LYRIAN
They ran through the temple as fast as their exhausted bodies would allow.
Every muscle in Lyrian's body ached, and judging by the labored breathing around her, Reone and everyone else felt the same. They had been running and exerting themselves for what felt like forever, yet not a single one of them suggested taking a break.
They couldn't.
Somewhere behind them echoed Damon's laughter.
The sound made Lyrian shiver.
"Which way to the exit, Mickey?" she asked, keeping her voice low despite the pounding of her heart.
Mickey's eyes darted over the map in his trembling hands. Sweat rolled down his forehead.
"This way," he said quickly, taking off down another corridor.
The others followed without hesitation.
"Hurry!" Reone called. "He's right behind us!"
No one needed the reminder.
As they rounded the next corner, Anika suddenly stumbled again.
Primi caught her before she could hit the floor and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, helping her keep moving even though he looked tired himself.
"I'm slowing everyone down," Anika whispered weakly. "Just leave me."
"No can do, Princess," Primi replied firmly. "Let's go."
Lyrian instinctively slowed, intending to help, but Seren appeared beside them before she could.
Without a word, Seren draped Anika's other arm over her own shoulders.
Primi met her eyes and nodded gratefully.
Together they hurried forward, managing a faster pace.
"Lyrian!"
Reone had stopped several paces ahead.
He held out his hand impatiently.
She took it without question.
Together they ran after the others.
"The exit's just down these stairs!" Mickey shouted.
A surge of hope pushed through Lyrian's weariness.
They reached a wide stone staircase that spiraled deep through the temple.
Where it led, she had no idea.
Nor did she care.
If it led outside, it was enough for her.
They had barely begun rushing down when a blast of dark energy screamed over their heads and exploded against the wall, showering them with stone fragments.
Everyone spun around.
Damon stood at the top of the staircase.
The Trident was tightly clutched in one hand.
A satisfied smile spread across his face.
"Found you," he called. "My little mice."
"Run!" Mia shouted.
The group bolted down the stairs, practically throwing themselves over the steps in their desperation to dodge his blasts.
Lyrian could already hear Damon descending after them.
He wasn't far behind.
As Reone pulled her along, she risked one glance over her shoulder.
To her surprise, Damon suddenly stumbled on the uneven steps.
He cursed loudly.
Relief washed over Lyrian.
That would buy them the precious seconds they needed, she judged.
At last they reached the base of the stairs.
Mickey shoved open the stone door waiting there.
They rushed through.
Lyrian immediately recognized the chamber.
It was the very first room they had entered when they arrived at the temple.
Her eyes immediately searched the far end.
The enormous entrance doors stood exactly where she remembered them.
"There it is!" Diamond exclaimed.
Then her hopeful expression fell.
"...We've got a small problem."
Lyrian's own hope vanished as she continued staring.
The gigantic temple doors were shut, just as they had left them.
She had forgotten about this.
"Let's... let's try opening them," she said quickly.
It wasn't much of a plan.
But it was all they had, and they all knew it.
Everyone rushed to the doors.
"I don't see any handles," Nova said, searching the stone. "Or any opening mechanism of any kind."
"Neither do I," Mickey replied.
"Then start pushing!" Reone ordered.
Without wasting a moment, they all planted their hands against the massive doors and strained with everything they had left.
Nothing.
The ancient stone didn't move so much as an inch.
Lyrian gritted her teeth.
She was just about to tell the Sylphs to use their remaining energy to try and blast the doors apart when a familiar voice drifted calmly through the chamber.
"Isn't this adorable?"
Everyone froze.
They already knew who it was without turning to look at him.
"You still haven't given up and are still clinging to hope," Damon said as he slowly approached, a smile in his voice. "It does make this more fun for me."
Lyrian turned first.
The others followed.
Damon stood several meters away, the Trident resting lazily across his shoulder.
"Do you ever shut up?" Nova asked, her voice dripping with irritation.
Damon smiled.
"I could ask you the same thing."
His eyes darkened.
"But since I'm about to make sure you never speak again..."
He let the sentence hang in the air.
"What do we do?" Anika asked quietly.
Before anyone could answer, Reone's Spiral Blade shot into the air.
Damon tilted his head, looking annoyed as he effortlessly dodged the blade as it flew past.
A second later, the weapon curved back into Reone's waiting hand.
Reone tightened his grip.
"We fight," he said simply.
He looked around at everyone, his eyes lingering on Lyrian.
She understood immediately.
He didn't think they could win.
