In A Blink

The huge viewing window burst inwards violently, but Deviant leaped forwards instinctually and thrust his hands outwards to create a different pull for the huge shards. A blast of opaque shadow pulled the shards to the side, impaling the cement wall with the force they carried. Compared to what came next, that was the last moment of peace The Legion of the Black saw through. Flooding through the window were creatures so foul, the only members of the Holding Clan who didn't gag were Creator and Mystic. Some demons fell onto the ground - they shed maggots and rotting flesh, giving horrible shrieks of the evil inside of them as the poison from long fangs smoldered against the cement ground next to taloned feet.

Other demons rose into the air, scarred and burnt skin stretching over the bones that made their wings. Those demons shrieked and dove forwards from above as the demons from the front closed in rapidly. Some were almost humanoid, molded with other animals - two arms, two legs, but crawling on the ground like a mangy mutt. Others were just animal concoctions too horrible to describe - snake and cat, wolf and spider, bat and lizard. All of them had eyes blazing with hot flames and poisoned fangs.

The Legion of the Black went to war that day, giving battle cries and snarling as they slaughtered F.E.A.R.s demons. Prophet gave powerful screams like the one's he gave on stage - his voice ripped apart limbs and tore out throats, and when he didn't scream he was using a pair of dual knives that Creator had made him long ago. They glinted red off the black metal. Deviant was silent as he fought, using his Holding to force their attention elsewhere as he swung a huge battle-ax. Mystic growled under his breath - old words from the language Man Without Face spoke before his death, long ago during the times of F.E.A.R. The words simply dropped the demons in their spots, paralyzing them or making them seizure violently as poison gargled in their throats. He rushed forwards with matching scimitars, gutting the fallen creatures. Destroyer lived up to his name - he brought massive storm clouds to life, swallowing F.E.A.R.s ghastly minions in lightning and twisters. He had no weapons in his hand, but two long spears were crossed over his back. Mourner, perhaps, did the most damage at first glance. Silver dust spread over several of the creatures at once, making them drowsy and too slow to fight back. He wandered almost casually through the hoards of exhausted creatures, using long claw-like hand weapons to pierce through rotting skin to burst their hearts and brains. Those horrible claws extended a foot from each finger, dripping blood and poison as he moved along. Creator fought side-by-side with Destroyer, summoning great clouds of red smoke from the ground that formed into dozens of knives at once - they hurtled into the crowd of demons, the tall staff oozing the power of her Holding.

"Back!"

Her voice was layered with so much influence, the demons shrieked as they were hurtled backward from a burst of energy from the top of the girls' swinging staff. Her golden wolf eyes came to life with passionate hatred, and behind the demon-like mask over her eyes was the beginnings of something far more powerful than any of The Legion had ever felt. Destroyer sensed this clearly and stepped forwards as if to protect the girl from harm as she built up her power. This was his first mistake.

He was too close. A demon shrieked from above the storm clouds he created and lunged downward, colliding with Destroyer before he had a chance to react. The creature was a grotesque creation between human, bat, and some sort of insect - its hands were far more beetle-like than human as they dug into the Destroyers sides, reaching for the heart that beat painfully hard.

"No!" Creator's roar of rage and power blasted the demon back into the air, her staff blazing with a sudden flame. The sign of The Legion of the Black blazed with scarlet flames as her voice roared out with such ferocity the demon had to shriek back, flapping its rotting wings. "Destroyer!" Mystic yelled, dropped his last demon and running to his clan members side. He crouched down and pressed his hands to the wounds in the drummer's sides, beginning to speak ancient words in hopes that his Holding was strong enough to heal the Holding Hand.
Creator was visibly shaking with rage, her yellow eyes glowing with her power as a burning pain scraped across her back. "No!" Her voice roared out again, filling the entire arena with power and energy as she let out a shriek of pain.

From her back burst massive wings, the feathers made from burning feathers and spreading nine feet in either direction for a total wingspan of eighteen feet. They burnt so viciously hot that the ground began bubbling around her bare feet, the demons who came too close were set ablaze and dissolved into ash. With a furious battle cry, The Creator threw herself into the air and began slaughter demon after demon.

With The Creators rage turning the tide of the battle, The Legion managed to kill every demon who lacked wings on the ground even without Mystic and Destroyers' help. Only once did a claw reach out, almost scratching her - it ripped the rosary from around her neck, and the seal landed next to Destroyers shaking body. She paid no mind, using the flaming seal at the end of her staff to blast F.E.A.R.s servants from the air.

Striking out with the last ounce of energy still stored deep inside her chest, Creator blasted the remaining demon the from the air but did not kill him. Instead, she speared the end of her staff through his side and pinned him to the high wall, hovering over him with her demonic mask and her scalding wings spread threatening overhead. He watched with an almost human face in terror and agony as The Creator spoke with her triple voice.

"You will tell your masters that we are here," she roared, a snarl deep in her chest, "you will tell that The Legion of the Black is rising and we are far more powerful than F.E.A.R. ever expected us to be. Go, and warn your army that this Holding Clan will slaughter you all!"

She jerked the spear end of her staff out of the demons side, and he shrieked in agony and fear as he barreled away from her, flying through the broken wall and vanishing in a cloud of black dust. Once the demon was gone and the threat was eliminated, The Creators' adrenaline faded - and so did her power. High in the air, The Creator's power failed and with a flash of multi-colored smoke, Bluebell was left without wings and without her warpaint - just a girl falling to the ground, unconscious and weak.

Releasing The Prophet, Andy rushed forwards with Ashley and caught the girl, staring at her in amazement as they carefully set her on the ground. Their Sixth was far more powerful than any of them if she could transform herself like that. Even The Mystic didn't have a Holding that powerful. Andy and Jake left Ashley to take care of the girl as they both ran over to C.C.s side with Jinx, who was still frantically destroying the poison in the drummers' body.

"I've done all I can," he said with a weak voice, "and got rid of the poison. The wounds are deep though, and he lost so much blood that I'm not sure if his heart will keep going. We need help, and fast."

Notes