Earth(57)

Indecision kept me firmly planted on my butt. I reached into my bag, and my fingers brushed something hard. I gripped at it and pulled out the Chalice. I held it up. It was my only company – the only real and solid thing left in my chaotic world. I removed the shirt wrapped around it and grasped the bare stem of the cup.





Chapter 33





An Unlikely Ally





I shot up, leaving my body and the storm behind. I spotted the telltale circle of light and aimed for it. Instead of hanging back, I landed on their platform. My toes tingled as they touched down on glowing, not-so-solid ground. I looked up at the men that were left. They huddled in a group. They weren't alarmed, just…expectant.

Ted approached. "What have you done?"

I met his eyes, but didn't answer.

He continued, "Look around you. The power of the Chalice is becoming tainted."

I turned, surveying the atmosphere. It was grainier than I remembered. I looked down at my toes, the floor beneath us was losing color.

"If you continue down this same path, it will only get worse. And the power of Akasha will no longer come to you." Ted crossed his arms, glaring down at me.

"I know, but I did what had to be done." As soon as I said it, the atmosphere around us went a little grainier, and we sank a few inches into the floor. Everyone there had to make the effort to levitate, myself included.

"That is the wrong mindset," Ted said. "You need to make it right."

"How?" I asked.

Ted stepped to the side, as did the group of men. Their circle opened up, revealing two people in the center. I gasped as they walked forward. Sabrina moved toward me, face intact and a blank stare in her eyes. Her arm was wrapped around that of another – Cato.

Ted explained, "We've never had a woman here before. The Chalice itself represents female power, which is why only male Shades come. But now, the balance is off." Ted lowered his voice as they came to stand before us. "You must right your wrongs."

I blinked at Cato. They were the same dull, blue eyes, surrounded by wrinkles that I remembered. My tongue grew thick in my mouth. I didn't know what to say to him, so I turned to Sabrina. Her eyes were wandering.

"I killed you," my voice echoed in space.

She looked at me, forehead creased. After a few moments she replied, "Yes. Now I remember. Why?" Her eyes rolled up and to the left until she gasped. Now they were wide with surprise. "I was about to do something to put you at jeopardy. Something I knew about your powers—"

"She is the Gaia," Cato interrupted. My eyes shot back to him and he continued, "And she is out to stop my son."

"Your son needs to be stopped," my voice rose several decibels. "Your son deserves to be killed." I turned to Sabrina. "You did not deserve it, and I'm sorry for what I've done."

Her lips pressed together. She took several deep breaths through her nose.

Someone should tell her she doesn't need to do that anymore.

Everyone remained silent, waiting for Sabrina to speak. She never did.

Ted leaned into me and said, "You know what to do."

I looked at Sabrina, and raised my hand above her head. She didn't stop me. I closed my eyes, recalling a small meditation chant my mom made me do anytime I was overly stressed or upset. "In love and in trust, in peace and in wisdom, I release you, so mote it be."

Sabrina shimmered, growing brighter. A wisp of smoke rose up from the palm of my hand. I yanked it away. Sabrina was still there.

I looked at Ted. He lowered his head, but didn't say anything. My hand shook with pain. I held it steady with the other, and put it back over her head. "In love and—"

"Wait!" Sabrina interrupted me. "Your powers."

"What about them?" I asked.

"I just wanted to tell you, they'll come back to you. Start small, a little at a time. Once you rebuild, they'll be stronger than ever before." Her eyes were wide, unblinking. "Baby steps."

"Thank you," I said.

She nodded her head once.

With a much softer voice, I began again, "In love and in trust, in peace and in wisdom, I release you." My last words were barely a whisper, "So mote it be."

In a flash, Sabrina disappeared. My palm singed with pain, but the ground beneath us hardened. We lowered our feet to it. I turned to Cato. "Are you next?"

He shook his head. "No."

We continued to look each other over. It was so very hard to read him. Like always. "So, your son has created a destructive organization, One Less. Susan has taken over The Seven, or what's left of it. Which side are you on?" I asked.

Cato's lips turned up into a half-smile. "I'm with Team Kaitlyn."