Chapter 14

Esme took a seat on once of the comfortable chairs. She crossed her legs under her and began breathing rhythmically. Briar, Daja, Tris and Sandry could feel her magic surrounding them; pacing the room like a caged tiger. A chill ran down Daja's spine as she felt like that tiger was breathing down her next. She shook the sensation off and returned to her meditation. As each mage slipped into their magic they became aware of a much greater magical force close by. As they floated up into the air to survey the city Tris spotted a pulsing beacon of light on the wall of Winding Circle Temple and pointed it out to her siblings.

"Eugenia?" Sandry asked, not knowing if the glowing presence that was Esme could even hear her.

"Of course," Esme replied, "Now concentrate and follow my instructions."

Winding Circle Temple…

Eugenia's magic came whipping out of her. An irate snake that lashed through the air; snapping and striking at anything close by. She cried out with the effort of trying to rein it in and achieve some sort of control. The problem was that she wasn't mad enough. Rage gave her control; gave her power over the magic. The magic echoed her frustration by lashing out even more. It cracked like thunder as it slashed through the air. With Eugenia wrestling with her magic, it didn't take long for her to attract attention. Thankfully just as Dedicate warriors were beginning to advance on Eric's side there was a loud boom and a large, multicoloured bubble began to blossom over Summersea. Eugenia felt rather that saw Briar and his siblings above the peak of the magical shield. The giant, midnight blue ball of magic with them was Esme. Coaching the four mages on and, Eugenia hoped, praying to the mountain Gods to help her sister and brothers. The joy she felt when thinking about Briar and her sister gave Eugenia enough strength to clamp some control over her wild magic. Then she went to work, funnelling all of her magic into the broken medallion. A purple haze formed around them both. Suddenly, the golden quarters jumped up into the air and zoomed towards Eugenia, who took several frantic steps backwards before remembering the enormous drop behind her. The piece fused together mid-flight and slammed into her chest with enough force to send Eugenia sprawling to the ground. Her head hit not ground like the rest of her body but was left hanging in the air over the edge of the rampart. She screamed in pain as the medallion burned a niche in her skin. Then everything went black. Eric, hearing Eugenia's cry, turned around to see his sister lying unconscious on the ground. The gold disc had sunk into her chest sitting over the top of her breastbone. The sickening smell of burnt flesh made his stomach revolt but he did not dare desert his post.

Eugenia slowly opened her eyes. She could smell someone cooking meat near by. It only took her a moment to realise with disgusts that she was the one being roasted. At the same time the pain came rushing back. Eric and Ethan were both struggling to hold off several attackers at once. Ethan used his magic to hold his quarry at bay. His swords glowed a fierce shade of red as he swung them around with deadly accuracy. Eric called upon him magic for Seeing to predict his opponents next move. And though he was no as proficient with his blades as Ethan, Eric was at no physical disadvantage compared to the Dedicates he faced. As Eugenia's head began to clear, she felt her magic starting to collect under the gold disc which had invaded her body. The coolness of her magic eased the pain enough for her to stand. Eugenia hauled herself away from the unguarded edge of the rampart and back towards the ocean view. It wasn't exactly idyllic. The front row of catapults were being loaded and some nearby ships launching landing parties. She looked down at the magical device implanted on her chest; slumping to the ground again upon seeing that the metal had sunk down into her skin. Now it was her stomach's turn to revolt. Eugenia snatched her eyes away from the ugly mess below her chin. Instead, she focused on the sky above her.

"Whatever you're going to do, do it fast." She whispered. She felt her magic hesitate for a moment. It distrusted the medallion's magic; it wanted to protect its mistress from the pain. "Forget the fucking pain! Fuck the fucking the pain! Just do it!"

Eugenia's screams of agony were lost in the howl her magic made as it exploded out of the medallion. As it gushed through the disc, the strength of her magic increase ten fold. It shot up into the air like a jet of water and then fell back towards her, showering her in power. The power became so great that it became visible to the naked eye, a shimmering spout of purple magic that lit up the morning sky. Eugenia coughed and spluttered; she felt like she was drowning in her own magic. Her clothes began to melt and were replaced by wisps of purple light, flowing over her skin like silk. Eugenia laughed, turned her face up to the sky and spread her arms out wide to her glorious purple rain. It was then that it hit her; the horrible feeling that something was wrong. She gasped and clutched the mediation on her chest. It hissed at her touch. It wasn't just going to give her this power for nothing. It wanted control… Need control. Eugenia's head snapped back. Her limbs felt like they were on fire. She wasn't willing to give than; this was her body not some poxy magical device's. Hers and only hers! But then her mind stopped buzzing for a moment. Memories washed over her; Briar, her own siblings, the kind inn keeper and his wife who had looked after her when she had arrived in Emelan, even the innocent young children she had watch playing around Winding Circle… Weren't they worth this sacrifice? Hadn't she pledged to stop Lex and protect those blameless people she had placed in danger? The answer was yes and Eugenia knew it. She accepted it. It was then that she finally let go of her fear of the unknown and plunged into the depths of herself, cradling Briar's image close to her all the way down.

