Chapter 43

The birds whistled melodiously at the beautiful morning of Kansas City. Wedding bells rang as invited guests flocked to the town's chapel. Excited chatter was heard as they sat down to witness the marriage between Steve and Asher.

Steve was already in place - before the priest and in front of his groomsmen. He took out a white handkerchief and tapped on his forehead before glancing at the crucifix clock on the white wall. The colorful windows of Jesus added color to the ancient chapel.

The sound of the pianist playing 'Here comes the bride' brought the guests to their feet. Steve joined them in looking at the two little girls dressed in white sparkly dresses. They smiled brightly with their rosy cheeks as they spread flower petals on the carpet, spreading white rose petals on the red carpet.

Steve held his breath at the sight of Asher in her sleeveless puffy wedding dress. He smiled at her pulling it up her breasts. They had grown bigger due to her pregnancy. Had it not being for the bouquet, people would have been able to see her baby bump. Asher took her father's hand and together, they walked down the aisle.

Asher smiled through her veil that run down to the carpet gracing it as she walked to Steve. Steve couldn't wipe the smile off his face. He felt a tear coming and he sucked it in.

I promised myself that I wouldn't cry. He reminded himself and took a deep breath with a smile sealing it.

When Asher was finally at the altar, the priest gestured to everyone to sit down. Steve and Asher gazed into each other's eyes and merrily smiled at each other. It was so clear to everyone that they were madly in love with each other. Asher's mother sniffed and wiped her tears of joy. She received a hand squeeze from her husband and together, they proudly looked on.

"We are gathered here to witness the marriage between Steve Rodolf and Asher Smith. The couple prepared their own vows. You may begin reading your vows." The priest said.

Steve cleared his throat and Asher chuckled. "Asher Smith, meeting you has been the best thing that has ever happened in my life. You are the reason I wake up happy and grateful every morning. You are the sunlight of my life, the hope that is ever green and love that is ever warm. I love you and I will forever love you. I promise you that I will strive to be the husband that you deserve until death do us part." Steve finished and Asher's eyes watered.

Asher sniffed and smiled at Steve. A tear escaped her eye and she carefully wiped it without smudging her make up. She opened her mouth to say her vows when slow claps were heard echoing through the chapel.

Everyone's attention was turned to Akirexer in a black cloak and a lit cigarette sticking out of her mouth.

She took the cigarette out and threw it on the floor. The moment she stepped on it, the windows on her sides shattered causing panic among the guests. They whimpered but remained in their seats. The priest closed his eyes and mumbled a prayer to himself.

Steve grabbed Asher and held her tight. He looked on baffled at Akirexer, wondering who she was and why she was there.

"I can't tell you how long I have waited for the day I'd come face to face with you Steve." Akirexer's voice widened Steve's eyes.

"Whit-"

"Yes! How disappointing it must be for you to see that I'm still alive."

Akirexer waved her hand and a force slammed Steve into a wall so hard that the giant glass crucifix shattered along with his fall. The shattering pieces screeched in Steve's ears as he groaned. His glasses broke off his face. Coughing for air and partially blind, Steve laid on the floor confused. The guests shrieked in terror at his state and run out screaming - taking Asher's parents along with them.

The priest shakily held up his Bible and began praying loudly. Akirexer paid no attention to him but focused on Steve. She lifted her hand and Steve was forced up in the air. Asher remained helplessly crying on the floor.

Akirexer flipped her hand and Steve crushed onto the roof and fell down hard. Akirexer picked Steve up by his neck. She held him high up and beamed her eyes deeply into his. Akirexer parted her mouth of fangs at the human eyes looking back at her.

She shifted her eyes to his chest and lowered her jaw even more at his beating heart. Akirexer's looked back at Steve in sheer disbelief. She didn't move a muscle when Asher knelt down beside her and held her leg.

"Please don't hurt him." Asher wept in anguish.

"Shut up!" Akirexer screamed at her and she fell back to her bottom, covering her mouth as her tears continued to run down her mascara.

Akirexer released her deathly hold on Steve and he fell down to a coughing mess. Asher crawled to his aid and patted him on his back. Steve faced up at Akirexer and wiped his blood off his nose.

"What is going on? How can you be human?!" Akirexer screamed at him.

"Rose was right. You are alive." Steve dryly said and coughed some more. "I cannot believe this. Whitney you are alive. And you're a darkas god."

