Power

by Theresa Jones

  I broke down and started crying, I placed my hands on his chest as I sobbed. How could this happen? How could he be dying?

  There has to be a way to save him! You must help me! I have so much power! I can do it if you tell me what to do! I knew that I hadn’t descended from Peony, but I didn’t care. With this much power, I should be able to do anything! What good was it if I couldn’t save the good guys or the people I loved? What was the point? There would be no point in fighting, no point in anything.

  I was desperate, I was begging with my mind, Please, Nicholas, help me! He didn’t answer so I turned to look at him and saw him holding his ears and hunched over.

  I pulled my power back, realizing I hadn’t just been speaking to him in his mind, but had unleashed the full potency of my power on him. “You need to get better control, Allison,” he demanded. Whatever. I didn’t care. I didn’t care about anything if I couldn’t save David. He tried to help me stand. “Come. We must take him home.”

  I stood, ready to do something to save David… anything, but I couldn’t.

  There was only black.

  Chapter 18

  Peace

  I woke up in my bed, in my room in the compound. My muscles felt weak and rubbery like I had been working out for hours every day for weeks. Memories started coming back to me, flooding my mind. I had saved my family and those I loved by ridding the world of the evil called Damien.

  But, not all my memories were pleasant. I sat up, pushing against the bed, only to fall back down. I was dizzy and couldn’t steady myself. I looked around my room. Everything looked the same, but there was also no one there to help me. Maybe Sam was here. Would she know I was back and ok? I listened but couldn’t hear anything. I sighed and took a deep breath. I would have to stand.

  This time I moved slowly. I pushed up from the bed, and breathed in, then slowly released the breath. It took me three tries to get all the way up. Once I was sitting, I held still trying to maintain my balance. After a minute, I slowly lowered my legs to the floor and prepared to stand. Holding onto the post closest to me, I lifted myself up. I stood there, still trying to stay balanced. I thought about how ridiculous this was. I had so much power that I could defeat the big bad demons, but I couldn’t get up out of my own bed.

  I sighed and prepared to walk to the door. I realized too late that my legs were not strong enough to hold me on their own and I fell to the ground. I turned to sit on my butt and leaned against my bed, contemplating the situation I was in. I could wait, someone was bound to come by and check on me eventually. But I had to see David. If we had only been back a few minutes, I may not be too late to try and save him. But even if that were the case, it appeared I wouldn’t be able to walk out of here unassisted.

  I searched within and located my power. I had it closed up tight, so I released it, allowing it to fill me up and aide me. I closed my eyes and let it flow outwards. There was no one around in my quarters at all. I reached further to find that Sharon was not in her room. I reached further still, and there didn’t seem to be anyone in any of the quarters in this hallway. Instead of searching the whole Compound next, I just looked for David.

  I called to him, David! And then I listened to see if he would answer. I knew that he should be able to, but I heard nothing.

  I tried again, thinking harder, David! Are you here? Can you hear me? Then I waited again.

  The reply was not what I expected, or rather, who I expected. Rick answered, saying, Allison, I’m on my way. You don’t need to yell at everyone whilst trying to look for him. Calm down, I’ll be there in a minute.

  I couldn’t read a tone in his thoughts. Was he ok? Was David? Were any of us? Was the apocalypse stopped now that Damien was dead? Was the world still falling apart?

  Rick spoke to me again in my mind, Allison, you need to pull back on your power. We can all hear you. You are projecting rather loudly.

  I thought, Sorry. Then reeled my power back in so that I wouldn’t be shouting at everyone anymore. I would wait for Rick and he would explain what was going on. Then he would take me to David, no matter where he was. I leaned back against the bed, sighed loudly, and waited for Rick to arrive.

  ***David***

  I woke up in my bed, in my room in the compound. I felt very sore, like I had just run a marathon, no five marathons straight without a break. Memories started coming back to me, engulfing my every thought. We had gone up against the Rising, we had fought and lost members of the Order, Daniel and Luke for sure, probably more.

