I want my children, the voice said again.
Sadie felt it this time, in both her heart and mind. Grimm held Sadie flush to the wall with one arm as he snapped his fingers on the other hand.
“Get ready; this is going to be phenomenal,” he said, almost giggling.
A blast equivalent to a volcanic burst shot forth from the pit. The heat alone made Sadie feel her hair and eyebrows to make sure they were still there. Then a roar that shook the stones of the dungeon and made small bits of dust and debris fall from the walls and ceiling bellowed from within the intense fire.
Sadie was not afraid, for once, and she found this to be empowering. A large, black, clawed hand slowly emerged from the flames. It held the side of the pit, unsteady, feeling around as another appeared. Slowly, a figure began to rise up within the flames, pulled by the hands on the rim. The shape was enormous, with two immense wings, and the black outline of it belied nothing of what they were about to see. Sadie inhaled, and this time didn’t choke on the burnt flesh smell that hung thick in the air.
Grimm stepped forward to face the shadowy figure still hidden, engulfed in the inferno. He knelt on one knee, raised both hands skyward and began to speak.
“I have given you the power to live and breathe without the Core beating inside of you. For the first time ever, you can walk the earth and other realms in your one true form. You can exist without the burden of the Core. I am your Master; your creator of new and this is your birth. I command you to do my bidding,” he said to the fiery figure.
A low, slow rumble shook the floor. The walls began to drop bits of stone and the Core fell from its pedestal. It rolled precariously towards the edge of the cavity, which now resembled a crater more than fire pit. One of the clawed hands reached out and grabbed the Core quite delicately for such grotesque and mutilated hands. The shape in the fire began to come closer to the forefront until it began to slowly emerge from the flames. Sadie’s eyes opened wide, watching its every move.
I want my kindred spirits, she heard the disembodied voice say.
But this time she knew it was the creature in the flames. And it was only speaking to her. It wanted the evil souls contained in the Ataraxia Heart, and it knew she had it.
If only I knew where it was, she thought. Oh, what I could do.
With the Core in one hand and the other pulling itself from the pit of fire, the creature emerged to show itself wholly. It was colossal, rippling with muscle and authority. Sadie wondered if it would burst the ceiling of the dungeon they all occupied and crush them all.
It looked almost human, save for the two spiraling, twisting horns protruding from its head and the large black leathery wings with matching black skin. It took a step with its cloven hoof out of the pit and came into full view. Impressive, intimidating with its size and appearance, Sadie still was not afraid. She looked at her mother and Tara, whose eyes were stricken with fear. She looked at Grimm, who was grinning wickedly with pride at what he had accomplished.
Give me what’s mine, she heard in her head.
Watching intensely, the beast surveyed those in the room. Its hooves clopping and echoing on the stone floor, it turned to survey its surroundings and stopped to face Grimm.
“Bow before me, Seether; I am your maker,” Grimm said with authority. “And you can stop worrying about the Core; you don’t need it to exist anymore. I told you, I’ll be its keeper from now on.”
The beast hesitated and then looked to the ceiling and let loose a loud bawl. It shook its head and sparks flew from its horns. It spread its wings, sending a gush of heated air across the room. Lowering its gaze, it looked directly at Sadie for several moments before turning to face Grimm.
“Fool, infidel, and weak little imposter. I answer to no one. You are but a cat, a kitten, fraudulently hiding in a man’s form. I banish you to your true form without return to this guise for all eternity,” the creature said.
Grimm began to contort and writhe in pain. He grabbed his head, then his chest, and fell to his knees. Dropping down on all fours he began to shrink and was lost in his clothing. A cat’s tail snaked forth from a leg of the trousers, twitching with aggravation. Roiling with pain and anguish, he had turned from man to the cat they all knew.
When the transformation was complete, Grimm the cat disappeared into the shadows at the far reaches of the room. The denunciation of Grimm had also broken his spells, and Tara and Adrienne were released from their bindings. They held each other as they cowered in fear, along with Grimm, against a far wall. The beast seemed satisfied and not bothered by them, and turned his attentions to Sadie.
