SWNOVELS Chapter Forty seven.
" All around the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel, the monkey thought t'was all in fun" she sang in a child-like voice.
" But pop!" Her eyes opened to reveal an endless abyss of darkness.
" Goes the weasel." She added in a whisper then giggled.
The aura around her was pure darkness and it was evident for all to see. The entire battle stopped to watch her, to see her next move. The wise magicians stood down, surrendering.
Cole looked up at her and smirked.
' They messed with the wrong person.' He thought.
A few loyal followers of Kosher created a human shield in front of him in a bid to protect him from Iris.
The darkness that surrounded Iris became spirits and started clearing them out. Within seconds they were all dead leaving Kosher alone and unguarded.
" Did you think that was going to stop me?" She asked in a sickingly sweet voice. She came down and traced his face with her index finger.
Kosher tried to stop her, casting different spells but none even came close to her.
" Iris, please!" He pleaded and she giggled.
" Oh I'm not Iris, I'm Annabelle." She replied with wide eyes and a disturbing grin.
" Her spirit or you can say her darkness." Annabelle giggled again and did a little twirl.
" Don't do this."
" Do what?" She asked innocently.
" I just want to have a little fun."
Kosher stood up stumbling as he ran trying to get away from Iris.
" Oh Kosher." She called.
" Come out, come out wherever you are."
" I just want to play, don't you want to play with me?"
Kosher's heart was beating hard inside the cave. He was absolutely terrified of Iris. Even with his years of experience, there was no way he could beat her darkness.
" Found you!" She exclaimed grinning as she poked her head into the cave. She pulled him out and dragged him by his feet.
" Now it's time for a little game I like to call, suction."
She took his breath away from him leaving his gasping as he clutched his throat.
" Stand." She ordered but he was still trying to catch his breath. She blood bended him forcing him up on his feet.
" When I speak, you obey."
" P-p-please, have mercy. I beg you!"
" Mercy?, Your people didn't have mercy on Austin. They killed my baby brother."
" P-p-please."
" Killing you will be the highlight of my year."
Kosher felt her inside his head, invading his thoughts and it was driving him crazy. She showed him the different, sick, twisted things she would do to him.
" No!" Iris yelled from inside her body as she fought for control from Annabelle.
Kosher watched as her body twitched, too petrified to even think of running.
Iris finally won and took control pushing Annabelle deep down. She watched as Kosher trembled before her with terror in his eyes.
" I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't kill you. And I intend to fulfill that promise. But I won't have you brainwashing and killing my people anymore. And if you ever harm an innocent soul, I will ruin you. I will set Annabelle loose and I won't hold back. Do you understand?"
Kosher gulped and nodded frantically.
Iris placed her hand on his head and forced him to look into her eyes. As he did so, she could feel his power leave him and enter her.
" What did you do?"
" I took away your powers, permanently."
" What?! How?!"
" I am a dangerous being Kosher. I know spells you've only heard tales about. I can ruin you and I will if you push me to it."
" You've already ruined me! You've taken away my powers! I am just a mere mortal now!"
" So?, you say it like it's a bad thing."
" I'd rather die than live the rest of my life as a mortal." He spat picking up a sword and sinking it into his heart.
Iris watched the light in his eyes dim and heard his breathing slow down. She dragged his body to the middle of the battle causing all the rest of the magician soldiers to stand down.
" He killed himself after I took away his powers." She stated.
" It's over." She thought and smiled but her smile dropped once she looked around. Corpses lined the valley and the smell of death hung heavily in the air. She looked around and saw Seb clutching his chest, his hands wet from the crimson liquid that flowed out at a steady pace, the pain evident in his eyes. She turned again and saw her second in command, Rose dead. Bryan cradled her head in his lap as tears streamed down her face. In that moment, she knew there was only one thing left to do.
Et cor caritate
" A sacrifice I am here to make today, a life for anothers with a heart as pure as driven snow. For the greater good I have come to make this request. Grant to me" She paused
' Please work.' She prayed silently.
" This final request."
She knew it had worked the instant her feet left the ground.
Bodies began rising, but only those with pure hearts were brought back to life. Shape shifters, elementists and even some magicians.
Rose opened her eyes and saw Bryan staring at her with his lips parted. The last thing she remembered was being impaled by a sword.
" No." She whispered softly knowing the only condition that she could be brought to life was her best friend losing her life. Bryan hugged her tightly but she couldn't speak, she couldn't tell him why she came back to life. All she could do was cry.
