Curse of Shadows and Light

  Again I clear my mind… focusing… searching…

  Slowly, an image begins to form… of a small hillside, with strange, grey rocks stacked like ruins from a forgotten time.

  “I see it perfectly,” the creature thinks to me. I feel her bank to one side, and a moment later she’s hovering only a few feet above the ground. The rock formation is just ahead of us.

  I take a deep breath and dismount, while she continues to hover. “What do you want me to do?” she asks.

  I shake my head. I know this next part is up to me and me alone.

  “Just stay here… stay close.” I start to walk toward the pile of rocks. Dark, black and blue clouds cover the sky, strangely illuminated by the moons of Illyria. There is no sunlight here in Thiberoux, but that’s okay. I can see what I need to see just fine.

  Slowly I creep up the hill. Then I hear the giggling.

  “Look who’s come to play again!” a delighted voice calls. A moment later the Amazèa are standing just a few feet in front of me.

  I shake my head. “No, I’m tired of playing. I want to end this. Now.”

  They laugh again and look at each other. “Yes, we agree. Time for you to give us what we want!”

  I raise my hands and let the stream of electric fire flow from my fingers. But it seems to barely touch them. They just laugh, as if it even feels good to them. Quickly, I build a fireball and throw it with all the power I can muster. Then another. And another. But they still aren’t fazed. They absorb these impacts just as easily as they had my lightning bolts.

  I stop, as the reality of my situation sinks in. What was I even thinking? Whatever made me think I could beat them? I have no weapons. I have no plan. I was driven only by blind hate, and a desire for vengeance. I’m throwing everything I have at them and nothing is making the slightest difference.

  The Amazèa start walking toward me. And then I feel it – the overwhelming sensation of something pulling at me. They raise their hands, and suddenly a powerful vacuum jerks me forward. It seems to be suctioning out my insides, robbing me even of my breath. I gasp and fall to my knees. I try to form another protective shield, but this time nothing works.

  I feel different. Like my powers are leaving me… I’m being drained of everything… my essence… who, what I am.

  I fall forward, moaning… weakened. No, no… not like this… They come up to me, and I can see their shining, cherubic eyes and dimpled smiles.

  “And now, mean lady, it’s time for you to die,” they sing, and reach out toward me.

  I close my eyes and take a deep breath. My babies… Tattie…

  Then, suddenly, I feel an infusion of strength erupting from the recesses of my soul. Deep reserves of power I never knew I had.

  I open my eyes and look at my tormenters.

  “Think again.”

  I shoot out my hands and snatch their tiny wrists. Instantly I project a tight bubble around them, sealing them in, and preventing any chance of escape. Now I begin to reverse the flow, as I pull their essence into me with every ounce of strength I possess.

  Electricity burns its way up my arms, and I feel the rush of evil power flood through me like waves of toxic poison. I throw my head back and scream… but instead of sound, black smoke shoots up into the sky, releasing their fumes to dissipate into nothing.

  Their arms begin to shake, and I grip harder. Now their bodies writhe and contort, until they are no longer little girls, but black, scaly creatures over twice my size.

  They lash out weakly with their free arms, but they don’t touch me. I continue to drain from them every last drop of energy, until they finally collapse in a pile of broken black shards at my feet, and the stream of smoke firing from my mouth slowly dies.

  Breathless and shaking, I collapse in a heap to the ground.

  ********

  The white serpent delivers me, dazed but exhilarated, back to where she picked me up. I can barely think, let alone process all that’s just happened.

  I see Vincent and Corrine and Demetri waiting for me. I don’t see Kieron.

  “Liora!” Corrine comes running over and throws her arms around me. She gives me a hug, then pulls back and scrutinizes me. “Are you okay? You seem more… normal. Your eyes aren’t red anymore!”

  I nod. “Where’s Kieron?” I ask.

  Vincent and Corrine exchange a quick glance. “He left,” Corrine says. “He was needed by his unit, and he wanted to help. Felt that was the place for him to be right now. He said that you’d know why and that you’d understand.”

