Page 63 of The Final Battle

“God damn it woman, you’re lucky I love you bossing me around like that in the middle of battle!“ Dayson hollered over his shoulder as he grabbed me and tucked me under one arm before charging ahead.

Abbott appeared, fending off those who noticed what we were trying to do.

“STOP THEM!“ Someone bellowed.

Arrows zinged through the air, but more dragons darted in and out of the fray, tossing the archers into trees or stomping on them, crushing them to death. Everything was utter chaos, nothing made sense and no matter where you looked people fought tooth and nail.

“Cassy-Bear, can you sprout those wings of yours when you need to?“ Dayson asked.

I didn’t understand why he was asking but I answered all the same. “Yes, yes I can.“

“Fuck, they’re going to be so pissed at me for doing this,“ Dayson muttered. “Hold on, you’re going to be faster without us holding you back.“

The next thing I knew, Dayson was spinning in a circle before launching me into the air. I let out a short scream before clenching my jaw shut so I didn’t draw attention. My wings burst forth, carrying me higher above the fray. All of the Lost King’s army was doing everything they could to keep the entrance blocked with their massive numbers, but they were going to need more than that to stop me.

Darting forward, I created a shield that I held out front as I hit the wave of people, tossing them to the wayside as I used my wings to propel me forward. I could tell I was getting close as the magic kept trying to repel me, like it knew if I made it inside everything would come to an end. Sweat poured down my face as I used everything I had to keep pushing forward.

Then I was through.

It was as if the bubble burst and I landed inside with a thud. Scrambling to my feet, I wiped my face off with my sleeve, giving my eyes a moment to adjust. The platform where a body would be placed in its coffin was empty but the ground under it was dug up with a ladder peeking out. Carefully, I ventured forward and peered down the hole. An eerie glow emanated from within and I knew it was the object I was looking for. The shaft was too narrow for me to use my wings, meaning I had to climb down like anyone else would.

As silently as I could, I made my way until I was about half way and could see the bottom. Letting my feet rest on the outside of the ladder, I dropped, just before I would hit the ground I twisted and rolled, setting me in the perfect motion to pop up to my feet. Bow in hand I crouched, taking in what was around me. Under this mausoleum was a tunnel that fed into the tunnels of the church above. It would seem at one point there was someone who practiced dark magic in this place. An altar sat in the middle of this open room with a metal box etched with symbols I didn’t recognize resting on top of it. That is what I’d come for, the heart of a dragon tainted by dark magic, rotting with evil.

“So, you managed to break the curse’s hold on you,“ Henry said as he slowly clapped his hands entering the altar room. “Foolish girl, did you really think coming in here was the smart thing to do? The power is stronger the closer you are to it, now it will rip everything it can from you leaving a husk for your loved ones to find.“

I watched him for a moment, wondering how those women thought he was handsome. The dark magic he was using was taking from him as much as he thought he was getting. His skin clung to his bones, his eyes still that same blue color as his father stood out hauntingly. They were bloodshot and wild with madness, whatever part of him that had been human was gone.

“Look how lost you are,“ I said, shaking my head. “How can you not see that this curse is doing the same thing to you, it’s killing you, stripping you of every ounce of humanity.“

“Who needs humanity? Hmm? What good has it done us? Humanity is what threw me away, left me to live a lie! I was to be a king but he tossed me out like the trash he thought I was,“ Henry raged, spit flying from his mouth as he snarled his words. “No, I will be a god. Once my humanity had been obliterated I. Will. Be. A. God! Nothing will stop me, not even you!“

Power collected in his hand, the same sickly green color I’d seen around him in my nightmare. When it grew large enough, he hurled it at me. I lifted my hand palm facing forward and stopped it in its tracks. Enraged, Henry hurled bolt after bolt of power at me, only to be deflected.

“You are not more powerful than me! I gave up everything!“ He screeched.

Using my own power, I sent out a rope of it, twining it around his body keeping him restrained. He tried to fight it, but I knew my magic would hold. Pulling my attention from him, I approached the box as it pulsed with power. Tendrils of wild magic seeped out of it trying to siphon off my own magic, but I waved them aside.

“There is nothing you can do, if you touch it then the curse will shift to you. It will take your dragon’s life and grant you the same thing it gave me. This is what you wanted all along, isn’t it. The power of eternal life, serving the dark magic as its slave so you can keep the magic all for yourself!“ Henry seethed as he started to claw at himself to get free.

Blocking him and his words out of my mind, I looked at the box. Something in me told me what needed to be done. I reached out to my bond with Vasin, pulling him so that he was with me, bolstering me as I sliced my hand, letting my life’s blood flow over the box. It started to shiver and shake, the magic inside it going crazy as it drank up my offering.

“It’s alright Cass, I’m right here.“

Taking a deep breath I closed my eyes, reaching out to the connection with my consorts, then adding in Becka and May. The power that surged through my body almost made me buckle but I stood strong. Then I felt two new bonds reaching out to me, sharing their essence with me. Tears pooled in my eyes as I knew it was from the life growing inside me. With the addition of their offering, I knew I had what I needed.

“I love you all,“ I whispered as I slammed my hand to the box.

The evil crashed into me, clawing at the power I’d collected, desperate for it to fill the void it felt. So, I did exactly that, everything that I was, everything that I am, and everything that I will be. I surrendered it all. Flashes of every happy moment in my life flit by as it was forced into this creature’s need.

At one point, whoever created this did so from their own pain and suffering. The need, like Henry, to have the power to make those who hurt them pay. When that wasn’t enough, it needed to find others like them, forcing them to do what it couldn’t. That’s where I was different, I’d healed my wounds with the love I received from others. Instead of needing revenge, I chose to be better than them. My children will have a mother who loves them endlessly and will tell them that each and every day. The people in my life will share my burdens as we walk through life together. Revenge is fleeting but rising above to change a generation or even maybe a nation, was far more satisfying.

As the fates said, I was chosen because I was nothing like the others…

Pure blue light exploded, filling the room casting all shadows from the corners, exposing everything to the light. The darkness couldn’t hide anymore, the light had driven it out, cleansing the space from the pain and agony that had been festering for so long. The box under my hand started to glow red and then melted, coating the altar in a sheen of polished silver so brilliant you could see yourself in it.

The blue light started to fade but wisps of it danced around the space as if the spirit that had been trapped was now free and happy for the first time. When I turned to Henry he’d vanished, nothing but soot on the ground gave any sign that he’d ever been there. The angry soul had taken far too much from him to survive its final death.

My hands dropped to the altar and tears fell rolling off my cheeks to splatter below. My heart ached for those who’d lost themselves to this curse, the belief that the only way they could heal was to harm others. I prayed the fates saw fit to release them from that bondage, to finally find peace and learn there was another way. I crumpled to the ground, my legs no longer able to hold me up. As I wiped the tears from my face, I spotted a flickering image that I thought I recognized.