Zafira and Javier stood together. They watched as the entire community came together. They were misled. They were attacked. And the battle for America's safety rested solely on the lives of everyone in that community on Manhattan.
"Javier." Zafira whispered quietly taking his hand. He kissed her cheek and then they watched. All watched. Mevolent's army had teleported in and had put Zafira's entire community on lockdown. They either gave up America or fought. They would fight.
The battle approached. Alexis, Zafira and Javier would fight.
"Alexis Zaf if we survive...I'll be glad." Javier smiled. They hugged and then the groups of mages attacked. Zafira stayed back watching waiting. Javier fought against many people killing most others hurting him. He did not back down. Zafira heard a baby's cry and shadow-walked. Serpine held Jayla in his hand. Upon seeing Zafira he pointed his red hand at her and she fell screaming in utter pain. Serpine turned it to Jayla and before Zafira could move the baby was dead. Serpine ran and Zafira chased him. Mevolent himself came and blocked her path. The god-killer sword in his hand. Zafira stopped dead in her tracks backing away. Only to find that her way was blocked by another person.
"Let. Me. Go." Zafira snapped. Mevolent merely laughed and sent her into a tree. He grabbed her and held her two feet off the ground. Shadows wrapped around his arm and Zafira smiled.
"Haha. Ready to feel my anger?" She snapped. Mevolent took the oppurtunity to force Zafira to watch the worst thing imaginable. She watched in horror as Javier was taken from the battle by Redhoods.
"JAVIER!!!!" She screamed, Mevolent laughed and dropped her.
"Give me America." He demanded. Zafira shook her head and she felt a knife in her cheek. She screamed and again and again knife cuts all over her body appeared. Mevolent left her on the ground, his forces leaving but Serpine took her.
Within the Palace Mevolent had Zafira in the cells and Javier too. His final attempt to break Zafira was about to unfold. He took a dagger and stabbed Javier through the heart. Zafira's screams and sobs echoed around the castle. Her chains unlocked and she ran to Javier trying to heal him.
*A few weeks later*
Alexis stood beside her mother. They waited as the wind swept through the graveyard. Alexis placed the flowers on the gravestone crying. Zafira's eyes showed the anger and fear she felt. How could this have happened? She did not know. A man approached from behind,
"Grand Mage Kerias?" He asked. Zafira turned, "Who are you?" She asked as Alexis sat looking at the grave of her youngest sister. The man smiled,
"Javier Fyreheart." And he took Zafira in his arms and they kissed. Passionate.
The crowd of sorcerers around the Sanctuary halls erupted into cheers over the Global Link. America was for the first time safe. Borders secured Mevolent supporters rounded up. Zafira stood up and began her speech,
"Many of us lost lives protected America. Name upon name is in the Hall of Remembrance. Yet we did it again, Mevolent is no longer in America. I thank everyone dead or alive. Without you I may not have stood here. Millions of mortals lost their lives to Niccolò Croatoan but we know now we are lucky to be alive. We did well. Thank you." She stood back and finally went home. After all, she did have a family and husband to attend to.
Javier held her close as they watched the sunset. War was raging elsewhere but America was safe ad just in this moment they stayed together. By some unspoken nod they both began to sing, the dead friends they knew seemed to come to their eyes as they began the song soon Alexis and her friends joined, and the people who survived now only roughly 100 mages but it echoed to the night as if to remember the lost souls of the dead and so they sung,
Do you hear the people sing
Lost in the valley of the night?
It is the music of a people
Who are climbing to the light.
For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies.
Even the darkest night will end
And the sun will rise.
They will live again in freedom
In the garden of the Lord.
We will walk behind the ploughshare;
We will put away the sword.
The chain will be broken
And all men will have their reward.
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes!
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes!
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Tomorrow comes
The night went on. The few Elementals left lit a fire and they waited in a silence so eerie yet peaceful, it was a silence like no other. A silent vigil. It was freedom's price, the price to pay for the freedom they have from Mevolent. The lives were a cost to pay. They paid the price of freedom and won. They were free. Javier held Zafira close the entire night.
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