Disclaimer: I don't own it.
A/N: Well, this is the end. It's been a good run, but now is the time for this story to finish up. I'm grateful to all of you who've taken the time to read and review my story. I hope you all enjoy my final offering.
Tala glanced from Rei to Mariah before he shook his head. When he spoke his voice was filled with anger. "So stupid. We assumed when the Prophecy said a Prince of the Blood we thought it meant a neko-jin, not actually someone related to the Enchantress."
Despite the fact he was still trapped against the wall by an invisible force the redhead continued to glare at the pink haired neko. "I won't let you have him. Your reign of terror has lasted for to long and I would be going back on my vow if I allowed you to have the one person who can amplify your powers. "
Mariah laughed and pulled a short silver dagger from the sleeve of her robe. "Pretty words from a man who is going to die." She glanced at her son. "I'm sure they told you they're Immortal. They don't get sick and they don't age, but their powers don't save them from a blade."
With a lighting quick movement she pressed the small dagger into Rei's hand, golden eyes glowing with passion. "Do it Rei. It's not too late. If you spill his blood now you can still reclaim the right to ultimate power that is yours."
Rei flinched away from the woman. "No. I'm not evil."
The sound of flesh hitting flesh filled the small room. For a brief moment the picture was frozen, blood dribbling from the corner of Rei's mouth, Mariah's hand open and a slight pink in color from where it had impacted with her son's face. "Ungrateful whelp! I offer power far beyond what you will have if you become Spirit and you throw it in my face." She snatched the dagger back and moved towards Tala, the knife held easily. "Fine. I'll take Tala's life myself. The blood of an Elemental Prince will serve to strengthen my powers."
Rei took a half step forward, knowing he had to do something to prevent Tala's death. However, the choice was taken from him when the Enchantress shrieked in agony, the silver knife dropping from her hand. An arrow fletched in red and silver protruded from her hand, blood slowly oozing from the wound.
"I wouldn't suggest trying it Mariah. The next arrow will find your heart. It won't kill you but I can guarantee it'll slow you do long enough for us to finally finish this."
Both neko-jin whirled around to find Lei, Kai and Bryan standing in the door, watching them with sharp eyes. Lei's eyes were fastened on Mariah, a second arrow nocked, pointing at the ground. Rei had watched Lei practice and he knew that the arrow would be flying through the air the moment Mariah moved.
The female neko-jin pulled the arrow from her hand, blood dripping to the floor. "Hello Lei. I'm glad to see you have no problems going against your Clan."
Lei shrugged, the tension on the string of his bow never easing. "I am no longer a member of the Clan, and neither are you. You were exiled after you turned to Blood Magic and my only family is in this room." His bow came up and he drew the string back until it was touching his cheek. "Release him."
The Enchantress' eyes flicked to Bryan and Kai who were flanking Lei before she sighed. "As you wish." With a sharp gesture Tala was released from his confinement.
The redhead landed lightly on the floor. Without looking away from Mariah he caught the glaive Bryan tossed him. With a fluid practiced moment the pole arm dipped down, the leather sheath slipping off to reveal a razor sharp blade, mist seeming to creep along the edge.
Bryan took a half step away from Lei, naked blade in one hand, the other reaching out towards Rei. "Get away from her. Even with a hole in her hand she's not to be trusted."
Mariah turned to look at the pale man, golden eyes taking on a slightly insane look. "You are hardly one to talk of trust Wind. You came to me disguised as an old midwife. After Rei's birth you gave me tea, claiming it would help to soothe the pain. Instead, I wake up two days later, with my child missing!"
Darkness flowed from her fingers towards Bryan. The lavender haired man waved his hand in a negligent manner, and a slight breeze stirred before dying, taking the darkness with it. A smirk twisted his pale lips. "You'll have to do better Witch. As much as you complain about Elemental magic being weak it's just as powerful as Blood magic. Especially when the users are bonded."
The fingers on Mariah's uninjured hand flexed into claws and she lunged forward, reaching for Rei. Everyone else in the room burst into motion the moment the Enchantress moved. Lei's arrow rocketed between Rei and his mother, causing the female to twist away, hissing in anger.
When she moved to spring again a long knife flew past her cheek, slicing the tan skin. Dark blood followed the curve of her cheek and she moved forward again, eyes intent on Rei. "But you aren't bonded."
