SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Thirty-six
Amethyst’s Pov:
The world spun as pain tore through me. Joseph couldn’t be dead. What about my daughter? What of the Goddesses’ plan? It just couldn’t end like this. Ignoring the pain, I attempted to search in the future for answers. There was no way I was going to accept Joseph was gone.
“You allowed fear and doubt to fill your heart and mind. This was the outcome of not trusting in us, not trusting in you,” the Woman’s gentle voice flooded the warm, bright light.
“No, Joseph is fine. He must be. I need my daughter, and I… I need him,” I sobbed. The Goddess wrapped her arms around me, placing a kiss on my forehead.
“My child, this was not our wish, but what is done is done,” she whispered softly.
I collapsed, broken into the nothingness which surrounded me. “Then leave me here. There is nothing more for me in that world,” I whispered. The tears continued to stream down.
“Little Thyst, you are stronger than this,” the Girl growled. “Giving up will not solve what’s happened. Nor will it fix what needs to be done,” she snapped, forcing me to face her. The Woman motioned for the Girl to follow her just out of my earshot. I attempted to listen intently to the sharp and angry whispers which passed between them, but I made out nothing.
“Fine, have it your way,” the Girl spat, vanishing. “Forgive her, Amethyst, she favors you. I think, at times, she forgets you are not one of her Amazons. But one who’s destined to live a life with a mate,” the Woman sighed, offering me her hand.
Reluctantly, I took it, unsure of what I was supposed to do without my mate, without my daughter. “I guess it’s best if you keep your memory of all this,” the Woman contemplated to herself.
Abigail’s screams welcomed me back from my trance. Hundreds of birds took flight thanks to the racket from Abigail’s pain, revealing our location. As my eyes adjusted to the light, the rhythmic beating of Abigail’s heart was in my hand.
Time slowed to a screeching halt. “Never have we altered time and allowed someone to change their actions, to change the outcome of their choices. Do not repeat your same mistakes,” the Girl’s gruff yet soft voice flooded the stillness. “Use this gift well,” her voice drifted as time returned to normal.
No, I would not make the same mistakes. As I tightened my grip on her heart, tears poured from her eyes. With all the confidence which I possessed when I tore out the Covenness’s heart, I tore out Abigail’s. With one swift movement, I moved to Joseph and released Abigail from her tethers.
“Open him and do the enchantment. Hurry, there isn’t much time,” I demanded. Although confused by my words, she did what she was told without hesitation. This time, I ensured the heart was beating before I removed my hand from his chest.
Abigail’s gaze burned into me as I held my breath, praying this time it worked. I didn’t know what more I could’ve done. After what seemed like a lifetime, Joseph’s eyes blinked open. “Thank the Goddesses,” I breathed. Confusion clouded his eyes as he attempted to remember the events which had brought him to this place and time.
“Joseph,” I cried, relieved to see he was alright. Although his skin was still discoloured and slightly clammy. “Thank the Goddesses you are ok, everything is going to be alright,” I cried, burying my head in his shoulder.
No one spoke while we all tried to collect ourselves from what just transpired. “Goddesses’ name, witch, that was some dark magic. Wouldn’t want to be you when Timothy finds out. He almost had a melt down last time,” Madeline blurted out. Shocked to find out she was still conscious, I bolted up. Abigail’s eyes met mine, but it was only me who seemed surprised Madeline hadn’t passed out.
Then I realized I was the only one with the memories of my failure and Joseph’s death. “Amethyst, what happened?” Joseph asked. Abigail and I exchanged a glance. “I explained to Amethyst that even though your heart is safe in your sister. Once we enter the battle, they will crush Victoria’s heart. It will still be you who dies. I realize I was never much of a mother to you, but I hope my heart will at least make up for some of my misdeeds,” Abigail smiled.
Without warning, Madeline leaped into the air, shifting as she pinned Abigail, snapping at her neck before either of us could react. “Madeline,” I growled. There was something in my tone which forced her to revert to her human form. “She stole his heart, and she is his mother?” Madeline snarled with so much anger and hatred, I needed to step back.
