A Clash of Storms (A Shade of Vampire #50)(46)

“You’re confusing me with my sisters,” Viola replied in a thousand different voices at once.

I had to admit that, even in my semi-conscious state, I was equally creeped out and in awe of her when she was powered up like this. She looked like a moving marble statue, incandescent in a bold pink hue while her eyes glowed violet, the lower part of her white silk dress fluttering in the wind.

She was several feet away from Azazel when she flashed into a pink mist and reappeared right in front of him. His bright green energy field, which he’d been using against Draven’s golden one, instantly faded – she’d passed right through it. She touched his face before he could even react, her hand glowing hot pink.

“No, don’t!” he managed to croak, eyes wide with genuine terror.

I felt the invisible force that had been choking me loosen, and I fell flat on my face. My whole body hurt, but I was thankful to feel the cold stone against my skin and the cool air filling my lungs again. I wheezed and choked as I looked up.

Azazel had let me go, now forced to deal with Viola.

A few seconds went by as Azazel blinked, but nothing happened.

Viola frowned, then took a step back. I understood then that Azazel was too powerful even for a Daughter’s simple touch to kill him. We’d guessed this much from Vita’s first vision about this potential ending for Azazel, but the circumstances had been different then, since we didn’t know he had Nova at the time. Now, even with Nova out of his reach, it seemed like the touch could not destroy Azazel.

“I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to do this. I tried to help my friends but you’re so bent on destroying every good thing in this world… Your power has spiraled out of control. The time has come for you to pay for your crimes, Azazel,” Viola said, sending shivers down my spine.

I could see genuine fear in his yellow eyes, before they flickered black and flared up green. There was an internal struggle going on there, and I had a feeling it was taking place between Azazel and Asherak.

“Don’t do something you’ll regret, sweetheart,” Azazel muttered, raising his hands in a defensive gesture.

It didn’t faze Viola. Instead, the pink light emanating from her body increased its intensity, so that I had to squint in order to see what was happening, as if a bright pink star had just descended on the platform.

“I have no choice but to destroy you, Azazel,” Viola’s thousand voices boomed, piercing through the sky above and echoing inside my head. “Your reign of terror ends right now. You have caused irreparable damage to Eritopia, and I shall not let you do any more harm…”

She took a deep breath, then looked at me with a pained expression.

I’m sorry, Serena. I could hear her gentle voice, loud and clear, in my head.

“What… What do you mean, you’re sorry?” I croaked, and got up, my knees still wobbly.

She focused her attention on Azazel, the light emanating from her growing brighter. The air vibrated around us, and the uneasiness in my stomach became stronger and heavier as the realization kicked in:

Vita’s first vision was coming true.

“Don’t… Don’t do this,” Azazel said suddenly, laughing nervously.

Viola didn’t listen.

Dread came over me, swallowing me whole and freezing the blood in my veins. I glanced at Draven and saw the horrified look on his face. He knew what was coming, too.

“Wait, Viola, no,” I croaked. “You don’t have to do this!”

She wasn’t listening. She’d tuned us out.

Azazel muttered something under his breath and sent out several invisible pulses to stop her, but she didn’t even budge. Instead, she took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them. The energy she was summoning illuminated her even more.

This is it…

But this can’t be it. This can’t be how it ends…

We’d already changed the future, so how was this still happening? Had we somehow reversed it in getting Nova out, or at some other point along the way?

My ears rang as the intensity of her very being began to expand, like a star about to explode, raw energy causing friction and heating everything up. My blood simmered and my heart thumped, and Draven and I held each other’s gazes, as if preparing ourselves for what was to come next. The end.

“No!” Phoenix’s voice shot through the buzz.

I turned my head and saw him running up behind Viola. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

“Don’t do this, Viola,” he panted, his eyes glassy. “We found another way… A better way…”

The Daughter wasn’t immediately responsive, and I quickly looked around and noticed that the fighting had stopped. Destroyers and our fighters alike were stunned, gaping at Viola as she prepared to blow us all to pieces, waiting for her reaction.

“Don’t do this, please… I love you, Viola…”

She blinked a couple of times, as if pondering the information he’d just presented.

“There’s another way?” she asked in multiple voices.

“Yes.” Phoenix sighed in his embrace. “Yes, we found another way. You don’t have to do this. I don’t want us to die, Viola… I want us to live and be together…”

Viola gave him a soft sideways glance before she relaxed, the pink light gradually dimming. I felt the atmosphere cool down around us. Phoenix didn’t let go of her, holding her close as they took a few steps back.