The United

Chapter 16

"Mari.... I am glad you are okay.... Hang on. Did Jayda hit you?!" Aaron asked, his voice rising in anger.

"She did, but it is fine. She was scared I would die... Or could have.... She just wants me to be safe." I admitted and took Aaron's hand, so he wouldn't strike Jayda back for it.

"I guess she could have had a good reason, but I don't like that you let her attack you..." Aaron said calmly.

"I'm not letting her attack me. She speaks with her fists. Jayda was worried about me." I smiled slightly and was about to get to my feet, but Aaron stopped me.

"Don't push yourself so hard. You need to recover. And fully this time. Not a few days and saying you are all good." Aaron said with concern.

"I am okay in a few days. My realm makes me heal faster...." I muttered, but knew there was no use in fighting with Aaron.

"Mari...... Don't make me stand guard. I will, but I want to be able to trust you. So please don't hurt yourself when you should be recovering. Even Jayda says the same. So please Mari...." Aaron pleaded his case.

"Fine.... I'll recover for now... Until Kade tells me that I am healed. Then I am going to help with the classes and the kids.... I feel bad that you are having to take care of them all alone." I smiled slightly, and Aaron put his arms around me.

"You know I don't mind, so please don't hurt yourself by putting more strain on yourself." Aaron smiled again, before adding, "You should get some rest sweetheart."

"You aren't my parent you know..." I muttered not feeling even a little tired.

"I know I'm not. I'm your boyfriend, but your dad would want me to take care of you for him... so I will." Aaron finished, and ran his fingers through my hair. "Please get some rest Mari..."

I nodded slightly before I blinked my eyes closed and let myself drift to sleep. I didn't realize this would be a mistake. There was a sound of screaming when I woke up. Kaden was in my room, almost in a trance. He grabbed me by the neck and slammed me against the wall.

"K-kaden..... S-stop... P-please..." I managed to choke out, barely breathing.

Kaden didn't seem to notice me, and his eyes were sheltered by gold. I let myself phase through his arms, but he grabbed my shadow also. "K-kade... P-lease...." I muttered helplessly. I felt like I was on the verge of a blackout. When Aaron ran into the room in full flame. He placed his hand on the back of Kaden's neck until Kaden fell to the floor unconscious. "Sorry little brother, but you can't kill Mari under any circumstance." Aaron said, and helped me to my feet. "Everything here went to hell real quicky. There is this chick here.... The Hypnotist. My fire and shadow steppers seem to be the only unaffected.

"Willis, Kathleen, Rin?" I muttered hoping that they wouldn't be under the control of the enemy.

"Not anymore.... I took them down with my heat. Bri, Keaton, Nolan, and Leona are keeping the little ones safe, but I am going to need help to rescue the others. It is like this girl has no balance. Aaron pointed at the girl hovering in the air. She looked more like a magician of light than anything. I thought back to Fortuna's words. It was my time now... I had to go. I let my shadow free, and shifted the air around her and me to my realm. I created a dome, Aaron could see through it, but was safe on the outside. I looked at him one last time with a look of regret, and whispered to him, "Please forgive me Aaron... I can not let you die here... it was fated by a clairvoyant in my dreams.... I would rather defy that fate." I muttered and turned back,

"You. You lock out the only challenge in this building away from me? Why?" The girl hissed behind the mask.

"Who are you? Why are you doing this?" I said as she watched me.

She removed her mask and smiled evilly. I knew those eyes... that demonic smile. The girl who had tormented me since I had been a kid... Kylee Nina... The hypnotist. I should have known by her dark hair and eyes... maybe her tone of voice... but I was caught off guard, and soon, I was pierced by a spear of light. It hurt, causing me to cough up blood, and fade a little. When I looked at my body, I realized if I died here, I would fade from existence. I opened my eyes, and took a few more hits. Aaron cried out for me to let down the barrier... But I didn't. If I would die here, this dome would implode and Kylee would never bother anyone again. She would be joining me in non existence. I channeled all the energy I had left into my hands. I caught one of her spears, and hit Kylee in the gut. My hands pulsed with dark energy, and I sent a beam at Kylee who was now off guard. And in a flash of light, she was gone. She faded into the sun from whence she came. Kylee wasn't the real fight... and I knew that. It was her second spirit. The hypnotist. Kylee's abilities did not lie in herself, but in another, and because I had killed Kylee. I was left with another. The man I had faced in my realm before. Hypnos...

"Hypnos. I summon thee. Come before me wielder of darkness and light." I called out, and watched as he formed before me.

I summoned my sword, praying Aaron, Bri and Keaton would be alright.

Little Shadow huntress. I have been awaiting our rematch. Shall I finally kill you?

"No. I was hoping I could resolve this with you peacefully. I don't want a fight, but if you want it, I will give you one." I hissed at him. I heard Aaron hitting the domes wall. It sounded like someone hitting glass, but I knew it wasn't going to break. Only shadow steppers could enter, so unless Bri, Keaton, Nolan, or Jayda helped him, Aaron was stuck out there. Jayda was out with her friends, and Bri and Keaton don't know how to use their abilities too well.... So I should be okay. No one should get killed at Hypnos's hand other than maybe me.

I felt myself fade more, and I looked down. Hypnos had put his hand through my chest. It made me fall to my knees. I was breathing heavily when he finally stopped and laughed.

I have never seen something so pitiful! The Ether Queen on her knees! Beg for mercy! Beg for life!

"I can't do that... I am stronger than you think! I pulled myself from the shadow realm again. I radiated a bluish green light as I stood. I still had the taste of blood in my mouth, but I wasn't going to give up yet.

A familiar girl walked towards me and smiled. Viciously.

"Fortuna... What's going on?" I asked nervously.

"I'm very sorry Ether Queen. But you die today. By my hand!" Fortuna hissed and her appearance changed. One of Hypnos's tricks.

"Come out and face me you coward!" I screamed to the empty space, and then I saw his plan. I forced him to stay inside the barrier. Making it so I was the only one who could leave as I wanted.

You really suck. You know that? I was just about to grab those kids and your lover. Too bad. They could have helped you. Now you are all alone.

"You're wrong. I am never alone." I said defiantly, and Thrust forward with my sword. It sunk through his body, but he didn't fall."
Nice try... but you can't defeat me. Only those with magic. And you are not Kylee so you have lost.

He stepped closer to me, and for some reason, I couldn't move. He lifted me high into the air, and kept his hand around my neck. Eventually, I couldn't move at all, and pain filled my mind. I drew one more raspy breath, and my mind whirred. I couldn't go... I can't leave Aaron... Jayda.... Kaden... Bri.... Keaton.... I couldn't leave my family. I took a sharp breath in, and exhaled slowly, trying to slow my ever quickly beating heart. My mind was racing in four different directions, each to a new plan... a new place. All I wanted was to be free... my mind darkened. Leading me to places where no light was found, in the world where nothing changes... where everything evil remains, and the light of the good is snuffed out by the pain and suffering of many. As I shut my eyes one last time, I couldn't help but remember the meaning of my name. I'm just a Shadow... a shadow of who I was and a Shadow of who I am meant to be........