Oscar laughed a little. ‘Or something sounds nice.’
Oscar’s heart raced as Caspian chuckled at that, then the two of them peered back out at the water. They stood there together, a calm silence settling over them. They hadn’t yet known each other outside of the war. It would be nice to have the opportunity to spend real time together - alone. So Oscar enjoyed that silence, pleased at finally knowing how they felt, and once they had killed Erebus and everything was back to some level of normal, they’d have all the time in the world to spend talking.
Oscar smiled to himself, truly happy, despite all that had happened. For the first time in forever, he looked forward to the future.
~
Grace felt the sand between her toes as she approached her brother. He stood with his back to her, barely acknowledging the breeze brushing through his dark hair. She stopped beside him, the cool water having just reached the shore. Goosebumps freckled her skin, but she hardly seemed to notice as she peered up into Drew’s face.
There was no emotion on it. Nothing at all. He stared off into the distance, unseeing, unhearing, and unfeeling. But Grace knew the pain was on the inside. He was numb to the world. She understood that feeling. She hated that Drew had to go through it twice.
She didn’t speak a word to her twin. She simply stood there beside him, letting him know she was there for him should he need her. But no matter what, she wouldn’t let him push her away again. Not like last time. She realised how much he needed her, even if he didn’t think so or didn’t want to admit it.
She didn’t care what he said. He didn’t have to admit it, because she wasn’t going anywhere. He was her brother, and she would do anything for him.
So they stood there in silence, awaiting the final fight.
~
‘You were right,’ one of the Grand Court Witches, Armarni Walkfire, said to Stella and Leo.
Leo nearly wanted to roll his eyes. What, did they think they had been lying?
‘We were,’ Stella agreed.
They’d just spoken with the Emperor of the Gods. Not only had he confirmed the truth, that the Wicked were indeed on their side, but he had opened a portal, urging them to save Laura. Stella had come close to breaking down at hearing that. They knew that saving Laura meant killing her. It wasn’t even really her anymore. It was Erebus, using her body, her power. But still, it was hard to separate the two.
It was heartbreaking to know he would have to look at him and see her face. Her innocent smile. Leo hated himself for not having done more to protect her. She’d done so much for all of them. She’d sacrificed herself for a world she had never known about until recently. She’d always been so kind, so caring, and so generous.
Leo recalled his mother’s locket, the one he’d traded to Terian so Laura could finally have her answers. The one she’d then retrieved for him. He’d managed to save it from Alast. One night, on a mission, he’d discovered it in the ashes from one of the piles of their burnt items. Everything else had been destroyed – Kane’s notes and Laura’s mother’s journal, all their possessions, the lot of it. However the locket had survived.
He’d hidden it in under the floorboards in his hotel room and had taken it with him when they’d escaped. He’d worn it around his neck every day since. Laura had done that. There was every chance he wouldn’t have seen that locket again if she hadn’t have forced Terian to return it. She’d had such a kind soul, and thanks to Erebus, the world would never see that again. He never would see her again.
He and Stella were both struggling to come to terms with the knowledge that they’d failed the young girl that had come to them, desperately seeking their help. Their students had lost a dear friend, and they had lost a child. That’s how it felt, and Leo would never move on from the pain in his heart.
Yet he understood that they had one last opportunity to make things right before they said goodbye. Which meant that, since they at last had the portal open, they had to leave. They couldn’t spare any more time.
‘Rally everyone who’s coming. It’s time to leave,’ Leo said to the Grand Court Members.
He didn’t care that they were above him; that he was giving orders to his seniors. They weren’t coming with them to fight back against Erebus, so the least they could do was gather their army and bid them good luck.
The Grand Court Members seemed to realise that too, for they gave tight lipped nods and turned to alert everyone.
‘Let’s hope they start to run things differently once this whole thing is over,’ Stella muttered.
‘We might need to hold an election if not,’ Leo agreed.
