Chapter 639: Victory
I feared the black, remembering the devouring feeling of it the first time, when Demetrius led me to Wilhelm Castle. But this was different, whether because I was in control or due to Ameline's presence. I didn't suffer soul-eating terror from the crushing pull of the dark. This experience slid past smooth and quiet, like riding an underground river to our destination.
We emerged in a stone room, both of us stepping out together, hand in hand. Liander Belaisle hovered over a glass case, shimmering with the same iridescence as the magic Ameline and I wielded. He cried out as he saw us appear, real fear on his face, and rage.
A tall, stunning blonde stood next to him, her pale gray eyes flying wide as she pointed to us.
"No!"
But we were already acting, our power reaching for the glass. A woman lay beneath it, prone and either dead or unconscious on a stone bed. I had no idea who she was or why the Sidhe magic was attracted to her, but she couldn't have it.
It didn't belong to her.
Calm settled over me, a detached sensation as all of my many parts formed one single soul. Power poured from me through the hand in mine and back again, the dark and light mingling in perfect harmony where we touched.
This must not be. The Dark spoke through Ameline.
Agreed. The Light sent, me and yet not me.
Together, power blazing, roaring through me like a freight train, Ameline and I raised our hands as one, gestured. The Light acted, making me feel like a patient passenger on this ride, though I was wide open and aware of everything happening to me, around me. The Dark formed a blade in the air, the Light crystalizing around it. Again we gestured while Belaisle's gaping black power rushed forward to consume us.
Our sword sliced through his magic, collapsed it into dust. Flashed in the candlelight of the stone room, whistling with the song of the maji veil as it rose and descended across the stream of green magic flowing forward to the glass case.
Cut off the suction of power gushing through the gap to the Sidhe realm.
The thunder clap in answer blew Belaisle back, tumbling him over and over until he crashed against the far wall and collapsed with a groan. The woman fell to her knees before being flung aside, landing next to him, his body cushioning her landing. Rage flared in her face as she struggled to rise.
"Damn you!" She crawled toward the woman under the shield. "If you've harmed Gaia-"
The Dark reached for the silent woman under glass, crushing power leveled to destroy her, but The Light stopped her.
Our work is done, It sent.
They feed her to support their efforts. The Dark's chilling gaze fell upon me, the ice blue eyes of Its host black and bottomless.
They fail. The Light felt along the edges of the case. She will die and they will be left empty. But better to allow it to happen than to be the cause.
The Dark paused. You are certain?
Flashes of images passed through my mind as the Light shared with the Dark. I caught brief glimpses of faces, Iepa and the tall blonde woman still panting on the floor, of Belaisle and a handsome young sorcerer, his power clear around him. Focused finally on a young woman, around my age who burned with amber fire.
The Dark sighed. Agreed, It sent.
I gasped out a breath as the Light retreated, feeling Ameline's hand spasm in mine as the Dark left her. No time to hesitate, not when the bulk of Sidhe magic rose above us, hovering near the ceiling, writhing and spinning before slamming itself against the black hole it came through. A massive cascade of sparks flared, pattered to the floor as the Sidhe magic groaned its song in discordant despair.
We have to reverse the pull. I spun on the dark stain on the wall, the passage still open, though the pull had gone, no more magic entering. Or all of this is for nothing.
We have a chance to kill him. Ameline gestured at Belaisle.
No, the Light sent. He is necessary. For now.
No, the Dark agreed. Not yet.
Ameline's rebellion was clear on her face but I got the message. I need you.
She shook her head, but not in denial, dark regret on her face as we turned our backs on him and focused on the portal.
Simple really, this magic he'd created. Using the power of Sidhe souls he'd stolen, forming a wedge. The stolen spirits wailed their sadness at me, begged for release.
My sorcery devoured Belaisle's creation, drawing the black into me, shattering the edges of the opening. The wedge of souls collapsed, spinning into the center even as Ameline's power gobbled them up.
I didn't have time to share the horror I felt, to even think about what she'd done. Not while Belaisle groaned behind me, muttered. The Light asked me to leave him alive, as much as I wanted to let Ameline kill him. And though I hoped listening was the right choice, I had to believe.
The Sidhe power cried out to me as I slashed open the veil between this plane and the realm. A clean, bright gash appeared, the shining light so different from the suctioning darkness. In one last clap of thunder rolling through me, rattling my teeth together, the power of the Sidhe flared and dove for home.
I spun to the touch of emptiness, felt it blocked even as Ameline lashed at Belaisle. He fell back again, eyes rolling into his head as he collapsed on the floor.
We were supposed to leave him alive. Why was I so worried? Wouldn't dead be better? A horrible chill raced up my back, fear like I'd never known. He was necessary.
I didn't kill him, Ameline sent. But he'll find things have changed when he wakes.
