A Prince's Pride

*Milo*

When the smoke clears from around me, I’m standing at the edge of our camp on Hashandra. Set in a recession of three hills on this island, we had hoped it would remain hidden for a while, but we were clearly wrong. High above our camp, large creatures resembling jellyfish float, but they’re the most horrific jellyfish I’ve ever seen. 

I begin to run toward Prince Krayden, who stands in the camp below me, looking up at the four abominations above. Each of the jellyfish-like creatures are huge, bulbous monsters, sporting no less than ten tentacles. Though they are at the advantage with their height and extra limbs, they do not seem to be attacking.

I reach Prince Krayden without issue and stand beside him, looking up at Phoebe’s latest monsters. 

“What are they waiting for?” asks Prince Krayden.

I don’t have time to answer before the first one attacks. One of the tentacles lashes out and pierces a soldier emerging from a tent. He barely screams before he’s drawn up into the bulbous body of the thing itself.

“I’m not going to wait to find out,” I say. 

I hold up my hands and incant. Lightning arcs from my fingertips, dancing around the jellyfish. Nothing whatsoever happens to them.

“Jika, in positions!” Prince Krayden yells in U’ralian. His soldiers move into some formation, surrounding the camp in a circle, intersected by an X. 

“Your orders, Your Majesty?” a soldier, whose name I do not know, asks me. 

“Archers, line up near Krayden’s men,” I say. “All melee soldiers, standby if they land.”

The Midoorian soldiers do as I order, getting into position. 

We wait. The jellyfish do nothing.

“Attack!” Prince Krayden yells. 

His druids go to action, throwing wind, earth, plants, and jets of water at the jellyfish, all of which do nothing.

“I don’t understand,” Prince Krayden says to me. “Before you arrived, they killed six people. Though, they were all Midoorians.”

We wait for another few seconds. A Midoorian comes out of a tent, looking ready to fight. I can’t imagine what took her so long to respond, but when she appears, a tentacle lashes out from one of the jellyfish and she’s pulled up into one of the beasts.

Two seconds pass and another soldier, again, a Midoorian, is captured, then another, and another in rapid succession.

“What the fuck is happening?” asks Prince Krayden. A moment later, the jellyfish disappear as though they’ve melting into the air.

*Piper*

“It’s done,” says Malexis, standing in front of Piper in the attic of the Halliwell Manor. 

“What is?” asks Piper.

“I’ve subverted a small pack of Phoebe’s beasts and ordered them to kill Phoebe’s spies, the ones you didn’t know about. Unfortunately, that means she’ll have enough…of what she’s collecting…to complete her goal.”

Honestly, Piper couldn’t care less what happens to traitors. Aaron would have ordered their executions anyway. But she hopes to get more information about Phoebe’s plans from Malexis.

“What is her goal, exactly?”

“My deal with your sister prevents me from telling you. I recommend you ask her.”

“And Theo?” Piper asks. “What do you want me to do, why are you blackmailing me?”

“That’s simple. You see, I want you to stop your sister. Her eventual goal is to kill Aaron and, if she finds out he’s still alive, Milo. I need Milo alive.”

“Why?”

“I need his help with something.”

Piper laughs. “You think he’ll help you?”

“I think so. You see, someday soon, I’m going to explain my plan to you, Milo, and Aaron. And when I do, you’ll all join me. You’ll do whatever you can to help me. Of that, I am completely sure.”

Piper stares at him, incredulous. “You can’t truly believe that.”

“Oh, I do. You see, I…discovered something.” Malexis says each word as though carefully choosing them. “Something that involves us all. You see, every bad thing that’s ever happened in Milo’s life, Aaron’s life, your life, and even my life, they’re all connected to one person. One single person who fucked up everything for all of us. And I’m going to destroy that person.”

Despite herself, Piper was intrigued.

“Who is it?”

Malexis shakes his head. “You’re not ready for that information. First, take down Phoebe.”

Piper turns her head toward the door, hearing footsteps coming toward them. She glances back at Malexis, but he’s gone.

