Magic Vs Science

Seven

I woke the next morning at sunrise. This was odd because I was never someone to get up early. I guess it was because of the fight that was going to happen today in the clearing. I decided that it was best to go and gather the Beasts in this town. I woke Jerry with ease. "None of them are to leave this cabin. There is a bucket over there that can be used as a toilet. You are the only one whom is allowed to leave, but only to get them food and water. I will be back. I have some things I need to do." With that, I walked out the door and changed forms. I had a feeling that if I went to the clearing now, I'd be heard by all of my people. Yes, you heard that right. Since I defeated Ursis in a fight, I had become the leader like he was. I changed forms and took off toward the clearing. It was easy to remember the way there now. I'd been there a few times already. Plus, I had this sense that no matter where I was, I could always find that clearing.

Once I entered, I noticed that Ursis was sitting on the stump I had gotten Onyx on, like so many before me. I walked over calmly. Ursis looked over at me and I swear that his eyes had stars in them. His smile was huge and he hugged me tightly. "Where have you been, Ixora? I've been so worried about you."

I sighed as the comfortable feeling I got from him. "I've been out ending this stupid war. Today is the last day of it."

He pulled away and looked at me with a confused look. "What do you mean, Ixora? How is this the last day?"

I changed back to my human form and gave him a sly smile. "I've only killed one person. I have kidnapped a few others, but now Adonis if coming here at 3 pm to fight me in our Beast forms. I will win, and I will be the leader of both magic and science. A war like this will never happen again."

"But what happens if Adonis kills you first? He's a cheater and a liar. I know my brother more than you. I know he's not planning to have a fair fight with you, Ixora."

I sighed. "I will win. Even if he cheats, I will fight fair. Good always wins. Also, please stop calling me that name. She no longer lives. I am Miss. Nightshade. Deadly Nightshade. A very poisonous flower. No matter what ingests it, it will kill you." I smiled, feeling my K9's elongate. "Now, If you will allow me to call my people here for a meeting."

"That's not a good idea. Adonis has men all over this place. I told you, he cheats. Just use Onyx to get the message to them. That's how I used to do so. Stand here and allow Onyx to talk to his people. They will know who you are just by the power that comes off you."

I did as he instructed, calling out to all my people. "This is your Leader. I am known as Miss. Nightshade. There will be a battle here at the clearing at 3 pm today. Adonis and I have made a deal. He will surrender to me if I win, if I am to lose, Ursis and I will be killed. I do not plan to lose though. I know he is a cheater and a liar. If you wish, you may come and watch the battle, however, this place is crawling with Adonis's men waiting for anyone of our kind to show up. He plans to kill as many of you as he can before the battle. Lay low." With that, I stepped down off the stump and let out a sigh.

Ursis was looking at me with so much sadness in his eyes that I couldn't help but feel guilty for what I have done to him. I've made him worry more than he should. By the look of him, he hasn't slept yet. "What will you do now?" His question brought me back to reality.

"I don't know. I know I have to get back to my hostages. If you would like, you can come with me. They may know you though. Cora is a Beast after all."

"Cora? My now sister in law who was me ex girlfriend years ago before Adonis took her from me? That Cora?" He looked calm, but his words had an edge to them that even I didn't want to mess with.

"Yes. Adonis's wife and children are my hostages. Along with Viki and her father. Zack is dead. I snapped his neck." Ursis's eyes went wide and he stared at me. "I told you, I've only killed one person." I shrugged. I wouldn't tell a lie. I hated liars. I also hated cheaters. Hence why I knew I was going to win and put a stop to this damn war.

He didn't say anything to me, so I shrugged again and changed forms. When I got back to the cabin, there was an odd air around it. I didn't smell fresh blood, but I could smell someone new. I pushed the door open with my head and looked inside. Everyone was still there, except, that was a new child clinging to Viki. They looked alike. This new one must have been Viki's little sister. "Miss. Nightshade. Please, allow me to explain." Jerry spoke. He looked afraid. I felt annoyed at the new body that was here, but I nodded once to listen to what he had to say. "This is my youngest daughter, Mia. She ran away from her mother yesterday and while I was out getting food, I found her. She refused to go back home, so I had no choice but to bring her here."

I took a deep breath. I could smell something on the little girl. Something that shouldn't be there. "Remove the knife from her and that tracking device. You better pray that they don't come here. I have no issues with killing more people." I growled.

I watched as Jerry looked at his daughter with confused eyes. "Mia, give me everything you have on you, right now." She removed a large knife from the waistband of her pants and handed it over along with a earplug looking thing. "Mia, tell me, why did you run away from Mommy? Please don't lie, Miss. Nightshade can tell if you lie."

She gulped. "Mommy was told by Master Adonis that I was needed. So I went with him and he told me that I was to have that knife and that tracker so that he could find his wife and children and so that he can kill the bad lady that was keeping them from him." I couldn't help but growl at what she said. Mia looked at me with fear filled eyes. "You're the bad lady aren't you?"

