by Donn, KL
“Arianna. We keep assuming that it’s gotta be us or Callista that saves the day, but it’s always been Ari that this witch wanted.”
“We can’t fucking give her to the madwoman!” Ares freaks out.
“Not what I mean. Did you see the way she relaxed while explaining what happened, who she used to be, and how she came to be who she is now? We have to use that, and I think Arianna is the key.”
“You heard our girl, man, she’s fucking weak. We can’t ask her to take this bitch on,” Ares murmurs as the mages continue to argue.
“Only other option here is our deaths, and then the bitch is going to get Arianna anyway and do with her as she fucking pleases.”
“I can do this.” The soft words whisper through our minds.
“No!” Ares’ emphatic refusal is pissing me off.
“Please, my love, let me try.”
My friend’s head hangs low, and as glad as I am for his agreement, I have my own doubts. “Don’t let her get to you, Ari. You listen; let her tell her fucking tale.”
“Fuck!” The jarring word from Ares is followed by Callista’s bleeding form being thrown back and landing beside us.
“Callista!” Arianna’s cry echoes across the land.
Rushing to her side, Ares holds up his gun, understanding that it’s useless, and threatens the witch as I try to assess the damage to Callista. Her breathing is shallow, and her eyes are closed. Blood pools under her side and head, and I know she’s running out of time.
“Now or never, baby.”
Arianna
Floating listlessly on air, I can feel the mage in my blood. She boils with rage, melts with her overwhelming sadness, and I’m the keeper of every festering emotion. Trapped in an immobile body. Helpless.
Tortured images of Asher and Ares compel me to awaken whilst I lay still in my ivory tower. Giant wolves haunt my vision, popping my eyes open, and my heart nearly beats out of my chest. The scent of blood fills my nostrils as tears cascade down my face in swift rivulets as I watch in horror as Callista is thrown across the valley and slammed to the ground with bruising force.
I feel the motion of my body as I drift to the Catalina Valley. I hear the conversation I’m having with Asher and Ares, but I comprehend very little. It’s as though my body has been overtaken by a stronger version of myself.
Smoke fills the air. Death breathes fire. Poisonous thorns stab pinpoint holes into my limbs, and before I know it, here I am. White gown, crimson blood flowing in slow streams down my body, pooling beneath my floating form as I stare at the dark mage. At the evilness who has invaded my country for more years than I’ve existed. The sole being who is responsible for my birth.
“Shit,” I hear muttered from behind just as two shadows stand beside me. Offering strength and protection even when they’re uncertain of their capabilities.
“You figured it out,” the old mage whispers, her black eyes wide with surprise. “You’ve come to kill me?”
A calm washes over me, invading my senses and opening my heart to more than the eye can see.
Agony.
Confusion.
Heartache.
Emotions that project as if they are alive and right in front of me.
“No, Acantha, I mean you no harm,” I answer. Callista takes a ragged gasp from behind us. Acantha’s gaze narrows and her anger grows. “It’s fitting, isn’t it?”
“How did you know?” The dark mage’s power grows with her anger as she steps forward.
“Don’t piss the bitchy witch off, Arianna,” Ares growls as he lowers my body from mid-air, so my feet touch the ground. Wrapping an arm across my shoulders, I can feel Asher trying to stem the flow of blood from my wounds.
Brushing their hands off, I step forward, reaching out a hand to the dark mage. “You’ve only ever tried to seek solace within our valley. To save our people, and you were slapped in the face for your efforts. Tell me more, Acantha, queen of thorns.”
She freezes, but I don’t hesitate to continue to offer my hand in peace. We want the same things.
Freedom.
Love.
Life.
Only, she has lost her way, and I’m here to help her find it once again.
“Princess, I beg of you, don’t,” Callista pleads from her weakened state on the ground.
Blocking out all voices and distractions, I keep my focus on the mage. She is why we’re all here. In one form or another.
“I only ever did what was expected of me. Protected the kingdom at all costs. And they banished me for it!” Her angered screams echoes through the valley as the inferno wages war with the thorn wall.
“I can’t pretend to understand any of it. It was a different time. We are on opposite sides of the spectrum. I, the royal, you, the servant. But we both serve a singular purpose.” My calm remains intact as the skies darken and vicious sounds begin to rumble from the trees behind her.
“There is no purpose!” Wolves leap out as Acantha rises to the tree line; her body stronger than it’s ever been. Her powers heightened from my presence. I don’t understand how or why I know any of this, simply that, because my abilities have been awakened, I suddenly have all this new knowledge.
It’s also how I know that because I carry her magic in my veins, these beasts will not harm me. However, they won’t hesitate to decimate my men or my friend.
Closing my eyes, I inhale sharply, centering my emotions and controlling my exhale. “I won’t allow you to harm anymore, Acantha. You led traffickers to this country because you wished us to suffer. The same people you vowed to protect. The very ones you slaughtered to save. Your tyranny ends right here, right now.”
Her eyes glow as she stares down at me. The viciousness emitting from her aura tells me far more than her spoken words ever will. She has no desire to change. She embraces the darkness within herself the same way humanity needs air to breathe.
