Chapter 28

Talia's eyes opened to utter darkness. She breathed out softly only to see her breath stream out from her lips. Had she let the fire go out? She remembered clearly stocking it before going to bed, she even used the thick red pine tree like Amber had told her so that it would burn longer. She reached a hand out from under her blankets to grasp at the air, she wasn't good at judging temperature. Giants were exceptional at body temperature control so unless it was cold enough to crack rock or hot enough to melt it she would rarely ever notice.

"What is this?" She whispered to herself. Still her breath turned to mist and dissipated into the dark. That was a surefire sign that it was cold. She would have to start the fire before Amber took ill, she had learned throughout the two years she'd been living with the woman that humans were terribly fragile. She was used to killing them, an easy enough affair, but keeping them alive was so much harder. She flipped her pile of blankets off with a deep sigh.

Getting up from bed in the middle of the night was never her favorite thing, and now that she had a regular sleep-at-night rise-at-day schedule sleep was that much more important to her. But if Amber caught a cold it could be catastrophic so she wouldn't oppose so much. Her feet hit the wood floor and she shuddered. She could tell it was cold for a brief second. It was terribly cold, when had the fire gone out? She had never failed to light a fire before. Not to mention the fire had been burning for several days already.

She made her way through the house while rubbing her eyes and yawning. She reached back and pulled on the leather tie in her hair. Amber had shown her how to put her hair up and she had kind of taken to it. She blinked blearily as the large iron stove came into view. She frowned as she eyed the two handles, one was askew from the closed position. She had never left the handles open for the night, she always worried that the fire would blow out and Amber would get sick. Had Nico tried to stock the fire? Or Amber? Amber usually left it alone after Talia tended it.

"Why are you so cold little flame?" She murmured as she settled on her knees before the stove. She opened the door to find the wood doused. Had snow fallen through the chimney? She peered out the large gathering-room window but there was no snow falling. She couldn't hear the wind rattling the windows either. What had happened? Carefully she leaned forward and sniffed at the wood. There was a faint scent of... Apple blossoms.

"Midnight..." She hissed with a snarl. Her heart began to race at the implications. She stretched her senses out beyond the property, her main focus was anything even slightly out of place. She could tell they were nearby but someone was hiding them.

"This is bad, really... Really bad." Her thoughts were muddled as she reached her forefinger into the stove to relight the wood. The flames enveloped it swiftly before the usual crackling and popping started up once more. If they thought she had relit the fire and went back to bed perhaps they would assume that all was normal and she hadn't caught on. She watched the orange flames dance as she tried to process what was about to happen. If Nazir was there things were going to get ugly. The fact that Midnight was there meant he was fully prepared to take Talia by force. Midnight was the only one capable of putting Talia down swiftly.

She closed the door and rose quietly to sneak her way into Amber's room. She had to make sure the woman was ok before she started killing people. She didn't want Amber to see what was coming. But as she opened Amber's doors she was greeted with cold fingers grasping at her cheeks. Amber's face materialized and her eyes were white with fear.

"There was a woman..." She started but Talia pressed her finger onto the woman's lips with an urgent 'shoosh'.

"I know, I can sense them. I restarted the fire. I'm going to go outside and I'm going to make sure..." But she didn't get the chance to finish her sentence.

"You should have stayed asleep sister, I didn't want you to see this." Midnight's hands laced around Ambers neck as she pulled the woman back into the shadows of her room. Talia reached out quickly as she ignited the candles in Amber's room. She could see Midnight and Nazir both standing next to Amber's large bed, both of them had cold hard eyes and stony faces. Talia was gasping as she watched Midnights hands close a little tighter around Amber's neck. Why hadn't she noticed them when they arrived inside the house? Had she truly gone soft?

"You've been gone a while Talia. I never took you for a human lover." Nazir stepped forward as he pulled a glowing blue blade from the sleeve of his brown robes. He hadn't changed a bit in the years she'd been away. His dark chocolate skin gleamed under the candlelight. He had a beard that covered his chin and went down to his lower neck, a single bead held it together at the end. His hair was still cut short, the brown similar to the tone of his skin. His eyes were crystalline blue however and glowed with the same evil intent that was emanating from the blade. Or perhaps it was the other way around, Talia couldn't be certain.

"I never took you for one either." She hissed. Did he think she wouldn't find out that Amber wasn't a kill that Hephatus had ordered? Did he forget her ties to the goddess? If Hephatus hadn't ordered it then a human did, and she didn't serve humans. He smiled as he stepped forward again, he twirled the tip of the blade against his fingertip.

"You ordered a job that wasn't Hephatus's will. How can you call yourself a conduit of her will when you aren't even fulfilling it?" She hadn't been able to confront him about her anger, she had hoped she would never have to. But now that he was there, now that he was threatening her serenity she was more than happy to rail him with her rage. He rolled his eyes with a bored yawn,

"We have to make money somehow girl, and I have to make ends meet. Our neck of the woods has been dry of late and if you haven't noticed Hephatus doesn't pay. The ones who pray to her do. Or the ones who contact us." His grin turned predatory as he continued to step forward. Talia sneered at him, money? She had never thought her job, their job, had been about money. Serving a god was not supposed to be about money.

