Alice tried not to let her nerves show as she stood up on the elevated podium in front of the thousands gathered in front of her. She'd seen this place before and now that she recognized where Hansard had taken her she realized what dimension they were really in. It may have been Hansard's family castle, but it wasn't the one in her dimension. When he'd taken her to Mevolant's army base where she, Valkyrie, Vivi, Ellion, and Dexter had broken into an intense sadness had overcome her as the memories flooded into mind. So much had changed in so little time. Now almost all her memories were painful.
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"The time has finally arrived! Our glorified god, The Unnamed, has possessed the body we have prepared for him in the Caves of the Void! It won't be long before he rises to full power to decimate the mortals and cleanse the Earth of them and the mortal-loving-mage filth!" Hansard riled up the army and they cheered and shouted in response to his words.
Ice ran through Alice's veins at the words she heard coming from the mouth that had touched the back of her hand on several occasions. She tried to hide the shake in her sweaty hands as she drummed a rhythm with her fingers against the fabric of her heavy dress. She hoped that everything went according to her plan.
"With my lovely Queen by my side," Hansard gazed adoringly down at her with a poisonous smile as he grabbed her waist and pulled her into his side. "I have been able to raise the finest army this world has ever seen!"
More cheers rose from the masses and she swallowed her disgust. Not much longer now, she reassured herself.
"Everyone, be ready at your stations, we're shunting over." He nodded to the Shunter at his left, Silas Nadir. She wasn't sure which dimension's version, but she'd heard of him. "As for you, my gorgeous nightshade, I have a special job for you."
She looked up at him with a slight frown and he gestured to the guards who marched in a line of shackled prisoners in chains with sacks over their upper bodies. Her chest tightened.
Roarhaven was under intense stress. There were people scurrying everywhere, even more so than the past few days. It was because of this mood of clear panic in the air that Fletcher knew what was happening before he was told. To confirm his thoughts, Andena came sprinting, short for breath with her multicoloured hair swaying and her usually stylish clothes replaced with something much more practical – although still fashionable – as she stopped in front of him and nodded at his silent question.
"It's time." She said with a shaky breath. He followed her through the chaotic, winding corridors. He took her hand and caressed it supportively to calm not only her nerves but also his own as she led him outside the Sanctuary and up the giant wall. It was the only visible barrier between Roarhaven and the rest of the world, but he knew the many magical shields that were in place as well, unseen by the human eye. Fletcher and Andena joined Saracen Rue and The Wolverine where they stood surveying the previously empty field that once before held an army, back to a time when Stephanie would have been holding his hand and not Andena. He pushed the memories away pulled Andena closer as his voice hitched in his throat when he tried to speak.
"I know." She said and looked up at him. "We could die today."
He just nodded, not knowing what else to say at the sight before them.
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"Grand Mage Sorrows, Elder Wisp, Elder Shade, it's time." One of the sanctuary officials knocked on the council room doors and informed them.
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China looked at the two Elders beside her, both young women too fresh to have seen war before and she felt herself being pulled back to her own experiences where the memories of the very thing she'd been protecting herself from all these years came flooding back. This time she did not do what she had done every other time. She did not push it away. She did not drown it inside her. It did not make her weak as she had always thought. As she'd always been taught by her grandmother. She held onto it and she made herself stronger.
China Sorrows did what China Sorrows does best. She put on her emotionless, unreadable façade and she stood strong with impeccable posture and an immaculate outfit, ready to face whatever came knocking her door down.
The Elders stood as a strong trio up on the wall they were led to, overlooking the masses of land surrounding their isolated city. The usually empty expanses were now dotted with thousands of enemy soldiers.
In the epitome of put-togetherness and professionalism Aria Shade thought out her words carefully before responding with the formality of a true Elder, saying "Holy fucking shit, we're gonna die."
