Chapter 106 The Cost of Power
KAEL
My daughter terrified me.
Not because she was powerful.
That was something I had known from her birth. Since before she was born, when reality was altered and timelines collapsed due to her existence.
But this was different. This was cold calculation.
brutal effectiveness. the readiness to completely eliminate people from the face of the earth.
I have seen that expression before.
In the mirror. Three hundred years ago when I was young and cruel and convinced that power justified everything.
"Nyx." I caught up to her at the horses. "We need to talk about what you did."
"I saved Mother. I eliminated threats. I protected our family."
She got on her horse. "What's there to talk about?" You put Elena in a never-ending cycle of death.
ou erased three beings from time itself." I grabbed her reins. "That's not protection. That's torture. That's playing god."
"They deserved it. Elena tried to destroy Mother. Those fragments worked for Morvenna. They were enemies who wouldn't stop." Her voice was flat. Clinical. "I removed problems. Permanently.
You've been doing that for ages, right?Not in that manner.
Not by rewriting reality. Not by creating eternal suffering."
"Why not? Because it's cruel? Because it crosses some moral line?" She looked at me. Eyes ancient. Cold. "You've killed thousands. You've ruled through fear.
You're criticizing me even though you performed worse than I did? "I'm evaluating the person you're becoming into. The power-hungry individual. Without conscience," I said, softening my tone. "You're capable of more. You were brought up to be better by your mother." Mom has passed away. And the only reason she lives is because I have the strength to keep the connection intact. powerful enough to prevent its destruction. She released her reins. "I won't apologize for doing what you're too weak to do. For protecting what you can't."
She rode off. Left me standing with Isolde in the ruins.
"She's not wrong." Isolde said quietly. "You have done worse."
"I know. That's why I recognize it." I looked at Elena's empty body. "She thinks power is the answer. But it doesn't. It just makes you more dangerous. More isolated."
"Then stop her."
"How? She's more powerful than all of us combined. She can freeze time. Erase existence."
"Love. Family. Memory of who she used to be." Isolde moved to her horse. "But you better figure it out fast. Because I've seen time-walkers go down this road. They become entropy itself."
We rode back in silence.
Kael. Sera's voice whispered. Weak. Recovering. Is Nyx okay?
Physically yes. Mentally? I don't know. She saved you. But she became something cold.
Then we help her.
We remind her of her identity.
She probably doesn't want to be reminded. She seems to appreciate this updated version.
Then we show her why being untouchable isn't the same as being safe. We reach her before she's too far gone.
And if we can't?
Silence. Then: Then we do what we have to do.
The implication was clear. If Nyx became too dangerous. If she started using her power without restraint. We'd have to stop her.
By any means necessary.
We reached the kingdom as dusk fell. Nyx was already in her chambers. Refusing to see anyone.
"Your Majesty." Cassian met me at the gate. "What happened? Nyx won't talk. Just sits in her room staring at nothing."
"She used her power. Full power. Stopped time. Erased people from existence." I dismounted. "And I think it broke something in her."
"She's dangerous."
"She's always been dangerous. But now she knows it. Embraces it." I looked toward her chambers. "We need to watch her. Make sure she doesn't use that power again without serious reason."
"How do you control someone who can freeze time?"
"You don't. You just hope she still loves you enough not to." I headed inside. "Get the council. Emergency session."
Two hours later, we gathered. Theron. Lyra. Isolde. Cassian. Arianna. Rowan.
"Nyx erased three beings from existence today." I spoke bluntly. "Removed them from time. And she did it casually."
"Can she even do that?" Lyra asked.
"Should be impossible. But she's not a normal time-walker. Born from blood bond and prophecy." Arianna looked troubled. "And today she embraced it. Used it without restraint."
"Is she a threat?" Rowan was direct.
"She's my daughter." My voice was ice.
"She's also someone who can rewrite reality. Who might decide tomorrow that we're threats too." Rowan didn't back down. "I'm saying we need a plan if she turns on us."
"There is no plan. No strategy that works against someone who can stop time." Isolde spoke. "If Nyx decides we're enemies, we're already dead."
"Then we make sure she never decides that." I looked around. "We reach her. We remind her who she is."
"And if that girl is gone?"
"Then we've already lost. Because nothing we do can stop her except herself." I stood.
"I'm going to talk to my daughter."
I went up the steps.
Knocked. No answer.
"Nyx. It's me. Can we talk?"
Silence.
"I'm not mad. I just want to understand."
The door opened. Nyx stood there. Face blank.
"What I'm feeling? Nothing. That's the problem." She stepped aside. "I erased three beings and felt nothing. Trapped Elena in eternal death and felt relieved. Stopped time and felt powerful."
"Nyx—"
"I should feel guilty, right? Should feel horror?"
She took a seat on her bed. However, I'm not. since they were deserving of it. Because I'm sick of holding back while everyone else makes the most of their abilities. "You become a monster when you use all of your strength without limit. I had to learn that the hard way. Perhaps it's acceptable for me to be a monster.
If it keeps Mother alive. Keeps you safe. Keeps this kingdom protected."
She gave me a look. "You managed to survive for three hundred years as a monster. You were in charge. You prevailed. "Why am I unable to do the same?" since I lost everything as a result.
Cost me my soul. My humanity. I sat beside her. I was powerful and alone.
powerful and sad. "Is that what you truly want?" I want to stop losing people.
Stop almost losing Mother." Her voice cracked. First emotion I'd heard. "I'm tired of being scared. Power makes the fear go away."
"No. Power just makes you numb."
I drew her in close. "You don't have to be unbeatable. All you have to do is be yourself. Flawed and scared and human."
"Being human got Mother killed."
"Being human made Mother sacrifice herself to save us. Made her death mean something." I felt Sera's presence. Listening. "Power didn't save her. Love did. Connection did."
"And where did that get her? Dead. Existing as a ghost in a blood bond." Nyx pulled away.
"I'll avoid making that error. I'll have enough strength to prevent anyone from hurting me or anyone I care about. Whether they like it or not, I'll utilize my authority to keep everyone safe."Even if it means turning into the very thing we're meant to be opposing?
Becoming the tyrant? The monster who forces their will on everyone for their own good?"
"If that's what it takes." She looked me in the eye. "I'd rather be hated and have everyone live than loved and see them die."
I recognized that logic. Had used it myself for centuries. Knew exactly where it led.
"Then I can't stop you. Can't convince you. Can only hope that eventually you'll see what I see. What your mother saw." I stood. "But know this. The moment you start using that power to control people. To force your will without consent. To erase anyone who disagrees with you. You become the enemy. And I will fight you. Even knowing I'll lose."
"You'd fight your own daughter?"
"I'd fight anyone who became a tyrant. Even family. Especially family." I moved to the door. "Because that's what your mother would want. What she'd demand. That I choose right over easy. Choose protection of the many over protection of the one."
I left. Closed the door. Leaned against it and tried not to break down.
My daughter was turning into a monster. I didn't know how to help her.
Kael. Sera's voice. Soft. Give her time. She's grieving too. Grieving me. Grieving innocence.
Time might make her worse.
Or it might show her that power without connection is empty. Have faith. She's our daughter. She has your stubbornness and my compassion buried under all that fear.
And if it doesn't?
Then we do what must be done. But we try everything else first.
I walked away. Toward my own chambers. Toward rest I wouldn't get.
Behind me, I felt Nyx watching. Felt her power. Her fear.
She was wrong. But I didn't know how to prove it.
Not yet.
But I'd figure it out. I had to.
Because losing my wife was devastating.
Losing my daughter to power and isolation?
That would destroy me completely.