45. FORTY-FOUR

FORTY-FOUR

A bright explosion of violet surrounded her peripheral vision.

Davina's chest heaved as the violet flames wrapped her completely. Her fingers, her arms, her legs, her torso, everything about her was covered in flames. The heat tingled her once beige skin.

She was now one with the fire.

Her vision was vignetted with lilac. Through her violet eyes, she found yellow sparks flying off a tall figure with wild bolts of coruscation.

Davina examined the silhouette of the figure beside her. It was a man, but he seemed to also be examining his own lightning-covered body which hummed loudly. His brightly lit arms were extended before him as his head moved, following the figure of his frame.

It was then that she realized that it was Ron. Davina laughed with joy as his face appeared through the bolts of lightning. Her tears sizzled into smoke as they rolled down her burning cheeks. The blood that once etched his expression had been cleaned off. At that, Davina's eyes moved to his chest, the dark hole that was once there was gone.

Her power healed him and brought him back to life. The King used her to bring him back.

The fire that crackled around her body disappeared and revealed a polished version of her armor. A whirlwind of yellow and blue lightning mixed with purple flames swirled violently around them. It was just her and Ron, staring at one another in awe. And he looked handsome like always.

While she looked at him, completely renewed, she felt a deep connection to him settling within her. At her fingertips, there was the heat of her fire but also the hum of buzzing electricity. It was as if her powers and his were interconnected.

She lifted her hands only for a purple luminous sphere of lightning to appear above her palm. It didn't crackle as her flames did, it danced crazily instead. Davina's brow furrowed.

Her gaze returned to Ron who was examining the striking wings of lightning behind his back.

A loud thunder clapped above them. Rain pushed through the violet and blue explosion that circled them.

"Who do you think is doing that?" Davina asked, lifting her eyes to the dark sky as the droplets of water fell over her diadem and down her beige skin.

A deep rumble shook her legs before lightning flashed among the dark clouds above the sphere of power that surrounded them.

"It's me," he replied.

"Ron," she said with realization. He had control over all of the elements. He had power. More than he could ever imagine. More than she could ever imagine.

"I remember the day in the Forest when Beacon found his armor and I found my sword, I wished for the wind to stop because I noticed how much it was annoying you," Ron explained. "I didn't think it was me. I thought it was a fluke since I could never control the air around me.

"And I remember when it was your birthday, it rained. I was having such a bad day that as soon as the tears shed from my eyes, it began to rain. I felt an inexplicable connection to the water that dripped from the sky. I denied that it was me because I didn't think it was possible."

By the look of his face, he was happier than ever. He had fulfilled his promise to the King and the King was now rewarding him.

Don't mess it up this time.

The King's voice echoed in her head. His eyes widened as he looked up at her. He must've heard the King's voice as well. Davina laughed before jumping into his embrace. Ron held her tightly and spun her, as she softly mumbled, "I was so scared. I thought I lost you."

"You'll never lose me, Vivi," he whispered, carefully setting her back onto her feet.

For a few seconds, she let herself delight in the warmth of his arms around her. She smelled his usual scent of fresh spring. A familiar comfort settled down inside of her heart.

The King was giving them another chance. Another chance to experience the love they so deeply had for each other.

It was the strangest thing. She knew Ron loved her and had no doubt about it. And she knew she loved him, with full certainty. He understood her, he believed in her, and he protected her.

Words would never be enough to explain how beautiful their love was.

His thumb grazed her diadem before finding its way back to her cheek, which he softly caressed. Tender, gray-flecked eyes examined her while a small smile found its way to his lips. "Thank you for loving me enough to bring me back."

Davina blushed. The King must've informed him.

"Shall we put an end to this war once and for all?" Ron questioned.

Davina smirked before nodding, pulling herself away from him and standing poised for attack. She turned back to him, and he simply bobbed his head once. His dark blue helmet appeared from the back of his neck and then covered most of his facial features.

The sphere of fire and lightning formed themselves into smaller waves that slowly began to travel back toward Ron and Davina. The energy of their abilities showered them as they flowed into them, silhouettes came into view through the fading mixture of their powers.