  Allison had gone against Damien on her own. She had said to us that it was over, and I had seen him lying face down on the ground as his power left his lifeless body. But that was all I could remember.

  Was she ok? I could still see her gorgeous body turning after she let us all know he was gone. She seemed so strong, so powerful, but there had been blood dripping down her nose, so I knew she had used to much power. She wavered as she turned. But then I must have passed out.

  I started to sit, but realized I was too dizzy to sit on my own, so I stayed down. I took a deep breath and reached out to Rick with my mind, he would know where Allison was and how she was doing. I let the familiar warmth of my power flood through me, strengthening me and empowering me. I was so in tuned to Rick’s mind it should be effortless to find him.

  I released the power and called to him. Rick! One word, but he would know it was me. I waited for his response, but it didn’t come. It started to worry me. Was he with her? Was she not better? Did we not make it back in time? Was he not here at all? Did he not make it back? So many questions started pouring through me. I called him more urgent this time, I knew if he was anywhere in the compound he would be able to hear me. RICK! And I waited again.

  Still no response. I readied myself to stand. Even if my body wouldn’t work, I knew that my power could carry me forward. I let it course through my body, each cell, each vein, each limb. I telekinetically willed myself to rise. My torso went up, so that I was in a sitting position. My legs went off the bed, and I started to stand. My body wasn’t working right, my brain wasn’t sending the right messages through my nervous system, but it didn’t matter. My power would make me move. If I could move a chair across a room, then I could move my legs beneath me and make my body push forward.

  David, calm down. I am on my way. His reply couldn’t have come at a better time. I willed myself back to the bed and lay down, cutting off the flow of power. I exhaled loudly, realizing how much it had taken out of me just to stand. I would have to have a healer come back in and finish up the job. This was ridiculous.

  I took a deep breath, Rick hadn’t mentioned Allison, but he would know that was all I cared about right now. I’d had many discussions with him regarding my feelings for her, so he was completely aware of the situation. He was coming to me. Since he didn’t say anything to me about her, it could mean either that she was well and he knew I wouldn’t believe him until I saw her for myself, or that she was not well and he couldn’t bear to tell me without being here in person. That daunting second thought brought up more fear than I could have imagined.

  I took another deep breath, and willed myself to sit. I would not be laying around when he came in here. I would be ready, as ready as possible anyways. So I sat, propping myself against several pillows and waited for my closest friend to arrive.

  ***Rick***

  I walked into her quarters, ready to give her the good news. I couldn’t help but remember the bright eyed, gorgeous little girl she had once been. When I had first come into her life, she had just recently lost her father and her mother had been devastated. She had been so smart, smarter than most children her age. Everything had been different back then. I hadn’t yet been appointed to the Council. I was still the one going out and binding the children’s power. But when I entered her life, she altered mine forever. I loved her. I loved her like she was my own. I respected and loved her mother, and wished for them both to have so much more in life.

  Even b
ack then, I knew there was something different about Allison. She was special, stronger. When Nicholas had first told me about the suspicions surrounding her, I actually entertained the thought. Could it be She had finally come, that the Descendant would finally rid the world of evil? I had known Allison was meant for something huge, and if she had been the Descendant, it would have made everything make sense.

  But when she told me that the little girl with her was her daughter, I was thrown completely off guard. She couldn’t be an unwed mother. It messed everything up. And yet, now I couldn’t imagine Allison being Allison without also being Samantha’s mother.

  Now that she had lived here at the Compound for the last several months, I had grown to love and respect her as the woman she became, not just because of the bond we had when she was a child. I had watched her relationship with David blossom in front of my eyes. I would love for their relationship to continue to grow. I only hope I am around to witness it all. They are two of the best people I know, and they both deserve each other.

