Introduction to this part of the story:

Brief reminder: Sarah Strange and Kierlan Harman, soulmates, have already fled through the portal into the Soulmate Realm. The other 3 Wild Powers have followed: Jez and Delos have their soulmates. But Iliana is alone and stuck in the dilemma: only soulmates are allowed into the Soulmate Realm: so how can she enter the Realm without being driven insane?

Four less one and Darkness Triumphs...

Tessadragon

Face the Apocalypse: Part 1

"Harman!" Delos yelled, no pleasantness in his tone as he strode out from the portal, barely pausing to admire thepale landscape of the Soulmate Realm.

"Took your time," Kierlan said languorously, lying on his back, arms comfortable behind his head. "We've been here for ages."

"This isn't a good time for a nap," Delos pointed out curtly, his profile sharp as a hawk in this mist-breathing realm. His hand was still protectively around Maggie's waist, the girl took it good-naturedly.

"What bee stung you?" Sarah commented sarcastically, her eyes seeming deep green, warped by the violet-blue mist. "We're tired. It's not often that my boyfriend's mother tries to kill us."

Kierlan smiled, pleased by how Sarah had called him her boyfriend. It was a small, trivial thing-- but his nervous mind needed it.

"And who are you, anyway?" Sarah asked coolly, misty green eyes aloof.

"I am Maggie's Soulmate," Delos replied coldly, his arm drawing Maggie closer. "As your Soulmate knew, when he tried to flirt with her."

"We don't have time--" Maggie tried to interrupt, jerking at Delos's hand: she was beginning to look annoyed.

"Oh, Kierlan!" Sarah turned to the male witch, appalled. "You didn't, did you?"

Sheepishly, wishing he could deny it, Kierlan nodded. "It was nothing serious," he assured Sarah.

"Forget it, please," Maggie snapped and turned to Sarah. "Sarah, right? I need your Soulmate Star. Blade told me about it. I need it. Right now!"

Startled, Sarah was already reaching into her pocket. Kierlan watched her, appalled. "You kept a gift from Blade? Ex-boyfriend vampire, Blade?"

"Yes," Sarah muttered and possessed aguilty gladness in handing the pretty necklace to Maggie. "Why do you need it?"

Maggie didn't answer. She spun on her heel, grabbed Delos's hand again and disappeared back through the portal entrance way again.

"Hmm," Kierlan said, scowling slightly.

"Got it," Maggie said breathlessly, reappearing in the dark room where Iliana waited nervously.

"And here's a Black Rose," Delos coolly took his ring off: it was engraved with a black rose, icon of vampires.

"Black nightshade," Kelly offered a pendant from around his neck and told them not to ask how he'd got it, or why he wore it. Brooke smiled at that.

"I've got a black dahlia," Iliana showed them an engraved necklace, took it off and held it in her hand, along with the other tokens.

"And a Soulmate Star," Blade said meaningfully. "Symbol of humans. Dredged up from a history book, only found and decoded six months ago."

"Beautiful," Brooke murmured, appreciatively eyeing it. "Almost makes me wish to be human."

"Ha," Kelly said shortly.

"Gotta go," Iliana said nervously.

"Good luck," Susie whispered as Iliana finally, gripping her friends' hands tightly, her face white with actual fear, disappeared into the Soulmate realm.

A clatter rang through the room as the four icons of the Nightworld fell to the floor.

"It didn't work!" Susie whispered, distressed, crouching and snatching the icy cold jewels.

"Oh goddess," Blade said softly, shaking his head. "I don't know what's worse!"

A shudder ran through the cavern.

"Why did you say that!" Susie gasped, nearly slapped the vampire: "You've just cursed us with bad luck!"

And he got the feeling she was right.

The rumbling grew worse.

The walls shifted and blue light exploded from the portal: shape flooded out of it.

Keller was screaming, Blade threw himself out to catch her, cushioning the force of her fall with his own body. Galen was curled up tight.

"It…" Keller gasped, her body rigid with shock, her lungs squeezing in terror, "it threw us out… Iliana!" She looked around the room, distraught like the young witch might appear. "Iliana!" she looked like she might start crying. "Where's Iliana?"

Galen squeezed her hand, his own face bone white, a spot of blood upon his forehead. Just as distressed, he raised a shaking hand to his eyes.

"Wait a second," Blade said softly. "Where are the dragons? Where did Keller say the dragons are?"

Keller was too dizzy to look at him. "I can't…I can't remember."

Galen squeezed her hand. "It'll be okay," he said dazedly. "It'll be okay. She'll be okay."

"Where are the dragons?" Susie insisted, panic creeping into her voice. "Please, Keller! You must remember!"

Keller tried to remember, but her eyes were out of focus with the force of the blow.

Was that the sound of heavy footsteps down the corridor, coming closer? Was Anthony or one of the other dragons coming?

"Let's not wait and find out!" Brooke said, alarmed. They left the room at a run.

"Where'd you go?" Sarah asked as Delos and Maggie reappeared in the Soulmate Realm.

"Here's hoping," Maggie murmured, turning to watch as Iliana tentatively stepped into the Soulmate realm, her hand clenched. Her face was white.

"I think I'm sane," Iliana said shakily, putting her own necklace back around her neck.

Delos had recovered his standoffish ways, eyeing Kierlan disapprovingly. "You're still as irresponsible as I remember you being."

"We went over that, last time," Kierlan reminded him.

"What's past is past," Sarah agreed.

"—And boring," Jez the half-vampire interrupted meaningfully, pointed out to a pinprick of blackness that was thousands of miles away, but speeding nearer every second. "Don't suppose anyone brought a coat, did they?" and she shivered.

It was cold. Delos barely seemed to feel it, or if he did, he didn't show it. Neither did Jez's Soulmate, Morgead. His eyes hard and wary, he gave warmth to his Soulmate selflessly. Delos barely seemed to notice, at least not immediately, that Maggie needed it as well.

"It's like the world's turning to ice," Sarah whispered. "Black ice."

Kierlan watched Morgead and Delos comfort their Soulmates. Then he looked at Iliana and Sarah, stepped in between them as violet fire writhed gently, warmly around his form. Iliana smiled, amazed: her smile was like sunrise but Sarah wasn't jealous because Kierlan's eyes were on her, not Iliana.

"Ready?" Jez murmured, as Delos took out a knife from his belt and ran it down his arm. Blood flooded up and in the darkness, it seemed to glow blue as the fire it would conjure. he offered it to Jez but she grinned grimly, fangs peeking out delicately from her lips. She nipped her own wrist hard and drew her fangs further down her wrist. Iliana offered a silver athame to Kierlan, who reluctantly borrowed it as the Soulmates watched the darkness speeding towards them. He handed the athame back to Iliana.

"Can you imagine what it must have been like?" Maggie murmured, fascinated. "To watch the end of the world before?"

"It would have been like madness," Iliana whispered, the athame hovering over her wrist. Her hand was shaking harder. "Madness, panic and terror."

"You ready, Iliana?" Delos asked curtly, prompting the witch girl. She didn't answer. Her lips slightly parted as though breathless. In the darkness, her skin bore a blue tinge.