Chapter Thirty-Four: The Darkness or the Light?
"You shall lie in the fields and kiss the earth. Raise your arms. You shall see the fury and power of god and change forever." –Excerpt from Awakening Osiris by Normandi Ellis
***
Crouching on the ground, shivering with fear, Evy threw open the golden cover.
As the ancient book opened she could almost hear the sigh of relief, the release of a breath held in trembling anticipation. The book was glowing, slightly warm to the touch...and as Evy's fingertips trailed along the chiseled spells she suddenly felt the fear leave her. No, she was no longer afraid.
A certainty flooded her, the certainty that she felt when arriving in Egypt for the first time as a young girl, the certainty of coming home again. She knew this book, it knew her, they were linked together forever. Conviction surged through her. It was time, the book was meant for her hands, and her hands alone. She would never be able to contain or harness the power, but it was now, in her hour of need, in the hour of her destiny–Evy knew that the book would not betray her.
She would fulfill her destiny and complete the terrible cycle three millennia in the making.
As the cover of the open book hit the marble floor, Imhotep's face darkened with fury. "You should not have done that Princess!" he roared, his voice echoing in the throne room. Abandoning Ardeth, Imhotep charged towards her, depraved malevolence shining in his eyes. He neared her, getting closer and closer
But Evy was not afraid. The Queen of Egypt had returned.
***
Rick looked up as Imhotep's furious threat echoed across the room. His arms still wrapped around Alex, Rick watched in horror as Imhotep strode across the room–towards the crouching form of his wife.
"Evy!" he cried, her name ripping from his desperate throat. How had he not noticed how close to danger she was?
In a moment her death flashed before his eyes, the past washing over him, the devastating failure once again ripping at his very soul. He relived it, once again crouching over her, the vast pyramid of Ahm Shere looming behind him. She lay slackened, legs sprawled, her hands clenched tightly over her wound. The memory was so real Rick could feel the sand, hot and gritty beneath him, see clearly the same pain and sorrow that had welled in her eyes. And she was asking him to take care of Alex. Without her. Rick blinked, for a moment not sure which world he was in. Was Evy beneath him, dying? Was that her small hand captured in his own? Or was it Imhotep's throne room, cavernous and cold around him...
Rick blinked and the world slid back into focus. Evy was rapidly scanning the gold page before her. But there wasn't enough time.
There wasn't enough time.
Imhotep was going to reach her. The cry screamed from Rick's aching throat. "No!"
The priest growled, his muscular body stalking forward, almost upon Evy's small form.
***
Evy only needed a few more seconds.
And she got them.
Suddenly, from out of nowhere, came Anjelica, golden sword swinging. In a blur she rushed towards Imhotep's striding form.
She had suddenly understood what her part was in all of this. It was small and short, but no less significant. And Imhotep never saw it coming.
Rick's mouth dropped open in shock as he watched Anjelica run across the room. Imhotep will kill her! What is she doing? Rick thought frantically.
Her dark hair flying out behind her, without breaking stride, Anjelica swung her blade up and into the light. The sword cleaved through the air, the sharp edge gleaming. And it sliced Imhotep's right arm cleanly off. With a resounding thwak the severed limb thumped dully to the ground.
Anjelica stopped, the sword gripped tightly in her clammy hands. She stared at the mutilated arm. And then, in genuine shock at her success, looked up. Right into Imhotep face.
For a split second Imhotep stood, armless, in numbed surprise. And then the priest roared with displeasure. Taking his free arm, Imhotep grabbed the neck of Anjelica's shirt.
Effortlessly he picked the Mexican woman up and threw her across the room. He tossed her as though she were nothing but a bean bag. In mid-air her sword slipped from her hand and clattered harmlessly on the marble floor.
She slammed into the far wall. She slid heavily to the ground and lay, not moving.
***
But those few, precious extra seconds had given Evy the time she needed to search for the familiar words, the words that would rip away Imhotep's immortal soul.
