A couple at a time, witches and their travel partners appeared in the woods around Mara, Torlak, and Lillian. Before they had left, everyone had been told what their roles were and what they could expect when they got there.  

They were still a ways out from where the Nightshades were supposed to gather, they didn't want to alert them before they were ready. Members of the Council went around to make sure all of their people were accounted for. When it was decided they were ready, they moved out. 

Mara stuck next to Torlak at the front of the group, he had been making light conversation with her since they met up again. She knew he was just as nervous as she was though neither would admit it. Mara had been glad she had Torlak to back her up when Trixle wanted to go, there was no way he would have let her out there with them either. 

"Are you ready for this?" Torlak asked her. 

"Does it really matter if I am or not?" Mara retorted. It wasn't like they could just turn around and go back when they thought they were ready.

"I suppose not." Trolak smiled sadly. 

They walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts until they could hear voices up ahead. Mara hadn't expected the site to come up so soon, but it appeared they were close already. They turned around sharply, looking over their silent group giving the signal of what was ahead. 

They waited patiently until Torlak and Makortax made their round of the area, assessing the numbers and set up of the Nightshades. When they returned, it sounded as if the odds were in their favor; unless the Nightshades had others hiding outside of the area, they had more men. 

More signals were given and the men and women went off doing as they had been told. Torlak stood tall beside her, drawing out a large sword. She watched as the setting sun reflected off the blade. 

"They could have more people. The vampires wouldn't be up yet." Mara said, staring straight ahead.

"I know."

"Hopefully we can finish this before the sun fully sets then." Mara murmured as they started forward. 

Mara and Torlak stayed hidden just out of sight of the Nightshades waiting for their sign to go out. The witches on both sides started the smoke veil. The thick clouds rolled in and the Nightshades started to shout. Soon after followed the sound of screams and steel, claws and snarls. 

Mara slipped her claws out, catching a shocked look from Torlak before she motioned him to go out, Mara following close behind. She could just make out faces, taking care not to attack any of the men that came with them. 

Mara felt something jump on her back and she quickly dropped down flipping them off before digging her nails into the person's chest. She looked into the wide eyes of the werewolf and watched as he gasped for air before his chest fell still. 

Mara removed her claws from the dead man's chest and wiped the blood off on her jeans. She was completely still for a moment, she couldn't believe she had just killed a person without hesitation, but her brain told her it was what she needed to do in order to survive. She moved along quickly, best to not think about it, just keep moving. She would have plenty of time to think about it later. 

Another creature ran towards her, by the looks, another werewolf. Mara slashed her hand through the air and not even a second later; the Nightshade's head was severed from the body. Mara couldn't believe how easy it had been to kill the two werewolves; either they were decoys or her powers had grown more than she realized, she was hoping for the latter. As she looked around she realized her guess earlier had been correct, the vampires weren't up yet. 

Mara could hear the sounds of the battle raging around her, but she couldn't see a thing through the smoke. She hadn't seen Zander yet, and that made her nervous. He should have been there; he should have been with the group if he was the one leading them. 

No other creatures made a move towards her and she wondered why, she saw a couple look towards her, but as soon as they made eye contact they had run the other way. She searched through the fog trying to find others. She noticed a fae woman wandering around, her skin was a sickly green color and when she turned to face Mara, her eyes were blood red. Mara stumbled backwards in disgust before biting her lip and charging forward. 

The fae made a motion to her right, and a tree vine slithered over towards Mara, wrapping around her ankle, causing her to trip and fall. Mara slashed at the vine with her claws and shot back up towards the woman. More vines shot out from all directions, Mara simply held her hands up, palms out, and none of them were able to reach her. She had created a shield that they couldn't break through. 

Mara could see the fae woman panic and turn to run away, so she extended her hand out towards the fae and pulled back sharply. The woman fell to the ground with a hard thud and Mara took the opportunity to pounce. She jumped on the woman and slashed her throat, blood spraying out onto her face. Mara wiped it out of her eyes and stood up again. 

