The Chosen - 15. Theories About Nuclear Winter

[Chapter 15]

The week leading up to Christmas was beyond busy. That was no exaggeration. My normal life came barreling into my world with a vengeance and the holiday season hit me like a ton of bricks. Christmas shopping was a rollercoaster and a measure of endurance if you wait until the last minute. The memories would haunt like PTSD flashbacks for years to come.

Adam had been introduced to my family much to my nervousness. And to my relief, it couldn’t have gone any better. Mom took an instant shine to Adam and began treating him like another son. She absolutely swooned on the spot at his southern manners. Morgan, bless her demonic soul, ogled my boyfriend as if he was a steak and she was a velociraptor. The little cunt. Kevin had been suspicious of Adam, but after bonding over donuts of all things they had gotten along like two fat twins splitting a gallon of rocky road.

I still sighed dreamily whenever thinking of Adam. He was like my dream boy. Wait. He really was my dream boy. That was kind of unreal. He was romantic, dorky, suave, cool, and funny. And he nodded sagely whenever I referenced Buffy, which scored him massive boyfriend points. As for his blindness, well he had been right. People don’t look too hard into the unexplainable. Adam claimed to have just woken up with his sight returned. His uncle and aunt, plus the doctors ate it up, chalking it up to a Christmas miracle. He even trended on Twitter. Speaking of his family.

Danny.

I smiled when thinking of that grabby hand son of a bitch. I hadn’t taken the Chosen method when dealing with him after talking it out with Adam. So I did what I do best. I called up Kevin. In the dark of night, wearing all black, we snuck over to Danny's house and fucked his car up. His prized classic Mustang. We keyed the doors, threw paint on it, slashed his tires, and broke his windows. I had a total Carrie Underwood moment. To celebrate we grabbed a shake from Sonic on the drive home. I felt really proud of myself. The last act of revenge vandalism ended up with Kevin breaking his leg and us getting caught. Getting off scot free for once felt good

The patrolling we did at night since Nathaniel’s departure to England filled up my timeslots pretty good as well. I looked out of the window and smiled. It was snowing. Not a first for Centennial, but it was rare that it actually stuck and got more than an inch high. This was California after all. It was indeed turning into a white Christmas this year. I watched the kids playing outside and tensed when arms wrapped around my waist from behind.

“Did I scare you?” Adam whispered into my hair.

I rubbed his hands laying flat on my stomach. “Is your cousin a dumb bastard who will win Most likely to become someone’s jailhouse bitch Award?”

Adam nodded quickly. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you so bad!”

I laughed and ribbed him with my elbow, spinning around in his arms. “You, loser. You know I was just joking.”

“I know,” he admitted, smiling like a canary. “I just like seeing you get all hyper when you think a joke went over my head. You get these cute little wrinkles between your eyebrows-”

I gasped and then tried catching my reflection in the window. “You serious?”

He snorted. “God, you’re so easy!”

I pouted at him. “Hey, it’s not nice to tease the host. I went to all the trouble of inviting you over for Christmas today and you go and be mean to me.”

Adam made his eyes real big and cute like. Damn. Puppy face. “I’m sorry. Forgive me, please?”

I rolled my eyes sighing with mock exasperation. “I suppose. It’s the least I can do for one of my bitches.”

Adam clapped his hands happily. “Please, darling. I’m your only bitch.”

“Damn skippy.”

I loved when he called me darling. His Texas drawl always came out thick and slow like molasses. It had the effect of leaving me weak kneed and short of breath. We engaged in a little make out session and I closed my eyes in pleasure. This was turning into a pretty awesome Christmas. I picked him early afternoon after he had spent the morning with his uncle and aunt, then he had brunch here with my family. It was the second time mom and Morgan were meeting him. They tripped over themselves making him feel at home. Morgan had ulterior motives of course. I think she had this grand scheme to steal Adam from me but destiny trumped her hormone induced plans.

The front door bursts open and we broke apart in surprise. Kevin stormed into the living room bundled up in a dark leather jacket, white scarf, and jeans. He grinned widely at me and held up the wrapped gift in his arm.

