My argument for the existence of the immortal soul is simple. If another force controls your mind and body, surely you, as an opposing being, do as well. This power the Spell exercises over its victims has led to the most significant magnitude of bloodshed in recent history. At least the greatest committed by a single person.

❂❂❂

Upon arriving back at Bright Moon, Micah answered his holo-pad. He had been waiting to hear from Zeka for a long time. Still, Nell and Angella said she played a crucial role in recapturing Alwyn for the Rebellion. She hopefully had an update on Shadow Weaver's next move now that the Horde's second had snubbed another chance at redemption.

Zeka answered the holo-pad. "Hey, Micah."

Micah smiled. "Hello. What's new?"

Zeka sighed. "Well...the Horde's not happy. And Shads still isn't back – you have her?"

"No," Micah murmured. "She escaped."

"She – how?"

"I don't know. Nell doesn't, either."

Zeka growled. "I'm trying to get her deposed. She's fallen out of vogue with Hordak. Before she left for that Seraphite tunnel, she'd been a piece of circuitry for up to five days a week. One more defeat, and she's toast. But I can't get rid of her if we don't know where she is."

Micah's stomach grew cold. "Who ordered this?" he asked, his voice stern.

She shrugged. "The Alliance. They decided it's better to let Hordak off her instead."

No. No, no, no. We have to get Shadow Weaver back – we – I –

Micah forced himself to crack a wide grin. "Great. What are you going to do?"

"I'm starting a riot. Biggest one yet – the Rebellion massacred those soldiers in Alwyn."

"Even after they surrendered?"

"Afraid so. The Dellaneve forces may have gotten overzealous. But it created a hell of an outrage here. So I'm going to throw a stone in the glass house and watch it shatter around dear old Shads."

Micah's throat closed. The Alliance had acted without him? "I...I see," he said, feeling nauseous. He cast a light illusion of Angella's voice, then responded to it. "Coming, honey!" Addressing Zeka again, he frowned. "Angie's calling me. I hope your plan works."

"You're in good company, darling." Zeka signed off, and Micah bunched up on his beanbag chair.

✧✧✧

Shadow Weaver recharged. She hugged the runestone, the door locked behind her. Power flooded her body, knitting wounds and sealing the gash in her shoulder; the numbness and tingling ceased by the time she finished.

Her reflection rested in the red stone. Yet instead of white, her blank eyes glowed bright crimson. Gasping, Shadow Weaver backed away from the rock and into the wall.

I we you she he it they I we she it they we you they they they they they...

"Mama?"

Adora stood in the doorway, her gorgeous blue eyes lighting up. "You're home!" she shrieked, bounding over and hugging Shadow Weaver's waist.

She she she she it it she she it she it she she...

Shadow Weaver bent down, inhaling softly. Adora had lost three teeth, and her childish grin was as pure as she remembered. How long had Shadow Weaver been gone? A week? A month?

Adora frowned. "Mama, why're your eyes red?"

Shadow Weaver trembled. I I I he I he he I she I she she GONE.

She forced words out despite the slog. "It's...nothing..." she said through tight lips.

"Well...okay." Adora kissed Shadow Weaver's mask. "I missed you, Mama. Can we snuggle tonight?"

Shadow Weaver gazed into those deep blue eyes, the eyes of her Nell. He was always watching her. Constantly disapproving of her through Adora...

She gripped Adora tight against her chest, holding back tears and trying to recall the memory of the child she used to know. But she felt nothing but coldness toward her daughter. Then, vaguely, she heard her child ask her what was wrong. But Shadow Weaver couldn't speak. She couldn't tell the girl the truth – that she would be a monster soon. That Adora's mama would die, and a demon would take her place.

✧✧✧

Beck watched the soldiers from afar. She'd just told them about Shads' return from Mystacor and how the commander was in cahoots with the enemy for greater power.

Now, all she had to do was enjoy the wreckage.

People argued in front of her. "She would never betray us!"

"She betrayed Mystacor!"

"We all left our homelands. Doesn't make us traitors!"

Beck did nothing to stop the situation. This was her last hurrah for the Rebellion. She had played her role, but she was no longer needed. Not by Nell, the queen, or anyone else.

But she could do what needed to be done, even if Micah couldn't. She could end the life of the woman who brutally mistreated her soldiers, gorged herself on power, and made them drink blood. Because Beck, even if she was a tool, would not let others share her fate.

Her stomach lurched at the affirmation. Nell was sorry. It didn't surprise her; shame had been Nell's mantle for years. But now...

Do I want to keep hating him?

Nell had known, damn it. He'd known that Zeka loved him. That...that was why...

The arguing grew louder. If Zeka was a tool, and she cared about Nell, why was she trying to kill the woman he loved?

That's easy; she's evil. She's hurt Micah and everyone else.

But so had Nell. And Zeka still loved him. Moons, she probably always would. Hurt wouldn't stop her from caring, knowing, and bonding with someone.

Her stomach grew heavier. And as the soldiers broke out electric rods, Zeka was propelled by one thought. One motivation to stop them and find a better way out.

He loves her.

The cafeteria erupted. Soldiers stabbed one another with electric rods, dropping each other like flies. "STOP!" Zeka cried as she leaped over tables, but her voice was lost in the din. Guns broke out, their loud CRACKS deafening her and giving her a roaring headache.

A Scorpion tail swung for her thigh in the midst of the fighting. And Zeka barely had time to panic before she fell to the ground, her disguise gone and her mind spiraling into unconsciousness.

❂❂❂

Did you know...

- I based Zeka's character arc on Kelsier's from Mistborn: The Final Empire. The idea of someone trying to stop the destruction of something they hate without being officially "redeemed" for another person's sake...it's delicious.

Tell me what you think...

- What will happen to Zeka now?

- How will Micah try to persuade the Alliance to change their minds?