I nod. "Well, I need her back."
He nods back in agreement. "They've already said they will help our fight, but they needed to have a ceremony of sorts first."
"Will they hurt her?" I ask.
He shakes his head. "I don't believe so."
Sebastian places his forehead against mine. "What do you need?"
"To make them pay, Bash." His smile is devilish, before he teleports us back to the battlefield.
"Where you go, I go." He whispers mimicking my words during the second round.
We charge into the fight. I let Billie do all my thinking. Every being that comes in contact with her regrets it. She’s out for vengeance. All my eyes see when I look at their faces are those of my enemies. Ethan, Mayra, even Duvessa. They can’t feel my wrath, yet. But they will. I’ll kill them all. My weapon will be soaked in their blood.
When the chaos is over, blood and guts cling to my clothes. A terrible stench floats through the air. Falkon screeches as she soars above the clouds, huffing an all-consuming fire on all of our remaining adversaries. She made good on her promise, burnt flesh can be seen and smelt for a mile.
My cousins find me shortly after. Jeremiah holds me while Deen rubs my back. "We're so sorry." One of them whispers. I cling to both of them, because tomorrow is not promised. I’ve only just found them.
Someone hands me to Sebastian. He carries me to his room, then turns on the shower. Where he quickly washes us both. Taking leftovers out of his fridge he hands me some warmed-over soup.
"Eat, my love, you need your strength for tomorrow." Sebastian kisses my forehead before settling down beside me.
Mindlessly, I nod. Managing to bring my soup up to my mouth a few times. Tears drop down my cheeks without abandon, because with Sebastian I can be vulnerable. Tomorrow we must bury our dead. It's Lux custom that when killed in battle, burial must take place within twenty-four hours of falling. They will start tonight, Aunt Georgia’s will be tomorrow, as she is higher in the hierarchy.
After eating half of my soup, we make our way to his bedroom. Sebastian places my back to his front, spooning with me. War is hell, I'll never be the same. However, in my aunt's honor, I make a solemn vow to not let it change me for the worse. I’ll become better, not bitter. However, the Umbra will still feel our wrath. Phasma, Mayra, and Duvessa are at the top of my list. Soon, I will be the one to send them all straight to hell.
“Thank you for everything today, Sebastian, it’s because of you that Uncle Jo lives. I couldn’t bear, if I’d had to bury themboth tomorrow.” Grabbing his hand, I kiss his fingertips. “I love you, Bash.”
He stills behind me, then flips me over. “I’ve loved you since the first moment I laid eyes on you, Bells. I’m sorry, I couldn’t save Georgia, but from this moment forth, I vow to always slay anyone who comes against you and those that you love. They will all perish; I won’t fail again. What Mayra doesn’t understand is that she is expendable to Duvessa we can use that fact in our favor. Today was about taking those you love to make you suffer, to make you change, to harden your heart.”
I don’t understand. “I know they are evil, but why that tactic?”
He kisses my forehead gently. “Because that’s how they can defeat you. Mayra and her armies will do Duvessa’s bidding, they will come for all of us. Because through us they can get to you.”
***
Sebastian
I haven't dreamed in forever, and now my worst nightmare will one day come to pass. My dreams have never lied.
-Sebastian
Yawning, I rub her hair while she sleeps. Arabella was almost taken from me today. I can't lose her is the last thing I think about before sleep pulls me under.
Dream Sequence
I growl as Arabella is ripped from my arms. Looking down, my shadows are fighting with the hands that are comingup from the ground. A scream leaves her throat as she falls into the pit of darkness that leads to the Valley of the Decayed. "I'll come for you. I won't let her have you!" I shout after her, then without another thought, I jump in.
Epilogue
Beginnings
June 21, 1758
Savannah, Georgia
John William Lightfoot- Founder of The Lux