As Imhotep fastened his arm back on Evy crouched over the gold book, her brown eyes running over every line, searching for the passage she had read twelve years ago. She searched quickly, turning the heavy golden pages. The metal sheets gleamed, each carved with spells powerful enough to change fate, to alter human destiny forever. But Evy's eyes slid across them, only concerned with one spell: the spell of death.
As Imhotep began striding towards her once again, he neared her crouching form. He was only feet away, his face determined and violent, when Evy raised her head.
She watched him coming towards her as she opened her mouth. And then she began to speak.
Her words echoed, rippling the air with magic. Power surged from her small form as her voice cried out in the chamber. "Kadeesh mal! Kadeesh mal! Pared oos! Pared oos!"
***
The ancient words echoed. Imhotep stopped, paralyzed, staring at her.
And then a great wind whipped around them, and the very floor began to shake and rattle with anger. Stars flashed before Evy's eyes as it seemed the entire world trembled and vibrated. Evy's skin tingled with fear as ancient magic pulsed in the air.
With a sudden jolt the power surged through her, white and hot as molten gold. She gasped as her body quivered with light, and as she raised her arms to the sky Evy felt the boundaries of the world bend at her fingertips. For a single moment she was more than queen, she was goddess, she was the shimmering vessel of the Gods.
And joy coursed through her, and Evy realized with a shock that she enjoyed the feeling of power.
Suddenly her body spasmed, unable to contain the pulsing magic that filled her. Her head bucked and was thrown back, long hair streaming down her back, as she trembled, caught in a surging moment of silent ecstacy. Her entire body filled with holy light, and quavered and shivered with awesome, unspeakable power.
Imhotep's bronzed face slowly widened in shock. Power still pulsating through her small form, Evy struggled against it to pull her head forward. Quivering with divinity, Evy's brown eyes seared into Imhotep's dark ones.
Imhotep stumbled back, towards his own golden throne, as though Evy had lashed him with burning metal. Light, fierce and powerful and utterly beautiful, radiated from her piercing gaze. Imhotep saw the divine light pouring forth from her, and felt the holiness surrounding him. And slowly realization dawned across his features.
And so the darkness finally faced the light.
The wind picked up, suddenly howling and filling the grand hall, rushing and swirling about. Rick grasped Alex and held him close, sheltering him from the angry wind that screamed by them. Jonathan and Pierre shielded each other against the far wall. Evy felt her dark hair pulled back off her shoulders in the gale, and turned.
And the golden doors to the throne room burst open.
***
The Chariot of Anubis came screaming in. It sailed through the air, the four glittery horses wildly tossing their plumed heads. They shimmered, translucent and silvery blue, as the ethereal chariot flew into the throne room.
Evy squinted against the wind she saw that the small chariot looked exactly the same as it had twelve years ago, in the bowels of Hamanuptra. The great translucent vehicle suddenly spotted its victim, and in a billowing stream of blue light it turned. The chariot bounced, its wheels turning frantically as it screeched towards the priest. The ghost hooves pounded against the stone floor.
The priest looked up, wind whipping by his head, and saw the great blue chariot of Anubis coming for him. It roared towards him, to steal his powers and immortality.
It was coming to make him human again.
And Imhotep closed his eyes, not sure if he wanted to laugh or cry, ready to break into hysterical laughter or the fiercest weeping. The bitter irony of his life flooded him. The Gods had indeed given him power. But his rule was over. The Gods were reclaiming the earth. They had taken back the Scepter and the Bracelet and the Book of the Dead. The tides of the world were changing. The time of the ancients was truly over.
And he must go with it.
And then the shimmering chariot rushed through him and he felt himself screaming, although he did not know if he made any sound. His immortal soul was clawing at his body, desperate to stay with its mortal vessel. Imhotep gasped in pain as it tore within him, as his soul cleaved in two. He would not let it go, he would never surrender his powers, he would defy the will of the Gods...his soul clutched madly to him, afraid, unwilling, defiant...but no.