“Uh hey, Kevin,” I greeted him cautiously. He was up to something. I could see it written all over his anxious little face.

If possible he grinned even wider. “Hey what?”

Oh no. Here we go. I sighed and replied, “Introduce yourself!”

“No way,” he answered breezily.

I rolled my eyes and repeated, “Introduce yourself!”

Kevin nodded. “Okay! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, my name is Kevin and I say hi!” Here he dropped the gift and did this ass shaking maneuver that left me shaking my head and Adam staring with his mouth open, stunned. Poor boy. “6, 7, 8, 9, 10, back it up” He gyrated like a Magic Mike stripper and I blinked. “and meet my friend. Hey, Chad!”

“Kiss my ass,” I said in a monotone voice.

Adam pushed me to the side and struck a pose. “My name is Adam...”

He trailed off as I stared at him. “I totally don’t even know you right now.”

Adam and Kevin looked at each other and joined in a loud round of laughter at my dismayed expression. Kevin and Adam were naturally random and funny separate, and when you got all us in the same room it turned into Comedy Central.

Mom entered the living room and smiled at Kevin. “I thought that was you. Only you would slam the door like the police. Did you wipe your feet on the rug, young man?”

He nodded obediently. “Yes, ma’am. I even went outside by the tree so I won't go on the carpet.”

Mom snorted. “Cute, Kevin.” She wrapped him up in a hug and kissed his cheek. “Merry Christmas. You staying long?”

Kevin’s shook his head. “No. The folks want to go see the carolers in the park or something.”

“That sounds fun,” Mom said brightly liking the idea. “I think I might drag the kids too.”

I made a face. “Mooom. That sounds really lame. Like Kids Bop lame or even 7th Heaven lame.”

She rolled her eyes. “If you really don’t want to go I won’t force you. I know you don’t like to be in the cold weather.”

“Snow sucks,” I replied promptly.

Adam patted my shoulder. “You’re missing out. Snow is pretty much amazing.”

“You keep talking like that and someone won't get his Christmas present.”

“And you won't get yours,” Adam smirked.

I pouted. Damn. He’s right. I knew we should have exchanged gifts earlier. I totally had to back track and eat shit. I smiled hugely and held out my arms.

“Heh. Heh. Just kidding! I'm hilarious.”

Adam looked me up and down, not buying it. “Yeah. Right.”

“You boys are just the cutest thing,” Mom sighed. She clasped her hands and stared at us with stars in her eyes. “You go on upstairs and I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”

Kevin laughed as soon as my mother went into the kitchen. He made his eyes real big and exhaled gustily at us like we were the best thing since sliced bread.

“You're just the cutest thing,” he said like a quintessential southern belle. “Seeing y'all two strong, strapping boys just makes this little girl swoon. Oh my. I think I may be getting the vapors.”

I shot him the finger. “You're so not funny, meathead. Is that my gift?”

Kevin tossed it into my waiting hands. “Here. Now, where’s mine?”

I went under the tree and handed over a box wrapped in Charlie Brown themed paper. I then read his card, snorted, and handed it to Adam to look over. It read “Merry Christmas, bitch. Much love from the bro”. Adam thought it was the funniest thing all day. He was so easily amused. I opened my present and squealed at the new PlayStation game I wanted. Kevin cheered as he unwrapped his. It was all three Iron Man films on Blu-ray. We exchanged hugs and I batted at his face when he licked the side of my cheek. Gross.

“This is really nice,” he said happily. “Thanks, Kev.”

“The game is just as cool. We did good this year, huh?”

“Way better than the lumps of coal we gave each other last year,” he agreed.

Adam made a strangled noise of disbelief. “You gave each other lumps of coals for Christmas last year?”

I cringed. “We kept watching Mean Girls last year and we started taking on mean personas by accident. We got kind of bitchy for a while there.”

“Chad, even made a mall elf cry,” Kevin added unhelpfully.

I winced and shrugged sheepishly. “He started it.”