Cole watched in awe as people came back to life, even those at the brink of death lived long enough to be healed.
The magicians that had surrendered and the ones that had been brought to life began pledging their loyalty to Iris.
" How is this all possible?" He muttered until he saw his girlfriend levitating.
" Iris." He whispered.
" Iris!" He called again, the desperation seeping into his voice.
" She can't hear you, she's no longer with us." Malika whispered.
" Why? How?!"
" Et cor caritate. It means the heart of love. Iris gave her life in place of the others here."
Cole sunk to his knees once he heard her. Couldn't Iris for once in her life be selfish?, For his sake?
He was there to catch the instant she fell.
" I'm sorry." She whispered stroking his face.
Every anger he felt towards her disappeared in that moment.
" We have to get her to the Lodge fast." Malika stated.
He nodded before shifting into his wolf. He crouched down so Malika could place Iris on his back before getting on herself. Once he had gotten affirmation from Malika, he got up and raced towards the lodge.
" What's wrong? What happened to her?" Elder Yvonne questioned as he shifted back. He took her from Malika and made his way inside, towards her suite.
He laid her on the bed once they were inside her room.
" Cole."
" I'm here, I'm here." He replied kissing her knuckles
" I'm sorry, I can't be the mate you wanted. I can't give you pups."
" Iris you'll be fine. Malika, she'll-she'll find a way-"
" She can't stop it, I'm almost fully gone."
" Don't say that!"
" I want everyone here, the Elders, Mr T, Emily, the guardians…anyone who can make it." She said to Malika.
" I'll get them right away." Malika replied.
" Are they all here?"
" Yes Sophia."
" Thank you all for coming. These past year has been amazing. You have been incredibly supportive, protective, obedient. And I want to say thank you. Even though there were times when I got overbearing, you were always there for me.
The magicians that are still alive are alive for a reason. Give them a chance, most of them don't know what's wrong from what's right. If they refuse to change, then hand them over to the Outcasts. Seb, I'm putting you in charge of this. Think you can handle it?,"
" I'll try."
" Make mama proud."
Seb chuckled wiping the stray tears that had fallen.
" Rose."
" Yes Iris?"
" Congratulations, you're in charge."
" I can't do this without you."
" You'll do great. I'm sure."
" I don't have much time left, The little life force I have left is draining rapidly." Iris stated letting out a shaky laugh trying to mask her sadness.
" I-"
" Where is she?" Austin asked bursting into the room. Everyone turned to look at him but his eyes zoned in on the pale body that laid on the bed.
" Iris!"
" Baby brother." She whispered.
He was next to her in a flash.
" Iris, what's wrong?, Why do you look so pale?"
" I'm dying." She replied curtly with a smile on her face."
" W-w-what?, Can't they do anything?"
" They can't."
" It's because I'm alive isn't it? You did something that traded your life for mine."
" You're such a smart boy."
" I'm a terrible bro-"
" It was my fault you were gone in the first place. I couldn't live with myself."
" Then how am I supposed to live with myself?"
" You'll be fine. How did you get here?"
" Dad-dad brought us."
The doors to the room opened and her parents walked in. Her father was leaning on her mother for support, he was drained from the long distance he had to fly.
" Mum, Daddy." She called hoarsely.
" Iris."Her mother sobbed seeing the state she was in.
" It's okay, I'm not hurting." She said with a sad smile.
" Take care of them for me Austin."
Her eyes began closing on their own accord but she kept forcing them open.
' Just a little while longer.'
" Cole."
" Iris-"
" Take care of my family. Every single person here is my family."
" I will." Cole assured in tears.
" Remember your promise, don't make your life decisions based on me. Move on."
She whispered to him.
" I love you."
He was about to say the words back when her hand went limp and her eyes closed.
" Iris. Iris! Iris!" He shook her but she didn't respond.
" No. No! No!"
His light eyes became onyx and the struggle between his human form and lupin form began.
" Someone get him out. Now!" Malika ordered.
He didn't know who it was, but someone dragged him out of the room.
He shifted partly into his wolf before shifting back. This went back on forth until finally, his human form won. He sank to the floor and cried for the death of his mate.
" Cole." Bryan called.
" I air. I-I-I-have to go out for air-"
" Let's go."
Bryan helped him up and led him out of the building. But the instant they opened the door, they were met with thousands of people kneeling.
" All hail the Elysian."
The end.
***And we're done!
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