With a final tear, he felt it separate, felt his immortality and power slide out of his body. Emptiness consumed him. He gasped as though he had been stripped entirely naked. His powers were gone, and weakness laced tightly around his heart. He took a ragged breath, suddenly utterly exhausted.
Imhotep turned, his eyes opened wide, watching the gleaming horses ride away. And in the back of the chariot, desperately reaching out for its body, was Imhotep's immortal soul.
And then his humanity rushed back into him, so fierce he felt he might weep. The feelings, the old emotions–the hate, the love, the hope, the fear–they surged through him so powerfully Imhotep gasped, clawing at his chest. His mouth open in the pain of change, Imhotep realized what had happened.
He had traded the human half of his cursed soul to Anubis for his army. But Anubis had failed him, and his dark army of jackals had been defeated. In repayment, the humanity he had sacrificed was returned to him. Imhotep's hands rose to his chest, as though to feel his heart through his skin. He was still a cursed, dark being. But he was not evil.
His eyes misted in wonder. Ah, how precious humanity was! He blinked back a tear as the old feelings seeped back into his body. He had missed them–the compassion, the understanding, the love and admiration even for his enemies. He had not wanted to be evil. He had traded his soul to protect Anck-su-namun, and to find peace.
For a moment joy surged through him. He was no longer the chosen one of Anubis. He was no longer fully evil. There was a chance, for him, there was hope...
But even as those thoughts raced through his mind he knew that it was too late. He knew, without a doubt, that his time was over. It was time for him to die.
He turned away from the departing chariot, and saw all. Saw O'Connell and the little boy holding each other in love. Saw the Med Jai chieftain standing and watching him, his face without understanding or pity.
And saw Nefertiri lay down the golden book. She stood, turned, and faced him. They stared at each other.
This, indeed, was the end.
***
Imhotep felt his knees weakening, his body slackening in defeat. He no longer even had the will to fight. He had fought for his rule when he believed that it was right, but he was no fool. Even the Gods had turned against him, and he would not dispute their will.
The Princess walked forward, stopping and picking up a sword lying on the ground. The blade scraped loudly against the marble, and as she raised it into the air the golden sword gleamed in the light. Armed, Nefertiri walked straight towards him. Her face was blank and expressionless. Imhotep watched, motionless, as she neared him. She came to a stop right before him.
Slowly she raised the gleaming blade until it was pointing at his chest, the sharp edge mere inches from his mortal skin. Their eyes were level, and as Imhotep looked into her brown depths he saw compassion, and regret...and a will of iron. She looked regal, powerful–every inch a Queen.
And Imhotep kneeled before her.
"Do not send me back to that hell," he whispered, his eyes wet and desperate. He would leave the world willingly, but he did not know if he could bear returning to his eternal suffering. His eyes begged her for mercy.
Rick struggled to his feet, placing Alex down gently on the marble floor.
"I would not condemn you," Evy whispered, her voice wavering. "This world is not your world." Her eyes shone in the dim light.
Rick and Ardeth moved quietly towards Evy to stand behind her, making sure she did not fall. Pierre and Jonathan stood near the grand doorway, leaning heavily on each other. Jonathan swallowed a lump in his throat as he watched her, his little sister, the woman he loved most in the world. She was so brave.
Evy lowered the sword, pointing it towards his broad chest. The tip of the blade glinted, almost touching Imhotep's bronzed flesh. "I do not curse you, High Priest of Osiris." Her voice, loud and clear, rang through the chamber.
"Mum–" Alex began, frightened, but closed his mouth abruptly. Adil stepped forward and placed his hand on Alex's shoulder to comfort him.
But Evy did not notice. She only had eyes for Imhotep. Her gaze trained on him, she offered him her final goodbye. "Imhotep, I send you back to your Gods." She faltered slightly, her knees weakening, and Rick took another step forward so that he was just behind her. But she stood strong.
