Chance

Resurrection

I let the power flow out of me. As much as I didn't want to perish, it was ethically impossible to have someone else sacrificed so I could live. Especially someone I cared so deeply for. The betraying creature also looked too pitiful for me to not let her offspring be carried to term. 

As the yellow glow of powers gushed out of me, I slowly sank to the ground. My strength eluding me.

"You are stronger than this!" A voice whispered. I looked up with blurry eyes only to be met with my mother's. She gently placed both of her hands on my cheeks. I didn't look at her until the grief I'd been pushing down for almost my whole life forced me to.

"Honey... I know you've been fighting. I understand that these past few months have been hell for you both physically and mentally. I know that the easiest thing to do right now would be to give up. Trust me I know how easy it is. Don't be like me hun, you're better than this and you're better than me. The strength you carry is akin to nature's neverending fight to keep everything in balance. I know I should have been there for you and that's my fault sincerely, but now you need to be there for him. You need to be there for that pregnant beast because that's who you are! You are a good soul who knows they won't let an evil being take that away from you. So you need to inspire some vigor and win! If you won't do it for yourself, do it for your soulmate who won't live if you don't."

"But how? I can't think of a way to do this spell, live, and save everyone. I'm not strong enough," I cried.

"Child you are the most powerful warlock that ever was! The reason most warlocks get their full power at twenty-one is that they wouldn't be able to handle their full power without catastrophic side effects. You almost attained it a few weeks ago but fell short. Now is the time to reach those final few inches and grab the power. Be the hero I know you can be."

I reached out to hug her, but she disappeared, and in her place stood that unattainable staff containing the raw power that I was unable to access the first time I was presented with it. Hesitation was no longer an option as the life force began draining out of me at an alarming rate. 

"I love you mom, thank you" I whispered, grasping the staff with what little energy was left in the tank. I pointed it at the trough, howling as the flesh throughout my body cracked with the sheer amount of power needed to complete the task. The scream echoed throughout the ancient room so much so that it vibrated.

"No..." Eric murmured.

My head smacked the floor as the last drop of energy leaked from my reservoirs. I was awake, barely.  Alive, hardly. It was impossible to determine if my spell had worked seeing as I could raise my head no more. Even though my consciousness waned, out of the corner of my eye I could see something astounding! Eric was radiating the color of my magic! It started where a heart would be, creeping out until it enveloped every inch of his body. His eyelids snapped open as a dark shade of rouge covered his once-noir iris'. The fangs of his mouth shot out quicker than lightning as he leaped over to his uncle. Without so much as one second of hesitation, he gripped the sides of Yumi's face and twisted. The last thing on Yumi's face was bewilderment.

The creatures that Yumi controlled fell to the ground as if Eric had done the same to them, all except the she-dragon who wore an indescribable expression. Then he turned to me, the rouge dissipating as did his rage. It was substituted for a worried look.

"Devin! Are you okay?" He called out. 

"Eric..." I hoarsely replied. "Not feeling so hot"

"Oh Devin! I'm so sorry! This is all my fault! My deep-rooted uneasiness for humans clouded my judgment. I thought we were helping supernatural beings by causing pain to those who'd done the same to us! None of that is important anymore because I realized that the only important thing is you! I am so sorry that I let this happen!"

"Eric...Look!" I grumbled motioning to the trough. Both of us were speechless as we took in what was happening directly infront of us. A mustard fog dripped from the stone while squelching sounds penetrated our eardrums. I grimaced in disgust at the horrendous atrocity disrupting the quietness.

From the fog a bony hand jutted out, appearing to have the skin stretched on unnaturally. The fingernails were long and ebony placed onto joints that protruded from the too-tight skin. Horror dawned on me as I realized what was going on. Eric came to the conclusion slightly before me as he whispered the question:

"Dad?"