Dark Legacies: The Brenna Strachan Series, #4

Chapter One

Good lord, that hurt, I moaned.

I don’t think that covers it, Pendragon groaned.  I never expected to get my body back in mid-fall.  I am so glad that your house is still only one story.

Hi!  Rachel squealed at me.

Even my hair hurts, I grumbled at her.

Brenna, it was a pleasure to be stuck with you in the aether.  In six months, maybe a year, I’ll come back over for dinner.  Until then, I would very much like not to see you at all, Pendragon flopped over on his side to look at me.

Ditto, I answered, rolling my head sideways.

I cannot seem to get off the floor, Pendragon said.

It takes a day or two to get used to the bodies, Sonnellion answered.

I see, Pendragon didn’t look very happy as my uncles helped him to his feet.

Anubis reached for me.

Thanks, but I think I’ll stay here for a while longer.  What are the floors made out of again?

Obsidian, Anubis answered.

It’s terribly, terribly hard, I told him.

It is not meant to be a landing zone for falling Demons, he said.

Perhaps, we should have plush carpets put in over the obsidian, very plush carpets, just in case it ever happens again, I suggested.

Have a donut, you will feel better, Ba’al handed me a donut.

I couldn’t take the glass of milk they were offering.  I gave in and let the Overlords pull me to my feet.  My legs felt as if they were made of sand and would crumble at any moment.  I leaned against Anubis to keep myself from falling.

I think I need the couch, I said, pointing over my shoulder.  They moved me as if I were a priceless statue, and then deposited me with less reverence onto the sofa.  I sat for a moment, trying to collect myself.

It’s good to have you both back, Lucifer said, as Pendragon took a seat as far away from me as the living room would allow.

You have Jasmine?  I asked, glaring at him.

Yes, but I think you should take a day before confronting her, Sonnellion cautioned me.  While you are back to form, you could do with some food and a nap.

And kicking her ass would be good, I told him.

Bren, don’t pick a fight on your first day back, Anubis told me.

I didn’t start it, I reminded him.  She sent Pendragon and me into the aether.  She deserves whatever she gets.

It can wait, my mother spoke and ended the discussion about it by handing me a child.  I stared at the bundle of swaddled blankets.  My sister, Amanda, had grown while I was in the aether.  She no longer resembled a wrinkly blob with hair. Now, she had features.  Somehow, she managed to stretch, yawn, and spit-up on me all at the same time. 

Ew, I moved her out to arm’s length.

It’s just spit-up, my mother chided, then grabbed a towel and wiped me off.  She frowned, took back the child, and her eyes turned dark as she said, We couldn’t manage clothes for them?

Her eyes moved from me to my siblings.  Suddenly, everyone was in motion.  I was swept from the couch and carried down the hallway to my bedroom.  I blushed.  My dresser began spitting out clothing.  Anubis handed each item to me.

How do you feel, honestly?  He asked as I finished pulling on socks.  My toes went through them.

I feel like this isn’t really my body, I admitted, My toes seem pointier.

You’ve always had clawed feet.

Yes, but I have never ruined socks with them, I looked at myself in the mirror.  My horns are bigger too.

They do appear to be, yes.

So, I got my body back, but it isn’t exactly my body.  It is some amped up version of it.

There might have been a little creative license taken by your younger brothers, Anubis explained, frowning.

What?

You are slightly bigger, stouter, and taller.

I looked down, my socks and pants met, but there was a thin line of skin visible.  If I had to guess, I would say I had gone from being five-feet, three inches tall, to being about five-feet, five inches tall. 

Go get them and my mother, I told him.

Of course, and then he left.  I caught another pair of socks in mid-air as the dresser spit them out to me.  I was more careful pulling on this set.  My shoes were problematic.  My clawed feet caught the leather and split it down the middle from the tongue to the toe.  I sighed in frustration.

What?  Elise asked, coming into the room.

I look like a cartoon character, I stood up and showed her the outfit and the shoes.