When she looked over her shoulder she could see him standing there through the clearing smoke. 

Zander stood with his arms across his chest and a wicked smile across his face, the same smile he wore in her dreams. He thought he had her, but this time it was going to be different, this time she would lead the dance. 

As soon as he saw her move towards him, he took off through the trees. Mara groaned and started off after him, she heard Torlak shout after her but she couldn't stop, not if she didn't want to lose him. 

Mara took off through the trees, hopping over protruding roots and ducking under the low hanging branches. She could see Zander looking over his shoulder every so often and she couldn't help but wonder why he was running away from her. This was what he wanted; he wanted to have the final showdown and to get rid of the Council, so why was he running away from his opportunity. 

Mara thought she could see shapes darting around her on both sides, running along with her through the forest. Mara pushed forward, forcing her legs to go faster.

The woods dumped out into the clearing and Zander had stopped on the far side, turning around to face Mara. A group of Nightshades appeared behind him, a couple vampires mixed with werewolves. Zander made a motion towards them before he stepped forward and they all kept where they were. 

Mara could feel the build up around her, Zander pulling in his power. The familiar feeling made the hairs on her arms stand on end. She had only enough time to throw a shield up around her before a shock of power struck it. A loud crack rang through the air as his strike made contact with the shield, and before she knew it, he was delivering another blow. 

Another crack, louder than the first shook the ground and Mara panic ran through Mara, the distraction caused her shield to falter, this was exactly how it had un folded in her dreams. 

She could see Zander preparing for his attack, launching himself forward with a snarl on his face. 

"No!" Mara shrieked and she threw her hands into the air, projecting as much power as she could into a large domed shield five feet above her. She saw the brown blur jump over to get between her and Zander just as he stuck down, the blast once again reflecting of the shield. This time throwing Zander back with the force of the rebound. 

Mara turned to stare at the brown wolf, her brown wolf, getting up from the grassy ground and watched as a black wolf charged in. 

"What on earth are you guys thinking?" Mara shouted. 

I was thinking I couldn't let you do this alone. Marx said directly to her. 

She turned around looking at Emmett. 

"You!" She shouted. "Why are you here? Do you know what it would do to Trixle if-" Mara's face paled, "she isn't with you is she?" 

The black wolf shook his head reassuring Mara that they hadn't brought her along too. 

It was safer for her to stay back. 

"It was safer for all of you to stay back!" 

Emmett growled as Zander stood back up, his small group of nightshades started to move forward again. Zander held up on hand turning over his shoulder to speak to them. 

"Only the wolves, leave her for me." 

At his words Mara's skin began to prickle and Marx growled. The Nightshades ran forward, avoiding Mara like they had been told. 

Mara heard growls and the snapping of teeth but she didn't dare look at the scene, instead she kept her eyes trained on Zander. 

He took small steps forward, inching his way towards her and Mara let her claws slide out. 

"Oh, does our little kitten have claws now?" Zander asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement. 

"You bet I do, would you like to test them out?" Mara sneered at him. 

"I would love to." His grin widened.

Zander charged forward and Mara stayed perfectly still, holding her ground as he rushed towards her. She braced herself and stuck out with her left hand as Zander neared, aiming right for his abdomen. When her hand made contact she felt a pop and a sharp pain in the center of her forearm. 

Mara bit back a scream as she clutched her arm to her stomach. She could hear a guttural sound from Marx, and she knew he had felt it too. He took it out on the Nightshade he had trapped under his paws by digging his claws into the man's meaty flesh and tearing it to bits before using his massive jaws to rip the head from the body. Mara heard the bones, tendons, and vessels popping as he decapitated the vampire beneath him. 

She could hear Zander laughing behind her. 

"Oh come on Mara, I thought this was going to at least be a challenge." 

