Halfblood Legacy

by Rheaume, Laura

  He was stronger than before, but he was already being polluted by Mercy’s misguided act. She ignored his cries and used their physical closeness to strengthen the bond between them. Then she borrowed his power and forced him to break the connection between himself and Mercy. With his renewed strength and her knowledge, they were able to shear off her cord and the intoxicating but indescribably dangerous power that it carried.

  Jaelyn recognized Ian’s signature in the thick cord that began with a tentative prod and then advanced to a directed, heavy attack on Mercy’s shield. It had no effect.

  The cord turned and touched her.

  Jaelyn, what have you done to Mercy? Make her stop!

  I have tried. She acts on her own, now. She will taint them all. Stop her if you can. It is out of my hands. Then she broke away from him. She had more pressing concerns.

  Having safeguarded her son from Mercy, Jaelyn began the next stage. She opened her own conduit to him and urged him to take what remained of her life. Here, love, finish what was started and live.

  Mother! Not you! I couldn’t…

  Why not? It is a mother’s place to care for her child.

  Please...no… The hand moved in hers, but he was too weak physically to do more than squirm.

  Gently, she rubbed her thumb back and forth across his skin. Then she forced him to consume. There is no need for guilt or sorrow. You must concentrate on my will: live.

  If his body would have let him, he would have cried. As it was, he could only shake and make a pitiable moaning sound. Mother. Don’t leave me alone.

  There was no way she could avoid that, so she didn’t try to. You will be the last, my son. Your brothers and sisters will be hurt after this. If you can, you must try to help them. If it cannot be done...She squeezed her eyes shut and laid her head down on the cold ground...Then...do what you think is best. Perhaps you should leave them for the Humans to deal with, since it is a Human who brings the disaster down upon them.

  Ian’s cords slipped under the sides of the column and it started to rise. Mercy’s shield spread out from her body, passing over and then enclosing Jaelyn and Edillian, and past the column, pushing Ian’s power away from the barrier. The column dropped back down to the ground. Inside Mercy’s shield, it was quiet. Jaelyn couldn’t detect any outside power fluctuations or hear any noises. If they attacked, Jaelyn had no knowledge of it.

  That was it, then. None of them could stop her.

  She stared upward at the mangled machinery in the roof: intricate, brilliantly designed engineering marvels that were designed to do one thing. Pushed beyond their capacity, they were rendered useless.

  She curled up on her side. The ground felt good on her skin. It cooled her. Her flushed cheeks were soothed by it. Then the heat from the rest of her body started to flow towards it. Her thoughts started to slow down, along with her breathing and her heart. The hold over his mind, the one that kept him in a slightly confused state started to weaken. She could no longer keep him from understanding what was happening around him.

  Mother...what is happening...to Mercy?

  She gives her life. Jaelyn’s thoughts slowed further, and as they approached the point where they would stop, she suddenly began to see. She understood it now: the vast expanse of time. It wasn’t a river that she could watch racing down a channel. It was a great lake that lay over the land, over them all…

  I...I don’t want that...

  It didn’t move at all. It was still. And, it connected everything.

  Mother...It hurts...

  Time wasn’t the smooth surface of the lake, it extended in all directions, high into the sky, deep into the earth, far out, past their planet. It wasn’t flat. It was deep.

  I can’t...Mother, I can’t...let...

  She didn’t know it at the time, but she had been touching this point in time when she had manipulated Mercy into saying those words in the cab of the truck: “Yes, I would. I would give my life, to save someone else.” And right now, the point that they hovered in was connected to a thousand, a million points that to her occurred before and after now but for the lake of time always just were. She saw that everything that had happened touched something that would happen and vice versa.

  She followed the points that were stamped with her son’s presence; gratifyingly enough, there were a large number of them. A long life, a full life, a good life. A family, friends, a purpose worthy of a son of her people. She witnessed the effects of the lifesharing with Scythe, how it built him up, how it gave him the tools to overcome challenges, how it limited him. She saw that in some ways, Scythe was and would be a better parent than she had been, a true father to him.

  Mother...I can’t let that happen...

  She saw words that he would hold close, words that she hadn’t said yet.

  …to My Mercy.

  No. He couldn’t. Because of who he was. Her son. A fine, honorable man.

  Her heavy body did not even twitch, although Edillian’s did, when the longcall surprisingly made it through the girl’s shield and into the chamber. Mercy!

  Because it was disconnected from him, it was without true substance and faded almost immediately. Still, to have made it past Mercy’s power was impressive. Jaelyn hadn’t known that Scythe was capable of such control, nor could she imagine where he had learned the technique. He might have come up with it himself, because the word was dripping with evidence of the novice’s lack of control: the emotions of the sender. Jaelyn and Edillian both felt the depth of the agony and desperation, and without a doubt Mercy, in whatever hole she had hidden herself, had heard it and felt it as well. It didn’t matter in any case, because Mercy didn’t respond. She couldn’t. She had been bound to her promise by Jaelyn’s power, and Jaelyn no longer had the strength to unbind her.

