"What?" Horrified, she glanced at Colby who stared at her like she was a stranger. His eyes pinched inward; he was trying to tell her something and had no idea that the Meghan in front of him could not hear him.
Yup, this plan was going to the crapper, fast.
Even KarNavan appeared shocked by this turn of Fazendiin's. But he had no say.
"You have proven yourself to be the stronger child. I should have chosen you from the beginning, Meghan. So now, it's your choice."
"Why do you think I would ever do that? That I would ever join you? You'll just kill him anyway. Or me. Or both of us, to get what you want."
Her father inched closer. "I. Always. Have. Another. Plan." His eyes rolled to the pile of stones and back to her fierce blue determined stare. "I can spare your brother's life, Meghan. And yours. You simply need to say yes."
"That easy?" she mocked. "Just say yes."
"Well, there are a few other formalities…" he waved them off. "But who needs a King when they can have a Queen? Just think of it. Limitless power to do anything you could possibly imagine."
"That's not an enticement." This was Fazendiin playing against humanity just as he always did, even though he put no stock in it himself. "Projector's already have such power, and look what kind of nightmare that is." She spread her gaze to see Colby looking completely befuddled, but continued to ignore him.
"Uncontrolled power," Fazendiin corrected. "The power I offer is not the same. I am curious though, what would it take for you to say yes?"
That question surprised and delighted her. He was getting desperate even though it was a subtle showing.
"There is nothing in existence you could offer me, to take up arms with you." He sneered at her declaration. "Did I say that clear enough for you? Shall I repeat it? The answer is always going to be no. Face it, none of your children want anything to do with you, or your future. And you know why?" She smiled over at Colby. "They've chosen love and loyalty, over you, and your so-called power."
Fazendiin scoffed. "Everyone has a price." And he intended on finding hers.
Meghan straightened herself. "You're right. They do."
He grinned and folded his arms like he was ready to make a deal. "I'm listening."
"The price your children have set, is unaffordable, even by you."
The Grosvenor's satisfied grin faded. "I don't believe you." And he wasn't going to give up.
"The price they require is something you're not capable of offering. And is the reason you lost your son. It is the reason why your daughter is fighting, right now, for the lives of everyone she loves—which does not include you. It is the reason you killed your own father, and so heinously imprisoned your own mother. Love, loyalty, and honesty are qualities you do not possess. And never will possess. You don't have the right currency."
The Grosvenor's face flattened to stone cold fury.
"You are not my daughter."
KarNavan ordered his Striper guard to poise themselves to protect Fazendiin as a series of booms shook the grounds outside of the estate, and only seconds later had ricocheted inside.
The fake Meghan grinned. "You're right. I'm not your daughter. Be she just arrived. And she is not alone."
Fazendiin spun around, his gaze venomous. "This is not possible."
"And yet it is happening." Fake Meghan smiled and lifted a finger. "Miraculous, what blood and years of preparation can do. Something you'd understand. Your mistake? Believing you were the only one."
It wasn't quite sinking in yet. But it showed in the Grosvenor's eyes when he realized his mistake. His gaze remained tight on the fake Meghan as he ordered his Stripers to prepare Colby for the magic transference. He wasn't giving up. His army was immortal. And once he had the new Stone created, no one would be able to stop him. He'd return magic to the world and harvest every last drop of it. No one would ever question his position in this world again.
"It won't work," the fake Meghan badgered.
"And why is that?" Fazendiin played along.
"You really haven't put it together," she goaded him.
"You're just trying to stall me. That will not work."
"Neither will your new Stone. Or the old one, for that matter. Go ahead, try to steal my magic."
For a second, it didn't look like the Grosvenor was going to take the bait.
He sucked in. "And why won't it work?"
Fake Meghan lifted that finger again, reminding him about the blood. "I made a little magic of my own. You recall, I'm sure, that all your children are immune to the power of the Stones… the reason you needed them to begin with. All the easier for you to create even more power, by using that immunity to your advantage." Fake Meghan let the rest of the pieces slide into place.
