A Gift

The power surges through all of us, the colours fill the space between us. It is the first time I have seen it, all the power we have in one place charging through each of us.

Looking around me the four of them have the same look on their faces that I know is mirrored in mine.

“What’s happening?”

None of them answers me, they are all seemingly just as confused as me. And then Salvi raised her head, but she does not meet my gaze, instead, she looks right at Cynthia.

*” It is what Marel was trying to do. He was trying to force this on himself”*

**” What do you mean what he was trying to do? He was insane and wanted power.”**

*” He wanted only power, yes. But that power never belonged to him. We are merely carriers it is all we ever were until one was born that was worthy to take it”*

Cynthia’s face drops and she pulls her hands breaking the power between us. It is stable now. I feel tired but I do not feel out of control.

The others follow suit, breaking their hold of one another, each of them turning to face Salvi, all of ours fixed waiting to hear what she will say next.

*” He knew it. He knew that one day a male would be born and that male would be worthy. All he wanted was to claim all of the power first”*

”But that does not make any sense, why would he send Arlo. Why would he send people to kill their parents when he could have just taken the power from them”

*” Because he knew that if he were to reveal himself to his sisters if he were to hunt them down they would know why”*

**” You mean our mother would have known about this, that if she had had a boy the power would belong to that child?”**

*” If Marel knew then I can only assume your mother did. I am sorry if this surprises you, I’m sorry if your parents were not as forthcoming as mine”*

I can already tell that was the wrong thing to say, Cynthia rises from her feet and turns to walk away. She steps a few paces before she stops again and turns.

**” You know what I don't get. I don't understand why you are even here. How after all of this you find yourself alive and well when the rest of us have just had to fight because of a mad man. A mad man that you stood behind, that you helped.”**

By the time she is finished she is in front of Salvi, her hand wrapped tightly around her neck lifting her off the ground. The rage within her is back with full force, her eyes are brightly glowing.

**” You tortured my sister and now you sit here among our dead as if you played no part in it as if you are divine now he has gone. You just have bad as Marel and your motives are just as insincere or you would not have taken your power back from Sekreta”**

Salvi grips onto her wrist, trying to steady herself although she is not trying to break the hold instead she stared directly into Cynthia’s eyes.

*” If you must kill me then do it. But let me pass on my power to the one whom it truly belongs”* Her voice is soft and absolute, she knows exactly what she has just said and she seems at peace with it.

*” You think I’m going to let you anywhere near my baby? You are more deluded than I thought”* With those words she drops her and walks to Sigi, taking his hand and leading the two of them back towards the house.

Selene does not say anything, she moves her head slightly and two males wolves take hold of Salvi, she does not struggle as they lead her away from me. Artemis stands too and heads back to the house. Behind me, I can hear the voices of Calder and Ryan shouting instructions to gather dead and take people to the hospital.

I cannot bear to move from my spot when I look around I know I will only see chaos. In the pit of my stomach, I feel guilty for bringing this to their doorstep, for getting carried away as I grew hungrier for power. Somehow though, like always Artemis was there to pull me back to the surface.

Minutes pass by, although it feels like hours and I do not move, still on my knees sinking into the blood-soaked ground. I hear the soft sound of twigs snapping and someone heading towards me.

For a moment I wonder if it is one of Marvel’s wolves. Should I let them kill me? Is that what would be best for everyone. I can only assume that Salvoo was willing to give her powers to Frode because if she dies they die with her. Maybe that's for the best, maybe that's what was needed.

*” Are you going to sit wallowing in self-pity all night or are going to come to the house”*

Ildi’s voice is like a light in a never-ending wave of darkness and destruction.

*” They are waiting for you inside. You all need to decide what you will do about Salvi”*

Finally looking up I meet his gaze, he is smiling softly and the sun is high in the sky above him. More time had passed than I first thought, it had been hours.

“What are they waiting to decide ?”

*” They need to know if and I suppose when we will kill her “*

“Why must we kill her, she is a victim in this too” Standing up on my feet I walk towards the house, Ildi following a step behind me.

*” Well, when Marel died and you returned Salvi’s power the bond with Ivar was reformed”*

Ivar. I had forgotten about him, I had forgotten about my mate.
“Is it safe? Ivar is he safe ?”

*” He is. But he is not yet free “*

“Why can we not just ask her to break whatever it is that binds them ?”