There is no saving the dark mage.
Her demise is the only ending to this tale.
What I, her, or anyone else has failed to realize is that the stronger her power grows, the stronger mine do as well. We are connected in the most elemental of ways, and my only fear is that by killing her, I’ll be sacrificing myself.
“Princess,” Callista’s worried voice penetrates the mental block I’ve erected so I don’t hear Ares’ and Asher’s worry.
“I have to try.”
“No, let me. I will be the sacrifice. You are far too important to Graeline to become yet another victim.” Even with my eyes closed, I can feel her tears of sorrow.
My friend doesn’t want to die any more than I do.
“This is how it must be,” I respond. As if my men understand what’s happening, Asher moves in front of me, my blood staining his hands as he grips my jaw.
“Whatever the fuck is about to happen, you need to stop.” His eyes narrow as my lips twitch with an easy smile. His caring strengthens my resolve.
Ares’ fingers sift through my hair to grab a handful as he pulls my head back to meet his angered stare. “He’s right. This can end in any number of ways, and not a single one of them has to be with you acting as the sacrificial fucking lamb.”
Relaxing into their hold, I savor it. The strength and love they show me is far more than I ever expected to have in this life, and no matter what happens next, I know it will keep me safe.
Placing a hand on each of their jaws, I meet their concerned stares and tell them, “For you, this is worth it. I love you, my dark princes.”
Their grips tighten, and before I get the chance to move or react, Callista’s bloody and broken body is attacking Acantha. The intensity emanating from both women sends pulsing waves of energy outward like a force field and careens into Ares, Asher, and me, flinging us to the ground.
My ears ring, my eyes sting, and pitch-black covers the land as I frantically search for the men whom I’ve come to count on. Needing them to be okay, I scream when piercing agony spreads through my body. Flam
es race through my blood and my bones feel as though they’re breaking one at a time when finally, it all stops.
Bright white light invades my vision, and I observe my best friend floating to the heavens, shrouded in a peacefulness that I’ve never witnessed before. She is serenity and calm as my pounding heart slows to contented beats.
It’s done. She’s dead.
And I was wrong.
Acantha wasn’t the one I was so deeply connected to.
It was Callista all along, and now, I’ll never see her again.
Everything comes to a halt. My heart, the ringing, time. It all stands still until there’s nothing but a mesmerizing abyss, and I’m the only captive.
Imprisoned, I am nothing.
17
Ares
There was a blast. A wave of energy so powerful we were all knocked unconscious.
Darkness prevailed. But only for a prolonged moment.
Then, the Catalina Valley emerged aglow with a lightness I don’t believe it’s experienced in centuries. Whatever dominion the evil witch had on this valley is now gone, and life is slowly resurrecting.
The dark mage is dead, black blood oozing into the ground as her broken form lays motionless.
Callista is…gone. Poof! I’m assuming dead.
Arianna is holding on by a thread. She’s pale as ice, barely breathing, and her blood loss is worrisome.
“What the fuck just happened?” Apollo asks, applying pressure to our princess’s chest where something, we’re not sure what, pierced clear through.
“Fucking magic,” I hiss as I rip pieces of my shirt up to use as a tourniquet to wrap around some deeper wounds on her arms and legs.
“Look.” He nods behind me, and I turn to see that the thorn wall has disappeared. Laying in a pile of black ashes on the ground. The fire has died out too.
“The SUV, I’m gonna go get it. You okay here?” He nods, and I finish tying the strip of cloth around Arianna’s thigh before picking up my pack and slinging it on my back. Just because the surroundings appear welcoming, doesn’t mean there isn’t evil lurking in the valley still.
Rushing to my feet, I give one last look around before breaking into a run. The faster we get Arianna out of here, the better. I don’t have words to explain what the hell just happened, but I know I don’t want to stick around to find out if any remaining baddies are coming back.
Reaching the vehicle in record time, I’m speechless at the drastic changes from when we first arrived. The trees were dead, the grass withered. There was no sign of life for miles. Now, the trees are flourishing; the grass is thick and healthy. I can hear birds chirping and other animals scurrying around. It’s a fucking miracle.
Tossing my bag in the back, I grab the phone we left behind and call Hawk, alerting him to have a doctor on standby and that we’ll be coming in hot and heavy. I don’t offer more information because I can’t be bothered with answering questions about a situation that is indescribable.
The trek back to Apollo and Arianna is quick, and unlike before, when I come to a raging stop, there is no dust to settle this time. We just keep on doing our thing.
“This is fucked up,” I say to Apollo as I open the vehicle’s back door so we can lay Arianna down.
“I don’t get it, man. How is there so much life?”
“Callista,” Arianna murmurs as we gently pick her up. “She was life. Acantha was death.”
“Sssh, baby. You rest,” I demand as Apollo slides into the back, and I place her down beside him, her head in his lap. I slam the door.
“Easy, man,” he growls.
Gently pressing on the gas pedal as I drive across the rocky terrain, I open up full-throttle once we hit the paved road, and the hours-long drive is cut in half as I skid to a stop in front of the palace gates. The shocking change in atmosphere has me speechless as the iron gates open, and I speed up to the front doors.