Blood was the strongest magic there was. Fazendiin was aware of that more so than anyone. Footsteps marched closer, spells flying and zooming closer. But the sounds of battle didn't stop him. Even if whoever this imposter was had managed to create something that blocked the Stone's magic-sucking power, all he had to do was create new magic to harvest.
This was just a stalling tactic. Nothing more.
They were idiots if they thought they could stop him.
Which is exactly what he did when his actual daughter came running around a corner leading a pack of fighters—alongside his dear excuse for a mother.
Colby frowned, passing his gaze between his sister and—his sister—at the front lines of an army. It was making more sense now, why she'd been ignoring him after talking to him so freely not long before. He'd been trying to talk to the imposter and his real sister was trying not to give away her plan.
"Sorry," she sent into his mind. "I got here as fast as I could."
"And you brought help."
"I made a promise…" But the time for small talk was over. She moved her sights to her father and grinned. "Looks like you've gotten my message." And he was none too happy to see her. Or an army storming his grounds with his own mother leading the charge to fight him.
His own immortal army was mid-battle on various parts of the island and the estate. The sounds of battle shook the late-night sky, rattling their nerves.
The fake Meghan's body began to contort and shift.
"Jasper Thorndike," growled out Fazendiin. "Alive…" And someone his son was supposed to have killed. Just one more failure and reason his son wasn't fit to be a king.
"I have been a busy, busy man." Jasper looked relaxed considering war was about to start.
"Clever, I'll award you that. But I always have more than one plan."
"Maybe you do," the real Meghan injected. "But so do I. Wonder where I got that from?"
She let out a temporary breath of relief. She'd made the right call. Jasper was the right person for the job—of destroying the mirrors. She did not have enough knowledge or magical prowess to do it, but Jasper did.
However, now it was her turn. It was time to destroy the Immortality Stone.
Colby, however, stared at Jasper. Confused. Stunned. In disbelief.
"I killed you."
"You thought you did." Jasper didn't prefer to talk about the subject right now.
But it was another weight of guilt that lifted off Colby—he hadn't killed the man his grandmother loved. He hadn't killed an innocent man. For the first time since he'd freed his grandmother from the glass, Colby did the one thing he had not dared. He looked her in the eye, finally willing to see what looked back at him. Her eyes brimmed with determination and focus, but also a defined point in that there was nothing to forgive, and she never once blamed him for his actions.
This knowledge brought with it a sense of relief that morphed into awareness. And left his mind clearer, and ready to face his father. He was not alone. In fact, he'd never felt less alone in his entire life. And that was something he realized with a deep ferocity, that he did not want to lose.
Sounds of battle erupted all around them.
Fazendiin ordered KarNavan to attack his mother a
nd her army. "Ardon!" he shouted into the air. She appeared, out of breath, a moment later. "Do it. Now." She vanished without hesitation.
Meghan refused to take the bait though. Refused to give in and demand to know what he meant. Jasper realized already—he'd ordered the attack on the Tunkapog lands. But as it turned out, Fazendiin didn't feel like waiting to spread his joyful news.
"While you're here, wasting your time in efforts that will prove useless, Ardon is waging war against everyone you care about in this world. One way or another, your friends will die and magic will be mine. Make no mistake, I may lose a battle, but I will not lose the war. And as for your cleverness in using your own blood—" he aimed directly at Meghan, "do you think I will allow anyone with my blood in their veins to live? Their deaths lie with you."
It was impossible not to register a bit of dread in his condemnation. His meaning not lost on her—she didn't know anything, he was still going to win, and he would make sure she never forgot this.
But she held herself together—this was how her father worked—using humanity against people, and she'd not give in. There was a push at the block in her mind and she cast her gaze to the one person present who could do that, and let Colby in.