“I haven’t walked this Earth for thousands of years. It feels strange, but satisfying,” he said, flexing his wings and stretching his back. Grabbing hold of the Core, he raised it to look at it more closely. “Now, I can be whole again,” he said moving the Core to directly in front of his chest.
Taking one of his long, sharp claws he sliced open his chest to reveal an empty dark cavity behind his ribs. He inserted the Core, which began to pulse like the beat of a heart. His chest sealed itself, and the Core could be seen under his dark, black leathery flesh, pulsing and throbbing.
“Just as you are whole, so am I. No one can really live without their Heart. Yes, you did see me rise up out of the pit without it, but what you saw was the shell of me, a zombie if you will, under that imposter’s command. Now, I’m whole once again. Had it not been for my desire to be free from my prison, I would have never have bargained with such an infidel.
“But I knew he’d slip up soon enough, and I could be wholly free once again. Imagine for a moment, girl, what we could accomplish should we take each other’s burdens, each other’s cross in life to bear. Are you not the least bit curious?”
Sadie felt a wave of discovery ripple through her body and once again, she knew. The Ataraxia Heart was within her; it was her Heart. The implications of this finding were immense and brought her to her knees as the newest surge of energy and knowing raged inside her. For the first time in her life, Sadie believed in herself. For the first time in her life, Sadie was confident and sure. For the first time in her life, she felt strong. The beast smiled down on her.
“It is good to see such devotion,” he growled, “but this act of false commitment stops here. You may have fooled the imprudent and grasping cat, but not me. I know within you lies my failure, my fallen comrades. You hold my brethren inside that Heart of yours.
“I cannot kill you, for it will send them to the unknown forever, and I wish them to stand side by side with me as I take back the night and bring darkness to the world once again. Light has ruled for too long. Now, it’s my turn. I’ve been locked away for too long. You have contained in you some of the most powerful, dark demons and forces that have ever come into existence.
“I need you to release them willingly. I command you to do so or be imprisoned in my flames without end—or at least until I find a way to let them loose from your Heart myself. I’m asking for your Heart, Sadie, but what I really want is your soul.”
Sadie kept her eyes to the floor. She could feel the many evil, corrupt souls pounding on the walls of her Heart, imploring release. Simultaneously, she heard the pure, wholesome souls that were trapped within the Core, begging her for her help. It just didn’t seem fair.
Her body rippled with energy coursing through every vein, and she felt power to her center. She felt her talisman vibrating inside her pocket. She could feel the fear in her mother, in Tara, and in Grimm. She could feel the power emanating from the Seether. In her mind’s eye she saw the battle raging outside between the Guild and the Syndicate; she saw the battles all over the world between the two. And the death and destruction it was causing. Humans, magikal being and creatures, both good and evil, and nature, were being destroyed in huge quantities and on enormous levels.
She bristled with knowledge, and right then, right there she knew what had to be done. Rising slowly, she lifted her head and stared into the eyes
of the beast. Turning to face her mother and Tara, her mother imploring her with her tears and Tara looking down at the floor in what some may have thought to be a nod. Grimm cowered at their legs. Turning back to face the beast, she was resolute in her conviction.
Raising her hand to her chest, the beast nodded satisfaction. She began her task and then she hesitated, realizing she didn’t have the sharp, steely claws of the beast or a knife to do the job. She spied a long, deadly spear attached to the wall and removed it forcefully with magik, drawing it to her. Grasping the spear tightly she walked towards the Seether to complete her task. Reaching him, standing directly in front of him, she began to speak.
“I am yours to command, and I freely give you my Heart,” she said.
The beast grinned maliciously, shutting his eyes tightly, and raising his head to howl his contentment. Within a flash and seeing her opening, Sadie rammed the spear into his chest and hugged him tightly, Heart to Heart.
A massive explosion accompanied by blinding white light filled the dungeon room. Tara and Adrienne were knocked unconscious as they were slammed against the crumbling stones and fell to the floor. Grimm curled up tightly in a ball and was flung up against the wall as well, knocking him out in the process.