What the hell did that mean? No time to find out. As I opened my mouth to ask her out loud, chest tightening in anxiety, I felt myself being pulled into the tail of the stream of fleeing Sidhe magic. Reached out around Ameline's power toward the unconscious sorcerer only to feel my power slide over him, repelled by his magic.
His greatly reduced magic.
And then we were falling, back through the gap, the Sidhe power gushing in a waterfall of green fire, plunging back toward the ground. We landed hard but intact, Ameline already pulling my attention upward, to the gap in the sky. The storm overhead rumbled, the clouds snapping in half, rain pouring down over us as I reached, Ameline reached. Together we plunged our creation magic into the torn lip of the Sidhe veil and repaired it.
I blinked into the suddenly blue sky, shaking water from my hair, storm gone, hole gone.
Healed.
I spun to find Aoilainn watching me, as perfect and powerful as ever, Odhran and Niamh the same, their people restored. The realm repaired.
"I feared," Odhran said, coming to grip my shoulders in his hands, bending to kiss both of my cheeks. "But you did not fail us. Our thanks, Sydlynn Hayle."
Ameline scowled and looked away. I guess I understood her irritation at being left out of his gratitude, but she still hadn't thanked me for freeing her ass so I figured she could grovel a little before I felt bad for her about anything.
"What assurance do I have this won't happen again?" Just like Aoilainn to make this about her.
"You don't," I snapped. Blunt, yup yup. "But I can tell you this: if you work together from now on, the odds are much more in your favor."
Odhran grimaced, but nodded while Aoilainn gaped at me in horror.
"Surely you will now restore our border." She shook, braid vibrating over her shoulder, brushing the ground.
"Nope," I said, stepping away, feeling Charlotte come up beside me, the brush of her fur against my hand, Aoilainn's glamour firmly back in place. "You're just going to have to learn to get along."
Ameline was smiling again, clearly amused by the idea.
Like I gave a crap what she thought.
While Aoilainn spluttered and trembled, Odhran watching me with hooded eyes telling me he was now reconsidering his gratitude, I turned and marched off without another word. Charlotte kept pace, Ameline hurrying to catch up. I found myself smirking at her as she was forced to run a few steps, long hair bobbing behind her.
Yeah, she loved looking like a little kid. I could just tell.
I turned at the sound of my name, found Thalion striding forward to join us. The two Sidhe peoples milled around behind us, as though unsure about what to do next, though I was gratified to see Odhran and Aoilainn come together in the middle and touch hands.
Good enough. I'd saved them, but it was their responsibility to keep things in balance from now on.
Sheesh. I was going to come to hate that word.
"I will escort you," Thalion said. Paused. "If you wish."
Holy crap. Did we just save the entire of the Sidhe realm? A rush of giddy happiness flooded me, so much I smiled and hooked my arm through Thalion's, much to his shock.
"I wish," I said. "Thanks for the offer."
Ameline grumbled something under her breath and stomped faster, leaving us to follow her. I didn't even have to ask Charlotte to keep pace with the girl, though thanks to the connection we still shared, I could feel Ameline's frustration at being ignored. Treated like a kid.
A bubbling rage built inside her and I knew I'd have to watch her carefully.
"She is not to be trusted." Thalion's voice broke my concentration, but reinforced my worry.
"News flash," I said. Grinned at his eyebrow quirk. "Sorry. Yeah, I know that already." And yet, she'd done what needed doing. Proved she would stand against the Brotherhood. I briefly considered a visit to Belaisle, just Ameline and I, while the Gate loomed in the distance, rushing closer with every step.
That would be great, wouldn't it? Catch Belaisle in private and convince him to back off.
I'd even let Ameline be in charge of the convincing. Though the memory of his reduced magic stirred more anxiety. What had she done to him and where did his power go?
Hello, Syd. This wasn't rocket science. Ameline took it.
Going to have to talk to her about sharing.
"Keep us posted, would you?" I released Thalion's arm as Ameline paused in front of the gaping Gate. "Let me know if the Brotherhood decide to give it another try."
"I think we have less to worry about them," the prince said with a small smile, "and more concern my queen and the Unseelie king will come to blows."
Well, that was their business, now, wasn't it? First time I was happy to use Mom's company line.
"Sydlynn." Thalion squeezed my hand, his Sidhe power softer than I remembered. Come to think of it, he was, too. Not as coldly perfect as I remembered, more warm and open. "I have done things I'm ashamed of." He winced, still beautiful. "To Shaylee. And to you."
Um, wow. Empathy from a Sidhe? I loved the maji were wrong. Even the flawless Sidhe could grow hearts.
I hugged him, let him feel Shaylee, our power wrapping around Thalion as he sighed in my ear.
"Friends," I said.
He smiled, a real smile, lighting his eyes as he kissed me gently on the cheek.
"My honor," he said.
I left him there, looking back over my shoulder at him as he continued to smile, one hand raised in farewell, remaining in that position until the Gate closed and he vanished from view.
***