Hmm, Elise wrinkled her brow and stared at me, you do appear to be bigger.

I didn’t mean to make her bigger, Nick instantly protested.  It just happened!

I don’t think we are mad about it, just surprised, Elise soothed him.  I’ll go shopping.  We will need to have you measured again.

I don’t want to go shopping, I told her.

I didn’t say we would have to go shopping.  I said I would have to go shopping.  You just need to be measured.  I’ll get the seamstress’ tape, and with that comment, my mother disappeared from the room.

I don’t think it is just your height, Daniel said, You look more muscular.

I was thinking as I built the body that a bigger Brenna might be good because she’d be more capable in a physical altercation.  I didn’t actually mean to make you bigger, Nick defended himself again.

Were you worried Bren couldn’t handle a fight?  Daniel asked.

Well, she is kind of small for a demon, Nick shrugged.

Part of me wanted to point out to Nick that I had been doing just fine over the years.  Another part reminded me that I just spent six months in the aether with Uther Pendragon, and maybe I did need a little help.  However, making me physically bigger was probably not the solution.  Of course, I didn’t have any better solutions, so I stared at the hem of my pants and said nothing.

My mother returned a few moments later, with tape measure in hand.  My brothers snickered and they were ushered out of the room.  She stared at me for several minutes.  I stared back, willing her telepathically to give me a clue about what I was supposed to do.  It didn’t work.  My mother eventually sighed at me.

Well, take them off, she huffed.

What?  I asked.

Your clothes, of course, she said it as if I was a complete idiot.

Um, why?  I asked.

To be measured, she kept the same tone.  I had a moment when I wanted to ask why my mother needed to see me nude to measure me, but I was pretty sure she had a reason.  Mothers didn’t voluntarily deal with nude adult daughters.  I shed the undersized clothing. 

Rachel and Olivia walked into the room with their arms full of clothing.  They dumped them into a pile on my bed.  I stared at the wadded pile and felt very vulnerable in my nudity.

Until you get some of your own clothes, we are loaning you ours, Rachel said and sat down on the couch.  How much did she grow?

A couple of inches taller and I think Nick bumped her up with about one hundred pounds of muscle. My mother was frowning as she measured me. I don’t know that for sure yet, but she doesn’t seem to be much bigger around, only an inch or so.  I need a scale, a real working scale.

Olivia left the room and retuned a minute later with a digital scale.  I stepped on it.  For most of my life, I had weighed 387 pounds.  The scales informed me that I now weighed 515 pounds.  I shook my head.

Wow, he really did create more mass, Rachel said, peeking at the scale.

Great, now I have even more bulk to go kick Jasmine’s ass, I said.  Previously, Jasmine had been an inch taller and a hundred pounds heavier than I had.  That had changed with the new body.  I was taller and we were about the same weight, not that I needed more bulk or height. I had more magic than she did, and a coven full of witches willing to back me up.  Jasmine was alone.

Not today, my mother tutted at me as she went through my sisters’ clothes.

Yes, yes, I told her, waving my hand at her.  I had every intention of doing it today.  If I were really lucky, I wouldn’t have to kill her.  If I wasn’t, it was going to get messy.  Nothing like being stuck in the ethereal to change your viewpoint.

My mother selected some clothes and I put them on, ignoring the fact that the top was knit and paisley.  The pants were long enough and bright blue.  If they went with the top, fashion was even more mysterious than I originally thought.

This will work for now.  I’ll go shopping this afternoon, you can babysit Amanda, my mother said.

I really want a nap.  I haven’t slept in six months, I protested.

Oh fine, take a nap.  I’ll make one of the Overlords babysit. My mother left the room.

You’re about to do something stupid, Rachel said.

Can you read my mind?  I asked.

Nope, I just know you.  You are not going to wait to deal with Jasmine, you’re heading out there just as soon as the coast is clear, Olivia answered.

