100 Theme Challenge #87

Sequel #23, #25, #85 and #86.

87. Hope

Thomas congratulated Arnaud on his fine building choice, claiming that it was perfect. For the first time since they met, the trainee saw him wink at him before he took off to measure the best place to set up the cage. Dorian and Steve helped to remove the bags out of the truck, before they wondered how they'd do the same for the metal huge thing.

"Oh, why didn't I think of this earlier." Dorian rolled his eyes. "Let me do this."

The other two carefully stepped back while he concentrated. He slowly breathed in, extending his arms, and slowly, the cage moved forwards. It screeched loudly, as it was pulled by invisible strands, making them all wince. Once it was free from the vehicle, it floated.

"You can put it down over here, and we'll attach the cords," Thomas indicated, and Dorian convicted the metal frame to go there.

He carefully set it on the concrete floor and brushed some sweat off his forehead. "Take your time doing that, it's been a while since I've did any telekinesis, I lost the habit and forgot how much energy it's taking me."

"Take a break, two is enough to do this," Arnaud said, and Steve and him set themselves to work. They inserted the cables into the loops onto the cage, and Arnaud climbed to the half destroyed second floor of the warehouse and walked on the remaining beams to attach harnesses on them. If these things survived a fire and could support a whole building, they'd support a cage. It didn't have a bottom, so the plan, according to Dorian, was to use the witch as a bait to the gargoyle to lure him and trap him, then they'd use fire on it to destroy it. Steve wasn't the most comfortable with that plan, but he knew Dorian, and he knew he had many tricks up his sleeve, not to talk about Thomas whose expertise proved itself useful so far.

"It's settled," Arnaud called from above, and Dorian nodded. He got back on his feet.

"Are you ready, Steve?" At his sign, he focused again and made the cage float; higher and higher, until Steve could securely attach the cables to the floor.

"The cage's ready," Arnaud informed Thomas when he appeared beside him.

"Excellent. Like many said before, the best defensive is an offensive."

"Did you ready the guns?" Arnaud turned to him.

"Indeed I have. You and Steve will be the ones handling them, while I stay on my guard." They returned down.

"How will you lure him, by the way?"

Dorian looked grim as he replied. "I'll use my blood. It's not something I like to do, but it's the most efficient way. It's the only invitation it'll need."

"Hopefully that'll work…"

Arnaud crouched and grabbed the handle of one of the weapons they brought. He lifted it, attached the pack to his back. "At least I'll be able to tell people I handled a flamethrower at least once in my life."

Thomas chuckled and retrieved a sheathed blade from the bag. Steve took his gun with a slight hesitation, not sure how to handle it.

"It's quite simple. Put the tank on your back, you light up the flame, and then press the trigger. Quite simple, but be careful at pointing this thing elsewhere than on us, please. Have you never handled a gun before?"

"No, why would I?" Steve frowned.

"I thought every American possessed a gun… Nevermind."

"Don't anger people while they hold a flamethrower, Arnaud," Thomas said.

"Hey, I've got one too," he reminded him.

"Whatever, let's start this, people," Dorian sighed at their childish behavior, and they promptly went to their preparation. Dorian retrieved a small Swiss knife and made sure he was right under the cage. He sighed deeply, threw a glance at Steve who made a small smile at him. It seemed to be all the assurance he needed, for he swiftly cut the palm of his head in a quick movement. He began to chant under his breath in Latin.

Thomas tightened his grip on his trusted sword and the small remote control in his other hand. An inhuman scream made the building vibrate, and they all looked up through a destroyed window. Wings flapping was heard before the creature's ugly head showed itself.

"Fast delivery," Arnaud mumbled to himself, and then winced when it screamed again. It launched itself in the center of the room, where Dorian stood still and faced it with a fierce look in his eyes. That beast had been after him for half of a year, it was time to send it back to the Underworld where it belonged. He deftly took the hairspray from a pocket of his cargo pants and started a fire in his unblemished hand. Shooting fire right in the beast's face was his pleasure, distracting it of its target momentarily.

Thomas pressed the button on the remote control, making the cords drop the cage, but the gargoyle was coming at Dorian too fast, and its claws dug into his chest before he successfully teleported away. The push made him fly a few meters away when he appeared back as the cage closed on top of the creature.

"Now!" Arnaud yelled and started the firethrower. Beside him, Steve did the same, and the fire licked at the beast, completely emerging it. Dorian didn't have the force anymore to help them, he didn't even have the force to get up. Thomas came to help him, and together, they watched their partner destroy the beast. Its screams had stopped, and it was becoming a smaller dark mess by the second. Ice was nothing when confronted by fire.

"They're doing pretty good," Dorian panted, and Thomas smirked.

"Excellent teachers make even better students."

At last, their firethrowers gave up, and the center of the cage only held gooey remains, which didn't look tasteful. The burnt flesh smell wasn't helping their appetite either.

"We did it!" Steve grinned. The weapon hanging at his side, he joined Dorian and, taking his face between his sooty hands, placed a soundly kiss on his lips.

(What is 100TC?)

Sorry, couldn't make much of an epilogue, but a kiss always set it, right? And this story is finally over, with 2k more words than I first intended it to be. Tomorrow will be Part 14 of Teardrops Burn. ;)