Legacy 211: Burning Memories

Part 6

Xxx

Eleven years ago,

After a short but intense fight and taking out many cult members, Billie was eventually taken down. One of the witches that followed Ronan had the power to negate the magic of others, which had led her to being captured along with the others. Now they were all being led to a room on the second floor of the old house, where they were tied up and forced to kneel before Ronan. Billie looked at her friends and saw they were bruised and bleeding, though not in critical condition. The only one that seemed to be seriously hurt was Ethan, who was bleeding heavily from his side.

"Well, well." Ronan noted. "I should have suspected that you would try to stop me, Arthur. Too bad you and your friends failed."

"Ronan, don't do this." Arthur replied. "You have no idea what kind of power your messing with."

"Still trying to be the professor, huh?" Ronan sneered. "Always thinking you know better than everyone else, but you don't. I studied the same ancient texts as you."

"Then you know the Eternal Darkness nearly destroyed our race." Arthur said. "Why would you want to unleash that horror again?"

"Our ancestors were punished because they failed to listen." Ronan replied. "They rejected the gifts the Eternal Night promised them and tried to fight it."

"How can you be sure?" Billie asked.

"Because it told me." Ronon said. "The great darkness spoke to me in my dreams. I heard its whispers and it promised me power."

"Don't believe it, Ronan." Violet pleaded. "Whatever it promised you is a lie. All it wants to do is destroy this world just like it did before. Please, it's not too late to stop this."

"I always liked you, Vi." Ronan said. "But I want what I am owed. I want the power and immortality that was robbed from me."

"Why not just kill us?" Arthur asked.

"Because I want you to witness my ascension, of course." Ronan said. "Besides, I still need the keystone."

"Your ancestors feared this thing so much that they gave up the keystone." Lilian replied. "They made us swear an oath to never let it be used again. It's too dangerous."

"I guess you failed that oath then." Ronan remarked. "Tell me where you hid the keystone."

"Never." Lilian replied defiantly.

Ronon glared at her and whispered something to one of his followers. The cloaked cultist picked up Ethan and dragged him over the floor, hitting him in his bleeding side as a warning before reaching into his cloak and pulling out an athame.

"Not even to save your husband?" Ronan asked.

"Don't give it to them, Lilian." Ethan said weakly.

"I won't." Lilian replied. "I love you, Ethan."

"Kill him." Ronan ordered.

The cultist nodded and mercilessly plunged the blade into Ethan's chest, causing Lilian to scream in agony as she watched her husband spit up blood before collapsing before her eyes. Billie looked away, not just because it was an awful sight, but also to figure out a plan. There were still about ten cult members left, including Ronan himself. The witch keeping their powers contained was standing behind them and appeared to be struggling to keep them all bound at the same time.

"Now tell me where the keystone is." Ronan repeated.

"No, I won't." Lilian replied tearfully.

"Fine, then we'll go down to your house and drag your son out of his bed." Ronan said. "Maybe his life is worth more than your husband's."

"No!" Lilian called out. "Wait, I'll tell you."

"Seems blood is thicker than water after all." Ronan noted. "Should have remembered that, Arthur."

The cultist that killed Ethan used the same athame to cut Lilian's hands free and dragged her up. Lilian looked at her husband's lifeless body for a moment and then turned around, pointing to an old bookcase in the back of the room. She was dragged to the bookcase and selected a book, revealing it to be a concealed mechanism that caused the bookcase to swing open entirely. The keystone was lying on a shelf. As Billie observed it all, she focused her mind on the rope around her wrists and tried to loosen it. Nothing appeared to be happening, though she could sense the witch behind her was weakening.

"The old bookcase trick." Ronan noted. "I should have guessed."

Ronan picked up the keystone and walked to a table behind him, which he cleared to make room for it. He then revealed several crystals from his cloak and placed them around the keystone, after which he drew some blood with his own athame to paint some symbols in blood.

"To unlock such great power requires a sacrifice." Ronan said loudly. "Step forward those who have sworn their lives."

Five of the cult members stepped forward and kneeled around the table in the shape of a pentagram. Billie had a horrible feeling that she knew what was coming next. Ronan walked in a circle, thanking each cultist before they took their own lives with an athame to the heart. Ronan then began chanting in an ancient language and Billie realized it was now or never.

Billie nodded at Tyler, who immediately jumped to action and slammed his shoulder into the witch that was keeping them bound. The shock was enough for her to lose focus, allowing Billie to telekinetically snap the ropes around her wrists. She turned around and pushed her hands forward, blasting the witch out of the window with a telekinetic blast.

Tyler burned his ropes away, along with the ropes binding Violet and Arthur. Violet instantly threw her hands up in an attempt to freeze time, though she was struck in the back of the head by another cult member before she could. Arthur tackled him to the ground, while Tyler torched another with a stream of fire. On the other side of the room, Lillian fought off the cult member and snapped his neck to avenge her husband.