Sadie felt the souls of a million beings, both good and evil, flood through her body, touching her very existence. Simultaneously, she felt love and hate, sorrow and joy; she wanted to laugh and cry; when she could take no more when she truly felt as though she would explode, she and the beast were separated by a force more powerful than any the Earth had ever seen before. Everything went black for Sadie as the dungeon, the town of Cranberry Grove and the land for several miles around lay in ruins.
* * *
Blinking her eyes, Sadie saw the blue sky above her. Sprinklings of clouds drifted lazily across the heavens and the air felt warm and inviting. A twinge of pain made her put her hand to her temples; and as she did, she remembered. Her stomach lurched, and she knew she had to find her mother and Tara. She tried to move and found her legs pinned under stone debris. Sitting up slowly, she wiggled out from under the rubble and began to look around.
“MOM!” she called, but got no answer.
She got up, feeling slightly wobbly, and started to search through the debris. Stepping over what remained of iron dungeon bars, she spotted her mother and Tara, holding each other and laying in a heap against some wreckage. She ran to them, nervous at what she might find.
“MOM, please, wake up, it’s over. Please, oh, please, don’t be dead. Not now, not after everything, I can’t lose you again,” she said through blinding tears.
Hugging her mother tightly, Sadie cried into her dust-laden hair. She felt an arm on her shoulder and opened her tear-filled eyes to see Tara trying to regain full consciousness.
“Oh, Tara, I think Mom’s dead; she won’t wake up,” cried Sadie.
“Adrienne, open your eyes. It’s over, Sadie has saved us all,” Tara said in a raspy voice.
Slowly, Adrienne stirred. She blinked her eyes and tried to focus on what was in front of her. Sadie cried harder with happiness and hugged her mother tightly.
“I thought I’d lost you again,” she sobbed.
Adrienne hugged Sadie as she also choked back sobs.
“I thought I’d lost you. You were so convincing back there. If Tara had not read your mind and then told me what was going on when the beast was beckoning you, I would have sworn you’d crossed over to the dark side. And your powers, the Heart must have given them to you full force, without the three years transformation. You’re such a powerful little witch, and the first of your kind. “Imagine, my daughter, the only thirteen-year-old witch to ever exist. I’m so proud of you, Sadie. You’ve saved us all from the Seether and from evil. You’ve discovered the Heart and used it for its true purpose to destroy evil. But, how did you live and the Seether didn’t? Or is he….”
“The Seether is still alive somewhere. I can feel him. But don’t worry, we need that balance, remember? And all the souls the Heart held and the Core held, they’ve all been released and moved on. I can feel it. I know. I don’t know where they went, but they’re gone now. The Seether is still there; we need the balance.
“Though, from what I feel, it’ll be a while before he can do any real damage,” said Sadie. “Plus, I don’t know if you’re gonna be mad at this or not, but the Ataraxia Heart and the Core were destroyed when I did what I did.”
“Oh, Ladybug, how could I be mad? You saved us; you saved everything from imminent destruction. I never thought it was right for so many good souls to be contained instead of moving on. The bad souls—yes, but not the good ones. I’m sure they’re all where they need to be now,” replied Sadie’s mother with happiness in her eyes.
“Speaking of destruction, we’ve got to get out of here and find the Three so we can make this right. If you haven’t noticed, Cranberry Grove doesn’t look so good. Who knows how far this damage reaches. The Three have to put things back the way they were or humans will begin their witch hunts again, blaming us for all of this,” said Tara.
Standing up and helping her mother as well, Sadie gave Tara a hug once she was on her feet. The three stood, surveying the damage and shaking off the dust. Sadie spotted something amidst the rabble.
“Look, over there; it’s Grimm. Do you think he’s dead?”
The three walked to where the body of Grimm lay, sprawled out like a cat that had been hit by a car on the side of the road. Sadie knelt beside him and stroked his fur. Even though he was found to be the leader of the Syndicate, had released the Seether, and was basically rotten to the core, something about seeing him lying there made Sadie want to pet him. It was as if she felt sorry for him.