“There you are!” Phoebe says happily as Piper turns to her. “Our most recent beasts have returned from their attack on the emperor’s camp. Unfortunately, all of our hidden agents were killed, but at least there’s good news. We’re finally ready. We can finally begin our plan.”

“You haven’t told me what the plan is, Phoebe.”

“Oh, you’re right,” says Phoebe, clapping a hand to her forehead. “We’re creating Hellions.”

Piper’s jaw drops. “Hellions? You’re creating Hellions?”

“Yes. I was going to wait until next month because, as you know, we have to wait until the new moon, but now that we have enough souls and there’s a new moon tonight, we can move ahead. I know this is short notice, but can you get the emperor to the Dark Hollow tonight at midnight? It’s this dark patch of swamp here on Hashandra. I’ve been keeping the bodies there. I need to prepare the last couple and we’ll make them tonight. Even if you can’t get Aaron to the Dark Hollow, still meet me there and we’ll move forward with our plan.”

Phoebe smiles at her sister and hugs her tightly, jiggling her as though she’s extremely excited. 

“We’re finally doing it, sister,” she says. “We’re finally getting our revenge.” She steps away from her sister, beaming. “If you see Malexis, have him undo the spell on the Book so you can touch it. It’s yours, too, after all.”

Phoebe walks away from her sister and throws a phial at her feet, vanishing in a swirl of smoke.

“Yeah, Hellions.” Piper whirls around to face Malexis, who now stands behind her.

“So she’s planning on taking over the world with Hellions?” 

“That’s the idea. She’s creating an army of them. Several hundred, at least. And, of course, one Hellion can easily kill twenty-five soldiers before it’s brought down. So even if you don’t want to stop Phoebe for me, you should do it for the fate of Midoor.”

“We have another plan for Phoebe. Milo was able to enhance the binding cuff she put on him. It’ll bind her powers and we can arrest her.”

“I don’t care how you do it, Piper. Just do it. Or, as you very well know, little Theo will go splat in his mother’s arms.” Then, he vanishes.

With no other option left, Piper transports herself back to Kr’fait and looks for Aaron, eventually finding him in a room in the palace with Olivia and Theo. After contacting Milo, the four of them sit together in the room.

“Why do you seem so antsy?” asks Milo.

Piper takes a deep breath, then says, “Phoebe is creating an army of Hellions.”

Milo’s jaw drops, but Aaron and Olivia look dumbfounded.

“You’re not serious, Piper,” says Milo.

“What are Hellions?” asks Olivia. 

“They’re dead bodies whose souls are trapped in their bodies using phials,” says Milo. “The magic infused within them turns them into fiery soldiers. They’re like super strong, enflamed zombies.”

“Exactly,” says Piper. “Phoebe went for warriors specifically because a Hellion quadruples the strength and physical skill of the human they were when they were alive. So the stronger the warrior, the stronger the Hellion.”

“Wait, their souls are trapped?” asks Aaron. “How does that work?”

“When someone dies,” Piper explains, “their soul lingers around their body for a short time. By embedding a phial in their chest, their soul is tethered to the Earth. As long as it exists within the Hellion, the soul is tormented. The agony of the soul enrages the Hellion, increasing its strength. Phoebe intends to raise her army tonight during the new moon, which is the only possible time.”

“So we have to stop her tonight,” says Aaron. “Where is this happening?”

“In a place called the Dark Hollow. I’ve never heard of it—”

“I have,” says Milo, cutting Piper off. “It’s well known within Ur’ali lore. It’s a dead forest that’s said to house a nexis of dark magic. It makes sense why Phoebe would be enacting the spell there. Supposedly, an ancient Wiccan queen cursed her lover for betraying her and died in the process. Their wicked love soured from the magic imbued there and killed the land.”

“Is that true?” asks Olivia.

“Probably not.” Milo shrugs. “More than likely, there’s a convergence of power there due to fluctuations in magical ley lines along the Coronous and Gamix fault lines which harness—”

“As interesting as this is,” Aaron cuts in, “we should get back to the whole Hellions thing. How do we stop them?”

“Well, that’s the thing,” says Piper. “Once they’re raised, it’s almost impossible to stop them. Our best bet is to take Phoebe down tonight, once and for all. Before she can cast the spell. We need to get the binding cuff on her and arrest her.”