Medical personnel rush out, ready to take Arianna from me, and I react purely on gut instinct.
“Stop!” I shout, leveling the group of four with my automatic rifle until Apollo gingerly climbs out of the backseat with our girl in his arms. I knew some doctors would be here, but I can’t curb the intense protective wave that burns through me to keep others from touching what’s ours.
Following behind me as we walk up the stairs, I hear him mutter, “You got a serious lack of trust, man.” I don’t let my guard down until I see Carson with a Glock in his hand, ready to help if needed.
“When the hell did you bring your guys here?” I ask as we’re led to a medical center-like space.
Placing our girl on the bed, the group of doctors flock to her like buzzards as Apollo pulls me back, replying, “Before we left, I gave Wilde a call. He knew some good people in the area. I trust his judgment.”
“Where’s Callista?” Carson interrupts. He does a decent job in trying to hide his worry, but Apollo and I share a look, knowing he’d been interested in the good witch.
“We think she’s gone, man. It was crazy out there, and when the bitch was finally brought down, Callista was just gone. She saved us all.” Apollo squeezes his shoulder as we all watch Arianna being worked on.
Asher
The beeping is constant. Annoying, but it gives us the hope we need.
It’s believed that something magical pierced Arianna’s chest when Callista and the dark mage came to blows, but we don’t know for certain.
Her body is riddled with cuts, bruises, and infection.
She should be dead.
If not for the mystical power running through her, I think she would have been.
“Here.” Ares hands me a plate with a sandwich. “Eat.”
“Where’s yours?” Logically, we both know we need to stay healthy for Arianna, and that involves nourishment, but it’s been nearly twenty-four hours since we brought her back from the valley, and aside from the moment of lucidness when we got her in the car, she’s been unconscious the entire time.
“I’m good, man.” Ares sits beside me, drops his head, and for the first time in our friendship, I hear him pray.
“Please, Lord, I know you gave up on me, but Ari, she’s good and caring. Bring her back to us.” His words pour out like a waterfall with heartbreaking intensity. “Without her, there is no me, no us. Apollo and I, we’ve done everything ever asked of us. Give her back, man. Just fucking give her back.”
Ares and I, we’ve always had a bond. Closer than brothers, more than best friends, we can read each other like open books, and not once have I ever seen this man as vulnerable as he is right now.
Putting the plate on the floor between us, I place one hand on his back and grip his intertwined fingers in my other. Laying my head next to his, our skin touches, and I say, “She’ll come back. She’s our reward for every difficult thing we’ve done. For every war we’ve fought. She’s it, man. She’s ours, and nothing is going to take her from us.”
I hope to fuck I’m not lying to my best friend.
“And what if losing her is our penance for all the horrible shit I’ve done?”
“What horrible shit? Everything we’ve done has been for the greater good in the world.”
“New York. Arden Graham. I allowed a fucking stalker to terrorize her so I could finally catch that son of a bitch.” The agony in his tone is his fucking penance.
“And she’s perfectly fine now, isn’t she? I know you’re still in touch with the girl, just like Evie. Both are fine. In love. And are no worse for the wear.”
“Yeah.” He reluctantly agrees with me.
Reaching for the plate, I hand him half of the sandwich before taking a bite of my own. “She’s going to need us. Losing her best friend isn’t going to be easy. We have to stay strong for her, man.”
“You’re right.” He takes a bite and already appears a little more confident in her coming back to us and our ability to provide her with what she’s going to need.
After everything that’s happened, I know
we’re going to get the girl and the happily ever after neither of us saw coming. Not apart and certainly not together. Sharing a woman had never been a consideration to either of us, and now, here we are. With Arianna. I don’t think I could picture a different future than the three of us having each other to lean on and love when we need it most.
“This is gonna work, right?” Ares’ gaze shifts to meet mine. “The three of us, we’re solid, right?”
“Yeah, bro. I think she’s what we’ve both spent a lifetime fighting for, and whether it’s conventional or not, I don’t think the universe would have it any other way.”
18
Arianna
Three days later.
Princess.
Wake up.
It’s time for you to re-enter the land of the living.
Princess.
My best friend is gone, and I don’t want to face it. Even with her voice in my ear, the lilting sweetness I grew to love encouraging me to wake up, I don’t want to. Callista wasn’t supposed to die.
We were supposed to grow old together. Be friends for life. And now, I’m supposed to move on without her? I don’t know that I can.
For what feels like years, I’ve been slowly resurfacing. My body aches in ways I never knew possible, and it feels like I have a hole in my chest, but as I open my eyes, the grey sky greets me with thunderous clouds. A storm is brewing, and that only serves to remind me of all the tempests Calli and I rode out together.
“Hey, pretty girl.” Asher’s masculine voice penetrates the fog of my mind, and despite the bruises, scratches, and dark circles under his eyes, I’m relieved to see him. “How are you feeling?”
Raising a hand to touch his face, I take a breath, and I know before my next exhale that the magic is gone. I’m me again. “I’m really happy to see you.” Tears gather in my eyes as I hear the door open.
