Chapter 42 You're Hanging by A Thread

Sitting in the room alone with Catherine.

She holds the amulet, inspecting it.

"You said you were familiar with this, how so?"

I asked.

"I'm not familiar with this type of magic, I'm just aware it's Thorne's life force."

Catherine said, she reached out towards me, closing her eyes.

Her hand glows as a white circle appears around her palm.

"What is it?"

I asked.

"Nathan, you seem perfectly fine, as long as you don't turn into that beast form of yours. It's the product of magic, magic you don't have so instead of drawing on mana it takes your life force. I'm surprised you're still alive at this point. You just need to recover, as for reversing the effects of the experiment, that's another story."

Catherine said, I hear the sound of a wall collapsing as the building shakes.

"What the hell?"

I ask.

"They're here Nathan."

Catherine said, the lights flicker.

As another wall is brought, the building shakes even more.

The sound of bullets being sprayed, rings through my ears.

Catherine crouches down, as bullets hit near the walls of the room.

"That sounds all too familiar..."

I said, covering my ears.

Catherine opens the door, to get a glance.

"Someone is releasing Eric, we need to do something!"

Catherine whispers, a faint scent, a familiar one I smell.

"I'll handle this."

I said, opening the door.

The scent leaves the building, I follow the trail.

Sprinting out of the hole in the wall, I ran towards the truck covered in metal.

The smell it's coming from there.

It drives down the street, I chase it.

"Who the hell is that?"

Cerith asks.

"It's Nathan!"

Eric shouts.

"Did you come to join us again? See your family?"

Eric asked.

Running next to the truck as it goes down the street.

Eric extends his hand.

"Come on hop in!"

I frown, snarling.

Ramming into the truck with my shoulder.

Tilting it over, it flips, three times.

Crashing into a nearby building.

I see Eric crawling out from underneath the armored truck.

The door flies into the air.

Cerith hops out from that side.

"You son of bitch!"

Cerith shouts, as his body surges with energy.

Cerith takes off his helmet.

Blood covers his face.

"How do you hope to beat me without turning into a monster?"

Cerith asks.

"I learned a thing or two from you guys."

I said, getting in my stance.

He wipes his face.

More even drips down his cheek.

A large scar on his forehead continues to bleed.

Cerith reaches in the truck grabbing his spear.

"I'm going to kill you, you fucking mutt."

Cerith says, slamming his spear into the ground.

Leaping into the air with a boost of energy.

I clench my fist.

Preparing to block, he smacks me with the side of the spear.

Leaving a bruise on my face.

Looking at the spear it is covered in energy.

"Agrh!"

He uses the spear as a pole holding himself up.

Cerith leans towards me, kicking me against the wall.

Moaning in pain, I continue to block.

"It's just a little tap, but here's the sting!"

Cerith said, piercing my shoulder with the spear.

"Is that all you got?"

Cerith asked, I grab the spear.

As energy runs through it.

It shocks me, feeling it throughout my body.

"AGRRHHHHHH!!!!"

He pulls the spear away from my grasp.

"You're crazy Nathan, I'm going to kill you. For killing my comrades you will pay. Thorne should've let me have this but she will understand."

Cerith attempts to impale me, swiftly moving my head.

He misses his attack as it gets stuck in the wall.

Grabbing onto the spear I absorb all of it's energy.

"ARGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Growling, as my muscles bulge and my body burns from the electricity.

My clothes rip as I grow, once again I look at my claws.

"Noooo!"

Cerith shouts, as he loses grip on his spear.

I cried out in pain, snapping the spear as the light from it disappeared.

White fur covers me, and my wounds heal.

"How is that possible?"

Cerith asked, confused and cautious.

He extends both of his arms out, the lights around us flicker.

I feel immense energy burst from as he gather's it all around.

Cerith shouts, in pain as he grips onto the energy absorbing it.

"You aren't the only one who can do that trick Nathan!"

Cerith falls to his knees, panting.

Growling, I charge at him.

He side steps, stinging me with a heavy punch to the side.

Singing my fur, my wound heals.

"You monster.."

Cerith said.

Sprinting towards Cerith once more.

He throws another punch with a burst of energy.

Hitting my snout, I growl catching myself.

After staggering, I slash at Cerith.

Ripping through his plated armor like paper.

Cerith barely avoids the attack.

Raising my claw, I slash.

He swiftly dodges, he then double kicks as he leaps in the air.

Cerith then slashes the top of my revealing his hidden dagger.

"Argh!!"

Growling my wounds heal.

"You can't last in that form for long can you? You didn't have as much power since the first time, without Thorne you're nothing Nathan."

Cerith said, he holds the dagger in his right hand.

He sprints at me, throwing the dagger.

The dagger pierces my chest.

"ROOOOAAAAAAAAARR!!!!!!"

I slash at him with both my claws.

He kicks the dagger implanted in my chest.

Growling, I finally caught him.

Grabbing on his leg, my claws dig into his calve.

"Graaa!!!"

Cerith shouts in pain, blow drips onto my claws.

I throw Cerith into the wall, across the street.

His body slams against it.

Roaring, I get on all fours.

Charging into him with my shoulder.

We both went through the wall.

"Oof!"

Cerith moans in agony as he attempts to get up.

Lifting myself up.

Slowly I revert from my beast form.

"I won't let you get your satisfaction."

Cerith said as he tried to gather energy.

I groan while my body slowly turns back to normal.

"You won't be strong enough to kill Nathan. You can't do it, you won't be able too.You're hanging by a thread Nathan, that's where she has you."

Cerith said as he continued to moan.

"I'm not alone."

I said.

Feeling energy whizz past my head I turn around quickly.

Seeing nothing, Cerith gasps for air.

While he holds his throat, blood paints the carpet underneath him.