“What about Malexis?” asks Aaron.

Piper had been thinking it through for a while and had decided she needed to come clean.

“About him. He’s been blackmailing me. That potion he had me give Olivia? It’s only purpose wasn’t to make Theo be born early. It also infused him with magic, tied to a phial Malexis has. He told me I have to do whatever he asks or he’ll break the phial. If he does, Theo will die if you or Olivia touch him.”

Piper had thought that the knowledge her touch could potentially kill Theo would make Olivia distance herself from Theo, but the opposite happened. Olivia held Theo tightly to her chest as though this could possibly protect him from Malexis’s magic.

“What does he want you to do?” asks Milo.

“All he told me to do was to stop Phoebe. He wants her plan to fail. He said that he’ll reveal his overall plans to the three of us in time and that we’d join him. That we’d help him.”

“Why would we help him?” asks Aaron. “After everything he’s done?”

“He said there’s one person who’s responsible for every horrible thing that’s happened in our lives, including his. And that he wants to destroy that person. He didn’t tell me who it is.”

“Perhaps we should leave Theo with someone else,” Aaron says to Olivia.

“How? He needs to feed,” says Olivia. 

“I have an idea,” says Piper. She pulls an empty phial from her pouch and walks toward Theo.

“What are you going to do?” Olivia clutches Theo closer to her chest.

“I’m going to bind this phial to Theo. While it’s glowing, Theo is not in danger of you touching him.”

Olivia hesitates for a moment, clearly not wanting to let Piper perform magic on him. She glances at Aaron, who nods, then Olivia nods at Piper. Piper approaches Theo, touches the phial to his head and incants. The phial glows green, brightly at first, then dulls. She sets the phial on the bedside table.

“Thank you,” says Olivia. 

“Getting this done is going to be difficult,” says Milo. 

“Let’s just take care of one thing at a time,” says Aaron. “Phoebe first, then Malexis.”

*Aaron*

Leaving Theo in Kr’fait with Olivia tonight is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. But I can’t let Milo and Piper face Phoebe alone. Milo transports us to our camp on Hashandra, where I see the Midoorian and Ur’ali forces together, preparing for battle. Our plan is to stop Phoebe before she can enact the spell that will raise the Hellions. If not, we’ll have no choice but to fight them head on. 

“Three hours and counting until Phoebe enacts her spell,” Krayden says to me. 

“Don’t forget the plan,” I say loudly, addressing our soldiers. “Piper will run into the Dark Hollow in front of us and we’ll act like we’re giving chase. Just me and Milo disguised as Ti’mon. Piper will act like she’s going to help Phoebe while everyone else gets into position. If all goes to plan, we can stop Phoebe before midnight. If not, the Hellions will be raised and we’ll have to fight them.”

“We can’t let that happen,” says Piper, also addressing the soldiers. “Hellions are stronger than any man and can control fire. The only way to kill them is to get to the phial inside their chests. Their skin is hot enough to melt the metal of your swords and armor, so getting to them is extremely difficult.”

“So if we can’t use our swords to fight the Hellions,” asks Exavier, “how do we kill them?”

“The only way to kill a Hellion is with magic,” says Milo. “That’s why we’re interspersing the practitioners within the melee soldiers. If the Hellions approach you, step back and let the mages work their magic. Literally. Mages, tear the Hellions apart with everything you have to expose the phial inside. Thankfully, the phials are very fragile, so you’ll be able to destroy them with a thrust of your sword or the shot of an arrow.”

One of the Ur’ali soldiers asks a question in Ur’alian. 

“That’s actually a very good question,” says Krayden, then looks at Piper expectantly.

“I don’t speak Ur’alian,” Piper reminds him.

“Oh, my apologies,” says the same soldier. “I asked if we are going to get lost like we did back on Isald.”

“No. Phoebe can’t cast a surrounding spell like she did there. It would interfere with the nexus and her spell to raise the Hellions wouldn’t work.”

“We’re leaving for the Dark Hollow in two hours. Phoebe won’t be there until just before midnight,” says Piper. “We’ll have a half hour to stop her. Remember: we’re not killing Phoebe. We’re just putting the binding cuff on her to incapacitate her.”

