Chalice of Life

by R. A. Rock

  “Of course,” Tess agreed.

  “You understand?” Nyall said, directing his question to Ethan.

  “I understand.”

  “No interfering,” Nyall said. “Or she automatically forfeits and the Chalice is mine.”

  “I’ve got it,” Ethan said, glaring at Nyall.

  “Begin,” Nyall said.

  Tess moved in, going immediately on the offensive. She knew she had to win this fight quickly. She was too tired to go round after round with Nyall, who had probably had a good sleep in a soft bed.

  She slashed for his belly and he jumped back, bringing his shkeeyun up and cutting through her arm. Tess twisted away, suddenly worried she might not be able to best him since she hadn’t slept all night and was feeling the effects.

  The shkeeyun was a fearsome weapon because each cut drew not blood but Starlight.

  “You’re not bleeding,” Ethan said, puzzled.

  “Shkeeyuns draw Starlight, not blood.”

  “That’s worse,” Ethan said.

  Didn’t Tess know it. She already felt terrible. And having her Starlight drained even a little bit made her feel worse. That was for sure.

  Nyall thrust forward, aiming for her heart, and Tess spun away from him.

  It took a long battle to actually kill someone this way. But they could easily be weakened to the point when they would surrender.

  Tess could not let that happen.

  Nyall attacked with an overhead strike, stabbing down at her head, and she tucked and rolled, evading him once more. She came straight up onto her feet and spun around, slashing across his back.

  He hissed as she got him before he could turn. She pressed her advantage as he pivoted to face her, making large diagonal cuts, aiming for the head. Nyall jumped back out of reach of each attack but he looked less cocky than he had at the beginning, which made Tess feel a little better.

  But not much.

  She needed to win this fight.

  Nyall retreated, watching her as she regrouped.

  If Nyall was playing the long game, trying to tire her out and drain her Starlight until she surrendered, well, that might just work. She had been up for hours and hours. She was exhausted. And she had probably been on the Earthly Realm without Elixir for longer than him, so her Starlight would be lower.

  She couldn’t let him do that.

  Tess needed to win.

  But how?

  He came at her, slashing for her body over and over. She blocked him each time and darted out of the way. But this was no way to win. She was barely surviving.

  Tess thought hard. Nyall had the advantage physically. He was bigger and stronger. And he wasn’t as tired as she was. Surely, she must know something that could turn that into an advantage.

  Then she remembered.

  She had spent two years stationed on the outskirts of the Unseelie lands in her early years with the Dark Court.

  One night at a nearby tavern, she had watched a young Fae who seemed helpless and drunk fight off three of the guards that were harassing him. Kicked their asses, in fact. Tess found him and made him teach her what he knew.

  It was called the drunken fighting style and it would do nicely right at the moment. Tess began to sway as if she was about to pass out, and Nyall frowned, not sure what was going on.

  “Tess, you okay?” Ethan said.

  She didn’t answer, just swayed some more and then fell into a roll. She ended up on her feet closer to Nyall and lifted her shkeeyun in an overhead strike. Nyall caught her wrist and she twisted it away.

  Then Tess went back into the drunken fighting style, weaving back and forth as if she was tipsy. The advantage to this style was that it was very difficult to predict your opponent’s next move.

  Nyall jabbed and slashed but she was hard to anticipate. When he made a sudden stab for her abdomen, she fell backward and did a back roll, returning to standing.

  “Cut it out, Tess. This is supposed to be a real fight.” Nyall was obviously discomfited by her change of style.

  Ethan had his arms crossed on his chest and was watching it all with a serious expression on his face.

  “No weapons, no spells, no one interferes, and we fight with shkeeyuns,” she said, wobbling left to right and then forward and back, dodging Nyall’s attempts to hit her. “I’m following the rules.”

  Her new style landed a cut across his bicep, which threw him off, and she went for the kill, finding a determination and fierceness that she hadn’t thought she could have when it came to Nyall. She attacked. She knew she wouldn’t actually kill him but she had to be brutal. She had to end this.

  Now.