"You have suffered and you have sinned. But the Gods are merciful. I send you back to them, and I pray that one day you find your peace."
And she plunged the curved sword downward.
***
The sword sliced cleanly through his skin and into his chest, disappearing into the bone and sinew and muscle of his mortal body.
Pain shot through him. His eyes gaped wide, his mouth opened slightly in pain. He was dying. Imhotep looked up into Nefertiri's eyes as he fell backwards onto the stone floor, at the foot of his own throne. The floor was cold beneath his back. But suddenly the physical pain faded. His mind was quiet. His own ragged breath echoed.
Imhotep was beyond pain.
His vision blurred and he knew he did not have long. He wondered fiercely where he would be going, where his final destination would be. Would it be back to the eternal suffering and damnation? Or would it be to another place, where he could find Anck-su-namun again? Or, perhaps, had the Gods heard Nefertiri's plea, and removed the unholiness from his soul?
He gasped for breath, his hand pressed tightly against the sticky blood that gushed from his stomach. He could feel it pooling on the floor beside him. The blood felt warm, foreign, and yet, oddly comforting. He was dying as a man, as the man he had been. He was human again, even if it was only for a few short moments.
His head spun and Imhotep closed his eyes. What was it about dying that made him feel at peace? He no longer felt anger, or fear, or hate. It was as though he had finally been removed from the world, and so from all his earthly ambitions. In this state of death the dark, cursed part of his soul receded. He could leave the earth as the same man he had been when he entered it. He took a ragged breath, but inside he was calm. He was ready.
He fluttered his eyes open again, but the light seemed harsher, colder. The colors seemed strange, foreign to him, and he blinked again, trying to regain his vision. But his view shifted and blurred and he knew that he would never see again. This was the world's way of saying goodbye.
His thoughts drifted to Nefertiri, who herself had swung the blade that was ending his life. But he did not hate her. He did not even regret it. Anck-su-namun was dead. The only place that could possibly give him any happiness was in the afterlife, in the arms of the Gods. For what was power, what was a crown, if he must possess it alone?
He felt blood slowly filling his lungs and he felt his physical body jerk and struggle to breathe. He gasped for air and felt himself cough, once, feebly.
His eyes fluttered shut, and his eyelids felt heavy, so heavy, he felt he could not work up enough energy to lift them. Muffled sounds filled his ears, but he knew not who spoke, or what they said.
A sudden memory slid through him, as vivid as it had been three millennia ago. A dark corridor in Seti's palace, a shadowy space hidden behind a column. Anck-su-namun's warm body pressed up against the stone wall, her dark, bewitching eyes staring back at him. He had cupped her beautiful face and sworn his love to her, their two coppery bodies pressed together, concealed in the shadows. They had been so young then, so in love, so heedless of anything but their passion. He had never stopped loving her, not for a second, not for a moment. She had been his life. He had lived for her.
Imhotep sighed, feeling his body slacken, his limbs relaxing. For a moment, he felt he could be floating. All he had ever wanted was to live in peace with Anck-su-namun. He had sacrificed everything he ever had for her, had tried every way he knew of giving her happiness. But now, his failure was not so bitter. He accepted it as his fate. The Gods had used him to suit their own purposes, and he had done their will: he had fulfilled his duty to them. A glimmer of hope surged through him. Perhaps now, in his death, he would be given what he had sought for three thousand years.
As the life left him he knew he was beginning a new journey, but to where he did not know. His eyes flickered open, but all he could see were shadows.
To the darkness, or maybe the light.
And Imhotep closed his eyes on the world, for the final time, and died.
***
Evy watched as Imhotep's body slumped before her, the sword from her hand imbedded deep in his body. For a long moment she stood, still, looking at Imhotep's dead body. It was all over. She swallowed, disbelieving. She took a small step backwards. It was all over.