Adam laughed and shook his head as he often did at our banter. Kevin shot off a quick goodbye since his parents were waiting on him. I grabbed Adam’s hand and pulled him up the stairs. We passed Morgan’s room and her door was vibrating from the music blaring from her stereo. It was EDM. I shuddered. Adam mirrored me and I gave him another point. He knew bad music when he heard it. I closed my bedroom door behind us and Adam took a seat at my desk chair, giggling as he spun a bit in the chair. Wow. Someone was obviously easily amused. Wait. I was one to talk. I gave him a look and he gave me one right back that clearly said what.

“You done?” I deadpanned.

Adam shook his head. “If you come and give your boy a lap dance then maybe.”

Oh. Kinky. I laughed. “You know I only take singles right?”

“Damn,” he sighed, snapping his fingers with fake disappointment. “I only have big bills.”

I held out my hand. “If I’m gonna be a ho I may as well be a top dollar ho!”

He blinked at me. “You serious?”

I studied the clearly pretend lustful expression and pushed him off the chair. He fell on the floor letting out a scream as if he just fell down Mount Everest.

“No, you clown!” I laughed pouncing on his fallen body.

He pouted up at me. “So no champagne room reenactment?”

“No, sir. Let’s exchange gifts now.”

I gave him a quick kiss on the nose and hopped up. I went to my bed where our gifts rested side by side. I presented him with mine and grabbed the one that was for me.

“You ready?” I was itching to tear into the present.

Adam stared at my twitching hands and raised an eyebrow. “Obviously you are.”

“Bite me,” I tore into the wrapper.

“Wherever you want me to, darling,” he shot back, digging into the wrapping paper.

I practically clawed at the wrapping to get it all off. I tore off the last strip and sucked in a breath. Inside were a half dozen of my favorite graphic novels. I found a few Superman prints, Sandman, 300, A History of Violence, and Sin City. I caressed the pages reverently. I was touched. There wasn’t a single issue I disliked. How did he know that I liked these titles? He must have done some serious Scooby Doo-ing to figure this out. I was touched.

Adam was holding his bundled gift, grinning and looking at me expectantly. “I assume there's an explanation here?”

“Yep," I said loudly popping the P. "You see that is a Chad Summers Starter Pack. Inside is everything you need if you’re going to be with me. I have a couple of CD’s: Muna and The 1975. My favorite bands. Then you have my all time favorite Superman comic. Kill Bill Vol. One, my favorite action movie. The Prophecy which is my favorite wow movie. Then you have the T-shirt, too.”

Adam unrolled it and held it up to his chest. It was a blue fitted tee and printed across the front was Cats are evil. My boyfriend told me so. He shucked his shirt and I was glimpsed with the view of his chiseled upper body. I had an urge to lick those nipples but I resisted. I had some self control. Adam pulled the shirt over his body and held out his arms.

“How do I look, darling?”

I went to his side and wrapped my arms around him. “Perfect. I love your gifts. How did you know I like all those issues?”

Adam grinned. “I bribed Kevin with a donut. He sang like one of Timberlake’s backup singers.” He dropped a small kiss on the tip of my nose. “I love your gift. It was sweet. You’re giving me insight into you so I can know you even better.”

I let out a sigh. Thank you, Seth Cohen. I was glad that I rewatched the Christmas episode of The OC recently. I absolutely sucked at giving gifts. If I hadn’t got the idea from Seth I would have given Adam a keychain or something equally awful. I glanced out the window and frowned. It was starting to come down pretty bad.

“Holy, Katy's Perry's coveted hair!” I pressed my face against the window pane.

Adam followed my gaze and cursed as well. The snow was coming down terribly hard. This was freaking southern California. Why was there a damn blizzard outside? An hour ago, it wasn’t even shoe deep and now the front porch was buried. It was so dense that I doubted my Blazer could make it out of the driveway. This was the reason I didn’t like winter! Crap like this.

“Come on, let’s go downstairs,” I frowned at the snowfall.

We met Morgan and my mother in the kitchen. They were both watching the tiny TV sitting on the counter by the stove. Adam and I joined them as we watched a breaking news banner scroll across the bottom of the screen. The screen flickered replaced by a newsroom.

