Chapter 108: Aftermath

The battle surged on through the afternoon until the last of the enemies fell. I stood, breathing hard. My swords held in my hands, looking for the next attacker. Blood soaked the pavement and the grass around the bar. I was soaked in it. Everyone around me was soaked in it. Bodies covered every inch of what used to be the parking lot. I realized we had won. My wings flickered out. The light of the swords died as they shrank to their dagger forms. I slipped them up my arms with a whisper where they nestled as tattoos on my forearms.
I looked around at the Ardor Brothers. They look exhausted, but worried glances looked at me. I had frightened them, just as I had Liam. I hung my head. I had probably made the wrong call. I started towards the road.
"Beloved?" A brother called. I turned to see Jamie holding his side with dark blood oozing out of it. "Where are you going?"
"I... I don't know."
"You can't kill their leader today. You need to recharge," another brother said.
A strong arm held my shoulder from behind me. I looked up to find Liam standing there in the afternoon sun. His face was covered with cuts. "We need you. You can't disappear on us now."
I nodded. He steered me back inside and down the stairs. The bar looked like a hospital. Brothers were laid out on the table with bandages and blood. Cherry and others ran around, tending to people's wounds.
I went straight to Jamie where he had just sat. I held out my hand and pushed magic into to mend the slash on his side. His dark eyes looked at me with gratefulness and a little fear. "Thank you, Beloved. I don't know how we would have gotten through this day."
I frowned. It probably wouldn't have even happened if I wasn't around. I wasn't going to say that, though. That would feel like they had fought for nothing. I just kissed him on the forehead and moved on.
I worked my way through the serious wounds as fast as I could. I pulled energy from healthier people nearbyand after two hours, everyone was exhausted but alive.
"Has anyone seen Kezia or Amy? Are they okay?" I asked.
"Let me go check for you," one man said. I think it was Enid, but he was moving too fast for me to see clearly.
I sat heavily in a booth on the main floor. In a blur, Enid was back at my side.
"They are just fine, Beloved. Safe and sound."
"Thanks."
I held my hand out and he took it. I pulled some energy from him. He sighed with pleasure. I could feel his fast-paced energy vibrating inside of me, but my body was too tired to do anything with it.
"Do you know where Liam went?" I asked him.
Enid pointed to the bar where the tall orc was looking angry while talking to Cole. I pulled myself up and closed the distance.
"That is unacceptable," Liam said.
Cole's eyes moved past him and settled on me. Liam turned to look at me. His face was angry but softened with worry when he saw me. I looked up into his eyes. He still had an air of terror in his eyes when he looked at me.
I gave him a tight smile. "We're all tired. I am sure that whatever you are fighting about can be handled later."
Liam's expression soured.
"Liam is only concerned about you," Cole said.
Liam spun on him. "You shouldn't have let her do that. She could have died."
Cole smiled. "Talk to her about it. I didn't have much of a choice in the matter. I'm sure you understand that." He walked off.
"Cole. Cole!" Liam growled.
"Yes, you should talk to me about that. I wouldn't have listened even if Cole had the chance to try and stop me. I wouldn't have listened even if you tried to stop me."
Liam spun on me. "You could have died."
"We all could have died."
"They have more powers than us."
"I have more power than them."
"They could have won."
"They didn't. We did. They're dead."
"They-," Liam started.
I held up my hand. "You're tired. We can't change what happened or the choices I made. We're alive. Let's be thankful for that. If we're going to worry about anything, we need to think about what Mila is going to do next."
"Mila? You said she was dead."
I dropped my eyes. "The darkness is wearing her like a suit. I think she's in charge of The Grange, and she wants me." My outer shell was beginning to break. I had been so strong up to this point, but the exhaustion was getting to me. The thought of my dead friend had just sent me over the edge.
I think Liam read something in my expression. He grabbed my shoulders and steered me up the stairs away from the rest of the brotherhood.
"You need to be strong in front of them, especially now," he growled in my ear as we climbed the stairs.
I could feel tears trickling down my cheeks. I wiped at them with my bloodied sleeve of the leather jacket. It came away even dirtier. "I know. I'm sorry. I'm trying to get a grip."
He walked me all the way to my bedroom door. "Get cleaned up. I'll come back for you."
I nodded and closed the door behind me. I felt like collapsing on my bed, but I needed to keep pushing. I stripped off my clothes and showered. The hot water ran red for a long time. The same words came to my lips that always did when I was at my breaking point.
"Remi, Remi, Remi..."
The dark shadows coalesced in front of me. The figure solidified in front of me. I couldn't believe it. It was really him. I just stared at him.
"It's been a long time," his smoky voice echoed in the shower.
I choked on words. I stumbled forward and wrapped my arms around him. I buried my face into his leather jacket next to his neck. He smelled the same campfire smoke smell he always had. His arms tightened around me. I realized I was naked and wet, but I pushed that aside. I didn't care right now. He was here. He was really here.
I finally found words, but they came out small and weak. "What am I doing?"
He chuckled. "That's a good question. You just took on the army lead by the darkness and won. I'd say, whatever you're doing, you're doing a pretty good job."
I pushed back away from him. "Wait, but the darkness holds your contract. How are you here right now?"
"You summoned me."
"It hasn't worked before."
"The darkness is a little distracted right now." He leaned forward and whispered in my ear, "I took my chances."
"How do I buy your contract? How do I get you away from her?"
He shook his head. "I don't think you can. She likes to torment you way too much. I think you'll have to kill her and then lay claim to my contract."
"How do I kill an entity? Is she a person? Does she want to resurrect my mother? What does she need Kezia for and me?"
Remi shook his head. "I can't answer those questions for you. I wish I could. I'm only here to see you. I just wanted to hold you a little bit while I got the chance. If I say anything, it will violate my contract more. She could destroy me."
"No. Don't. Don't tell me then. I'll figure it out. I'll kill her. Don't worry. I will get you back. You and Angie."
Remi chuckled. "Angie. I'm sure he's just fine. Karma is way better than Mila. Trust me. He'll be fine." He dipped his head to mine. "I'm more worried about you. You're not making a lot of smart decisions. What was that battle all about? You can't take on an army of two hundred and fifty and win like that."
"I think I just did."
He sniffed a laugh. "Yeah, I guess you did." He pulled a strand of wet hair back from my face. "You really are..." He stopped and pressed his lips to mine.
The sweet taste of him overwhelmed my senses. I wrapped my fingers in his hair and pulled him closer to me. I missed him so much. I wanted to savor every moment I had with him. His hand roamed my naked skin down my sides as he wrapped me tightly in his embrace. His tongue slipped over mine as his kiss grew deeper.
He pulled back. His hazel eyes gleamed but flooded with sadness. "I'm sorry. I have to go. If I wait any longer..."
I nodded quickly. "I don't want you to go, but I don't want to lose you completely."
"Kira, don't hesitate."
"What?"
He looked down at his hands for a moment, then back up to my face. "Just remember, I'm already dead. What I do now, I do for you to keep living."
"Remi?"
He cut my question off with one more long kiss then disintegrated into shadows. He left me alone in the shower once more.