After The End, by lyradaemon

Chapter 11: I Do What I Have To Do

Disclaimer: Same as always

Saetan felt Jaenelle before he saw her. That new yet so deliciously familiar dark psychic scent washed over him, rousing the Warlord Prince in him. He hadn't realised how much he missed it.

It wasn't long before the door burst open and Jaenelle practically fell into the room. She threw herself into her beloved Papa's arms and hugged him tight, relishing the contact.

"You're back, I take it," Saetan remarked with a smile.

"Uh huh," Jaenelle wordlessly replied.

"And I take it you got your power back," he continued gently, raising the issue as soon as possible.

Jaenelle lifted her head. "I did."

Saetan remained silent.

"The Arachnian Queen made me see that I am who I was made to be, and that nothing can change it," she explained. "I wanted so badly to help Daemon, and she knew that, but she also knew that I couldn't do it without my true strength. So here I am."

"Here you are indeed," Saetan replied. "Welcome back, Witch-child," he said, kissing her softly.

"Thank you Papa," she said, with a slight smile – one of the first he'd seen in a long time. "For everything. I'm sorry I made you all so miserable, it was just all so hard… but now I have a way to save Daemon. I'll be better, I promise."

"You don't need to promise anything, Jaenelle. Just having you back is thanks enough."

They stood holding each other a while longer. Finally Jaenelle sighed.

"I should go and see Daemon now. I can't afford to leave him any longer."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to protect his mind, then blast open his inner shields. It's the only way to break the grip he has on his body; he's trapped in the abyss, so I have to get him out."

"So you'll be using your Jewels."

"Of course." Jaenelle gave him a puzzled look.

"What about the baby?"
Jaenelle started, then looked away. "There's nothing I can do."

"You're going to use your Jewels, knowing the effects it could have on your child." It wasn't a question. Besides, Saetan already knew the answer.

"I have no other choice. I want to have this baby so much, but Daemon is my first priority. He almost sacrificed his life so that I could live; I'm not going to sacrifice it again."

"Is that what Daemon would want?"

"Of course not," she whispered, still not looking at him. "Our baby has always been important to him. But I don't care what he wants this time. I love him and I want him back. I won't give up on him."

"I understand," Saetan said gently.

"Am I a bad person Papa?" She asked, suddenly sounding lost and vulnerable.

"Of course you're not. I know how much you want your baby; everyone does. But I also know how much Daemon means to you. I am not going to judge you on the choice you make, and nor will anyone else, I promise."

"Thank you," she said simply.

"I'll always be here for you, Lady."

"I know."

Jaenelle gave him a swift kiss on the cheek and fled.

----------------------------------------------------

Jaenelle opened the door slowly and peered into the room. It was still dark. Walking into the room she closed the door softly behind her, then made her way to the bed.

Daemon lay there, looking as peaceful as he always did when he slept. Except this time he wasn't thinking. Jaenelle thought it was ironic, considering the battle taking place in his body even as she stood there. But it wouldn't be a battle any longer.

She carefully placed a hand on his cool cheek, feeling the smoothness, then gently traced a line to his lips. How many times had those lips comforted her, helped her banish her fears? She didn't know.

Reluctantly pulling her hand away she took a deep breath. It was finally time to do what she had to do. She wouldn't regret it. She wouldn't.

Quick as lightning, Jaenelle descended into the abyss, feeling the increasingly persistent sharp pain as her body tried to resist it; her pregnancy had reached the stage where any psychic behaviour hurt. This was just the beginning; she knew there was more to come.

She rushed past the familiar coloured Webs until she reached the level of the Black. There, right at the bottom, lay Daemon, beautiful in repose. She smiled to herself. Soon, she would have him back.