“This is Jamie Moore with breaking news. Reports all over world of strange disturbances in usual weather patterns have streamed into the newsroom. Freak winter storms seem to have suddenly started all across the globe.” Here the screen changed to show the pyramids covered in snow, Hawaii covered in a blanket of white, Buckingham Palace deep in snow, and the White House caught in the middle of snowstorm from the North Pole. More images replaced these, changing rapidly so we could get a feel of the wide scope of the storm. “There are even reports of a strange group of costumed attackers appearing in some areas. Please be advised to stay
clear as they seem to be extremely dangerous. Here is a shot that we have so far of one of the assailants.”

On the screen appeared a picture of a humanoid creature, body completely white. It had no gender. Or clothes. But no er...parts. Its face was handsome in a way that wasn’t natural like a statue. I stared at its blank, gray eyes, and I knew this was no costumed person. This was a creature from the Ever After. They say eyes are the windows into a person’s soul. I looked into the creature's eyes and I saw nothing. Just an endless gaze that reflected a deep pool of nothingness. It had no soul. I swallowed and glanced up at Adam. He stared at me grimly. He could see it too.

“Please stay indoors as temperatures are expected to drop well into the negatives and it’s looking like we can’t tell when this global event will end,” Jamie Moore continued. “Police are advising all people-”

I grabbed Adam’s hand. “Hey, Mom. We're going up to my room for a bit. All this crazy weather is just too weird for me.” I finished with a nervous laugh. I was such a bad liar.

“Okay, honey,” she said absently, gaze focused solely on the tube. She was totally getting into her Lois Lane reporter mode.

Morgan gave me a condescending glare. “Mom, tell him to keep the door cracked.”

I shot her the finger before we returned to my room. Adam was pulling out his phone even as I shut the door behind us. He pressed a button and suddenly Killian and Ryan both appeared split screen, each wearing serious expressions. Oh, that was kind of nifty. I looked around the room trying to remember where was my phone. I hope I didn’t lose that thing. That would be embarrassing.

“You guys catch the news?” Adam asked.

I squeezed in next to Adam and waved. “Hey, guys. This is really cool. I can like see you and talk to you! It's like super Facetime.”

“We already know what the phones can do, Chad,” Ryan said patiently.

Killian shook his head. “He would know if he hadn’t been playing solitaire on it instead of paying attention.”

I couldn’t even come up with an adequate defense. It was true after all. I had totally been attention boy and then my focus had started to wander and boom, next thing I know I was involved in a hardcore game of solitaire with myself.

“I recognize the picture on the news,” Ryan said. “It looked like an ice wraith. They can freeze anything in solid ice so don’t let them catch you in one of their subzero blasts. They can emit it by mouth or hand.”

Killian frowned. “How many do you think there are?”

“I’ve done some scanning using the phone to access the mainframe in Command,” Ryan answered. “There are thousands of them and they all originate from Centennial since the barrier is weakest here. Using our city as a foothold I’ve calculated that at their current rate they'll freeze the entire planet in ice in two days.”

I said the first thing that came to mind. “Nathaniel’s going to be pissed.”

Adam shook his head. “Not if we clean this mess up.”

“A freaking invasion during Christmas. Santa Claus would be rolling in his grave.” I looked at the screen. “We’ll meet you guys on top of the Global Com building downtown.”

Adam blanked the screen and sighed. “This is turning into just the best Christmas ever!”

I gave him a tiny smile. “Sarcasm will get you far with me, Mr. Caine.”

We transformed into our Chosen forms. I slid off my cloak’s hood and ran a hand through my hair. Adam looked dashing in his black bodysuit and long dark cape. I stepped up to him and rejoiced in the tender smile aimed at me. I touched his hair and Adam leaned over pressing his forehead against mine.

“You be careful today,” I said softly.

Adam cupped my cheek. “Same to you. I’ll kick your ass if you die.”

“Gee thanks, babe,” I cracked a smile and accepted a quick kiss.

We opened my window and I was grateful our suits offered a degree of protection against the windchill. It had to be negative twenty out here. I could hardly feel the sting of the cold if I concentrated really hard and thought about math. Adam pulled me into his arms and jumped from the window ledge. We hung in the air and then shot off into the darkening, snowy sky. I squinted my eyes and wished that I could see better.

