Chapter 21

{Liliana's POV}

I don't know what terrified me more, the fact that so much of Jace's blood was being spilt or the crowds' thirst for more, especially the Gruul. The furious clash of steel and bodies painful to watch, and the fact that Jace is down there and not I, stoked the coals of my anger. It should be me dragging his soul through the depths, through the swamps and poisoning his soul. I needed too. I wanted to end his pathetic existence and his disgusting ways. I hated Garruk, and even more so now because of Jace and his fight.

I would never forgive Gideon, Ral Zarek and Chandra, at least right now, because they insist on keeping me up here. I felt helpless and weak, like I had to rely on Jace to fight my battles and Liliana Vess was not weak.

Moving very cautiously, then very swiftly towards the wall of fire, I mean to jump through it and rip his heart out. But, I would never have that chance, because before I knew what was happening Gideon had me on his shoulder and we stepping back from the edge of where we were standing. Ral materialized a very fancy chair and table from thin air, and Gideon placed me in the chair. I tried to leap from the chair I couldn't.

"Don't fret, Lili," Ral said. "The chair is meant to keep someone there until I decide for its spell to be released. We were given one job, to make sure you don't intervene."

"And while we respect you, and understand you would turn us into zombies, I think Mr. Beleren would muster an even worse fate for us than that if we let you get down there," Gideon said.

"So sit back and relax, sweetheart. Our boy Beleren will come through this and when he does you can slap us all if you wish," Chandra said playfully.

They are beyond infuriating, but they are my friends, and seeing as how I won't be moving from this chair anytime soon, I accepted this. But for their sake's, I hope Jace survives this, because if he doesn't, there will be hell to pay.

{Jace's POV}

I was losing quite a bit of blood, but so was he. However this fight was dragging on longer than it should and I needed to pick up the pace, or all of Ravnica would have to face Lili's wrath or Garruk's. I had to dig down deep, and pull all I could muster from the aether without wiping everyone in the city's mind. Standing to my feet, I place my palm to the gushing wound on my stomach and will the fibers of my flesh and muscles to reattach themselves. After a few seconds of this I had a simple healed wound that would at least restrict my blood loss, but it was prone to reopening if I wasn't careful.

Standing my ground, I stood there and waited. The roar from the crowd lightened and there were gasps. The boastful Garruk stopped his war cry and turned to see me standing, sword and magic at the ready. The look of pleasure quickly turned to anger.

"When will you learn, you cannot win! Maybe instead of gutting you, I should squish you like the bug you are under my belt. Or better yet, how about we return your bones to the earth after my beasts eat you," Garruk said.

"Not going to happen. I have something to fight for, and strength will not prevail. Whether you're more muscle bound than someone else or if you have the bigger sword. Might cannot prevail the mind. Just like air and water runs wild, you cannot contain the mind," I say lunging him.

Garruk smashes the ground and lifts a rock slab to bring down on me. Garruk laughs victoriously, but failed to notice me behind him.

"Are you laughing because you smacked a rock into the ground, or did you hit a flea?" I asked him

Garruk whips his head, and shock was on his face.

"How are you there!? I smashed you!" he yells.

"Something you won't understand unless you practice it. When you have reached a certain level of strength with your mind, when you have steeled your resolve and the mind, anything is possible," I began to manipulate the air around me, forming two clones, "you merely think of it and it's possible."

"If you're so strong in mind, then why haven't you been able to beat me? Why has the all-powerful mind mage Beleren not washed away my memories and thoughts like he has done to all in the past?" said, Garruk, in a condescending manner.

"Because I'd rather not kill you, and I'd rather let this all end with no one dying. There are other options, but you're too bull headed and stubborn to even attempt to listen, but so goes the way of most warriors in your case," Jace said.

"You're a fool, especially if you think you can beat me," Garruk said.

Garruk picks up yet another rock and threw it in my direction, but I quickly turned my body into air and moved while the clones dispersed from the impact into steam. I reformed above Garruk and Stood there, observing his rage. He looked desperately for me. "Where are you!?" he yells.

The crowd gasped and all shouted above him, and many yelled 'look' and as he did, I came down crashing with my boot, knocking his helmet away. He stumbled but regained himself and swung his axe. Dodging, I weaved through his defense. His rage was taken over and he was giving into it. Coming around with a one handed swing with the massive axe, I was able to counter and cut his hand, causing him to release the axe. Blood soon leaked from him, but this didn't stop him. He grabbed the axe with the other hand, I ducked, and rolled around his backside and make two quick slashes at his back and knee, making him fall to his knee.

He was beginning to get slow and sloppy. The fatigue was starting to take over him. Again, he came with a back swing, digging the axe into the ground. I skirted my away around the swing and the next three moves were the end game. With blinding speed, I dig my sword through his right knee, swing a deep gash into his right shoulder and practically dug the blade down and across his chest. Garruk stopped and fell backwards. He wasn't dead, but close.

"Garruk, this fight is over. Leave," I told him, staring over him.

His eyes were wild, enraged. A beast, cornered. "No."