At that point, Ronan finished his chant and powerful shockwave knocked everyone off their feet. A tear in reality started to form through which a shadow appeared. Like a massive black hole, it started sucking in everything around it, including the deceased cult members and Ethan. Arthur grabbed Violet and held onto her while Tyler clung to the floor. Billie resisted the pull by pushing back with her telekinesis and looked around for Lilian, though she was nowhere to be seen in the chaos.

"Yes, finally!" Ronan screamed. "I opened the door, now give me what I want!"

"Not happening." Billie replied.

Billie flung her arm, unleashing a powerful telekinetic wave that hit Ronan and sent him crashing through the wall. The keystone hit the floor and Billie knew she had to get it to close the tear. However, the pull of the black hole was getting stronger and Billie suddenly heard someone screaming her name. She turned around and finally saw Lilian. She had been blasted back by the shockwave and had been impaled on a piece of shattered wood.

"Billie!" Lilian screamed. "Save Lincoln!"

Lilian pointed to something behind her and Billie spun around to see the teenager had followed them to the house. He was immediately caught by the black hole, hitting his head on the floor as he was sucked in. Billie reached out and managed to telekinetically grab him, though that meant she was stuck in place. She couldn't reach the keystone and save Lincoln at the same time.

"Billie, I think I can stop this." Tyler yelled at her.

"How?" Billie asked.

"The keystone." Tyler said. "Once I get it, I can summon enough firepower to destroy it."

"No, you'll be sucked in." Billie replied. "I can't let you! It should be me."

"You're already holding the kid." Tyler said. "Besides, you have your own kids back home. It needs to be me. I'm the only one who can destroy it."

"No, Tyler, please." Billie cried.

"It's okay." Tyler replied. "This is what we signed up for, remember?"

Deep down, Billie knew he was right, it was the only way. However, that didn't mean she was ready to accept it. Her mind raced to find another solution but time was running out, the tear in reality would consume them within seconds and release the Eternal Night. It was now of never and Tyler knew it. He gave her a confident smile before letting go and allowing himself to be sucked into the tear, grabbing the keystone along the way. Billie could see him channeling a powerful flame between his hands as he disappeared into the darkness. A moment later, there was a huge explosion inside the tear, causing it to close in a flash of bright light.

Billie collapsed to the floor as the pull suddenly disappeared. Once the light faded, the tear was gone. Tyler was gone. Tears formed in her eyes as she angrily slammed her fist on the floor and screamed. She cried for her friend until she heard a faint whisper close to her. Wiping her tears, she turned to face Lilian, who was bleeding out on the piece of wood.

"Please…" Lilian whispered weakly. "Take care of my son."

Billie nodded as Lilian closed her eyes and passed away as a result of her injuries. Billie looked at the fifteen-year-old boy lying next to her. He had no idea yet that he had just lost both his parents. She was going to have to tell him once he woke up. She would have to deliver a lot of bad news in the coming days, knowing that it was her fault.

Xxx

Ronan was staring at the keystone in his hands. It was finally time to fulfill his destiny and welcome the Eternal Night. He had come so close last time. He had tasted its power for a second before it was violently ripped away from him. It had taken eleven long years to get back to this point. He had searched the world for a way to get the keystone back. He had always known that an artifact of that power couldn't be destroyed so easily. He had ultimately found the answer in the ruins of Avalon, the former home of his father. Using a spell found inscribed in the sunken ruins, he managed to reach through time and space to reclaim his rightful possession.

"Ronan!" Tula said as she rushed through the door. "We have a problem. Intruders have entered the building."

"Of course." Ronan replied. "Once again, they try to stop our ascension. No doubt they were tipped off by those vile vampires."

"What should we go?" Tula asked.

"You and Quinn keep them busy as long as you can." Ronan said. "I will start the ritual before they can reach me."

"What?" Tula asked. "You'll start it without me?"

"Don't worry, my love." Ronan said. "I know you want to witness the Eternal Night with your own eyes, but you will be with me in spirit. Besides, we will have eternity once it's done."

"I understand." Tula replied. "I will not fail you, my love."

Tula embraced him and kissed him passionately, after which she left to retrieve Quinn. Ronan meant what he said, he did truly love Tula and wanted her by his side. However, he would sacrifice her in a heartbeat if it meant getting what he had always desired. He looked at himself in the mirror and saw his greying hair and the small wrinkles around his eyes. He would sacrifice everything to gain immortality. He would never age or get sick again, he would be perfect.

Xxx

In the long hallway, Wyatt and Lincoln were still fighting the cult members without gaining much ground. Whenever they took out cultists, more to take their place. Wyatt was already feeling the strain of putting up his force fields several times. Luckily, he still had Excalibur to go on the offense. He unleashed a powerful energy blast that sent two cult members crashing through a glass wall, knocking them out. However, he was then confronted by the cultist with the lightning staff. He quickly raised his sword to block a strike, causing sparks to fly everywhere.

