FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Shadow 10

Jacob pulled Shadow to the side as the Order prepared to leave. "You'll be fine you know."

Shadow looked at the panther curiously before speaking. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I know what happened that night at the club. It would be easy to let your anger take over, but I also know you have enough control to keep a clear head." Jacob replied patting Shadow on the shoulder.

Nathan cleared his throat from behind them. "Are we ready to go then?" he asked as he and victor stepped closer.

"The two of you are not going." Jacob replied before moving towards the rest of the group.

"What do you mean we're not going?" Nathan whined as Jacob passed him.

"It's too dangerous." Shadow explained as he followed Jacob.

"You need our help Shadow." Victor chimed in.

Shadow paused for a moment as the Order gathered around a stag. He looked back apologetically before turning away. "Just do it." he said grabbing on to Jacobs arm. Before Nathan could protest further the group vanished in a puff of smoke created from the stag teleporting them to a safe location near the caves.

Jess giggled softly as she walked closer to the two. "If you two would stop pouting and give me a hand I can get us there to help them."

"Oh no!" Nathan replied, "Not one of your spells."

Jess just cut her eyes at him as she walked past toward the next room picking up her bag on the way.

As they entered Jess told them, "Just keep quiet while I open a portal."

"Are you sure you want to try that?" Nathan protested.

"Do you want to help them or not?" she replied opening a book to the marked page. She paused for a moment looking toward the two for further protests. When none were found she stepped away from them and began chanting in an ancient tongue. As she chanted a small light began shining some feet in front of her. The light grew larger as she continued until it was large enough for them to pass through upon her completing the spell. She closed the book as she turned to her companions offering to let them go first. Nathan crossed his arms as he shook his head. "I'm not going first."

Jess looked sternly at him. "You're such a baby." she scolded before making her way to the portal. "Hurry before it closes." she continued before disappearing into the light.

"Well we can't let her go alone." Victor said pushing Nathan toward the portal.

Nathan struggled to no avail before Victor pushed him through.

As Victor was about to enter the portal a voice called out, "What are you doing?" As he turned to see who was behind him Nathan reached back through the portal to pull him through just before it closed.

On the other side of the portal the three found themselves in a small dimly lit room. As they looked around they realized it was filled with magical relics.

One item in particular caught Jess' eye, a small crystalline orb that glowed slightly as she approached it. "No way!" she said picking it up. "The orb of binding." she continued showing it to Nathan.

Nathan rolled his eyes. "That's just a myth."

Jess smiled as she put the orb in her bag. "We'll see. Wow is that staff cool or what."

Nathan turned to see a large staff with a serpent carved into the top. "Don't touch it. It's a death staff; the ancient cultists would rub poison onto them so that their enemies would die if they got hold of them."

"Wouldn't they die too from it?" Victor asked.

"They would build up immunity to the poison." Nathan replied.

As they continued to scan through the items voices could be heard from the door. They quickly hid as the door opened and a hooded figure walked in.

The figure looked around before saying, "It's clear."

Another figure was pushed in and fell to the ground as Xavier walked in his full body gear. "Find the orb."

"It should be right there." Marcus said removing his hood turning to see an empty holder from which Jess had taken the orb from.

Jess held back a scream as something brushed past her leg. As she moved to see what it was she bumped into the shelf besides her causing the relics on it to rattle slightly.

"I thought you said it was clear." Xavier said as he moved toward where Jess was hiding.

Victor slid out of his hiding place. "Marcus wait. We aren't with the Brotherhood."

Xavier turned towards Victor ready to attack. "You expect us to believe that?"

"What are you doing here Victor?" Marcus scolded getting between him and Xavier.

"We're helping our friend Shadow. He's with the Order."

Xavier sneered. "Why is the Order here?"

"Same reason you are Hun." Jess replied as she moved towards them.

"And what do the two of you plan to do to help them?" Xavier asked.

Jess smiled as she made her way to the door pulling Nathan out from his hiding place as she passed him. "Well I have the orb. Come on Nathan I know where Shadow is." She turned back as she came to the door, "You coming Victor?"

"Yeah." Victor replied before turning to Marcus. "Will you come with us?"

Marcus turned to Xavier who said, "Try not to get us killed."

The group left out of the room and followed Jess to where she thought the Order would be. Instead of finding the Order they found Mr. Holland and several of his mystics, who were beginning a ritual to open the rift to the demon realm.

Jess was able to keep the others back before anyone noticed they were there. She hushed their questions before letting them know what was going on.

While Xavier was adamant on attacking now they would have been overpowered and would not have lasted long without the Orders help. As they tried to decide on what to do a loud boom was heard as the main doors blew open and several members of the Order entered.

Mr. Holland turned and sneered, "Kill them." he shouted as the mystics began to move toward the Order.