The snowstorm blocked sight so we could only see to a limited degree. This was insane. I closed my eyes and prayed that a sudden draft didn’t knock us from the sky. I was just saying my last Hail Mary when we touched down on top of a building. Adam released me and I stepped to his side.

I looked over downtown and just gawked. The buildings were covered in a sheet of ice and everywhere you looked dense white snow clung to all surfaces. I looked closer at the sidewalk and gasped. There were people there but they were frozen in solid blocks of ice. Most looked to be in mid-run, frozen looks of horror and panic etched on their faces. I grabbed Adam’s hand.

“This is bad. Really bad,” I muttered worriedly.

He chewed on his lower lip. It was a habit I had seen him do once before. He only did it when he was nervous or worried. If this was another situation I would find that totally cute but hello Earth was about to go through another ice age. This so wasn’t the time. I spotted an orange ball descend rapidly from the sky. It neared us and then burst into sparkling orbs that formed into the shape of the Executioner and Solaris.

“You guys got here fast,” Solaris stated.

I smirked. “What can I say, my man has skills.”

Omega winked at me. “So where do we start searching for these ice wraiths? I figured they would be everywhere.”

“They are,” said the Executioner pointing below.

Covering the streets and emerging from the snowfall was a horde of ice wraiths. I shuddered as they slid across the icy sidewalks like they were at a skating rink. The odds were not in our favor. Then again. Are they ever? I was suddenly blown away with a feeling of déjà vu. This all felt familiar. My shoulders straightened and determination and confidence sang through my veins.

“Executioner, scan for possible alternative threats. Omega and Solaris, on me,” I rattled off orders faster than I could think of why this felt natural. “Omega, use mind bolts to shatter through their bodies. Solaris, keep your beams wide and erratic and Executioner join us when the scan is complete. If anything gets in your way, drop them.”

They all nodded sharply and I was relieved that they didn’t question it. Although there was a brief look of shared surprise. We jumped over the roof and fell through the air in a flash of black. We hit the ground and immediately sought cover from the roving creatures. I rolled behind a car and gave a shout of warning when a company of ice wraiths glided near Solaris and Omega’s spots. They converged on them and were instantly shattered by an invisible blast. I watched Omega’s arm go down and I shot him a relieved smile.

“Duck!” Solaris yelled and I hit the ground.

“Spectral Cannon!”

His yellow beam flew high and sliced into a trio of ice wraiths that barreled down behind me from an alley. I jumped to my feet and swore. Our cover was blown. I dodged a blast of icy wind that looked like a tornado on its side. It struck a car behind me and the vehicle was left encased in a solid block of ice.

Power gathered in my palm and then I bounced forward, “Soul Reaper Reprise!”

The garnet ball of light slammed into the snow and tore up a line of ice and concrete on the way to the ice wraiths. They exploded leaving not a trace of matter behind. I quickly levitated backward as a quartet of ice wraiths descended on my position.

"Angels above me,
Clouds circling thee.
Lend me your wings
So I can jump higher
Than the tallest tree."

I clapped my hands and willed the power to take form, “Leap of faith!”

Little wings appeared on feet and I soared right over the trio. A glow flared from Omega and his sword was out, cutting into their numbers with ease. I jumped clear over a car and launched a fireball at a number of ice wraiths that were on route to our position. The sky lit up and dozens upon dozens of beams rained from the sky. Solaris’ Dawn Bringer wiped the streets clean, completely shredding through their bodies with their laser-like energy.

I was suddenly tackled mid leap. Son of a bitch. I fell through the air and landed hard on the frozen street. The ice wraith punched me in the stomach following it up with a strong hook to my face. My power lashed out in a blinding, white cord of light. The ice wraith and a few near me didn’t see their deaths coming. I stood to my feet and looked around quickly. More and more ice wraiths swarmed around the corners.

I watched as a subzero blast hit a building and ice crawled along its surface. Then rapidly the ice sped up until the entire building was covered within several feet of thick ice. I swallowed and bounced swiftly through the air to a safer distance. I landed over 100 meters back nearby Solaris and Omega.

“Chosen, regroup on me!” I ordered. They appeared at my sides in flashes of black.