When Mara turned to face him she realized she hadn't even gotten him, a small tear in his shirt was about the only damage she had done. Mara gritted her teeth and took a deep breath as she waited for Zander's next move. 

He just stood there staring at her as they listened to the sounds of her two friends fighting. She heard one of the wolves whimper but she couldn't turn to see which one. 

Zander was about to strike out at her again when he was struck from behind. He turned around snarling as Zeldra stepped out from the trees. 

"You didn't really think we were going to let you do this alone did you Mara?"

"I sort of hoped you would." Mara said too serious to manage a laugh. She really hadn't wanted any of them out there. 

Mara felt a strong burning sensation on the back of her shoulder, a phantom pain, Marx had been clawed. 

"Well if it isn't the witch who betrayed me." Zander said chuckling to himself. 

Mara was getting annoyed with his smug act, and she let him know it. Mara focused her power on Zander, thrusting it towards him like a spear. He just laughed, flicking his hand into the air, deflecting her attack easily. 

Mara watched as Zander knelt down, placing his fingertips in the soft grass. He pushed down once and Mara could feel a tremor run through the ground before they dropped five feet. Emmett and Marx had been disoriented enough for their attackers to jump them and they were having a hard time gaining control again. 

Zander stood at the edge of the drop, looking down at Mara and stuck out as he jumped down onto her level. Zeldra threw out a shield in front of Mara deflecting his attack before throwing one herself at Zander's back once more. Zander barely flinched as Zeldra's blast made contact with his shoulder blade, a wound opening deep. 

"I can't figure out why they chose you." Zander said as he walked closer to Mara. "You need three other people to come to your rescue, can you even do anything yourself?"

Zander's words hit Mara like he meant them to. She always needed saving, and it was always the same people who did it, she couldn't do anything herself. 

"Don't listen to him, Mara. It's what he wants." Marx said to her. 

"But it's true Marx. He's right."

"No he isn't, now finish him off Mara!" Marx growled.

Mara heard Zander snarl as Zeldra struck him again, this time on the side. He turned to face Zeldra a glare fixed on her. 

"This has nothing to do with you! Now get out." 

Mara used Zeldra's distraction to her advantage. The wind started to whip around as Mara calmed her mind. She pushed away all of her thoughts and just focused on the energy as if flowed around her. She pulled it all in focusing it on one thing. Mara could feel the power pickling across her skin before she released it. 

Mara was stunned as she saw her power materialize in a physical form, striking down directly on Zander like lightning. A bright blast illuminating his entire body, and a loud crack of thunder sounded before he crumpled to the ground. 

All sounds of fighting stopped, and Mara didn't know if she had gone deaf or if it was in fact over. As she looked around, she realized it had all ended. All of Zander's men had been torn to pieces and blood dripped from the muzzles of both wolves. 

Mara made her way to Zander's still form to check for any signs of life, she was not going to let the same thing happen again. 

When Mara knelt down beside him, she could see his chest rising and falling in quick spurts. The way Zander looked just lying there reminded Mara of her Zander. She brushed a lock of hair out of his face, he was still breathing, but just barely. 

Mara realized that she could still save him, he didn't have to die, but her voice of reason told her otherwise. He needed to die, there was no way he could be her Zander again, not after what he had become. There was no way back for him. 

Marx watched Mara from a distance, letting her have her space. He could feel the grief and turmoil that flowed through her and he wished he could help her. He felt hope through their bond and although it made him happy to feel it from her, he knew he had to step in.

"Mara." Marx's voice came from behind her. "You can't do it. You have to let him die, he isn't the person you knew."

"I know that Marx." Mara snapped at him. "That doesn't make letting him die any easier. 

Marx placed a gentle hand on Mara's shoulder in comfort as she stared down at Zander, a hand on his forehead. She could feel the life slipping from Zander, and in the moment of his death, he looked at peace. 

Mara smiled sadly and a tear slid down her cheek before she cleared her throat. 

