Chapter 110 - The answer is no

**Hopes pov**

“Do you need to go in and check on her?...she’s been in there quite a while now...” “That’s not so strange, is it? She’s lived a lifetime in here! This morning when she woke up she thought her mother was a lake for God’s sake. We give her time, all the time she needs!”
“Hope, look at the sky, we don’t have much time left! What if she lasts longer than those out there?” The previously clear blue sky was now filled with large dark clouds, the barrier began to crumble, Zandra was still resisting, but not as strongly as before. All the animals were gone, Brenda’s body was no longer lying in a pool of blood on the patio floor, Colette wasn’t whining about her full udder, and there wasn’t a hare in sight, it was as if they never been there.

“Hope...I don’t know if I can come back, after what the Gods did to me...they took away my meaning of life...the reason I lived this long, my revenge..”
“Zandra...your life is so much more than that. Your promise to Aayla, everyone who depends on you..I need you Zandra..We need you!” I took her hand and placed it on my belly. “She’s going to need someone to teach her magic.” I winked at her and saw a tear leave her eye.
“And what do I do about him?” She nodded towards Ambrogio who had given us enough space to talk undisturbed.
“My mate…A joyless laugh left her throat. “They paired me, a white witch with the most evil man to walk this earth”
“I know...but...are you sure they did it as a result of your prayer?..your paths crossed long before, and I know you felt a bond even then...could it have been so that you were meant for each other from the beginning? Before he…before he ruined it?” I could tell that my words only confused her even more and I immediately regretted it.
“He knows the truth and he won’t push you, he will accept never see or talk to you again if that’s what you choose. Now that he is mortal he will also accept to die by your hand which is another choice you have...whatever you choose there is nothing you need to decide now, right now you just need to let go, and let them out there tear down the barrier you built.”
“Hope..I have a good life here, a life that was soon over. Can you..is there any possibility that you can just let me go? Let me die happy?” Her words were like a cold shower, I was as sad as I was angry, not only me, Luna too.
NO!!! Do you know why? Because you promised Aayla! You promised Luna! And you promised me!!! You promised to be there for us! I understand you are tired Zandra, God help me, I understand, but tough luck, we are all tired! Do you know what I had to endure with the hunters? Do you know what they did to me and what they are planning to do? Ambrogio helped me escape, I don’t even dare to think what today would have been like if it wasn’t for him. I understand that you are afraid of what the Gods have done, but you are not the first and certainly not the last to be messed with, the difference is that the rest of us cannot build a safe fantasy world to escape to. We must face our demons head on, whether we survive it or not. So, the answer is NO and if you have a problem with that, I will take that cane and you will become familiar with the sting it can deliver.” I thrust my chin forward to look determined as I tried to replace the oxygen I had used up without her noticing.
“Okay...I’m sorry…But, I’m not sure I remember how..it’s been so long Hope..my magic works on its own...can I get a moment to say goodbye to the life I lived here?”
“Yeah.., of course...take all the time you need, we’ll be waiting here. I gave her a half smile and gave her hand a squeeze before she turned and walked into the house.

“Seriously, can you please go in and check on her! I’d love to do it myself but I have a feeling I’m not welcome” Ambrogio looked once more towards the speckled sky.
“Ghaa…You are like an impatient child! Why cant we give her the time she wants?”
“He is worried about the physical me, the me out there in the real world. He knows that the longer I’m here the weaker I’ll be out there…especially if my magic here is strong enough to work on its own.” I turned when I heard Zandra’s voice, but it wasn’t me she was looking at , she looked at Ambrogio and there were so many emotions swimming in her eyes. Gratitude, sadness, love, understanding,fear, defiance.
“Thanks for your concern, but I’ll be fine.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I...I know what I know.”
“Zandra...from what I understand your first reaction may be to run back here, build a new barrier…we are your anchors, try to find something to hold on to.”
“Do you have any suggestions? You seem to be knowledgeable on the subject. She asked a little teasingly.”
“Sure..hrm..your love for your pack, your bond with Luna and Hope...your hate for me…”
It was as if they were having a staring contest, their eyes boring into each other and I felt a bit like the third wheel until Ambrogio finally gave in and lowered his gaze. “Let’s go.” Zandra turned and started to move towards the gate. The way back to the lake was very different from when we walked it in the opposite direction just a little while ago. The lack of birds chirping, the few rays of sunlight that reached us gave no warmth, I could not smell the lush moss on the ground or the wild flowers that grew in the clearings around the trees, I could not even hear my own footsteps, the details began to disappear the more Zandra let go of this world. I felt sad inside, it was a beautiful world, full of joy and love, a place where evil and horrors did not exist, built by a girl who was in love with the beautiful things in life.

*Murus lucis illustratur, murus lucis obumbratur, rescinditur
Murus lucis illustratur, murus lucis obumbratur, rescinditur*
“Hold her, dont let her go back!” Tatianas voice shouted over the one of all the chanting witches.
*Murus lucis illustratur, murus lucis obumbratur, rescinditur
Murus lucis illustratur, murus lucis obumbratur, rescinditur*
I open my eyes and Callum is the first one I see. He is struggling, the sweat is pouring down his face and all his veins stands out like he has been training for hours. The magic between Zandra and the ring of witches is going through him like an electric current and he is the bridge that must carry it. Cathy looks even more worn.
“Hold her! She’s trying to rebuild the barrier! Hold her!!!” Tatiana calls out again and I lock eyes with Ambrogio. It’s a strange situation but we close our eyes and again, we stand with Zandra in the lake in her world.
“Please Zandra, let go, we have you, we got you, we won’t let anything happen to you.” Worry and fear is the only thing I can see in her eyes when I take her hand.
“Hey, look at me…feel it, can you really let me exist unattended?” Ambrogio caught her attention. “Who knows what I’ll do…what carnage I’ll cause if you’re not there to keep me in check…Feel it Zandra, feel the hate.”
“Ambrogio I don’t think it’s right…” I trailed off as he held up his hand to me to stop me from talking.
“You know me Zandra, I have no boundaries without a border guard, think of all I’ve done, to you, to those you loved...and there are still those you love, who knows what I will do to them. Feel the hate Zandra, hold on to it.”
“I can’t...”
“Well, I know you can, it’s in there” I could see her struggling, searching, trying to find the fire that hatred had been for her for centuries.
“It’s not there!..it’s not there!!!” Tears of capitulation rolled down her cheeks as she looked Ambrogio in the eyes.
“I…I don’t hate you….”
“You have to…” Ambrogio’s voice was just a whisper, but she heard him
“I don’t…” She put her hand on his cheek and his eyes almost rolled back in his head from her voluntary touch.
“Zandra…” He swallowed hard and took a step forward and before I could say or do anything he kissed her…and she let him. It wasn’t a chaste kiss either, no quick peck with closed lips, no, they devoured each other and I thought I saw a little bit of tongue before I quickly looked the other way with lots of different emotions inside me, still with one of Zandra’s hands in mine.
A roar of thousands falling bricks began to sound around us and I could see Zandra’s barrier falling, thick chunks cracking and falling to nothingness, until nothing was left.
When I opened my eyes I met Ambrogio’s gaze, he was still standing in the same place, with his hands on Zandra’s head and he was swallowing hard and breathing heavily. Zandra had opened her eyes, she looked at me before closing them and I could see the tears leaving them.