If you tell Mom or Dad...  I started.

We’re not going to tell either of them.  We think she deserves a good ass-kicking, Rachel shrugged.  But we’re going with you.  Eli, Nick, and Daniel intend to come as well.

The more the merrier, I shrugged and flopped onto my bed.  It feels weird to have a body again.  At first, it felt weird not to have a body, but  I got used to that.  Now I have to get used to this.  And memory isn’t serving well, because it isn’t like my old body.

You cracked the floor when you fell, Rachel told me.

It really hurt, but the pain is gone now, I said.

We’ll come back when Mom and Dad leave, Rachel stood and Olivia followed behind.  I was adjusting to the silence when the door opened again.

That outfit is very loud, Anubis said.

I didn’t pick it out.  I prefer basic black, I answered without moving.

How do you feel? 

Terrible.  I don’t know why Nick decided to upgrade my body, but I’m going to need time to adjust to it.

All the more reason for you not to go ahead with your plans, Anubis answered.

Were you standing outside the door?  I asked.

Something like that, Anubis sat down next to me.  This new body has a few surprises.

Like what?  I sat up.

Everything is bigger, Bren, everything, Anubis gave a very pointed look at my chest.

I’ll be damned, I hadn’t noticed it earlier, but he was right.  My younger brother had kept me proportioned the same when he increased my size.  My breasts were a size or two bigger.

It isn’t unappealing, Anubis cracked a smile.

Really?  I rolled my eyes.  Not today, I have a new body and a sister to deal with.

Tomorrow then?  I’ll pencil it in on my calendar if it works for you.

Despite the crudeness or the subject, I couldn’t help but laugh.  I put my head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat.  I had spent time in the aether with Uther and he had been good company.  However, one of my own Overlords would have been better.

Come here, Anubis stretched out on the bed.  I curled up with him.  I was very tired.  His heartbeat was strong and steady against his chest, and it echoed in my ears, slowing mine to match his.  He smelled of cinnamon and cloves.  The short hairs on his muzzle tickled my cheek.  I snuggled in closer, feeling his arms wrap around me.  My body began to tingle.  His touch was like electricity.  I kissed his neck.

Bren?  His voice was very quiet.

No, I still don’t know the logistics, but we’ll work it out as we go, I whispered back, keeping my face in the nape of his neck.  He even tasted like cinnamon.  His hands moved along my back, then my ribs.  I rolled over onto my back as his tongue touched my neck.  I closed my eyes and a small moan escaped my lips.  Jasmine could wait.

Chapter Two

Oh, um, Rachel’s voice woke me.  I rolled over and remembered that Anubis and I were both nude.  Uh, I just wanted to say that Mom and Dad left.

Thanks, I’ll be out in a moment. I struggled for the covers.  Rachel beat a hasty exit.  Anubis moved beside me, bringing my attention back to him.  He gave me a quick kiss.

I can’t talk you out of this, can I?  He asked.

Nope.  I just have this feeling, I said.

What sort of feeling?  Anubis asked.

That the game is afoot, Watson, I answered, reaching for my jeans.  I was already a little sore from my first tryst with an Elder, or perhaps it was the fall. 

Outside my room, my siblings were gathered.  They all leaned against the wall farthest from the bedroom.  The rooms weren’t soundproof for an Elder, but we had done our best. 

Congrats!  Eli gave me a grin.  About time too.

Perspectives change when you are stuck in the aether, Sonnellion came to my side.  Ignore their inappropriateness.  We have work to do.

Okie dokie, I answered. 

My house isn’t really a house, it’s a fortress and like all good fortresses, there is plenty of space.  The land outside covered almost five hundred acres.  The Council Chamber was a large structure, made of the same black stone as the house.  It was approximately one hundred yards from the house with an obsidian-paved walkway between the house and the chamber.