The first to catch Davina's eye was the blonde-haired girl dressed in dark emerald silk. A polished beryl stone hung from her collar and her sleeves flowed gracefully. The diadem over her golden strands had been a mix of dahlias with thorns intertwined into them, her makeup was sharp yet mystical.

Sadoc was truthful and Leilani was deceitful. She stood next to Raven with the sword from her Island Protector armor, how shameless the Dunbar twin must've been to hold such a holy weapon with a malicious heart. Raven seemed to be freeing Cara from a chokehold when Davina and Ron appeared through the explosion.

"What in the world?" Caleb stuttered, lowering his weapon.

The house had been more destroyed than it had been before she'd died.

"Ron, Davina," Beacon said, a grin on his bearded face.

The roof was completely ripped off from the walls while the panels were completely shattered. All that was left of Davina's home was the floor which already had several dents to it. Glass, porcelain, splinters, wood, rugs, everything that they owned was dispatched.

Especially the trust that Davina had in Leilani. They met gazes.

"How could you?" Davina asked.

She had died with the hope that Leilani wasn't a traitor, but she was. And finding her dressed in her Main Predator attire made it all the more real.

"Davina…" Leilani began, her beady eyes burning holes into Davina's heart.

"How could you?" she shrieked, her entire body shaking with rage. Davina shook her head with a scowl.

Leilani shifted under Davina's glare. Without even using her wings, she flew across the room, pushing Cara into Valerie's arms, and crashing into Raven.

As they pummeled to the floor, Davina grabbed Raven's dagger from the Dark Mistress's hand and aimed it at Leilani. She heard the Basalan traitor hiss.

Davina yelled in her rage as she punched Raven continuously. Raven's pale white hands tried to push Davina off of her but that only fueled her rage even more. Her punches grew harder as she did her best to shatter the mask that covered the Dark Mistress's identity. She would find out who the witch truly was.

"You brainless, damned wench."

Raven pushed against Davina's arms but that only caused Davina to grip the witch's throat.

"I see you've finally activated your true gift," Raven rasped.

Raven knew. She knew the entire time, and that's why she was going after her. Because she wanted to take advantage of her powers.

Davina tightened her hold around Raven's throttle as the Dark Mistress fought to free herself from Davina's grasp. The Captain punched her again. But the mask over Raven's face wouldn't budge. Davina got frustrated and put both her hands over Raven's mask and crushed it between her fingers.

Pieces of the metal scraped her beautiful face. Davina furrowed her brow once she saw who it was.

"Ashira?"

"No," Raven deadpanned. "We have the same face but we are two completely different individuals."

"Why would I believe you?" Davina muttered.

"Because my twin sister is right over there, helping your boyfriend to his feet." Raven pointed toward the dead trees, at the silhouettes of a man in dark blue and a blonde-haired girl in a teal dress.

Davina growled.

The memories rushed back to her. The way Ashira was there to help Ron when the ceiling shattered at the cavern, Caleb was the one who informed her when she and Ron had first broken up. Ashira made those cookies on purpose, she'd been following him around at the wedding and even before that.

Raven pushed Davina, sending her flying toward the already shattered walls of the house. Her Phoenix strength gave her durability to the point that she didn't even feel a scratch from the crash. Davina removed the piles of plaster that mounted above her, quick to get to her feet.

But Raven was already standing before her. The Dark Mistress lifted a hand, and as her fingers danced, shadows swerved out of the ground and wrapped themselves around Davina. The Captain pulled at the darkness that snaked itself around her arms and legs.

"Don't worry, she's not a threat to Bellatorm. Although she might be for your relationship with him," Raven chuckled. "It's nice to finally meet you, Davina Almenara."

Raven mockingly bowed, Davina couldn't help but notice how the house that she shared with Leilani was no more. The fairy tale forest that surrounded their home was now filled with ash and blood.

Then she noticed Caleb and Leilani fighting behind Raven. Her chest heaved as she shook her head. This wasn't a training session. This wasn't a duel to see if their powers had grown within the connection they shared as twins. They fought because they were on opposite sides.

Davina stilled as she watched her friends' battered armors.

