Chapter 53 #2
It burned.
She tried to breathe, tried to move. But her efforts were futile as the agony of Andras’ magic overtook her. Her body convulsed. Tears stained her cheeks. She choked on a whimper. Every inch of her was on fire. Pain like she had never felt before.
The shadow was pulled back. Ava gasped, the burning disappearing as her head fell forward. Something didn’t feel right. Inside she was empty, hollow.
Wrong.
Like a part of her had been removed. Chipped away into nothing.
Andras took a step forward. “It won’t be much longer now. Though I suppose I don’t have time to stay to watch you succumb to my magic. Any last words?” He cupped her face, tilting it up to meet his eyes.
She could barely catch her breath, the pain of her broken ribs flaring with each inhale. But he was touching her at last. And she knew what she had to do. Gripping the crystal, her arms still raised above her, she muttered the chant under her breath.
“Sorry, dear. I can’t hear you. What was that?” He leaned closer.
Not raising her voice, she continued to utter the spell, the warmth of magic flowing from her palm into the conduit.
It didn’t take long for Andras to understand. He tried to pull his hand away, his shadows releasing her as he gave in to panic. But he was too late.
“What are you doing?” His eyes went wide. “Stop that.”
But she continued, ignoring his frantic pleas.
He roared, trying to send out a wave of his power, but it was sucked back into him, the darkness now gone. Ava squinted at the return of the sun, shielding her eyes.
Speaking the final incantation, she scooted away, remaining on her knees.
“What have you done?” he bellowed.
Raising her hand, she held up the crystal and gave him a feline smile. “Surprise, Lomos.”
“No!” He tried to move, to wriggle out of the magical trap. But it held fast.
Wincing as a bolt of agony shot through her side, Ava drew the symbols in the dirt with her finger, scraping deep to ensure they’d last. Luna appeared at her side, Quinn’s dagger in her mouth.
Lomos continued his protests, but Ava tuned him out as she cut her palm.
Slamming her hand atop the symbols, she closed her eyes and pushed.
She was so weak from whatever he had done to her, it took all of her energy to focus on her magic.
Her earth magic was comforting and warm—like a loving embrace, or a cup of tea on a cold winter’s day. Pleasant. Reassuring.
But the portal magic was wild. Hot. She searched within, found that searing thread and pulled, feeding it out through her palm, visualizing the white-hot light pouring into the ground.
She gasped as it surged through her, more powerful than any portal she’d ever generated. The magic seemed to speak. As if it was alive.
More, more, more, it said. More.
She obliged, giving it as much as she could withstand. Tremors racked her body. Sweat drenched her tunic, the fabric sticking to her skin beneath her armor.
The air around her changed. Energy crackled. The ground quaked. The wind swirled. Opening her eyes, she gasped.
There it was. The portal.
A violent swirling mass of blues and greens and blacks. Like nothing she’d ever seen before. Flashes of light brightened the edges, leaves on the ground swirled into the air before they were pulled inside.
Ava pushed herself up, swaying as she stood, and took a step back. Lomos was in an utter panic. Screaming, begging. He looked wild. Insane. His black hair flung around as he moved his head from side to side. His face changed, morphing into his various disguises.
Ava watched, trembling.
There was Henry, the small-town blond handyman.
Andras, the sensual black-haired daemon.
Eros, the icy blue-eyed white-haired hateful king.
Then, a face she didn’t recognize but one that caused her to stumble away in horror.
Haunting all-white eyes stared straight at her.
Black hair made from shadow. Skin so pale it was almost translucent.
Then, he was back to Andras again.
Phantom hands emerged from the portal. Dozens and dozens of ghostly fingers, like wisps of white smoke, reached for him.
“No! I’m not going back!” he bellowed.
But the hands surrounded him, grasping his arms, his legs, his head and shoulders. Ava’s own hands shook, her heart raced. She backed away another step, watching as Lomos was pulled into the realm.
And then, he was gone. Only a spot of blackened grass remained where he had stood.
Ava couldn’t take her eyes off the portal, in awe of what had just happened. He was truly gone. She could hardly believe it. Andras was gone. Lomos…was gone.
Someone stepped through. A woman made of white smoke, a golden light shining around her. Familiar. She looked so familiar. Ava had seen depictions of her all throughout Monterre.
She sucked in a breath, her hand on her heart. The Earth Mother. Their goddess.
Stepping forward, the goddess reached out and tenderly touched Ava’s face. “Close the portal now, princess. We will ensure Lomos never returns. Your task is almost complete.”
“Why?” Ava’s voice broke. “Why didn’t you help? Why did you let this happen?”
The goddess gave her a warm smile. “We helped the first time, because he was one of us. But we were not the ones who woke him again. Those who sought too much power became blind to their greed and unleashed him. It was up to the fae to make it right.”
Ava had so many more questions. “But—”
The goddess backed away. “I cannot stay.” Her body wavered, fading and disappearing back into the realm. “Close the portal…” her ethereal voice said one last time. “Now, princess.”
With a deep breath, Ava knelt on the ground again and repeated the process she’d used to open it. This time the pain was almost too great. Her entire body burned as she fed even more magic into the earth. Slowly, ever so slowly, the portal started to shrink.
Something nudged her arm. Luna. There to encourage her. With tears in her eyes, she continued. Her body rebelled in agony. Like sharp pins and needles all over her skin. She cried out as she pushed harder, feeding the last dregs of magic into the portal. It was almost closed.
A wave of dizziness washed over her. Her vision blurred.
More, Luna said, rubbing Ava’s knee. It’s almost done.
Ava gasped. She was so tired…so weary. Barely able to stay upright. She knew keeping a portal open for Caelestia would drain her magic dangerously low; knew how great of a risk it was having to banish Lomos on top of it. But it had been worth it to save her loved ones.
With one last yelp, she fed the remainder of her magic into the earth. Too weak to distinguish her earth magic from the other, hundreds of glowing flowers bloomed around her.
She collapsed. The portal was closed. She’d done it. They won. But Ava could barely breathe. Could hardly open her eyes.
There was no longer pain. Her ribs did not ache, her lungs did not burn. She was numb. Floating.
Ava coughed into her hand. Pulling it away she looked at her palm, her vision darkening at the edges. Blood. She coughed again, then wheezed. More blood.
Something heavy settled on her chest. It took almost all her strength to look up. Luna crossed her paws and laid her head down, with a loud purr.
“What’s happening?” Ava whispered, voice raw.
You’re dying. I can feel it.
No…No. No. No.
She hadn’t even lived yet. “I…” she rasped. “How? I don’t…I don’t understand…”
Luna’s voice cracked as if the feline herself was grieving. She scooted closer, licking Ava’s face. It was too much. Your body can’t handle it.
“Luna,” she whimpered. “I’m not ready…Cas…and Thorne…” She let out a fragile sob. “Raine…They can’t…I can’t…I don’t want to go. Please. Don’t make me go…Don’t make me go…”
She took another shuddering breath. Luna nuzzled her face.
“I’m scared…”
It’s okay. I’m here. I’ll stay with you. Luna released a pained whine as she continued to frantically lick Ava. I won’t leave your side.
She could have sworn a tear fell from Luna’s purple eye.
Losing her hold on time, unable to fight it any longer, Ava allowed herself to be swallowed by the darkness.