"Just like everyone keeps telling me, you're not alone. We will do this together."
She looked down to see his arms at his sides, an electric-like current of magic pulsing in his palms. His magic was working again.
She nodded. "Together." She took a calming breath and faced her father. "It doesn't matter who dies today, as long you are one of them."
The first strikes slammed into each other in a simultaneous frenzied determination to get the upper hand. Sparks flew. Magic spun, smashed, bashed, broke, and bruised. A light snow began to fall, covering the packed down flakes in the courtyard. Both sides fought hard, with the knowledge that when this battle ended, they'd either be dead, or be declared victorious, and live.
Two versions of the future world.
Only one side would win.
CHAPTER 15
"He's coming around," Sebastien announced. A large group had gathered in the makeshift medical tent, hovered around the bed of Jae Mochrie. This is where the remaining sick and injured were still healing after their imprisonment on the island. Tunkapog healers had been hard at work sealing up his wounds and stopping additional blood loss.
Jae's parents had not arrived yet… Mireya had gone to try to speak to them once it was clear that Jae's injuries were serious, but not life-threatening. And the sad truth still hung over them anyway—Sheila was getting better, but her mind wasn't totally her own again. She got confused easily. And Irving was still unable to walk, his mind riddled in constant agitation. It was only now and then he managed to get out a clear thought—but it was hoped with time, they'd both recover.
Like too many, the Stones had not only harvested their magic, a little bit at a time, but it had also slowly wrecked them physically and mentally. A slow form of torture… but to the point of no return, this was yet to be seen.
Mireya returned a short time later with a sad shake of her head. Her parents were having a bad day and she didn't have the heart to tell them what had happened. It could wait, for now. The important thing is that Jae was alive, and safe.
She joined Ivan and Sebastien at Jae's bedside; they wanted him to see familiar faces when he came to. It was only a minute later that his eyes fluttered open, and squinted, trying to flesh out his surroundings.
"Hey," his sister whispered with a tight grin on her face.
Jae leaned up on his elbows with a wince. He gazed down at himself covered in gauze and some sort of dried up goo—none of it taking away the fact that his body had pretty much been used like a piece of meat that had been tenderized. Regardless, his arms wrapped around his sister and she hugged him back like she'd never dare to let him go.
"You're okay," Jae murmured, relieved.
"We all are. Mostly. It's complicated." She shook her head to mean, it can wait. "Mom and Dad can't be here right now… but they're okay."
Jae nodded. He wanted to ask more, but he could wait a few minutes while he got his head on straight. Mireya helped him sit up a little more. Everything ached. But he felt a load better than he had when he'd passed out.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," Ivan greeted in half-hearted sarcasm.
"Ha. Good one." Because he'd been in Grimble, and nearly beaten to death with spell after spell while returning to the world of the living.
He looked around at all the familiar faces. Ivan and Sebastien. Arnon and Kanda. Milo and Kay Jendaya. Billie Sadorus. Many faces he did not recognize. Many he did. And they were all here—wherever that was. And safe because of—he sucked in the instant panic—all thanks to Colby. Oh my God. Colby… Jae nearly pushed Ivan off the bed in attempt to swing his legs over the side. He had to find Colby.
"Hold up there," Sebastien said. "Where do you think—"
"Colby. Where is he? Why isn't he here?" Because he'd have been sitting on the edge of this bed if he were here. The dead stare he wore warned, don't lie to me and tell me now.
Ivan stood up and eyed everyone with a sweeping motion that asked for some space. Most departed, a few familiar faces stayed behind.
Jae felt the air rush out of his lungs.
Elisha jumped up onto the foot of the bed and from the defeat in her body, fear took hold of Jae in a single attempt to refill his lungs.
"Someone found us," Elisha explained. "When we got here. Fazendiin's spies. Was going to kill you…" She didn't need to finish.