"Of course you know about darkas gods, huh Steve. Rose thought that I am a vampire."

"There's a lot about me that you don't know." Steve replied, grunting at his headache.

Akirexer scoffed with an eye roll, "Clearly," she snarled. "How are you even human?"

"I have always been human. What happened to you? We all thought you were dead." Steve explained.

Akirexer shook her head. "Nothing is making any fucking sense. I know it was you who ruined my life. I saw you damn it! You were a vampire. What the hell is going on?"

Steve and Asher watched Akirexer walk back and forth in frustration. Suddenly, a loud roar was heard and Akirexer paused. She looked up at the roof and something came crushing down.

When the dust cleared, a green slimy nine foot tall creature was seen standing in the middle of the chapel. It smiled at Akirexer showing its jaw that resembled that of a shark. Its long, thick and spiky tail smashed a bench.

"Robert, you didn't even bother to invite me to your wedding. I'm deeply hurt but oh well! What haven't you done to further isolate yourself from your family?" It spoke

"Danny? Good god man, what the fuck happened to you?" Steve exclaimed in shock.

"Do you remember what I told you the last time we met?" Danny asked Steve back and took in the shock in his eyes. "Bingo! We are enemies!" Danny whipped a bench off the ground and it smashed to bits on the wall.

"You don't scare me Danny. A piece of shit like you can't scare me." Steve angrily gritted his teeth and Asher desperately tried to calm him down. "I never thought that you would come to church. I was wrong. Revenge on your brother was a good motivation."

"Oh so now you acknowledge me as your brother? Shut the fuck up and stop flattering yourself. The only reason I am here is because of this bitch." Danny pointed at Akirexer. "I have been tracking her down throughout the city." he glared at Akirexer. "I have a bone to pick with you."

"I must say, I like the new upgrade. This means that killing you won't be as boring as it was when I killed your ratchet brothers." Akirexer clenched her fists and her fangs stretched even longer.

"Our delightful family reunion will be continued after I avenge my fallen brothers." Danny said to Steve with so much coldness.

Akirexer stretched her hand and her sword appeared. "Steve, take Asher and get out of here. I will not be able to fight and protect you at the same time."

Steve got up and took Asher by her hand. They both left using the back door. The priest was still praying loudly. Danny threw a bench at him completely knocking him out. He then turned his attention to Akirexer and charged at her roaring. Danny threw a punch and Akirexer blocked it with her sword. The force of the blow ripped apart the chapel with a massive explosion. Steve and Asher, who were safe in their car, were nearly blown away.

****

Dr Spencer approached the Great One's throne and bowed his head in respect. He waited for her to finish applying her black lipstick. As soon as she was done, she turned her attention to him.

"I just came to report that project Reptalia is a success. I have successfully mutated human DNA and created a beast." Dr Spencer proudly announced. "With time, we will have an army of them."

"Excellent Dr. Spencer. I knew you wouldn't fail me." her praise widened his proud smirk. "Where is my pet?"

Dr Spencer dropped his eyebrows at her question and licked his lips. His Adam's apple bubbled down as he swallowed hard. "I don't know. The moron ran out the moment he woke up." he admitted, with a hint of regret and embarrassment in his voice.

A moment of silence followed. Dr Spencer adjusted his necktie and cleared his throat while the Great One just stared at him. He heard her snap her fingers and then he faced up to look at her. The smile on her face and twinkling eyes relieved him of all his worries.

"I have a pretty good idea where it is." The Great One said.

"Where has it gone?" Dr. Spencer asked, confused.

"It has gone to my sister."

****

Steve tried the ignition of the car but it wouldn't start. He kept on turning his key but to no avail. The banging and crushing going on in the crambling chapel rushed his blood. The sound of Asher whimpering beside him and the feel of her hands on him only made him feel worse.

I have to get her out of here.

Steve tried again but the car only buzzed and went back off. "Fuck!" he hit the steering wheel.

****

Akirexer grabbed Danny's tail and threw him out of the ruins. He almost hit Steve's car and crushed landed a few feet away. Danny rolled over and shook his thoughts in order. He growled at the ear screeching sharp sounds of a woman screaming. It was not long before he spotted Asher screaming at him from inside a car.

Danny got up and cracked his neck. He approached the car and Steve's blood turned cold. Danny bended over and roared at Asher's window whilst she screamed back at him. The car tilted over and Steve grabbed Asher. The next thing they saw was the car floating in the air.

