Disclaimer: I give up. Refer to the last 30 chaps for the disclaimer. Also, I don't own the song in this chapter... it's Evanescence's, not mine.

Author's Notes: Yay! Chapter thirty one! We're getting close to the end!

Sisters till the End

This is dedicated to Pablo/Cecil because he is such an awesome writer and he has inspired me to go farther. Thank you Pablo/Cecil for your awesome story and your awesome talent!

Chapter Thirty-Two: It's Never Easy

How can you see into my eyes like open doors?

Leading you down into my core,

Where I've become so numb without a soul,

My spirit sleeping somewhere cold,

Until you find it there and lead it back home,

The light died away to reveal a large pedestal that reached up into the heights of the energy around them. It was made of pure white marble with carvings in the Ancient Tongue that neither Nicole nor Alex understood. Blinking, Alex put her arms down, looking for Kat and Scott. "I can't feel them either," Nicole said, as if answering a question Alex had not asked. "They must be up there."

"I guess this is the pedestal Zorya was talking about," Alex said, staring at the thing doubtfully. "But why aren't we up there?"

"Because Kat is using her powers to save Scott."

The words didn't settle well in Alex's mind or stomach. She gave an involuntary shudder and wrapped her arms around herself. "I don't like that. We should all be up there, Nicole. Why aren't we? I find it hard to believe that just because Kat is using her powers that we still can't help. Hell, we're supposed to be up there!"

"Alex, what was supposed to happen hasn't exactly happened. This is probably how things adjusted themselves. As much as I hate to say it, Alex, I think this is Fate."

"Fate." Alex snorted the word. "Fate wouldn't put us down here and them up there."

Wake me up inside,

Wake me up inside,

Call my name and save me from the dark,

Bid my blood to run before I come undone,

Save me from the nothing I've become,

Nicole shrugged helplessly. "If there's something you see that we can do, please tell me. I don't like standing down here either."

With a sigh, Alex admitted that she didn't see another option. She just didn't like seeing Kat risk her life like that. Everything she's done over the years, she's always risking herself for us, for Gaea. Just once I wish it were the other way around. We've been so close to loosing her so many times… God, why can't we be up there?

Now that I know what I'm without,

You can't just leave me,

Breathe into m and make me real,

Bring me to life,

Time seemed to tick by as both women stared up at the column reaching into the sky. They felt helpless and useless, like broken dogs in a shelter, watching their food being taken away by younger pups and unable to do anything about it. Both hated the feeling and yet both could not find a way to do anything else about the situation. Alex lost count of the time and was only brought back to reality by Nicole's shout. "Scott!"

"What?" Alex searched the energy surrounding them. "Is Kat with him?" She looked to where Nicole was pointing. Sure enough, Scott was floating down from the heights of the energy, near the column, in a slow, lazy manner. Both women ran up to him once he landed and supported him, meeting his dull and tired gaze. "Where is she?" Alex demanded. "Where is she?"

"Up there," Scott replied tiredly.

"What? Why? Tell me what's going on!"

With a small gasp Nicole pointed up to the pedestal, her eyes wide with what Alex recognized as fear. Turning, she also looked at the pedestal, her eyes also widening. She's not… Fear, understanding, hope, and anger flooded through Alex. "NO!" She shouted, shoving Scott towards Nicole and running towards the now glowing column. She began to pelt it with every ounce of power she had, desperately trying to get it to stop. No, no, no! It can't happen like this! "Kat!" She cried, firing lightning bolts at the pedestal and not even chipping it. "Kat! Stop! Please! Kat!"

Wake me up inside,

Wake me up inside,

Call my name and save me from the dark,

Bid my blood to rise before I come undone,

Save me from the nothing I've become,

Bring me to life,

She's going to save the world again, she thought. She's taken Scott's power so she can complete the ritual. God, why? Why her? We can do it together! "Kat!" There was no answer and Alex would always remember that. The way she had called out to her best friend and hadn't received an answer with the dread of what was going to happen pooling in her stomach.

She barely noticed Nicole next to her, also firing away at the pedestal, calling out to Kat too. Wrapped up in her own fear she fought desperately to get the column down, to get to Kat, to help her in the ritual. She would not lose her friend. No, everything is supposed to end happily ever after! The Old Script says! Kat!

Frozen inside without your touch without your love,

Darling only you are the life among the dead,

"It won't do any good," Scott's voice penetrated their thoughts like an ice pick. Both women turned to him, their efforts forgotten, and stared at him with awestruck eyes. "What do you mean?" Nicole screamed. "It has too!"

"But it won't. This is something she has to do."

"No, no it's not!" Alex said.

"Look around."

They looked around, shocked to see that they were standing outside the Circle, Scott propped up by his elbows. He looked at them with a pitiful and guilty look-he understood what they felt. This angered Alex and she turned to the Circle, now a pillar of light. "NO! I WON'T LET YOU DO THIS!" She screamed at it. With all of her might she threw her powers at it, and then her weight. "Alex," Nicole said softly, grabbing the woman's wrist as she hit frantically at the wall of light. "Alex… Alex, come away."

"No! I won't let them do this! Not to us, not to her!" She was sobbing now, and when Nicole pulled her away she collapsed into her friend. "Why Nicole? Why her? Why not us? Why not you or me? Why does it have to be her?" She sobbed.

All this time I can't believe I couldn't see,

Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me,

I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems,

Got to open my eyes to everything,

Nicole felt the tears in her eyes, hot and painful, and closed her eyes, embracing Alex. She didn't understand the reason why it had to be Kat and she feared for her friend's life. It hurt her that Fate would put Kat up against the worst and not all of them when they had been ready to sacrifice themselves. Were you really? A small voice asked her. Were you really to sacrifice your life and the life of your baby? All to save lives? Was Alex ready to sacrifice herself as a mother and wife just to save lives?

Turning her head Nicole shut out the voice, the tears leaking through her closed lids and sliding down her cheeks. She knew she wasn't ready to sacrifice herself, nor was Alex. And it pained her that she wasn't. Why does Kat have to face death just because we're too selfish to? She wondered, crying now. Why? It's not fair!

She looked up at the pillar of light through blurry eyes and sought desperately for the form of her friend. It's not fair, she thought. It's not fair. We can't loose her. Not yet!

It's never easy, this road of Destiny and Fate, the voice whispered. It's never easy to watch a friend die. It never is.

Without a thought without a voice without a soul,

Don't let me die here there must be something more,

Bring me to life