"We need to burn his body. Do whatever, just make sure he can't come back again." Mara said as she stood up and turned towards Marx. 

In the silence, they could hear the sounds of the other battle though it didn't sound like there was much to it anymore. Mara immediately took off without saying anything, and Marx, Emmett and Zeldra followed behind. 

She took the same path as before, hopping over the roots and ducking branches until she could see them up ahead. Many were lying on the ground, some injured, most dead. The majority of their men were still standing, but when Mara looked for the one face she wanted to see, she couldn't find it. 

As she ran around searching, she slashed away without hesitation at any straggling Nightshades who dared approach her. She wanted something, and there was no way she would waste her time in another fight.

After Mara wandered through half of the area, searching around trees and behind the bushes, she spotted him and her heart stopped. 

~~~~~~

Marx saw his father slumped over and leaning against the base of a tree. He watched as Mara ran off, wanting to follow her but he needed to make sure his father was alright. Marx ran up beside him, tipping his father's head back, he was still breathing. 

Makortax's eyes opened and he looked into Marx's, and Marx sighed with relief. Makortax had sustained a few injuries, but none seemed lethal, even for Nightshade wounds. 

"Son." Makortax's raspy voice whispered out. 

"Dad." 

"I was wrong." Makortax coughed, the sound horrendous. There was a chance his wounds were more severe than Marx had judged. 

"What do you mean?" Mark asked with worry in his words. 

"I was wrong about the witch, about Mara." He said wincing. "She really does care about you, about all of us. I just wanted you to know that I was wrong."

Marx laughed bitterly. "I could have told you that a while ago, but you can tell me again when we get you home." 

"Son, I don't think I'll be making it home." 

Marx's eyes hardened as he looked at his father. "With all due respect, yes you will."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mara reached Torlak and dropped to her knees beside him. She touched his shoulder, rolling him over onto his back and that's when she saw it. His own sword was lodged in his abdomen; his own weapon had impaled him. 

"No. No, no, no! Torlak, you can't do this!" She sobbed over him. "You can't do this to Trixle. You can't do this to Clarisse or your kingdom." She shouted down at him. 

"You can't do this to me." Mara whispered. 

Torlak opened his eyes slightly, smiling up at Mara before wincing in pain. 

"Mara." Her name came out airy, not even a whispered. 

Mara chocked on a sob and rested her head on Torlak's chest. 

"Did you do it?" He asked her. She could hear a gurgling with each breath he took. 

Mara nodded, not able to trust her voice to get the one word out. 

"Good." Torlak sighed. "I'm so proud of you. I hope you know that. Proud of you and Trixle and the fine young women, leaders, you are growing up to be." 

His words hurt even more now. She couldn't believe Torlak could be dying, not now, not after everything. She had only known him for four months, but he was like her father. It was like that day so many years ago when she had been told of her parents' accident, that they hadn't made it. 

She couldn't let that happen to him. She couldn't let him miss any of Trixle's life; he had to be there for her.

"It's okay, I can save you." Mara sniffled. 

Torlak shook his head, a sad smile tugging at his mouth. "You can't mess with that magic, Mara. You can't play with fate, it's my time."

"Who says this is fate? Who says it's your time to die?"

"Someone with more power than any of us." Torlak whispered. He began a coughing fit, blood spattering out of the side of his mouth. 

Mara closed her eyes and turned her head. She didn't want to do it, but she couldn't stand to see Torlak like that. 

"I love my family, and I'm glad I got to meet them; my wife, my son, and both of my daughters, I'm glad I got the chance to be with them all." 

"I love you too." Mara whispered, another sob bubbling to the surface, and she felt Torlak's body go limp. 

Mara rested her head against his chest again, letting her tears flow free. She had no idea how she was going to tell Trixle. Mara couldn't help but think if she hadn't run after Zander that she could have prevented this. 

But I got Zander. Mara thought. Was it really worth it? Was it worth this?

