Forever(62)
“My grandfather taught me to protect myself from your strongest abilities, Morgan. You won’t win by any means in your power. I will kill you!”
She was creating a vacuum. Its strong pull tugged at my hair and I leaned back to stop from being dragged in. Others swept past me as if attached to an invisible line, disappearing into the blur. One of the white pilot whale’s sped toward me. When Ren reached me, she nudged me forcefully, trying to get me to leave the battle. I held her away.
“No Ren, I can’t leave!” I shouted above the noise.
When Aika pulled past me, I caught her scaly hand but the force of holding onto her pulled me toward Herra as well. Aika’s blood-red eyes looked imploringly to mine.
“Finish thisss,” she released her grip and was sucked away.
I tried to crush Herra between my hands, but the tornado created a barrier, easily pushing my hands apart. A blue bolt of light sliced the water and stopped a short distance from her. Thayde materialized , searching the waters. The moment he saw me, he mouthed one word: Pearl. My heart sang for a brief moment.
Troen’s words flew to me: Find your strength. There are too many lives counting on you.
My strength. My strength was to embrace that which I feared and use it against itself to break its hold on me. It was me. I was going to have to sacrifice myself for my people.
The moment I made my decision, Thayde knew it. “Morgan! No!” He shouted and phased, shooting toward me at lightning speed.
Holding my arms out to my sides, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. The rush of cool water flew around me and the echoing cries of my people quieted as I whispered,
I am here – I am willing – I will take the fall.
Let my people go and you can have it all.
I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.
Agony traversed every vein in my body and I felt myself falling, descending into the blackness of the deep. Half unconscious, I waited for death, but an intense pain in my left wrist made me fight through the engulfing haze. My tattoo shone from my wrist like a beacon. Above me, the surface of the ocean churned as if boiling hot and a line of angels flooded the water. Their overpowering light instantly annihilated every Genif. The fighting paused as merfolk stared in awe at the angels flying underwater.
Herra stopped twisting, a terrified look upon her face. Clutching her stomach, she screamed as black smoke enveloped her and she sizzled into ash. I smiled against the pain, content that all would be taken care of – all would be made right. Mouthing goodbye, I succumbed.
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE END
Death is effortless. It takes the pain away and cocoons you if you’ll let it. Warm and safe, I floated toward a light – a light that gave way to a pink sunset. It was not what I’d always heard. There was no tunnel – just open air and the feeling of being content and loved. Then my fingertips touched the ground and I was rested upon powder soft sand.
“If you don’t do it, you’ll lose her forever.”
“I know,”
“What are you waiting for?”
“I don’t know if this is what she’d want.”
“She wants to be with you, Thayde.”
“Not like this,”
“For God’s sake man, she loves you! She’d do anything to be with you! Do it now or you’re going to lose her!”
“I’m sorry, my Pearl.”
Strong arms lifted underneath my back and sharp, cruel spikes sunk into the small of my neck – my blood spouting warm and thick over my shoulder. I wanted to scream, but all I could manage was to open my eyes.
Thayde pulled away from me, disgusted with what he had done. I fell back onto the sand with a thud, feeling blood spurt in time with my heart. The violent urge to thrash about fought the paralyzing effects of the cold vampire venom slithering through my veins.
I stared in disbelief at the love of my life. He held his hand over his mouth, tears streaming down his face. My blood seeped through his fingers as he spat it back out. Slowly, the tips of my fingers, my toes, my face grew numb with cold. It was as if I were freezing over with frostbite. My breaths came in sharp gasps and my eyes uncontrollably rolled back in my head. When the cold reached my heart, it beat once more and then, silenced.
The soothing sounds of the waves lapping on the beach faded, the feel of the sand under my back disappeared, and the smell of the salty ocean vanished. Alone with my memories, I slipped through space.
Visions flashed quickly; riding my horse with my dad, the flight to Florida, meeting Tammer for the first time, watching Mom change into a mermaid, Akin’s attack, Troen’s Blessing, the New York apartment, hanging in limbo, being taught by Aletheia, defeating Limus, marrying Thayde. They blurred together, faster and faster until they faded away.