"How long has he been gone?" Jae was already looking for his boots, tearing off the gauze and using it to wipe off the dried goop that had stopped his bleeding. He ignored every biting ache and pain that warned he needed time to recover.
"Jae, you can't just fly off," Sebastien was saying—he didn't finish, cut off by a pissed off growl that demanded everyone get out of the way.
Kanda straightened herself and pinned a concerned glare at Jae. "You have control of that thing, right?"
Jae's demeanor didn't change. "It obeys me now." A vague answer that held a threat.
She lifted a brow in a try me, defiance.
"I wouldn't press your luck," Arnon spoke on her behalf.
"You're not going to stop me from going after Colby."
"Perhaps not," Kanda spoke in a softer voice. "But if you let the beast out and don't control it, I will let mine out and stop you."
Arnon whistled in the background. "I'd listen to her. She is much bigger than you are."
Those who didn't know what they were speaking of just stared. Few knew what Kanda's animal shift looked like.
"Now, do you maintain control of your beast?" she asked him a second time.
Jae nodded in rigid acceptance.
"Good. Your valor cannot be discounted, Jae Mochrie. But you cannot expect to win by flying in unprepared. It won't be that easy."
"So I'm just not supposed to try?"
Ivan grabbed his shoulders. "We do it together. And we make a plan."
"I don't have time for—" Jae closed his eyes, unable to stop the nightmarish images flashing in his thoughts. "I promised him he didn't need to go back there. You have no idea…" he wasn't able to finish. He needed to reach Colby. Now. Not later.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
The very air shook with the rush of magic that had suddenly swept across the valley.
"What the hell…" Arnon and Kanda darted out of the tent followed by many others.
Ivan and Sebastien stayed close to Jae.
Kanda flew back inside. "Stripers got through our defenses. We're under attack." Her poignant gaze expressed what her words did not. This was it. The final battle they'd all been preparing for. She shot Jae an apologetic gaze. His rescue mission would have to wait.
Mireya jumped up to join them. "I have to go."
Jae scrunched his face in turmoil. "To fight?"
"I
have a job to do, too. I left my team when you were found. But I need to get back and help them protect the borders. And yes, fight."
Jae opened his mouth to argue but what was the point. His sister was all grown up and he'd missed it happening. "Be careful. I love you."
"Love you too." She leaned in close. "And don't be an idiot and do stupid hero moves that get you killed when you sneak away to go rescue your boyfriend." She winked, then vanished out of the tent leaving Jae with his mouth hanging open. The world has gone on without him. It was a strange thing to be thrown back into reality, but not recognize it.
And this was a tiny measure of what Colby was experiencing—Jae steeled himself, determined. He had to get Colby back. It didn't matter how, or if he was alone, it only mattered that he did. He pushed his feet into his boots, legs protesting at the movement. He finished dressing in much the same manner, ignoring the muscles begging for more time to heal.
Sebastien and Ivan were all too familiar with the look Jae was wearing. Ivan stepped forward and placed his hand on Jae's shoulder.
"Look, we can't stop you. Just… be careful. And come back in one piece, okay?"
"We miss having you around," Sebastien chimed in kindly.
"I didn't think I missed it. Funny that. You don't know what you miss until you're back. Until you don't have it. But I can't stay until Colby's with me because without him, I don't belong anywhere."
A sentiment they both understood, and an idea that twisted like a tight rope in Sebastien's gut. He'd let Meghan go off alone—maybe not alone. But not being there to protect her was eating away at his sanity.
"You could come with me," Jae told him, because he recognized that pain.
Sebastien cast a wary glance at Ivan and shook his head. "Meghan would never forgive me if I barged in to try to save the day. She's got a plan, and I need to let her see it through."
"Wow," mumbled Jae, as if some great epiphany hit him. "That is some serious adulting."
"Yeah, apparently, we're all grown up now," Sebastien grumbled.
"The world really has gone crazy." And moved on… Jae thought to himself.
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