Vampire Girl 2: Midnight Star(56)

He throws flame at me, and I leap to the side, avoiding incineration. "What would Madrid want? What would she say to what you've become?"

Oren pauses. "It is… too late for us," he says softly. "It is too late for peace!" Oren rushes at me.

Fen dashes forward. He knocks me out of the way, putting himself in front of the druid. He strikes, taking Oren in the shoulder.

And Oren takes Fen in the gut.

The Prince of War falls, his body charred and bleeding. I collapse at his side, holding him, pulling him close. Baron stands beside us, whining, licking his master's face. I place my head on Fen's chest. He is barely breathing. His eyes won't open, and I can feel his life slipping away.

He's dying.

My love is dying.

My chest constricts.

I can't breathe.

Tears fall onto his ravaged face. "Fen, please. Be strong. Stay with them." This is my fault. This is all my fault. He will die because of me. Because I brought the Druids back. Because I changed the fates.

Oren looms over us. He rends Fen's blade free of his shoulder and throws it aside. No.

Not my fault.

Let's put the blame where it belongs, shall we?

I hate to leave him, to move apart from him, but I must. I lay Fen gently on the ground and kiss his forehead. Then I stand, my broken sword in hand, my tears drying and my grief turning to wrath.

"How can you do this?" I ask, my voice icy cold. Deadly. "How can you destroy so much life?" Words form in my throat that are not mine alone. Something else speaks through me. "This is not why you were chosen." I step forward, all fear gone. All weakness and pain gone. "This is not your duty." I hold my sword up and point it at the Druid as all my illusions fall and I reveal myself as Fae. "You have failed your people. You have failed yourself. You…"

Oren stumbles back.

"Are…"

He falls to his knees.

"Not…"

His fire fades.

"Worthy."

"No!" Oren pleads, fear in his eyes. His phoenix fizzles in the sky, turning to ash. "You will not take Riku from me. You will not… "

"The Wild Ones, the Spirits of our people, they belong to no one." I slash my sword through the air, and where once it was broken metal, now it reforms with the colors of midnight. The blade strikes the Druid through the throat, and he collapses, his life bleeding out of him. His eyes lose focus, fading into the afterlife, and a golden red glow emerges from him. It is heat and light and Spirit seeking form. It drifts into the air, searching…. searching for one who is worthy.

I raise my sword above my head and more power surges through me. Lightning flashes. Darkness blocks out the sun, turning day into night. Thunder crashes. Stars glow bright. And there, in the darkness, a beast takes form. A beast of midnight.

My dragon spreads its wings and blue fire erupts from its mouth.

Those who are still left alive and fighting look up and tremble. Fae and vampires drop their weapons and run. They scour to the winds. They scream to the heavens.

The Midnight Star has returned.







I am consumed by the power flowing through me, and it takes a moment to find myself again. Yami soars the dark skies, making sure everyone sees him, stopping the fighting by his mere presence.

It is Baron's cold wet nose pushing against my leg that pulls me back to the world. Fen! He's dying.

I run to him and drop to my knees. His body is burning up, his color is fading. I focus on the rune on my arm, and channel strength to lift Fen into my arms, carrying him all the way back to the castle despite the my own agonizing pain that is resurfacing now that my power is waning. I carry him through the retreating armies and soldiers collecting their dead. Through the fires. Through the chaos.

I find the closest room, a servant's quarters, grey and nearly empty, and place him on the bed. I need a healer, but I have no idea where to find one. "Baron, find Kal. Get him here immediately!"

Baron dashes out of the room, his paws leaving wet prints on the rug.

"Oh Fen. Wake up. Breathe. Live. I need you." I plead with him, my tears returning now that the rage has left me. Now I am only filled with heartache and fear. With a grief that threatens to undo me.

I rush to my room and fetch a bag with rudimentary healing supplies. When I return to Fen, I pull out a salve and rub it over his burned skin, where Oren's flaming blade touched him. I flinch, knowing how deep these burns go. Knowing that there is no salve that will heal this. He needs an ER with skin grafts and surgery. Not creams and herbs. I honestly don't know how he'll survive.

I need something stronger. Maybe in Kal's room…

I run into the hallway.

And into the tip of Levi's sword.

The Prince of Envy stares at me, rage in his eyes, fury in his voice. "You're one of them. The High Fae. The reason the Druids returned. The reason Ace nearly died. But once I kill you, they will slumber once more, and our kind will be safe."