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Zoe
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“Stay here,” I told my friends and sister.
They nodded, looking as if they couldn’t agree more. Then my protective shield vanished.
When I approached the doorway, Shay’s eyes found mine, and he shook his head. I knew he didn’t want me coming out there and putting myself in harm’s way, but I couldn’t just stand by and watch them die.
Vash killed another demon who’d gotten cornered by Sidelle and her friend, and that left three. I could see the strain in Vash’s eyes and knew he was tiring. He couldn’t fight forever. We needed to finish this.
Steeling myself, I walked past the door and was relieved to feel my purple orb encase me again. I floated toward Shay, emitting a soft glow like theirs, then I extended my arm toward Shay. My orb swelled outward, merging with Kieran’s white orb and swallowing Shay as well, allowing me to take their hands. We formed a circle in the center of the yard, and the light around us intensified, taking on a slight purplish hue.
I didn’t know what caused me to glow, and I didn’t know how to control it. All I understood was that I had to trust myself and do what felt right. I concentrated on my light, trying to make it as bright as Kieran’s. As soon as the thought passed through my mind, the burn strengthened, deepening to a dark violet that overpowered their white glow. My eyes found Shay’s, then Kieran’s. They seemed to be as mesmerized by the new orb as me.
With my mind, I extended the wall and then retracted it. Someone yelled, bringing me back to the fight and refocusing on my friends.
The orb wavered a second. Then, blew out, like an explosion.
The force of it threw me back and everyone else to the ground—all but Kieran and Shay, who were suspended in the air by their wings and still holding my hands.
Vash recovered the fastest, and he took the opportunity to kill two more Marqs. The last remaining demon paused when he saw Vash in action. He simply gave up the fight, disappearing without a sound. We checked the area, ensuring no others lingered or hid in dark corners, but when we saw no more threats, Sidelle ran to me and helped me up.
She grinned and pulled me into a bear hug. “Aren’t you glad I arrived just in time to save your butts yet again?”
“I’m so glad to see you!” I cried.
She held me out in front of her and shook her head. “Zoe. That was awesome! Who knew you could do that?”
“Who’s your friend?” I looked over her shoulder at the man I’d seen throwing shards of ice.
She flapped a dismissive hand. “Oh, that’s no one. Don’t pay any attention to him. I don’t.”
The man chuckled and walked toward us. Like her, he was tall with black hair, dark blue eyes, and a thin body. “Whatever, Delle. You keep telling yourself that, but at the end of the day you do.” He smiled at me. “You must be Zoe. I’ve heard a lot about you, and fortunately, it all seems to be true.”
Shay took my hand and tugged me back toward the house. “Come on, Zoe. Let’s go inside. We have some damage control to do with your friends.” As he escorted me back into the house he turned back and called to Sidelle. “Can you take care of this before the Ordinaries notice?”
“Sure. No problemo. It’ll be exactly as it was before.”
Shay and Kieran folded in their wings, and when Shay’s black T-shirt materialized, I saw Kieran’s come in white. I’d never seen him as an angel before this, and he absolutely blew me away. So beautiful.
Then I remembered Vash, and turned back to him. He stood in wolf form in the front yard, still panting, his thick coat matted with blood and sweat. I let go of Shay’s hand and ran over to him, running my hand over his wet fur.
“Are you okay?” I asked. “Nod if you can understand me.”
He nodded.
“Are you hurt?”
He shook his head. That was a relief. He had a lot of blood on him, but he seemed okay.
“Can you change back?”
He nodded, again.
“Please tell me if you change back, you’ll be fully dressed? I do not need to see my friends naked.”
He blinked and his chest rumbled, and I wondered if the wolf had just laughed.
“Good. Okay, well, just come back inside when you’re ready.”
As I ran back into the house, I noticed all the damage that had been caused by the elements was gone and all the snow melted. Uprooted trees were upright again, and even the broken house windows had been repaired. Fairy Glamour. Amazing. I sprinted to Quinn, Rena, and Stella, who were huddled and still weeping, near Cali’s body. I knelt and hugged them all at once.
“Stella? Are you okay?” I asked quietly, but she made no response. I moved to hug her, and she withdrew. “It’s okay, Stella,” I said anyway. “I’m here, and it’s over now.”
“Great balls of fire,” Sidelle exclaimed, walking in with the Winter fairy. “What happened in here?”
“A war zone happened,” he replied.
She punched his shoulder. “Thank you, Captain Obvious.” Her eyes met mine, then dropped to Cali’s slumped form. She shook her head. “Oh no!” she breathed softly. “Is that Cali? She’s ... dead? She can’t be.”
Vash, now in human form and—thankfully—fully dressed again in jeans and a new brown shirt, approached us and crouched by Rena’s side. He didn’t seem able to approach Cali. Not yet.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “Are you hurt?”
She backed away from him, shaking her head madly. Her eyes were huge. “Zoe? What’s going on? What are you? Wha-what were th-those things, and who are these p-people? Wait, are they even human?” Rena blinked at Vash, clearly afraid of him. “He called me his mate’s best friend earlier. Did he mean Cali? What does that even mean, Zoe?”
But I couldn’t speak. I threw myself over Cali’s body and sobbed helplessly.
“Shh. It’ll be okay,” I heard Vash say, and I glanced up to see the pain shining in his eyes when he looked at Cali’s body. “I’ll explain everything to you later. I need to take care of you now. She would want me to.”
Shay bent down to help me stand, and I threw my arms around him, still sobbing. “Why Cali?” I cried. “Why her? Why did she have to die?”
His hand rubbed gentle circles on my back as he tried to soothe me. “Shh, it’ll be okay. Let it all out.”
It was over. We had won tonight’s battle ... but at a high cost. Moving away from Shay, I looked at Stella, then at each of my friends’ faces. How many of my friends or family would die because of me?
“No, Shay,” I said weakly. “This is not okay. Cali is dead because of me.”
That wasn’t right. I tumbled back to the floor, letting out every emotion I’d been holding back, crying hysterically over the loss of my friend. Rena scooted over and knelt next to me, and Quinn and Stella joined us. Everyone bowed their heads out of respect for our dear, dead friend. But I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.
I leaned over Cali’s body and brushed her hair out of her face, then I rested my hand against her still-warm cheek. Sniffling, I lowered my forehead to her chest.
My whole body began to tingle. It was a different sensation from the electrical current between Shay and me. This new feeling sent warm energy coursing through my mind and into my hand. Surprised at the sensation, I raised my head and opened my eyes. My hand, the one I’d placed against her cheek, glowed purple, and was surrounded by a pulsing light.
Then all sound was gone—everything but one clear, pure voice ringing in my head.