After The End, by lyradaemon

Chapter 9: Facing The Truth

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

I HAVE SLIGHTLY ALTERED THIS (THANKS TO SUGGESTIONS BY INUCHAN FAN!)SO READ IT AGAIN!

A/N: Very sorry I haven't updated sooner. This next chapter is for everyone who's reading it, and especially for those of you who have taken to trouble to review it: inuchan fan, kesterel2106, qtpie1117, avidreader101, willow1484, KLMeri and GreenWarrior; and to Leah Day and YukuYuyGal, who are on my alert list. Keep reading and reviewing!

Jaenelle stood at the window, staring unseeing outside. She didn't notice the snow – quite surprising, since it was at least the middle of spring – and she didn't notice the knock at her door. She was lost in her thoughts and sorrows, wondering what would happen to Daemon, and how she would cope if he went…

The knocking continued, however, with renewed fervour. Still she ignored it. She didn't want anyone's company now; all she wanted was Daemon, and his deep voice, his rich laugh, his gentle hands, his warm mouth. She wanted him, and she couldn't have him. It was tearing her apart.

"Can I come in witch-child?" Saetan's voice said from the door. Jaenelle didn't reply. Saetan took it for a yes. "Jaenelle, sweetheart, you can't carry on like this."

"Like what?" She managed finally, her voice barely above a whisper. She'd hardly spoken to anyone in days, and her voice had become hoarse from crying so much.

"You're tearing yourself apart," Saetan said. "You lock yourself away; you try to block out what's happening. But because you're alone, all you can think about is Daemon. It's making you totally miserable."

"I know I'm making myself miserable – and that makes you unhappy. I'm sorry Papa, but I'm trying to help Daemon," she whispered.

"How?"

"I've thought through every possible thing I could do to save him. I've tried everything I know to help him. I've spoken to Lorn to ask him what I should do," she began, sounding tired.

"And?"

"He said he can't interfere with humans' business," Jaenelle explained, a frown on her forehead. "He said it's up to me to find the answer. But I've tried absolutely everything, and nothing seems to help at all." Her voice wobbled again. "I feel so useless; I'm the most powerful person who has ever lived, and I can't do anything to help the one I love. Can you understand that?"

Saetan didn't even try to answer. Instead, he crossed the space between them and wrapped her in his arms, trying to block out all her hurt. He did know how she felt; living with Jaenelle for so long meant that he'd had to endure all those times when she'd used so much power that she almost killed herself. Not to mention the last time – the only time – she unleashed her full Ebony strength. He'd had to go through all that suffering then. He knew how she felt.

When he felt the sobs subside slightly, he decided to venture what he'd come here to discuss. "Darling, there is something you can do."

Jaenelle's head snapped up at that. Her mesmerising sapphire eyes bore into his. He had her full attention. "What do you mean?"

Saetan quailed slightly under her stare; she didn't understand that the only person who didn't find her gaze anything other than terrifying was Daemon. Still, he had to do this; it was his son's only hope. "You know you could just use your strength to destroy what's binding Daemon in the abyss."

"You don't know what you're saying," Jaenelle whispered, trying to pull away.

Saetan held her tightly. "I do know. You could blast open his barriers and protect his mind at the same time, so you don't destroy him. You're the only one who could do it."

"You don't know what you're saying!" She said again, panic in her voice. Of all the possible reactions, Saetan wasn't expecting this. "You know what that would mean!"

"What would it mean Jaenelle?" Saetan asked mildly, pushing her to admit to what he knew she didn't want to.

She swallowed hard. "I'll have to drop the mask," she said, shaking.

"What mask?" Saetan said, puzzled. He wasn't following.

"The one which hides who I am."

"Dreams Made Flesh? But you've changed…"

"No, not really. I've changed from who I was – from the Queen of Ebon Askavi who wore Ebony. I've changed. I dreamed too, after what happened…you know." She still wouldn't speak of it. He'd have to change that. "I'm not the person I was dreamed to be. I'm not Witch now." Now.

"But you are Witch, Jaenelle. It's your nature, who you are."

"Witch always wore the Black. I don't."
"Anymore."

"Anymore."

Jaenelle looked at her adoptive father. All her life, ever since she could remember, she had been different. She was Witch, but no one knew; they just thought she was strange. They didn't accept her, so she refused to accept herself too. She had grown to be afraid of who she was, until she met Saetan. He had opened her eyes to the person she truly was, and had taught her not to be afraid of what she could do.

In time, she had accepted what he had told her. But she was always wary of her power, unsure of what to do with it. And then she had made the Offering to the Darkness, and had descended to her true power, to Ebony. That had taken some getting used to.

Jaenelle had never wanted that unlimited, vast strength and power at her disposal. She had tried to deny it, but Saetan and Lucivar had insisted that she needed to just accept it and get on with it.

Daemon had been the only one who understood her; a bit anyway. He knew she feared what she was, but he lived with it; he loved her and protected her, and she had thrived under his gently handling. She knew that Daemon loved her because she was Witch, so she gradually became used to it.

Still, the fear and uncertainty never quite left her. Then when she'd had to unleash her strength to save all of them, almost killing herself in the process, she turned into herself and began to dream. Began to create a new strand to the web, a strand which made her ordinary. She was still Witch – it was her nature, who she was, and she couldn't change that – ,she was still Dreams Made Flesh, but not the one she was meant to be. She was wearing a mask to hide her true self.

She knew it, as did Saetan, Lucivar and Daemon. The rest of the First Circle tried to understand, but, as much as she loved them, Jaenelle knew that they never truly would. They had simply accepted this new dimension to her, and got on with it.

She was changed though, and she knew that the change, however much she wanted it to be, was not permanent. Her Dream had confirmed that. She was not meant to wear Twilight's Dawn; it was not meant for Witch, for her. She was meant to wear Birthright Black, Ebony. Not this new, strange Jewel.

The truth of it hit her.

"I have to wear my Black again. My Ebony," she said finally, dejectedly.

"Yes."

Jaenelle pulled away from him, and this time Saetan let her go. She needed her space.

"So, do you know what you're going to do, Witch-child?" He asked her gently.

"Not really. All I know is I have to go to where my Web is and undo the strand I dreamed. I have to make myself Witch again." She sounded exhausted, and sad, but still oddly determined.

Saetan knew the Web she meant. It was the one the Arachnian Queens had been quietly spinning over millennia, the one which was Dreams Made Flesh. It was beautiful to see, but absolutely terrifying. He didn't envy her.

"When are you going then?"

"Tomorrow," Jaenelle said firmly, wiping away the tears from her cheeks. "The sooner I get there, the sooner I get my powers back. And the sooner I can have Daemon again."

Saetan looked at his daughter, the daughter of his soul, with fierce pride. She looked so small, so lost, that he couldn't believe she could do what she was about to. But he knew that Jaenelle was the only one who could do it.

"Do you think we can save Daemon now, Papa?" She asked timidly.

Saetan smiled, "I hope so." I hope so.

A/N: There we are. Hope you like it; please review as always, I really appreciate it! Love, lyradaemon x