  Tess tilted at a funny angle, then fell slowly and more quickly until she was near his feet. She whipped around and did a leg sweep, which landed him on his back. She saw his shkeeyun disappear when he hit.

  Yes.

  She jumped on top of him and drove her shkeeyun straight into his heart.

  Nyall gasped

  “Surrender,” she demanded.

  “Tessa, stop,” he said, his voice a mere whisper.

  “Surrender,” she repeated, forcing the shkeeyun in farther.

  “Tessy, please,” he said, but she wouldn’t let him use the nickname they used to call her when she was a child to sway her.

  “Surrender now,” she said, glaring down at him. “You know I’m as bad as those Dark Court Fae now, aren’t I, Nyall? You really think I won’t bleed you dry?”

  And at those words, fear crept into his eyes.

  He really did think she was a monster now.

  “I surrender,” he said, and she released her shkeeyun immediately and got off him. She eyed him with distaste.

  How had she ever cared about him? The next minute, she laughed at herself. What was she talking about? She had gone easy on Nyall. She still cared about him. Fool that she was.

  The truth was that Nyall was like family. And you never gave up on family. No matter what.

  Nyall got to his feet, holding his chest where she’d stabbed him and stumbling away from Tess.

  “This isn’t over, Tessa,” he told her, rage in his eyes. “I will come for you. And I will get all of the objects back for the King and for the glory of the Light Court.”

  “Nyall, I have to end the Severance,” Tess said, her heart breaking that he didn’t get it. “Don’t you understand?”

  “I understand nothing, Tess.” He spat the words at her, his usual veneer of politeness disappearing finally. “You are now my enemy. I cannot believe that you would do this to me. We are done. Whatever friendship we once had is over. You have betrayed me. And ruined my life. And I won’t ever forget that. You better watch your back, Tessa. Because I won’t stop until I stop you.”

  “Nyall, please.”

  He shook his head as if he couldn’t bear to hear her voice anymore. He helped his guards up and the others followed as the Fae woke before the Hunters from the magic blast. Nyall and his team used the Faerie ring, and a minute later, all the Fae were gone.

  Hunters were still scattered on the ground, unconscious or possibly worse. But Tess had no eyes for them. Someone would look after them. She walked slowly over to where Jayde and Finn lay, the grief once more overcoming her as she stared down at their bodies. The Chalice lay tucked in Jayde’s arms as if, even in death, she hadn’t been able to let go of it.

  Tess couldn’t believe how badly this had gone. Nyall now hated her and had sworn that she was his enemy for goodness sake. Jayde and Finn were dead.

  Sure, she had the Chalice, but for the first time, she wondered if it was worth it. If she was doing the right thing, trying to end the Severance.

  If it caused so much misery to accomplish, could it ever truly bring happiness and joy to her people?

  She supposed that there was always sacrifice in order to achieve anything. But to lose Finn and Jayde seemed far too high a price to pay.

  Chapter 57

  Tess stood there, hardly able to feel triumph
ant with Jayde and Finn lying on the ground beneath the towering slabs of rock that made up Stonehenge. It was a grey morning, no sunshine to be found—much like the state of Tessa’s heart. She couldn’t believe that Jayde and Finn were gone. It couldn’t be true.

  And Ethan was such a disappointment with that stunt he’d pulled, putting everyone in danger. Not even considering their short little mortal lives.

  He was sitting down on the ground, looking unhappy as he leaned against one of the enormous stones. Tess wasn’t pleased with how he had behaved. But at least he was conscious… and not dead.

  She walked over to where the human and the Faerie lay on the ground and dropped to her knees beside them. She was still in shock, unable to even cry.

  How had it ended up this way? How had she failed to protect them? They were two of the best people she had ever met. How could it be that she was still alive and they weren’t?

  It wasn’t right.

  Then, unexpectedly, Jayde moved.

  Tessa’s anguish was replaced by cautious hope.

  “What the hell?” Tess said, putting her hand to Jayde’s neck. She felt a pulse. And something else.

  Starlight.

  The human had magic in her.

  A lot of magic.