Valerie had a mob of Predators surrounding her, she sliced through them with her katana, a flash of light passing through them, leaving behind a trail of black blood. Beacon raised his arms and suffocated the Predators before him. Cara clapped her hands, and the Predators flew away from her. Ron then soared high in the sky with wings made of lightning bolts while they struck various Predators that surrounded Cara. Snow threw sharp icicles into the throats of several Main Predators.

Several other Leaders, Soldiers, and Apprentices fought against the Lowly and Main Predators. More Main Predators were using their shadow abilities than the strong Lowly Predators that stumbled around the battlefield.

She had to get out of those bondages of ink fast.

"I was one of the few who had the gift of light," Raven began. "Just like your friend, Val, over there. I was proud of my abilities because I wasn't like the rest of the people on my island, who had fire powers. I wasn't hot-headed like everyone else. I was once calm, positive, and good. Back then, everything was brand new and the King had told us to never leave our islands unless we were going to Castellum. He said it was to protect our eyes from what we might see on the other islands. But I didn't agree with his statute, there were too many strict rules for such powerful creatures like us.

Davina curled her fingers inward and continued to convulse against Raven's chains of shadows.

"One night, I decided to sneak into the other isles. I watched them with such admiration. It was wonderful to see the different powers that the King had given to my brothers and sisters. When I visited Neptulus, I met Ashira. She had my face, my hands, my everything. Yet, our minds were completely different. I was enchanted when I realized that I had a twin. Suddenly, I didn't feel so alone.

"Me and Ashira decided to slip away almost every night to see each other. She'd use her water powers to come to me. We'd stay to see my island or we'd go to the others and observe the rest of our siblings. But as I watched them, I realized that all I could do was bring light through my hands. I couldn't do much else. And it bothered me. What use could light ever be? I wanted more, I wanted to be able to do more. Then came the wish to control all the elements. I went to beg Father to grant me my wish. After all, he always claimed that he loved us. So, I believed, if he loved us so much then he would give me what I wanted."

Raven stood still. She could see the way the Dark Mistress was reminiscing her memories, her eyes stared longingly at the distance. Until Raven's face contorted with anger. Davina looked around for Ron or anyone who could help her but they were nowhere in sight.

"But he rejected my request. He said that too much power would corrupt me, but I didn't believe him. It was like he was telling me that I was too weak to have that much authority. I refused to accept that, even though I was so hurt that my own father didn't trust me enough. So I left the castle and began to talk to my brothers and sisters. Some of them believed me while others chose to remain loyal to the King. Pathetic," she scoffed.

The Captain remained calm.

"I talked to Ashira about it but she was so stuck in her love haze over a Mistran man that she paid no attention to me when I needed her most. I decided to speak about my plans to a few of my siblings from the other islands, and most of them listened to me and marched into the castle by my side, and we called him a liar, a selfish King, a horrible father. In his anger, he cast me and my brothers and sisters out of Bellatorm. But before the clouds could carry me too far, I used the winds to my advantage and grabbed Ashira before she could marry that brainless fool. I couldn't accept that I was to leave without my baby sister. She was my rock, my light, my everything. I couldn't leave without her. Even though she'd rejected me and tried to put a man in my place.

"The King sent us to desolate and faraway lands. It was as if he had forgotten that he was the one who gave us life. When me and my siblings woke up, our powers were stripped of us, and we were left with nothing but the darkness of our choice. So, we decided to wield the darkness in our favor. All except little old Ashira." Raven rolled her eyes.

"But the darkness came with a heavy price. Instead of being easy to wield, like our natural powers, it drained us. But we did not accept defeat, so we practiced until we could gain enough resistance to the shadows. I came back as soon as I could, and I saw how he dearly loved a new generation of his people. It was as if our presence wasn't missed. He continued with his life as if we were nothing. He was close to his people and he allowed them to travel to other islands, unlike my generation. When we tried to attack Castellum, we found that there was a force field around it. Me and my siblings were able to enter the other four islands, but not the one we truly wanted. I got so angry I went back to my native island to make them the first victims of my darkness. But that was when I met your ancestor, Freya. She was fire incarnate. Similar situation to yours. Miserable life. Horrible parents. Poor.