  So many mistakes.

  Jaelyn longed to rest, and her rest called to her, so she bundled up her child one more time, pulling the blanket close around him, tucking it in at the edges to keep even the most persistent breeze from sneaking in at the gaps and chilling him. Then she kissed his forehead and looked into his eyes.

  Remember who you are, mighty son of a great people. Wield with honor our blood, our gifts, our strength, our ingenuity and our love. Do not falter.

  Then, Jaelyn let go of her body and flew into the arms of her son.

  -----------

  Mother, will I get to leave here now? I’ve been waiting…

  Yes.

  Me, too. I’ve been waiting longer…

  I don’t like it here, but she never lets us out.

  That’s not true. Many have left.

  I don’t remember…

  That’s because you always sleep.

  Mother...I want to go now.

  Soon.

  Another one awoke, right on the heels of the last, and Mercy sent him the same gentle thoughts to soften the jarring experience as she had to the last twenty. Most of them quietly waited, watched and concentrated on their own healing, but a few were more precocious.

  She had planned to wait until they were all awake, but that would be impossible. She knew that she would be dead before then. She could only hope that those who still slept would be able to awaken later. She had thought that waking up was a good sign, that it meant they were gaining enough power to survive on their own, but some of the ones that still slept had improved faster than some who were up; their bodies were stronger and their power was deeper. It was clear that each child was very individual and would recover differently.

  She wasn’t in a position to fully meet all their needs, since her time and resources were limited, but she did her best, trying to monitor each as closely as she could. She passed by each child, checking on its progress and giving reassurance if they were conscious of her.

  She had one more round in her.

  Gilian was one of the strongest, perhaps because from the moment he gained consciousness he had started working, joining her in repairing his body, focusing the power to places he most n
eeded it. A quiet boy, he hadn’t spoken to her once, but she could feel him, was connected to him and knew him pretty well already. Diligent, thoughtful, shy…She hugged him and moved on.

  The next five were still asleep, so she didn’t know them. She checked them over, gave each a gentle caress, and continued.

  Forty-five more. She could make it. She told herself she could make it.

  Mother...will you show us another memory?

  Not now, darling. Mommy is working. You’ll be making your own memories very soon.

  But I like yours.

  Me, too.

  Yeah.

  Please!

  She was so tired, but she wouldn’t let herself stop, especially now that she had connected with them. Their lives were precious to her. Even though it meant hurting people that she loved, she knew that she had made the right choice the moment the first had gained consciousness and called out to her.

  Hirian was one that had only just come awake and was still scared and confused. She held him for a moment, soothing him with soft words and images of the people she loved; she assured him that they would be waiting for him and would take good care of him. Then she moved on.

  Momma, just one!

  Alright. She sent them an image of sitting by a fire they had made on the beach years ago. They had been playing in the water for hours beforehand, until it had gotten too cold and they had been forced to get out. She huddled under her towel with her feet as close to the warmth as she could get without burning them. It was a tricky balance to maintain, finding just the right place that was not too hot but still warm enough. She had two marshmallows roasting on a stick over the flames. A third had fallen in earlier with a lot of help from her brother Will, who was more interested in a sword fighting game he had invented than in making tasty snacks. Across from the fire, her mom and dad sat in short chairs, talking and laughing together.

  Will we get to go to the beach, too?

  I hope so.

  Thirty more. By now, she knew she wasn’t going to make it, but she had checked on all of the rest a few times before and had done what she could for them. They all looked good to her: they were growing healthier by the minute and their power levels, while low, were not at the dangerous levels they had been at when she had started. Most importantly, the energy stayed constant or improved and hadn’t dipped down in any of them. As soon as she completed the procedure, they would be able to build up their levels with rest, excellent care, and healthy food.

  They were going to live, and no one else would be forced to give their lives. It was everything that Mercy wanted.

  Her heart skipped a beat, but she ignored it.

  It was about to get tight. Her shield would disappear out of necessity when she gave them the last of what they needed. She had a plan for preventing her family from interfering, but it was sketchy at best. She had kept aside just enough power to send out a fairly strong wave, just at the end. She was hoping it would stun anyone sufficiently close to make a difference for long enough for her to…

  Mercy.

  She was so shocked that her reaction startled several of the children.

  Edillian! What do you want? she asked, broadcasting a reassuring message to those who needed it.

  Mercy, you’ve made a huge mistake and injured my brothers and sisters. His presence was quiet but, unlike before, infused with vitality. She could tell right away that there was a force behind him now that wasn’t there when she had fought with him.

  What? How? She felt the drain on her body. Her time was running out…

  Each of us needs a separate donor…

  Donor? Don’t you mean sacrifice?

  ...in order to be treated completely. If it could have been done with less, don’t you think my mother would have done so long ago?

  I don’t know what she was thinking, do I? Besides, they look good, Edillian.

  No. It is an atrocity, what you are doing. You must stop, before it’s too late, and let me try to return them to the sleep of our people if I can.

