Ivan does not feel fear and steps off of the property of Clay’s aunt Bernadette to face off with Desperation who is more dangerous than he has ever been.
Ivan is not a fighter, he never has been, and since he met Clay, he hasn’t had to fight because the man that loves him has always been there to stand for him. But Desperation had hurt Clay and he can’t regain himself fast enough.
Ivan can’t be concerned about his own safety, though if Desperation is strong enough to hurt Clay as bad as he has, then Ivan doesn’t seem to stand a chance.
But he loves Clay with all of himself. Ivan realizes in the moment that he can’t feel real fear at the threat of Desperation because the love that he shared with Clay would not allow him to be hurt. His love was always with him.
As he passes the boundary, the blue energy of Mog, of Anes, comes back to Ivan and his green flame roars around him. There is a deafening sound that startles Desperation.
Desperation smiles with wonder as Ivan levitates before him. And then Desperation does the same, a fire of his own blazing around him.
“You sure you want this?” Desperation asks but Ivan does not let him finish completely and he flies at him.
Ivan flies with a hard fist of fire and it meets the scarred cheek of Desperation, knocking him quickly to the ground. He smacks it hard and dust flies up; when it clears, Desperation is standing with a smirk and he thrusts both of his hands toward Ivan. A stream of energy explodes from his hands and slams against Ivan, and the force initially moves him back, before he yells and takes the brunt of the force at his chest. Desperation’s energy barreles into Ivan and he notices that the flames around the man are expanding. And suddenly Ivan dives at Desperation and strikes him with both fists.
Desperation recovers as fast as it happens and grabs Ivan’s wrists with both hands. He swings Ivan around and launches him toward the home of Bernadette. He tumbles into the yard for the second time.
Bernadette and Brittany stand on the front porch and they watch Desperation far off. Ivan has powered down completely and he seems to be hurt.
“You disappear for years,” Bernadette says, obviously angry as she descends the stairs, “and show up out if nowhere possessed by my worst nightmare.” The woman stands facing Desperation outside the border around her home. She slaps her hands together and rubs her hands quickly, and her body slowly grows until she is the size of the house. She runs full speed at Desperation…
…On the veil, Koyu and Anes are arguing and they stand amazed by the violet energies reminiscent of a bear with the head of a rhinoceros that charge in tandem with the enlarged Bernadette away from her house and toward Desperation. “This was doomed,” Koyu complained loudly, “of course they have back up. You don’t give them enough credit, or you overestimate our ability. I’m leaving before the rhino sees me.” Koyu flies off into the green of the night on the veil and Anes rushes to catch up, annoyed that he is right and wanting to fight him…
…she runs full speed at Desperation who braces himself at the edge of Bernadette’s border, and she kicks him, punts Desperation like a football, sending the man flying like a ragdoll through the air and into the darkening night.
Ivan struggles to his feet and he watches in awe as Bernadette returns to her normal size.
“I don’t know what you is,” she says and pushes her chest into his, looking up into his face, “but if you gonna be with my nephew, y’all gotta cut this magic shit out! And I mean that. Y’all been lucky enough so far, but if it killed my daddy, it will kill you.”
Ivan is embarrassed but admits, “We don’t exactly know what’s been happening to us. My grandfather is a shaman, but he says I’m something different, he doesn’t know either.”
“Kids!” Bernadette says angrily. “You and Clay pick a room on the second floor. I’ll heal him up as best I can or we take him to the hospital. Go on, get him up!”
Ivan and Brittany take Clay into the first room just off the stairwell and they lay him on the bed. His face is unrecognizable and Ivan worries that he didn’t get Clay medical assistance sooner.
Ivan touches his face and Clay winces. Ivan cries, sad to have hurt him but happy that he is alive.
“I’m here,” Ivan says. “I’m here and I love you.”
Clay smiles a tortured smile and then he sleeps. Ivan curls up next to him.
PRL Serials 