“After all she’s done?!” asks a Midoorian soldier. She looks around, incredulous, at all her companions.

“Phoebe will be brought back to Midoor as a prisoner,” says Aaron. “And she will stand trial for her crimes. If we have to kill her, we will—” Piper gives a clipped nod, “—but she has to answer to the laws of the Ur’ali as well as the laws of the Empire of Theo.”

After that, nobody raises objections. 

With the looming prospect of fighting Phoebe just on the horizon, time seems to be going extra fast. While the rest of the soldiers prepare, sharpening blades, donning their armor, making phials, or restringing their bows, Milo and I retreat into our tent.

“This is it,” I say, holding him in my arms. “Tonight, we’re taking down Phoebe.”

“Yes,” he says, trying to sound confident, but I can hear the fear in his voice. “Then all we have to do is take down a demigod that’s convinced we’ll help him take down someone powerful enough to cause misery in his life.”

I give a dry chuckle. “Let’s not worry about that right now.”

I pull him into my arms and kiss him. His hands snake behind my back, gripping me tightly and pulling me closer to him. We stand like that for a long time, our bodies pressed together, our lips locked.

Milo’s breathing becomes heavy as he slides his mouth down to my neck. I slip my hands down and grip his ass, squeezing as I draw him closer. 

He grabs the hem of my shirt and pulls it off. As his hand run down my abs, my hunger for him takes over. I grab his face in both my hands and kiss him again as his fingers run over the tight muscles of my stomach. Without warning, his hand plunges into my pants and wraps around my cock, which jumps up, rigid in his grip, starved for attention. 

I let out a ragged breath into his mouth and he smiles when we part, his hand slinking from my pants. 

"You're wearing too many clothes," I say. Milo takes a step back, eyes half closed with just. He grabs the hem of his shirt and lifts, revealing his flat, toned stomach. I step back and sit on the edge of the bed, my hard cock pressing into my pants. 

Milo begins moving his hips side-to-side, eyes locked on mine. He pulls his shirt up farther, lifting it over his head and dropping it behind him. He moves his hand to his mouth and sucks on his index finger. My cock jumps against the front of my pants as I imagine it in place of his digit. 

He pulls the finger from his mouth, a string of saliva connecting them for a moment, then runs his finger down the front of his body, leaving a line of it on his skin. I let out a heavy breath, imagining my tongue running across that line. 

Milo takes a step closer to me and my arms rise without permission, wanting to encircle him, but he stops short. He turns away from me and looks over his shoulder as he pushes his thumbs under the waistband of his pants and slowly, too slowly, pushes downward, exposing his bare ass as his pants and underwear come off. 

He smiles mischievously at the hungry expression in my eyes then turns and finally closes the distance between us. His lips meet mine and he pushes me on to my back. He kisses along my body, lips like fire burning my skin at the points where they make contact with my body. 

When he reaches my abs, he licks along each muscle, and a shiver runs over my body. He moves farther, his face an inch from my cock, which is shoved against my pants so tight, I'm surprised it hasn't punched a hole through it. 

Milo runs his tongue against it and though I didn't think it was possible, even more blood pumps into it. I'm now so hard, I doubt my pants would be able to come off if I tried to slide them off over it. Milo solves that problem, though. He incants, holding his hand over the lower half of my body. The seams of my pants come apart along the sides and Milo and pulls the top half off. 

My cock barely has time to slip through the whole of my underwear before Milo is swallowing my cock down to the base, resting his nose against the fabric. A strangled grunt leaves my throat as he squeezes his own throat around my cock and pulls back, letting my cock fall from his mouth with a pop.

Milo grabs the top of my underwear and pulls them off, exposing me to him. He devours my cock again, his head bobbing up and down, his hand cupping my balls. 

His hand doesn't like there, though, but slides down into my crack, one of his fingers probing my hole. Milo holds my cock in his hand and licks up the side, his eyes boring into mine. 

I feel the lower half of my body raise up and know Milo's telekinetically lifting me into position. I grip my knees and pull back, exposing my hole to him. 

