A.N: Guess who graduated from university! Guess who also had the worst writers block of their existence when writing this chapter. Guess who needed to get a real job because retail is slowly crushing their soul XD. I had the whole thing planned out before the start of my last semester and as soon as I sat down at my computer I had nil. What ever, it's done that's all that matters so let's get down to business to defeat the magical pain in our heroes' sides. Special thanks to the supporters who have joined since my last update, specifically YaOiLoVeR27, steph557, sheyautja94, alexandriasutherland98, XxHeartMenderxX, sianfaythe, SpringBorn, Mep101, Faery66, Shy'Raven'Demon'Gurl, bribri1300 & Cammy2662
(Sanders POV)
Alucard wasn't screaming but he may as well have been. Sanders could hear his very being tearing at her binding spell, and when he found that those coils of flame and magic refused to budge he tore at himself instead.
She had never performed a cleansing but she had witnessed a few back on the island. Removing corrupted magic was a skill left to the holy women who often kept their techniques secret; they believed it was their sacred right and theirs alone to purify the people. Sanders found the sensation unlike anything she had ever imagined. To her it was less of a purification, but rather a violent cleansing by fire. And so she burned away every last bit of Cecelia that dared to cling to her beloved.
(Front line POV)
Sanders had been right, Pip mused. The crystals she had provided really did pack a punch. The mercenary had scattered the bulk of his magical explosives as close as he dared to the swirling mass of terror that hung over head. By using Sanders as a distraction he managed to avoid being a target before moving further out of what he hoped was Cecilia's range.
As if on cue Seras fired at the tiny red stones setting off a chain reaction of fiery chaos. With each shockwave the next crystal detonated, incinerating and climbing up each tendril of darkness Cecelia sent to meet them. Pip continued to retreat as the remaining shadows snapped at his heels, braid swinging out behind him, one hand holding his gun and the other carrying the last of Sanders' crystalline fire.
The mad witch screamed a terrible gurgling noise each time flames crept up her magic both from the burning of Sanders' crude cleansing ritual, and from the wild fire wielded by the mortal and the young vampire. When Cecelia screamed her guttural war cry Sanders screamed back as her magic snuck beneath the bounds right up against Alucard's undead core. Cecelia, frustrated with the division of her attention, floated lower to the ground to retaliate and Seras was ready with her weapon trained on her approaching figure. Seras fired her Harkonen blasting through shadow and self repairing flesh. As the distance between Alucard and Cecelia grew Sanders willed her magic to take the likeness of claws and with another mighty battle cry they shredded those dregs of corruption away.
As she freed him from his magically induced stupor Alucard could feel the binds that held the two of them together pull tight and grow red hot with anguish that shook him to his core.
Finally; he was awake.
Sanders heaved but her stomach had nothing left to give. She couldn't believe that it had worked and yet she held the tethers of blackened magic she had pulled from her mate wrapped around her wrists and within her fists linking her to Cecelia. She could hear the impact of each detonation of the Harkonen. She could hear the French man swear as more of her preserved flames erupted. She inhaled deeply and let her vision fade, entering a mini trance like state.
"Now would be a great time for you to show yourself ya red bastard." She had no body here only her existence in a space devoid of distraction. "I know you've been listening, you're always listening," she huffed. "Do you really hate me so much that you'd watch me die? Do you despise being my familiar enough that you'd endure the death of your witch kin?"
"That depends." The voice that came from some unknown depths of Sanders' subconscious was as ancient as time and oh so familiar. "Will you be fighting for yourself little one? Are you still playing soldier? Are you the mouth piece for your family's legacy or do you speak for your own heart?" The voice paused but Sanders could not find her own to defend herself. "If not you'd surely suffer a marvelous death."
"Do you use your arms to carry the weight of your title or do you use them to carry your loved ones in their time of need?" Again the dragon's voice paused and again Sanders could not find the will to speak. Why was it that all ancient creatures could never bother to speak plainly? Why was it that everything always needed to to feel like it was her fault?
"So tell me little toy soldier do you still walk along the path you were shown, oh young commander of armies, oh puppet to your mother or do you stand tall with your own strength?"
"I don't understand" Sanders whispered, her voice hoarse as if she hadn't spoken in weeks. "I don't understand" she repeated a little louder this time.
"You don't understand? Tut tut my dear I would have thought you to be smarter than this. How… Disappoint-."
"How dare you!"
"I only ever did what was I had to. What gave you the right to be so disappointed?" If she had a body she was sure there would be frustrated tears already flowing.
"I have excelled beyond the wildest dreams of those around me and yet you have never seen me as anything worth your time! So why even bother with the judgement!" Her words felt like a long time coming. She had despised the mighty red dragon for practically ignoring her for years but never had she thought of telling it off. An ancient immortal beast hardly seemed worth the time of argument, but damn it felt good to yell her feelings.
"How dare you look down on me!"
"What ever, it doesn't matter anymore. What a colossal waste of time. I'll be dead soon enough then you can wait for someone else to come along to try and fill your impossible standards!" Sanders wanted out of the head space she created. She'd find someway to save Alucard, Seras and Pip. Even if it meant dying again and again she'd save them and then they could escape and find Carmen. Maybe her sister could find a way to do the impossible. She still could beg for divine intervention though the cost would certainly be steep and more than likely devastating.
"You have done what you have had to, what was expected of you and what was right and now I simply pray that you see yourself for what you are for I have come to know you as much more than what those witches and warriors have taught you to become." The dragon continued in the same cold and calmly arrogant tone.
"You trying to convince me that you always believed in me?" Sanders spat.
"Not for a second little witch but I do know that this is the first time you have asked for me with nothing more than your heart's greatest desire so ask again and you shall receive."
"After all of this you want me to ask again and you'll just do it?" Sanders sounded skeptical for good reason. You didn't get into her line of work with hand outs and easy short cuts.
"My dear you have grown more in these last few moments than in your short twenty-three years. My sweet witchling you have proven your worthiness as my dear Empress of Dragons."