The Fate of Xon

The sun was at its highest peak in the sky when Emery slipped out of his hiding hole. Or rather his dismal excuse for an apartment. He pulled the cloak tighter around his body to shield him from the sun, using all the dark streets he could to get to the main road in front of Flagcord College. He had to see the girls today, he just had to.



It had been nearly two months since that fateful night when Dahlia and Aurora had discovered that they were sisters. Emery had continued to watch them, listen to them, get to know them from afar, all in the hopes of gaining the courage to approach them. Today was the day that he knew he must do it. What if there wasn\'t another day?



He made it to the alley in front of their class building just as Dahlia was walking out. As always, Daniel was by her side with Aurora, the Tigers, and the grim Mystic behind them. Dahlia was the vision of her mother with her long red-blond hair fanning around her frame as it was wrapped in its emerald green silk dress. Aurora, for Emery had no eye for the others in the group, was the mirror of himself, though she was definitely feminine and had waist length hair. Dahlia had apparently taken Aurora whole-heartedly under her wing, for Aurora now wore the finest silk in various shakes of blue and gray, today it was the pale blue of her eyes. The others in the group were just background colors of black, orange, pale green, and gray.



He moved a little closer to hear what they were saying, nodding to himself when he discovered that they were heading to Dahlia and Daniel\'s apartment together (he still wasn\'t sure about Dahlia living with her betrothed). He knew that he could get there long before they did using alleys and shortcuts he had come to learn so well. He would have enough time to think of a plan while he waited for them. He would just have to make up a plan that wouldn\'t have the entire using their combined skills on him. He didn\'t want to die ... again.



* * *



Twenty minutes later, Emery heard the downstairs door open and the sweet sound of Dahlia\'s voice wafted up the stairs and under the door. He was reminded briefly of his Willow, but shook it off and remembered why he was there. He sat in the corner by the open window, letting the air of Dusk blow through his short black hair. He knew that they would have to close the door and walk a little further into the room to light the candles that would bring him into their view. He cut off his breathing, prepared for anything that might happen when they walked through that door.



The group came through the door and the light just missed Emery. They were laughing and paying little attention to the room around them. When the door closed, the room was bathed in darkness again. He could see, with his Soul Seeker eyes, Daniel walk across the room and struck a match. He lit the candelabra and Emery suddenly appeared in front of them.



The Tigers began to growl in his direction, Daniel pulled a blade out of no where, the grim Mystic and Dahlia held a hand of fiery blue light in front of them, Aurora was the only one who looked like a deer caught in a clearing. It was when Dahlia gasped and dropped to her knees, and Daniel dropped the sword that the tension level grew so high that could possibly mean death for Emery.



He held his hand up and spoke in a low voice. "I mean you no harm."



"Who the hell are you, and what the hell are you doing here?" The male Tiger seemed to be the one with the anger problem as he seemed to be the one commanding the situation right now.



Dahlia, from her position on the floor, began to rock back and forth. Her eyes were a solid white, but more from horror than from Vision. She spoke low, though everyone could hear what she was saying. "You are dead. You cannot be here. How are you here? Are you really who I think you are? How?"



Daniel grabbed the sword up but went to kneel beside Dahlia, putting his arm around her. Emery\'s anger flared, but he said nothing about the intimate touch. He waited for Daniel to speak next. "We received news of your death almost sixteen years ago. How are you, um, living?"



The grim Mystic still had the power in his hands, though he had lowered them. His soft voice came with a hint of anger to it, fearing the danger that could come to his friends. "Who is he, Daniel, Dahlia?"



Daniel pulled Dahlia gently to her feet, supporting her with his body. The sword lay at his feet, but Emery knew that he was a warrior and could easily get it into his hand in seconds. He had to word what he said next very, very carefully. "I am here, Dahlia, my darling, because a Soul Seeker took pity on me. Yet something went horribly wrong. The protection spell that is woven into the Lullaby of the Outskirts turned me into something different, something not of this world. I am alive, but I am dead."



Dahlia, having gained her composure, felt Aurora\'s hand in her own and gave it a little squeeze. She had come to love her little sister dearly over the last two months and knew with that move from her sister that she had figured out the dilemma that they were facing right now. "So you are a Soul Seeker, are you?" She took a deep breath, ignoring everyone in the room but Aurora\'s hand in her own and Daniel\'s arm around her. "Are you a danger to us? Are you ... Are you here to kill us ... Father?"



The growls of the Tigers stopped as the horror of what Dahlia had said washed over them. Only the grim Mystic remained on guard. This made Emery\'s respect for the young man go up a little. He would have to watch out for him it seemed. Right now, he had to wipe the look of horror off his daughters\' faces.



He stood slowly, making no move toward them, though everyone was back on guard. The male Tiger had claws for hands now, a sign of great power, and Emery stopped with his hand moving toward his neck. He took a deep breath and pulled the Amulets of the Royals from around his neck. "I am King Emery of the Outskirts, Husband to Willow of the Outskirts, Father of Dahlia and Aurora, and I am between Soul Seeker and Mystic. I would no harm a stranger than my own children, given the choice, and I am here, not to kill you, Dahlia, Aurora, or any of your friends, but ..." He paused, feeling the pains of hunger wash over him suddenly and knowing that he had to get this out soon. "I am here to ask for the help of the only two people in existence who can save me."



"Save you how?" Aurora spoke from behind Dahlia. She was pressed tightly against her sister\'s back and Emery felt a pang of sadness that he was the one causing her fear. At the same moment, he felt joy and happiness that they had found each other and become so close in so short a time.



He was about to tell them about the spell that he had found when Daniel wrapped his around tighter around Dahlia, laying a kiss on her temple. His anger boiled again and finally exploded. "Will you get your hands off my daughter?! Just because they guards are not here does not mean that you can act so familiar with her."