She turned, and suddenly Rick's arms were wrapped around her. She nearly collapsed with relief as he enfolded her. "Oh, Rick–" and they were pressed together, holding each other, remembering the curve and feel of each others bodies. Evy felt herself sobbing, her tears dampening Rick's shirt, but they held each other close, reunited at last.
She loved this man so much. She breathed in his scent, amazed that he still smelled the same. She had forgotten nothing. She clutched him tighter, feeling his floppy hair, his muscular neck, reacquainting herself with his body, with all of the little things about him that she had so desperately missed. "Love you," she got out.
"Always," he whispered back, his arms wrapped so tightly around her Evy had to struggle to breathe. But she was not complaining.
"Dad!" Alex shouted, running across the throne room. He threw himself into the arms of his parents, and the three sunk to the floor, holding each other and crying and laughing.
And for a moment, fate paused, allowing the O'Connells their moment of reunion.
***
But not for long. Tension filled the air and Evy knew that the Gods were not yet finished. She raised her tear stained cheeks to look around, just as a great wind suddenly rushed by, filled the grand room. It blew around them, whipping frantically about their heads.
With a sudden jerk the entire palace started shaking. The floor trembled beneath them and Jonathan fell, almost pulling Pierre with him. Rick and Evy clung to each other and Alex, watching in terror as the entire golden palace began quaking beneath them.
"Whoa, time to go!" Rick yelled, grabbing Evy with one hand and Alex with the other. The three began sprinting towards the far doorway, where Pierre was quickly helping Jonathan to his feet.
As they turned to run, Evy looked down on the floor where the Book of the Living still lay, gleaming in the candlelight. It still shone with its sinister beauty, the malevolent gleam of its gold cover. Evy released Alex's hand to take a staggering step towards where it lay, reaching for it, pristine even as the very heavens were falling down upon it...
But no. It was the end of an age. The Book of the Dead, the Scepter, and the Bracelet were all gone from the world forever. The Gods had taken them back when they had no further use in the world. The last of the Ancient relics, the Book of the Living and the Key, must go with them. Their time was over.
Evy let her gaze sweep over the book one last time. Ah, there was a day when she would have moved mountains to find it and possess it, to pour over every word and devour all she could from it. But those days were over. The book was not hers to possess.
She had learned.
She drank in the gold, the winged scarab, the immense knowledge and power that seeped from it one final time. Then she turned her back on it.
"Let's go!" she shouted, grabbing Alex's hand.
And as she started to run, she felt the power of the book release her. It was as though a giant burden had been removed from her shoulders. The ancient book was content to leave the world–and it was letting her go.
***
"Come on, come on!" Jonathan urged from the massive gold doorway, waving his arms as his family sprinted across the shaking chamber. Ardeth and Adil were close behind them, all hurrying and stumbling and desperately trying to stay on their feet.
As they reached the grand entryway, Rick skidded to a stop. "Anjelica!"
Ardeth and Adil nearly bumped into Rick and Evy from behind as the entire group collided by the trembling doors. The ceiling had begun to crumble and dust and debris had begun to fall. A slab of marble suddenly loosed from the ceiling and crashed to the floor, splintering into a thousand pieces.
Rick's arm was wrapped around Evy's shoulder and his other hand was on Alex's blond head. Turning, Rick met Ardeth's eyes in simultaneous recognition and panic. Both swung around, searching for Anjelica's still form. Was she alive? And if she was, was there time to save her?
At the group's hesitation Jonathan squeaked, still leaning heavily on Pierre. "Let's go!"
"Jonathan, go!" Evy ordered, pushing Alex into his uncle's arms.
His mouth opening to protest, Jonathan saw in her gaze a look that refused defiance. He gulped and nodded, grasping Alex's cotton shirt. "Let's go, old chum," he murmured.
Alex looked up into his mother's face, and at her nod of reassurance, turned back to Jonathan. Turning, Jonathan and Pierre and Alex sprinted down the marble hallway, toward the outside, and safety.
