by Montana Ash
A series of gasps and curses sounded as they all realised the implication of those words. An abyss. Just like what happened to the minds of the chades. An abyss. Just like Emmanuel. Beyden shuddered, suddenly absolutely terrified that Dex’s hypothesis was true. That he was going to be the first ever paladin to become a chade and a black well of nothingness was going to swallow him whole any moment.
“Can you fix it?” Ryker asked the question Beyden was too cowardly to voice.
Max looked down at the hand joined with hers. Beyden saw her tighten her fingers once before she released her grip and ran her hand up and over the motionless and silent dark lines of Ryker’s coat of arms. Ryker shuddered, gasping when his druidic rune for life suddenly flared a brilliant lilac. Beyden’s mouth fell open as one by one, Darius, Axel, Cali, and Diana’s unique elemental symbols flared to life. A tingle in his own arm had him looking down and he gasped. The brand was shining and luminescent, though not as bright as the others. Beyden took heart nonetheless.
Max smiled at them all and said simply; “I can fix it.”
And then she started to sparkle.
TWENTY-FIVE
“No!” was Ryker’s frantic yell upon seeing Max about to coalesce into a million different colours. Beyden couldn’t blame him. The last time Max had done something similar she had exploded and disappeared off the face of the earth.
Max paused, her head turning, swirling eyes meeting those of Ryker’s. “Trust me,” was all she said before turning her back on them all and stepping out of the centre of their protective circle. Beyden knew they had no choice but to let her. He had a feeling they were once more looking at the pure custodian miraculously held within Max’s flesh and blood body.
Beyden felt energy crackle in the air around him like electricity even as a low-level hum began to vibrate in his bones. The air kicked up, dispersing dust and rocks in an outward direction and he saw that the air was cleaning away the top layer of the ground in an ever-expanding circle around them.
In the blink of an eye, Beyden’s perception of the world changed. It was like looking through a kaleidoscope, Beyden thought. The colours dancing on the air were light and luminescent – ethereal in their beauty. He figured if he ever made it to the end of a rainbow, this is what it would look like.
The colours built up like a tsunami, rising higher and higher, creating a wall of energy and light. A wall of souls, Beyden corrected in wonder. When it became so high it blocked out the sun, it curved gracefully before crashing over the battlefield in a tidal wave of light. The colours flooded over everything, from the grass to the trees and down over the cliff – a spectral waterfall directly into the ocean. From there, it just continued to grow and spread until the entire ocean for as far as the eye could see was a riot of variegated waves.
Max didn’t raise her arms, nor did she use her hands to control the incredible energies around her. She simply stood solid and grounded, watching as if she were a mere spectator like the rest of them. When in actual fact, she was the choreographer and the conductor all in one.
Time held no meaning and the display of power could have lasted seconds or hours, Beyden didn’t know. The colours began to fade away in slow degrees, dropping out one by one as the air cooled and the wind settled once more. Blinking away the lingering flashes in his eyes he couldn’t believe what he saw.
The land was a carpet of lush, thick grass and was now surrounded by a virtual forest of thick-trunked trees. Animals abounded, happily frolicking in the fresh fields and flowers that had popped up in a display of riotous colour. Where once the land had ended abruptly at the cliff, a brand-new sparkling stream of cool, blue water, flowed over a much gentler rocky edge and directly into the ocean below. But the biggest change was the missing mansion. A perfect grassy knoll waited patiently where the dilapidated house had loomed only minutes before. Waiting for what, Beyden had no clue. But the place was now a true Eden.
‘It’s waiting for us to rebuild.’
‘Rebuild what?’ Beyden hadn’t even realised he was speaking telepathically through the Order link until the writhing mass of lines on his arm caught his attention. He slapped his hand over the coat of arms, gasping when he recognised the voice; “Max!”
Max was grinning from ear to ear, looking none the worse for wear despite the massive amounts of energy she must have just expelled. “I remember.”
Beyden blinked, “You remember? You remember what?”
