Chapter 791: Balance
All of her stolen power rushed at me, slamming into me, Gram butting up against the family magic, her Sidhe soul, Lady Rionach, scrunching in next to Shaylee. The taint tried to shoulder aside my vampire essence while the male demon's power growled and snapped at mine even as Cian danced unhappily around the two female Sidhe. The remains of the Brotherhood magic was the only one to go quietly, absorbing into mine, though I could feel the separation remained.
Shud. Der.
I almost missed Ameline's echo rising as I fought to control the magicks suddenly taking up residence inside me like they planned to stay awhile. Unlike the broken and bloody mass at my feet, her echo was as perfect and beautiful as she'd ever been. And, from the snarling hate on her face, just as evil.
I stood quickly, still fighting for control, only to have someone grab my shoulder. Turn me around.
Press a warm and wriggling body into my arms as Alison dropped Gabriel on me.
Her blue eyes met mine, now solid and real, while my son locked his arms around my neck.
"This is my task," she said. And spun on Ameline's hovering echo.
I shouldn't have been surprised the bitch didn't need to be called to stay here and haunt me. Or that she had enough magic behind her to attack.
Alison stepped in front of me, absorbed the thin and pathetic attempt. Raised her hand to Ameline's hateful shade.
Gestured at the air beside her, tearing at the veil much like I did. But not between planes. Between levels of existence.
Ameline's echo shrieked, kicked, fought. Threw more power at Alison who absorbed it, too. Pushed her firmly toward the blackness waiting. A blackness I knew, had dove into to save Charlotte's life, to try to save Liam's, to retrieve Sebastian. But Alison had tools I didn't, was, herself, an echo.
Master of ghosts.
"Curse you, Sydlynn Hayle," Ameline's echo shrieked at me as she clung to the edges of the rift. "Curse you forever!" And, with a wet, tearing sound, pulled free, sucked into the black as she screamed.
Cut off abruptly as the hole snapped shut behind her.
Alison staggered, caught her breath. Smiled at me.
"That was harder than I thought it was going to be," she said.
I laughed, hugged my son who snuggled into my neck, his weight so much more than I remembered, but welcome, so very welcome as my heart healed at last with him in my arms.
"Isn't it always?" She laughed with me, nodded.
And we both turned to find our friends watching us.
"I take it the mansion is in a bit of a state," I said. "Made a mess, did you?"
Charlotte flashed her teeth around a large bruise on one cheek and an eye swollen shut. Her leather jacket was torn at the shoulder and I knew she'd be pissed about it later. For now, she seemed too happy to care. "A bit," she said.
"It'll buff out," Piers said. Limped to the side, longcoat covered in soot, hair charred on the ends.
I laughed again, couldn't help it. Even as the powers inside me grumbled and shoved against each other. I wriggled a bit in discomfort before Gabriel's little hands gripped my cheeks, hazel eyes smiling.
"Momma," he said. "Love you."
Oh. My. Freaking. Swearword.
And then, his power slid inside me and very carefully mended the places between magicks. A Gateway indeed. They all settled at last, in balance, happy and content while Gabriel giggled and kissed my cheek.
"You're funny, Momma," he said.
I stared at him in wonder, the flood of magic now at my disposal so huge I felt like I was going to explode from it. Caught Iepa smiling at me, tears on her cheeks, hands clasped under her chin even as Trinol bowed to me and vanished.
"Sydlynn," my maji guide said. "It is done. You are in balance, as it was always meant to be."
Um. What?
"This was your fate," she said. "To carry both halves of the whole. Only one of you could carry the weight. I always knew it would be you." She sighed softly, looked down at the mess that had been Ameline, still leaking blood onto the floor. "She would have crumbled under it, destroyed us all by allowing the Creator's dark brother entry into our Universe. But you," her shining eyes lifted to mine, "you are our salvation."
Total what the hell moment.
"Sorry?" I looked down at Gabriel who frowned with me. All the powers inside me, aside from my own, had other homes. Gram, the demon. The taint needed to be destroyed or healed. Even the Brotherhood power that I could pass on to Demetrius. Make up for years of being tortured and broken.
"You must carry both in harmony," Iepa said. "With you in balance, Light and Dark will finally be at peace."
"You can promise me that?" Holy crap. Could I make that choice?
Iepa's sudden hesitation told me what I needed to know. "You are our champion," she said, now looking and sounding a little desperate as she clearly read the unhappiness in my face. "Please, this was Fated all along. Don't turn your back on your destiny when we need you the most."
Max, I sent. Tell me the truth.
She speaks it, he sent. And yet, she doesn't know everything.
If I do this, if I keep these magicks, will we really be safe forever? Hard to believe. But maybe-just maybe-worth the sacrifice?
Gram.
Sob.
His vast mind fell silent a moment before he spoke again. Forever is a very long time, Syd, he sent. And there is darkness, outside that of the Creator's Fate, I fear now knows we are vulnerable.
I shivered at the memory of the gaping maw of fire, the glowing eyes. The roar.
Will having this power make it easier to fight? I had to stop thinking about the creature behind the Gate Gabriel opened.
No, Max sighed. I believe your power-as does Light Fate-will attract his attention more than ever. And create a new danger, one we may not be able to destroy.
Gulp. A fight I can't win?
A fight we will all be forced to wage, he said. And his voice slowly shifted, became feminine and I knew then, it was Light Fate speaking through him. And, I fear in the murk of my visions, we will lose.
Great.
And if I give up the power? What then?
I could hear her smile in her voice as she faded, Max's taking over again.
Then the tasks I spoke of, she said through him, the future I see, will unravel as it will. And your challenges will continue.
I nodded physically. Hugged her through him with my magic.
No brainer, then, I sent.
Max laughed, diamond eyes sparkling as I turned to look up at him.
Indeed, he sent.
Little fingers touched my cheek, drew my attention. Gabriel's eyes, so sweet, young and innocent, but filled with enough knowledge to make me nervous, nodded once. Kissed my cheek again. Laid his head on my shoulder.
"Good, Momma," he said.
And made my decision for me.
Returned my attention to Iepa.
"You may think all this balance crap is important," I said. "But if keeping this power means what Fate seems to think it does, I don't want it."
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