Jaenelle slowly reached out until she brushed Daemon's mind. She pulled back instinctively, recoiling at this intrusion. But Daemon had always let his mind be open to her; that openness even extended to their lovemaking sometimes, a feeling which Jaenelle could never forget…

Shaking her head to clear the delicious thoughts, she reached out again, this time slipping a tight psychic net around his inner core. She didn't want to hurt him any more than she could help. Next she took a thin, psychic thread and tied it securely to the net she had placed. Then she attached it to the Black Web itself. If Daemon awoke in a hurry, she didn't want him to panic and dive into the abyss. With the thread attaching him to the Web, it would mean that he would have time to gather his bearings before ascending from the abyss.

Finally Jaenelle was ready. All that was left was a brief unleashing of her power, and then Daemon would be free. In theory. Mother Night, I hope this works.

Steeling herself with a few steadying breaths, Jaenelle paused. Then she withdrew into herself, sinking to find that terrifyingly familiar reservoir of dark strength. Her Ebony. She drew a small amount out; she would kill herself if she unwittingly hurt Daemon.

Quickly Jaenelle soared upwards and slammed all that power into the shield trapping Daemon's mind. With a flash so bright it hurt her eyes, the shield shattered, breaking into thousands of tiny fragments. Jaenelle screamed as the power back lashed into her; then the pain from using her Jewels hit her.

Darkness settled in around her as her screams echoed inside her head.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Saetan felt the sudden flash of Ebony power before it was just as quickly absorbed. Moments later his study door burst open and Lucivar and Surreal hurled themselves into the room.

"Did you feel that?" Lucivar gasped.

"You could hardly miss it," Surreal snapped.

"Don't start getting pissy on me, Surreal-"

Saetan held up a hand. "Not now children. This is important."

Two pairs of eyes glared at him.

"Jaenelle just unleashed her power?"

"Yes."

"To save Daemon?"

"Yes."

"Did it work?"

Saetan looked at the two of them, both eager to hear that Daemon was finally, finally, alright. "I don't know," he admitted.

"Well when will we know?" Lucivar snapped crossly.

"Calm down, Lucivar, before you hurt yourself," Saetan said calmly. "They're both still down in the abyss; they'll come out soon, then-"

Suddenly the door burst open again: "Saetan – it's Jaenelle-"

Saetan leapt to his feet. "What's wrong Karla?"

"I think she got hit slightly by the backlash; she wasn't expecting it. She's in a lot of pain."

"Where's Gabrielle?" He demanded.

"She's with her right now. It's not too serious; well, not as serious as it could have been, but we'll need to look after her for a few days," Karla explained, still slightly breathless.

"Can I-"

"No. I don't want anyone going near her. Not until she's finished healing."

"But…"

"It won't take long Saetan, so stop worrying."

Saetan just glowered.

"How's Daemon?" Lucivar asked from behind him. There was a note of anxiety in his voice.

Karla turned to him, a slight smile on her face. "He's fine."

"How long until he's up and about?" Surreal asked.

"It will take him a while to recover completely. A week, maybe more. You can see him in a few days time, if you like." Karla cleared her voice, suddenly sounding business like again. "Now. I don't want anyone disturbing either Jaenelle or Daemon until I say so. No sudden bursts of your Jewels, no shouting and getting pissy, and certainly no wild mood changes. Any uncomfortable feelings will agitate them. And then I'll be the one getting pissy. Understand?" She glared at the three of them. And received three meek nods in return. "Good. I'll give you an update when Gabrielle and I have a better idea of what's going on." With that, she left.

"So. Do you reckon things will be the same?" Lucivar asked his father as the door closed behind Karla.

"How do you mean?"

"Well, do you reckon Daemon and Jaenelle will be the same? I mean, she has just got her power back, and Daemon doesn't know. Could there be any awkwardness between them do you think?"

"Undoubtedly. Jaenelle will be worried that Daemon won't love her now that she's changed again. And Daemon will be convinced that she won't love him since he was the reason she got her power back in the first place. It's inevitable."

"And?"

"It will last about two seconds before they realise that they do really love each other, and everything will be alright again," Saetan said with a grin.

Lucivar could only laugh.

A/N: Possibly the penultimate chapter. I'm not totally happy with it, but until I get suggestions, I suppose it will have to do!