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."
"Levi, don't do this," I say. My voice wavers, my legs shake. "I need to get back to Fen. He's dying."
"Because of you! All of this, all of this blood and death… it's because of you."
I don't know what else to do, so I run. I run down the hall and turn the corner—
I crash into a man's arms. He holds me upright.
Levi turns the corner and halts, gazing past me.
I look up.
And see Ace.
He moves forward, putting his body between me and Levi, his brown cloak scraping the floor. He is pale, weak, and walks with a cane. Tools clang on his belt with every step.
"Brother, what is this?" he asks.
"Ace, let me through," Levi says. "She is High Fae. She deceived us. Just look at her hair, her ears. You know what must be done."
"And what of the contract?" Ace asks. "We are as bound by it as she is."
"You nearly died," Levi says. "I thought you would." His voice sounds broken now, small.
Ace puts his hand on Levi's arm. "But I didn't. I am here, alive. And I have come to see how my brothers fare, only to find you trying to kill the princess."
"It is the only way we will survive," Levi says.
"There are always other ways. Have I not taught you that in all these years?" Ace steps back, protecting me with his frail body. "I believe I will be claiming my month with the princess, brother. From now on, she is under my protection. If you wish to kill her…" Ace pauses, staring straight into his brother's yes, "…you must kill me first."