Final Goodbyes

I woke up in the pool, struggling to climb out, feeling at first white hot pain, followed by the cool, calming sensation of being made whole again. I was confused as I pulled myself out and laid by the pool, trying hard to catch my breath. Jai ran out, followed by Ozzy and to see him back, not under Minias's control made my eyes water.

Suddenly, all my memories came crashing back front and center to my brain. I remembered cursing my friends, and then, in horror, I remembered stabbing Oz in the stomach. Words started babbling through my lips, apologies on top of apologies, but...something was off. Oz didn't want to hold me, he didn't seem to be happy that I was back. He instead comforted Jai. His arms were around JAI. His look of concern, worry, of LOVE, was at JAI. Even though I was whole and my soul was intact, I broke. I could do nothing but helplessly watch them leave...together. I went back inside, to the shambles that my life had become and cried...
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I later learned that Oz wasn't free, and that he was only here because Minias had been put in jail in the Ever After. All of his powers had been stripped and he was trapped there. But he still had control over Oz's entire family. I knew Minias was at his most vulnerable state, and if he were to be killed, now would be the time to do it. So I started to plan...

I researched the Demonomicon, for anything that would kill a demon, and learned a special blade would destroy his body. I closed my eyes, letting tears fall down as the realization of what would happen to me when Minias died settled in. His blood flowed through my veins, our connection was through a demon blood. If he was destroyed, then so would I be.

It didn't matter. I wouldn't let it. For all that Oz had done for me, for the pain I caused him when I stabbed him, both physical and emotional, he deserved to be free. I did not believe I deserved to die, but I knew I loved him with all my heart and his life was worth more than mine.

The night proceeding my trip into the Ever After, Jai called me. She said she needed to talk, so I met her in France, at a cute Paris bistro. She told me she suspected Oz was in love with me, that she felt it even though he wasn't even aware. That little bit of information gave me peace, and solidified my plans. I told her she needed to be there for him, and she complied, though I didn't tell her why he would need her. I didn't doubt that she would make him happy after I was gone. She was a good friend to me, and I knew at least a part of him loved her, and that part would grow. They would be happy.

I returned home, and wrote down a brief list of how my belongings should be separated. I didn't have much, but I made sure to give what I had to Oz, Memphis, Jai, and my mother and sister. On my wrist, I wore the bracelet from my mother, that was engraved with my name, needing her strength. I left Oz a letter (http://twitpic.com/1rg150) and packed my bag, full of candles, and protection spells before teleporting into the Ever After.

I arrived in an empty field, setting two circles strong circles before sitting down in the center. I had only once before summoned Minias, and that was when I cashed in on his favor to me, the one that brought me back to life, but I knew his full summoning name. Minias Dornban Wenoin. When I opened my eyes, he stood before me, his hands shackled by iron cuffs that I knew were enchanted. He could not move, but the smirk on his face showed he was not scared of me. No doubt he thought I had come to free him, but as I pulled the blade from my bag, he lost his smile. "You plan on killing me, little witch? You'll die too", he said, then laughed. But I knew that. I said so and I saw the understanding then fear flash over his face. I didn't make him wait long before driving the blade through his chest. His body fell to the ground, and instantly I felt my blood begin to boil, and in my head I heard his voice. He was possessing me, like I knew he would. I'd prepared a spell, and all it needed was a trigger word. I closed my eyes and held onto my aura, and the same time murmuring Latin. My body lit on fire from the inside out, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think, all I could do was feel myself burn to ashes... And we died....

The black Abyss

Ahhh... Finally, the whiny, sentimental, uptight control freak was gone. Inside my head, I felt and saw nothing but what was mine for the taking. The world looked clear for the first time. I recognized who stood before me, and memories of our past, but I had no emotions towards them. Towards anyone. It was freeing. Liberating.

For my first act as my true self, I went to the pathetic charms shop and did a little redecorating. After torching the basic stock, I started anew and created numerous curses, fit to cause terror, confusion, and pain. Once my shelves were full, I set out to start my new image.

I enjoyed a few men, fondled a few women, let vampires sink their teeth in me, and stabbed a confused, pathetic shifter who claimed to love me, all within a few weeks. One particularly boring evening, I twisted a man and woman's morality, let the skies rain blood, sewed a goody-two-shoes lips shut, made a human man shift at the full moon, and plagued a woman's nightmares with demon-filled visions. All the while, I watched, fascinated, while they struggled to comprehend what had happened. Foolish. Never had I had such fun.

And then, my freedom came to a halt after the annoying shifter and self-righteous fairy stole my soul back from the demon Minias, returning it unwillingly to me...

The Demon's Game

Oswald and my trip into the Ever After was brief, but when we returned we both felt overwhelmed and couldn't meet each other's eyes. Yes, Minias had made Oz younger, but it wasn't from the goodness of his cold, disgusting heart. His ulterior motive was to breed a child from Oz and I. Since any child Oz had belonged to Minias, and my blood was the demon's blood, a baby born from us would be Minias' ultimate possession. I was revolted, and I refused to look at either of them when I teleported us out. Oz swore he had no idea that that had been Minias' plan from the beginning, but it didn't matter. The damage was done, and instead of seeing Oz as my best friend, I saw him as a spy, and I pushed him away.

Eventually, the shock wore off, and I realized it was not Oz's fault. I trusted he didn't know. Minias' sick plan was of his own creation and I knew Oz needed to be free of him. Oz was such a kind, warm person, so trusting so lovable, even after all he'd been through. I needed to do something for him.

So I went to the book we'd picked up in the Ever After, the Demonomicon, its meaning roughly translating into the The Book of Eternal Death. I knew to fight evil, you must think evil, and I scourged the book until I found what I hoped was it. A spell to break a powerful curse.

I prepared the spell during the day, collecting the components. I knew it was black magic. I knew it would make my white aura covered in smut and while I wished there was another way, I knew there wasn't. Oz had done so much for me, been there for my business, been there for me when my heart was broken by Severus... He was a true friend. His freedom was worth my tainted aura. Once dusk fell, I set the curse in motion, moving quickly. It would not take long for Minias to register what I was doing. I hoped I had enough time...but I was wrong.

Moments before I was able to finish the curse, Minias appeared, throwing his dark energy at me, paralyzing me. He reached inside me, and pulled away my soul. The pain was excruciating, as though every happy thought, ever emotion other then hate and anger, was ripped out of me.

But once my soul was gone...a new me emerged...

Now I know...

It’s like jumping, it’s like leaping
It’s like walking on the ceiling
It’s like floating, it’s like flying
Through the air
It’s like soaring, it’s like gliding
It’s a rocket ship you’re riding
It’s a feeling that can take you anywhere

So why they call it falling
Why they call it falling
Why they call it falling
I don’t know

There was passion, there was laughter
The first morning after
I just couldn’t get my feet to touch the ground
Everytime we were together
We talked about forever
I was certain it was Heaven
We had found

So why they call it falling
Why they call it falling
Why they call it falling
I don’t know

But you can’t live your life
Walking in the clouds
Sooner or later
You have to come down

It’s like a knife through the heart
When it all comes apart
It’s like someone takes a pin
To your balloon
It’s a hole, it’s a cave
It’s kinda like a grave
When he tells you that he’s found somebody new

So why they call it falling
Why they call it falling
Why they call it falling
Now I know
Now I know