DISCLAIMER: I do not own AvALon. It belongs to Rachel Roberts, all respect included.
CHAPTER 10 - Before the Dawn
(Final Chapter)
Adriane felt the swarm. She felt it getting closer, and closer. They were upon her, coiled to spring. Adriane's eyes were wild, and fierce as she turned to face the enemy.
"Adriane!" Kara screamed. "Look out!" Adriane turned to face the life-size Barbie that came smashing into her.
"Kara! What the..." Adriane started. But she stopped when she saw Kara and her strained green eyes. "What's up?"
Kara coughed, trying to Adriane what she had done. "Em...Emil...Emily, and...we...expected...HER!" Adriane had a confused look on her face, trying to make out what she was talking about. "EMILY!" gasped Kara.
"What about Emily?" Adriane asked.
"Dark..." was all Kara had to say. Adriane bolted from the hallway she and Kara were in. Sheoka and Emily now...
--
Emily rubbed her arms to create friction, and start a blood flow. It was so cold in this cage. That's right! A cage! Emily sneered. She slide down the dirty wall, and cuddled into herself. Something coughed behind her. Emily jumped about jumped out of her skin. "Who's there!?" Emily gripped the bars for strength. Suddenly she felt drained.
Again a cough came from the distance.
Emily inched closer and closer. "WHO'S THERE!?" Emily felt the back of the wall. Maybe she was imagining things. Suddenly, a grimy face appeared. "Adriane?" The little girl asked.
"You know Adriane?" Emily asked.
"She's my friend. She's coming to rescue me!" The girl said. She looked like an elf, with long silver hair, tied back in a messy bun. She looked like she had been here a while.
"She's my friend too." Emily said, sitting next to the girl. "My name is Emily, and I'm the healer mage."
"Sheoka," was all the girl offered.
"Nice to meet you, Sheoka." Emily said. "Are you hurt at all? Maybe I could help..."
"No. I'm fine." Sheoka answered. But Emily could tell she was lying, she could see pain in her eyes. Emily decided to let it go. There was a moment of silence, and Emily snuggled into herself again. Sheoka leaned on Emily, needing warmth. Emily's arms wrapped around her, and the two sat in silence.
Something rammed into the walls, sending Sheoka into a ferocious crouch. She unsheathed her weapon, a dagger. Emily pulled into a weak fighting stance. Golden magic fluttered around them. Emily recognized Adriane's magic. "Adriane!"
"Hold on..." came the reply. A hole in the cage appeared, and an arm was thrust through. "Grab on! We need to get out of here!"
Emily ran to the hand, and looked back at Sheoka, who quickly followed her. Just as Emily reached for Adriane, her arm disappeared with a wicked squeal.
"SO YOUR THE GIRL!" Came the voice.
"No...lemme go!" Adriane screamed. A blast of magic scorched the witch. Emily clambered out of the cage to see a full battle. Adriane flipped into a pose, as the witch recovered from her fire-comeback. Adriane felt her necklace pulse with light.
"NEVER!" When Adriane stared at her, she was looking at Sheoka. Sheoka faced her, no fear in her eyes.
"SHEO-" Adriane couldn't finish her scream, she was drowned out by the blast of the witch's true magic. Sheoka was thrust to the wall, and Emily glared at the witch.
"You..." Emily couldn't finish, she collapsed at Sheoka's side, looking her over for injuries.
Adriane was furious. What had this thing done? She summoned all her strength and magic to kill this wicked sorceress. Careening into the air, she felt herself twirling. Kara jumped into the room, and boosted Adriane with all the magic she could harness. Power Adriane had never felt before surged through her, and it was sweet. She didn't want to let go.
"Adriane!" Kara yelled. "It's good! Let go!"
Kara was right. Let it go, Adriane thought. Lifting her arms, it was gone. They heard an agonized scream from the witch. All that was left was a shadow, which disappeared.
Adriane was drained. She had defeated the witch with her friends. Kara, Emily, Sheoka...Sheoka? Where was she? Adriane turned to the corner where Emily sat. Tears were streaming down her face.
"No...no it...can't...be..." Adriane mumbled.
Emily wailed. Adriane stormed out of the castle. Through the twists and turns she went. Emily carried Sheoka, and Kara followed. Adriane was trembling with tears. This couldn't be how it ended. It just couldn't. All because of this stupid necklace! Adriane pulled it off her neck, and threw it a few feet from her.
She had never solved the mystery of the mysterious jewel. The sapphire and her were alone. Adriane sighed, and walked over to pick it up. Emily and Kara hugged her.
"We need to go to Star Carnia." Adriane said. "For her."
Kara nodded, and the three mages gripped each other as light engulfed them.
--
"She would've wanted you to have it." Lunar said. Flame was sitting in his chair, his eyes glazed with pain. Alinart, Crimiara, and Nakura didn't know yet. And Adriane couldn't face them when they found out.
"Thank you..." Adriane mumbled. She gripped Sheoka's body in her arms, and stood. Lunar seemed to dance to her side, and gave her daughter a kiss on her head.
"We'll meet again someday, my love." She whispered. She looked up at Adriane, tears welling in her eyes. "You should go now. You are welcome to come back anytime. And I mean it."
"Thank you. For everything." Adriane whispered.
Lunar and Flame nodded. Lunar embraced Adriane, and Flame shook her hand. "We'll speak again." Flame said.
"Someday." Adriane nodded.
--
Adriane returned to Ravenswood, and to the cliff. Gran's grave and Aric's grave didn't seem to haunt her. She laid Sheoka in the ground, and waited. She filled the hole with dirt, and saw something amazing.
Silvery wisps of the air swirled into figures. Gran and Aric stood before her, ghost-like images.
We will be her escort. Gran whispered. Aric nodded angelically.
Adriane nodded, and Sheoka's ghost appeared too. Adriane nodded again.
Thank you. Sheoka said.
Adriane felt her sadness well inside of her.
We love you. They all said. They began to float away on the wind. Adriane ran after them, wanting to say it, but knew it would hurt. We all hate to say it, so Adriane decided to keep it to herself. She walked with her thoughts back to the grave site. She slumped to the ground, and folded in on herself. The one word that haunted her. The one word we hate to say. The one word that was slowly suffocating her. The one word…
Good-bye.