The yelp that leaves my mouth is almost pitiful as his tongue plunges into my depths. Milo eats my ass like a starving lion catching a gazelle, the desperation in his touch palpable. I shove my fist into my mouth and moan around it, knowing there are soldiers just outside. 

"Here," says Milo, moving his head away. He incants, waving his hand around the tent. I know he's magically soundproofing the tent. "I want to here you scream."

He thrusts two fingers, knuckle deep, into my willing and twists, finding my prostate as if he's magnetically drawn to it. I do let out a scream of pleasure as firey waves of ecstacy explode along my nerves. 

"That's right, baby," he says, milking my prostate with expert motions. He grips my cock in his free hand and starts to stroke me with quick motions. 

"I'm too close," I warn him, and he lets go.

He pulls his fingers from my ass and moves below me, lining his cock up, pushing forward just enough so the tip breaches my hole. I let out a sound like a gasp and a moan mixed. He leans down and places a gentle kiss on my lips, sliding into me slowly. 

My breath catches as our eyes meet. He thrusts in and out, his cock gliding across my prostate. Our breaths mingle as we stare into one another's eyes, overtaken by the passion of the moment. 

"I love you," I say. 

"I love you, too," he says, then kisses me again. We're lifted up by his magic and settle back on the middle of the bed. Milo begins thrusting faster, his balls slapping into my ass as our breathing quickens. He puts his forehead to mine, staring into my soul. 

Without warning, he lifts his head up, puts a hand to my throat, and slams his cock deep inside me, pounding harder and harder, slamming into my prostate. I moan with each thrust as he fills me with his meat. 

"Fuck yes," I moan, "fuck me."

This eggs him on and he fucks harder, faster, grunting slightly with the effort. My eyes roll into the back of my head as blissful ecstacy tears me apart. 

"You're so fucking tight," he says with a growl. 

I reach up and grab the back of his head, pulling him down on to me, then push us both forward so he's on his back. I thrust forward, my ass sliding over his cock with easy motions. He matches my thrusts, slamming into me as I come down on him. 

Milo wraps a hand around my cock and starts to stroke. I'm being torn apart and rebuilt by his ministrations. I don't hold back, letting my moans out loud and clear, not worried about anyone hearing us. I bounce, slamming my ass into Milo over and over as his breathing becomes ragged with exertion. 

Without warning, my orgasm builds to a crescendo, pushing against the dam of my will. The fan bursts free and I shoot my load over him, spraying his chest, stomach, and face.

"Oh, fuck, I'm so close," he says. He starts pounding harder, matching my thrusts exactly, both hands planted on my waist to keep me steady. 

I lean forward, giving him room to work and wrap my hand around his throat like he's done to me so many times.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" he shouts and slams up into me. I feel his cock swell inside me and he explodes inside me, shooting a hot load deep inside me. I fall forward, spent, and he holds me, looking into my eyes. I smile at him, happy to have him here, and place a gentle kiss on his lips. 

***

When we leave our tent, we see the majority of the army gathered at the edge of the camp, ready to enter the Dark Hollow. It’s only a twenty minute walk from here. Though we’re not going to the manor, we know it’s just another ten minutes beyond that. Phoebe wanted it close. 

I stand in front of our soldiers, a mix of Midoorian and Ur’ali. Here and there, mages, witches, and warlocks are dotted among those carrying swords, shields, and bows. Everyone looks nervous.

“This is it, everyone,” I say. “For the past few months, Phoebe Dylan has caused pain throughout the continent of Pensia. From forming the Red Hand, to restarting the Chariot in Sandalia, to abducting warriors here in the Southern Tribes. She’s been able to stampede her way around this land, wreaking havoc and leaving a trail of destruction wherever she goes. Today, we stop it. Today, we stand strong in the face of our enemy and we will prevail!

“Though we come from different cultures, I am supremely thankful to all Ur’ali here, standing beside the Empire of Theo. I am honored to call you my brothers and sisters in arms. For Midoor! For Ur’Ali! For Pensia!” I shout, lifting my fist into the air.

“For the Mother!” the Ur’ali shout. 