  Her words feel like a punch in the gut. So that’s it. No goodbye. Nothing.

  I swallow, and she puts her arms around me. “He said it’s just for now, until things settle down around Thiberoux, and that he’ll be back to check on you soon.” She nods to Vincent and Demetri. “He said we were in good hands with them.” I notice that they are both wearing pants now, although neither pair seems to fit exactly right.

  I turn back to the white creature. “Thank you,” I think to her. She bobs her serpentine head, and lifts up and flies away.

  I grab Vincent’s hand.

  “Let’s get the hell out of here. Now!”

  Chapter 32. Liora

  This can’t be right. I must be dreaming.

  I reach out… It really is her. And I’m really here. I blink several times and throw my arms around her.

  “Tattie!”

  I squeeze her tight. I never, ever want to let her go.

  “There, there, my dear child,” she coos, patting my back. “You’re safe now. You’re home.”

  The dam breaks, and the tears flood from my eyes. I’m so overcome with emotion, I can’t even begin to process what just happened. All I can do is shake my head, unable to speak.

  “Come, sit.” Tatiana urges me over to the couch, and I feel the familiar softness creak beneath me. I wipe my eyes and take a deep breath, and when I look up, Corrine, Vincent, and Demetri are all staring at me.

  “How did you know?” I ask, looking at Vincent. “How did you know to bring me here?”

  He shakes his head in complete amazement. “This wasn’t me… this was all you.”

  “What do you mean, ‘all me’?”

  “You did this… you sent us here.”

  “What? How?”

  He shakes his head again and shrugs his shoulders. “I’m still trying to figure that part out myself… that and a lot of other things.” He turns a chair around and straddles it, facing me.

  Corrine comes and sits next to me, and Demetri leans against the wall behind Vincent.

  Demetri’s mouth is tense. “Are we safe here?”

  “Light-angels surround the outer perimeter of my lands, but we are buried under many layers of enchantment,” Tattie replies. “But so was my sister’s house. What happened? What went wrong?”

  I let out a short laugh and brush my hair from my face. My hands are caked with dirt and blood. “Where do I begin?” I shake my head, unable to make sense of everything that’s just happened. It’s all just so… surreal.

  “Are you hurt?” she asks softly.

  I actually have to consider that a moment.

  “No,” I finally whisper. Then she looks at the others. Even though we look like we’ve been hit with Mack trucks and tossed off a cliff, they all shake their heads as well.

  I turn to Tatiana and bury my face in my hands. “They’re dead! I killed them!”

  “What?”

  I lift my bloody, tearstained face. “The Amazèa. I killed them with my own two hands.” I hold my palms up for her to see. “And I had all these crazy powers… Lucky was there, and something else. Maybe the babies, I don’t know. It’s like I was possessed… but I wasn’t! I was in control. Me. And I killed them. The Amazèa are dead now.” I take a deep breath and look at my trembling hands.

  “But nothing has changed!” I continue in a hoarse whisper. “I don’t feel any different. Not relieved, not satisfied… not whole! I’m still not me! I k
illed the Amazèa but I’m just as cursed as ever!”

  “We were never positive that killing them would lift your curse,” Tatiana reminds me gently.

  “So now what? All that for nothing? I’m still a target. We’re still not safe. Light-angels are circling as we speak—”

  “I’m sorry to interrupt, but something has changed, right?” Corrine asks. “I mean, Liora has all these crazy powers now! You should’ve seen her back there. I mean, it’s like she was this warrior goddess!”

  Tatiana gets an odd glint in her opaque eyes. “Well, yes, it is true that something has changed. Liora is indeed quite strong and had access to powers that were previously hidden from her. But…” Her mouth turns up in a playful grin, and we all look at her expectantly.

  “But what?” I ask.

  “Well… I may have helped you out a bit. Actually it was a duel effort between Anastasia and myself. It was quite fun, I must admit. We haven’t done a tandem spell in decades.”