The two of them glanced at one other, knowing the other was feeling anxiety, trepidation, anticipation and so many other things. Leo could also see the love in his Wife’s eyes, and he knew that he was radiating the same. He loved her with his whole heart, and once the war was officially over, he would make sure he gave her the life she deserved. Yes, there was much to overcome and accept after the things they’d each experienced, but they would do that together. And he would make sure she never faced a world so dark again. He would ensure her future was one of happiness and laughter.
~
Drew followed his sister back down the beach at Caspian’s call. It appeared the portal was ready. Soon, the rest of their group were walking with him, their feet slapping against the pavement as they made their way along the street towards the large, swirling blue portal. Armor was laid out on the ground for them to dress in and weapons were strewn about for everyone to take.
They would be leaving for Alast in under half an hour. Which meant that, in less than a few hours, it would probably all be over. The fight. The war. Erebus. All of it.
He didn’t know what he would do when he saw him. The world was still numb and he wasn’t even sure whether what was happening around him was real. But he would try to stay strong. For Laura.
And he would end Erebus once and for all, just as Laura had wanted.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The Last Stand
Alast looked different to the last time Logan had been there. The streets were empty of people, the houses dark and some boarded up. The new buildings the hostage Enchanted had begun remained unfinished, appearing much like that of crumbling castles. The old water fountain in the centre of town was cracked and dry of water.
It was difficult to see the once beautiful city so destroyed. The dirt and mud and debris that had lines the streets remained from the Rebel’s second escape plan, but the bodies were gone at least.
Logan kept pace with Grace and Mitch, their whole army slowly making their way up the streets. They could smell smoke in the distance, but so far they had been met with no resistance. They’d emerged from the portal on the beach, armed and ready to fight. But all had been quiet. All was still quiet.
Logan felt on edge, but he pushed the worry aside, knowing everyone was in the same boat.
‘Up there,’ someone whispered, pointing down another road where smoke could be seen rising in the distance.
Logan peered further beyond the smoke, and he could see it. The Grand Courts Hall. He knew in the pit of his stomach that that was where Erebus was. Everyone seemed to, for the tension thickened around them as they turned down the street and made their way towards the hall.
They were only metres away from the building when the Wicked arrived. They shot out of alleyways, some dove down from buildings. But they were there, and they were armed.
The world erupted in chaos as Lightning flared and weapons clashed. The quiet mourning became loud and unforgiving as Logan engaged with a Wicked. His sword slammed against theirs, and he pushed back against the force the Wicked had shoved behind his strike.
They parried for a moment, swords clashing back and forth before Logan managed to thrust past the Wicked’s defence and land a blow on his shoulder. The Wicked snarled and lunged, but Logan was ready, a dagger sneaking past the Wicked’s sword and driving its way into the Wicked’s chest. He stagg
ered, the force behind his blow lost, and blood flooded form his mouth.
Logan didn’t have time to worry. He didn’t even have the luxury of time to glance about and check on Grace. All he was able to do was pull back his dagger and shove the dying Wicked away from him. Then, he spun, readying his sword as he met the next Wicked’s attack.
~
Erebus sat atop the throne, waiting. He could hear the sounds of battle outside – the crashing of swords, the shouts of the dying. He relished in it as he waited. As he wondered. As he prepared for the end.
~
Laura could feel Erebus’s glee as he sat there, still as stone. He was calm for the first time in a long time. The anger was there, but it wasn’t as strong as it had always been. Laura knew it was time to set her plan into action. Slowly, she began worming her way into his mind.
~
Caspian knocked another arrow into place and let fire, hitting a Wicked in the leg. Oscar was there in an instant, driving his sword into the Wicked’s chest and finishing him. He shot Caspian a grin, and the two of them spun to face their next attack.
They were pushing the Wicked further and further back towards the Grand Courts Hall. They were close to the doors, but more Wicked were appearing, and they were the best of the best.
In a matter of mere seconds, Caspian had met the blade of another Wicked, thrusting his own weapon back unbalancing him. He faked left, then darted to the right, driving his sword through the Wizards ribs and up into his heart. He slumped, dead, and Caspian spun on the spot, ready for more.