“I have a feeling these bastards are replicating themselves from the snowfall,” Omega speculated.

Solaris nodded. “I think you’re right. These numbers are impossible.”

I gauged their assessments and agreed. We destroyed so many and as far as I could tell a dent hadn’t even been formed in their army. We could take them out but to do so would mean overkill tactics. We would inadvertently level the city. And the frozen people trapped in ice. That wasn’t an option.

“Omega, mind bolt, front line,” I ordered, observing their swelling numbers.

The longer I fought the more it felt like I needed to be the one issuing orders. This was my duty. I was chosen for this. We needed a leader to win and that was me. It also felt natural. I didn’t know whether to be scared or relieved that I was finally doing well.

Omega rushed forward. He took a position in front and we braced ourselves as the front lines of the approaching army simultaneously launched their ice blasts. Rays of swirling white light screamed toward our position. Omega held his hands out before him and the air ahead shimmered.

The telekinetic shield stopped the beams head on. He dropped to a knee and grunted as the impacts pounded along the invisible wall. My heart raced in my chest but Omega held out like I knew he would. The shield fell and without missing a beat he swiped his arm through the air, and a concussive wave of pure telekinetic force swept forward. Where the wave touched, objects were blown apart or thrown backward with enough strength to shatter concrete walls.

“Omega, fall back,” I said, and he returned to our line of defense. “Solaris, clear the street.”

Solaris took Omega’s place and delivered a Dawn Bringer into the approaching formation. The beams multiplied mid air and seared clean through the ice wraiths with ease. The raining light took out the approaching masses but it wasn’t over. In the distance I could see more ice wraiths stream from the alleys, emerging from behind snow covered banks and reforming into a rapidly swelling host. We couldn’t keep this up all day.

We could only hold this ground for so long until they overran us, and then there would be no way we could stop the swell of their number, and their advance past the city. Abruptly the Executioner dropped from the sky. He landed in front of us with barely a noise.

“Did you find anything?” Omega asked.

The Executioner looked intently at the phone screen in his hands. “I did some readings and while the ice wraiths are responsible for freezing the city they aren’t the cause of the weather. I detected massive energy readings from a single source originating at the city’s border.”

“That’s where we need to go,” I decided. “We need to take out whatever is emitting the high readings. It’s probably a demon. Once we kill it we can return the weather to normal.”

“I agree,” Omega smiled proudly at me.

The Executioner and Solaris both watched me with appraising looks. I just smiled. This reincarnation thing was finally hitting home. It was about time I was getting some kind of skills that the others already had at go.

Solaris raised his arms. “Sun Rise!”

A glowing sphere enveloped us and we shot into the sky faster than the speed of sound. The bubble must have some type of inertia dampener since the G-forces of going so fast should have pulverized our bodies. Centennial blurred below us in a vision of rolling white and icy landscape. I prayed we could stop this from spreading. Now, most of the planet had to certainly be covered in snow and ice. This frozen silent city wasn’t even a shadow of its former self.

The ice wraiths had made short work of encasing everything they came across in ice. The unnatural frost was spreading even as I watched. It crawled along unfrozen surfaces leaving solid ice in its wake, no matter if wasn’t living or not. Everything succumbed to the spreading ice. We had to go faster.

I pointed ahead. “There!”

Ahead of us was an unexpected sight. The ground that was normally rolling fields of green was encased in snow and thick ice. Jagged ice chunks split the earth and covered the land making it resemble an area of Antarctica, not southern California. But what was truly unexpected wasn’t that sight. Rising out of the ground taller than the ice chunks was a giant ice crystal that towered into the air. Above, on its flattened peak stood a person.

“That’s the source of the high power emissions,” The Executioner punched the buttons on his phone to confirm his readings.

Solaris set us down and it had to be obvious he saw us. A glowing orange ball that flies around. Yeah. Not too stealthy. The being approached the crystal tower’s edge and gazed down at us stoically. He resembled the ice wraiths in skin tone but he wore a flowing white robe that matched the snow white hair that streamed down his back. His stoic stare was enough to confirm that he was just as soulless as the ice wraiths.

