Chapter 35

"No. No way in hell. She won't do it." Jonas stood rooted to the floor, protectively hovering over Ellie as she fought the cobwebs of sleep from her brain.

"Get out of the way, Djinn." Arim brushed him aside like a bothersome insect and touched her head, clearing the pain and weariness she'd been trying to sleep away. "Ellie, we don't have much time. Cadmus' vision is coming to pass."

She stared up at him wide-eyed. "What do you mean coming to pass?"

"Sin Garu has Cadmus."

Fear grew like a knot in her belly. The evil man who'd attacked Queen Ravyn, who was responsible for so much blood and death, had Cadmus in his grip. She wanted to crawl back under the covers and pretend this had never happened. Then she remembered why she felt so tired, so dejected. All the tears and anguish Cadmus had put her through, and she might not get a chance to talk to him again? To tell him what an idiot he was to throw away something as special as her love?

No way would she let some Dark Lord deal with Cadmus until she'd had her say. Talk about trust. Ha. To Arim, she said, "Explain to me again what it is you want me to do? What has my cousin's panties in a bunch?"

Jonas huffed in disgust. "Laugh it up, Ellie. But what he's asking you to do might as well be a death sentence."

"Not necessarily." Lexa appeared out of nowhere, startling Ellie and making Jonas jump. He barely reined in the power he'd been about to unleash at the woman.

"Didn't I tell you to meet me at Morn Mountain in an hour?" Arim glared at her.

Lexa walked to Ellie's side, her nose in the air. "I have a problem taking orders, especially if they're yours." She turned to Ellie. "How do you feel?" Touching her friend's head, Lexa frowned. "Arim, you missed a few spots." "Healing never was his strong suit." Lexa's thought caused Ellie to sputter on laughter. But she feared if she started, she might never stop.

A buzz started in her head, then Ellie blinked, staring at the world around her now so vibrant with color. She felt like a new woman, and the knowing look on Lexa's face told her it was nothing less than magic.

"So," Lexa drawled. "Now that you feel like a million bucks, what do you think about Arim's proposal?"

"What proposal? I don't understand what he's trying to tell me." Ellie glared at Arim, who glared right back.

"I'm trying to explain?—"

"—the dangers of possession," Lexa interrupted. "In order to get a leg up on Sin Garu, we're going to let him think Arim is helpless and in my power. You know, I'm not averse to making that a reality."

Arim frowned at the wicked grin she shot him.

Lexa continue, "The Dark Lord will be so heady in his power that he'll underestimate you, Ellie. Once he does that, Arim can strike at him through you while I grab Cadmus."

"And what will I be doing during this time?" Jonas asked in a gruff voice.

"You'll be distracting the wraintu, the wraiths housing Nocumats inside their decaying bodies."

"Wonderful. Sorry I asked." Jonas fell back on Ellie's bed and covered his face with his hands. "Lexa, can I borrow a few spells to aid me in the coming battle?"

"Of course, fair one." Lexa's grin was infectious, because Jonas lit up like a Christmas tree wreathed in smiles.

Ellie had the worried notion her friends looked forward to the fight. At least Arim didn't seem as happy.

"You must understand," Arim said, ignoring Lexa and Jonas, "when I take command of your body, my essence leaves my body and joins yours. That which makes you who you are will be thrust aside. You'll still be in your body, so to speak, but you'll be a virtual prisoner. My Light is very strong, and my presence within you will be painful." He paused. "I could unwillingly kill you."

She wondered what Cadmus, that great jackass who had not only rejected her once, but twice now, would want her to do. Recalling the many instances of his protection, she made up her mind. If he could protect her, then she could protect him. And damn it, she'd force the man to trust her.

As her anger grew, she realized she'd begun to burn in truth and calmed herself. She had to remain in control. She had no intention of dying to prove her loyalty. She'd make Cadmus eat his distrust, bite by bite—and Arim too—until they begged for her forgiveness. The fantasy had such a pleasant taste that she was smiling as she phased back into her normal self.

