AN: After this, just one more chapter to go! It will be uploaded tomorrow. I want to thank my loyal readers who have stuck around for this story. It's been a long ride - this was the first story I ever published on this site, and it is by far the longest. Even more-so,the idea for this story was really the inspiration to pursue fan fiction writing. I was so passionate about this story. I took so long to develop it. Thank you so much.
PATRICIA'S POV
I awaken from a world of blackness. The last thing I remember is my head swirling, my thoughts going in all directions like there was someone inside my head messing with my brain, then blacking out. I wake in a dazed confusion, unsure of where I am or how long I have been asleep.
I examine my surroundings. White curtains enclose me in a small area where I lay down on a bed. Did I wake up in a hospital again? Why does this keep happening?
I hear a voice from down the hall scream: "SHE'S AWAKE!" Then a herd of footsteps rushes on the opposite side of my wall. A door swings open and reveals a bright, smiling Eddie.
"Patricia!" he shouts, engulfing me in a hug, the type of huge you get from a relative at Christmastime that you haven't seen in years. I feel tears slosh against my shoulders as they fall from his eyes. "You're awake. Thank God."
"H-How long have I been asleep?" I ask. "What happened?"
Behind Eddie stands Cassidy and Joy. They smile, their eyes red and glassy. "It's over, Cassidy says. "It's all over."
"What is- wait, Set? He's gone?"
"He's gone," Eddie whispers to me. "We destroyed him… at least for the next couple of centuries."
"Why am I in the hospital? Did he hurt me?" I ask, riddled with confusion.
"He hurt everyone who wasn't a descendant," Cassidy says. "But for some reason… you didn't wake up immediately like the rest of them did. I still don't know why. Maybe because you'd been affected by Set before. But we got really worried so we took you straight here. Everybody else woke up four days ago."
I have so many questions, but they all slip my mind when I see Joy standing lonesomely in the corner, rubbing her stomach.
"Guys, can I have a moment alone with Joy, please?"
I can see Eddie is a bit hurt by me not wanting to spend my first waking moment with him, but I will have time for him later. Joy… Joy can't wait.
Cassidy and Eddie exit together, and as the door locks shut, Joy comes to my side.
"Hey," I say quietly. "Did you talk to Jerome?"
"Yeah, a couple of days ago," she says, wiping tears from her eyes, clearly not wanting to discuss this any further. I respect her silent wish and simply grab her hand. We stay silent for a few moments, just sitting like that. Not talking. Just thinking. It's something we haven't had the chance to do in a while - just relax together. I miss being with my best friend.
Our silence is interrupted when Eddie enters again.
"I'm sorry," he says. "But I really just want to be with you right now." He hangs his head low, ashamed.
"It's okay," I say, giggling. I wave him in and gesture for him to sit on my bedside. He cups my hands in his and just gazes at me - something he hasn't been able to do in a long time.
Joy leaves us alone. I watch her walk out, her every drudging footstep a reminder of the hard times to come in her future. I hate to see her like this.
I pray for her sake something happened to the baby through the duration of the time everyone blacked out.
"Yacker," Eddie says, regaining my focus. "I'm glad you're okay."
"I'm glad I'm okay, too." I lower my head to look at my hand. I stare at the ring Eddie give me at Christmas, the promise it contains inside. We have a future together. No evil villains, no Egyptian curses, nothing. Nothing will get in our way.
"Um, Yacker, there's - there's something I need to tell you," Eddie says gravely.
"What is it?"
"After we defeated Set… well, there was no more need for our powers. We were born to defeat him and now he's gone… my point is… I lost my powers. So did the rest of the descendants."
I hug him, and he's taken aback.
"Why are you happy about this? I thought you'd be disappointed."
I smile. "Eddie, your powers are gone because they aren't needed. Don't you get it? There's never going to be some threat looming over us ever again that you'll have to risk your life for. We can be together like a normal couple for the rest of our lives."
Even though his powers are gone, when he hugs me, I feel something even more powerful.
Love.
