Chapter 28

In the dimly lit room, everyone's attention turned to Carlyle as the radiant glow from his white wings illuminated his side. The ethereal lights emanating from Carlyle's wings filled his section of the room, casting a celestial brightness.

"What's going on?" Niall inquired, gazing at Carlyle and his extraordinary wings.

"It looks like he has the power of the White Raven," Dean exclaimed, his voice tinged with shock.

"Look at Kathrine," Courtney urged, her voice filled with disbelief.

Turning their attention to Kathrine, the room on her side was shrouded in black mist, rendering it almost entirely dark. On closer inspection, discernible through the murk, were black wings gracing Kathrine's back.

"It looks like she has the power of The Black Qrow," Dean announced, examining both of his children with astonishment.

"What does this mean?" Kristen questioned, her eyes fixed on Dean.

"It means that this war is going to be its FINAL DESTINATION," Dean declared with a rough, foreboding tone.

"What do you mean by that?" Niall asked, shifting his gaze between Carlyle and Dean.

"It means that this is going to be the end of the dark war for good," Dean explained. "That's good," Courtney interjected with a smile.

"Yes, it is, but it's not going to be a very happily ever after," Dean continued, looking directly at Courtney. "Some will make it to the end, and some won't."

"If you put it that way," Kristen remarked as she walked over to Courtney.

"That's what happens, in a way," Dean stated with his eyes closed, "it's how all wars end."

When Dean reopened his eyes, both Kathrine and Carlyle's wings disappeared, and the lights in the room returned to normal.

"That was weird," Kathrine commented, glancing at her brother.

"Yes, it was," Carlyle replied with a smile, "but pretty cool though."

"So did it work?" Kathrine inquired, scanning the room and then looking at her father.

"It did; we just need to wait until the portal appears," Dean assured her with a smile. "It shouldn't take that long."

Just as Dean finished speaking, Carlyle's body began to shake, and he collapsed to the ground.

"What is happening?" Kathrine exclaimed as she rushed to Carlyle.

"I don't..." Tierney began, hurrying to her son.

"I think his powers reacted to the spell we did," Thomas suggested as he observed Carlyle.

"Carlyle, can you hear me?" Tierney pleaded as she cradled his head in her lap. Carlyle's body stopped shaking as she spoke to him.

As everyone gathered around him, the room resonated with the sounds of chains falling. The cacophony ceased, replaced by screams and crying.

"What the heck is going on?" Kristen questioned, anxiously scanning the room for the source of the sounds.

"I don't know; it's scary," Courtney admitted, holding Kristen's hand.

"I think his power might have boosted the spell to give him his memories back faster than letting them come in one at a time," Thomas hypothesized. He felt Carlyle's burning forehead. "He has a fever."

"What's going to happen to my son?" Dean inquired, leaning down next to Tierney and gripping her hand.

"I don't know; I've never seen this happen before," Thomas confessed.

"Then how do you know that this is happening to him?" Dean demanded, scrutinizing Thomas.

"I have heard of it before," Thomas replied, pulling his book from his magical storage. "That when that spell connects with a power, it boosts itself."

"Do you know if it will kill him?" Tierney asked, finally looking at both Dean and Thomas with tears in her eyes.

As Thomas opened the book and started to turn its pages, he explained, "Yes and no."

"What do you mean?" Kathrine questioned as she stood up.

"It means that he needs to fight the boost on his own; only he can stop it," Thomas clarified.

"And how is he going to do that if he lies like this?" Kathrine demanded, her frustration evident.

"He is fighting right now, Kathrine," Thomas assured her, shutting his book. "It's in his head, and he is fighting it. I promise you."

"I'm sorry," Kathrine whispered, tears streaming down her face.

"I know you are," Thomas replied, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her. "I know you are."

As silence enveloped the room, Carlyle's eyes opened, showing only white.

"I KNOW WHO I AM," Carlyle declared with a deep voice. "I AM CARLYLE SILVERTON, SON OF EMMET SILVERTON."

"Did he just say Emmet Silverton?" Tierney asked, looking at Dean in disbelief.

"Yes, he did, Selena," Dean confirmed, gazing at her.

"He can't have; he has been dead for 16 years," Tierney protested in shock. "He died in the first Dark War."