Behind My Shadow - Book Three

30. Late One Night

"Guys?" I strain to see through the blinding white lights. Everything finally softens to the beautiful, glowing cerise haze I'd seen during my fourth Labor and now at long last, I see my four ancestors. "I...I need help!" I confess, feeling my heart ache with equal amounts of shame and hope. I mean, I hate the thought of looking weak or unworthy in front of them but at the same time, I'm too desperate and anxious not to turn to them.

"We know," Inez says softly. "We saw everything."

"Is there anything you can do? I mean..." Tears burn in my eyes. "My next Labor starts in a few minutes, but I don't have any magic left! By the time it returns to me, it'll be too late. I mean, I...I only have until midnight to conquer each Labor or else I...I die," I swallow hard.

"We know how the rules work," Yvett snaps. "And as it is, you should've listened to the rules better before you started the fifth Labor. The Judge made it explicitly clear that you weren't supposed to summon any magic after completing it or else you'd have a powerdrop," she looks me over with disgust. "And now look at you, groveling at our feet for some kind of mercy or redemption."

"What was I supposed to do?" I demand. "We were all under attack! What kind of selfish Alice would I be if I didn't help out however I could?" I feel my desperation melt into fury as I glare at Yvett. "Weren't you the one that kept calling me selfish before?! And now you're suddenly changing your tune, saying how I shouldn't have used any magic and should've just let people die? Is that what you're trying to say, Yvett?"

"Watch your temper," she snarls, stepping closer. "Don't forget you dragged yourself here for our help. I already served Raetri, I don't have anything else left to prove."

"Y'know what, unlike you, I'm not too proud to ask for help when I need it. Raetri needs me but I can't help if I'm dead," I flash my eyes. "I don't know what you would do if you were in my shoes right now, Yvett, but I'm not willing to just lay down and die. I promised you -I promised all of you- that I'd fight for Raetri until the death of me and if that's only in a few hours than so be it but I'm not ready to stop fighting yet."

"That's very courageous, Adara," Alice praises me. "And your self-sacrificing actions during that ambush saved a lot of lives whether or not you believe it." I lower my eyes as I think about poor Queen Eastyn. I wasn't able to save her... "I want you to succeed, Adara. We all do," she puts a hand on my shoulder and lifts my chin with her other hand so our eyes meet. "Raetri needs an Alice like you. You think with your head and your heart, it's a rare combination and one that I admire."

"Thank you, Alice," I say softly. "Is there..." I swallow hard as I look the other girls over. "Is there any way any of you can help me?"

"Of course there is," Sofiena smiles warmly, putting her hand on my back. "All you had to do was ask, my dear." She gives Yvett a look. "Sometimes knowing when to ask for help is the most noble thing a person can do."

Yvett huffs and crosses her arms, looking away from us.

"Y'know what makes Alices so powerful?" Inez quizzes me with a grin.

"Being able to level entire kingdoms with a mere thought," Yvett mutters under her breath.

Inez shoots her a glare before gazing at me again. "It's our ability to give magic to others."

My eyes brighten with amazement. "That's right," I breathe. "Alices can intentionally bestow magic to other magic users."

"We can give you all the energy you'll need to overcome your powerdrop so you can compete in the sixth Labor," Inez tells me.