Xavier wasn't about to miss out on the fight as he pulled a pair of large daggers from there sheaths and began to make his way towards Mr. Holland. As he approached he was cut off by two of the mystics. He easily took down one before getting knocked to the ground by the other's spell.

Before the mystic had a chance to cast another spell he was hit by a bolt of electricity as Shadow came over.

Unaware of whom the feline was Shadow asked, "You're not with the Order are you?"

"I'm just here to kill Holland." Xavier replied

As the mystics began dwindling in number Mr. Holland began to chant in an old language. As he chanted the fire in the braziers flared up and flames leaped out landing on the floor forming themselves into demonic hounds.

With the Order struggling against the hounds Marcus tuned to Jess saying, "We need to bind his power if we are to defeat him. Give me the orb."

"We'll have to distract him for it to work." Jess replied as she retrieved the orb from her bag.

"That's what these are for." Marcus replied pulling out several potions from a pouch on his robes.

Marcus took the orb from Jess and moved out into the main chamber. He carefully made his way closer to Mr. Holland who was now engaged in fighting two members of the Order. As he got in reach he threw the potions at Mr. Holland hitting him in the back.

Mr. Holland winched slightly as the potions burned through his clothes. In a rage he surrounded himself in flames before pushing them outward killing the members of the Order.

Marcus was able to shield himself from the attack before taking the orb in both paws as he began chanting the binding spell. The orb began to glow and the light began to emerge making its way towards Mr. Holland.

Mr. Holland struggled to rid himself of the effects of the potions as Marcus continued to chant. The light grew brighter and began to surround the wolf.

"Did you think it would be that easy?" Mr. Holland asked as he turned to Marcus after the potions wore off. He sneered as he channeled his power into a large bolt of fire striking the priest down.

As Marcus fell to the ground the orb rolled away from him. Xavier turned to see him lying lifeless in front of the wolf. Growling he sprinted toward Mr. Holland jumping in to attack before being knocked back in a blast of fire, landing against a pillar and falling unconscious to the ground. Shadow's attention turned to the wolf and he rushed in.

"So we meet again." Mr. Holland said as he grinned at Shadow. "You know this could have been avoided if you had just joined Me." he continued gesturing to the fallen members of the Order.

"I defeated you once and I will do the same now." Shadow replied.

"We shall see." Mr. Holland said with a sneer as flames engulfed him. "Now you will see my true power." he howled as his form began to change into a massive beast.

Shadow began his attack but nothing seemed to penetrate the flames. As Mr. Holland completed his transformation he swung a massive arm at Shadow barely catching the feline knocking him back several feet.

As Shadow fought with Mr. Holland Jess was trying to figure out how to get to the orb. She looked around seeing a large tome resting on a pedestal. "Nathan I bet there's a spell in that tome that will weaken him." she said pointing to where it rested.

"What do you want me to do about it?" Nathan replied stepping away as he crossed his arms.

"I need to get the orb and bind him." she said sternly. "All you have to do is read the spell the rest will take care of itself."

"We don't even know what language it's written in." Nathan protested.

"Just do it." Jess replied pulling him into the main chamber.

Victor followed and helped Nathan towards the book as Jess went after the orb.

Nathan was glad and disappointed that he knew the language written in the tome. As he hurriedly flipped through the pages he came across a spell for the demon hounds. Luckily there was a reversal spell that he began to cast.

"Not that one you idiot." Jess called out attracting Mr. Holland's attention. She grabbed the orb and barely got out of the way as a fireball hit the ground.

As Nathan finished the spell the demon hounds began to vanish in puffs of fire and smoke, allowing the remaining members of the Order to move in to help Shadow. Nathan continued to search the tome for anything that would help as Jess began her binding spell.

As Jess chanted and the orb began to activate Mr. Holland made his way towards her raising his arms up and brining them down for a crushing blow. As he did Shadow quickly moved in creating a barrier protecting them.

Mr. Holland repeatedly began bashing down on the barrier sending sparks and flames flying outward with each hit. Shadow struggled to maintain the barrier from the ruthless assault while the other's continued to find a weak spot to attack.

As Nathan was about to give up on finding anything the pages of the tome seemed to move on there own, flipping to a page with a simple containment spell. With nothing else to work with Nathan began chanting the spell. As he did a barrier surrounded Mr. Holland which contained him, but also prevented anyone from attacking him.

"Nathan stop that!" Jess scolded as the spell was also blocking her binding spell.

"No don't stop." Jacob replied approaching Jess taking the orb from her.

"Hey." Jess protested being cut off as Jacob handed the orb to Shadow.

"Trust your instincts." Jacob told Shadow before stepping away.

Unsure of what to do Shadow hesitated. His eyes questioned Jacob as a soft breeze was felt and the orb began to glow. He lifted the orb in front of him taking it in both paws as he gazed at it. Shivers ran down his spine as his power surged channeling into the orb. As the orb grew brighter his rosettes began to glow and his eyes narrowed as a light surrounded him.