  ***Allison***

  I heard a knock on my door, but before I could even answer it, the door opened. Rick walked in. He looked the same as always, and it surprised me how much comfort it brought me just to look at him. He walked across my room and sat on my bed next to me. He looked at me and answered my questions before I could even ask them.

  “Don’t worry, Allison. He is fine. He is sleeping now.” The words seemed simple enough, but the feelings they incited were unexplainable. David was sleeping, which meant he was alive. He could be hurt, but he was still living. No, he wouldn’t be hurt. If he was alive, that meant we got back in enough time that a healer would have healed him.

  My heart surged with joy. He was alive and ok. We would be ok. I was happy beyond words. Relief was coursing through me. Life was as it was meant to be. I leaned back and let out a sigh. My eyes filled with tears of true happiness. I couldn’t believe it was over. Damien was gone, and we were going to be ok. I allowed myself to revel in success, the feeling of victory.

  “So, he is ok? Just sleeping?” I asked, just to make sure.

  “Yes, He is fine. We arrived just in time to help both of you. Nicholas managed to keep your hearts beating long enough. He too is sleeping. You are the first to wake up.” Again, I took another calming breath. I loved knowing that everything would finally be ok. Sam was safe, my mom was safe, David was well, Damien was gone, and the End wouldn’t come yet. I couldn’t help but smile.

  “And Sam, where is she?” I asked.

  “She is with Sharon, of course. We have been back now for…” he paused, calculating in his head, “Wow! This is the fifth day we have been back,” he said incredulously.

  Wow was right. I remembered the last time I had used this much power I had slept for three days, and that had seemed excessive. But to sleep for five days seemed impossible. I knew that the power we had would keep us going, but it just didn’t seem feasible. As I contemplated the impossibilities of this new life I had, I looked at Rick, he looked like he had a headache or something. I looked harder, and if I had to guess I would have said he was ignoring something. How strange. Just as I was going to ask him what was going on, I heard another knock at the door.

  Rick answered before I could, “Please come in, Tyler.” Tyler was a man I had only seen in passing. We hadn’t actually ever met, but I knew he was close with David, so maybe he came to bring me some news.

  He walked in and said to Rick, “Thanks. How ya feeling?” he talked like he had some sort of accent. If I had to guess, I would say he was from Louisiana or Alabama or somewhere around there. You could never accurately guess anyone’s age around here, but he looked young, maybe in his early twenties. He wore dark blue jeans, a shirt that was at least a size too big for him, and sneakers. He looked a little unkempt but was still handsome, like he was too cool to care too much about his appearance.

  Rick nodded at him, “Yes, I’m well. I think Allison could use some help though.” He motioned over to me. “Allison, have you met Tyler?”

  I shook my head, “No. Nice to meet you, Tyler.” He smiled wide and walked up to me, reaching his hand out. As I readied myself for the effort needed to shake his hand, I wondered absently what Rick thought he could do for me. As soon as our hands met, I understood. His power covered me in warmth and all my uneasiness and dizziness disappeared. He was a healer.

  “You too. Ya feel better now?” he asked me. I couldn’t help but smile. I felt great now, which meant I would have no problems going to see David.

  I smiled as wide as I could and said to Tyler, “Yes sir. Thank you so much!” I stood and went straight to Rick. I cared so much for him, and I didn’t want him to think I had forgotten that his life had also been in danger too. I hugged him tightly.

  He looked down at me after our embrace, and said, “Thank you, darling. I’m glad you are safe too.” It was comforting he knew me so well that he didn’t have to actually read my mind to know what I was thinking. “But I know what you really want right now. Let’s go to David, he is awake now.” I nodded. Yes, he knew me very well. He looked to Tyler and said, “Please come with us, David will need you also.”

  Now that I was no longer sore or achy, I felt like I should be running to him. I had been so afraid he wouldn’t make it and I just wanted him to hold me. Tyler knocked on David’s door, but I didn’t wait for him to answer. I turned the knob and went inside. I had never actually been inside David’s room before, but I didn’t take the chance to look around at the decor.