"And I loved that about her. I was able to make her see how twisted the King was. How could a good King ever allow his people to be so poor? She was like a rag that absorbed all my water." Raven smirked and laughed. "And Freya's fire worked to my advantage. She did all the work for me. I didn't have to do much. She caused a riot in the people and then the Revolt began."

"When the Revolt ended, the powers of those who didn't believe in the practices of Castellum were taken away. The King told the Master at that time there would be a required Ceremony if the Bellatormans wanted to have powers, then Magnar locked himself in his castle."

Davina shook her head, comprehending Bellatorm's history even more.

"See, what I don't seem to understand is…What did he see in you that made him give you your gift? The power of a Phoenix is great. Why did he give it to you and not me? Why did he reject me?"

That must've been the reason why Raven wanted to convince Davina to join her cause against the King. It would be a slap to the King's face.

"Doesn't matter. With your power combined with my own, we'd be unstoppable. I do not understand how you can remain loyal to a father who has stood still and watched as you suffered at the hands of your mother and stepfather. He watched and did nothing. He could've exempted you from that pain and yet he didn't. But you are my sister, just as much as Ashira is, we are more alike than you can imagine. Please, stop denying it," Raven pleaded.

At times, it was hard for Davina to understand the reason why she had to suffer through what she did. But then she remembered what the King had said. Great stories are only born after great tribulations. If she had not passed through the difficulties, she wouldn't have developed into the woman she was today.

"There will never be a lifetime, world, or circumstance where I would choose you," Davina spat, fighting against the shadows around her wrists.

Raven's lips formed a line as her black eyes scanned Davina's glare. "Ashira may be too good for me but at least she never denied that we were sisters."

"We aren't sisters and we will never will be!"

"Perhaps some motivation would help," Raven chirped before snapping her fingers.

Three clouds of dark smoke appeared behind her. Two on her left and one on her right.

Micah, Genevieve, and Emmy appeared. They were down on their knees, gagged, and with their hands tied behind their backs. Tears streamed down their soft skin, their cheeks completely reddened as they cried against the tight cloth around their mouths.

One Predator was assigned to Gen and Micah and two assigned to Emmy. Davina was sure that it was because Emmy didn't allow them a single moment of peace, she fought not to smirk at her littlest sister's fierceness.

"What would happen if I were to slip and—" Raven scratched Genevive's cheek, "accidentally hurt one of your creatures?"

Davina growled as Gen whimpered with red blood dripping down her cheek. A strange yet powerful anger settled down inside of Davina. "Get your fingers off my sister or I'm going to rip them off one by one."

"You'd have to get to me first."

The shadows that encircled Davina's body tightened before picking her up and throwing her across the shattered house, which made her land harshly on a faraway tree trunk. She groaned, trying to find air to breathe in. Pulling herself onto her knees, she coughed violently.

A large Main Predator, wearing black leather, approached her. He leaned in and examined her face.

"Hi, I know I don't look the best right now, but I don't think we've met. My name's Davina, what's your—"

The Predator lifted her off the ground, slamming her back against the tree trunk again.

"That's not so nice." Davina frowned. The Predator grunted as he lifted her again. She was quick to wrap her legs around his large neck and twist. There was a loud crack between her thighs as she jumped off him before he thudded onto the grass.

Troops of Main and Lowly Predators stood before Davina, covering any sight that she could have of Raven and her siblings.

"Emmy and Micah are next," the Main and Lowly Predators said in unison with a wide smirk on their faces.

Clouds of gray mist and lightning passed above her, Ron was nearby. A sense of peace washed through her before it was replaced by intensive fury.

"Like hell they are," Davina muttered, stretching out her wings, larger than ever.

She flew across the field of armed Predators, flapping her wings and causing sparks of fire to land on the nearing enemies. Davina punched, twirled, and grabbed at their necks before throwing them against each other.

Davina stopped in the middle of the field, her eyes scanning how swiftly they searched to near her. She felt sorry for them. They faithfully served a master who sent them on a fool's mission.

Because she was the justice that the King raised for his people, Raven, and her Predators would pay. The King gave her the privilege. He handed Raven over to her. For the people, for her siblings, for Ron, for Leilani, and above all for herself.

