Chapter 20

Later that day, Damian approached Theanna quietly, watching as she once again met with another group of spies. Several of the group noticed as he approached with scowls. He was used to that. Many in Theanna's court were far from happy that she included him in all matters. He knew that they worried that he exercised too much influence over her. Maybe he did, who could tell really, to be honest. After all, she was his mate.

One of the lessons that they'd learned the hard way was that if you kept secrets from each other it only led to heartache. When they mated they'd sworn oaths to be each other's partner in all things. So, while she worried about the Dark Realms and their allies, he worried about her.

He viewed it as his responsibility to support her wherever she needed it, to make sure those in the shadows that wished for her demise were dealt with before she ever had to be concerned about them. He made sure to tell her all that he did so that she couldn't be taken by surprise by those that wished to sow discord between them.

He wasn't happy about the Ash of Death spells. The spells had to be done one after another with no break in- between. The final spell, the one that created the Ash poison had to be completed by Thea herself and was said to invoke a painfully heavy toll. His only hope was that Chaos would receive his message and help in her healing after.

With a deep sigh, one filled with worry, he watched as the spies left. “My Zoqa, I've heard from Grant. Our request has been approved by the Lords.”

“Excellent! I want to get it over with so that I have as much time to recover as possible,” Thea smiled as she noted the worried look in his eyes.

“I knew you felt that way so I made arrangements for Hezin to bring Grant to Galena's room.”

“Dnirya... don't hide your fears from me. You worry,” Thea stated as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

“I do. You're my priority, you know this. I can't lose you, Zoqa,” Damian murmured against her hair as he held her close. “You're my heart and soul.”

“As you're mine. I don't think Chaos would have pointed us in this direction if it would mean my demise. Will I need to recover? Of course. Will I be injured? Possibly. Is it worth it? Of course it is. The alternative is the end of everything.”

“I know all you say is true, but...”

“But you love me and worry. Dnirya, I wouldn't have the strength to do this if you weren't going to be there, if it weren't for your love and the confidence it gives me,” she said as she felt him fully wrap himself around her.

“Let's get this over with,” he murmured as he took them to Galena's room. Breaking apart but not letting go of her completely he said to Galena, “You're to wait for us to call you. Don’t interrupt, no matter what.”

“Of course,” she nodded as Hezin appeared with Grant.

“My Queen, I'll be close, should you need me.”

“Thank you, Hezin,” Theanna replied as she watched them leave. Turning to Grant, she asked, “Are you ready for this?”

“Not really. The Lords gave me every warning you can imagine. I think this spell and the poison it creates even makes them nervous. I'll be the one performing the extraction spells but you'll have to do the final Ash Spell alone. It'll kill me should I do it.”

“Oh goodness. No, we definitely don't want that. You’re destined for too much.” Turning back to Damian she kissed him deeply before saying to him in Daemoni, “I love you. You are my everything.”

Damian claimed her lips again before touching their foreheads together. “I’m here, my beautiful Queen.”

With a steadying breath she pulled away from him as she moved to the center of the room. With a wave of her hand her outfit changed from leather to a simple gauzy dress.

“We’ll start with the weakest of your powers, the Illuminare, then move on to Celestian and finally Daemoni. Each essence and power will combine into a magical bowl. Once all three bowls are filled, you’ll say these words to the Ash Spell,” Grant instructed as he handed her a piece of parchment before setting a simple wooden box on the floor.

“This will hold the Ash once it has formed. The Lords have each blessed it so that it’ll hold the poison in a safe manner until magical vials that are strong enough to contain it can be created. The Lords have asked me to give you a message. They thank you for Tiamat and look forward to an alliance unlike any other. They wish you nothing but success.”

Theanna nodded solemnly. “I'm glad to have their blessing in this. That strengthens my resolve.” Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and quieted her mind, pulling deep within herself.

Grant started to write a series of magical symbols in light that floated in a circle around Thea. Once they were completed he commanded loudly:

*WINDS OF THE NORTH!*
*RUSHING AND MIGHTY!*
*AIDE ME IN MY MAGICKAL WORK!*

*WINDS OF THE EAST!*
*DAZZLING AND BRIGHT!*
*AIDE ME IN MY MAGICKAL WORK!*

*WINDS OF THE SOUTH!*
*FIERY AND RADIANT!*
*AIDE ME IN MY MAGICKAL WORK!*

*WINDS OF THE WEST!*
*GENTLE AND BUOYANT!*
*AIDE ME IN MY MAGICKAL WORK!*

*I call upon the powers of the Illuminare that reside in thee. I conjure and constrain thou to heed my command. I invoke thou who are continually nourished here and who reside in our Queen. I command you to heed my words. Upon the winds be released to do our bidding.*

As Damian watched, his eyes transfixed onto his mate, large Illuminare feathered wings the color of darkest purple appeared. As suddenly as they appeared her back arched and out of the center of her being came forth a bright white phoenix that flew up to the top of the room before immediately flying straight down towards the ground, only to vanish into a wooden bowl, filling it up with a glowing white potion. One complete, two more to extract.

Once again Grant commanded loudly:

*I call upon the powers of the gods of old, upon those of Celestia that reside in thee. I call upon Chaos himself to heed my words. Release thou powers unto us so that I may invoke thou who are continually nourished here and who reside in our Queen. I command you to heed my words. Upon the endless powers of old be released to do our bidding.*

Damian could swear that as he watched he saw Chaos himself appear and lay a gentle kiss upon Thea's forehead before vanishing. In his place, a swirling green mist appeared to come forth from Thea before filling a second wooden bowl with a glowing green potion. Only one more power to extract.

Grant's voice filled the air as he commanded:

*I call upon the powers of the Daemoni that reside in thee. I conjure and constrain thou to heed my command. I invoke thou who are continually nourished here and who reside in your Queen. I command you to heed my words on her behest. Upon the forces of the great dragon be released to do our bidding.*

Damian gasped as he felt an incredible power move through him. It was nothing like he’d felt before. It was ancient, older than time itself. Suddenly, Thea screamed as her body bent nearly in half and lifted into the air as a large red dragon emerged and roared before it shifted back to mist and poured into a third and final wooden bowl, leaving behind a glowing red potion.

Grant stepped back to join Damian as he watched as Thea slammed onto the ground. After a long moment she slowly got up. As her eyes opened, they glowed bright white and her voice filled with power as she commanded:

*The powers of the Illuminare, of the old gods of Celestia, of the Daemoni, hear my words as High Queen. Hear my command and do my bidding. I bind you together with the unbreakable bond of time itself. I command you by the power of those who have died before their time, I invoke you by the unconquerable powers. Hear my words and do my bidding. I bind you together with the unbreakable bond of life and death. Rise up and join together to do my bidding as your High Queen, the embodiment of all the realms.*

Damian watched horrified as Theanna's gauzy dress burned away as the flames of the dragon itself licked at her skin and took from her the price it demanded to obey her words. Over and over Theanna repeated the spell until she screamed as the flames engulfed her completely.

With a force unknown to normal humans, Grant held him back while hissing in his ear, “She's alive. Don't interfere now. It’ll mean death for us all.”

Damian could feel everything from Theanna. He felt her resolve, her love, even her hope. Mostly, though, he felt her pain. The pain of the toll that the spell exacted from her, a pain unlike any other they’d experienced.

Damian and Grant continued to watch as the potions merged and the wooden box opened just as poison filled it, after which the box slammed closed with a resounding click. With a magical wind, the flames were blown out and what remained of Theanna was curled up into a fetal position on the ground.