Neither did she.
But surrender was still not an option.
Damon smiled wider.
"Of course you will have to fight me. There's nowhere left for you to run," Damon said. "You're all mine."
"We'll see about that," Reone replied.
Without another word, both sides charged.
They attacked Damon all at once, drawing on the last of their strength.
Damon, on the other hand, didn't seem the slightest bit tired.
He dodged and countered every strike that came his way, weaving between blades and blasts with effortless precision. Even the Sylphs' attacks failed to hit him.
With a single swing of the Trident, he fired a surge of dark energy that forced everyone stumbling backward.
Reone charged him again without hesitation.
Damon blocked him with the Trident before viciously kicking him, sending Reone reeling. Before Reone could recover, Damon turned the Trident toward a nearby statue and blasted it apart. A massive chunk of stone broke loose and came crashing toward him.
"Reone!"
Lyrian threw herself at him, knocking him out of the way. They rolled behind the remains of a crumbling wall just as the stone slammed into the ground where he'd been.
Behind them, the others launched one final coordinated assault.
Damon drove the butt of the Trident into the floor.
A devastating shockwave exploded outward, rippling across the chamber with enough force to send every one of them flying. They crashed against broken pillars and scattered rubble before collapsing to the ground.
From behind the wall, Lyrian watched in horror.
They were still alive.
But something else was clear to her about them.
They were finished.
None of them had the strength to stand against Damon again.
A cold wave of despair settled over her.
Was this really where it all ended?
"Lyrian. Reone." Damon's mocking voice echoed through the chamber. "Don't tell me you're hiding."
Lyrian swallowed hard, fearful for herself and her loved ones.
Beside her, Reone pushed himself upright with a groan. He leaned close and lowered his voice.
"I have an idea, Lyrian."
She turned to him in surprise. Moments ago, she'd been certain they had no options left.
His words reignited the hope she'd nearly lost.
"What is it?" she whispered.
"I think the only way we win this is if we make Damon vulnerable long enough to either take the Trident... or kill him."
"Reone? Lyrian?" Damon's voice rang out again, this time impatient. "Where are you?"
Reone ignored him.
"I was going to use my Pulse Watch, but it's completely drained. That only leaves you."
"What is it exactly that you need me to do?" Lyrian asked, still not understanding.
"I need you to do what you did to the Noxshade back in the forest."
Understanding dawned on her.
"To hypnotize him... with my voice?"
Reone nodded.
"Exactly. And while he's under, I'll finish this."
"But that'll only hold him for, like, fifteen seconds."
"I'll try to make every second count."
He sounded confident enough, but the uncertainty in his eyes betrayed him.
She knew he was thinking the same thing she was.
This wasn't the best plan in the world.
It was simply the only one they had.
But if anything went wrong...
They were as good as dead.
Unable to stop herself, Lyrian reached up and gently cupped his cheek.
"Are you sure?"
"It's our only play," he answered quietly.
"Reone! Lyrian!" Damon shouted. "If you don't come out in the next minute, you can say goodbye to your friends. I think I'll start with my dear cousin's wife."
Both of them froze.
Reone looked at Lyrian with a nervousness she had never seen in him before.
"Lyrian... if this goes wrong, I want you to know that I—"
"Thirty seconds," Damon called.
Lyrian quickly stood.
"Let's go."
She couldn't bear hearing him confess now.
If they died...
It would hurt too much.
Reone pressed his lips together before giving a silent nod.
With one last glance at each other, they stepped out from behind the wall with their hands raised.
"No need to do anything rash, Damon," Reone called. "We're here."
"Finally," Damon said with a sigh. "I was beginning to think you were never coming out. Or worse, that you were planning something, as unlikely as that is, seeing how invincible I am."
"Well, we know that now," Lyrian replied.
Together they slowly approached him, carefully passing their fallen friends without looking at them. Lyrian needed him to let down his guard enough to allow them to get close enough for her voice to have its full effect.
"Stop right there."
Both of them obeyed instantly.
"Reone," Damon ordered, "drop your weapon."
Lyrian fought to keep the alarm from showing on her face.
This couldn't be good for the plan.
Reone calmly placed his blade on the floor. He then subtly glanced at her, as if to reassure her that everything was fine and they should still go through with the plan.
Lyrian bit her lip, hoping she was reading Reone right and that he had a backup plan.
"I'm glad you've finally accepted your fate," Damon said smugly. "My revenge isn't complete without the two of you. If I remember correctly, you've been a constant thorn in my side since this whole affair began."