Davina screamed. Her fists sent out waves of a violet firestorm, letting out all the rage she had for having carried the burden of the eldest daughter, the fury she felt that her siblings were in danger, the contempt she held for Leilani, her once best friend because she betrayed her for such a vain reason.

Once her throat ran dry, she realized her twin swords were loyally set on her back. She ripped them out of their holster and began to thrash her way through the hundreds of Predators that ran against her.

She slashed at them, their dark blood spilling and coating her iron armor, working briskly to finish them off before Raven laid another finger on the kids. She'd burn the entire island of Basalt into the deep oceans if something else happened to them. They'd been through enough.

Davina noticed the Main Predators grab onto her siblings as bolts of lightning struck down from the dark and gloomy clouds. The strikes of electricity neared Raven and the Predators at each strike on the ground, the fumes of the flashes surrounded them.

Davina stabbed the last Predator beside her without taking her eyes off her siblings, then sent each of her twin swords into the two Predators behind Emmy, grabbed her lapis lazuli diadem, and aimed it at the Main Predator's neck that stood behind Micah. Davina pulled out the spiked snowflake that Snow had gifted to her, which was hidden under her wrist, and lodged it into the Predator's chest behind Genevieve.

The Predators had been dispatched, and it was only Raven who stood before her siblings.

She stood straight, chest heaving, staring at Raven with a dark stare. "I am done playing your little games. This. Ends. Now ."

Raven scoffed, "This is far from over, Almenara."

Large puffs of smoke appeared behind Davina's siblings. Mist of darkness covered the vast terrain of the battle. An entire company of Main Predators materialized through the vapor. They were already pacing toward the Almenara children, causing the ground of the battlefield to rumble.

Clear crescent shapes of vibrations made some of the Predators fall and ruin their marching formation. It was Cara. Davina found the pink-armored Basalan with a hand on the ashen land beneath her. Davina sighed in relief.

Flashes of bright yellow gleam shot through the regiment of Raven's servants. It was Valerie, who was throwing daggers of her sunlight with swift aim. Then, the wind suddenly began to pick up. A violent rotating column of gray currents grew rapidly, causing many of the Predators to be taken into the eye of the tornado. Davina did not doubt that it was Beacon's work.

A bolt of lightning flashed from the dark clouds above and crashed onto Raven's back. The Dark Mistress stumbled while smoke sizzled from her chest. The lightning had struck right through to her. Ron sneaked behind the staggering Dark Mistress and quietly untied Micah's bondages. Ron gave a silent signal to Micah which he was quick to obey.

Micah grabbed Emmy and carried her as Ron held onto Genevieve.

Ron looked back at Davina, Gen cradled in his arms, he nodded curtly. Out of everything that Ron had ever done for her, taking care of her siblings would be the greatest of them all.

Micah and Ron ran away from the field as Snow, Cara, Beacon, and Valerie surrounded Raven. Caleb remained in a heated argument with Leilani while their swords clanked against one another.

The Captain then turned to her friends and nodded. Beacon extended his arms toward the Dark Mistress, his clouds began to suffocate her. Cara raised her hands and sent vibrations at the villainess. Valerie shot her sunlight while Snow threw sharp crystals at Raven.

Slowly, Davina strode to the nearest Predator that held one of her swords lodged into his chest. She then signaled them to stop. The Island Protectors followed her silent order.

"Do you need help warming up?" The Captain chuckled.

"Davina… Don't do anything that you might regret," she panted. Raven's frame quivered as she fought to keep herself on her feet.

"But, sis, I won't regret a single thing." Davina smiled.

Davina aimed a palm at Raven, sending her violet blaze toward the Dark Mistress. Her fire was aggressive and larger than ever as it consumed the witch's skin.

She glimpsed the Dark Mistress raising her palms, Davina's lavender light reached Raven before she could conjure her shadows. Her hands melted and charred as they met with Davina's fury. The Dark Mistress fell to the lifeless forest ground, trying to drag herself away from the vengeful Captain.

Davina raised her sword. Fire and lightning crackled and buzzed around the entire blade of the sword, causing the hilt of it to vibrate between her hands.

"This is what happens when you touch one of my own," she muttered.

