From the Flames- Book Six

Ch. 24- Despite the Pain

I clenched my fist until it was glowing red. For the final time today, I will use my powers to destroy my enemies at last. They will turn to ice and fire and we will not stop. No matter what. Yes, the pain was sharp and I felt like I was going to pass out from it. But it kept me standing, my very being as a Fae and Vampire kept me from blacking out from the pain.

I did not have to touch my enemies to kill them, the fire did that by creating a trail. Ace did the same thing. I was glad that our family was not here because if they were, they were going to be hurt by the flames in my hands. And it would destroy me if they did.

The enemy Fae and skinwalkers that survived the blast came speeding towards us, in which Ace and I took each one of them in perfect harmony. Fire and ice were and will always be a perfect balance. The Earth itself gifted us that. Gifted us their acceptance to live as a Fae and Vampire both. I screamed out in both rage and pain when I burned the flesh of a goblin until they were on fire. It went down within seconds.

"Take my hand, Kala," Aeson blurted out. My eyes widened at this request but his own was full of worry and determination. "It's the only way. Eva is gone and they will stop at nothing to destroy our family. Our Kingdom. Take my hand and we will finally end this."

"We are on our last drop of power, Ace." I said in a breathy voice. "If we do this-- if we go there, it might be a while before we come back."

"What other choice do we have?" he argued. "Besides, they like us. There is nothing to worry about."

"There is everything to worry about, Ace!" I yelled. "We don't know their world. We don't know the dangers of going there without notice. Both of us have conjured them because our parents gave us permission! Because the two of them are dangerous and powerful and they scare the living shit out of everyone who has met them! Ow!" I clenched my wound again, blood still spilling through my armor.

"Kala," he said, looking down at my stomach that was bleeding. Then he looked back into my eyes. The same ones that I have. "We have to do this for the sake of our kingdom. They destroyed the city already and they're going to destroy our home if we don't stop them. Creating the rift will take out every last one of our enemies. There is no other choice."

"Sometimes I hate you for being born first." I grumbled. I took his hand that full of ice. We stood next to each other now as I heard him let out an unsteady breath. Despite everything that has happened in the twenty years we have been alive, I always knew that Ace was my best friend. The only one who understood the extent of what I feel on a daily basis. He keeps me in control. Despite the pain, I stood tall and stared at my enemies in the eye. "I hope you suffer."

"Kala." someone else spoke. A male voice that I knew so well. I turned my head and saw that he was right next to me, his armor in sheds and full of blood and gore. "What are you doing?"

"What am I doing?" I asked sarcastically. "I'm saving the goddamn city of Ambrosia, that's what I'm doing! Why are you here and how did you get out of my father's safety?"

"I'm coming with you." he said, ignoring my questions.

"Like hell you are." Ace muttered.

Jesse straightened, giving Ace a dark look. "I'm coming with you." he said again. Jesse stared at me and did not look away for a full minute. "I'm not running away from you, Alli. I will follow you wherever you go, no matter the danger we face. That's the promise I can give you."

"You don't even know what you're getting yourself into." I narrowed my eyes. "You don't know where we are going, who we are going to see! She is powerful and he is equally so but they are our friends. But it doesn't mean we aren't scared of them. We are."

Jesse took my other hand without hesitation. I was not sure he could survive the joining of our powers. But he was still standing tall. I opened my mouth in shock before Ace interrupted again. "We don't have much time. We have to do it now."

I nodded my head slightly. "No matter what you think, Jesse, do not break away from my hand or else you might be lost forever." He said nothing and stared at the enemies before us now. I did, too. Within seconds, our powers collided and it felt like my chest has been clenched free. Yet it felt like I was being ripped in half.

This was not a normal rift we created. While taking out everyone on the battlefield, it took us to a new world. A different one that not my own. There was a red and white flash of white and then it was blackness after that.

I knew I was traveling through worlds, even though it only lasted seconds. But I felt the sensation of leaving my world. As if I died and came back to life. Throughout it all, my hands both were clenched and holding on to the two boys who mean the most to me. The pain was unbearable, the urge to heal my wound was powerful. Usually, my mother would do it for me. It was her specialty. But I had to do it on my own because she is gone and I can't find her. I can't feel her.

The three of us fell into a field of dead grass. It took forever to open my eyes but I eventually did. Ace was staring at me, wondering if I was okay. I did the same, checking to see if he was injured. Both of us were okay, thank the gods. At the same moment, my eyes whirled to the man next to me, who was sitting up and looking bewildered. He was perfectly okay if I say so myself.

"Welcome to Makaria." I breathed.

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