Garruk this is…" I started but he jumped and drove a shoulder into my stomach and grabbing at my cape he threw me by it and into a nearby slab of earth. The cloak was torn from my shoulders. Before I had time to react, Garruk was on my, beginning to punch my face in. Punch after punch connected, and I did my best to protect me, but he was beginning to overpower me. No more. The final straw snapped. I released a wave of power in me and it extended and knocked Garruk off. Jumping to my feet, I lifted my hand Garruk rose. I had control of the water in his body, and as going to punish him for it. I slammed my fist down and he slammed into the ground. I moved my fist to and from and his body followed. He smacked the earth, trees and various other parts of the field, until I finally brought him up high and with a lot of my force and slammed him down. A loud and sickening crack broke the silence of the astounded crowd.

I lifted Garruk once more. Blood dripped from him. He was beginning to die, and I am going to punish him for what he has done. His ignorance, his belief that he was noble. I brought him to me and then turned and pushed my fist away, slamming him into an oak tree not too far away from me. Releasing him, he began to slump to the ground, but not before I grabbed the sword and send it flying into his right shoulder, pinning him to it.

I was upon him, no mercy. The restraint to dip into his mind and completely eradicate it until his head exploded was overwhelming. But I needed to control myself.

I grabbed his chin, and lifted his face. "I know you can hear me, you are not dead, yet anyway," I told him.

He coughed weakly and blood dripped from his mouth. "What do you want Beleren? I'm a beast aren't I? Why not put the beast out of his misery?"

"That is a waste of life, but listen, and listen well. This is the once chance, the one ounce of mercy you will receive. You had best take it. You will be taken to the Selensynian Guild to be healed, and they will help you. After you have recuperated, you will be free to leave the city and ALL will be forgiven, and none shall pursue you. However, if you decline this or decide that this business with Liliana Vess is not over; you, whatever family you have and where you call home will burn. I will go into your thoughts and crush your mind until it explodes from pressure, I will destroy all that you love and make you watch as their brains are turned to mush and their minds wiped until you all are hollow shells. Your life, spark and everything you hold dear will be wiped away in my storm, because that is what you have threatened to me. You take what is mine, I destroy everything. But, I don't want to do that, I don't want any more blood spilt than has already been."

Garruk looked at me, as if expecting something else. I reached up and took a piece of his hair and cloth, and stowed it in my pocket.

"What was that about?" he said weakly.

"A promise, to hold myself everything I just said. We are also going to get that curse lifted from you, and the Conclave can do that. What say you?"

He looked at me, the giant defeated by a small and frail man, but a man nonetheless.

"Fine," he said, and passed out. I pulled the sword out and sent it to the aether. I motioned to some of the Conclave members and to Emmandris and they quickly began sealing some of Garruk's wounds and began to move him away. I dropped my head, and went lax. Finally, there is that weight gone, and I lifted my head and breathed in the air. But, that didn't last long. An enraged shout came from the crowd and a single warrior came rushing to me. He wore red and green and the burning tree was proudly on his chest. Gruul. None of it worried me though. Not the rage in his eyes, or the sword brandished. Not the fact that he aimed directly for my chest. He wanted revenge. But he would not have it.

Time appeared to slow, and I caught his wrist and twisted it, snapping the arm and he dropped the dagger. I grabbed him by the throat and dropped him to the ground. I placed my hand on his forehead and dove into his mind, and overloaded his mind until gore, red, grey and a clear liquid burst onto my arm and face. A roar of shocked crept through the crowd.

I turned, covered in blood, sweat and gore. And met many of the faces of the crowd, some people had looks of joy or pleasure others had shock and anger. Some even had disgust. "This," I pointed to the dead Gruul member, "was a waste of life. Is this your wishes? For me to kill anyway? Do you want to kill me? Or do you want revenge for someone who wish to kill my family and take over your city? Or is the sport of killing something you want? This man did not have to die; the ignorance of you all is appalling. I don't question the Guild's or guildless' motives or how your guild is ran, but to attempt an attack on the Guildpact, to even think that you could have some sort of retribution for someone who wish to stomp the life out of the rest of the city? I care not for what you all may or may not think or how the guilds are ran or even if you supported Wildspeaker, but my job, my duty, is to maintain the peace among you bickering and sniveling children. The man this guild belonged to will have consequences, whether you sent him after me or he acted on his own, a threat on the Guildpact is the highest violation any can commit, and if you cannot control your members, then you shall suffer. Now, if none can respect my position or any have any other questions speak now, if not then close your mouths and leave. Disperse, or tell me your intentions, so I can snuff your rebellion now."

I opened my arms and waited. Nothing, no one moved or even attempted too.

"Then I take my leave," I said, making me off the field. The day was done. For now at least.

I only cared for one thing and that was to see my Lili. I picked up my cape as I left the field and quickly made my way up the cliff to her. There she was, beautiful and perfect. She looked so marvelous and there was this feeling of accomplishment in me, like I changed the outcome that this all could've went too. I prevented disaster, and the best part…the best part was I can still go home to Lili at night, and know she is safe.

She wasted no time in running to me and wrapping her arms around me and squeezing as tightly as possible. I returned the hug, lifting her off the floor in the biggest embrace I've probably ever given her. Our lips found each other's and stayed there for what seemed like an eternity but was only minutes. Never before have had I ever felt an emotion like this. It was perfect and I never wanted this to end.

I pulled away long enough to look into those big beautiful dark violet eyes, and the passion that was there. Her lips were anxious, and I knew exactly what words were creeping up in my throat.

"I love you, Liliana Vess," I told her.

"I love you, Jace Beleren," she said back.

We kissed and just held each other. No more will we have to look over our shoulders and fear what was coming.