"You think that will hurt me?" She laughs and charges at me.
Using the wind to propel her even faster at me, I spin out of the way which causes her to run head first into the wall. She bounces off and falls to her knees.
My reaper magic begins coursing inside me, and even though I'm not touching her, it reaches out and latches onto her. The suctioning begins, and she yells.
How the hell is this happening? I've always had to touch them in order for this to happen.
She thrashes on the floor, and tears stream down her face. "No, please no."
I'm not sure how to stop it, and I'm powerless. Soon, a coolness floats into me as her soul begins to leave her body. It's strange because it used to be icy cold, and now, after absorbing all the artifacts, it's a refreshing sensation. Now, it's clear that this is what was meant to be. I was unbalanced before, and both my reaper and healing powers were too much at one time. Now, I'm balanced and able to perform this the way any reaper can.
As the life fades from her eyes, I can't help but feel as if this is karma in the working. She killed my love, and now she must die.
Her body spasms one last time, and she passes through into her afterlife.
24
Her soul leaves me, but I can't believe what the last several hours have brought. Reaping Ria and absorbing the last artifact has finally brought the missing piece of the puzzle to light. Bringing people back to life after death brings an unbalance to the world just like Damien has done by preventing souls from crossing over into their afterlife.
Since I have the power of the artifacts and my own reaper and healing magic, I'm able to accomplish this now, but it should never be used unless in dire situations. Having these artifacts inside me requires me to think like the angel had taught me not so long ago. I have to put the lives of many in front of my own personal needs. I can cause the world to be unbalanced as easily as anyone else.
"Hey... Are you okay?" Dax touches my shoulder and turns me in his direction. "She deserved that ending."
"I'm not upset over her." Now I just want to finish this. I can't leave this realm knowing their livelihood has been taken with me. I'm pretty sure I know a way to fix this before I go. "We need to let everyone know the fight is over before anyone else gets hurt." It hurts to look at Dax now that I can see his crack so easily. It's getting bigger and bigger by the day, and I wish there was a way to fix it.
"You're right. Let's get going." Dax heads out the door, walking slower than normal, but at least his coloring is coming back.
We head down the stairway, and I move toward the main doors to step out in the light.
As I step outside, the two suns are rising. Both sides have their weapons down, and they glance my way.
"Thank God you're okay." Luke comes over and pulls me into a hug. "I've been worried about you. When the elements went crazy, I wasn't sure whether you won or lost."
I'm still not sure either at this point. "If you're asking if I got the last artifact, then yes, I did."
Tide steps out from the crowd, his fists clenched. "Where is Ria?"
"She met the fate she deserved." Dax's voice is loud and echoes against the walls.
"How could you say that?" Tide's jaw ticks, and he body quivers. "She was protecting our world. How are we supposed to live?"
For once, I have an answer for that. "I'm not going to leave you empty handed."
"Really?" Melody's tone is full of hope as she watches me.
"Yes, I'm going to charge your water." I head to the part of the island we had entered so many weeks ago. That's where they get the water they use for the market. That's where I need to focus most of the magic. "I'm heading there now. You'll still be able to live as you always have, but with someone in charge that will care for your well-being."
"What the hell does that mean?" Tide points his finger at me and sneers.
"It means that they are done with having to mend their clothes and pay over half their earnings to you in the form of taxes." What the hell is wrong with people? This is not okay. "If you can't promise that this will stop so they can afford to eat and have clothes, then I won't help you."
If looks could kill, I'd be dead. "And what do you get out of it?" He huffs, and the words are formed around gritted teeth.
"Nothing, but I want Melody to oversee the processes, and I'll be back to check in from time to time." She's the one person I trust here, and she has a good heart.
Melody grins, and she places her hand on her heart. "I'd be honored and will respect your wishes."
"All right. Then that's what we'll do. I'm going to go charge the water now before I head back home." I need to get back and deal with things I've put off for too long.
"Come on guys, it's time to head back," Brad calls out to everyone, and they join Dax and me along with Luke and Damien.
Not wanting to have any additional conversations right here in front of the Water people, I get ready to get back to Earth.
It doesn't take long before I'm at the pier we had come in on. I bend down and place my hands in the clear, cool water. The water power shimmers to life, and the power pours into my hands and