  Not as much as a Fae, but way more than a human.

  Oh boy. What had Finn done?

  Jayde stirred and sat up. She examined the Chalice, then clutched it to her chest. She seemed fine.

  “What happened?” she said. Then Tess saw that she remembered. “Oh shit.”

  She pulled the neck hole of her shirt down a bit and Tess could clearly see the two scars where the bullets had entered her chest. Jayde saw the scars too.

  “What? How?” She looked to Tess for answers.

  “Finn healed you,” Tess said and she closed her eyes, unable to go on without breaking down and sobbing. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “No,” Jayde said, her own eyes filling with tears. “He didn’t have enough magic to heal me.”

  Her words echoed Tessa’s.

  “No, Jayde, he didn’t,” Tess said, barely controlling herself. All she wanted to do was lie on the ground and weep.

  “No, he can’t die for me,” Jayde said, shaking her head. “It’s not fair.”

  “That’s what he said when you almost died,” Tess told her, a shaky smile breaking through her tears. And Jayde’s eyes spilled over. She took his hand and held it, crying uncontrollably. But even in her distress, she never let go of the Chalice. She had it pinned tightly under her arm like a football player heading for a touchdown.

  Ethan finally staggered to his feet and walked over to where Tess and Jayde were sitting on the grass next to Finn. Then he dropped down heavily beside Tess. She watched as he used his magic sight.

  “Holy shit,” he said, in astonishment. “There’s Starlight left, Tess.”

  Tess felt a bolt of energy go through her. “He’s not dead?”

  Jayde’s head whipped around at Tessa’s words.

  “He’s damn close, but he’s not dead yet. There’s still a little magic left in the crown of his head.”

  “What can we do?” Tess said, suddenly galvanized.

  “I have an idea,” Ethan said.

  “Anything,” Tess said, immediately. “What should I do?”

  “You don’t have to do anything. But on Earth, they do something called a medically induced coma sometimes. It’s where the body is sort of put in stasis. I think I can put Finn in a coma that will prevent him from deteriorating any more. It’ll give us time to figure out how to save him. If I don’t do it right now, he may not make it back to Ahlenerra.”

  “Yes, yes. Please. Do it now.” Tess gave him a little push on the shoulder.

  Ethan didn’t waste any more time. He put his hands on Finn’s chest and forehead. He stayed that way for a couple long minutes, while Tess practically vibrated with impatience. Jayde merely stared at Finn’s still, pale face. Finally, Ethan opened his eyes and took his hands away.

  “He’s safe for now. But we have to figure out some permanent way to save him.”

  “We’ll figure it out,” Tess said positively. “We’ll find something. Right now, we have to get back to Ahlenerra.”

  “You need to take an angel,” Ethan said. “You have to be careful with him.”

  Just then, one of the radios spoke into the silence of the stone circle from one of the Hunters who was lying on the ground unconscious.

  “Copy that request for backup, Justin. Seventy Hunters are on their way to your location. They’re three minutes out. Do you copy?”

  “More Hunters,” Jayde said, afraid. “We have to get out of here. Now.”

  “There’s no time for an angel, Ethan,” Tess said, her tone desperate. “We have to leave right now. Please. You have to bring us back to Esper. Finn will die if you don’t.”

  “I could just send you back,” Ethan said, gazing into her eyes. His tone reluctant.

  “No, I need you to come with us.”

  “You don’t need me, Tessa. I’m still a selfish asshole. Remember? I put all those people’s lives at risk. Never even thinking of them. Nothing’s changed.”

  “That’s not true, Ethan,” Tess said, her blue eyes seeing right into his soul. “Before, you would never have noticed that you had acted like a selfish asshole.”

  “What difference does that make?”

  “It makes all the difference,” Tess said, her voice earnest. “It means you’re starting to become aware of your behavior. It means you’re starting to change. And maybe I don’t need you to come to Esper but…” She swallowed hard, finding it hard to say. “I want you to. You’re not selfish, Hunter. You’re just a good man making selfish choices. And you can make different choices. In every moment. Just like you’ve done for the past few days.”

