The liquid burned as it slid down her throat. It's heat seeped through her being, making her clench her teeth as what felt like hot flames licked at her insides. The Power holding her vanished, but it was too late. The potion was already working. Groaning, Rylie rolled onto her knees and clutched her stomach as aching hot flashes scorched her body.
"What's happening?" Reid asked, sounding wary.
"The potion's stripping her Power," Leila answered sadly.
Rylie crouched over further, trying to suppress a scream. Hot fiery pain pulsed through her body, becoming worse with each passing moment. Her nails dug into her stomach in a useless attempt to draw the fire within away. A whimper escaped her lips and a tear slid down her cheek.
"Reid, don't touch her," Leila commanded. "You can't do anything."
Rylie shuddered and let a scream leave her as invisible flames engulfed her, burning away her Power. The scorching flames slowly died, leaving in their wake an unsettling coldness. Rylie gulped in air before falling to her hands, panting. Silent tears slid down her face and her body shook as she tried to hold them in. She felt strange, different. Weak and vulnerable.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to call her Power, and felt more tears press into her eyes when nothing happened. It was done. The potion had stripped away her Power. She lifted her watery eyes to look at each person before her before settling her gaze on Leila, whose eyes were sad and apologetic. Clambering to her feet, she bolted out of the house and into the night, where it had started to rain.
Reid moved toward the door and then stopped and looked back at the others. "What do we do?"
"I'll talk to her," Leila said quietly, walking to the door.
"I'm coming, too," Reid said.
"No. Let me talk to her first." Leila's voice was pleading.
Reid nodded and they watched her follow Rylie's path into the darkness.
* * * * *
Rylie collapsed on the ground by the trees and let the sobs finally take over and rock her body. Rain drops mixed with tears as they cascaded down her cheeks and she let a wail leave her. It was gone! Her Power was gone! Leila. Her best friend Leila had taken it from her. Forced it from her. Reid, Caleb, Pogue, Tyler. They had helped. And she could never get it back.
"Rylie," Leila said softly.
"Go away!" Rylie snapped.
"Ry, please. Don't be like that."
Jumping to her feet, Rylie spun to face the blonde girl. "No! You took away my Power!"
"I saved you from your Power!" Leila yelled back.
"Bullshit! I didn't need saving!"
"Now that's bullshit!" Leila spat. "You were becoming addicted."
"I was not," Rylie growled.
"You told me when we were sixteen that when you Ascended, there was a seventy-five percent chance you'd be addicted because of how much you were using, whether it was to keep us safe or not," Leila said. "You also said that if you used too much, when you Ascended you could die. I didn't want my best friend to die."
Rylie looked away, her body shaking with anger. Anger at Leila as well as herself. This wasn't Leila's fault. It was her own fault. She was the one who had left Ipswich and moved to Ireland, where she ran into Devon and all of this mess started. She was the one who used on a daily basis, even for simple things. As much as she hated to admit it, she had become addicted, even before she'd Ascended. She had relied on her Power too much, using for almost everything.
"You know that I wouldn't have done that if there was another choice," Leila added.
Rylie inhaled shakily. "I know." Her eyes found the green ones of her friend. "I just… I've had Power for so long, and now I have nothing…. It's weird. Knowing I can't use, that there's nothing to use." She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'm sorry. It must have been hard for you, needing to force me to take the potion."
"I knew you couldn't and wouldn't do it alone. I just wanted to help. I still do," Leila said, giving her a small smile. "You're my sister."
Rylie returned the smile. "And you're my sister too." The smile faded. "I just… I feel so weak. And I don't like that."
Leila walked forward and wrapped her arms around her in a hug. "I'm here for you. And so are the guys."
Rylie leaned against her friend and loosely returned the hug. "I know, but…. I've been independent my whole life. I haven't needed anyone to help or take care of me. Especially after I received the Power. But now…."
"Now you have to let people help," Leila supplied gently. "You don't have to need help to accept it." She pulled back to look at her.
"I've always been strong, and now I feel so weak," Rylie whispered.