  “A what?”

  She nods. “I heard you calling for me. Well, Lucky was anyways. I knew you were in trouble, but I couldn’t find you. I knew that if anyone would be able to see where you were, it would be Ana. And even though she was unable to locate your exact position due to the heavy dark magic clouding it, we were able to combine some of our powers and channel them to you.”

  I look at her, and slowly I begin to understand. “So all those crazy powers and magical fighting… that was you?”

  She shakes her head. “No, dear. That was you. Well, you, Lucky, and the babies. And make no mistake, they are extremely powerful indeed. We just helped you access those powers and manifest your will.”

  “Like making the invisible shield around us and turning the rope into razor wire,” I murmur.

  She nods. “Among other things. I was actually quite impressed to see your manifestations. Those take great mental discipline to execute, even with our help.”

  “So you were there all along… you and Anastasia.”

  She smiles. “I said I will always be here for you, and I meant it. I’m always here, no matter how far away you are. I’m always here.” She places her withered hand on my heart.

  “Can’t we stay with you? Can’t we make the Light-angels leave somehow?”

  Tatiana shakes her head. “My magic is strong, but you know the best I can hope to do is keep them at bay. My sister is far better suited to caring for you under the present circumstances than I am. She knows more about your condition, and her protected lands are vastly superior to these—”

  “Then come with us!” I clutch her hand again and plead with my eyes.

  But she shakes her head again. “My home is here. You know that.”

  I bury my face in my hands again. “So nothing has changed,” I whisper. “I’m still a target, even with these borrowed powers.” Why does it feel like anytime I take a step forward, I take two steps back?

  “So my choices are… spend the rest of my demonic pregnancy battling Light-angels with my sometime powers, or what? Keep hiding? Forever?” My eyes fill with tears, and Corrine places her hand on mine and gives it a gentle squeeze.

  But those aren’t my only choices, and I know it.

  “Magic holds many mysteries and few guarantees,” Tatiana murmurs. “Sometimes the strongest forces come from the most surprising sources.”

  “You sound like a supernatural Dr. Seuss,” I grumble.

  She shakes her head. “I just marvel at your strength.”

  I look at her, confused. “No, you’re wrong. Whatever that was, it wasn’t me. I’m still the weak one, the powerless one. I’m just the temporary vessel.”

  “Your powers dwarf mine. One day you’ll realize that the only magic you need is already within yourself.”

  “Tat… I love you. You know I do. But you’re talking crazy. If that were true, don’t you think I would’ve gotten rid of this stupid god-awful curse by now? You think I like being like this? It’s hell! I even killed the Amazèa with my own two hands and it didn’t do anything! The curse still stands. So I know for a fact – I can’t undo it!”

  “Then you won’t.”

  I try to keep my frustration in check. Sometimes she talks in riddles I don’t quite understand. It used to irritate me to no end, but now I accept it as just her way. She tells me what she can and leaves the rest for me to figure out. It’s a weird dance and one that I don’t always appreciate. But I’ve gotten used to it. And now she’s gotten it into her head that I can do anything I want.

  Well, she’s wrong. Obviously.

  “It’s nearing transition time. You should probably leave before Lucky arrives. I think it’s best for her to wake at my sister’s to avoid a scene or unnecessary upset.”

  I sniff quietly and wipe my eyes. I want more time here… more time with Tatiana. What if it’s the last time I’ll see her?

  But I know I must go.

  I wrap my arms around her in a gentle embrace. “I miss you every single day, do you know that? I don’t care that it’s only been a few weeks. My life isn’t as good without you in it.”

  “I will always be here for you.”

  I nod and give her a kiss on her velvety cheek. “I’m going now, but I’ll be back. One day soon this will all be over, and I’ll be here where I belong.” Somehow, some way…

  She nods. “I have no doubt.”

  Corrine and I stand and walk over to Vincent. He takes our hands in his, and Demetri rests his hand on Vincent’s shoulder.

