Enchantment 28

It took the boys nearly an hour to recover from her gift. Xandria watched them as they tried to compose themselves. She was grinning from ear to ear. She knew the effects were mostly the magic but it still gave her a little ego boost to have a man react that way to her kiss. Pogue kept muttering wow over and over. Caleb was leaning back on the sofa his head thrown back. Reid was just laying on the floor a goofy grin on his face. Tyler had his head between his knees. His hands wrapped around his knees.

Connor sealed the wound on her hand. She went over to Tyler to check on him. "Are you alright, love?" she said softly. He looked up at her his eyes were dilated an seemed to be glowing for a brief second. They shifted to black for a second then back to their normal shade of blue.

"Xan, Xandria?" he whispered 'yes baby" she said, "is it supposed to feel like this?" he asked "I don't know what does it feel like?" she said softly. "Like I'm ascending all over again" Tyler whispered. She smiled at the comparison. "It will be ok just embrace it don't fight the sensations let them take over" she said softly.

They heeded her advice and were soon coming back down from her gift. After some more talking they tried to go to bed. Until all hell broke loose.

The creature swarmed through the broken barriers like a swarm of ants to a bag of sugar. The boys threw energy bolts and alternately hit the creatures with their crowbars. The creatures screamed and their flesh burned where the bars touched flesh.

It seemed like whenever they got one down another would take its place. They were overwhelmed and were loosing. Despite Xandria's gifts and Connors tactics.

Hanadrin's forces were paying heavily for each room they gained.

The boys and Connor were making sure of it. They were fighting a roaming battle, trying to keep the creatures away from the girls who were holed up in the dining room. Just when they thought they were about to gain the upper hand Hanadrin decided to join the fray. He strode right through the front door. Stepping over the corpses of his men with out so much as a passing glance.

The boys were between the dining room and the living room. Holding the last hallway between the girls and Hanadrin's men. "Surrender Connor you've lost" said Hanadrin "no" said Connor. "Very well have it your way" said Hanadrin. He threw a few bolts and Connor traded blows with magic before. Hanadrin gave up on magic and just had his remaining creatures charge them.

"Capture them alive," he ordered. "I want Ozxandria to see me cut out their hearts it will make a suitable wedding gift" said Hanadrin.

The creatures charged as a group and the boys couldn't hold them off there was just too many.

The creatures had them down and were holding them. Down as they struggled to rise. "Don't feel bad you put up a good fight, I'm sure she'll always remember you" said Hanadrin to Tyler.

Two of the creatures held his arms as he struggled to rise "if its any consolation I'll make sure she does, when I mount your head on my wall mage" said Hanadrin

Then he turned to address the door. "Ozxandria your defenders have lost, I suggest you spare them further pain and surrender my love," said Hanadrin.

Inside the dining room the two awake girls looked at each other. Then Caleb's mother handed Xandria a small hold out .22

'You may need this" said evelynne. "Ready?" said Xandria. The two women looked at each other in determination. Xandria walked towards the door leaving Caleb's mother with the two helpless girls.

Xandria took a deep breath and walked through the door. The sight that greeted her cheered her some. Her friends were still alive for now anyways. She threw back her head and walked forward the gun Caleb's mom had given her gave her a small amount of comfort.

"About time you saw reason" said Hanadrin. "I can be quite reasonable," she said. Hanadrin laughed, "is this your idea of reasonable?" he asked "you caused this not I" she answered she was stalling hoping some one anyone would come to her rescue. "If you intend to argue with me on this I'll just start killing your friends" he said calmly. "Let them go" she said calmly.

"Ah now there is the Ozxandria I expected" Hanadrin said coolly he turned to one of his creatures holding Tyler. "Remove his head," he ordered. Xandria pulled the hold out pistol. And put it to Hanadrin's head "tell him to stand down" she ordered. Hanadrin waved his hand and the creature stopped what it was doing.

"What now my love?" said Hanadrin. Xandria cocked the hammer on the gun. "Now it ends," she said. "Yes it does," said another voice. The creatures milling in the entrance hall moved back as a row of armed guards swept in and pushed them back at spear point.

Through the center of the throng walked a man. He was dressed like a medieval king, complete with crown. "Your majesty" said Hanadrin

Xandria didn't take her eyes off of Hanadrin but said "your grace" inclining her head to the side in an acknowledgement of his presence. "Your majesty, if I may?" began Hanadrin. "No you may not," said the king. "You have caused enough damage already" said the king.

Hanadrin swallowed suddenly feeling very much afraid. "It has been brought to my attention the abuse you have done to my grand daughter," said the king. "You may lower your weapon Ozxandria," said the king. She lowered it but kept it out. The king motioned for Hanadrin's creatures to be herded away from their captives. The boys once released regained their feet. The king walked past them eyeing the boys carefully. He stopped in front of Caleb "you championed my granddaughter and were responsible for her liberation, tell me what he did?" said the man. "We found her tied to a tree with razor wire, with her legs and wings broken" said Caleb.

The king nodded in understanding "I see, and you Connor did you heal these grievous wounds?" asked the king "yes your majesty, but she came close to dying from her injuries" said Connor his anger evident in his voice. "What say you to these charges Hanadrin?" said the king

Hanadrin didn't dare lie to the king, his temper was legendary. As was his treatment of liars. "Yes I did those things," said Hanadrin. He tried to sound remorseful, but it fell short.

The king pursed his lips "the law is clear on this, your rights concerning her are now forfeit, hers however are just starting" said the king. He looked at Xandria "your verdict my lady, you know your rights" said the king

She nodded and said loud and clear "I claim blood right" the king's men surrounded Hanadrin and disarmed him. Hanadrin looked scared now. "How far?" said the king. She looked at Hanadrin. If she let him live he would always be a danger to everyone she knew. So her choice was clear. "End him," said Xandria. "No wait, don't I get a say in this?" said Hanadrin.

"You may do the honors if you like?" said the king Xandria pulled out the pistol and took aim. She hesitated for a brief instance then she looked up and saw Tyler's face. He was covered in bruises and she knew Hanadrin would have killed him if she hadn't interfered. She pulled the trigger without further regrets. The guards flipped over Hanadrin's body confirmed his death and stepped back.

"What of you now granddaughter?' asked the king "I think I'll stay a while, I have something here I don't want to leave" said Xandria. The king looked at the young man moving closer to his granddaughter and smiled. " That is a hard journey you choose my granddaughter" said the king "I know but it's worth the trip," she said. Tyler came up behind her and put his arm around her waist.

"You take good care of my granddaughter young man," said the king " I intend to," said Tyler. The king smiled at the boy "welcome to the family son" said the fae king. The king waved a single hand and the guards fell into perfect formation behind him and Hanadrin's body left with them.

85 yrs later

"Mom the funerals over" said the thirty year old man sitting next to the white haired woman. "I know son, I heard, I just can't believe its over" she said "he'll wait for you on the other side you know he will" said the man. He hugged the fragile looking woman beside him. He helped her to regain her feet and she walked towards the car she glanced at the other widows and their families briefly catching the eyes of one of the younger children. The child looked just like his grandfather even down to the devilish smirk and blond hair. She stopped before the three graves beside her husbands'. A tear rolled down her face unheeded as she said "welcome him home boys, welcome your brother home" said the woman