Kaitlyn answered with her own magic, weaving a ball of Akasha, and shooting it straight toward Shawn. The charged energy slowed then stopped, midair. It was Shawn's tunnel – his only natural magic, and it was strong. Akasha remained suspended as Shawn squeezed the channel closed on his end.
Little by little, it began to move back toward Kaitlyn. Micah, still on his knees, forced himself forward.
"I still have this." Smiled Shawn, his face growing puffy.
Kaitlyn moved her lips. As words rode out on her breath, she mixed them with a tiny puff of wind. One wavelength and the magic floated by Shawn's ear. He shivered visibly. When the magic floated past Micah he heard, "Then you have nothing."
Moments later, Kaitlyn shoved another burst of energy toward Shawn. The tunnel pulsated out once, then again. It burst, spraying Akasha up and out. Shawn was thrown, landing hard on his back. Some of the spray hit Micah's bare skin. It felt like chemical burns.
Shawn stood. "I'll find her…you bitch! I'll finish you if I have to and then I'll find her. You can't hide a Gaia."
Kaitlyn went still. "What would you do with her?"
Shawn paced, limping across the plaza and rubbing his arm. Bruises blossomed across his body. "I'll find her and…and…I'll raise her. As a daughter. She'll be loved…and protected. And I can teach her."
"She has all those things now," Kaitlyn's voice cracked.
"I would die for her, Kaitlyn." Shawn squared his shoulders.
"Why wait?" Micah stood behind Shawn, a piece of rock lifted over his head. When Shawn turned in surprise, the rock came down. Shawn crumpled to the floor. Micah followed seconds later.
Kaitlyn rushed to Micah, kneeling down by his side.
"Why do you keep toying with him?" Micah asked, exhausted and shaky. "Just finish him off."
Beside them, Shawn groaned. His arms twitched but his eyes were shut tight.
"Because," said Kaitlyn, glancing at Shawn. "He's toyed with me plenty."
Chapter 71
Retaliation
Micah lay in front of me, clutching his midsection but breathing. His face was going white. He'd lost a lot of blood. A fact, up until now, I had done my best to ignore. I looked over at Shawn, who was just beginning to blink. His usual bright blue eyes were going dull. For the first time, I recognized Cato in him.
Still sprawled out on the ground, Shawn turned to me and swallowed. "What will you do?"
"I should kill you." My answer was instant, without thought.
"Why?" he asked.
"Why?! Because you raped me – repeatedly!"
He blinked, but didn't answer. I wanted to shake him.
"You hurt me Shawn." I tried to drill the pain I had incurred into him – willing him to understand what I had gone through. "You almost killed me. Not to mention everyone else who has died for your own selfish reasons. Power, control, greed."
He nodded, almost encouraging me. "How would you have me punished for your rape? How would you retaliate? You are the Gaia, Kaitlyn. How does Mother Earth retaliate when her children rape her lands, slicing down her trees and emptying her soil of precious minerals?" Shawn looked down, and picked up the Athame. "Here," he said, holding the knife out, handle first.
I got up and walked around Micah, then kneeled in between the two men, still on their backs.
I grasped the Athame; it quivered with energy. Shawn lifted his chin, baring his neck. I could see his pulse throbbing right underneath his skin. My hand twitched, itching to make a clean cut. One swipe, and it would be over.
"Kill me, Kaitlyn – because you are Mother Earth. You understand why natural disasters target human population. This is what you were meant to do; stop those who harm you. For once – embrace everything that you are!"
I hesitated, even more so with each word he spoke. Movement at the corner of my eye caught my attention. Micah lifted his head. "Kaitlyn, you know what to do."
"No, I don't, Micah." I pleaded with him to get me out of this mess.
He shook his head. "This is your decision, and you've always known what to do. Look inside yourself."
The knife quivered even more in my hand. My eyes widened. I touched the knife to my forehead. With the magical energy surrounding us, that was all it took. As I fell back, losing touch with my conscious body, Shawn's smile was the last thing I saw.
Chapter 72
Another Shade
Micah's voice followed me into the cavern, "No, Kaitlyn!"
I landed on the platform like I had been doing it all my life. I looked around; it was completely empty. There were no glimmering life forms on the stairs or in the air. I walked to the edge and peered down at the water beneath me. No Shades there, either.