Kai stepped forward, a second knife in his fingers, identical to the one that had broken Mariah's flesh. "No, we aren't but it doesn't mean we can't hold you off long enough to do what we have to do."
The Enchantress smirked. "Not if I don't give you a chance." She wiped a finger across the blood on her cheek and started chanting, the sound low and sibilant. The blood from her hand dripped to the floor in an increasing flow, forming a small puddle. As the chanting continued the blood seemed to pull up, until it was knee high and looked vaguely human. Without taking her eyes from the men she crouched down, one finger touching the top of the thing's head. "A Blood Golem. Normally not dangerous but in the hands of an experienced Blood Mage they can drain the life from anyone."
Her eyes flickered to Bryan as she stood. "You took Rei from me and in return I'll take something from you."
The Golem seemed to ooze across the floor tendrils reaching for Kai. The slate haired Immortal stared down at the dark puddle, mahogany eyes hard. For several seconds the animated blood hoisted its body up Kai's leg.
Kai raised his head from the thing's ascent. A sharp smirk twisted his lips and flames seemed to burn in his eyes. "I will acknowledge your prowess as a Blood Mage, but you've never tested your Golem on a Fire Prince."
Without warning a pillar of flame surrounded the knife-wielding Prince. Golden flames licked at the ceiling, charring the stone with alarming speed. A rancid, greasy cloud of smoke filled the air that was quickly followed by a sickly smell.
Unable to tear his eyes away from the inferno that had become Kai, Rei yelped when a hard hand closed on his upper arm and he was thrust against Tala. One of the redhead's arms curled around him, holding him close.
Bryan cast a glance to the flames that engulfed his bonded, silver eyes reflecting the flames. "Do it Tala. Kai is giving us the time."
Before Rei could ask what exactly Tala was supposed to do he found himself out of Tala's arms and standing in the triangle formed by the three men. The Prince smiled softly and held out his hand, palm up to reveal a perfectly clear snowflake that looked like it had been carved out of crystal. "Take it."
Rei picked the small snowflake up, gasping when it disappeared; a shiver moving down his spine as he felt a coolness ripple through his body from where the snowflake had touched his hand.
A warm hand brushed his chin and tilted his head back before Tala claimed his lips in a soft kiss. When the redhead pulled back his fingers danced across the neko-jin's cheek. "Bound to Ice through love."
Lei was next, pressing a small topaz pebble into his hand that filled him with the feeling of hardness and never ending strength. The other neko-jin kissed him on the forehead before pulling back to wink at him. "Bound to Earth through compassion and blood."
Bryan replaced Lei, cool fingers brushing over the mark on the inside of his wrist. A silvery vortex appeared in the lavender haired man's hand. The Prince brushed a kiss across his right temple as the vortex seemed to sink into the tan skin, a sense of never ending power filling him. "Bound to Wind through determination."
A hand that was almost hot enough to burn closed over his wrist and he was turned to face Kai. The Fire prince was completely unscathed, besides the dark stain on his pants where the golem had tried to climb his leg. Warm lips touched his right temple. "Bound to Fire through courage."
Mariah hissed, anger welling in her golden eyes. She could see the white nimbus that surrounded her son, so much like the ones surrounding the other four males. With a low growl she crouched down, gaze on Bryan. He was the biggest and strongest, the impromptu leader. If he fell the others would quickly follow.
The Enchantress leapt at the Wind prince, a second knife appearing in her hands, its blade streaked with blackness. The poison on the blade would sap Bryan's strength and will to live before any of the other's could act. Even the healing powers of Spirit would not be able to save someone if even they were simply scratched.
Before she could react Bryan was pushed out of the way and replaced with Rei, who was watching her, eyes filled with anguish. Not willing to hurt her son, even if he had betrayed her she dropped the knife and simply slammed into him, fingers digging into his shoulders and drawing blood.
The tableau remained unbroken for several seconds. The four Princes were standing in a circle around the two neko-jin, eyes wide with shock. Mariah was leaning against her son, arms on his shoulders. One of Rei's arms was curled around the Enchantress' waist, holding her almost tenderly, her head tucked under his chin. His other arm was trapped between their bodies.