“Everything. I remember everything,” she laughed, then took a flying leap into Ryker’s arms.
Ryker caught her easily, large arms wrapping tight as they both fell to the ground. Max peppered Ryker’s face with kisses, his hands mapping her body as if to ensure it was really Max. When his Captain’s hand landed on Max’s arse and the kisses turned passionate rather than playful, Beyden felt his face flame. He really hoped they weren’t going to have sex right here and now.
“Ahem! Excuse me!” The loud, agitated voice belonged to Darius. “Must you do that here?”
Ryker growled against Max’s lips, one hand releasing Max’s butt to lift a middle finger at his second in command. Max giggled, giving a half-hearted attempt to loosen Ryker’s hold. It was unsuccessful. In the next instant, Max straddled Ryker’s waist, staring down at him silently. Beyden realised they must be speaking through their private link. Ryker finally grunted, hauling Max to her feet a moment later, obviously deciding to stop mauling her. For the time being at least.
“Your face!” Diana exclaimed, her tone shocked.
“What about it?” Ry asked, raising his hand to touch the scarred side of his face only to be brought up short when he no doubt noticed the skin was smooth and once more blemish-free. “Max! What did you do? I told you I didn’t care about the scar.”
Max shrugged, wholly unconcerned with the ire in her man’s voice. “Didn’t do it on purpose. Blame the new element. It heals everything it touches.”
“New element?” Darius gasped. “Eight domains? There really are now eight domains?”
Max walked over and patted Darius on the cheek. “Easy, sweetie. I know this messes with your sense of order. The element matches the nature and the need, remember?” She said, quoting Darius from when they had met her for the first time.
“Hey!” Lark yelled, startling them all. He bounded over to Beyden, green eyes wide and expectant. “Does this mean your leg and your brain are better?”
Beyden felt his mouth drop open. His leg? So wrapped up in the wonder that was Max’s full return, he hadn’t even given his leg a thought. He hesitantly put some weight on his left leg, bracing himself for the familiar agony. Only it didn’t come. He was completely pain-free. “I –” was all he was able to manage before the lump in his throat cut off his words.
Max’s aquamarine eyes were gentle as she looked at him. “No pain?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“What about the scarring?” Max quickly dropped to her knees in front of him and proceeded to lift up his pants before he could even blink. “Hmm, hairy but scar-free. Congratulations, Bey. You’re free again.”
Before Bey could lose his shit in front of his Order and his liege, Ryker yanked Max to her feet. “What’s with you and going to your knees in front of other men? I’m the only man you should be on your knees for,” Ryker’s voice was husky as he nuzzled into Max’s neck.
Max giggled but Beyden dry-heaved. Max was his liege and friend, but she was also family. Like a sister. He did not want to hear about her and Ryker’s perverted sexual habits. “Ick! Enough already. I don’t want to hear about that kind of stuff.”
Axel raised his hand, “I could stand to hear a little more.”
Max laughed and jumped into Axel’s arms. Axel grinned, twirling her around like a lunatic before placing her on the ground. He watched as Axel surreptitiously wiped his face against Max’s shoulder before setting her free. No doubt he was brushing aside all evidence of his tears of happiness.
“So, what do we c
all this new element of yours?” Cali asked, nudging Max with her shoulder. It was like they all had to touch her in their own way, just to make sure she was real.
“Max-juice!” was Max’s prompt reply.
Darius looked horrified, gagging a little. “That is all kinds of wrong. Ryker!” Darius beseeched.
“What do you want me to do about her?” Ryker demanded, though he also looked very sceptical over Max’s suggestion.
Max laughed. “I’m kidding. Jeez, you guys are so easy.” She cast her eyes over the newly healed land, expression serious.
“Spirit,” she said. “The new domain is Spirit.”