  The last thing I see is Tatiana’s bittersweet smile as she wipes her tears.

  Chapter 33. Liora

  In a flash we’re standing on the cliffs just outside Anastasia’s guesthouse. The sun is low on the horizon, but not as low as it was at Tatiana’s. At least I’d bought myself a little time by traveling west a few time zones.

  Vincent lets go of Corrine and me and turns toward the ocean. He’s been so quiet through all this, and I’m dying to know what’s going on in his head.

  “I’m going to go on in and get cleaned up,” Corrine says.

  “Yeah, me too,” Demetri agrees. They both hesitate a moment, then head on toward the house.

  Considering nearly every inch of me is covered with dried blood and dirt, I should probably go do the same. But instead I walk over to Vincent and we stand for several long moments in silence, watching the water roll endlessly onto the sandy white shore.

  “I want to thank you for everything you did,” I finally say. “For coming to our rescue –helping us.”

  He shakes his head, still staring out at the churning ocean. “You don’t have to thank me. What you did… it was nothing short of amazing. It was awesome. I’m just happy I was able to help out some, and I wasn’t too late.”

  “Some? I would’ve been in really deep trouble if you hadn’t shown up when you did, you know.”

  He gives a small grin and peeks down at me from the corner of his eye. My heart jumps, and I quickly look away. Now is not the time to have second thoughts, or to be weak in any way. If I think too much about what I’m giving up… even the possibility of the promise I see when I look in his eyes… I may lose the courage to go through with my plan. And I must go through with it.

  I must.

  I must do it for the sake of everyone I love. I may be strong now, but soon I’ll be the same weak and vulnerable human I always was. And both the demons and the Light-angels will never stop until they get what they want. Sure, the Amazèa are dead now and the Belith have been destroyed. But there will always be more enemies. That’s the nature of Lucky’s world. As long as I’m alive, everyone I love will be in danger.

  For them to live, I must die.

  This isn’t just about Lucky and me. It’s bigger than us. It always has been. I was just too blind to see it.

  “I have to go now,” I say quietly.

  Vincent clenches his jaw again. “You’re going to do that spell, aren’t you.”

  “I have to.”

  He shake
s his head. “No… this isn’t right. It can’t be.”

  I look at him earnestly. “If you know some other way, please say it… I promise I’m all ears.”

  He turns slowly, and his eyes search mine. My God, how can someone see right into my soul like that?

  “Please…” I can’t look at him.

  “You’re leaving me?” he asks.

  “I’m not sure what will happen.” My voice is low. “But, yes, I think so. The spell is designed to eliminate my human side. Me.”

  He swallows hard. “Is there any way I can change your mind?”

  I shake my head. “Please don’t make this harder than it already is. I can’t allow myself to think of everything I’ll miss.”

  Vincent’s eyes flash darkly. “I’m sorry, but I at least need you to know what you’re giving up.”

  His kiss silences my protest… soft, delicate, but with a longing that’s undeniable. My head swims as his warmth floods through me, and our kisses become more passionate. We stand on the cliffs, locked in our embrace… neither wanting to stop, neither wanting to let go.

  Finally I pull away, and he grabs my arm.

  “Don’t leave me. Please. You can’t.” His soft brown eyes plead with mine.

  “I have to.”

  “You belong here,” he whispers. “You belong with me.”

  I just shake my head. God, how I wish that were true. But I know it’s impossible.

  Vincent is quiet for several long moments.

  “The world will be a much darker place without you in it.”

  I smile sadly. “Maybe a part of me will live on somehow.”

  “I hope so. I really hope so.”

  I wrap my arms around him and rest my head on his chest. Together we watch the sun slowly descend toward the horizon.

  Finally, I disengage from his embrace and pull back to look at him one last time.

  Then I turn and run as fast as I can to the mansion.

  ********

  I barge though the kitchen door out of breath. “Where’s Anastasia? I need her now!” I nearly shout at the chubby, black-haired woman standing at the sink.