"Mara, I need your help." The words came from Marx and she shot up immediately, her legs shaking. She wasn't sure if she could walk, but one way or another, she knew she had to get to Marx. 

Mara wiped her tears away and followed the sound she thought his voice had come from. She wasn't sure how it could come from anywhere when it had been inside her head, but somehow, it had direction. 

She found him sitting beside his father. For a moment, her breath caught in her chest. Was he dead too? As Mara got closer though, she could see he was very much alive, but his face was pale and sweaty. 

"Mara, I need your help." Marx said aloud this time. 

"What can I do?" 

"I need you to use your claws to reopen these wounds." Marx pointed to the different wounds on Makortax, they were oozing black and looked to be infected. 

"But they're already open." Mara said. She couldn't tell him how disgusted she was by the sight of them; but by the look of sympathy she saw on Marx's face, she guessed he knew. 

"You have control of your claws, you don't fully shift. A vampire created these wounds, and venom got in there. You need to open the wound up further so the blood flow can flush it out. It will heal faster that way too since the wound would then be by you." For some reason, Nightshade wounds healed slower than wounds inflicted by anything else.

Mara sat down on Makortax's other side and slid her claws out. She couldn't help but notice Makortax's extremely interested stare. 

Mara's claws hovered over the wounds for a moment in hesitation until she remembered all the times Makortax had made things difficult for her. She felt no grief about bringing them down and slicing in deeper. As her claws raked through his flesh most of the black ooze stuck to them, coming out in big blobs. Makortax's flowing blood flushed out the rest as Marx had said it would. 

Almost immediately the wounds began to close and color returned to Makortax's face. He touched the place where his wounds had been with a smile and he started to get up off the ground. Makortax swayed once he was on his feet from blood loss. 

Mara ignored him turning back to Marx, her feeling of devastation returning and he could feel it. 

"What is it?" Marx asked.

"Torlak."

"What about Torlak?" Makortax asked, cutting into their conversation. 

"He's..." Mara found it hard to finish her sentence. She felt like if she didn't say it out loud then it couldn't be true. 

"Dead." Mara said directly to Marx. 

She could tell Marx had heard her. His eyes changed suddenly, many emotions flashing through them, confusion, understanding, anger, and then sadness. He couldn't believe it either. 

Mara led both of the men over to where she had left him lying, the sword still protruding from his abdomen. His skin had gone pale magenta, a color that disturbed Mara. 

"We have to take him back." Mara whispered. "We can't just leave him here. We have to take him back to his family." The tears started to flow again and Marx brought her in close. 

"We'll take him back, I promise. We won't leave him here." 

Mara felt his body shake slightly, and something dropped onto her head. When Mara looked up, she saw tears sliding down his cheeks. 

Emmett and Zeldra had finally found them; stopping short when they realized what was going on. 

Makortax had said he would take care of both bodies. Marx had gone with Mara to the site of Zander and carried him back to where the others were still waiting.

Mara and Zeldra transported the group back to the werewolf kingdom, Makortax and Marx taking them inside the castle.

Makortax had taken Trolak to a separate room and told them he would be in contact with Clarisse and he would have his men dispose of Zander's body properly. 

"I need to be the one to tell Trixle." Mara said as she looked over her shoulder. "She's really going to need you."

Emmett nodded once with a perfectly masked face, the one thing all werewolves seemed to excelled at. 

Mara turned to Zeldra, "thank you for all of your help. I shouldn't have pushed you away earlier."

"You seemed to have pushed everyone away. You should know that you're surrounded by a lot of great people who would go to any lengths to help you."

"I know." Mara said with a small smile. 

Zeldra took the portal in the Tremonte castle back to her school, and Marx, Emmett, and Mara got ready to do the same.

******************

*tear slides down cheek* okay... well my soul is sort of crushed at the moment. 

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Thank you everyone!! <3