Swan Song

The End

Everyone races back to the site,

People in dark cloaks surround us, in all ways of exit. In the center, I see the DarkCode's telepath reciting the incantations as their shade and flasher combine the shadows and light rays.

I see the gray matter already forming. It's too late. The scroll has a limit of 5, and they just brought back the 5th one.

Oralie, my mother, was dead. Forever.

I lean into Fitz as tears roll down my eyes. My vision is blurry, and my head is spinning so fast I can't hear who they're bringing back. Fitz puts his arm around my shoulder as he holds me close, murmuring into my hair that it's going to be okay. How will it be okay?

We're fighting another huge fight, and the last one had a big emotional and physical toll on us all. I don't think I, or any of us, can go through that again. But we have no choice.

I get to my knees and try to ready myself. I squeeze Fitz's hand for a second, and the DarkCode finally notice us in the shadows. '

A familiar face steps forward pulling their cloak down. Crimson.

"Well, well, well, I guess you saw the body of your mother earlier. We did warn you, but I suppose, you were able to dodge that in times before. I suppose you can't now, can you?" She smiles a malicious smirk.

Everyone around me gasps. Grady's eyes widen. "EDALINE'S DEAD?!" He shouts and I see his gaze turn into the hardest glare I've ever seen.

"No, not Edaline," I say, and another tear trickles down my face.

"Oralie. She's my genetic mother, or was."

Everyone gasps again. Fitz tightens his hold around me, holding me as the tears trickle down my face.

"No need to dwell on the past," Crimson says, her nostrils flaring. "We have much more planned for the future."

"I can't let that happen," I say in a tone as strong as I can muster.

"I'm afraid you have no choice," she replies nonchalantly. Her head moves to the direction of the troll hive. Vespera is standing there.

"It seems as if we haven't had an acquaintance in a very long time. It was long overdue. You should thank our friends, the DarkCode for bringing us together." Vespera says in a calm, malicious tone.

I harden my glare at her. "Oh, I'm sure I will."

"Your puny little team will be no match for us this time. You may have defeated the Neverseen, but you will never end our reign.

Fitz grabs my arm as I twitch to go rip her head off.

"Oh golden boy, don't stop her. I want to see what the 'all-powerful moonlark' can do. I wonder what she'd look like with no life in her beautiful brown eyes." Her evil smile sends chills down my spine.

Fitz lets go of my arm as he runs towards the DarkCode. "NO ONE WILL HURT SOPHIE."

I whip the throwing stars I can keep in my pocket out and get ready to aim. At this point, the whole clearing is in a commotion. All my friends are pulling out weapons or getting their concentration ready to use abilities.

To my side, I see Fitz dueling a tall DarkCode member with a sword. I move over to help him, since the hooded figure looks pretty big. We take him down together and move on.

I hear a scream from the other side. I see Biana, pinned to a tree by Crimson, and watch in horror as Tam jumps in the way of Crimson's sword. Everybody freezes, and I hear Linh's scream pierce the sky.

Biana crumples down, tears streaming down her eyes as she falls to the ground, sobbing at the sight of Tam's body. Another one dead. Another one we can't save.

I push the thought to the back of my mind. We can't focus on this right now. We'll grieve when the DarkCode pays for what they've done. We would avenge Tam.

Our anger fueling us, we fight harder than ever before. Slowly the DarkCode falls until only Vespera and Crimson stand, fear in their malicious eyes as we close in on them.

"What happened to your promise, the one where you said you'd defeat us all?" I smirk. "I guess you won't be killing millions for your dirty little game. How do you feel?

"Very well played, moonlark," Vespera says, attempting to keep the fear out of her voice. "I suppose you bested us at our own game."

"What if there was no game to play?" I unsheathe the sword and trace the tip along her face. In one swift motion, I plunge my sword into her chest. She crumples down, crimson red blood tainting the floor. I smile as the life slowly fades out of her eyes.

I shift my venomous gaze onto Crimson and tilt my head to the side.

"You're next."

A/N: This is the end of our story! There will be an Epilogue, so stay tuned for that. Also, we might be rewriting the same story but a Sokeefe version for all the Sokeefe shippers out there. You're welcome :)