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Then there I was, the shambling, wobbling dictator, slowly succumbing to their mounting aggression. I sunk down to the ground, resting my pounding head against one of the stable gates – and from there I just tried to focus on not passing out.

“By the way,” I spoke, more to distract myself than anything. “That barrier of yours...”

“So you saw it then,” Mom interjected, so quick to chime in. “I was wondering if you had.”

“Do all barriers normally look like that?” I asked, blinking, and recalling that thousand-eyed monstrosity staring back at me. “Or just the ones made by you in particular?”

“I suppose it’s up to personal preference, really. Most would choose to rely on the Divines’ blessing, the more desperate might sacrifice an individual’s lifetime dedicated to maintaining one. In my case, the dead and the rotting served as a viable catalyst for mine.”

“The dead and – wait, what?”

.....

“Rats and birds, dear,” She bluntly said. “Or anything that dies in general. Rodents, small animals, bugs. I gave the dead a new life, a thousand as one and a newfound purpose – protecting my home, and eradicating anything deemed unwelcome.”

So, she... in a nutshell, my home growing up all this time has been under the protection and watchful eye of a living barrier formed by an amalgamation of a thousand rotting carcasses.

No, that’s not terrifying at all. Doesn’t make my stomach churn one bit. I ain’t gonna be sick.

“I am not pleased to have to tell you this as much as you are having to know it,” She sighed, catching sight of my expression. “I know, distasteful right? You don’t approve. A little crude, crass?”

What she did – it reminded me of a certain someone else. Erecting a barrier like that, it seemed more like Sera’s style... given her repertoire and all. Especially the thing with Mrs. White...

“Disrespectful...” I muttered.

“Perhaps,” She narrowed her lips. “But if it’s any consolation, that thing, what you saw – it might be alive, but that doesn’t mean it’s living, you know what I mean?”

That screaming thing, that angry thing? How it fought, how it resisted... how it feared.

Not really living, she says.

Somehow, I doubt it.

“But,” She continued on. “If that’s not enough for you to feel any better, then consider this – you tore it down. You set it free. And if you put it that way, then it seems you’ve brought salvation to more than just one life tonight, haven’t you?”

Lives that wouldn’t need salvation if it weren’t for you...

But I didn’t say that. I couldn’t bring myself to. Too weary to resent, too much in pain to reprove.

The rain was picking up again, heavy winds incessantly slamming and creaking everything that wasn’t securely held in place... and each sound was like a blasting shotgun to the ears only except they also amp up the fire rate to bloody assault rifle levels.

“I wish you’d rest,” came a quiet softness amidst the chaotic noises. “Go back home, lie down, you did your part.”

I breathe out, struggling again to even find the strength to say the words. “Not until you do yours.”

Was starting to realize that this whole entire ordeal from start to finish was just ninety-five percent comprise of just wait-and-see intermissions before something new eventually happens.

Oh, how I wish she could just snap her fingers right now, get it over with, skip the downtime, and make everything fine and dandy just like that.

In fact I’m sure she probably could, and just as easily as that... if it weren’t for just that one thing holding her back.

Calm, confident, she strutted about back and forth, keeping a constant eye to a re-subdued Jay seemingly groveling at her feet. Despite her sickness, technically bedridden – seriously, I don’t know she manages.

Which makes the mystery of how exactly she plans on going about this whole process all the more a mystifying process.

“So how will this all work?” I asked when my curiosity couldn’t be contained any longer. “Dad speculated... that you might offer yourself as a replacement host in Harry’s place.”

“Did he now?” She turned, stopping in place, her lips smiling affectionately. “Seems your father is still as sharp as he ever was.”

“So he’s right?”

“Right,” She nodded. “Before you arrived, I’ve tried other methods but I’m afraid at this point, there’s just no other feasible way. Offering a stronger, vastly more powerful alternative to a weak, mortal vessel...” She shifted her eyes back to the slumped figure beneath her, and blew an amused breath. “Wouldn’t you like that, hmm, Grieven?”

Grieven found the use of his voice again, to which he immediately misused, emitting a harsh, ear-grating noise intermixing with the others.

“You think I would want you as an alternative? your body, your powers?!” He said furiously. “Keep your fucking offer! I won’t even dare go near that foul thing you call a soul!”

“Oh, but you will, you will...” She told him. “You’re not whole yet, you might think you are, but you’re not. And once you’re detached from this body, instinctively, you’ll latch onto the next most viable host you sense – which of course, will be me. So, want it or no, you won’t be able to resist me.”

He lifted his head up at her, his chin a mixture of gray stubbles and dirt.

“Then I’ll just consume you,” He snarled and heaved. “Every single bit of you... just like I did to this miserable excuse of a human being.”

All that hostility, rage, every word a cold-blooded threat, and Mom could only chuckle as if he’s told a rather amusing joke.

“Oh, and wouldn’t that just be mighty convenient for you? To possess all my powers, all of my abilities – nothing would be able to ever stop you if you’re me. But in that same vein,” She cocked a wryly gaze at him. “What makes you think that you will be able to? You, a small fragment of a whole?”

“You don’t think I’ll do it?”

“I think that you’ll try,” She said. “I also think that you’ll fail.”

Jay... Grieven slowly sat upright, his gaze leaning in at her close. “I’m more powerful than you think I am. I’m warning you.”

“And I assure you,” Mom leaned in even closer at him. “So am I.”

But despite her claims, her non-doubts – inside – a small part of me couldn’t help but think otherwise.

I glanced at her, seeing her there standing tall, standing strong, wondering just how much she was struggling inside to maintain that demeanor....

“So there are dangers,” I spoke out. “Like dad said.”

“Dangers,” She muttered back softly, hearing more than just my words, the corner of her lips twitching slightly. “You’re sweet to worry, dear. But the only concern I do have about anything is you. All that agony you must be in... and I can’t make it go away for you. It hurts my heart to see.”

“I’m fine,” I said.

“Of course you are,” She replied. “And so will I.”

Then, quiet again, silence again – just the tumultuous ambiance of thunder and rain, with the occasional growl of defiance from off in the corner of my eyes.

Speaking of eyes, mine were getting harder to keep up. Being exhausted was exhausting, every blink just seemed to make it harder and longer to pry my eyelids open.

Desperately, I tried to stave off the fatigue, to keep my next blink from being my last – but frankly I didn’t know, I couldn’t tell. When the world gradually turned black, I didn’t even notice that it did.

Until it suddenly flashed white.

My eyes instantly flung wide and open, just as thunder followed lightning, rumbling the earth in its wake.

Yet as the skies dimmed black once more, somehow my sights, what I saw in front of me – it continue to stay white.

A murky, swirling white.

Staring at me, then, slowly, blinking at me.

I parted my lips. “Adalia?”

“You’re... awake...” The white said, whispering in a familiar distant voice. “You’re... here...”