DAGON MANSION

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: POWER UNLEASHED

Night laid its velvet shroud over Dagon Mansion, and the air trembled with a quiet dread. In the parlor-turned-sanctuary, Rowena and Mia prepared for war against the unseen. Candles were placed like sentinels, their pale flames shivering as if foreseeing violence.

Xena stood beyond the threshold, arms protectively wrapped around Scarlett, whose small fingers clung to her sleeve with terrified devotion. Though children ought to be kept far from the abyss, fate had other ideas tonight; Scarlett would not — or could not — be pried away.

Rowena lifted a match.

A hiss.

A breath of sulfur.

Then the candles bloomed into fragile life.

Her voice began as a murmur — a river of Latin threaded with sorrow and resolve:

"Spiritus Lucis et Amoris... comita nos."

Spirit of Light and Love, accompany us.

Mia steadied herself beside the restrained girl. Alisha's eyelids fluttered, her body taut as though bracing for a storm within.

The air thickened — oppressive, electric — and the walls seemed to inhale.

Then came the first tremor.

Alisha's back arched.

Her breath escaped as a ragged gasp — not human, but sharp as tearing silk.

Scarlett whimpered. Xena knelt, whispering, "Do not fear, little star. I am here."

Her words were a shield, but terror still clung to the child like cobweb silk.

From Alisha's throat emerged a voice not her own — hollow, ancient, steeped in bitterness:

"Rowena. Traitor. I believed in you."

Rowena did not break. She lifted her hand, fingers curling with ritual precision.

"Profer ab hac innocente puella..."

Depart from this innocent child...

The candles' flames rose, then sputtered violently, as though resisting the command.

"I SHALL NOT LEAVE HER!"

The room shuddered.

A howl tore through the house — more wind than voice, more rage than reason.

Rowena's reply cracked like a whip of holy fire:

"Exi foras et evanescet!"

Come forth and be extinguished!

The candles died in unison. Darkness flooded the chamber — thick, sentient, suffocating.

Scarlett buried her face in Xena's chest as the woman gathered her close. A glow — faint yet resolute — unfurled around them, like a guardian's embrace made visible. Warm, gentle, impenetrable.

"Beautiful..." Scarlett breathed, awe eclipsing fear.

Xena kissed her temple. "Light protects its own."

Alisha's scream split the blackness — primal, anguished — and a fountain of radiant, multicolored light erupted from her mouth, twisting like a serpent made of starlight and vengeance.

"Mia — NOW!" Rowena commanded.

Mia raised her hands — palms forward — summoning her will. The aurora writhed, resisting her, pressing against her bones like a hurricane in flesh. She faltered — breath stuttering — doubt whispering treacherously.