“The primitives who now inhabit our planet have come to witness their kind’s downfall?” His deep voice was hard and devoid of emotion.

He talked down to us as if we were the bugs at his feet. I wanted to roll my eyes. They all thought the same until they got their asses whooped.

I crossed my arms and just shrugged. “Actually we’ve come to kick your ass right out of this dimension.”

He cocked his head. “You hope to stand against me?”

“We’re Chosen,” I said in answer, squaring my shoulders and widening my leg stance. If this fucker wanted a fight, then we would give him one.

He waved his hand at us. “You robbed us of our world by luck. That chance will not occur again. I will break you in half and paint the ground with your blood. You will plead and scream and it will be a sweet sound to my ears.”

Solaris rolled his eyes. “We got ourselves a talker this time, boys. So what do we call you so we can know whose ass we’re kicking?”

The creature arched an eyebrow. “Jakphrust.”

I blinked. “No way. Did he just say his name was Jack Frost?”

Omega shook his head. “Darling, I think he pronounced it a little differently.”

“Humans have grown bold in our absence,” Jakphrust said. “I shall enjoy beating on your kind again. You broke so easily.” He turned away from us and raised his arms skyward. “You interest me no longer. Watch as I coat this world in a grip of cold death that shall wipe you talking monkeys from your stolen place in the food chain.”

Jakphrust raised his arms and swirling globes of pale energy gathered in his palms. With little effort the power launched from hands, shooting into the sky in twin beams. They hit the clouds and the sky darkened and if possible the snow started to come down even harder as the arctic storm gained more power to feed off. I stumbled as the wind intensified into a brutal storm. Omega steadied me and I shot him a thankful look.

“Listen up, Jack off!” I yelled and he ignored me. “Kiss your ass goodbye. FIREBALL!”

I conjured the biggest fireball I have ever created. It was massive. The elemental fire hovered above my hands larger than any beach ball. I let it fly with a loud grunt of effort. The ball hit its mark only to collide against a gigantic block of ice that sprung up before Jakphrust. The fireball collided and the rock vaporized in a cloud of steam, leaving Jakphrust unharmed.

He peered down at us all the while continuing to feed the storm. “Fire against ice. An intelligent move for a primitive. I am above the laws that constrict nature.”

“I have a bad feeling about this,” whispered the Executioner.

Jakphrust lowered his arms toward us and let loose those twin broad beams of swirling light. Omega protectively pushed me behind him. He raised his arms and above us the air shimmered as he threw up a telekinetic shield. The beams hit the barrier and Omega cried out. The beams splashed across the shield and continued pounding into it without mercy. He couldn’t hold out like this for long.

I snatched Omega back and we all jumped away clearing distance just as the shield collapsed. The beams struck the spot we once stood in. All I heard was a loud explosion and we were flung off our feet. I landed on my back completely winded. Fuck me.

I muttered under my breath, whispering the incantation for the black spell I had only used once before. Omega and Solaris caught on and immediately began to pool their power for their own attacks. I fought off the hollow feeling that clawed at my soul that I opened for the dark spell. Within my cupped palms red, pulsing energy gathered.

The power solidified and I raised my hands. “Chosen, fire at will!” I ordered over the howling wind. “Revenge of Lucifer!” The attack launched forward, splitting mid air into numerous lethal beams of ruby light.

Omega’s sword appeared and the glowing blade flared to life. “Starlight Lance!” The blade of his sword that was composed of light exploded in length, expanding, and splitting the air at blinding speed.

“Spectral Cannon!” Solaris added his destructive yellow beam to join our attacks.

The attacks all hit true. A multicolored explosion detonated and the shockwave threw us back. It took a minute to shake off the disorientation from getting knocked around again. I climbed to my feet with a grunt of pain and looked through the falling snow. The crystal tower still stood and so did Jakphrust.

“This is bad,” I whispered, feeling a sinking ache in my stomach.

Solaris nodded jerkily. “No kidding.”

I shook my head. “We can do this. I know we can. We did it before the last time they did this.”

The Executioner frowned, perplexed. “Warlock, what do you mean? Last time as back in Atlantis?”