Arim stared at her with interest. "Try not to do that while you're under my possession. I have no idea what that state might do to us, and we'll need every bit of strength we possess to save Cadmus and Tanselm." He glared at Lexa. "No more healing spells, Nurse Feel-Good."

"I'll show you ‘feel-good'," Lexa muttered, rising from the bed. Jonas caught her arm and whispered something in her ear. She paused, and instead of confronting Arim, she turned to Ellie. "Let's get you ready to rescue your Storm Lord. Arim, make sure the others know not to interfere. Especially Aerolus. Lately, he's a little too pushy for my tastes."

Arim narrowed his gaze and nodded. "A little too big for his britches, I know. Don't worry. I have a feeling my nephews and their affai will be too busy trying to save their territories from the Netharat to aid us. Let's prepare. I don't think we have much time."

"We don't. I hear his taunts in my mind." Lexa glared at no one in particular. "They're crude but to the point. Jonas, take Ellie here." She must have sent him a mental map, because he nodded and grabbed Ellie's arm. Just as they shimmered away, Ellie heard Lexa say, "Arim, how do you feel about Dark-hide rope?"

* * *

Hidden in the dark corner at the far end of the rampart and under Lexa's protective spell, Ellie watched, fascinated, at the heated interplay between her friend and Arim. They had been sparring for over twenty minutes now, and the raging wind and cracks of thunder continued to swell.

"You're such a weakling," Lexa taunted, blasting Arim with another shot of blue flame.

Ellie flinched, recalling the blue remnant of flame that had caused Ravyn's wound. Arim waved aside Lexa's attack and struck at her with a wave of pure Light.

"Bastard's cheating," Lexa gasped and rubbed her midsection. She glared at her opponent. Looking through the Dark energy within her, Ellie expected what she saw. Like before, both Arim and Lexa seemed to lean towards, rather than away from, each other. And for all that they were fighting, their energy clearly wanted to clash, to intertwine and touch.

"Look, Guardian of Storm, we all have our parts to play in the Universe, so stick to yours and succumb to the Dark." Lexa's emphasis on ‘parts' had Arim's eyes narrowing, but he apparently caught her gist for he fell to Lexa's next attack, a blast through the shoulder. She quickly bound him with Dark-hide ropes that appeared with the snap of her finger. The magic ropes would suck at his energy, steadily depleting his strength.

Nervous, Ellie aimed a thought at Lexa with an urgency the woman had to feel. "Hurry up, before he becomes too weak to do the possession spell."

"Relax. I know what I'm doing. He's already on his way to you, which you can see if you look with your Djinn senses."

Ellie gaped at the rainbow of color heading towards her at breakneck speed. Before she could utter a gasp, invasive pressure pushed through her body. Tears prickled her eyes and fell down her cheeks, mingling with the blood from her nose. She wiped her face clean and thought again how much Cadmus owed her for this. She wanted to rub away the tension gathered in her chest, but her limbs refused to obey her commands. Even her breathing slowed, the sorcerer within her stretching as he felt his way around her body.

"Just keep me in one piece," she mentally shouted, not expecting to be heard.

"Easy, Ellie. Try to focus on yourself and relax. This will all be over soon. Just breathe and focus on your love for Cadmus."

"Easy for you to say." But she did as he suggested, and to her surprise, the pain within her faded, replaced by a floating sensation as she watched the world through her own eyes that were no longer hers. It was like watching a puppet perform. Her hand wiped another trickle of blood from her nose, and she stared at the vibrant red, taken with its richness.

A loud slap startled her.

In the moonlight, Lexa brutally struck Arim across the face. He showed no response. The Dark-hide rope bound him tightly, and he looked like he suffered on the brink of death. I sure hope she's playacting. Ellie couldn't help feeling a twinge of doubt as she watched satisfaction bloom on her friend's face. Lexa obviously had issues to clear with Arim. Ellie only hoped she could be patient and deal with them later.