Raven's black eyes widened even more.

"No, Davina, don't! If you kill me, you'll kill Leilani!" Raven raised her burned fingers. Aside from her singed hands, boils and blotches ran across her arms and her face seemed to have melted.

Davina slowly lowered her sword.

"That's right. Me and Leilani made a blood pact. Whatever you do to me, you'll do to her."

Davina could no longer hear, all that was audible was the clash of two specific swords. She turned to find Leilani advancing on Caleb, he was struggling to keep his sword upright against his sister. A dash of fear crossed Caleb's expression as he looked at his sister's contorted expression.

The blonde-haired Basalan in dark green was not Lani. Their friendship was doomed the moment Leilani considered the darkness. She was gone.

Davina's lips quivered as she realized the inevitable choice she had to make. "Leilani Dunbar is already dead."

"Mark my words, Davina Almenara. I will always haunt you. My darkness and wrath will have no end!"

The Captain didn't hesitate as she lifted her sword and lodged it into Raven's chest. As the tip of the blade reached the witch's flesh, she heard a crunch and a sharp shriek before an outburst of magenta and onyx filled Davina's vision. Her ears began to ring as she flew across the field.

Davina wheezed once she collided with the cold body of a female and they rolled onto the ashen land. The throbs in her brain impaired her ability to see clearly as she blinked frantically at the dark sky. She moaned, reaching for her head. Frigid hands covered her cheeks as Snow's blue eyes stared deeply into her own.

She seemed to be telling her something.

A weight lifted from her mind and Davina felt like she could breathe again. She exhaled and heard Snow barking orders at Cara and Valerie to come help her.

"I'm okay," Davina muttered.

"D?" Val ran to her side. Cara, with the help of Beacon, seemed to be limping toward Davina.

"I'm okay," she said.

"When are you gonna stop scaring us like that?" Snow snapped.

"Awe, Snow. Do I hear your heart of ice thawing?" the Captain chuckled.

Snow growled and rolled her eyes before she and Valerie helped Davina to her feet. Once Davina was upright, Snow let her go and sighed with annoyance clear in her expression.

The Captain's eyes darted in the direction of where the Dark Mistress once stood. There was no sign of the villainess. Raven was dead, at last. The war was finally over.

Explosions burst into the night sky, several cries pulled her attention.

"Leilani!" Caleb yelled.

Davina turned to Caleb, who dropped his sword. Leilani's legs were dissolving into dark particles. Leilani seemed just as confused as Caleb, she examined her disappearing limbs and then turned to look at Davina, tears brimming her beautiful green eyes.

Remorse filled Davina as she watched how the rest of her body disintegrated slowly. Then fear made her tremble when she noticed Leilani's eyes turn pitch black.

Then, Leilani's ashes flew away with the fresh breeze.

All those times where she vented to her, all the laughs, all the discussions… it was all for nothing. Because as much as the entire world knew how beautiful Leilani was, she knew it all too well. And her vanity was the cause of her downfall.

Davina scanned the battlefield and found other Main Predators disappearing into the darkness as well. Cara shuffled toward Davina with Beacon's help before he walked over to Valerie. Cara and Davina held onto each other for support.

"You did it, you ended the war," Cara whispered.

" We ended the war." Davina smiled.

Then, a blur of teal shot right past Davina. Beacon, Val, and Snow were quick to run after Ashira; the blonde-haired girl dashed through the battlefield.

It seemed as though the ancient Neptulan would successfully flee until Snow extended her hands and made an entire pathway of crystal. The ice cracked once Ashira's body made contact with it. Valerie and Beacon grabbed Raven's sister and forced her to her feet.

Two Aurisan Leaders walked toward the Levina couple, offering to take the girl to the dungeon.

"Take her to the dungeon and keep her away from Isaiah's cell," Davina ordered.

Valerie and Beacon allowed the Aurisan Leaders to grip Ashira's arms. Surprisingly, Raven's twin didn't thrash against their harsh grasp.

Sunlight began to simmer through the smoke and burned trees. A few Soldiers were lying wounded across the forest-turned battlefield, while other Bellatormans kneeled before the dead.