"Really?" Reone said with a faint smile. "Lyrian, remind me to treat us later."
As they spoke, they continued inching closer.
Damon didn't notice, smirking at Reone's words.
"Don't bother, Lyrian," he sneered, raising the Trident toward them. "Neither of you will be alive later."
"I'd just like to say one thing before this ends," Lyrian said.
Damon opened his mouth to reply but never had the chance.
Lyrian began to sing.
A low, haunting melody drifted through the ruined chamber.
Almost instantly, Damon's expression went blank.
His lips remained parted, and his shoulders relaxed.
The arm holding the Trident slowly lowered to his side.
Without hesitation, Reone reached into his sleeve and drew the hidden blade he'd concealed there all along.
He rushed toward Damon, clutching it tightly.
Ten steps.
Five.
Two—
Damon's eyes suddenly cleared when Reone was almost upon him.
The spell had shattered.
Panic surged through Reone, but he refused to stop.
He swung at Damon, who reacted with impossible speed.
The handle of the Trident flashed.
A tremendous blow slammed into Reone's chest, hurling him across the chamber. He flew past Lyrian before crashing hard onto the stone floor.
Lyrian's song broke off as she ran to him.
"Reone."
"I can't believe you actually attempted that," Damon said, sounding more irritated than impressed. "It was a clever attempt, though. I'll give you that."
Dropping beside Reone, Lyrian lifted his head into her lap.
"Reone... are you alright?"
He slowly opened his eyes, dazed and struggling to breathe.
"Lyrian," he managed. "It didn't work."
Fresh tears blurred her vision.
"It's alright," she whispered. "We tried... right?"
"You tried," Damon said coldly. "And you failed."
He raised the Trident.
"Now you get to die."
Dark energy gathered at its tip, growing brighter and brighter.
Knowing there was nothing left they could do, Lyrian reached for Reone's hand.
Their fingers intertwined.
They looked into each other's eyes, every unspoken feeling finally reflected there.
But the blast never came.
Instead, the darkness gathering around the Trident simply... vanished.
Damon frowned.
"What?"
He tried again.
Nothing.
He swung the weapon, forcing more power into it.
Still nothing.
"Don't tell me this Trident is defective," he said in an irritated voice.
At the same moment, Lyrian and Reone felt something awaken inside them.
Their eyes slowly filled with a radiant golden light.
Across from them, Damon groaned as he felt the immense power flowing through him begin to slip away. For a moment, he became very dizzy.
His confidence disappeared when he finally recovered enough to realize he wasn't powerful anymore.
"No... I have the Trident," he whispered.
As if replying to him, the Trident trembled violently in his hands.
Then it tore itself free from his grasp and shot through the air, stopping only when it reached Lyrian and Reone's joined hands.
Damon staggered forward, looking at them.
"No... this isn't possible."
His voice cracked.
"Give me back my Trident!"
Slowly, Lyrian and Reone rose to their feet.
They looked at one another before looking down at the weapon now resting in their hands.
Its power was immense.
Even shared between them, they felt like the most powerful beings in the universe.
Very quickly, its darkness started pressing against them, tempting them.
But together, they successfully held it at bay.
"I said..." Damon shouted, panic replacing his arrogance, "give me my Trident!"
The two exchanged one final silent look.
No words were needed.
They both knew what their next move should be.
Together, they raised the Trident.
Realizing what they intended, Damon turned and fled.
He managed only a single step.
A golden blast erupted from the Trident and struck him squarely in the back.
His scream echoed throughout the chamber as he crashed face-first onto wall Infront of him.
Silence followed.
Finally, Anika stirred against the wall where she'd fallen.
She slowly pushed herself upright, staring at Damon in disbelief before looking at Lyrian and Reone.
"I... I can't believe it," she breathed.
"You actually did it."
"You beat Damon."
Lyrian and Reone turned toward her.
For a brief moment, Anika hesitated.
The golden light still burned in their eyes, and the Trident remained in their grasp. She couldn't help wondering if its darkness had claimed them too.
Then, without a word, the two of them let the Trident fall.
It struck the stone floor with a loud metallic clang.
The golden light faded from their eyes.
Then their legs gave way.
Before either of them could hit the ground, the others rushed forward and caught them as unconsciousness claimed them both.
*****
Lyrian's eyes opened reluctantly.
She wasn't tired exactly, but she felt strangely out of sorts.
As her vision came into focus, she saw Reone, Anika, Primi, and the others leaning over her, concern etched on their faces.
