I struggled to maintain a grip on the light within me.
Gritting my teeth, I summoned as many memories of love, joy, and compassion to the forefront of my mind as I could. I clung to them desperately, using their warmth as a shield against the cold embrace of hatred and envy. With each recollection, the light within me grew stronger, pushing back against the darkness that sought to control me.
I thought of the affirmations Ariel had me repeat on day one and held to them tightly as I pictured the home I created that provided me so much grounding and peace within my soul.
I am surrounded by loving and supportive relationships.
I am powerful and capable all on my own.
No one can stop me from achieving my dreams. They are mine to control.
“Impossible!” Casus screeched, the disbelief in his tone spurring me on.
As if in response to my defiance, the dark magic intensified its assault, attempting to drown out my attempts at resistance. But I was determined to not let it consume me entirely. With each labored breath I drew, I gathered my inner strength and focused on the value that defined who I truly was.
I was Hope.
“Lucien! Elwin! Kylo!” I called out, hoping they were in places to be able to do as I asked. “Feed off my soul, now!”
Instantly, I felt a war within me as the darkness forced into me by the curses being drawn out by my monsters, drawing the power away. My soul felt lighter, and I knew this was my one shot for success as I felt the other curses’ strength waning.
I closed my eyes and reached out with my power, searching for the pure souls waiting outside of the doors for me. As promised, Maria had gathered hundreds. I reached out with the core of my being to connect with their pure souls. Their hope and optimism resonated within me, and I drew that energy into myself like a lifeline.
As I absorbed their hope, the last remnants of the dark magic within me began to wither. I stopped fighting the connection between myself and the curses, instead opening the connection and welcoming it. The hope of those gathered outside of the door became my armor, their unwavering belief that we were going to all leave this damned place at the end of the fight and begin our lives again fought off the lingering remnants of the darkness swirling within me.
With the energy of the brave souls outside those doors flowing through me, I felt a renewed surge of strength and clarity. Forcing my eyes open, I saw Elias and Zora on the ground, gripping their heads as the sound of the world around me filtered back into my own head.
Their screams echoed through the air, and I narrowed my eyes on the sight of Casus struggling to maintain his position as his legs began to shake.
“Now, Ama!” I yelled, waiting until I saw her break free of his grasp before slamming every ounce of light within me through our bond.
I reached for the hope within my mates and our family around us, giving me another boost to infuse into our battle. Their belief in me waseverything.
The weight that had once dragged me down was lifted, replaced by a sensation of buoyancy and empowerment instead. The presence of hope in the souls just outside of the room transformed the battlefield within me into a sanctuary of light, a place where the shadows of greed, envy, pain, and hatred could not survive.
The battle wasn't just mine anymore; it was a shared endeavor, a united front against the forces that sought to use and control us all. The hope of the many bolstered my resolve, and together, we pushed against the darkness with an unyielding force. The malevolent energy could not withstand the power of pure souls united by a common purpose: finding freedom.
I will be in this home, surrounded by my mates, friends, and family at the end of this, celebrating the new life ahead of us that is ours to build.
Casus fell to his knees as Zora and Elias’ screams ceased. In an instant, Lucien and Elwin dropped to their knees by the curses’ bodies, checking for pulses.
My gaze clashed with Casus as I crossed toward him, eyeing the dagger in his shaking hand as I continued to pump light into him. Kicking out with my foot, the dagger was knocked from his grip, and it slid across the marbled floor. It was picked up by the being I’d come to deduce was a Throne, due to being here to capture those in breach of the law of the realms.
I crouched before Casus as he fell to his hands and knees, his head hung low. His entire body shook as I put my finger beneath his chin, just like he’d done to Helen with the dagger, and tilted it up. When I could see that his once black eyes were now a hazy gray color from the milky white power Kylo now held in his, I smirked at the curse.
“How do you like the feeling of hope, Casus?” I purred, loving the way he tried to snarl. The sound fell flat as I felt the small bit of darkness that remained within our bond growing smaller and smaller. “You wanted to have hope for yourself–to control and twist my power to suit your needs. Now you have it, but guess what?”
“What?” he gritted out.
“It’s more powerful than anything you possess. Hope is infinite, Casus. It can overcome every sliver of evil emotion. The possibilities and dreams that are born from it are a weapon unlike any other.”
I let his head drop back down as I pushed to my feet, staring at his crumpled form as his arms and knees finally gave out.
Glancing between the five fallen forms scattered throughout the room, I felt a sense of peace as the last bit of darkness in my connection to their souls was snuffed out. However, grief consumed me once more at the sight of the fallen soldiers around the perimeter of the room. “My hope for youallis that if you’re given another chance to live again, you have the opportunity to experience every bit of love, light, and hope the world has to offer you,” I whispered as tears fell over my cheeks in a deluge.
“Alexandra.”
Lucien’s deep, raspy voice was filled with concern, pulling my gaze to all three of my monsters. They were in their human forms once more as they approached me. My body sagged with exhaustion as the weight of channeling all of that power hit me.