"Nathan that's enough." Jacob said indicating for him to stop the barrier.

Nathan did as Jacob said and stop chanting the spell. As the barrier came down Mr. Holland began to attack but was stopped as beams of light shot out of the orb binding is arm. Other beams of light bound his neck, waist and legs and began draining his power into the orb. Mr. Holland fought to free himself but soon reverted to the wolf he once was and fell to his knees in a weakened state. The beams of light began to release the wolf returning into the orb that was now darkened with the demonic powers that it held within.

Shadow turned to Jacob and held out the orb. As Jacob took the orb a howl was herd. They turned their attention back to Mr. Holland who stood with a blade pierced through his chest. He fell to the ground as Xavier pulled the blade out from the wolf's back.

"That was uncalled for Xavier." Jacob said stern fully as he approached.

"After what he's done he deserved it." Xavier replied as he removed his helmet. "You didn't think I would let him just walk away and try to kill my son again did you." he continued turning to Shadow.

Shadow pulled away as Xavier placed a paw on his shoulder and knocked him back with a punch to the face.

Jacob struggled to hold Shadow back as Xavier got back to his feet. "Now isn't the time for this Shadow." Jacob said trying to calm him down.

"Damn you hit hard." Xavier said with a chuckle as he tried to compose himself. "I guess I deserved it though."

"You more than deserve it." Shadow replied turning to Jacob, "Let's just go."

"We still need to finish sealing this place so it can't be used again." Jacob began to explain.

"I'll take him home." Jess said as she reached for Shadow's hand.

"Yes about that, no more opening portals into dangerous places." Jacob scolded.

Jess smiled as she turned to him, "Your welcome."

As Jess began opening a portal to return home Jacob turned to lecture Xavier only to find that he had gone. He looked around to find no trace of him and noted that Marcus's body was also gone. He sighed as he shook his head and began the cleanup and closure of the caves.

Jess, Nathan and Victor decided to help the Order tie up the loose ends at the facility, while Shadow left to visit Vincent at the hospital.

Shadow sighed as he sat beside Vincent's hospital bed. He was angry that the priest had died, and he was felling sorry for not being able to do anything to help the one he loved. He reached out taking the stallions hand in his paw as he slid his other paw onto the side of Vincent's face, before sitting back wiping the tears from his face as a nurse came in.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your visit but I need to get his vitals. I'll only be a moment." the nurse explained.

Shadow merely grunted as he moved back so the nurse could work.

As the nurse worked she whispered and giggled as though talking to Vincent. Shadow didn't pay much attention to what she was saying catching only a few words. When the nurse had finish she turned and smiled at Shadow before making her way to the door. She stopped in the doorway and turned back hesitating for a moment before saying, "Things tend to work out when love is there." Shadow glanced up caught off guard by what she said. She smiled glancing over to Vincent before leaving the room.

Shadow tried to get what she said out of his head but couldn't as a flood of emotions swept over him. He couldn't take anymore and began to break down. It was all he could do just to slide into the bed beside Vincent and cling to the stallion as he wept.

As he wept he thought he felt Vincent move. His heart skipped a beat as he closed his eyes tight and waited. He held on to the stallion tighter as he felt Vincent take a deep breathe and let out a soft sigh. Chills went through his body as Vincent again breathed deeply and slid his arms around Shadow.

"I had the strangest dream." Vincent said, "We were at my uncle's cabin, and we got separated and I couldn't find you."

Shadow pushed himself up to make sure he wasn't dreaming as Vincent started to open his eyes.

As Vincent's eyes adjusted and began to focus on the room he looked around puzzled. "Why are we in the hospital?" he asked as he tried to sit up.

Shadow quickly got him to lie back down and began to explain what had happened.

Vincent tried to take in what Shadow was saying but was still groggy from being in the coma, so they decided it would be best to let it be for now. As they lay there resting the faint figures of Marcus and Shadow's mother could be seen illuminated by the light coming in the window.

"You know Elaine He won't be the same after this." Marcus said.

"He is what He's always been." Elaine replied.

"What of Xavier?" Marcus asked with concern.

"Don't worry yourself with that." Elaine replied with a smile, "As the nurse said 'Things tend to work out when love is there'."

After several months things began to return to normal, as much as they could. Jess was initiated into the Order. Nathan was allowed to train with the scribes in the Order with the intent of joining in the future. Victor became an honorary member with limited access to the facilities and continued to work at the gym. Shadow continues to work at the club as part owner. He also works with Jacob at the Orders main facility. Vincent has returned to running the museum. Though he still has the scars from the events he and Shadow are happy to be together again and often visit his uncle's cabin to get away.

Xavier has put away his suit and is returning to his studies in history, and will be teaching at the university starting at the next semester. He makes frequent attempts to repair his relationship with Shadow, though old wounds take longer to heal. Perhaps in time things will work out.

End of series. Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed.