The Key to the Oleander

Chapter Twenty Six - Athena

We arrive on the field and it takes all of my strength not to make a killshot on Slater right now.

He's looking at me with a cocky smile, and that just motivates me more to win this. We will win this.

"I promise you, Mom. We will win this." I whisper, thinking about the goddess that led me on this path to finding myself.

My "powers" are not a burden, they are a gift, and I am blessed to have them.

Ace turns my face with his hands to face him before smashing his lips on mine, kissing me hard and long.

He leans back. "Please don't die today." I nod, closing my eyes.

"Well, you two look cozy." We turn to see Slater in front of us. "Too bad you'll both be dead by the end of today."

"Now!" Ace demands, and our army fires, and Slater's army doesn't hesitate to fire shots back.

A bald muscular man comes towards me, I focus on all of my anger and when I blink, he's trapped in the vines of oleanders.

"Oleanders are very deadly, have fun." I kick him in the stomach causing him to fall.

Two men come from behind him and I'm met with a blow to the face. I grab my gun as fast as I can.

One shot to the left. One shot to the right. They're both down.

I look up and see some of our soldier's bodies falling, and my heart sinks. This was going to be a lot harder than I thought.

The screams that are the last thing that's going to come out of these people's mouths are heartbreaking to hear.

Everything is happening too fast, I can't count how many bodies have fallen under my responsibility. I turn to look over my shoulder and everything seems to happen in slow motion.

A blonde man pulls the trigger, it hits the person's chest, and a body falls. Blood splatters on the man and everywhere around him.

I'm about to turn back around but I notice something. Something familiar. Green eyes. Emerald green eyes that belong to me.

And then it hits me. Ace. Ace has been shot. Ace has been shot in the heart, and his body has fallen.

My heart drops, and my body runs cold, tears brim my eyes and I didn't think my heart could beat this fast. I feel like my heart has been torn apart.

No.

No, no, no, no, no. This can't be happening.

Suddenly, my body has just realized it can move and I immediately run to him.

This man has gone like he didn't just shoot the love of my life. The man I was going to- No, I'm going to marry. He's not going to die.

I run to his side and the worst scenario I have imagined is occurring.

Ace's face is white and cold, his eyes are fighting not to close.

"Ace, wake up, wake up!" My voice is wobbly. I don't care if I get shot at this point, at least I'll die by his side.

He slowly moves his eyes to face me, his lips twitching in a smile. "I love you." He tells me. I realize that he thinks he's going to die.

"No, you're not going to die. You can't die, I can't live without you, Ace!" I beg, but I know it's against his will.

"I will love you in every life I live. There is no doubt in my mind that we're forever, love."

His eyes close and his body falls limp and my whole world is shattered. I'm shattered.

"No!" I scream, tears streaming down my face like a waterfall.

"You poor thing." I hear Slater's voice and the tears stop. I am full of rage. I want- no I need revenge. Ace is dead because of him. My love is dead because of him.

I stand up slowly and turn around to face Slater, his army has backed away, standing behind him, waiting for a command.

"You are going to regret this, Slater." I grit out.

The ground below us begins to shake and his eyes widen. I push my arms out towards him and large oleander vines come up from the ground, building a barrier around his soldiers before they attach themselves around Slater's neck.

I grab my gun and shoot. I shoot for Ace's life, I shoot for my pain, I shoot for revenge. I don't stop shooting until all of the bullets are gone. He's a bloody mess, I can barely tell he's Slater anymore.

"Die in hell you son of a bitch." I put my gun away and run back to Ace. For some reason, my mind tells me to kiss him. So I do. Always trust yourself and your gut.

Nothing happens for a good minute, and the second my hope vanishes, oleanders grow, extending around Ace's body. After a few seconds, they suddenly die all the way up until Ace's chest. Soon after, Ace gasps, jolting up.

I laugh in relief. I throw my arms around him and I don't let go. He takes a few seconds before putting his arms around me.

"What happened?" He asks after we pull away from each other. He looks behind my shoulder to see all of Slater's soldiers dead in the barrier, along with Slater. "Did we win?" He asks.

I chuckle. "That's what you're worried about? You died, Ace." I caress his face in my hands. He gives me a look to go on. I sigh. "Yes, we did." Tears form in my eyes as I answer him.

He hugs me tight and I never want him to let go.

"You have found the key to the oleander, my angel." I pull away when I hear Felicity.

"This is your mother?" Ace asks. I nod, smiling happily. I was hoping he could see her one day.

We stand up and make our way to Felicity. She grabs my wrist, and points to the now visible flower tattoo that wasn't here before.

"This marking confirms you as a goddess. Deny the life of a goddess, and I will grant it." She gives me a blank stare.

I look at Ace to see if he's upset, but he's smiling with pride.

I turn back to her and say, "I accept the life of a goddess." Felicity's face lights up with happiness.

"Alright, I announce you as goddess of justice and the queen of Kestramore!" The tattoo glows yellow but fades back to black after a few seconds.

"Does this mean I'm immortal?" I ask, looking back up at Felicity. She hums in response. "But what about Ace?" I begin to panic. Ace's smile fades.

"If he accepts the role as the King of Kestramore, the moment he puts the ring on your finger at your wedding, he will become immortal as well." She explains. Me and Ace both sigh in relief.

"I trust you too will be in the history books of the Kestramore Kingdom, and all good things I hope." She says to me before vanishing.