*” Well we can, I suppose but to do that we must get to the house. Now let's keep moving because you have stopped”*

He passes by me and I find myself trailing behind him a million thoughts going through my head. I want Ivar back, he is alive and we are supposed to be together. I know it will be tough but I am willing to try.

Reaching the house I can see the bodies of the opposite side being laid on the ground and covered with sheets. It surprises me that I pack as Calders treats them with so much respect, his reputation would suggest a more ruthless approach to the dead.

We walk inside and head up the familiar corridors to Calder’s office, once we arrive I see them all seated around the table. Salvi is seated a little away from Cynthia and her wounds have been cleaned and her hands are bound. Next to her is Ivar whose eyes light up when he sees me although they flash dark almost instantly.

I take a seat and wait for someone, for anyone to speak. Finally, Artemis lets out an exasperated breath.

**” We need to decide what we are going to do. This whole thing may be done in terms of fighting but there is still much more to discuss. We need to decide what we are to do with Salvi and Ivar and…”**

“What do you mean with Ivar? . He and his pack are innocent in all of this, the true members of his pack wanted a war no more than any of you.”

Her statement ticked me off, she knows he's my mate and yet she will try to tarnish him in the same brush.

“Not only that, Marel was mad. He used Salvi for personal gain he did not want a daughter he wanted power, she has been used her whole life. Doing what she thought was for the best, should she die for that because I assume that's what you mean when you said *decide what to do with* like they too are not sat in this room”

**” I just meant that we have lost a lot of people, we have been through so much myself included in that. I'm sorry Sekreta but she doesn't deserve forgiveness”**

“I did not suggest forgiveness but am against death, for both of them”

*” You know Sekreta. I would have thought you among most, would have wanted her dead. She lied to you about being you sister, she stole your mate and made him look like weak in front of his pack for her gain”*

Cynthia still has a viciousness to her voice, I understand her pain but she is not a murder and yet she talks as though death is something she does daily. Deciding the only way to get through to her is to call her bluff I stand and head to her.

“Then I will leave the decision to you Cynthia, but I ask this. If you choose to kill Salvi you are the one to do it. If you make the choice then she must die at your hand...at any of your hands who chooses that this is the best way “

**”*Perhaps I could offer some input”** Salvi speaks softly and it is not a voice from her that I am familiar with, she sounds defeated and yet somehow absolute.

*” If we wanted to hear from you we would have asked you hours ago”*

**”*I am offering you a solution. One that I think will benefit all parties*”**

Cynthia once again goes to speak but Artemis Raises her hand to stop her and extends the other one for Salvi to continue.

**”*You are right in what you have said, Cynthia. I have betrayed Sekreta. I trapped her mate. I attacked your sister and if you feel that my sentence for that is death...then I accept but I would ask you two things first.*”**

The room falls silent and no one answers her.

“What two things Salvi.”

**”*I ask that you free my hands long enough to let me break my bonds with Ivar. I will release him and he will return to normal but, you must let him and his pack go free. I am the reason his wolves are here, I was a false luna but a luna they followed nonetheless*”**

She breathes deeply as if preparing herself, I can already tell that what she is going to say next will cause unrest in the room. I don’t know what makes me do it but I stand to her, gripping her hand in mine.
She does not move or reciprocate but I see her shoulders relax.

**”*I ask that you let me pass my gift to your baby Cynthia. It belongs to him, It belongs to him. It is his destiny. Whether you want to hear it or not, it was written.*”**

*” I have told you already that you are going nowhere near my son, and I certainly do not believe your false prophecies “*

**”*They are not false. My father recited them to me every time he tried to take my power before he knew how. He made me read them from the books of our ancestors to memorise the pages before he burned them down*”**

*” You are a liar. Everything you say is a lie, I will never trust you. We will never trust you, Salvi, you deserve to die and if it is at my hand then so be it”*


**”* I swear it, Cynthia. *The last will restore the first and then the line will end, it passes to first to the light a child born in the rays of the sun* He told me this every day, he reminded me every day that my gifts were not my own. Please give me the chance to do the right thing and give them to your baby he is the child born in the Rays of the sun, he was born to you *”**


*A/N
Thank you so much for reading !
We are so close to the end of this story and even im a little sad about it.
Be sure to leave a comment if you are enjoying it so far