Different Worlds

Deeper Magic

Just as I was about to start focusing everything I had on connecting with the powerful magic, I heard a shout from the side of us, and all of our heads snapped around to see Jarvis standing there, his eyes trained on his long-ago lover.

"Netiri, you don't have to do this."  His voice held a pleading note, and I realized that he was trying to give her one last chance to come back to him.  After everything she had done, he still loved her.  I felt so sorry for Jarvis.  I knew that he was never going to get her back.

"Stop this madness now!  There is still time for you to start making amends for everything."

Netiri raised one eyebrow as she regarded Jarvis through glowing red eyes.  "And just what amends do you think I have to make?"  Her voice was suspiciously smooth.  "I have done nothing wrong."

The sorrow that was in Jarvis' eyes was crystal clear.  He knew she wasn't going to listen, but he had to make that one last attempt to try and connect with the Netiri that he used to know.

"You have killed countless of innocent people, Netiri.  You have left children orphans; wives widows.  You have destroyed entire villages just because you happened to be in a rage and they were the closed thing you could take your anger out on.  And what about Hadlin?  You turned on him after he spent so much time teaching us everything we know.  There was a time when you knew how to feel, Netiri.  A time when you knew how to love."  His voice grew softer with emotion.  "There was a time when you knew what it was to love me."

As I watched, I suddenly realized that the red glow had flickered and died in her eyes, leaving them a brilliant blue.  They were still trained on Jarvis.

"You're right," she said softly, and for once I couldn't hear an evil edge to her voice.  "I did love you.  I loved you with everything I had."

"There's no reason why we can't have that again," Jarvis insisted.  "There's still time."

Netiri took a step back, almost as if she were unsure of herself.  "No," she muttered uneasily.  She bent her head, and when she looked back up, the fire was back in her eyes.  "No!"  This time with more conviction.  "Our time is over, Jarvis.  I am the future, and this is my world."

I looked over at Evan and Jarvis simultaneously.  Using magic, I spoke to them in their heads away from Netiri's prying ears.

Distract her.  I need her distracted while I try to break the shield.

Seeing their twin nods, I began blocking everything else out as I focused all of my energy within.  The last thing my mind registered before I closed my eyes was Netiri attacking Jarvis head-on in a magic battle, while Evan did everything he could to back him up.

Reaching deep down inside, I surpassed the everyday magic I had been using and once again reached the shield.  Finding the again, I focused all of my power into that one vulnerable point.  So focused I was, that I didn't notice the wind pick up, throwing my hair into disarray.  I didn't realize that the fighting that had been going on around me had come to a standstill, as everyone watched as I began to float up from the ground.  I didn't know that Jarvis was managing to shield me from Netiri's many attempts to destroy me before I was able to complete my task.

It was taking all of my energy.  I was beginning to feel drained, but I made myself push harder.  It was requiring more strength that I had ever dreamed possible, and I could feel myself weakening and ready to give up.  But then memories of the previous night began flashing through my mind.  Mothers and their children.  Husbands and wives.  Brothers and sisters.  I was doing this for them.  I was doing this so that they could have a lot more happy times together in the future.  And I was doing this for Devon.  So that he would survive.  Just the thought of Devon gave me the extra help I needed, and my weakened resolve strengthened.