Chapter 13

{I hope you realise this isn't exactly a dream.} 

Nyota took a step forward, six balls of red energy forming behind him. There was something sinister about those orbs and Howard could feel it. 

Without warning the six balls flew to their intended targets. 

Lynx decided to die with her eyes open defiantly just as she heard Howard die. 

A wall of silver light covered her and she watched the red orb be impaled by a silver light. 

She looked back and saw the same effect. Even Juma had stopped bleeding as a silver orb floated above him. 

She turned her head and tears ran down her face as she recognized Howard standing in front of her the red orbs all at his feet impaled by a silver light that emanated from his bracelet. 

He held out his hand to Lynx and she took it. 

"Who are you?" Nyota asked Howard. "I have no record of your existence and yet you have powers equivalent to a demigod."

Howard realized that Crow's power was still in effect, which meant that this was Crow's domain and not Nyota's. 

{Took you long enough. I thought the flying would have alerted you earlier.} 

"I am nobody that you need to concern yourself with. However I shall be grabbing my people," Howard told him. "Winjoy put up the strongest barrier in your skillset, I'll imbue it with my power."

Nyota made a motion with his hand meaning to resist but Howard's bracelet sent out an ethereal rose vine that wrapped itself around his hands. Black roses sprung forth and bloomed as he tried to tap into his powers. 

"I may have forgotten to mention my little toy loves equalising input and output. The more power you try to use the more roses it shall bloom." Howard told him. 

Nyota eyed him strangely, "Something about you seems very familiar."

Howard nodded at Winjoy who raised up both her hands and Nyota was hit with an invisible wall trapping him inside it. He also felt his powers draining the more he resisted. 

Howard then turned to Lynx and smiled at her. He put a finger on her lips motioning for her not to talk. She nodded slightly and he turned his attention to the rest. 

[This may or may not be a dream, however, I don't plan on losing any of you here or now. I think I have enough juice to transport you all back to wherever back is.]

They all nodded their consent and he started with Juma. Violette and Nike were next. They gave him a two-finger salute and disappeared. Frank followed and finally, it was Lynx, Winjoy and Howard who left. 

Nyota made one more attempt to attack and he was successful. A small red orb headed for Winjoy but Howard jumped in the way and swatted it aside with his left hand. 

He looked at Nyota and shook his head sadly.

"Just for the record, you may have the powers of a demigod, but I have the powers of a god," Howard said as a parting shot. Nyota watched powerlessly as Howard disappeared along with his team and Lynx. 

The God-detaining barrier lowered as Winjoy and Howard's presence vanished from the room. Once he was free Nyota cursed once again having his prey taken right out of his mouth. 

He powered up and disappeared leaving behind unquenchable flames. 

The following day, the news would spread around the world of the famous museum that burned to the ground overnight. 

The last dream that Howard had, was an intimate one with Lynx. The dream had shifted and the two had landed on a cliffside. 

The sun was rising over the horizon. The two were sitting at the edge of the cliff, Lynx buried snuggly in Howard's arms. They didn't talk but the way they embraced communicated all they needed to say. 

An eagle cried overhead as it flew past them. A black crow followed it harassing it, pecking on its neck. A flash of lightning streaked across the sky heading for the crow. 

An owl swooshed silently and plucked the crow away from the bolt and released it. The crow flapped its wings and stared at the predator that had saved it. The owl gave a hoot and silently flapped its wings, flying away. 

The two humans had watched the whole thing but Howard was worried. He knew that crow very well, too well in fact. 

He turned as he felt Lynx stand up. She kissed him on the lips pulling him up. 

"We should get going," she said pulling him towards her. He stumbled forward and made them tip over the edge.

She embraced him tightly as the wind picked up speed as they descended. He held her tightly and whispered, "I'll find you Mine."

"Please do," she murmured and then pushed him away. The owl appeared and grabbed her hands effortlessly flying away with her. 

{I hope you aren't expecting me to do that.}

Howard chuckled, "With your ego sorry I'm not holding my breath. Besides, if this is a dream then I can do this."

Howard stretched out his hands and watched as feathers sprouted all over his arms and then the body. He felt his body grow smaller, darker and lighter. His mouth hardened and elongated to form a beak. 

His legs and toes fused to form a pair of claws. He flapped his wings and felt the wind catch them. 

He let out a whoop of delight and flapped faster and harder. He headed for the sunrise full of joy