AetherBlood

by Alexis N Sage

  “Darling Ruby, how lovely to see you again.”

  Chapter 56

  Why?

  Ruby squinted.

  “What? No fun little insults this time?” Nyx purred, twirling her skirt around the halls. “Come out, come out, wherever you are!” She sang, pointing her long finger to one of the bookshelves.

  Hemera betrayed them. They’d prepared for this. Brought more people, made sure she was in the mirror for good, yet Ruby was still disappointed. The deity’s final words made her think she might be on their side after all. Once a snake, always a snake.

  She raised her arm and offered a small wave. One by one, her group appeared from the stacks. Each one of them ready, their powers sitting at the tips of their fingers. She’d never seen so many powers in one room. Fire, Earth, Water, Air, AetherBorn. All of them shining bright against the darkness of the hall. It was beautiful.

  “Guess I don’t need this anymore,” she tossed the locket at Nyx’s feet.

  The deity cackled, bending to pick up the chain. “I’d bring my dear daughter out now if I were you.”

  “Or what?” She hollered, “You’ll take on all of us? I doubt she told you how many of us were coming here. Take a look around! You think you can take us all?”

  She pulled the dagger out and let the fog cover its blade. She was ready.

  This time, it was Demas that was laughing.

  “She didn’t tell us anything, darling.” He looked back at the stacks, “Time to stop the charade!”

  From the corner of her eye she could see some of the powers extinguish. The Dalhurst Elementals lowered their hands, their faces followed. Ren let go of Elijah’s hand and stepped forward. His eyes met hers and she could see his lips whisper something. I’m sorry.

  “I told you what I knew. You have to let us go know. That was the deal,” he glanced at Elijah whose eyes were wider than her own.

  It was Ren! He was the one who betrayed them!

  “Why, Ren?” Elijah pleaded. “Why would you tell them anything?”

  His partner said nothing, his eyes still glued to Ruby. She didn’t need to hear him say it, she knew why he had told Demas the plan. The bastard threatened Elijah. It was the only thing that would make Ren weak. She couldn’t even blame him. If the tables were reversed and it was Liam’s life on the line, she would do the same thing. She’d done worse to save the one she loved before.

  “Yes, of course! Off you go!” Demas waved his hand dismissively. The Dalhurst team exchanged uncertain looks before taking a few steps back. Ren’s hand was on Elijah’s again, dragging him away from the hall.

  “Still feeling confident, my darling?”

  “Stop calling me that,” she said, “and yes.”

  She grabbed a book from the table next to her and sent it flying forward, her dagger hand looped around, forcing a ball of plasma to encase the book. It picked up speed and barreled at Nyx. The deity lifted her arm, her oversized bell sleeves stretching as she blocked the book, tossing it to the side. From where Ruby was standing, the sleeves made it look like she had wings.

  “Cute,” Nyx said.

  Ruby felt a flashing heat pass by her head and turned to see Liam thrust a fireball at Eros. He leaned to the side, avoiding the hit and reaching for his bow and arrow in one swift move. She raised her hands, glancing quickly at Nola to signal her to do the same. Before he could fire, they sent him flying back, spiral blasting black fog at his chest. His feet skid across the floor as if he was on ice skates until his back hit one of the shelves.

  Upon impact, the Elementals near that shelf were on him. Waters threw ice ropes at his arms and legs while Airs worked together to get a grasp on his lungs. He was too strong, shattering their holds and shooting off arrow after arrow until he hit a target. She could see two bodies on the ground already but the rest persevered. Powers clashed and banged like fireworks.

  At least they’re keeping him busy.

  She turned, ready to strike.

  Nola and Jake had cornered Demas. Nola blasted atmosphere his way while Jake’s hurricane raged around. Nothing touched him.

  “He has his damn shield up again!” she yelled at Liam. “Keep him busy! I got Nyx!”

  His expression was questioning, but he did as she asked. She only had time to blink before a river of fire spread from his feet to Demas’ invisible dome. Liam’s body disappeared into the flames, reappearing within moments on the other side of the hall, his fists pumping balls of fire at the dome.