Beyond the chamber were more obsidian paths that lead into pastures and wooded areas.  Houses and apartment buildings were being built in these areas.  My family, my four Overlords and I, would all be living in a compound when they were done with construction.  Someone had even decided to build a silver fence enclosing the entire acreage.  Since I was unemployed now that the apocalypse was right around the corner, I didn’t know who was paying for it. I just knew it wasn’t me.

We were at the door of the chamber quickly.  Suddenly, my idea to confront the devil seemed like a very bad one.  It didn’t matter that I had a coven of witches, very strong demons and my Overlords, I still wanted to turn and run. 

My sister, Jasmine, was evil incarnate.  Not only had she tried to kill me in the past, but also my gut said that she had something up her sleeve.  Something that I didn’t need or want to experience.  However, with everyone behind me, I couldn’t turn tail and run.  I’d never be able to face myself again.

I steeled my resolve and reached for the door handle.  I was surprised that my hands were shaking as I pulled open the heavy stone doors.  My sister was lounging on a couch.  The chamber had never had a couch before, so I guessed this was a new thing to allow my sister some comfort.

Brenna, Jasmine sang my name, drawing out the syllables, and everyone else.  This second bit was clipped.

Jasmine, I said to her.

It’s good to see you have a body now, Jasmine stood up smiling, and walked towards me.  I was beginning to worry they wouldn’t be strong enough to pull you back.  That’s why I came.  I figured they needed a little boost of dark magic to get you sorted.  Now that you’re here, I’ll be going.

I think not, I told my sister.

You think you and that ragtag group of magical misfits is going to stop me?  She smiled wider.  Bren, you should know that I always have a back-up plan.

The ground shook beneath my feet.  We all turned around.  Walking towards us was a large creature that I had never seen before.  It didn’t really look like a dragon, but it had some of the same features.  Only Cerebus was bigger.  As soon as I thought it, I wished I hadn’t.  There were some definite similarities between the giant hellhound and the creature walking towards us.

Bren!  Lucifer’s voice echoed around us.  The thing had my parents.

And there’s my escape plan.  I’m going to walk out of here and when I’m gone, Tiber will let our parents go, Jasmine took a step towards the door.

Even Cerebus can be beaten, I told her.

True, but it takes an army and Tiber isn’t Cerebus. He’s helping me bring about the end of the world.  Something the stupid hellhound could never do, Jasmine said.  I’m glad you’re back, Brenna, because I want you to bear witness for me. I am the destroyer of worlds now.

As she spoke, I realized that we were at a dead lock.  We could stand here and argue with her or we could rescue Lucifer and Elise.  We couldn’t do both and I was betting Tiber would eat the couple regardless of what we did with Jasmine.

Bren, Sonnellion whispered.

I know, we have to attack, I told him, so go to it.

My siblings were already on it.  They attacked with magical spells that had no effect.  I pushed magic out to them, filling their spells with more power.  However, I had a feeling that this monstrosity carried Cerebus’ genes, and therefore, his immunity to magic.

Fenrir was shifting as he ran.  His clothing and flesh fell away in tatters, leaving only the giant wolf form with blue eyes and grey fur.  Gabriel and Ba’al were flying, ducking in and around the beast, keeping him distracted.  It swatted at Gabriel with its fist that held my mother, and missed.  My mom got pissed and she began casting her own magic.  My father was starting to glow. 

I turned back to find that Jasmine had indeed slipped from our grasp.  Turning back, I realized we had bigger problems.  A second creature of the same stature and make was walking into my backyard.

It grazed a tree and the tree whomped it back with its largest branch.  The creature stopped for a moment, staring at the tree.  It seemed to be confused.  Without warning, it lunged at the large oak.  The oak fought back.  We had been pouring magic into the land for a year or so. Now, everything was alive, even the house. 

Magic isn’t working, Daniel yelled.

That’s why Nick made me bigger, I shouted back.  Daniel got my meaning and my siblings abandoned their magic for pure, demon strength.  Eli ran with me towards the monster holding our parents.  Sonnellion