Intense pain was radiating through her body and with a groan of pain she pulled away from Rei, eyes falling to the crystal blade that pierced her stomach, dark blood flowing along the ridges of crystal to stain Rei's skin. When she spoke, her voice was little more than a whisper. "Chrysoprase, the only weapon in the world that can actually completely destroy a practitioner of Blood magic." Ignoring the numbness that was rapidly spreading she lifted her hand and brushed it against her son's cheek, leaving a smear of blood behind.
Rei's eyes were burning with anguish as he slowly pushed the blade in further, the dark liquid on his hands sending tingles down his spine. "I'm sorry."
Mariah, despite the pain she was in managed to smirk. "No one saw fit to tell you how Chrysoprase works did they. Inside your blade are the souls of hundreds of mages, all trapped for eternity." She reached between them, hands curling around the blade, the edges lacerating her hand. Dipping a finger in the blood she traced a rune on Rei's forehead. "Remember, dear son, that you might have killed me and consigned me to eternal damnation that I will always be with you. Blood ties are the deepest bond known."
Tala jerked forward as Rei slumped to the ground, falling away from his mother who was also slumping to the ground, eyes vacant. He dropped to his knees with the neko-jin cradled against his chest, his brothers standing over him. "Rei?"
Golden eyes fluttered briefly, one hand coming up to fist Tala's worn and dirty shirt. "Cold."
Kai stepped forward and dropped down across from Tala power flowing through the young man. "He's suffering from backlash. Some kind of Blood magic that she could use because she's his mother." His eyes came up to meet the redhead's dazed eyes. "Not to mention the shock of having killed his mother. The best thing we can do for him now is to get him back to your mansion."
The Ice prince slowly got to his feet and followed his brothers out of the room.
Three months later
Tala tightened his arm around Rei's shoulders, ignoring the look he got from the Spirit prince. As much as the neko-jin would like to think he was ready to go greet his sister he wasn't. He'd barely started walking again, even after the nearly three months ago he'd destroyed the Enchantress. The battle had drained him and left him on death's door for far longer then Tala really wanted to think about.
Added to the magical backlash had been the knowledge that he'd killed his own mother. Yes, he'd spent all of his life in the Mortal Realms with a woman and sisters he considered family but even the thought of Aine could soften the blow. Rei had still spent much of his time in a depression about everything that had happened. It was only after Lei spent time with the younger neko-jin telling him of their Clan had the youngest Prince started to come out of his shell.
When Rei had approached him about bringing Aine to live with them he had given his consent immediately. He would have brought Rei's entire family if he had thought it would help, but he knew Rei would be happier with just his younger sister there.
The neko-jin had badly wanted to get his sister but he'd still been weak and the trip would have tired him out to much. Tala wasn't willing to leave Rei's side, Lei's wife had been in labor and Kai had been dealing with bandits in his lands. In the end, Bryan had been the only person left to pull Rei's sister from the small one room cabin on the border of the Mortal Realm.
Rei, fearing his sister would be slightly upset by Bryan's stern manner had insisted that Firn accompany Bryan. The she-wolf had been more then happy to travel with the man.
Falborg's piercing cry broke Tala's ruminations and the redhead was forced to tighten his grip on Rei once again. "Patience Rei. Just a little longer."
The neko-jin muttered something under his breath that Tala couldn't quite make out but burrowed closer to the Ice prince. He still hadn't completely adapted to the cold yet. The muffled thump of horse's hooves on packed snow reached his ears and he instantly perked back up, ignoring the arm around his shoulders.
Bryan's gelding rounded the final turn in the lane and Rei's fingers tightened on Tala's arm. The lavender haired man was draped in a heavy fur cloak, more for the benefit of the small child perched on the saddle in front of him. Aine had never been able to handle the cold, her weak lungs making being out in cold weather for long periods of time difficult.
Kai had imbued clothing for her with his power, guaranteeing Rei the clothing would help her lungs to function in the cold climate of Tala's realm. Lei's wife, a talented alchemist had also sent along several potions and elixirs to ease her on the trip.
Bryan pulled his horse to a stop and slipped off its back, Aine held securely in one arm. The moment the girl saw her brother she shrieked with happiness and started wiggling, forcing Bryan to readjust his arms around her so she wouldn't plunge to the ground. "Hold still you little monster." The Prince managed to drape a second cloak over his squirming bundle before setting her down.
Tala didn't even try to hold the neko-jin back as he rushed to his sister. Rei's happiness was all that mattered.
END
