36. ~Saryan Hart~

36

~Saryan Hart~

I came to, light beginning to filter in to what had previously just been a peaceful, unmoving darkness.

The first thing I saw was the last thing I’d expected.

Bright-white hair. That golden robe.

Abigail Rose sat on the edge of my bed staring back at me as I woke from my long slumber.

I blinked, trying to adjust to consciousness again.

She wouldn’t have woken me unless she’d succeeded with her vow to me.

“What’s… you actually found a cure? I didn’t truly believe it was possible.”

“It was always possible. It just needed to be the right time for the price to be paid.”

“Price?” I asked, pushing myself up against the headboard.

It was then that I realized I felt different.

I was weary, yes, but there wasn’t that unbearable strain anymore. I could no longer feel that awful disease rotting me from the inside out.

That weight of it was gone.

The black magic sickness had left me.

She really had cured me.

“Abigail, how did—”

She laid her hand on mine.

And that was when I saw the brutal truth.

Black veins covered the back of her hand.

Not just there either.

They were all over both her forearms which were visible with the sleeves of her robe currently rolled up. They’d even spread over her neck and her face.

“You didn’t. Tell me you didn’t, that this wasn’t the cure you’d had in mind when you made that vow to me and my son.”

“I’ve siphoned it out of your system and also broken the spell you worked on my daughter so you’ll no longer be inundated with the black magic running through her veins. And I also took this from your vault.” She held up the brass object that looked a lot like a tuning fork.

“An enhancer.”

“I used it to lock onto all black magic across the supernatural world and draw it to me, siphoning it out of all those afflicted or foolishly practicing the forbidden art.”

“You’re wiping black magic from the face of the earth,” I breathed.

“It’s become clear through Constantine’s despicable acts that it’s the only way to safeguard those we love. Too much loss has already occurred because of it, the one thing we cannot fight. He took control over my daughter because of it. You almost perished. Half your army was decimated. He’s in possession of the Orb. He just used it to control El’s son too and take my daughter away again. It has to end. And I’ll see to it that it will.”

“That much black magic… drawing it all into your system… as strong as you are… it will—”

“It will corrupt me beyond measure. I’m aware and it won’t be an issue.”

The realization hit me, the only possible solution to what she’d done. “You’re going to lay down your life this night.”

She smiled out at me bittersweet. “I’m sorry, Saryan.” She gave my hand a squeeze. “Three years ago, you were right. But I was too afraid of risking magical corruption to see it, to even acknowledge it. You didn’t deserve that and I’ve put something in place that will see to it that you’re vindicated and absolved of what I put upon you during that time. I’ve seen the change in you since and I hope you continue in that vein. Especially where Orpheus is concerned. He doesn’t belong here in the dark. I think you know that. I’ve offered him a seat at the head of the table at Exemplar alongside my daughter when they’re both ready. I hope you will see to it that they’re prepared for such a task.”

I didn’t know what to say, which monumental thing to start addressing first.

“Constantine will perform the spell tonight and I will prevent it from coming to pass. He also aims to attack Electi Academy with his acolytes to acquire the second key to Valmont, something your son and his army will foil. I will destroy the Orb so nothing like this can ever occur again. Those will be my last acts.”

“Don’t do this. We’ll find another way. We’ll put you in stasis until we find a cure.”

She shook her head sadly. “I’m tired, Saryan. So tired. This is my time. Please respect that.”

“Abi.”

She smiled. “It wasn’t all hate between us after all, hmm?”

“No. No, it wasn’t.”

“There’s a thin line, I suppose.”

“That there is.”

“Well, although that could not be between us, I wish you all the happiness with Edgar. You complement one another well.”

She went to pull her hand away, but I held on. “What about Alena? Consider how she’ll take this.”

“Alena no longer needs me like she used to. She has her own family she’s built now to support her, to love her.”

“Even so—”

“It is how it must be.”

With that she pulled away and rose from the bed. “You’ll feel weary and weak for the next couple of days while your body acclimates to being completely without black magic after so long bearing it within.”

“You’re warning me that I’m in no condition to stop you.”

“No, you aren’t.”

“That’s why you risked telling me this.”

“Yes. And also to make peace.”

“There’s no way El knows about this. He’d never allow it.”

“He’ll understand in the aftermath.”

“He won’t bear losing you well.”

She stared at me for a moment, emotion welling in her eyes.

And then she cleared her throat and told me, “Rest now.” She sucked in a breath. “Be well, Saryan.”

“Abi, wait. I—”

She disappeared in a cloud of teleportation before I could finish my sentence.

Hades! “Abigail! Don’t do this! We’ll find another way!” I bellowed out after her.

The door flew open and Edgar barreled on in, his eyes wide at me sitting up in bed awake.

He rushed to me and looked me over studiously and with a great deal of disbelief.

“How is this possible? How are you out of stasis? You seem well, no longer infected and—”

“It was Abigail. She was just here.”

“She cured you? How?”

“She took the black magic into herself.”

His eyes shot wide. “She did what? It’s a death sentence.”

“That it is.” I shoved the covers off myself and started to climb out of bed. “And we cannot allow it.”

I stumbled on my first step and he caught me. “You’re in no condition to go anywhere.”

“It’s never stopped me before. The number of battles I’ve fought not at my best, or wounded—”

“You have me now as your love, things are different. And I won’t allow this . Get back into bed. Immediately.”

I slid my hand into his hair, drawing his attention to me and taking comfort in the act at the same time. “I can’t stand by while she does this without at least attempting to stop it. You know how stubborn I can be, so you know I won’t stop trying to get out of this bed and take action.”

“I do know that, yes. But I can be stubborn also, and highly determined.”

“Then I won’t do it alone.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “You won’t?”

“No. So help me, my love. Help me to do what needs to be done. We must go to El.”

He blew out a breath, a smile playing on his lips. “Your powers of persuasion will be the death of me.”

“Please. You know I’m the light of your life.”

He chuckled and kissed my forehead. “Come on, let’s get you dressed, you infuriating old man.”