Chosen Legacy (Book Five of the Chosen Universe)

Chapter Seventeen

AUTHOR'S NOTE: For those of you who have not read Aura Mackenzie's Avengers fics (which you should totally go do), Sophie is the daughter of Hawkeye and is married to Captain America. These are details that will help make the beginning of this chapter make more sense. As stated previously, Sophie belongs exclusively to Aura, but she kindly lets me borrow her from time to time so Sophie can come play in Power Ranger land. And if you're a wrestling fan, although I never explicitly stated it in the other fics, yes Dean is Dean Ambrose, a.k.a. Jon Moxley. What can I say? Sage and Thorn's mother kept interesting company when she was alive. Okay, enough chatter. Enjoy the chapter!

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

SELLIE

Her body ached. Her head was the worst, but all of her bones were sore. She'd endured a pretty savage beating from Micah and Estos. Sellie was pretty sure Micah was a sociopath, while Estos seemed to be more of a faithful lackey. Apparently, Tia had pissed them off, and they'd taken their frustration out on her and Fran.

Sellie had done everything in her power to protect Fran from harm. She'd deliberately used her quick wit and natural snark to piss off the Eltarians, causing them to focus much of their attack on her. She was okay with that because it meant Fran was safe.

Fran sat beside her now, cleaning her cuts with water and a towel. After finding Sellie half-dead and Fran screaming in terror, the Alchemist had stepped in and made Micah and Estos leave them alone. She had healed Sellie enough that she'd survive and advised her not to piss off the Alliance again. Then, surprisingly, she'd taken care of Fran. She had calmed her down before patching up her injuries and insisting she eat and take care of herself.

Enough time had passed that Sellie thought it must be the next day, but it was hard to tell from their cell. Suddenly, she sensed something familiar. The lights went out, plunging them into darkness.

"What's going on?" Fran asked nervously.

Sellie smiled. "I think the cavalry just arrived," she replied. She forced herself to move closer to Fran even though it hurt.

The energy of the entire building changed. "The barrier spells are failing," Sellie realized aloud.

"What? How?" Fran asked.

"Sophie must have fried the existing spells with a fire portal... I didn't really think of it, but spells run on energy and have electrical impulses... She shorts out electronics."

She could hear panic coming from outside of their door. "What's happening?" Someone asked frantically. She sounded like a scared little girl, but it wasn't Mora.

"Stay with me, Sharon," another girl replied.

"Callie, I'm scared," the girl admitted.

"I'll protect you. Stay right here."

"I don't understand... What just happened?" Zizi asked. Sellie had learned her name when she fed them that morning.

"I don't know..." The Alchemist responded.

"What is the meaning of this?" Zell demanded. "Warlock, rebuild your labyrinth at once!"

"He cannot, my Lord," Felina said. "Whatever shattered the spell was too sudden and powerful. It knocked him unconscious."

Suddenly, Sellie heard someone loudly singing along to a song she recognized. Her smile grew significantly larger.

"What... The actual... Fuck?" Callie asked.

"Hands... Touching hands... Reaching out... Touching me... Touching yoooooou! Sweet Caroline... Ba, ba, ba! Good times never seemed so good! I've been inclined to believe they never would!" The voice sang.