One charged, and Caspian reached within himself, drawing on his lightning and firing it straight for the Wicked Wizard before they’d had the chance to hit him first. He could feel the Wicked’s fear as his lightning encased him, electrocuting him from the inside out.
From off to Caspian’s left, someone screamed, but Caspian couldn’t take his eyes away from the Wicked. The lightning snapped off and the Wicked collapsed to the ground, dead or close enough to it.
Then, something flickered in the corner of Caspian’s eye. He turned to see a dagger hurtling for his chest.
‘NO!’ Oscar shouted, and suddenly he was there, in front of Caspian.
The dagger struck Oscar straight where the heart was. He staggered backwards into Caspian, the both of them falling through the doors to the Grand Hall. They flung further open behind Caspian, and he hit the stone floor.
In an instant, he was scrambling out from under Oscar.
‘No, no, no. Oscar, come on,’ he cried frantically, noticing the blood seeping from the wound in Oscar’s chest and between his lips.
‘Caspian!’ Someone cried in the distance, and Caspian’s wild gaze shot up to see the Wicked that had thrown the dagger stampeding for them.
He reached for his bow and pulled an arrow from over his shoulder. It took him only a second to aim and fire, his arrow finding its mark in the Wicked’s neck. She stumbled backwards, then fell.
Caspian swivelled to Oscar to find his face growing pale. His hand was reaching out, and Caspian grasped it within his own. He could feel the tears prickling his eyes.
‘It’s fine. You’re fine. You’re going to be okay, okay? Just lay still. Don’t worry, okay? You’ll be fine,’ Caspian babbled, holding in the sobs that wanted to escape.
He knew he was talking nonsense. The dagger was in deep. It was in Oscar’s heart. He was losing too much blood.
Oscar was going to die, and there was nothing Caspian could do.
~
Stella turned away from Caspian, too pained to watch the boy lose Oscar. She’d seen the Witch scream when Caspian had killed the Wizard – someone she must have cared about. She’d tried hard to break through the fighting to make it to Caspian. Oscar had reached him first.
Then another Wicked was attacking Stella, and she’d only had a chance to cry out a warning to Caspian. She’d killed the Wicked, but already there was another upon her.
She pulled her sword around, arcing it across the air and driving it through the Wicked’s neck. Fury over took her entire being as she continued to catch glimpses of Caspian fighting off any Wicked that came close to he and Oscar.
Then, she saw Logan. He was wielding his weapons against two Wicked, holding them at bay. But he didn’t notice the third sneaking up behind him.
Her heart was hammering in her chest, and she pulled a dagger from her boot, letting it fly for the Wicked. But another Wicked showed up in her line of fire, and it hit him square in the throat, sending him sprawling to the ground. As he slammed into the earth, Stella watched the Witch stab her sword straight down into the back of Logan’s kneecap.
He cried out in agony and fell, and the Witch twisted her dagger and dragged it upwards, tearing through flesh, bone and muscle.
Stella was running, panic ripping through her. She would not lose Logan too. She would not.
Out of the corner of Stella’s eye, someone else was charging across the grass, black hair flying out behind her. Grace dove for the Wicked, driving her sword straight down into her chest, killing her in an instant. She didn’t hesitate, reaching for a dagger and slamming it into another Wicked.
Stella leapt over the dead Witch and skidded to a halt beside Logan, bringing her sword up and smashing it down into the third Wicked’s chest. She twisted the weapon, letting loose a low, angry growl, before pulling it back from the Wicked’s body. She grit her teeth, turning as another Wicked approached, killing them with a single blow.
Then, Leo was there, and the two of them formed a barrier as Grace tried to help Logan up from the ground.
Stella could hear his pleas, could feel the pain in his voice. She fought on. Wicked after Wicked fell, and slowly, they managed to push them away from Grace and Logan.