"You will not stop what is destined." The cultist said.

"I'm not particularly fond of destinies myself." Wyatt replied. "I prefer to choose my own path."

"Silence!" The cultist screamed.

The cultist swung his staff around and Wyatt parried his attack. The cultist shoved him aside and fired a bolt of lightning, which he just barely managed to deflect with his sword. He backed up and nearly bumped into Lincoln, who took out a cultist with his last tranquilizer dart and switched to hand-to-hand combat.

"Remember your footwork." Lincoln noted.

"Right, thanks." Wyatt replied.

"Could use a force field push here." Lincoln said.

"Sure thing." Wyatt replied.

Wyatt spun around and held out his hand, sending a force field wall crashing into three cult members running at them. They were knocked back and Lincoln used the opportunity to leap over a table and knock one out with an elbow drop, kicking another across the face at the same time. Wyatt turned to face the staff wielder and remembered to adjust his stance. The cultist lunged forward and Wyatt braced himself. As the cultist lashed out, Wyatt stepped aside and unleashed an energy blast into his back, taking him out of the fight.

"Lincoln!" Wyatt called out.

Wyatt picked up the staff and tossed it at his boyfriend, who caught it and used it to knock out two cult members with a flurry of strikes. They were about to high five when a sphere of red energy popped up between them and sent them flying in different directions. Wyatt rolled to his knees and looked up to see a young redheaded girl walking toward them. Based on his description, Wyatt realized this was probably Arthur's youngest sister, Quinn.

"Quinn, wait." Wyatt said. "We don't want to fight you."

"That's funny." Quinn replied. "Because I do want to fight you. You're not stopping us."

Quinn raised her hand and sent another force field toward them. Wyatt quickly did the same and their differently colored force fields crashed into each other. They appeared to be evenly matched in power, though Wyatt felt himself weakening due to overuse of his magic.

"I can't keep this up for long." Wyatt admitted.

"Luckily you won't have do." A voice sounded next to him.

Wyatt looked to his side and saw Arthur and Violet appear next to him as the former dropped his invisible illusion. Before Quinn had a chance to respond, Violet threw up her hands and froze the hallway, stopping Quinn and the remaining cult members in their tracks.

"Good timing." Wyatt noted.

"Time is kind-of my thing." Violet said. "You go ahead, we'll talk some sense into Quinn and break the hold they have over her."

"We saw Ronan with a small group of cultists but couldn't reach him." Arthur said. "He had the keystone, which means he's going to start the ritual."

"Where was he going?" Lincoln asked.

"One floor up, the conference room." Arthur said. "If you hurry, you can stop him before he begins. Once the ritual has started, the only way to stop it is to destroy the keystone."

"Got it." Lincoln replied. "Let's go."

Wyatt nodded as he dropped his force field and followed Lincoln to the staircase. He had hoped that they would have some backup as they faced Ronan, considering he had no idea what Lincoln would do once they were face-to-face. Stopping the evil wizard was the most important thing, but Wyatt was worried about what it would end up costing him.

Xxx

After appearing on the streets of New York in a swirl of orbs, Billie and Paige found themselves in front of a large apartment building. Paige had been able to sense the exact location of the others and tried to orb there, yet somehow, they had appeared outside instead of where they wanted.

"Must be an anti-teleportation spell or something." Billie noted.

"No, those feel like hitting a wall." Paige said. "This was different, I felt disoriented somehow."

"Well, you're getting older." Billie remarked.

"Cute." Paige replied with an amused frown. "You're not the young chick in leather and a black wig anymore either."

"I know, but we've still got it." Billie said.

"Damn right." Paige replied.

Billie and Paige headed to the front door and Billie quickly took care of the two cult guards by sending them flying through the glass doors. A third came running from an alley and threw an Energy Ball, though Paige quickly orbed it back to take him out. They entered the lobby and headed for the elevator. However, as they waited, a strange feeling overcame Billie. It was like someone was to crawl into her mind, scratching her brain with sharp nails. She tried to push the intruder out, but it was too late. Someone had taken hold of her and prevented her from moving. She looked to her side and saw Paige was frozen as well. The elevator opened and a beautiful bald woman with dark skin stepped out, her eyes glowing in a soft purple light.

"I'm sorry for the redirection." Tula said. "I sensed you coming and wanted to greet you myself. After all, I can't have you interrupt what must be done."

"Tula, right? Lovely to meet you." Paige remarked. "Let us go."

"I don't think so." Tula replied. "I'm reading your minds as we speak. You have a very interesting relationship, don't you? So much unresolved issues."

"What are you going to do?" Billie asked.

"Oh me? I'm not going to do anything." Tula replied with a smile. "No, I think it's better that you work out these issues on your own."

Before Billie had a chance to ask what she meant, something took hold of her body, forcing her to turn around and telekinetically fling Paige across the lobby.

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