  A host of voices shouted out at him, denying his words.

  No!

  No, I want to live.

  Mother…

  No. No! Mother promised we could leave.

  Mommy, please!

  They are almost revived… she insisted.

  No. They are almost destroyed.

  The children were taking the power that she had set aside for the distraction. If she didn’t do it now, she was going to have to face her family at her weakest. However, Edillian’s insistent arguments worried her. He was very sure of himself. She wondered if it was true that she was destroying them. But, how?

  She tried to slow down the drain on her well, to give herself time to think about what Edillian was saying.

  No, mother! Don’t listen to him!

  Mommy!

  No, I’m hungry!

  I’m hungry, too!

  I’m hungry!

  She could feel it, then, for the first time: the ache that so many of them carried within themselves. It had started as a mild hunger, but it had progressed as they had grown stronger until it ravenously tore at their insides. It was kept satisfied as long as she fed it with her power, but when she limited the flow of her power, it reared its head.

  What is that? she exclaimed. When he didn’t answer, she shouted at him, Edillian! What is that?

  She heard his answer, although he didn’t speak to her. He was distracted, as if he were involved in something more important and was only partially there with her. However, the thought that he was too busy, or reluctant, to frame into words still hovered in his mind: Death.

  Mother, I’m hungry. Please, let me have more.

  NO! I want it!

  Momma said that I could...let me!

  I’m so hungry, mother. Please…

  It hurts...make it stop, mother!

  Give me...give it to me now!

  Mercy was terrified by what she was feeling. Over half of her children were circling, moving in on her. They weren’t content to wait for what they would receive. They were coming for it. Driven by the instinctive desire to live and by the sharp hunger that was jabbing at their insides, their gentle spirits disappeared and were replaced by more bestial personalities.

  The ones that hung back still retained their identities, still remembered themselves and her. They were no less hungry than their siblings, but they hadn’t become one of the wolves yet. Some had started to cry. Some, like Gilian, just kept working on their bodies with what little power they were being given. All of them were afraid for their mother.

  The rest, the monsters, were afraid for themselves.

  I’ll have it! As soon as the first one lunged for her, the rest dove in after.

  She didn’t have the time to do anything about it, or even think about it. She barely had time for an, Oh.

  Thirty-six starving young lives without minds began to consume the last of Mercy Young. Her shield failed immediately, and then she fell.

  MERCY! That hot word singed her, startling her awake, and then he reached out and held onto her with his burning thoughts. He created a tether that kept her from floating away. However, the pull on her was greater than he was, and the tether began to stretch.

  My love, she greeted him weakly. How sweet his voice was. A fragrant summer breeze. A soft, warm comforter that she snuggled into in the winter. A cleansing cool rain that tickled her skin. A field bursting with green. Everything...just everything that she loved. She tried to wrap herself around him and hold him close, but she didn’t have arms. She didn’t even have a body.

  Mercy. Stay with me. Small flames licked her with each word, but they didn’t hurt. Nothing could hurt her now.

  Stay with me. That was a strange thing to say. She was always with him, even when he was far. She never left his side. When she studied, he sat behind her, silent and approving. When she ate, she shared her meal with him. When she trained, he pushed her with a calm Again. When she dreamed, she felt his hand in
hers. When she saw, he held her tightly and whispered soothingly until it was over. When she walked forward, she walked into his arms. When she looked back, she saw all the things they shared. When she suffered, didn’t he comfort her? When she was lost, didn’t he come for her?

  They had reached the cache, the last remaining part of her power. Each of them grabbed onto it and pulled. When no one could wrest it from the others, they tried to break off pieces of it, but it would not be broken. It would not split. That was when Mercy understood her mistake. That was what Edillian had been talking about. She couldn’t save them because the greatest piece of her, the key piece, couldn’t be broken down and shared among them. Mercy Young could only save one child. The rest...would be lost.

  Another entity took a hold, pushing his way to her through them. He couldn’t knock them off, because they had closed their teeth over her and locked their jaws, but he could clamp down and stake his own claim.

  She tried to speak, but she didn’t have a voice. She tried to think, but she couldn’t shape a thought. She didn’t have anything left, but, amazingly, she still had Scythe.

  Mercy...I won’t let you go.

  He was looking for something, rifling around in her mind. She didn’t care what he was up to, she just liked the quivering sensation she felt when his mind brushed against hers.

  What is this? A promise? Show me your promise.

  It blared in the darkness, each sound a link in the chain that held her: “Yes, I would. I would give my life, to save someone else.”

  He was infuriated with her for having said that. His temper flared in the void and she watched it. It was like fireworks lighting up the sky. She smiled. He was magnificent.

  Your life wasn’t yours to give. It has always been mine, hasn’t it?

  ...?

  Yes. You gave me your favor long ago. You wrapped it up with your power and made a safe place for it in my body and handed it over to me. I have held it ever since, although it was hidden from me for a long time, and I...I won’t let you take it back. This promise...you shouldn’t have done this, Mercy.