Vieva whips her arm out and sends her flame smoldering towards the sword, which doesn't melt it, but shocks it. It clatters to the ground. Xara yells back at the boys, who are being crowded by Lysabel.

"Knock her out! Gently!" she bellows, while jerking her neck at Vieva. In her roommate's eyes is a fervent glow. It's clear she's been waiting for this.

The Warlord doesn't take a second glance at his sword, lying abandoned on the ground. Instead, he creates a whip made of wind, striking Xara across the side. For being made of air, it bites deep. Xara hisses, but masks her pain.

"Vieva!" she yells.

Her friend nods, and sends flame hurtling towards Xara. Xara merges her wind with the fire and together, they shoot it towards the Warlord. He creates a barrier of wind that makes the fire tunnel divide neatly in the middle. He even takes two steps forward.

Xara's mind scrambles. She has to focus, hone her strength. But with the Warlord prowling closer, not looking any worse for wear, it's hard to think.

Vieva edges closer to Xara, exhaling in short breaths. She's ragged in appearance, yet has never looked more deadly.

"Tired already, children?"

"Oh," breathes Vieva. "We're just getting started."

The Warlord poises, ready for another attack, but Vieva hurls a fireball at him so fast it's a mere blur of brightness in front of Xara's eyes. It catches on his robes, and he smacks the fabric to put it out. Xara concocts a spear of lightning, and throws it directly at him. But it dissipates in front of his eyes.

Panic begins to set in as she glances over at the boys. Despite it being two on one, Lysabel has the upper hand. She fights with a sort of robotic movement, and Owain ducks, barely missing the fingers of lake plants.

Xara forms a line with her lips. This isn't sustainable. They need a-

Before the thought ends, she's blasted with wind, and thrown back. She tumbles near the edge of the island, and at the last moment regains her wits. Trying to force back the pain erupting all over her body, she scrabbles to her feet. One of her arms feels weird, loose and jiggly. The pain is at the back of her mind, like a parasite. She'll be feeling the aftereffects of that.

"Xara!" Derald and Owain shout together.

She inhales a scrapy breath. The Warlord laughs deeply, seemingly unaffected about how his great-grandniece is in pain.

Vieva glances at Xara, and Xara nods in confirmation. She's alright. She has to be. Xara rolls out her neck, noting the crick.

"What is it you even wanted, anyways?" Vieva counters, still in a fighting stance.

The Warlord sets his eyes on her. Xara feels a twinge of pride as her friend meets his eyes bravely.

"I suppose since you won't be leaving this place, I can tell you."

Owain whimpers.

"There is an Elixir that grants immortality."

"That's it?" says Derald indignantly, though his face pales afterward as he realizes who he's talking to.

"I thought Founders were already immortal," counters Vieva in a calm voice.

"We are. But our magic is not. This Elixir allows my magic to stay at full strength until the day I day."

"Which will be very, very soon," growls Xara. She doesn't care who this man is, it doesn't matter if he's her family. He cannot get his hands on that Elixir.

"Oh, you're threatening me. How adorable." He chuckles in a sultry tone. "I-" His eyes bulge twice as large, and he inhales a strangled breath. Everyone stops, including Lysabel.

Vieva and Xara exchange owl-eyed glances.

Then there's a swish sound, and the Warlord staggers to one knee. Standing behind him, wielding a crimson covered sword, is Alisud. Her eyes are bright with angry tears and she heaves breaths.

"Grandma?" gasps Xara, bewildered.

Alisud's gaze shifts to Xara, relief then apprehension. "All of you need to leave. Now."

"We're not leaving you."

"Yes, yes you are." The Warlord snarls from the floor, struggling back to his feet. Alisud takes on a determined face. "I'm doing what I should've done a long time ago."

"Wrecked wench," he thunders angrily. "I will slice you into pieces where you stand."

"GO!" Alisud cries once more.

Xara gathers everyone, including Lysabel, who had fainted by the time Alisud had shown up. But she's starting to awaken, and Xara finds some fraction of relief at seeing her friend's eyes back to their normal, bright color. Whatever spell Cynem had planted in her mind is gone.

Vieva hustles everyone off the island, by use of the bridge. The Warlord spits anger like oil on a hot pan. He doesn't notice the four of them escaping.

"Leave, Cynem."

"I will get what I came for," he hisses at her. Xara shudders at the inhuman tone of his voice.

"Never."

"Ah, but I already have it." he says with an eerie smile. He holds his hand up, fingers pinched as if he's holding a beaker. Then, right before her eyes, a vial appears, filled three quarters of the way with a thick gray, almost luminescent liquid.

Alisud's eyes widen. In that moment, Xara lunges, knocking the vial out of his hand. It rolls over the edge and into the water below.

"NO!" Cynem howls, scrabbling at the edge. His cape flutters over the corner. Alisud looks at her granddaughter, a warning clear in her eyes. She should've left. But Xara's tension releases. She has done what she's come to do.

The Warlord leaps to his feet, and withdraws a tiny knife. It glints dangerously, almost evilly in the odd lighting. He looks like a feral beast from the Nyx Woods.

Without a word, he plunges the knife into Alisud's bosom, then yanks it out.

Xara screams as her grandmother hits the floor, blood pumping out of the wound. Blood tribbles from the side of her mouth and her eyes take on a dazed expression, not truly seeing anything.

"No," sobs Xara. In the corner of her vision, the Warlord escapes, in a flash of darkness. Xara takes her grandmother's hand, squeezing it tight.

Alisud smiles weakly, and it strikes Xara that this is the most peaceful she's ever seen her grandmother.

"Live, Xara," she rasps.

With one last exhale, Alisud dies.  

>>AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Two chapters to go! aah I'm so happy;)

loose ends are being tied up for Deathdancer as well. Im nearly through with all my cultural research (lol my search history is just filled with things related to asian clothing and cuisine) so I plan to start on June 25 and go to Labor Day. We'll see how it goes;)

I hope you all are having a great summer so far!

peace&love,

raniaditi