Luz

Luz had no doubt that the ten soldiers had called for help to the remaining 224 in Chicago as soon as they had started fighting.

Which meant they had at best a few minutes to disarm them all and kill the mist people before they were overwhelmed by their numbers.

Luz attacked Daniel with a ball of fire, ducking just in time before a bullet grazed her arm. The immortal matched her fire with magic and their shields collided with a rumourous bang. Daniel staggered back, but her satisfaction was short lived. Two more immortals charged in her direction wielding magic like a spear. One of them created a green vapour that reminded her of the smell of Jane's dirty socks and the other took out an actual sword. She grabbed the knife she had hidden on her ankle and threw it directly at the fog guy. The movement was so sudden he barely had the time to register the blade in his heart before falling down.

Luz's heart beat furiously at the thought of her second kill, sure that more will follow in a short time frame. With Jesper, it had been necessary. Self-defence. Now ...she was the one attacking.

Before she could despair, another immortal substituted the dead one and her hands got busy again. You would think a flaming human being intimidating, but the immortals could not feel fear, so attacking Luz was not an issue.

The same could be said for the three meters tall bear-Isaac.

Her friend slashed through the immortals, biting the heads off his enemies and ripping their bodies apart if they got too close. In a matter of seconds, the number of soldiers had halved.

Luz concentrated her fire into the swordsman's body, trying to burn his vital organs from a distance. As he swinged his sword at her face, something inside him broke and he crumpled on the ground. Luz felt bile raising up her throat at the feeling of burning lungs.

She never had the chance to find out what magical powers ther fourth attacker had, as Isaac threw him on the far end of the wall.

"YOU FOOLS" echoed the mist people' voice. "Even if you succeed in killing all the soldiers, the immortals will still have your heads. Child, join us and give us the mortal girl so that we can rule the mortal world together."

Mat appeared behind her, putting his back on hers to prevent further attacks.

-Ehm Luz, why do the fart people keep referring to you as "child"?- he asked throwing a knife at a soldier's leg, maybe Daniel.

-Yeah I might be their love child - she confessed pushing them both to the ground as a magic arrow flew over their heads.

Mat got up with a grunt. -And you decided to keep that hidden until now?!-

-I have only really known for a few minutes - she lied, knowing he could call her out on it. He didn't, maybe too busy kicking a gun out of a soldier's hand.

-I also kind of have a plan, so it would be very nice if you could play along - Luz added. Before waiting for his reply, she pushed him away and burned brighter and fierce to capture everyone's attention.

For however briefly, it worked.

The remaining four soldiers haltered. Isaac had gone back to his human form, panting and covered in blood that was hopefully not his. Jane was holding a gun pointed at one of the soldiers with a feral look in her eyes.

-I will do as you wish, father - she said. Isaac and Jane gasped in surprise, playing right into her newly made plan. -But on the condition you spare my friends -

Mist wrapped around her ankles and she knew that her parents were testing her loyalties. They had tried to kill her after all. She had no doubt that she might have been the only creature with the potential to destroy them. Maybe they had figured it was better to have her on their side.

If they could see the future, then Luz had to alter her own path. She had to want to switch loyalties, not just lie her way through it.

Luz thought of how lonely she had felt those first years after the exile, how strong she had always desired feeling like she belonged anywhere. She had wanted to go back to the forest, the mistical place where her training had taken place. A small part of her, still did.

She wanted to feel loved and cherished again. What better place than with her own parents, the ones that had always been with her no matter what? The ones that were offering her immense powers beyond her comprehension.

Luz blinked and she saw her path dividing, awaiting for the choice.

The mist seemed to be satisfied with her indecision and condensed in a column of humanoid shape in front of her.

For the first time in her immortal life, Luz looked at one of the mist people. It was hard to tell which one of them it was, given the little corporeal consistency, but she could almost feel the pulsing magic through her veins.

"And here I was, thinking you would be a total waste" said the male voice. Her father. He was condescending as if talking to a spoiled child. "I thought that giving back your mortal emotions would make you less inclined to magic and you wouldn't be a problem but ... oh well. And I think that still limits you. You just need a little push, just like your mother did, to see more clearly."

Luz didn't have enough time to understand what was happening. The mist engulfed her, burning through her skin like fire. She called upon her own flames, but it was no use.

She screamed. She thought she heard her name coming from somewhere.

Her heart burned so warm it felt cold. So cold, until everything else ceased to hurt.

When she opened her eyes, her mind was clear and her heart empty.