Then Davina turned and began to frantically search for her siblings.

"Ron?" He'd helped free them of their bondages so they wouldn't be caught in the crossfire but she couldn't find them through the mist of the night.

"D!" Emmy squealed while Davina sighed in relief at the bob of her blonde head as they appeared from behind the lifeless trees. All three of them ran. Davina smiled, tears already spilling, letting herself be suffocated in their arms.

"I'm so happy you guys are okay," she whispered, giving them each a kiss on their head. She could hear Genevieve and Emmy whimpering. Micah was quiet but she was able to see the salt brimming his hazel eyes.

Davina looked up and found Ron standing a few feet away with his arms behind his back, a wide smile on his face. Thank Magnar that he wasn't wearing his helmet because then she wouldn't be able to see his beautiful grin.

Thank you, she mouthed.

He nodded once before heading toward Beacon and Valerie, hugging them immediately.

Davina tightened the hold she had around her siblings, breathing shakily as she felt them tremble in her arms. She rubbed their shoulders, hoping that she could heal the wounds caused by the horrors they had to watch.

"I'm so sorry you had to see all of that," Davina whispered as she closed her eyes and squeezed them, which they were eager to do as well.

"It's okay. You are the best big sister anyone could ever have!" Emmy exclaimed.

Davina chuckled. Emmy had no idea how much those words meant to her.

"Thank you for saving us," Micah said softly.

"Thank you," Genevieve whispered.

The eldest Almenara noticed two figures standing a kilometer away from her and her siblings. She would never mistake the King's smile or Master Abigail's scar for anyone else's. They both stood with hands behind their back. Davina smiled. Then, they disappeared among the fog of the dimming fires.

The King and Abigail were right. She won against Raven, she found her siblings and her anger was of use in the war.

And she found peace in knowing that her siblings would be okay because Micah, Genevieve, and Emmy were Soldiers at heart.

But then, a curly-headed brunette man rushed to Beacon and Ron, crashing into their arms. It was Bane, their brother. Their cries of joy enlighten the gloomy atmosphere of the field. Davina's blurry vision then focused on her friend in green battered armor.

Caleb stood in the middle of the battleground, his eyes frantically scanning the scene, as he dropped to his knees. He reached for the pile of ashes that had once been the form of his sister. The rapid heartbeats of her siblings and the whimpers of the surviving warriors around her had become inaudible. And all that she could hear was Caleb's screaming for his other half.

"I'll be right back," she said, moving her sibling's arms away from her.

"Where are you going?" Emmy asked.

"Stay there," Davina ordered.

She picked up her pace and ran to the youngest Dunbar. His hands were covered in grey particles while tears slicked down his face. Caleb looked up at her with sorrow, a pain that seemed to create a crack in his very soul. His cheeks were coated with long lines of misery. "Caleb, I—"

There would never be any words that could ease his pain. Davina fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around him.

"No!" Caleb shrieked. He pushed and thrashed against her grip but she held onto him even more fiercely.

"It's going to be okay," Davina cooed.

"No, leave me alone. Stop! Let me go!" he cried, nudging and pushing her away.

A lump lodged itself into her throat as she croaked, "I'm not letting you go."

Once she said that, he stopped fighting to be freed and wrapped his arms around her torso. Caleb leaned against her shoulder and sobbed. Davina rested her cheek on his head while she rubbed his back, hoping that her embrace could be a drop of solace for him.

Bane made his way to her siblings, putting a protective arm around them, as Ron motioned to the others to head toward Caleb and her. Ron, Cara, Snow, Valerie, and Beacon strode over to them, eyes hanging low.

Valerie bent down and hugged Caleb's back. Snow sat before him and sent him a sad smile, then grabbed a hold of his hand while Cara grabbed his other. Beacon rested a hand over Caleb's shoulder and Ron embraced both Davina and Caleb.

"It'll be okay, Caleb," Valerie whispered.

He only shook his head as he wailed.

Leilani Dunbar was dead.

Her first true friend was gone. And in the heat of the moment, she hadn't realized how much it pained her to think of a life without Lani. Davina's lips quivered with each of Caleb's sobs until she couldn't contain the tears that she had been trying to keep away.