  Ruby ran in the opposite direction to where Ray, Dominic and Zag were attempting to block off Nyx. Pushing her towards the mirror with each hit. Her face was stoic and unconcerned. She blocked their powers effortlessly with one hand while her other pointed at them, smoke trailing in the direction of her finger.

  Ruby sped up, her leg finding the top of a chair. She stepped on it mid run, using it to catapult her body in the air. She was flying now, dagger pointed, right at Nyx’s back.

  Die!

  She felt victorious. She was about to end a deity. Her feet readied to land, to absorb the impact of the fall when she was spun backwards. Her shoulder was on fire. She looked to the arrow that protruded from it then quickly to Eros. The deity grinned, shooting a quick wink in her direction before continuing to fight the Elementals he was busy with before.

  “AAAAAH!” she roared, ripping the arrow out of her flesh. She tossed it to the ground, her blood staining the dusty carpet.

  Nyx turned at her scream, the smoke in her grasp accelerating to find Ray and the Elementals. It wrapped itself around each of their throats and squeezed. Their eyes bulged and their bodies convulsed. Ruby could see their muscles tense. She’s crushing their windpipes!

  Jumping to her feet, she pushed the pain in her shoulder out of her mind and used the adrenaline to connect to her power. Binding her hands together, she pushed them forward, sending a blast of fog at the deity. The fog was about to make contact when Nyx shifted, her body turning to night. The fog blast flew through her, hitting a bookshelf instead and sending it toppling to the floor. Before Ruby could throw another hit, the smoke was around her. Its snake-like grip twisted and raised her off the floor, dragging her to the deity.

  Not this again!

  She hung in mid-air, feeling her organs start to convulse from the pressure. Her eyes felt like they were about to pop out of their sockets and her lungs were struggling to gain air. “I ca–” she gurgled before Nyx twisted her hand, squeezing harder.

  The wound on her shoulder was gushing blood, dripping down her side and coating half her body in its dark red shade. She couldn’t move her hands and her fingers were barely holding onto the dagger. Another squeeze and it would go flying out of her grip. She closed her eyes, accepting what was coming next. Accepting the defeat. The death.

  The smoke loosened, just slightly at first then it was gone. She collapsed on the ground, her hand lolling to the side. It touched the plasma of the mirror and she jerked it away, feeling the plasmic burn on her fingers. She looked over to Nyx, who seemed shaken now, then over her shoulder.

  Cyril’s face was marked in concentration as he outstretched the palms of his hands at the smoke emerging from Nyx. She could see the smoke was no longer a fluid gas but thick like honey. He’s freezing her power! Ruby thought and staggered to her feet.

  “Ouch!” she yelped at another sudden burn on her wrist. She yanked her hand away, but something was holding her back, scorching her skin.

  Ruby’s attention jumped to her arm and the plasma from the mirror that engulfed it. Hemera’s hand reached through the mirror, her plasmic grasp bubbling Ruby’s flesh.

  “Rue!” she heard Liam yell from further away.

  She didn’t bother answering. Her right hand twisted the dagger to point down and she reached over her shoulder. The blade ripped into the mirror, tearing the plasma open as she pulled it down. Hemera’s hand let go and before Ruby could finish the cut, she was by her side.

  “You better be here to help,” s
he said.

  The deity smiled and closed her eyes. she outstretched her arms to the side, her breathing slowing. Ruby’s mouth gaped as Hemera’s feet rose, levitating inches off the floor. Her blond curls flowed around her like she was submerged underwater and a brilliant, blinding light encircled her and Ruby both.

  “Mother! Enough!” She howled, her voice entirely unlike the one she had before. It boomed through the library, making everyone pause to see where it came from. “It’s time to go home now.”