I felt my fur stand up. "I'm not bad." I growled.

"Miss. Nightshade, please allow me to explain to her." I looked at him and gave him a nod. "Mia, what our people have done to them, makes us the bad people. Miss. Nightshade is the only one left in her family. Cora over there killed her Daddy and left her to die in the jungle. You remember your sisters boyfriend Zack right?" He paused, and waited for Mia to nod, when she did, he continued. "Well, his Daddy took Miss. Nightshade's Mommy away and he watched as Miss. Nightshade found her. Miss. Nightshade watched her Mommy and Daddy die in front of her. She's all that's left of her family. She didn't get to have any siblings like you have, because of us." He paused and sighed. "We are the bad people, Mia."

I was shocked at what he said. "He's right. We are the bad people." Cora spoke. She scoffed. "I left Ursis to marry Adonis. You kids don't realize it, but honestly, Adonis and everyone who follows him, they tear families apart. Kill children. Orphan children. Because of what I did, I don't deserve Bagheera anymore."

"You're right, Cora. You don't." Ursis said, finally deciding to come in a face his ex. "But he is happy with you. I can hear him telling you that he is happy with you and that no matter what you did, you two did it together and that is all that matters to him. He does not want to leave you until you are ready to leave this earth. So Cora, don't reject his soul."

She stared at him. Shock written over her face. Something flashed in her eyes, but I couldn't tell what it was. Would it have been love, fear or guilt? I would never know. I noticed the they were staring at each other. I couldn't read what their emotions were because my own jealousy spiked so high that it took everything I had in me not to rip Cora apart. Instead, I settled with just growling at her. Both of them looked at me when I did. "Mine." I growled before I could stop myself.

"At least I know how to read a situation." Viki giggled. I glared at her. "What? I knew you liked him and he liked you. What I didn't know was that Ursis was actually Adonis's little brother. That kind of came as a shock." I rolled my eyes are her know it all attitude.

To say that today was going to be a long day, would be an understatement. It was going so slow. I was pacing back and forth for so long to the point I felt like I was starting to make a trench right in the living room of the cabin. Yes, we were still at the cabin. Jerry had gone out to gather some food and more firewood. It was oddly cold in this place. Probably because it was only made of wood and some stone. "Why don't you come sit down? Maybe take a nap?" Ursis said.

"Yeah like I could actually sit still for more than a f*****g minute." I growled. I wanted this fight to be over with. I could feel that I was no longer keeping my cold heart. It seemed like everyone else noticed that too. I sighed and kept pacing. I had plenty of energy, but I was nervous and I couldn't control my ears or tail. I had changed forms a while ago, but my ears and tail wouldn't go away.

I checked the time. It was only noon. I growled and went right back to my pacing. Even after Jerry got back with food, I ate as I paced. By the time it was half after 2, I was more that just a little nervous. My ears kept twitching and my tail was curled around one leg. I gathered everyone and had them all put the chains on. I trusted them not to run away, but I had to make it look like I was still cold hearted and kept them all chained up the whole time. The were dirty because of the dirt in the cabin, but that just made it look better.

When we got to the edge of the clearing, I made my K9's elongate and my claws come out. I looked at Cora and she gave me a nod. Her hands were chained behind her back and I held her arm. We had already decided that it was best for the unborn baby to not have her try to fight against me because my claws would be really close to her belly and throat. "Cora!" I heard Adonis yell when we entered the clearing. "Hand them over first."

I laughed. "As if I'd do that. You'd just take them and kill me. I can smell the guns all around us. I can also smell that you have one tucked into the back of your pants, Adonis." I could tell that it was almost 3. Maybe 5 more minutes.

"I'll kill you, you filthy f*****g mutt." Adonis started to change forms. I wondered what he was. He had never told anyone, not even Ursis when they were children.

I pushed Cora toward Ursis like we had planned and he held his claws up to her throat. "It's not quite 3 yet. Why don't we show each other our Beasts?" I called Onyx forth. My change had taken over and when I opened my eyes again, I was fully in my Beast form. I loved the feeling of the wind in my fur. "Change forms Ado." I mentally smiled at the nickname. He didn't look too happy about it.

"It's Adonis." He growled. His change took longer than mine did. It was so slow and looked almost painful for him. When he was finally done, I looked at him in shock. He was nothing more than the average grey wolf! I couldn't help it. I burst into laughter. "What the f**k are you laughing at?" He growled at me.

"I'm sorry." I laughed. "I expected something stronger than a grey wolf! Ursis is a bear! He broke quite a few bones when I fought him. I may get some small cuts from those tiny claws and fangs." I giggled a little more. I couldn't help it. I mean, even Cora was giggling. Mind you, she was trying to hide it but it wasn't working out very well. That only served to make Adonis more mad. I suddenly felt Onyx get serious. "It's time."