Stella glanced only once at them, and wished she hadn’t. There was too much blood.
Setting her stance, she and her husband held their ground. She was not going to let Logan die if it was the last thing she did.
~
Drew found a rage within him he never knew existed. It fuelled him in a way he never imagined possible. He was fast as he cut and sliced and danced through the Wicked. He was aiming for the doors to the Grand Hall. He had to see her. Him. Erebus.
A Wicked arrived in the corner of his eye, and he raised his sword in time to deflect the lightning that shot his way. It rebounded, striking another Wicked, sending them staggering, and Drew pulled a dagger from his belt – his second to last one – and let it fly. It struck the Wicked in the arm.
He released his sword, and ducked below the lightning, charging towards the Wicked and finishing him before setting his sights on the one still firing lightning at him. He couldn’t use his last dagger. He was saving it. So he dug within himself, and released his own lightning, sending it straight towards the Wicked.
The Wicked dodged it, but it was enough to throw him off and halt his own line of lightning. Drew took the opportunity and dove in close, driving his sword straight into the Wicked’s heart. A strange gurgling sound escaped him as Drew pulled back his weapon and took off.
The doors were wide open, and the Wicked were all occupied by the fight. It was his chance at last. He had to kill Erebus, once and for all.
He passed through the door, spotting Stella and Leo protecting Grace as she tried to help an injured Logan to his feet, seeing Mitch and Gemma back to back, warding off Wicked after Wicked, glimpsing Caspian protecting Oscar who was bleeding out on the ground, and witnessing the other Enchanted and Casters and Creatures and Mariadies all fighting back against the Wicked.
Too many were dying. His friends included. All because of Erebus. All because of one man who wanted to rule the world.
Drew’s feet slowed as he emerged into the hall. There, sitting on the brand new, stone throne, was Laura. No. Not Laura. Erebus.
The sight hit him harder than he thought. His knees were weak and his heart thumped against his chest. Pain, sadness, anger, it all flooded his thoughts. But he couldn
’t let them take over. He wouldn’t.
He took a step towards Erebus, who watched him with a satisfied smile on Laura’s face. He took another step. Another. Until he was standing before the man who had taken so much from everyone.
He reached for his dagger.
Chapter Twenty-Four
A Single Choice, A Last Breath
Laura stared at Drew, and she was heartbroken at the despair in his eyes, the anguished look on his face. He was covered in blood, mud and he seemed to be exhausted. She wanted to tell him she was there. She was alive. But that would be cruel.
Erebus stood, and Laura dug the claws of her thoughts deep into his pathetic mind.
‘I suppose you’re here to kill me,’ Erebus said, his voice passing through her lips, deep and malicious. ‘How will you manage that? Killing the love of your life, hmm?’
Drew gritted his teeth, biting back whatever he wanted to say. Laura could see it then. The determination. The regret. The knowing. She understood he’d come to kill Erebus.
Laura didn’t blame him. She knew he didn’t realise she was still there. She knew he thought he had to do it for her, for she’d asked him to do that very thing once. But she wished she could speak to him. Could tell him it was going to be all right. That he wouldn’t have to live with her blood on his hands.
Because she had to be the one to end it. It had always been her. Terian had told her, had shown her, which had led to his own death. He’d sacrificed himself so she could understand the truth. He’d told her to keep her weapon close – no matter what, then he’d allowed himself to die on purpose so she could see what had been in front of her all along.
Laura saw past Drew, where Caspian desperately fended of the Wicked, protecting Oscar, past the doors where Stella, Leo, Mitch and Gemma had formed a barrier around Grace and Logan. Her friends. Her family. She could not allow them to die. She could not allow Erebus to take over Elixir.
Laura stared in shock as a Wicked lunged for Stella, and out of nowhere, Megan dove in front of her. She watched as the sword sliced straight through Megan’s neck, killing her in one single blow. She saw Stella, splattered in the Chief of the Caster’s blood, scream so loudly as she rammed her sword into the Wicked’s stomach.
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