“This beast should not be drawing breath. She’s committed one of the worst atrocities known to civilized people,” Madeline continued. Madeline’s words hit Abigail hard. “I know that,” Abigail sobbed.
Joseph stood before shoving Madeline off Abigail and pulled her into an embrace. “No matter what she has done, Madeline, she is still my mother. You don’t have the right to judge her,” Joseph stated forcefully. “She has given me life twice and to me, that counts for something,” he snarled. Madeline cast her eyes away from his intense gaze.
“Now that we are done with those unpleasantries, shall I suggest we focus on getting this witch issue dealt with?” the Girl hissed, causing us all to nearly jump out of our skins.
“Madeline, the Covenness has left your armour for you. Shall we retrieve it? Abigail? If you will follow me,” the Girl grunted. Both women followed without hesitation.
“Worry not. We got a plan for you to defeat this beast and his followers. Come here Joseph, you still look like you need to recover some more,” the Woman demanded, stretching out her arms to embrace him.
As she wrapped her loving arms around him, Joseph’s colour returned to normal. In fact, he seemed to almost glow. In the short time I’ve known him, I never saw him look better than he did right now.
“It’s time to return to Lunar’s Light Amethyst. Timothy does not know you are alive. I am sure he will have words for all of us, but please, do not allow his annoyance to distract you,” the Woman smiled.
In a flash of warm light, she transported us to a spot just out of view of both the nest and Timothy. Somehow the Girl, Abigail and Madeline made it here before us and were already in a deep battle with the wretched beasts. “Madeline is an amazing warrior,” Joseph gasped. I smiled with pride while she continued into the thick of the fray.
“But why does she not fight in her wolf form?” he asked. “That is a question to be answered at another time. Abigail and Madeline have caused enough of a distraction for you to do what is necessary, Amethyst,” the Woman stated dryly.
As we made our way out to the battle, I focused my energy on the core of the earth. In this bright light, the moon’s rays weren’t nearly enough. Thanks to the moon and the land’s deep connection, I was able to harness the Goddesses’ power through the land.
The Girl’s crazed laugh came from all directions. “Amethyst, now!” her voice screamed through my mind. Swiftly, I raised my hand and captured the weapon of my enemy’s demise. “You will only get one shot, do not waste it,” the Girl hissed.
Madeline and Abigail vanished from sight, signaling Joseph to shift into the most stunning greyish wolf I ever saw. Yearning to release the moon fire and end this once and for all, I scanned the battle to ensure my enemies and their phony God were ensnared by my trap. Of course, my eyes found Timothy’s wolf stalking the very poor excuse for a Covenness.
“Timothy, move!” I screamed through our link, but nothing. I tried again. Thankfully, this time my link got through to him. Either it was the ferocity in my voice, or the fact I was alive and well, which startled him. As it appeared to be, I startled him rather than he moved willingly. Nevertheless, he moved from the ring, which I was about to unleash on these foul beasts.
The amethyst-coloured flames which erupted from the ground startled the nest and their master. Instantly, they all stopped and stared at Joseph and me as the ring closed behind us. The intense heat from the flames was enough to make the weaker witches pass out. Their God’s eyes narrowed. “You, child of Chaos, think you can defeat me? Please, don’t make me laugh. After all, we are kin. Join with me and together we will rule all,” the beast scoffed.
I smiled. While he understood what I was, he didn’t realize what I was exactly. “I am Amethyst, child of Chaos, as are you, but we both know that Chaos doesn’t share power and neither do you. Although we both may be the incarnates of Chaos, unlike you, I understand and accept my place in this world. I am the balance to the Goddesses plan,” I grin menacingly at him.
“Perhaps you haven’t figured it out yet, but I am the strongest witch who has ever existed, and possibly will ever exist. There is nothing more you can give me which Chaos, or the Goddesses, haven’t already,” I cackled.
“Fine, have it your way. I will enjoy making you scream and beg for death,” the beast smirked, turning his attention to his Covenness. “Make the weak blood pay,” he smirked.