As she looked at them, everything came rushing back.
Damon's pursuit of them. The fight.
The unimaginable power that had flowed through her and Reone.
She shot upright with a gasp.
"What happened?" she asked frantically. "Where's Damon? Is everyone okay?"
Reone looked at her, his violet eyes warm with relief.
"Everything's fine," he assured her. "We beat Damon."
"All thanks to you two," Anika added with a grateful smile. "You were amazing."
Lyrian let out a long, relieved breath.
"Thank the stars."
Then confusion settled in.
"Wait, I know we somehow used the Trident's power against him, but... how?"
Everyone fell silent.
None of them seemed to have an answer.
Except Nova.
She calmly adjusted her glasses before speaking.
"Well... as unlikely as it may sound, I have a theory."
Everyone turned to her.
"The Trident responds more strongly to emotional bonds than anything else. My guess is that the connection between you and Reone..." she glanced between them, "...and your feelings for each other simply surpassed the bond Damon had with the Trident, allowing you to wield its power."
Understanding slowly spread across the room, at least for most of them.
"Just to be clear..." Sire said, sounding thoroughly unconvinced. "...you're saying that love saved them?"
"Essentially," Nova replied with a shrug.
Mickey scratched the back of his head.
"I don't know, Nova. That sounds highly improbable."
"Sounds perfectly plausible to me," Diamond said with a smile as she leaned comfortably against Sire.
Lyrian smiled.
So did Reone.
Without saying another words, they leaned toward each other and their lips met eagerly. Again and again.
They ignored the others cheering next to them. When the pair eventually pulled away from, they were still smiling at each other.
But Lyrian's smile faded quickly as an uncomfortable thought kept invading her mind.
"Uhm...Reone," she said quietly. "Is Damon really..."
"No," Reone answered. "He's over there."
Lyrian turned.
Damon sat slumped in the middle of the chamber, his wrists and ankles bound in heavy chains. His head hung low as he groaned in pain, looking nothing like the unstoppable force he'd been minutes earlier.
"So he's still alive?" she said.
"He is," Reone answered. "Turns out true evil doesn't die that easily."
Lyrian glanced at him.
Despite the joke, she could tell from his expression that he wished the opposite were true.
She was about to say something when someone stumbled into the chamber.
Everyone turned.
It was Caelynn.
She looked awful.
Her clothes were stained with blood and dust, her breathing uneven, and grief was written plainly across her face.
The moment her eyes landed on Damon, something feral flashed within them.
"You..." she growled.
Her voice trembled with rage.
"This is all your fault."
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
"They're dead because of you."
She then raised a shaking hand in his direction.
Dark energy gathered in her palm.
Seeing what she intended, Reone reacted instantly.
He sprinted toward Damon and tackled the chained prisoner aside just as the blast tore across the floor where he'd been.
The explosion echoed through the chamber.
By the time Reone regained his footing, Seren and Mia had already reached Caelynn.
Together they restrained her before she could attack again.
"No!" Caelynn screamed, struggling desperately against them.
"Let me go!"
She broke into sobs.
"He took away my family. I need to kill him!"
Mia looked at her with quiet sympathy.
She knew exactly what it felt like to lose a loved one.
But her expression soon hardened.
"He'll answer for what he's done," she said firmly.
"But so will you, Caelynn."
Her voice remained calm.
"You played a major role in everything that happened here today."
The words seemed to drain the fight from Caelynn, and she stopped struggling.
The anger vanished from her face, leaving only grief.
She then collapsed into sobs in Mia's and Seren's arms.
The two girls exchanged a sad, compassionate look.
Behind them, Damon slowly lifted his head toward Reone.
"You..." he said weakly.
"You saved me."
Reone's expression hardened immediately.
"Don't make this into something it isn't, Damon."
His voice was cold.
"I didn't save you."
He stepped closer.
"I made sure you lived to answer for every person you've hurt."
Damon didn't reply.
His gaze slowly unfocused again as he slipped back into a dazed silence.
Reone looked away from him and turned toward everyone else.
"Is everyone okay?" he asked.
Though Lyrian noticed his eyes settled on her first.
She couldn't help smiling.
"More than okay."
As she looked around the chamber, she admitted that, to her, the best thing that had happened here wasn't defeating Damon.
It was everything that had happened afterward.
Reone had protected Damon—not because Damon deserved saving, but because justice mattered more to him than revenge.
If Lyrian had still doubted the kind of man he truly was...
She didn't anymore.