  Nyx looked at her daughter, her face contorting, eyes filling with dark rage. The deity huffed a smoky breath, snapping her arms to her side and shattering Cyril’s hold on her. Spinning on her heels, she was facing Hemera and Ruby. The anger around her was almost physical and Ruby shivered before clutching the dagger tighter. As Hemera lowered herself to the ground, the light shield shrank, leaving them once again unprotected. Ruby calmed her breathing and put her hands in front of her, coating them with black fog and readying to attack.

  “You would choose her over your own family?” Nyx roared. “No daughter of mine would do that!”

  “I am choosing you, mother. Come with me,” Hemera outstretched a hand.

  She felt sorry for her. Ruby Black felt sorry for a deity. She watched as Hemera’s eyes begged Nyx to stop. Watched as she continued to beckon her forward with an open palm. Watched even as Nyx’s gaze shifted to Ruby and she raised both arms in her direction. Ruby watched two streams of smoke whirl around each other, twisting into a thick braid of death, soaring in her direction. Watched Hemera push her out of the way and jump in front. Watched her body fold into itself and fall on the ground.

  The light around her dimmed then disappeared entirely.

  Hemera was on their side after all. She was on their side, and she died for it.

  Chapter 57

  Time to go

  Time to go

  “DAUGHTER!” Nyx’s voice rang as sharp as a church bell, shaking the library hall. The high pitch of it carried through the air, its frequency rising as it reached Ruby.

  She dropped to her knees, pressing her palms against her ears.

  One look at Hemera proved there was no bringing her back. Her face, once lit with the bright light of her power, was losing color fast and her eyes had rolled back into her head. She had fallen down in an unnatural position, her legs splayed beneath her while her upper body drooped sideways. The deity looked like a puppet whose strings had been cut mid-leap.

  Nyx rushed to her daughter’s side, shaking her roughly, trying to bring back some semblance of life. All without success.

  Ruby felt Liam’s eyes on her, and when she caught his gaze, she knew they were thinking the same thing. We’re totally screwed now.

  She jumped back to her feet, wincing at the pain in her shoulder when her arms leaped to the side. She needed to get away from Nyx, away from Hemera’s body. Her legs shook with fear and adrenaline as she ran to the other side of the hall, closer to Liam and Jake. Closer to Demas. Glancing back, she could see Nyx still cowering over her daughter. Mourning her loss.

  Up above, in the top level, Eros was wielding every bit of his power over her team. More bodies had been thrown on the ground. Some were hiked right over the railing from the impact of his arrows.

  Death.

  There was death all around her now.

  She knew going in that not everyone would survive but this was something else entirely. It was a massacre. She had led them all into oblivion.

  “Zag! Get Ray!” she yelled as she ran past.

  When she reached Liam, her hands fisted and without hesitation she blasted fog at his shield. It strained at the hit and while she couldn’t see its perimeter, for a split second she saw a dark shadow crack. It disappeared instantly as Demas strengthened his hold on it.

  She blasted at the shield again, this time pulling more power from the dagger.

  Another crack.

  Zag and Ray reached her side. “Keep at it!” she yelled and watched them follow her lead.

  Each hit of their powers splintered the shield more.

  “We got him!” Jake yelled but before the smile fully formed on his lips, he was thrown back. His back hit the table behind him, and he crashed to the floor, shadows running away from his body.

  Inside the shield, Demas laughed and extended one finger in the air.

  One down.

  There was no time to see if Jake was still alive. Her attention turned to Ray. “Where’s Nola?”

  The AetherBorn didn’t answer. Instead she pointed to the top level. Great!

  “We’ll have to do this without her,” she said and reached her hands back.

  “Do what?” Zag yelled out.

  “I need your powers. Ray, just like last time we were here! Show the others what to do!”

  She didn’t bother checking in. One arm outstretched to her friends, pulling out the power from their bodies. Whatever Ray showed them was working, she was getting stronger. The dagger felt it too, shaking and getting heavier in her grasp. She used the power and stretched her other arm toward Hemera’s body, praying that her plan worked.