Grimm opened his eyes and jumped to his feet, alarmed. He staggered a bit, trying to regain his composure. He looked up at Tara and Adrienne and then came to look at Sadie.
“Sadie, thank the gods you were able to stop him. I had no idea the power I unleashed when I made him whole. It was the catnip; it was the human energy, my addiction became out of control. I need help. I was wrong; you can’t control such immense evil. I was wrong to try. I’m sorry,” he said.
“I understand—to a certain extent. But why did you do it, Grimm? That’s what I don’t understand.” Sadie asked.
“You mean besides not being in my right mind from all the catnip and stolen human energy? Well, I’ve always wanted to be human—for as long as I can remember. Humans can do so much more than a cat can. Humans have free will and minds; cats have an owner. That’s how it started at least, and then things got out of control the more I…imbibed.”
“Oh, Grimm, I used to be the same way, minus the addictions, that is. I always wanted to be someone I wasn’t. To have things I didn’t have. I was never happy with myself or my life. But the one thing I’ve learned from all of this is that you need to accept and love yourself for who you are. Everything else will follow if you do that.”
“I think you’re right, Sadie. I’m really sorry. I guess I need help.”
Sadie wanted to believe him, yet something didn’t quite feel right inside her. She looked up to her mother and Tara for an answer.
“What should we do?” she asked.
“Let’s take this traitor to the Three so they can decide what to do with him. It’s not up to us. He must be locked away,” said Tara.
“No, Sadie, don’t let them take me. The Three will put me in the box and that will surely kill me. Please, Sadie. I didn’t kill you when I could have; I simply switched the teas that night back there in the bookstore. Please, Sadie, let me go so I can…change…on my own terms.”
“No, he has to pay the consequences for what he’s done,” replied Adrienne.
“You think?” It was all Grimm said, or rather asked, as he immediately vanished.
“He must have been buying some time to get his strength back so he could vanish. I thought something didn’t quite feel right,” Sadie sighed.
“
Forget about him. I think he’s learned his lesson. I think he’s learned he will never dominate anyone or anything ever again. Plus, remember, the Seether banished him from glamouring himself as a man, so he can’t lead the Syndicate anymore. That organization is going to be in chaos for a long time, battling amongst themselves for the role of master if they even continue on.
“And I’m sure they’ll be plenty mad that they were duped by a cat—a magikal cat, at that. The very thing they stand to fight was in their midst and leading them. They’ll be out to get him in numbers. We’ll not have to worry about them or Grimm for some time…or the Seether, thanks to my all-powerful daughter,” Adrienne said. “The Seether is probably licking his wounds as we speak and terribly mad he no longer has the Core. Without it, he’ll have to come up with another way to steal innocent souls.”
Adrienne MacDougall took her daughter by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes. She cleared her throat before speaking and got down on one knee.
“Sadie, I have to know, why did you do what you did to Zeno?”
Sadie smiled. When she did, Adrienne looked horrified. Tara, as usual, looked down at the ground.
“MOM! No! I would never have…I’m smiling ‘cause Zeno is alive! That ring he gave me had special powers attached to it. When I finally felt the Heart inside me, it told me things, gave me knowledge.
“That ring was magikked by the Source itself. It had the power to grant a second chance at life. I knew if my plan were to work, I had to make it look like I was willing to kill Zeno. That’s why he simply disappeared in the flames. It wasn’t because Grimm’s magik wasn’t working right; it was because it worked like the magik of a Phoenix.
“Zeno has risen from the flames, like a Phoenix. Oh, he’s alive and well, somewhere. That’s the only part I don’t know, where he is.”
Adrienne squeezed her daughter tightly. Tara smoothed the back of Sadie’s head.
“Oh, Sadie, I was a little worried. You can be so…convincing in your actions. I was afraid you sacrificed him to save us or that you, well, I don’t know. I’m just glad things worked out the way they did, or I don’t know what kind of trouble we’d all be in right now,” said Adrienne.
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