just on the fringe of the city. From the pier you could see a light house and a small cottage. In the past Jack had always wondered what was on that island. Made up all sorts of silly theories with Sarah and Marco. He said that he’d go there one day. He hadn’t intended to do it like this.
Pushing himself off the snow covered grass he glanced back at the light house its beam cutting across the night sky. The snow had only gotten worse but alien tech was doing better than earth weather at the moment. Whipping his scythe back out he ducked and sprinted at Hawk. Jumping he sliced the weapon through the air and Hawk turned. One wing caught the blade and he slashed with his claws raking across Jack’s face.
Sliding backwards across the snow he twirled the scythe around and deflecting the black missiles rushing his way. He missed a couple and they hit his knee dropping him. Hawk flew forward swerving around Jack’s scythe swing and kicking him in the head, his talons cutting across his face.
Recoiling back, he shouted and grasped the scythe with a wide slash digging through Hawk’s wing. Jack righted himself and stepped forward slashing again. Rotating his arm Hawk blocked the blade each time it came his way and on the fifth swing he caught the blade in his hand. Thrusting his free hand forward he shoved it into his chest and black lightning struck blew him backwards.
Hawk retreated back jumping into the sky raising his arms. “This is really all you have? You’re not worth my time. You can deal with him instead.”
Looking up Jack watched the darkness in Hawk’s hand surged toward him. He raised his scythe ready to deflect another attack when a hand grabbed him by the face and shoved him into the ground. He shouted rolling back to his feet and swung blindly.
He heard the scythe clang against armor and gasped. There was a shadow Hawk in front of him except its face was sharp and beaked like a bird. It flexed its wings, blowing him backwards across the snow again. Digging his scythe into the ground he spun around and pointed at the thing.
It threw its arms in the air flexing both wings and screeched. Black lightning raced across its feathers before it started racing straight at him. Not even trying to deflect it he turned and ran. Dodging a couple of bolts, he stumbled as another struck the ground blowing him away.
Rolling around to face the lightning he raised his scythe and the lightning struck it head on, shattering the weapon. Jack’s eyes went wide as the other bolts descended on him. They struck all at once and he screamed feeling the pain rushing through him and spasming against the ground.
He could vaguely hear Hawk laughing from the sky. “Now that’s a nice sight. Let’s finish the job this time huh?” The double floated in front of Hawk and spread it’s feathers readying another blast. Jack crossed his arms in front of his face readying for it and froze. He watched as a shadow of two arms materialized above him and did the same.
The Hawk double twitched its head and then flew after him. He got close when the arms moved and more appeared. A torso, legs, a head and even a weapon. A black scythe with a bright green blade. It stood a foot taller than Jack and looked at him patiently as if awaiting orders. Jack narrowed his eyes at it and some sort of understanding transpired between them. Pointing at the double he grinned, “Fuck em up.”
The shadow moved quickly swinging the scythe with both hands. It moved fast and, in a blink,, chopped one of the wings off the thing. It crashed into the ground and the shadow turned the scythe around driving it into its back. The double thrashed, letting out a screech before fading into mist.
Jack smirked up at Hawk as the shadow moved behind him menacingly. “Guess I have a guardian.”
“Guardian? Let’s see it guard you from me.”
Hawks flew at him in a blur of motion. The guardian swung with the scythe but it hit Hawk’s wing and he pushed it back with a grunt. Jack came up on his other side swinging with his fist. But Hawk caught his fist and jumped kicking him back down.
Before he could advance on him a red light flashed above them. He turned to look toward the sky he raised his hand and caught an axe in hand. Sarah shouted and swung the other that but he caught that too. She touched the ground and stepped forward slamming her head into his.
He stumbled backwards as blue and purple shapes leaped out of another flash of red. Hawk blocked Seth’s first two punches but the blue burst of energy from Kathryn’s staff blew him into the sky. A final red light flashed in front of him and Cal and Marco appeared. Cal’s sword cut at both his wings and a burst of purple shots blew Hawk back toward the ground.
Jack met Hawk on the way down and the guardian grabbed him out of the air and turned around pinning him into the ground. “Surround him!” Marco shouted. “We can finish this!”
Hawk stared at the giant’s hand and screamed. He closed his hand into a fist and punched the ground, “Finish this my ass. No more games!”
The air rippled and each of them could feel the ground shaking under their feet. The wind picked up and it was like they were suddenly in a storm. They all exchanged glances and Sarah took a step back letting out a cry feeling the pain in her head. Black energy exploded off his armor and shot straight into the air. All six of them jumped backwards putting space between them and it.
“What’s he doing?” Kathryn shouted over the wind.
Cal covered his face, “No idea but nothing good.”
The pillar of black energy expanded doubling in size and the noise of the wind got higher in pitch. And then it suddenly evaporated. Standing in it’s place was Hawk except he had grown to at least twenty feet tall, towering over the six of them.
Seth stared at him and took a slow step back, “What the fuck is that?”
Hawk spread his massive wings, twice as wide as he was tall and jumped flying straight up. He spun around facing them on the island, crossing his arms in front of his face a beam of energy flew straight down, exploding once it hit the ground. The black light covered the entire island in seconds, engulfing the six of them in it’s cold embrace.
The Harlequin Library 