As if the director of this little scene had yelled ‘cue the villain', Sin Garu suddenly appeared, wreathed in blackness and wearing a toothy grin.

"Sister mine, perhaps I was wrong about you."

Lexa's bright face turned as unreadable the clouds marring the moon's illumination. "You're late."

"Ah, but I brought along some entertainment." Sin Garu snapped and three wraintu appeared with a large sack between them. Ghastly creatures, they looked like something out of a horror movie. Large heads with bat-like ears, huge black eyes, no nose and sharp, spiky teeth looked over Arim's body with clear hunger.

Ellie cringed, knowing what to expect, but still not prepared for it.

Sin Garu smiled. "Arim, wake up. I'd like you to watch as the Dark swallows what you prize most dear." He gave the wraintu a small nod, and they opened the sack to yank out Cadmus, who lay bloodied and unconscious. They took him in their skeletal arms. Their claws held him steady, piercing his flesh, and Ellie screamed inside as Arim watched with her in silence.

"I said wake," Sin Garu commanded, his voice deeper as he floated towards Arim.

Ellie's lips muttered in a whispery voice, and Arim's head snapped up and his eyes opened.

"Much better. Now, sister mine, why don't you get down on your knees and beg for my forgiveness while I mull on the gift you've left me, hmm?" Sin Garu scratched a claw-like fingernail across Arim's cheek, and Ellie felt Arim command his body to react. His head pulled back, affecting a weak flinch, but Sin Garu was too impressed with himself to notice the unnaturally jerky motion of Arim's body.

"I won't beg, not for you or for anyone. Not ever again," Lexa said in a low voice, her eyes narrowed as they rested on her brother. "I think you owe me thanks. I took care of Balen for you." She stared at Sin Garu and suddenly smiled. "He took to my compulsion to consume blood, and it vanquished him far better than you did. But then, you know of what I speak, don't you?" She stepped closer to him, then glanced at Cadmus. "Been ingesting a little too much Storm Lord blood, brother dear? You look a bit peaked."

He struck her so hard and fast it looked a blur to Ellie's eyes. She could feel her body tense and wondered when Arim thought to interfere. But he waited, not playing his part. Damn it! By now he ought to have made his move, the way she had in Cadmus' vision.

Sin Garu spat at his sister, "Because of your interference, I nearly lost my life in that last battle. Surprised, Lexa? Don't be. I carried it off well enough, didn't I? You never suspected I had just beaten Balen by the skin of my teeth." He smiled, revealing a lethal mouth. "If only you'd pursued me, we might have ended this so much sooner."

He leant down and grabbed her by the shoulder, digging into her bone and flesh until blood poured from the punctures.

"Help her. Arim, move!" Yet Ellie's body remained still. "Shit. Where the hell is Jonas?"

Like an answer to her silent prayers, Jonas appeared in the air next to the wraintu and ripped the head off of one of the Netharat. He disappeared when as the Nocumat inside the wraintu consumed the body and vanished. Like watching The Blob but in a much more condensed, ugly version, Ellie thought, wishing she didn't have to see this. But she couldn't stop herself from watching.

The remaining two wraintu screeched. Sin Garu shot blue flame from his fingertips, an impressive arch of lightning that covered the sky.

Nothing happened to Lexa or Cadmus. Sin Garu leant towards his sister. "So you thought to use your puppet Djinn to distract me? What do you take me for?" With a twist of his free hand, he clenched his will around Cadmus, squeezing blood from the many bite marks on her Earth Lord's body.

Ellie took a step in Cadmus' direction and wanted to sob with thanks. But the more she watched her lover writhe in pain, the angrier she grew.

Ellie, keep calm, Arim warned.

She couldn't help it. Before she knew it, she could see black flame surrounding her arm bathed in light. And then Arim finally took charge.