Meanwhile Rick had released Evy and moved back into the room, Ardeth at his side. "I can't leave her," Rick muttered, blinking through the dust filled air. On the left a column cracked and leaned. Above it the ceiling buckled.
"Be careful!" Evy cried as Rick and Ardeth began making their way to the side wall, searching for Anjelica's unconscious body. Adil moved to her side, one hand resting protectively on her arm. If anything happened to Ardeth or Rick, Adil knew that he would be responsible for helping Evy.
Evy gasped in fear as two of the men she loved most in the world disappeared into the haze of dust. She could hear marble crashing to the floor but could not see what was happening. The massive chamber continued to shake around them, and Evy clutched one hand to the door frame, simply trying not to fall.
She could do nothing but wait.
***
The air was so thick with dirt and debris Rick could hardly see. He could sense Ardeth beside him but he could barely see his own hands in front of his face. They made their way across the room, feeling, desperately hoping that they found the place where Anjelica had fallen.
Coughing, his eyes raw and burning, Rick bumped into the wall. He could still sense Ardeth near him, but he realized that there was no way he could find Anjelica in this dust cloud. He attempted to turn around, but suddenly realized that he did not know if he could find his way out. "Ardeth, old buddy!" he shouted, but his friend barely heard his call in the wind.
He turned again, trying desperately to get back his sense of direction, but his heart plummeted. He dizzied and reached out blindly. He was lost.
"Evy!" he screamed, putting every ounce of power into his yell. "Go!"
He was afraid his cry had been carried off by the wind, but he heard her response. "Rick, no!"
Through the fog her voice seemed to be coming at him from a thousand directions. He stumbled, his knee connecting painfully with a broken slab of metal. "Evy, get out of here!"
***
Evy hesitated, taking in the scene before her. The very ceiling and walls had begun themselves dissolving into sand. Debris flew through the air and Evy realized that, very shortly, Imhotep's palace would cease to exist.
"Go!" she ordered Adil, pushing him towards the hallway to safety.
"I won't leave you!" he called back, grasping her arm with his huge hand.
Evy turned fiercely back to the dust cloud. She couldn't, wouldn't leave Rick. It was unthinkable. But from somewhere a memory returned to her, a memory of a time she had lain dying on the sands of Ahm Shere. She had known she was leaving the world, and so the only thing she had demanded of Rick was that he take care of Alex.
If she didn't leave now Alex would be parentless. It was her own command. Her heart sinking, Evy knew she had to follow it.
The floor cracked and split beneath her feet and Evy fell, pulling Adil with her. Rumbling furiously the marble buckled beneath them. In a matter of minutes this entire room would be gone. On her knees, Evy shouted into the wind. "I love you!"
There was no response. Grasping Adil's dark robe Evy struggled to her feet. She gritted her teeth, making the hardest decision she had ever had to make in her life. "Let's go," she muttered, pulling the Med Jai toward safety.
As she ran, desperate tears welled in her eyes.
***
Evy and Adil's feet pounded on the cracking marble as they ran to safety. As they cleared the palace gates Evy could see Jonathan and her son standing further out on a dune. As they sprinted across the desert, Evy looked over her shoulder in wonder.
The entire palace complex: the golden palace itself, the slaves quarters, the temple of Osiris, the guest palace, and the baths all began to dissolve. The marbled buildings, made of stone and metal, began to turn into sand.
Breathing heavily Evy and Adil reached Jonathan, Pierre, and Alex. The five stood, bent and exhausted, watching in awe as the Gods themselves removed Imhotep's power from the world.
It was an awesome sight. The palace slowly dissolved, being sucked in by desert. Evy squinted as the huge dust cloud rose into the air, covering the remainder of the buildings. The huge fog swirled, full of dust and debris, billowing outwards. Evy squinted, desperate to see what was happening. She watched as a great hole seemed to open in the earth, as the desert cleaved in two, swallowing Imhotep's beautiful palace.
