Light in Dark Places

Chapter Fifty-Four

The lightning hits Benedict in the chest and it is not painful so much as a transcendence.

Everything that follows is like he's reading a scene in a book. His entire body is afire with lightning and all he can do is remember a conversation that hasn't happened yet.

"We were not meant to live on this dimension, Beloved. That's why we need a human Sacrifice to give us form. We have our own abilities, but they must work through the abilities of our Sacrifice. My power is a direct reflection of your Ash talent."

"I'm sorry," Benedict had mumbled. "I'm sorry you're stuck with me, then. You should have had someone stronger—"

"It is not about strength, and I would not change you for anyone. Beloved, don't you see? All of this depends on you—on all three of you. You are great not because you are strong but because you try. As long as you keep trying, so will I."

And he accepts now that he is not strong. But Hiraeth is strong, and together they are something wonderful.

Benedict knows that everyone in the city that day will describe seeing a pale blue dragon in the sky. The pale blue dragon is breathing out lightning, like how in the old stories they could breathe fire, and the lightning echoes down to the city destroying every ounce of Misery.

People fall to their knees in awe. Somewhere, Seung-ri Kaas and Jisu Nam see the lightning and know whose lighting it is but the dragon that destroys all Misery in its path is something new and frightening. It is not the world they know.

Clemente Hernandez watches his ability echo from a boy and into a god and out into the city. He is a man who has toppled a nation and been regarded as one of the most powerful beings on earth since he was six-years old. Very little frightens him but he is seeing something new and it makes him uneasy.

But when the Misery disappears and the lightning echoes disappear, Hernandez knows that this boy and his god have saved the city, his city, and that is a debt that he will take very seriously.

When Benedict collapses, he collapses into Hiraeth's arms.

"Are you alright?" Hernandez asks.

"He is fine," Hiraeth replies.

And Benedict feels lightheaded and exhausted. But he is fine.

"Joan," he murmurs.

"What about Joan?" Hernandez asks sharply.

Benedict shakes his head because he knows that having Hernandez there will only complicate things.

We have to get to Joan and Jude, Benedict says.

Yes, Hiraeth agrees. And he shifts the world.

*

In the chaos, Creosote disappears, but no one is really paying attention to that. The only thing to properly focus on is the fact that Misery is spreading throughout Jude's body.

Schwartz gets to him first. She doesn't hesitate—she drops straight to her knees and hangs on to him—ignoring needles and Misery alike. "Jude!"

He doesn't answer; he just looks at her in fear. Joan, like everyone else, is frozen in place.

"Help him!" Schwartz demands, whirling on Joan. "Help him like you helped Benedict!"

"I—I don't know how!" Joan stammers. "I don't know if I even did anything!"

"Damn you help him!" Schwartz cries.

Joan drops to her feet and grabs Jude's hand, the adrenaline keeping her from caring about the spikes. He looks at her, frightened, as the Misery spreads across his body. "I— I d-don't—"