Moonlight Ridge

42

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** Wait to play music. I've written where it would be best suited **

The anger took over. Rising like a tidal wave. Then, all at once, she felt it. The magic reaching out to her. Everywhere. Waiting for her to reach back and take it. So she did. She kissed Mal's lips before standing. Cassius turned to look at her and giggled. She approached him in a daze. The anger grew inside her as he spoke.

" I have decided to let you live, child. Live with the knowledge that you were helpless to save the Master Shifter and that you will be helpless to save anyone one else. I will keep you alive long enough to watch me kill this army and enslave the rest." He spoke with a smile.

The wave of anger and despair came down. She began shaking. But this time, it wasn't fear. Her body had become a vacuum for magic. Pulling it in so quickly that her body hummed with it.

"You assume I will let you live." She spoke barely above a whisper.

But Cassius heard her. His head snapped to her. His eyes wary. The wind began to pick up. The clouds turned dark. Lightening flashed in the sky quickly, followed by thunder.

"It is you and all your kind that will die on this field. You think you can take my mate from me and live?!" She finished with a shout.

She flicked her hand dismissively, and the portal that had earlier depleted her of magic, vanished. Cassius eyes bulged in his head. He turned with a snarl.

"Open i-" He had started to yell but was cut off.

She had lifted her arms, and every single vampire was on the ground, including Cassius. They were being pressed into the ground forcefully and writhed against her magic. Trying to escape. It made no difference. They were like bugs in her hand. She screamed in rage, and a storm began. The first dry storm Earth had ever seen. Trees bowed in the wind. Thunder boomed. Lightening came down. Striking vampires all over the field and igniting them into flames. Soon, the screams of the vampires filled the air. They were trapped as Leo continued to crush them down. Cassius was barely able to move his face to the side and glare at Leo. Leo gave him a cold smile.

"Do you feel helpless yet, Cassius? I will keep you alive until your progeny are dead. Only then will I give you the release of death." She spoke calmly.

Her eyes shifted from him as she looked around at the multiple lightening strikes still ongoing. Her eyes didn't stop on any of the Athreans. It was as if her sorrow only allowed her eyes to see her enemies. At last, the last of his abominations was burning. Her eyes went back to Cassius. It was the first time she saw fear in his eyes. Her arms dropped, and she rose two fingers. She looked him in the eyes as she beckoned him with her fingers. Cassius rose to stand, but his movements were mechanical. As if he was a puppet.

"Release me!" He screamed in fear.

Leo didn't answer. She stared as he slowly approached her. Cassius screamed the begged the whole way until he stopped a foot from her. His eyes were wild with panic. Apologies and promises fell from his lips. But it was too late. Leo put a finger to her lips in a hushing motion. His lips clamped shut, and he tried to continue to speak, but it came out muffled.

"By my hand you shall perish, evil one. With the strength of my forefathers, I will extinguish your legacy. Now, say the names of those you have murdered. Beginning with the first. Be quick."

No sooner had she stopped speaking, and he began. From his mouth poured all the names. So rapid, it seemed he was praying. Blood tears fell from his eyes as he went on for what felt like an eternity. However, scarcely half an hour had passed when he finally stopped. Leo looked at him with disgust and raised her hand once more. A massive bolt of lightning came down and struck him repeatedly. He screamed in agony. At last, he took flame. The fire that consumed him was blue. He begged and screamed, but Leo watched him with an empty gaze.

[Play music video here for added effect]

When the flames were done with him, his shape was ashes that blew apart.

"I hope you make him suffer." Leo whispered to the gods.

"Leonna!" Samara called in a panic.

Leo turned to see Samara, Brandon, Emma, Walter, Tsarra, Orian, and Glarald surrounding Mal. Her breath caught in her throat at Samara's expression.

"He asked for you." Samara said urgently.

Leo was there by his side in moments. Kneeling down and grabbing his hand. She looked over at Samara, confused.

"Your magic must be keeping him alive, but his wounds are fatal." She said in a hushed voice before moving away.

All the others moved away as well. Allowing her to have a private moment with Mal.

"I am here." Leo told him.

His eyes opened, and he smiled at her. Tears gathered in her eyes, then spilled down her face. He lifted his free hand and wiped tears from her right eye with his thumb.

"Leonna. I knew you would defeat him. I am so proud of you." He spoke in a labored voice.

Leo sobbed and held his hand tighter. The tears flowed down her face freely like a broken dam.

"Please, stay." She begged desperately.

A tear rolled down the side of his face. She watched him struggle to pull in another breath.

"I cannot. You are free to love whoever you choose." He told her with a pleading expression.

Leo shook her head.

"I choose you, Mallelis. I would choose you a thousand times. I love you. Please do not leave me." She sobbed.

His eyes held a passionate longing she had never seen.

"You are everything that I never knew I needed. I want you to know that it was not the bond that made me fall in love with you. It was you. I will always love you. Even in the next life. My mother once told me that when a bonded passes, they wait for their other half and become whole when the other passes. I shall wait for you, Leonna. After you have lived a long, happy life. Then we shall be reunited.... You must let me go, love." He struggled through his words.

A gasping cry came from her mouth, and she shook her head again. She didn't want to give up, but she could also see how much pain he was in. He was only being held alive by magic. It would be cruel to keep him and prolong his suffering.

"I am so sorry." She choked out.

His eyes glistened with tears. He touched her face as she bent to kiss him. They parted, and she rested her forehead against his. She took a deep breath at the same time he took his last. She let it all go. All the magic that had been pulled in exploded out of her. She watched as he breathed out and closed his eyes. A pained moan escaped her lips before she wept. She held on to him as she wept. She felt so tired she could hardly move. Her eyes began closing. They felt so heavy. She could hear shouting, but it sounded subdued. She vaguely felt hands grab her, but she no longer cared. She let the darkness of her mind pull her deeper.

It would be many years before she woke up again.

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A/N: Ahhhhhh!!! That was one of the most difficult chapters to write 😔.