  I walked straight through the living room to the room I assumed to be his bedroom. I knocked, but again wasn’t planning on waiting for an answer, so turned the knob. When the door opened, I could smell him instantly. It was obviously his bedroom. I looked to his bed, which was very similar to mine, and looked passed the curtains to where he was sitting.

  I almost ran to his bed and had barely sat on the side before he threw his arms around me. I hugged him back, probably too hard, and he groaned. I pulled back, wondering if I had actually hurt him when I realized how sore I had been when I first woke up. I kissed his forehead and mumbled, “Sorry, babe.”

  Rick and Tyler came up on the other side of the bed and Tyler reached out to him. David gave Tyler his hand, and I could see the brief tint of Tyler’s forest green power cover David’s hand. “Glad you’re back, man.” Tyler said to David. But I was already ignoring them again.

  I heard David mumble a brief, “Thanks,” before turning back to me and hugging me to his chest. We didn’t move again for a long time, just laid there hugging and holding each other. I barely noticed when Rick and Tyler excused themselves. I could feel David kissing me softly, on my temples, my hair, my shoulders. I kissed his chest, where my head was resting, unwilling to move. Eventually we started to relax and we leaned back against his bed, still never letting the other go. His hand was caressing my back and mine was rested on his chest.

  Finally he spoke, “I was so afraid I had lost you.” The way his voice sounded sent shivers up and down my whole body. I was going to explain that I too had been afraid he wouldn’t make it, that I had thought he would definitely die before we made it back. I wanted to tell him how desperately I needed him, and that I couldn’t imagine a world, or my life, without him in it. But he spoke again and I wasn’t able to. He looked deep in my eyes, and I could see through the hazel-laced emeralds into his soul. “I love you with everything that I am,” he swore.

  I had goosebumps all over me then. There was never a sentenced uttered that had been so believable. He meant it. My butterflies were back and my heart was beating faster.

  “And I love you!” I promised. I knew that he already knew how I felt, but I couldn’t help myself, I had to say the words out loud.

  He smiled down at me and kissed me softly. “I never want to live without you. I want to see you every day. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms and wake up next to you every morning. I want to help you raise Sam and I want to take you to my be
d.” He almost growled those last words, and the way he said it made his intentions clear. I started leaning closer to him, allowing myself to dream about the things we could do in his bed. But he pulled away.

  “What are you doing?” I demanded. I had thought things were going so well… But he just winked as he walked over to his closet, rummaged through some things in a box before coming back to me.

  He looked deep into my eyes when he went down on one knee.

  I remembered when Alex had proposed to me, he had said, I guess we should get married now, huh? and I had nodded my agreement. This was nothing like that.

  Holding my hands in his, David kissed my knuckles before he swore to me, “I will love every day of the rest of my life.” Then he followed that up with, “Will you please marry me and be mine?”

  I couldn’t help it then, my eyes started pouring over with tears and I pulled him up into my arms. Just a few minutes ago I had thought life couldn’t get any better, and now I was promising to marry the man of my dreams, the love of my life. “Yes! Yes, of course!” I said in between the kisses I was showering him with.

  He pulled away again to slide a ring onto my finger. This was another thing Alex had never done. Though we had been engaged, he had never given me a ring.

  The ring was a very thick silver band with intricate details. The diamond in the middle was huge and beautiful, but also somehow regal. It looked very old. “It was my grandmothers,” he explained. And it fit my finger perfectly. Like magic, like fate. Like destiny.

  ***Lilith***

  “You are all worthless scum! Leave now!” I shouted before they could argue. I was done with them all. Worthless. Stupid. Insignificant. Useless.

  I hated them all. But I hated her most of all. I would kill her. She killed… I couldn’t think his name. I opened his drawers to go through the items in his desk. But the first thing I noticed was an envelope addressed to me.