  “Stars,” Ethan said his eyes searching hers.

  “Please help us,” she said, begging. And she knew that he knew how much it cost her to ask for help. He knew how badly she wanted to be able to do it all herself. And maybe that was what swayed him. She saw in his eyes when he made the decision.

  “Hold hands,” he said, taking Jayde’s hand, determination in every movement.

  Tess and Jayde each took one of Finn’s.

  “This trip to Esper should be a lot gentler than last time, but you may feel a little dizzy when we get there.” Ethan closed his eyes.

  Then a shot rang out and his eyes popped open again.

  “Guess the reinforcements were closer than she thought,” Jayde said, her eyes worried. She was holding the Chalice like a baby at this point. “What do we do now?”

  Another shot hit the ground next to them.

  “Bloody fucking Shadows take those damned Hunters and drop the bastards in the Chasm along with all their fucking ancestors whose stars I wish had never fallen,” Tess said, combining English and Fae curses in a way she thought Finn would appreciate if he wasn’t almost dead.

  Tess pulled her gun and got up, planting her feet and holding the gun with straight arms. Hunters began to run into the stone circle and she picked them off one by one. Aiming for the extremities to take them down but not kill them.

  After Tess had shot the first six Hunters, they stopped sending them in—likely until they assessed the situation. Good. That was what Tess had wanted. She crouched down and took Ethan and Finn’s hand again.

  “Okay, Ethan,” she said, looking grim. “Get us out of here.”

  Tess closed her eyes as she felt the magic take her.

  “You can open your eyes,” Ethan said, letting go of her hand.

  “Didn’t it work?” Tess said, opening her eyes and looking around. “Ohhhh. It worked. You are much better at that than Perdira.”

  “We’re in the Light Court,” Ethan told her. “Not far from the castle. I needed somewhere I recognized to aim for, and I spent a lot of time in this place.”

  Jayde had gotten to her feet and was swaying a little, gazing
around with large, staring eyes.

  “You okay, mortal?” Ethan asked, putting his hand on Jayde’s shoulder.

  She turned her gaze on him and nodded, seeming shell shocked. She hadn't let go of the Chalice, though, which she was now clutching in one hand as if she were about to make a toast.

  Likely, she was being overwhelmed by the ambient magic hitting her from all sides. She had much more magic within her than she was used to, and now it was buffeting her from every direction. It felt amazing to Tess. No wonder Jayde was looking stunned.

  Oh, that and the fact that she was now in the land of the Faeries, probably. The place where the Little People lived that her Kookum had told her about her whole life but who she probably never quite believed in.

  Tess glanced around and realized how much more magical the Light Court was than the Dark Court. There was more ambient magic. She was sure of it. And the countryside was more beautiful. And there was a peace here that was missing even in the peaceful parts of the Unseelie lands.

  This realization made her want to end the Severance even more. The Dark Court Fae knew they had gotten less territory in the Severance but they probably didn’t realize quite how badly they had gotten shafted in terms of magic and a hundred other different little things. The King had clearly given his side a little extra oomph. And she had never noticed it before. The Dark Court was more like the Earthly Realm in its gritty, realistic atmosphere. Whereas the Light Court had an airy, ephemeral feel.

  Shafted, oomph, gritty? Shit, her universal translation spell was still in effect. It felt weird to still think and speak in English when she was back home in the Light Court. She glanced at Ethan. She supposed he was why.

  And that was one thing Tess couldn’t contemplate. Ethan being here in the Light Court. She couldn’t wrap her head around that one.

  So instead, she took in her surroundings, which were beautiful indeed. Tess had been here many times. The place was called Starshine waterfall. And whenever the uptight madness of the Light Court was getting to her, she would come here and bathe in the river. It was relaxing and calming, and she always returned to the castle feeling better.

  Lumenstone Fortress, the castle of the Light Court—which Tess could see from here and where she had spent much of her childhood and youth—was built on a high hilltop, giving it a strategic advantage in case of attack. You could see anyone coming for miles around and the terrain in its vicinity was also hilly.