And so the great buildings, the symbols of Imhotep's power and his place as Pharaoh of the word, were sucked into the earth. Gulping, the desert shook, then slowly closed up again. Sand was spit up into the air as the ground contracted. Still the great dust cloud billowed in the air, expanding until Evy could see nothing of what remained.
The earth quaked beneath them, struggling to accept the huge offering it had just swallowed. And the desert closed back together, once again sealing off the gateway to hell.
And so, as they all fulfilled their destinies, the last traces of Imhotep's rule were erased from the earth.
***
Yowza! A lot went down in this chapter. Anyway, one more chap to go, #35, coming very soon. Yay to Eviefan for being my 300th reviewer! I'm going to be sorry when this story is over–I've had such a blast writing it. Thanks to all for reviewing!
Lula: Lol, it is taking quite a while for you to get through the chaps! No worries, I love getting reviews anytime. Thanks for still going through it :-)
Aulizia: Yay, you liked the same parts I did, too. Yeah, writing Dalil's pain was intense...but I felt like I couldn't abandon that battle, it needed to be completed...and large numbers of people almost always need to die in order to defeat a tyrant and really create change...I felt like I had to put that in. And did you really think I would hurt my Jonny?! Well, hurt, yes, but kill?! Girl, I thought you knew me better than that, lol! Thanks my friend!
Nickie: Yep, poor Immy...that is kind of my motto. Glad you like the story and thanks for the review :-)
Deana: Lol, guess I had an effect on you! Yep, it was kind of a vicious cliffhanger...well, can't say I'm too sorry! Mwahahaha! ;-) Thanks for reviewing!
Silverfox: Yup, Alex will live. You get to watch movies like TMR in phys ed? That's amazing. We had to watch scary health videos on the horrible, debilitating repercussions of things like unprotected sex and pot smoking. Lucky you! Anyway, thanks for the review ;-)
Jessie C.: I'm feeling especially evil, I can't help it, I like giving my readers cliffhangers. Ah, the joys of writing. Thanks for reading and reviewing :-)
Towmondler: Those are both excellent quotes. What about this little exchange: Billy: I swear I'm sick! I can't go to school. Juanita: If you're gonna stay home today, you can help me shave my armpits! Billy: Oh my God! I'll go to school! Ahh, what a classic. Thanks for the kind words.
Ruse: Yeah, I felt the touches of finality were important...they've all been through way too much for there to be a sequel to this story, lol. But I also feel like it heightens the tension to know that whatever happens...there is no going back. This is it, the results of this battle are final. *shiver* Thanks for the compliments and the encouragement!
Eviefan: Yay #300! Thanks for the review my friend. I absolutely agree with you, Rick is a softy where Alex is concerned. What a dad! Glad you like my heroic Jonathan ;-)
Sk8ergirl: Wow, thank you! Yeah, I don't expect to convert anyone, but I just want to make Immy and Anck more understandable...because life is a lot more complex than people being simply good or evil...everything has its shades of gray. Anyway, glad to see a new face and thanks for reviewing :-)
MBooker: I'm glad I appeased you ;-) And I'm glad the part with Jonathan made you laugh. By the way, is P2P finished? I don't remember you posting a final chapter...anyway, thanks!
Anya: Thanks for reviewing. Yeah, I thought about making the battle a bit longer, but I thought it was time for this to wind down. Glad you liked.
Soph: Thankie...yep, Jon usually does just get in the way! I like writing him as contributing, even if its only by getting the key to Evy when she needs it. Thanks for dropping me a line :-)
Mommints: Always reading at work, eh? So glad you liked the part with Dalil. Thanks my friend! And battle that writer's block! I have faith...and am looking forward to when you post more ;-)
Sabie: Thanks! Don't worry about it, reviews are good anytime. Glad you got to chapter 33. And yep, like I said to Eviefan, I think Rick is a big softy at heart :-)
Mija: But cliffhangers are my specialty! Lol. Thanks for the review ;-)
