I woke up a little while later again being splashed with freezing cold water. My body became wracked with relentless cold shivers. “You know that’s something we would have never figured out without Joseph: dragons when cut off from their dragon they can and will freeze to death.”
“I knew you guys were dumbasses, but it took you hooking up with Joseph to figure that out,” I groaned quietly as he punched me hard. One of his punches cut my inner cheek on my teeth. I spit out the blood, “Someone’s sensitive.”
“Where is Phillip Northcott?” He asked again with another punch to my midsection.
I coughed, “He’s around. Though I guess you never can tell with ole Phil, he can be a bit unpredictable.”
“Where is he?” He asked, punching me again, but then switching back to the whip.
I laughed, “You’ve seen my body. Do you really think this is going to help, you sadistic fuck?” He continued to beat and whip me while I laughed, and he eventually gave up, tired out from the exertion. “Giving up already. Goddess aren’t you sad,” I wasn’t alone long before the sorcerer made his way back into the room. “How can I help you?”
He shrugged, “Just wanted to check on how you’re doing. Not well by the look of things.”
I leaned my head against my arm, “I’ve had worse.” I looked down as well as I can, “He’s clearly not the cream of the crop when it comes to torture.”
“You’ve been captured before?”
“A couple of years ago.” I closed my eyes, “It was a good time.”
“How did you get away?”
“Luck and the goddess.” He nodded his understanding, “What’s your name?”
“Basil. Basil Graff.”
“Basil. Where’s Joseph?”
“Resting. It takes a lot of energy to absorb so much magic.”
“So what now?”
He shrugged, “He wants to drain you a few more times before he lets the hunters kill you.”
I closed my eyes again, “Great.”
“You don’t have anyone trying to mind link you.”
I shook my head, “I don’t feel like I have any magic left.”
Basil placed a hand on my temple, “You’re building back faster than most.”
“Super.”
Two weeks later
Basil was gearing up to drain me for a final time. He told me I had lasted longer than anyone else he had drained, but that this would be the last time he would be able to get anything out of me. The smell of death surrounded me at all times. Joseph’s scent was so strong and his eyes had become completely consumed by the black.
Basil’s hand skimmed my temple, “You’re close to full again.”
I didn’t say anything, I just kept my eyes closed. Suddenly the smell of mint filled the air. I jolted so hard I felt one of my shoulders pop, but I didn’t feel the pain. I watched as Mom walked behind Basil, shimmering slightly.
Basil looked behind him with a furrowed brow, “What?”
I didn’t get the chance to respond before she touched his temple, causing him to fall to the ground asleep. “Wha-” I started to ask, but she put a hand to her lips, signaling my need to be silent.
She grabbed the handcuffs binding me and broke them easily. I fell to the ground slowly acclimating to being out of the bindings for the first time in two weeks. “Come on. Your dad is outside.”
She grabbed my wrist and pulled me to my feet, and drug me out the door. We walked out into complete chaos. “Niamh are you there?” I reached out to her in my mind.
“I’m here. Very weak, but here.”
Tears leaked from the sides of my eyes, “Good to hear you.” I tugged gently on Mom’s arm, “I can’t fight. Niamh is too weak.”
She placed her forehead against mine. I closed my eyes against the bright light, but when I opened them again Niamh roared to life in my head. She cupped my cheeks, “That should do nicely.”
I smiled slightly, “Let’s do this.”
I quickly singled out the opposing force and began reaching out to the water in their bodies, taking control of them; I killed them quickly. I kept sniping with my magic, and any who approached me I killed quickly and efficiently.
Soon the energy shifted and a smell of death permeated the field. “I will do all I can, Amaya, but he is incredibly powerful.”
I tried to take hold of the water in his body, but he blocked my attempt and countered with one of his own, attempting to reach out to the water in my body. Niamh pushed forward and blocked his attack while mom slipped behind Joseph. She placed her hands on his shoulders, but before she could act he turned to her, “Ingrid,” was all he said before thrusting a hand straight through her midsection. “You’ll have to be faster than that.”
She smiled cruelly at him, “I’m already dead, remember?” She placed her hands on his neck, and closed her eyes. A bright light exploded before it dulled to a gentle light.
I reached out again to the water in his body, and this time my magic took hold of his body. “Dad!” I shouted knowing Daniel should be the one to kill Joseph.
Daniel landed and shifted quickly, “Amaya. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I gestured to Joseph, “I have him mostly under control, but you need to end it; unless you would like me to.”
He shook his head before walking up to Joseph. “For your crimes against the supernatural world, I, Daniel Wardwell, sentence you to death.”
“What no trial?” Joseph grunted out, barely able to speak because of my hold on him.
“For the crimes you have committed? No. You don’t deserve a trial,” Daniel responded tiredly.
Daniel placed a hand on either side of Joseph’s head and twisted, ripping Joseph’s head off without much ceremony except for the ripple of magic that spread through the battlefield. I released my hold on his body, causing it to fall to the ground limp and lifeless. Mom stepped forward causing Daniel’s head to shoot up from its hanging position. “Hello love. It’s been a while.”
Joseph’s head fell from Daniel’s hands as he reached up to embrace his lost mate. They touched foreheads, “I’m so sorry I couldn’t stop him.”
She pulled back and placed two fingers under his chin so that his eyes reached hers, “It was predestined by the gods. You couldn’t have stopped it.”
She wiped away his tears, “I miss you so much, my love.”
“I’m always with you though. All you have to do is ask,” she said before pulling away from him entirely. Her shining form floated into the air, “Stop! This war is over.” The creatures in the midst of fighting froze as Mom’s shout sounded over the field. “Lay down your arms and cease your fighting. Your leader is dead.”
As the creatures on either side followed her orders and looked up at her, something came to life under her. I watched on, unable to move as Joseph’s headless body and head reattached at the neck.
Author: Kailan Counahan 