  It did. It’s freakin’ working! She shouted at herself as Hemera’s residual energy flowed into her. The light mingled with the black fog, with her own darkness, until she was surrounded by a marble shield of fog and sun.

  Ruby buried her feet into the floor and pointed her arms at Demas. For a moment, her body felt heavier than an army tank but then, in the blink of an eye, she was weightless. She could feel herself disconnecting. Her mind floating away from her body.

  When she opened her eyes, she realized it wasn’t just her mind that had been floating.

  Ruby was a few feet off the floor. Am I flying? No, not flying. What is that?

  Her eyes traced the black plasma beneath her, raising her like a peaking mountain. It swallowed her whole. Starting at her feet and all the way to the top of her head. There was no skin left, she was made entirely of plasma.

  She could feel it in her blood, her breath, her very soul.

  Nothing of herself remained.

  Holy crap!

  The fear of what she felt and saw pressed in, but she shook it away. This was good. Where there is plasma, there is power.

  Her hands strained as she extended the black goo to Demas’ shield. She encircled it and pressed, putting more and more pressure on the shadowed dome. The cracks started to form under the plasma. She pressed harder, feeling her breath slow down a little.

  More pressure.

  She used the the light shield, sucking its energy dry and turning it into plasma. Feeding its power into her hold.

  More pressure.

  Her arms shook.

  Then pop!

  The dome shattered around him, shadows flying out in every direction. She had popped his shield like a zit.

  From her side, she could hear Liam’s relieved laughter. Her hands moved quickly, pulling Demas into a plasmic hold. She could see him fighting against it but didn’t let go. The goo stretched from her, drops as slow as molasses falling to the floor. When she had a good grip on his body she started to turn, dragging him along. His feet scratched the floor as she pulled him to her left side– towards the mirror.

  Demas’ eyes widened, and he stopped fighting her.

  She might not get to kill him like she wanted but she needed to get him away from here. Away from her people. She pulled him quicker now, the plasma that stretched from her arms straining at the speed. His body flew past Nyx and Hemera until he was right in front of the mirror.

  Ruby willed the plasma to carry her forward so she could be at his side. Her one hand held the grip on him while the other wielded the dagger. She raised her hand, slicing into the mirror, opening the way into the portal. Readying the doorway to Demas’ prison.

  “Brother!” Demas yelled.

  She turned her head as an arrow flew by her, cutting the top of her ear mid-flight. The pain shrieked within her, but she held strong. Until she couldn�
��t.

  Her hand shook. She tried to keep hold on the dagger as much as she could, tried to keep slicing through the mirror to open the portal wide enough to push Demas in but she couldn’t bear it any longer. Ruby pulled her hand out of the plasma, shock washing over her.

  Eros’s arrow had sliced her index finger right off.

  Blood was everywhere.

  It gushed from the wound, mixing with the black of the plasma into a morbid shade of brown. It dripped down her arm and unto the floor. Her scars had opened, bleeding as though they were gifted to her all over again. Ruby looked down, a gasp escaping her lips as she stared at the slip n’ slide of her blood forming at the base of the mirror. The red pool vibrated, sending droplets of her blood in every direction. It looked like a dog shaking itself off after rain. As the blood shook it crept upward, inching closer to the mirrors edge.

  She stared at it then moved her attention to her injured hand, turning it to get a better look. This was her vision. This is what she foresaw.

  But if the vision was right and her blood was the answer then…

  “NOOOOOOOO!” Ruby screamed, anticipating what was coming.

  “Rue!” Liam ran to her, firing at Demas as he neared. He wrapped his palms around the wound, pulling away quickly from the plasma burns. She still had a plasmic grip on Demas, in shock from the pain and the blood loss. “You need to let go, Rue!”

  She nodded; her eyes locked on his.

  Slowly, her breaths evened our, and she dropped her hold on their powers. She breathed deeper, her mind coming back into the room. Another breath and the plasma started to loosen, letting her go until it was nothing but black fog around her. Liam pulled his tee off, wrapping it around her hand. The grey fabric soaked through, darkening with her blood.