I opened my mouth to answer and stopped short. What the hell did I mean? I don’t even know. It just came out. Like my sudden leadership qualities. I closed my eyes trying to ignore the windchill and the freezing temperature that was still rapidly dropping. This all seemed familiar for a reason and I gasped as a memory played out behind my eyes. This had happened before. The first ice age. They were responsible for it. We ended it once and we could do it again. I opened my eyes. I knew what to do.

“I know how to stop him,” I looked into their expectant faces. “I don’t have time to explain. Just gather around me, facing away. Close your eyes and call on your power. Open yourselves up. I’ll do the rest.”

Omega grabbed my hand. “Are you sure?”

“Definitely.”

That was all the confirmation he nodded. He got into position and the others followed his lead. I think they all knew somewhere deep down that this was the way it had to be. Something was telling them this was going to work. After all, I had that same something whispering to me now. I stood in the middle of their loose circle and closed my eyes

I dived into that glowing center of power that hovered behind my mind's eye. Light exploded around me as magic filled me to the brim as I fully gave into it with everything I was. All this raw power. All of it was mine. I was awed for a second, lost in the currents that slid against my skin. I focused and remembered the memory. I had a job to do. I reached outward with my senses and could feel my teammates opening up to their own power. I touched them and one by one, they all dropped their barriers and we joined minds. We became one.

My eyes opened and I was floating above my friends. We were shining a radiant gold that was glorious to behold. Solid rays of light, no power, connected each person to the other. I could see Jakphrust stop in his task and focus his attention on us. He was finally truly taking notice of the bugs. Too late.

He launched the biggest beam of light at us, larger than anything he had thrown at us previously. I channeled the power from my friends and focused it through my body. There was so much of it. So much. I was becoming lost in its waves. My friends were connected to me just as I was connected to them and they anchored me to this plane, keeping me grounded to my duty. I pushed aside that seductive melody of power and redoubled my efforts. I narrowed my eyes at the approaching beam. Shining gold light as thick as tree trunk erupted forth from my hands. It met the beam mid air and there was a deafening explosion of sound. The beam of gold that surged from my hands pushed at the cold white beam of perpetual winter.

They weren’t even.

My beam was slowly being beaten back. I winced at the strain. I couldn’t let him win. If we failed here and now then this was the end. The world would freeze and humanity would become a blink in this planet's history. That was not happening. We wouldn’t let that happen. There was so much worth saving. I thought of Morgan and Mom at home and Nathaniel thousands of miles away. I thought of my friends from school, my friends below me and I thought of Adam. I glared at Jakphrust.

Determination filled me. This ends now.

“Soul of the body. Miracle of the mind. Light of life. Magic of the universe. Powers of Infinity unite!” I said. Countless, sharp slivers of light appeared from everywhere around us, all rushing into the palm of my hand. I gasped as the scope of the power registered to my senses. I hope I didn’t mess this up.

“JUSTICE APOCALYPSE!”

The golden light doubled and refocused roaring forward and completely swallowing up Jakphrust’s beam. Instead of evening out, the light strengthened in intensity. I focused everything into this outpour of power. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before as it grew beyond a mere beam. Jakphrust didn’t stand a chance. The light enveloped him and his scream was brief as his body was incinerated. The light didn't die it only grew. I kept up the power and the world was washed in gold. I could feel the light expand outward and it continued on traveling the globe, touching even the farthest corners of the world.

It was like a flood and I’m sure if people were in orbit at this time they would have seen a golden flash from Centennial, and then continue along the entire globe. The golden light reversed the extreme weather and ice wraiths were destroyed by its purifying radiance. As it touched the unnatural ice, the light shattered through it and melted it into nothingness. Buildings were once more free and people found themselves looking around in confusion wondering if they imagined their frozen slumber.

The power tapered off when I didn’t have anything left. Our bodies stopped glowing and I fell to the ground, collapsing to my knees. My breath came in large pants as I struggled to breathe. Now that was a rush. I felt a hand on my shoulder and smiled at the blurry form of Omega. I was exhausted. I could barely think.

“You did it,” he said, awed.

I looked at all of them and smiled tiredly. “No, we did it.”

And then I blacked out.