TWENTY-SIX
Jasminka tiptoed her way out of her room. The early morning light was just pushing its way through the darkness of the night, forging its path for a new day. It might have been cowardly of her, but Jazz hadn’t ventured out of her room the evening before when Max and her Order of modern-day knights had returned from their adventure. She had waited in her room, not bothering to investigate the sounds of joy and laughter emanating from the ground floor practically all night. Clearly, Max had achieved what she had set out to do. And she was back. Jazz exhaled a teary giggle, relief and happiness for her friend flooding her system. Jazz could have lived with the new Max and loved her just as fiercely. But she couldn’t deny she was overjoyed to hear the old Max echoing through the house.
Quietly entering the kitchen, she gave a startled yelp when the lights were flicked on. Blinking away the spots caused by the sudden brightness, Jazz saw Max standing in front of her with her arms crossed, Zombie and Angel at her feet like furry sentries.
“And just where the hell have you been?” Max demanded.
Jasminka huffed, “I could ask you the same thing.”
Max barked out a laugh before launching herself into Jazz’s waiting arms. Jasminka grabbed her dear friend in a solid embrace, curling down a fair distance so she could burrow her head in the curve of Max’s neck. “Missed you,” she murmured.
Max patted her head like a child, “I’m sorry, honey. I missed you too.” Max pulled back. “Thank you. Thank you so much for looking after them for me – for saving them.”
Jazz tugged on Max’s hair. “Anytime. Though, I’m not sure how much saving I did.”
“You did. Trust me, you did. No one else but you could have saved Beyden,” Max assured her.
Jazz shook her head, recoiling over the sound of his name. She felt the press of warm bodies against her shins and reached down to pat the fuzzy mascots even as she answered; “Not true. There are hundreds of surgeons out there who could have done the same.”
Max eyed her shrewdly, “I’m not talking about Beyden’s leg. You being here – you loving him – was the only thing slowing down the progression of the tainted chade magic, infection thingy. You made it possible for him to hold on long enough for me to get back and do my thing.”
Jasminka frowned, straightening, “Wait. What?”
Max sighed, backing up until she hit the kitchen counter. She hoisted herself onto it and explained, “When I first met Beyden I wondered why the colours swirling around his aura and radiating from his soul looked and felt so familiar. I’d seen them somewhere before – in you.”
Jazz pushed her glasses on top of her head, narrowing her eyes at Max. “We have the same colours? What does that mean?”
“It means there’s a connection – or at least the potential for a connection.”
“You’re saying I was meant to be with Beyden? That you knew all along?” Jazz asked, incredulous.
Max shook her head, “I’m saying the possibility was there. But just because a seed was planted at your creation for a future with Beyden, doesn’t mean that seed will grow. The direction our lives take are dictated by the choices we make. We all have infinite futures. Some are more likely to eventuate than others – especially when they’re given a little nudge.”
Jazz crossed her arms and tapped her foot, “A little nudge? Like inviting a human to play doctor to a bunch of magical beings after a war she had no part of?”
Max shrugged, looking completely unrepentant, “Yeah. Kind of like that.”
“Max,” Jazz groaned. She didn’t know whether to be thrilled or not. The idea that she and Beyden were destined for each other had butterflies dancing in her stomach. It was a wonderous and humbling notion. “So, what happens next?” she asked the crystal ball sitting next to the toaster.
“That’s up to you. It depends on whether or not you can forgive him.”
Jazz frowned, “Don’t you know?”
Max shook her head, “Choices. It’s all about choices, remember?”
Jazz pursed her lips and eyed her friend. She didn’t know whether to believe Max or not. After all, she had been prepared down to the tiniest detail before fighting Emmanuel – setting up things and people to ensure everything worked out just so. This, right here, could be just another set up. The woman was damn tricksy. Behind her, Zombie whined and Angel mewled. Jazz had no doubts they wanted her to forgive their paladin friend, and she could admit that she wanted to – boy, did she want to. But she also didn’t want to be weak. Three and a half decades of being a pushover and allowing others to dictate her own happiness was more than enough. “Can’t you do me a solid and take a peek for me?”
“A peek into your future? Or a peek into your heart? Because I gotta say, I don’t need to be a magical goddess to see what your heart longs for,” Max told her. “Besides, you may want to take what my woo-woo powers say with a grain of salt.”
