A Second Chance

Crimson sits before her pool of obsidian water, her tourmaline eyes transfixed in whatever scene is playing out before her. She looks up the moment Connor tugs at her fuchsia hair.

"Why would you bring him here?"

"Where else would I leave him?"

"He has another grandfather."

"That old wolf won't take care of him, says he's lost practice," I say handing Connor to her, "like I'm any better. We got to skip this part."

Crimson laughs as she takes Connor into her arms, "your mommy's about to make a foolish choice."

"What now?"

"You'll see," she says looking back into the pool. I try to peer over her shoulder but she pushes me away without even looking.

"I gifted you this pool."

"I remember," she says looking up at me one eyebrow arched, "if I recall correctly you ended up taking a swing in it not long after."

"And if I remember correctly before you did that, we had some of the best sex. Perhaps...

"Ryan," Crimson interrupts as the water begins to shift.

"What is that?"

"A new beginning."

###

When I open my eyes, I find I'm no longer with Halley on the Isle of Nothing. Instead, I lie atop a cold metal table chains binding me to it. I struggle against the chains that bind me when a wave of dark energy hits me. As I crane my head, I find Roan stands to my right Eira to my left Kazuki and the Wolf Prince at my feet Cerin is nowhere in sight.

"Release me," I growl, just as the chains snap but I still can't move.

"What have you done?" Cerin's voice comes from somewhere in the darkness. Why can't I see her? "Well, are you going to tell me or should I believe the rumors?"

"Where are you?"

"Right in front of you," she says, as another wave of energy hits me. The others are gone and I now lay on the same spot I did when I first came to this world. Only there is no scorching sun, instead, rain continues to fall.

"Stop playing with me," I say, as mobility returns, "show yourself."

"It seems you can't see what's right before you."

"Do you truly think a mere rabbit can take on an eight-tail fox? Little sister."

"In case you've forgotten, when Mother found us I was closer reaching ascension than you were," Cerin says as she suddenly kneeling before me one clawed hand under my chin, "how does that saying go?" she sinks her claws in drawing blood, "oh yes wolf in sheep's clothing," Cerin flings me against a hollow tree.

Roan and the others appear as Cerin takes on her wolf form. I change into my fox form launching at her. Before I can sink my claws in, I'm already flying back this time the tree breaks under my weight.

Cerin saps in and out of sight, since when can she turn into a wolf let alone Shadow Walk in that form. She comes from behind I'm barely fast enough. Fuck it. I change forms yanking the dagger strapped to my ankle free. Cerin shifts mid-attack sending a wave of dark energy that throws me of balance.

She lands a few feet away head tilted to the side snow-white hair falling down one shoulder.

"Just break your connection with that Witch," she says, "then you can come home."

I laugh, "Poor Cerin, are you upset I now hold more power than you?"

"You're delusional," Roan says, "what great power you have, Cerin just beat you and she didn't even use her full strength."

I turn towards him ignoring Kazuki's pleading look, "she was always your favorite. Tell me, what makes her so special? What makes her better than me?"

"She didn't try to kill me in my sleep, nor hand me poisoned food," he says.

"Selene whatever that Witch promised it's a lie," Cerin says, "do you even know why they were locked away?"

"The Witch Wars...

"No," she cuts me off, "their own Queen locked them away due to their instability. Nathalia cursed them so that everything they touch turns to ash. She hoped they would kill each other."

"Lies."

"Are they?"

###

I look Selene over as she struggles to remain standing. Nothing I say is going to change her mind.

"Bring her," I say.

Within the blink of an eye, Eira is gone and back the Witch Selene bound herself to stands before us. She wears nothing but ash her eyes hold nothing but madness.

"Halley," Selene moves towards her but Kazuki blocks her path, "move traitor."

"For him to be a traitor," I say, "he would have to of served you and not me."

"What?"

"I'm the Shadow Guardian for this world," Kazuki says, "and one of Princess Cerin's Shadow Souls."

Selene looks as if she'd burst, "how dare you, lie to me?"

"I never lied," he says.

"Enough," Halley says, "kill them all and set me free."

"About that," I say looking at Luca, "take care of our baby," then I turn to Kazuki, "this is your second chance, don't fuck it up," before anyone can guess my intent, I Shadow Walk to Selene wrapping one claw around her throat I press her back against my chest and plunge a blade made of Shadow Frost through her heart. As she attempts to break free, I plunge it further until it pierces my heart. The world turns into a swirl of color as I come to stand before the Underworld.

###

The witch releases an ear-piercing stretch as Selene and Cerin's essence dissipates. The earth begins to shake the rain finally settling but not before the sky gives a final growl. The Witch screams as she burst into flames, Eira lets her go just as chains wrap around us pulling us out of the Nether Realm right before it's destroyed.

Mother stands before us her eyes scanning us from head to toe. Father stands next to her both looking like the gods of the Underworld and not the Shadow Queen and Dark King.

"Bring her back!" the Wolf Prince demands, clearly forgetting who he stands before.

"What will you give in exchange?" the Empress of the Underworld asks.

"What can he give," the god of the Underworld says.

"She's your daughter."

"Sacrifices must be made," the Empress says, "what will you sacrifice to keep the balance?"

"Fuck the balance," he moves towards them, which is when I realize we are all still chained, "bring her back."

"No," the Empress says her attention turning to me, "is there anything you have to add."

"Empress is wise, if Cerin and Selene are gone, then Empress must have her reasons for reaping their souls," there's no point in arguing with either of them. I will not win.

"You two should go home," Empress says, "Roan is the new Dark King, you will raise your nephew along with the Daughter of Chaos."

"Eira is now the Winter Queen and as such will hold reign over the Winter Realm alone," the god of the Underworld adds, "the Shadow Realm is now part of the Dark Realm, the title of Shadow Queen will be no more." With a wave of his hand, Eira and I are thrown out of the Underworld and onto the bridge of eternity.

"What now?" she asks.

"I don't know."