"She will provide, through the darkness her will guides us. We are her heart, she is our soul. Trials will shape us, victory will reward us, faithfulness will bind us." She shouldn't have to remind him of their daily morning prayers, their guidelines. If they went hungry it was only because she was preparing them for a feast. He had lost his way, she would not serve a man who was not faithful to their goddess.

"Blah blah blah, don't forget your place. I'm here to take you home. I'll remind you who you are and who you will continue to be. This was nothing but a distraction." He turned slightly to Midnight, the woman stood stony faced as she awaited his order. Talia glared at her, when had she become a sheep?

Midnight was the oldest agent remaining under Nazir and had effectively raised Talia to be the killer she was. Midnight was a beautiful agent as well with her long flowing onyx hair and dark glittering black eyes. She had full red lips, an angular lean face, and she stood just under six feet tall. Her thin frame was surprisingly agile and powerful as well, though Talia had never found out how or why. She was certain though that Midnight was not entirely human.

"If you do this sister, you will live to regret it. I can promise you, I will not be fast about killing you." She made sure there was no humanity left in her voice when she made the threat. She couldn't allow her emotions to cloud her when Amber's life was so precariously hanging in the balance. Midnight looked cautiously to Nazir as her lips pulled down into a frown.

"Father, this isn't the first time one of our agents has found a life outside of the order. This woman won't live forever, why can't we just let them stay until this plays itself out? Talia is still devout to Hephatus, isn't that all that matters?" Her voice was soft as she released her hold on Amber a little bit. Amber wriggled slightly, her eyes like a wild doe as she watched Talia. Nazir scoffed,

"I can't allow my tools to dull. This woman is nothing but rust upon one of my shiniest and sharpest blades. She must be removed. So kill her, and be sure to paint the walls when you do it. I want Talia to remember why it is not smart to cross me." His voice was iron and his eyes were ice. Talia's heart raced as she looked back to Midnight. Midnight looked back with no small amount of sorrow,

"I'm sorry sister. Things have changed since you've been gone and... I can't... I can't disobey." Talia picked up on the quavering note in Midnights voice. What had Nazir done? How had he bent such a woman to his will? More than that, how had Hephatus allowed it?

"Then allow me to ease your conscience." She flew forward in an instant to wrap her own fingers around Midnight's neck. In the blink of an eye she turned and threw the woman out the doors and the gathering-room windows. The sound was night-shattering. Before Nazir could react she spun again and landed her foot into his ribcage sending him out after Midnight. He broke through the second window with another resounding crash.

"Talia, what's happening?!" Amber was shaking as she stumbled and fell onto her bed. Talia bent down on her knees to check the woman with a careful eye, her neck was bruised but there was no blood leaking from her soft delicate skin. She reached up to cup Amber's face and tuck a few wayward strands of chestnut hair behind her ears. She peered into honey eyes. How she wished she could whisk her away to safety so she would never have to gaze upon the darkness again. They could move, they could set up a new life somewhere far away. All she had to do was ensure they survived the night.

"Wait here, and no matter what happens don't come outside. Lock your doors and keep a dagger in your hands. If they take me, please... Don't try to stop them." She wiped away the tears that were flowing down the woman's face. Amber wrapped her hands around Talia's ears as she placed her forehead against Talia's.

"I can't loose ya daughter, please don't make me stay here as they drag ya away." Her voice was wavering. Her hands were shaking. Talia could hear her heart racing in her chest. She had to act fast before Nazir and Midnight got up, she had to make sure they would never lay a hand on Amber again. Even if it meant killing them. Hephatus would have to live with her choice, she hadn't intervened after all.

"They won't. Not when I'm finished. I'm strong, and thanks to everything you've done for me I know I'll be strong enough for this. Just... Wait here." She rose quickly and strode out the doors before closing them behind her.

"Nico?" She reached out carefully. He had to have awoken by now. As to where he was she couldn't be certain.

"I'm here... Lets get this done." He was steadfast and sounded confident yet distant.

"Are you ok with me... Killing them?" She climbed out the window only to find the blood spattered snow empty. Nazir and Midnight had slunk into the shadows already. Midnight had been both of their sister, she was their teacher, their playmate, their confidant. But now all Talia could see was a shell, an empty woman with hollow eyes. Nazir had her chained.

"I will follow your lead. I want Amber safe too." He sounded weary, had he already been fighting? She didn't have time to worry about him though. She had to make sure Nazir and Midnight didn't get Amber.

Sniffing the air she locked onto the scent of their blood, each one was distinct enough she could tell where they had split up to circle back around the house. The winter air stank of them, though she was certain part of it came from their glass riddled bodies and rage. Though only Nazir smelled enraged.

