Anastasia continued fighting her way through the crowd until she saw Vincent using his magic to fight his way out of a group of Argento’s Brutes. The three Brutes who had cornered him fell, and Anastasia felt the twinge of pain at their deaths.
She would grieve later, she reminded herself, and continued until she reached him.
“You think you can trap me here!” he yelled at her. “I could destroy you without breaking a sweat!”
“Than do it.” She pointed her sword at him. “Because I have every intention of killing you.”
He threw a flame at her and she dodged. It missed her by an inch and she immediately charged. Vincent was good with his magic, but if she could just get him to fight her hand-to-hand, she might stand a chance.
She got two good hits in before he managed to pin her. She used a blast of magic to knock him back, but the dizziness crippled her and she fell to her knees.
Vincent laughed. “How many times have I told you that you don’t stand a chance against me? How many times!” he yelled, and lifted her using only his magic. He spun her so she could see the battle and then moved to stand in front of her. “Don’t you see! They are dying and it’s your fault!”
Anastasia searched the crowd and her eyes focused on the group of felines approaching. So that was what Kaley had been up to! Dakota, Monique, and another man were in the center, and Anastasia felt the first wave of hope. With Monique on their side, they had hopefully just been given the miracle they needed.
“Put her down, Vincent.” Vincent turned and Dakota set Monique on her feet.
“How did you—”
“You heard me, Vincent,” Dakota ordered.
“And what exactly are you going to do about it? Take one step and I will crush her,” he warned Dakota, who had pulled a knife from his belt.
He handed the knife to Monique. “Anastasia.” The Sorceress smiled at her. “You are one of the most amazing people I have ever met, and it was a pleasure getting to know you.”
“What are you doing?” Anastasia’s eyes widened as she watched Monique raise the knife.
“No!” Vincent yelled, and dropped Anastasia at the same time Monique shouted, “Now!”
Dakota charged Vincent and threw him out of the way just as the blade plunged into her chest. She used what little magic she could to ensure the blade would kill her, and as her vision began to fade, she smiled up at Anastasia.
Anastasia cradled Monique in her arms. “Why?” she cried.
“Don’t you see? This was always my destiny.” Monique’s breathing was ragged. “I have to die so y-y-you can complete yo-yours.” She closed her eyes and a single tear slipped from her cheek.
“No, no, no,” Anastasia cried. Seconds later a wave of magic blasted her. She looked down at her hands as her body began to vibrate. Her skin illuminated and she could see everything as if it were happening in slow motion.
Not wasting a second on wondering what had just happened, Anastasia focused her magic on the battle raging below them. She could pinpoint every creature who was focused on killing her people, and she extinguished every last one of them.
The cheering of her fighters fell on deaf ears, however, as she turned to Vincent. Dakota jumped off him and moved out of the way. Anastasia’s upper lip turned up in a snarl as she approached.
Vincent jumped up. “You killed her!” he screamed at Anastasia.
“Why do you care that she’s dead?” Anastasia wondered. “You slit her throat yourself.”
His eyes widened. “That was a long time ago.”
“Doesn’t make it any better. Tell me, did my father cast you out of the family before or after you did it?”
She continued moving towards him and he continued stepping backwards. He conjured up another ball of flame and threw it at her, only this time she caught it and it disintegrated in her hands.
“What the hell are you?” he wondered.
“I am the fucking Phoenix,” she snarled.
Vincent reached behind him and pulled out a gun, but before he could fire, she sent him flying backwards. He impaled on a broken branch and looked down to touch the blood on the front of his cloak.
She walked towards him until they were only inches apart.
“Your death will bring peace to these worlds. You will no longer spread your darkness throughout them.” She held her hand to the sky and a flame shaped like a bird shot down.
“You are making a huge mistake!” Vincent yelled.
“Is that a Phoenix?” Ashton stared open-mouthed at it as it swept down and landed on Anastasia’s shoulder.
“That is what she’s called,” Dakota mused. Even he had to admit he was damn impressed.
“Goodbye, Vincent,” she said, and the bird consumed him.
Anastasia turned to face those who stood behind her. Every single blood-covered, dirty, exhausted creature who had fought valiantly in a war they weren’t sure they would win stared at her with hope.
She focused her energy on subduing her magic and watched her hands as the light faded. “We did it!” she screamed, and threw her fist into the air.
The cheers sounded loudly and she smiled widely at Dakota. He rushed her and pulled her in for a kiss as he spun her in a circle.
“I’m glad you could join us,” she said against his mouth.
“I’ll never leave you again.”
“I certainly hope not.”