“What do you mean?” Jasminka asked, concerned.
Max seemed to hesitate, looking down at herself and then around the room, before sighing and shaking her head. “I’m not sure. I think something might be a little off with me since I came back.”
Jasminka placed a hand on Max’s arm, “Other than the amnesia you mean?”
“Yes. Off with my powers,” Max revealed.
“In what way?” Jazz questioned, casting a critical eye over her friend.
“You know I’ve never been able to see my own soul or my own tethers,” Max began.
Jasminka nodded. She remembered Max explaining the whole doppelganger phenomenon to her years ago. At the time, Jazz had hypothesised Max was either seeing ghosts or souls. Turned out, theory number two had been correct. Max had also explained how she could see relationships and things that bound people to each other and the material world. They were like colourful threads, tethering individuals to people and places and were always unique based on a person’s experiences, emotions, pasts, and future. It had always intrigued Jasminka that Max was never afforded the same information about herself as she was about others. If Max was now able to do so, perhaps her powers were even more enhanced since her return from Otherworld.
“Are you saying you can now?” she asked, intrigued.
Max looked down, then back up again, before looking down and frowning once more. “I don’t know. I mean, I can see colours when I look at myself now – a whole rainbow of colours. But I don’t see a mini-me standing beside me and the only thread I can see leads straight to Ryker.”
“Well, that makes sense. You’re a custodian. Your aura and soul colours are sure to be a spectrum of colour – just like your eyes when you go into superpower mode,” Jazz pointed out. “Plus, of course you’re connected to Ryker. He’s your soulmate. It makes sense that you have a tether directly to him.”
Max glared down at herself again before huffing out an annoyed breath, “I know, I know. But why am I only seeing this since I returned? And why only to Ryker? I mean, my bonds with the whole Order are just as strong and just as significant. And why do I only see the colours when I look down?”
Jasminka followed the direction of Max’s gaze and felt herself go still, her mind slipping into physician mode as easily as breathing. “You don’t see the colours on your arms or legs? No mirror image soul of you floating around anywhere?” she asked.
Max shook her head.
“Nope. Nada. Zippo. Just here. Right here,” she pointed to her lower abdomen.
Jazz walked over to her brilliant yet clueless friend, “Right here?” she questioned, placing a gentle hand just below Max’s belly button.
“Yes!” Max nodded her head emphatically. “Exactly!”
“You mean right here where your uterus is?” Jasminka raised her eyebrows at Max and waited for the penny to drop. She had to suppress a giggle when it didn’t.
Max frowned, looking confused. She looked down once more and brushed her hand against her stomach, as if she could flick the colours away. “You think my uterus has superpowers?”
Jazz gripped Max’s upper arms and bent down so she could look her in the eye, “No, Max. I do not think your uterus has superpowers. I do, however, think the baby inside your uterus does.”
Max’s face went comically blank as her mouth dropped open and her arms went limp. “Baby ...?” she wheezed.
Jasminka smiled, “I’ll want a urine and blood sample, followed by an ultrasound to confirm, but I’m pretty sure what you’re seeing is your baby’s soul. But you would know more about that than me. Why don’t you take a peek,” she encouraged.
“A peek?” Max squeaked.
“Yes, at your baby,” Jasminka clarified when Max continued to sit on the kitchen counter with her mouth hanging open. “Did I break you?” she asked. “I could be wrong, but it makes sense.”
“Holy shit,” Max gasped. “I’m such a fucking moron. Of course it’s a baby!” She looked down once more but this time caressed her stomach instead of flicking at it. “It’s not my colours I’m suddenly seeing and it’s not me that’s tethered to Ryker; it’s the baby! How could I not have known?”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself. You did just fight an epic battle, save an entire population of cursed men, revolutionised a whole secret society, blew yourself up, travelled to an alternate plane, and then returned with amnesia to a house full of ancient knights bound to serve and protect you as long as they live,” Jasminka summed up. “I’d say you’re entitled to miss one tiny little detail.”