While Eugenia was prepared to give up her body to the medallion's command, her magic did not share her willingness. Its apprehension of the medallion turned to rage as the device tried to assert control. The two magical forces battled with each other; fighting for control over Eugenia's mind and body. Caught in the middle, Eugenia felt like she was being torn apart. She convulsed wildly as the conflict raged on inside. The Dedicates who had been struggling to over power Ethan and Eric backed away slowly from the men and the women who lay between them. The air seemed to hum with power. As spasms ripped through her flesh Eugenia fought to hold on; she clenched her eyes shut and gritted her teeth. Her screams of torment roused the two waring beasts to their senses and they settled on a tense truce. Everyone on the rampart watched as Eugenia stopped thrashing and her body went limp. Then she stiffened. The crowd of Dedicates gasped; Eric and Ethan turned around to watch as their sister rose slowly in the air. She floated and turned slowly until she was standing on her feet again, facing out to the ocean. Thunder cracked as the enchanted black balls tore at the shield protecting Summersea. The barrier undulated violently; bending but not breaking. One boom stone was flung towards the great wall of the Temple. As it whistled through the air Eugenia's eyes snapped open. Even Eric and Ethan edged away from their sister now. Her right eye shone gold light as bright as the sun while her left eye was a gapping black hole which seemed to suck all of the light from the air around it. Eugenia's right hand shot up in front of her and her fingers clamped down into a fist. The boom stone exploded in mid-air, scattering debris over the beach below. Again, Eugenia, or at least the creatures that now controlled her body, raised her arms up into the air. Her feet slowly rose from the ground and her purely magical gown twirled happily in the gathering winds. A bright ball of golden purple light began to form around the mage. The sphere's glow became brighter and brighter as Eugenia climbed higher and higher. Once she was able to see Lex's entire fleet she stopped to hover in the air; once sweet lips twisted into a cruel smile. Then she, it, began to sing. Her voice seemed to consist of a thousand different singers, joined together in perfect harmony.

"Staring up into the heavens

In this hell that binds your hands

Will you sacrifice your comfort?

Make your way in a foreign land?

Wrestle with your darkness

Thousands call your name

Can you hear what they're saying?

Will you ever be the same?"

The song echoed through the air, reaching all over Summersea. It soothed the frightened masses huddled in the Temple beneath Eugenia. Their hope gave her strength; the globe of magic began to blaze brighter. Daja felt her heart surge as the words floated on the winds to her. Sandry's spirit swelled with courage as Eugenia's song filled her ears. Even Tris felt more buoyant with each line. Briar could feel the love flow through him as Eugenia's voice touched his soul.

"Remember, remember, never forget

All of your life has all been a test

You will find a gate that's open

Even though your spirit's broken.

Open up my heart

And cause my lips to speak

Bring the heaven and the stars

Down to us for me"

The power flooded to Eugenia and she became consumed by the fiery magic that burned around her. Finally, she allowed her own hope that she had kept locked away in her heart to join the hope, courage and strength of a thousand different souls.

Suddenly, the magic sphere exploded outwards, sending a shockwave travelling towards the pirate fleet. Metal, wood and stone dissolved into ash in its wake. Pirates, slaves and mages were left to plunge into the restless sea. Once the shockwave had dispersed the entire pirate fleet. The soft sound of a woman's laughter drifted on the roaring winds. Ethan and Eric watched as flares began to whip outward from the two toned star above them. While most of the Dedicates rushed off of the wall, Dedicate Lark, Dedicate Frostpine and Dedicate Rosethorn came to stand with the two brothers.

"So what is Eugenia doing?" Frostpine asked, seemingly unfazed by the magic going on above them.

"Whatever that thing it, it's not Eugenia anymore." Rosethorn said gruffly.

"Are we in any danger?" Lark pulled out several lengths of wool. Eric placed his hands on the senior mage's.

"I would not try Dedicate. The medallion might see it as a threat and going by the strength of the spell it just wove I don't think you would want that."

"Medallion? What medallion?"

"The Medallion of Beowulf." Ethan replied calmly, clearing his blade on Ethan's discarded Dedicate robes. The three mages looked at him with a mixture of shock and astonishment on their faces.

"But… But that's not possible!" Rosethorn stammered. "It's been lost for centuries! And for good reason…" She pointed towards Eugenia. "That medallion has too much power even for a Child of Light. It'll drive her insane! Did you ever stop to think about what a crazed mage with that kind of power could do?" Lark placed a soothing hand on Rosethorn's shoulder. Eric regarded the Dedicates with a blank expression where as Ethan looked at Rosethorn with distain. However, before Ethan could reply, there was a loud explosion from above. The purple and gold fire rippling outwards from Eugenia grew brighter and longer. Great tongues of fire lashed out, slicing through the air. The sight was awe inspiring and terrifying at the same time. Beauty and Terror locked together.