“Amor vincit omnia!” shout the Midoorians. Love conquers all. My family’s motto. 

“Amor vincit omnia!” Milo and I shout back. Piper alone remains silent.

We begin our march, heading for the Dark Hollow.

When we find the place, a thick patch of trees that look dead, though the surrounding forest is lush with blue-green leaves, a sense of unease creeps up my back. By far the worst thing is that we’re met by nothing. No animals, no creatures of Phoebe’s design. 

“We’re very near the place,” says Piper. “I think we should start. I’ll start running and you and Milo chase after me.”

Milo nods and reaches into his pocket to pull out the ring. When he slips it onto his finger, he transforms into Ti’mon.

“Good luck, brother,” Krayden says to me. I give him a nod.

“Have everyone spread out and approach the clearing in the center of the Hollow. Hopefully Milo, Piper, and I can stop Phoebe. If not, you’ll need to be ready to fight.”

“I am aware of the plan, Aaron,” he says with a smile. “Now stop talking and go.”

Piper takes a couple deep breaths, then starts running. Milo and I go after her, leaving her some room.

“I did it, sister!” I hear Piper yell ahead. “I’ve brought the emperor!”

Milo and I break through into the Hollow and I’m pulled up short by the sight before me. Phoebe and Piper stand on top of a large boulder. All around, orbs of blue light float unsupported in the air, casting an eerie glow over the clearing. High above us, a dark circle in the sky shows where the new moon is. 

The worst part of the scene before me is the bodies. Hundreds of them, piled on top of each other. A huge mound of the dead, all of them with large, blood-red phials driven into their chests. 

"Welcome, Aaron and…" Phoebe looks at Milo, "...whoever you are."

"He's a mage Aaron has as his protection now that Milo is dead."

"You guys are going to pay for what you've done!" I shout, trying and failing to ignore the dead bodies. All those sightless eyes staring at me and into the night.

Phoebe cackles. "Please. Our petty differences mean nothing now. A storm is coming that cannot be stopped. I've already begun the spell. It's only a matter of—” Phoebe and Piper throw themselves off the boulder as Milo incants, sending a firebolt toward them. 

They stand on either side of the boulder and Piper's face shows nothing but fear. Fear I know is a reflection of my own. If Phoebe is telling the truth, we're working against the clock. 

"What are you waiting for?" asks Aaron. "Why not attack us?"

"Oh, I want to see your face when you see my army."

Piper walks forward and looks at me. 

"We have to abandon plan A, she says, and move to plan B," she says. 

"What are you talking about, sister?" asks Phoebe. 

Piper incants and sends a much stronger and brighter fireball at Phoebe than Milo threw. 

"What are you doing?" asks Phoebe, jumping out of the way. 

She wasn't ready for Milo's blast of white energy though, because he doesn't need to incant. 

Phoebe is blasted backward and lands on her back. Piper rushes forward and clamps the binding cuff on her. 

"We did it!" Milo shouts. 

I'm jubilant, surprised this was so easy, when Phoebe shouts an incantation and a wave of magical force erupts from her, throwing Milo, Piper, and myself backward. We scramble to our feet and turn to Phoebe, who stands, laughing. 

"You think this cuff can bind my powers?" she asks. She incants and the cuff disintegrates to dust. "I created it. It doesn't work on me." She turns to Piper, who's walked near us, but then her eyes snap to Milo. "I didn't see it before, but I recognize your magic, Milo. You've all been playing me from the start."

Milo pulls the ring from his finger, transforming back into himself. 

"How could you do this to me?" Phoebe asks Piper, hurt in her eyes. 

"After everything you've done, sister? How could I not?"

"It doesn't matter. The spell is already enacted. You're too late."

As Phoebe speaks, a gong-like sound rings out through the clearing. We turn toward the mass of bodies which begin to writhe and, as the phials sink into their chests, groan. 

The Hellions rise, gray with ragged skin and sunken eyes, turning to us. Phoebe lets out a maniacal laughter as they begin to walk toward us, their limbs and faces twitching. 

The one nearest us leans down, hands on the ground. Fire erupts over his body and he lunges, heading straight for Milo.