The growling had started again, but Emery\'s eyes were only for Dahlia and Daniel. His hands were at fist at his sides and he had the urge to rip Daniel\'s throat out. If he didn\'t think it would hurt Dahlia, he just might have done it, but then something weird started to happen. Dahlia began to laugh. She bit her lip trying to hold it in, and then it burst from her lips like the chiming of heavenly bells. His anger evaporated into confusion and he tilted his head to the side. "What is so funny?"



Dahlia\'s laughter began to die, though Daniel was trying not to chuckle with her. She wiped tears from her eyes and wrapped her arm around Daniel\'s waist, lifting up to kiss him on the cheek, looking right at her father. "Seeing as you were declared dead a few years ago, Father, I began to put things into my own hands. I am not just High Seer to Xon and Princess of the Outskirts now. I am Queen of the Outskirts ... and of the Desertland." She smiled wide. "We have been married for months. Before we even came to Flagcord." She ran her fingers through her hair quickly and sighed. "Though your outburst has only proven that you are who you claim to be."



Emery now understood her laughter. She had found it amusing that he didn\'t know that they were married. Most people must have known for that to be so funny. How had he missed that in the months he had been watching them? He hadn\'t understood why Morrigan had allowed her to room with Daniel, but now he understood it perfectly. She could tell Dahlia no if Dahlia and Daniel were wed.



He nodded, letting them see the tension leave his body. "I could not have chosen a better king for the Outskirts. I might not have known it when I chose you for her, Daniel, but from what I have heard, you are a great ruler and will be a magnificent King. I apologize for my outburst." He bowed slightly to show them his respect.



Aurora spoke up again, beside Dahlia now. "You never answered my question. How do you expect us to be able to save you?" Dahlia nodded in agreement and Emery knew that it was time.



"With this." He reached into the inner pocket of his cloak and held a paper out to Dahlia, who took it gingerly.



She opened it, studying it carefully, as a scholar would. She looked up at him, shock on her face. "This is a spell. A cure for a Mystic stuck between this world and the next." She looked back at paper, trying to figure out why he would need them. Then she saw the line. "It can only be performed by the flesh of the Soul Seeker. Aurora and myself." She quickly memorized the paper, a gift she had had since childhood, and looked back at her father. "I am sorry, but Aurora is not trained for a spell of this skill. I have only taught her the minimal amount of sorcery."



"The extent of my skills is changing water to wine." Aurora blushed in embarrassment. She looked over at the Tigers and the grim Mystic, gesturing for them to calm down. Emery had forgotten all about them.



Looking at them now, he knew that had been a mistake. They had gotten closer to him, as if to grab him if he tried anything. He backed slightly away, closer to the open window, and turned to his daughters. "You know that there is a way, Dahlia."



Dahlia shook her head fervently. "No. I refuse."



"If you do not try, I will be stuck like this forever. I cannot stand to have the hunger ride me and take another life. I just cannot handle it. I fear what I may do to myself if it happens again. Please, my love." He was begging and sounded a little crazy, but he didn\'t care. He had tried to kill himself once without success, but next time, he would make sure it was permanent.



Dahlia continued to shake her head no. "If I do try it, I could be killed and so could Aurora. I will not. I cannot."



Daniel, being a clever study, seemed to gain the concept, at least that\'s what it looked like to Emery. He sighed and wrapped his arms around Dahlia. "You are the most powerful Mystic in Xon, Dahlia. You have performed spells that would destroy even the most powerful Elder. And yet you do not think that you can do this one thing? I have faith that you can and that both of you will survive."



Aurora seemed confused and didn\'t like that. "What is going on? If you are talking about me, I want to know what we are talking about."



Dahlia, angry now, turned to her sister. "They are talking about a very deadly spell that few High Seers have ever been able to perform. It involves bringing a new Mystic or a Mystic who has not known about their powers into their full capabilities. It involved blood from both parties and a great deal of my magick. It could also kill us if I do not do it correctly. I would give my life for our father, because I remember him how he was, but would you?" She paused. "I am leaving this all to you, Aurora. If you decide to do this, we will do it now. We have a Circle of Trusted in this room with Brendan, Sarah, and Gabriel, and I have all the necessary ingredients, but it is your choice."



Aurora, shocked at the anger from her sister, stood there in silence. It was up to her. Emery prayed that she would choose in his favor. He knew enough about her from afar to know that she wasn\'t selfish and that she would think about it for a while before saying anything.



And that was how it went. They all stood there in tense silence for nearly ten minutes before Aurora spoke. "I say that we do it. It would say on years of training on my end and ..." She paused and looked at Emery. "I can remember him, a little, and how he was. I want that back. I want the family I missed out on."



Emery couldn\'t help the smile of glee that came upon his face. He knew that Dahlia was upset, but it gave him a chance to be alive again, to be normal again. "I would be eternally grateful, my darlings. We can be that family."



"What about Mother?" Dahlia looked at Emery suddenly, her eyes still a startling green.



His heart broke into a million pieces again, as it did every time his Willow was mentioned, and he clutched his chest, gasping at the pain. He shook his head quickly. "They barely left me alive. I went to her, but ... It was too late."



Dahlia nodded and turned to her room without a backward glance. It threw everyone off, even Daniel, and they were left standing there, stunned for a few seconds. Daniel regained first and headed into the room after her, telling the others to stay and watch Emery without actually saying that or pointing to Emery.



A few minutes later, Dahlia and Daniel returned to the room. She spoke, low but heard clearly. "I am going to have to ask you to leave now, Father. Everyone else must stay the night and prepare for the sunrise ceremony. We have a lot of work to do and very little time to do it." She pretty much shooed Emery out the window with a look, though he was pleased to go. Tomorrow, his dreams came true.