"If you want to die face me, or else slink back to your caves old man." She called out. She tried to call upon Hephatus's hounds to hunt the two for her but they resisted her. She still hadn't mastered pulling them from the void let alone controlling them. She had only ever managed to summon them twice in her life, though it would seem this time she couldn't muster it. She imagined it was because she was so afraid. Even if she did manage to call them there was no guarantee she could control them.

"Fine, stay in the void you smoke filled ass holes." She muttered. Still she slunk through the snow to follow their trail. The longer it took to find them the more her stomach twisted into anxiety filled knots. Had they gone back for Amber? But she didn't hear screaming.

"Do you see them?" She waited for Nico to respond impatiently.

"No, even the horses are acting normally. We need to hurry before this gets out of hand." His voice was filled with as much worry as she felt in her heart. He didn't need to remind her, she already knew.

"Talia!" Her heart froze. She turned, wide eyed, to see Amber standing in the blood filled snow just outside the broken windows. She had her robes wrapped tightly around her and her hair a mess around her face. What was she doing outside? Couldn't she listen? Now she was in even more danger. Why did she have to make it hard?

"Get back...!" She reached out just as she saw the shadows unfold to reveal Nazir. She only had a split second to react so she called upon her mana. She shouted a quick spell as her arms heated up. A fireball exploded from her palms to rip through the darkness. Nazir was forced to jump out of the way. Amber leapt forward to stand in front of Talia with her arms spread wide,

"Leave my daughter alone you maniac! Leave this place!" She screamed as the wind started to pick up. Talia tried to reach forward but her entire body would no longer react. Things were so wrong, so utterly terribly wrong. She knew it couldn't last forever, she knew that and yet... It wasn't supposed to end this way.

"Ha! Did she just call you daughter Talia? You really did let yourself go. I'm going to have to really make this lesson stick." Before she could react Amber's body jerked violently and she fell backwards. Talia reached out to pull her into her embrace. There was a dagger sticking from her chest. A dagger. Rage blinded her. The smell of Amber's blood sent her over the edge.

"Mom..." Her throat was closing. She pulled the dagger free with shaking hands before grappling with her quickly unraveling nerves. She could feel her mana going wild with her, she didn't have long left. She held her main hand over Amber's wounds and whispered a simple healing spell. Had she been anything less than what she was it wouldn't have worked fast enough, but as she watched the wound closed and blood stopped weeping. Amber's breath was still shaky but she was alive and that was all that mattered. She gently lay her on the ground before facing Nazir again. She was going to pull him apart piece by piece until she was satisfied.

"You can keep putting her together darling, but I'll keep tearing her apart." Nazir pierced her with his stare as he snapped his fingers. She leapt forward only to get a boot to her ribs sending her flying into the walls of the house. She grunted, eyes closed, her lungs were screaming. Her mind was screaming.

"Nico...!" Was he there? Was he going to be able to protect Amber? There was no answer. She forced her eyes open only to see Midnight holding Amber once again.

"Baby-girl, we knew the day would come..." Amber choked as Midnight's hold on her throat grew stronger.

"Don't talk, woman. Don't make this hurt more than it already does. Can't you see this is already destroying her? Do you know what happens to emotional giants?" Midnight looked to Talia. She knew that look. That condescension. If she wanted to see emotional...

"Do ya think emotion makes ya weak girl? How I pity you. I love my kids so much I gained the will to live. Do you know how powerful that is? I've watched them grow, learn, recover, I watched them learn how to be people. Free from your chains." Ambers eyes were streaming with tears as Midnight continued to apply pressure. Talia's own tears were freezing to her cheeks.

"They were never your children old woman. And you were never their mother. It's time for this lie to end." Midnight pulled a knife free from her thigh before placing it against Amber's neck. Talia broke. Time slowed as she jumped to her feet and reached a hand out. She watched her veins glow with white hot energy as power surged through her. A spell crossed her mind, one she had never tried. One that was meant for advanced students. One that was powerful.

"Mom!" She screamed as she words for the spell filled her mind. As crimson started to spray from Amber's neck the world lit up as if a star was about to hit. She could feel the bones in her arms breaking at the force of the spell and how uncontrolled she was. She could feel her mana being consumed so fast it was burning her flesh off. But she refused to watch Amber die. If they were going to kill her, then she would burn the world to the ground around them. They would taste her sorrow and know the pain they had caused even if it lasted a moment.

"Now you have to Die!" Her voice was no longer her own but something infinitely more powerful and deep. She never saw the flame silhouette of the dragon rising above her, two horns thrust forward over its starlight eyes, sharp teeth protruding from serpentine lips. She never saw Amber's awe as she looked to the heavens. She never saw her mother's hands reach out as if to hold her, to comfort her. In the end she never really saw her die either as her own emotions and grief consumed her. The last thing she saw was blinding white light, and the last thing she heard before the consuming darkness reclaim her was Amber's voice,

"It's alright baby-girl... I'll always be here for you. I'll always be a part of the darkness with you now."