Akirexer saw the couple in the car and she raised her hand to stop it in midair. She then safely redirected it to the other side of the street and put it down. This time when Steve tried the ignition, the car roared and he drove away in a heist. People around remained screaming and running away. Others were busy calling 911.

Danny pulled out a street light and swung it at Akirexer. Akirexer cut the pole with her sword like it was plastic. The more Danny attacked her with it, the shorter it became. Danny threw the remaining piece away and tried to kick Akirexer but she blocked it with her elbow and punched him under his jaw.

Danny fell back but caught her kick. He brutally hit her to the ground like she weighed nothing. Danny got in top of her and rained down hard punches at Akirexer.

She blocked her head with her hands. Akirexer got a handful of sand and threw it into Danny's eyes. Danny roared in irritation and she punched him hard under his jaw again. The punch sent him flying up and Akirexer lunged after him. Whilst in the air, she kicked him into the middle of a traffic jam where he crush landed. People abandoned their cars and ran away screaming.

Akirexer landed away from Danny but he pounced on her with his hand on her neck. In the blink of an eye Akirexer was choke slammed into the ground. Danny tightened his scaly hold on her neck.

"This time around, I'm going to make sure that you're dead!" he exploded in fury, spraying Akirexer with saliva that burned like acid.

Akirexer looked at a car with the corner of her eye and held her hand out. It went flying at Danny and hit him off her. Akirexer coughed up for air but maintained her focus. She brought herself to her knees and raised empty cars behind her. She then sent them flying at Danny. Danny punched them all away.

"You know what? You should have been in the house too when we started that fire. Then I wasn't going to have to see your face."

His words brought forth a scowl and a clenched fist. Akirexer lunged at Danny shouting and forced her sword down on his hand. Danny backed away groaning in pain.

"You are going to pay for what you did to my sister."

Akirexer went for Danny again. He blocked his face with his hand only for it to get chopped off. To Akirexer's surprise, a new hand shot out of the wound. Danny then used it to slap Akirexer into a building.

"You can't kill me bitch. I'll just regenerate."

At that point the SWAT team arrived. They opened fire at Danny only making him angrier. Danny tore them limb from limb. Akirexer held her aching head as she got up. She brushed off pieces of glass in her hair. When she noticed that Danny was distracted, she threw her sword at him and it went through his back. Akirexer ran after him and wrapped her legs around his neck.

"This ends now!" She squeezed harder until she heard the neck break.

Danny's eyes rolled backwards and he fell to the ground face down. The police and SWAT watched everything in shock. Akirexer was breathing hard as she watched the neck regenerate it's bones. She kicked Danny to his side and stabbed him repeatedly in his heart. She was covered in blood from head to toe as she plunged every single stab.

Not been able to take much more of the gore, the SWAT team and police opened fire at Akirexer. She lunged to a rooftop and came face to face with a helicopter. It immediately fired at her and she lunged at it. She punched the windscreen and pulled out the pilot. Akirexer threw him to a rooftop and the helicopter landed with an explosion on the other side.

Akirexer watched the police men call for reinforcements. She didn't want to hurt anyone. She was about to open a portal out of there when she saw Nadia, Ezio and Dr Spencer approaching her on a cloud.

Akirexer gritted her teeth at Nadia. "Not her again."

When her eyes caught sight of the Great One, she dropped down to her knees in shock. Her tears trickled down her eyes. She smiled happily at her with her hands spread apart. The joy in her heart was unexplainable. The cops yelling after her no longer mattered. She didn't even budge at the more helicopters approaching.

Ezio, on the other hand, formed wrinkles on his forehead as the noise pollution. He snapped his fingers and everything froze in time. Bullets and frightened pigeons were seen floating still in the air. The police and everyone around were stuck in the positions they were in. None of them even blinked.

Akirexer couldn't take her eyes off her beloved sister. She got to the edge of the rooftop and reached out as the cloud drew closer. All she saw was the one she thought she lost. To her, at that point, everyone and everything else did not exist.

"Britney, is that really you?" her joyous words broke the eerie silence.

The Great One formed a circle around the medallion with her fingers. "I wish it was." she said with a murderous gaze so cold as ice.

A red ray was shot out of the medallion and it went straight for Akirexer. A thunderous explosion followed next and it wiped out nearly half the city. The Great One remained laughing hysterically as she gazed at the smoke and fire. There was completely no sign of Akirexer in the smoke. All life was lost.