could still hear a smile in his voice as he recalled their conversation.
“I was on the Guard, so you can believe me when I say he was the murderer, not you. He has killed many and was trying to kill you that day. Please come out of this. Help Shiphra. It’s what you were meant to do,” Cole’s deep voice begged.
Carter crouched as if to pounce. Hunched over he looked less human still and more menacing than ever. “You will not help her; you could never do to another person what you did to me.” Even in death you are a slave to them, aren’t you? I didn’t do this to you, Carter. You can blame me if you want, but you made your choices… She looked up at the two struggling Ancients. Shiphra’s hold on Elijah was lessening, and he jerked violently side to side trying to break the bonds.
“No!” Carter cried before disappearing into nothingness. Amanda jumped to her feet and ran to Shiphra. Placing a hand on her frail shoulder, she channeled her energy into the old woman. The large wolf was at her side in a flash, resting his nose on her back, keeping her strong. Shiphra immediately straightened and opened her bright eyes. Elijah’s struggle ceased. “Please!” Elijah cried out. “Please, Shiphra, I’ll do anything. I have no allegiance to Baal, just ask it of me,” he begged.
“Go back in time. Erase the centuries you have tarnished with your evil,” Shiphra said. “I know what I ask even you aren’t powerful enough to accomplish. I’m sorry, Elijah. You made this decision for me long ago.”
“Please, Shiphra, Please…” His voice cut off as a bright beam of light shot out of his open mouth. It was overpowering, and Amanda had to shield her eyes. The earth beneath her feet trembled violently.
“Armaan, grab him and go!” Shiphra said quickly.
“What? I’m not leaving Amanda!” Cole said defiantly.
The ground shifted and cracked almost knocking her down.
“Get out of here, Cole, now!” Amanda demanded.
He ignored her words, moving close and wrapping his arms around her protectively. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said as the ground shuddered again.
“If you stay, you’ll need to put up a shield,” Shiphra said in a rush.
“I already have one around her,” Cole said. “Not around her, around you!” Shiphra huffed.
Cole didn’t say anything in response, just continued to hold her tightly.
“Amanda, protect him. Where we stand will be a crater shortly,” she whispered.
Amanda continued to lend her energy to the small woman and wrapped a shield around Cole. She sensed an evil seeping out of Elijah so sick and concentrated it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, darkness, death, and hatred. She hadn’t felt such a presence since her encounter with the demon in Kaedin’s scar.
She had definitely concluded that the Ancients were evil, but somehow feeling his true nature frightened her. An ear- splitting crack rang out as a fissure ran up his torso, making her scream. The jagged crevice broke his tattooed skin like the rumbling had broken the earth. Seeing him being split apart wasn’t as gruesome as she would have thought. There was no blood or tissue flying everywhere.
Maybe all that was human had dried up centuries ago. Her thoughts were drowned out by an explosion of sound and light. Shiphra ceased pulling energy and she knew it was over. They’d killed Elijah. She couldn’t see anything, chunks of earth hurdled at them at terrible speeds. Amanda held her shield over Cole with everything she had. Never being in any type of explosion, she was surprised by the sonic wave that ripped through her chest, leaving her feeling a bit dizzy. Cole’s shield over her had been destroyed by the eruption, but luckily hers held through the worst. After a few moments of silence, she opened her eyes.
Amanda was still wrapped tightly in Cole’s arms, and he didn’t seem to be loosening his grip, so she turned to face him. Smoke and dirt still hung in the air around them, and his handsome face was all she could see. The familiar contours of his face were caked in a layer of blood and dirt. She lifted her hand to the slash Elijah had put on his cheek and gently caressed it with her thumb until it was healed. He raised his hand to hers, squeezing it tightly. His shoulders heaved out a muffled sob, and he dropped his head before pulling her hand into his chest.
Cole didn’t say anything, he just held her small hand like he would never let go of it again, like if he held it tightly enough she’d become a part of him. In that moment she wanted to be, she wanted to wrap her arms around his shoulders and melt into him, but their moment and the ringing in her ears were interrupted.
“Ah, young love. Nothing can keep it down, not even almost being blown to bits… apparently,” Shiphra said in a musical voice. She stood gazing at them with her large, kind eyes. Her Uleery was perched on her shoulder, gazing at them with the same intensity.
“Sorry,” Amanda said, hoping Shiphra hadn’t seen the many things flashing through her mind while in Cole’s arms.
“No worries, child. I remember being young, no not really…” She barked out a hearty laugh and with a wave of her hand the smoke and dirt cleared away, revealing a deep crater gouged into the earth. The soil had been stained black, as if an oil well had been dug there.
“All that’s left of Elijah,” Shiphra said in a sigh. “I tried to channel his energy back into the earth, but I guess it didn’t want him. Ha!” She laughed again. “Well I’m not leaving this place looking the way it does. It takes more energy to build than to destroy, so why don’t you come over here and help me.”
Amanda joined her immediately, unsure of what she wanted her to do. “Um… What are we building?” she asked.
“A fast-food joint. I could use a burger about now.” Amanda looked at her in surprise. “We aren’t in the business of construction, my dear. We are simply letting our energy into the Earth, allowing the plants to heal themselves and grow. It’s not polite to burn down a mile of forest and run,” Shiphra said with a smile as she picked up her hand. “Now just lend your energy to the earth, let it flow out of your feet into the soil, just like you gave me the energy I needed,” she said closing her eyes.
Amanda shut hers too and tried to drain her energy out through the soles of her shoes. She was surprised to feel the eagerness in the ground’s acceptance of what she had to give. Her knees buckled underneath her, but she stayed on her feet.
“There, that should do it,” Shiphra said. “There is so much life in that soil it would take all of your energy if you let it.”
No kidding, Amanda thought, feeling weak. She opened her eyes, and her jaw fell open. The burnt, destroyed clearing was green and beautiful. Even the enormous crater was covered in luscious red peony blossoms, hiding the black mark Elijah had left. Oriental Cyprus saplings happily stretched toward the sun, and small shoots of bamboo grew out of the cracks created by the shifting ground.
“Well, we should get out of here. Your friend Madgie still needs some medical attention. The rest of the Guard, and maybe even the rest of the Ancients, will likely be here shortly,” Shiphra said as she turned.
“Madgie! Oh my,” Amanda exclaimed before spinning to Cole. “Where is she?”
“Don’t worry. I stashed her in a thicket. She’s hidden and perfectly safe,” Cole assured.
On their way out, they stopped and got Madgie from her hiding place. A flood of relief hit her. She felt guilty for not immediately wondering where she was when the boys showed up without her, but with all that was happening at the time, she tried not to feel too bad. Shiphra told her Madgie’s body just needed some time to rest and lots of fluids to make more blood. Amanda had expected Shiphra to wave her hand and make Madgie conscious, but there were some things even an Ancient couldn’t do.
“Are you ready to see your new home?” Shiphra asked her.
“Who cares if she’s ready? I’m hungry; let’s go already!”
Armaan interjected.
Amanda would have been annoyed at him but couldn’t bring herself to be while he cradled Madgie so sweetly in his arms. “Before we do anything, can I please ask you just one question?” Amanda asked.
“Ask away. I’m sure you’ll be doing nothing but asking questions for the rest of your life, if you’re smart,” Shiphra said, turning toward her.
“Can you help me find Kaedin’s Scar?” she asked, hoping Shiphra knew who Kaedin was. Shiphra didn’t wait long to answer, but to Amanda it felt like a lifetime.
“Yes.”