"You're not weak," Leila said firmly. "You're the strongest person I know. You've handled everything, from your father to the Power to Devon, and you're still standing. Alive. The Power didn't kill you, and neither did your father or Devon." When Rylie didn't reply, Leila added, "You. Are. Strong."
Despite herself, Rylie chuckled. "You sure know how to give a pep talk."
"That's what friends are for," Leila smiled.
Rylie looked at the house and felt her laughter die. "I don't want to go back."
"You have to."
"I feel so ashamed," Rylie admitted.
"For what?" Leila asked.
"For everything!" Rylie answered. "I've been such a bitch to people who have done nothing to me!"
"Yeah, you're pretty bitchy," Leila agreed.
"Wow, thanks," Rylie said sarcastically.
Leila smiled. "No problem." She slung her arm over Rylie's shoulders and steered her toward the house. "Come on. They don't hate you. Confused, definitely. But with a little explaining, they'll be fine. And Reid's worried."
Once at the house, Leila pushed open the door and walked in, followed by Rylie. They followed the voices into the living room, and Rylie paused in the doorway as Leila walked over and slid into Tyler's lap. Everyone's eyes landed on the girl in the doorway.
Rylie swallowed. "Um…. I'm sorry you guys."
"For what?" Pogue asked.
"For everything. I've been such a bitch and because of me you got dragged into the mess with Devon, and I'm just really sorry. I shouldn't have come back, at least not until Devon had been killed so you wouldn't be in danger. And then you had to watch Leila strip my Power and…." She trailed off, realizing that she'd been babbling. "I'm sorry your lives got messed up."
Reid walked forward and embraced her, holding her close to him and kissing her head. "I'm glad you came back."
"Our lives were messed up before you came back," Pogue chuckled. "You just added to the drama."
Rylie gave him a weak smile. "Thanks." Her eyes found her brother and she waited. His opinion matter the most, though she didn't know why.
Caleb watched her for a few moments before rolling his eyes and cracking a smile. "You're not going back to Ireland. Obviously you cause trouble wherever you are, so it'd b easier if we were close by to help."
"You're not mad?" Rylie asked hesitantly.
"Mad? No. Pissed off? Yeah," Caleb answered, folding his arms. "Why didn't you come back sooner and ask for help? Then maybe we could have avoided all this."
Rylie bit her lip. "I was holding onto my stupid childhood anger at you for always being mean, but I also didn't want Devon to know about you."
"Well that backfired, didn't it?" Pogue joked, wrapping an arm around Kate.
"She's just stubborn," Leila sighed. "I think it's a family trait," she added, eyeing Caleb while everyone chuckled.
Rylie smiled, but watched Caleb, waiting for his real acceptance.
Sighing, he opened his arms. "Get over here, brat."
Her smile widened and she jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly.
"Okay, I'm getting jealous," Reid chuckled.
Rylie pulled away and looked at the blonde Son briefly before walking over and wrapping her arms around him and pressing her lips to his. His arms snaked around her and pulled her closer as he deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth. Her heart skipped a beat as butterflies filled her stomach.
"Okay, you two, get a room," Tyler laughed.
Reid pulled away and grinned. "Sounds like a plan."
"Not in my house," Caleb growled playfully.
Smiling, Rylie buried her face in Reid's chest, finally happy. Devon was gone, everyone was safe, and the Power wasn't trying to control her. Her eyes met her friend's, who was also smiling with her arms draped around the blue eyes brunette's neck. Rylie's smile widened. And her friend had found someone.
Thunder crackled outside. Rylie looked out the window in time to see a bolt of lightning illuminate the sky. "Let's go watch the storm!" She pulled away from Reid and rushed out the door, down the steps and into the rain. She spun in circles, lifting her head to let the rain fall on her face. Another crack of thunder sounded just as someone screamed. She opened her eyes in time to see a bright bolt of lightning shooting toward her from the clouds. She froze, unable to move as she watched the bolt fly straight at her. She gasped when it hit her and hot pain shot through her body.