Chapter 40 New Dawn II
"That is a trap," I said. "You want control over my daughter. Over her power. That will never happen."
"Then we have a problem," Matthias said. "Because we cannot allow an uncontrolled weapon to exist. Child or not. Eventually, she will make a mistake. Use too much power. Hurt innocents. And then what? Do we just hope she feels bad about it?"
"We would never—" Kael started.
"You would not. But she might." Corvus pointed at Nyx. "She is three months old. No matter how mature she seems. She is still a child. Children make mistakes. And her mistakes could kill thousands."
He was right. I hated it. But he was right.
Nyx stepped forward. "I have a proposal. I will accept a council. But not one that controls me. One that advises me. Teaches me. Helps me learn. And if I ever abuse my power, if I become what you fear, then you can vote to seal it. But until then, you trust me to try."
"And if we refuse?" Elara asked.
"Then I prove I do not need your trust. I stop your time. Walk out of here. Disappear." Nyx's eyes flashed. "I am trying to be good. To work with you. But I will not be caged. Will not be controlled. I am my parents' daughter. I would rather burn the world than submit."
"Nyx," I warned.
"It is true, mother. You know it is true." She looked at the assembled kingdoms. "So, do we work together?
Or do I leave and you live your entire life wondering when I'll be back?"
The queens and kings exchanged glances.
Calculating. Afraid. Angry.
Finally, Matthias spoke. "We accept. An advisory council. But we will be watching. Closely. And if you slip, if you show signs of becoming a threat, we will act."
"Fair," Nyx said.
The summit ended. The kingdoms are left. Wary. Uncertain. But not hostile.
"That went better than expected," Kael said when we were alone.
"She threatened them," I pointed out.
"She was honest with them. There is a difference." He looked at Nyx. "You did well. Scared them. But also showed restraint."
"I learned from the best." Nyx hugged me. "Can I go read now? I want to learn more about memory walking."
"No more forbidden books."
"I will try to resist temptation."
She left. Still a child. Still learning. Still dangerous.
"She grows too fast," I said quietly. "In three months she went from newborn to this. What will she be in a year? In ten years?"
"I do not know. But we will face it together." Kael pulled me close. "We have survived everything else. We can survive this."
That night, I woke to screaming.
Nyx. In her room. Her power is exploding. Uncontrolled.
We ran. Found her bed surrounded by temporal anomalies. Time speeding. Slowing. Stopping. Her nightmares manifest as reality warps.
"Nyx!" I grabbed her. Shook her. "Wake up!"
She did. Gasping. The anomalies collapsed.
"I am sorry," she sobbed. "I was dreaming. About the war. About people dying. And my power just—"
"It is okay. You are okay." I held her while she cried. While she proved she was still just a child despite everything.
Kael fixed the room. The reality warps. The damage. "This is why they fear her. This is why we should fear her."
"She is our daughter."
"She is also a force of nature we barely understand." He looked at Nyx. "We need help. Someone who knows time magic. Who can teach her control."
"Who? The Shadowborn are dead. Except me. And I do not have time magic."
"Not all Shadowborn are dead." He looked grim. "There is one left. Older than the kingdom. Older than the bloodlines. Sealed away because she was too dangerous."
"Who?"
"Your grandmother. Your mother's mother. Arianna Shadowborn. The Time Walker." Kael's voice was hollow. "The vampire who can walk through any point in history. Who sees all timelines at once. Who went mad from the power and had to be sealed."
"Where is she sealed?"
"The Sanguine Vault. Where The First was. Where all dangerous things go." He looked at me. "We release her. Ask for her help. Risk her madness. Or we watch Nyx destroy herself trying to control power she does not understand."
"That is not a choice. That is suicide."
"That is parenting. We risk everything for our child. Always."
He was right. Again. I hated it. Again.
"Fine. We go to the Vault. We release my grandmother. We hope she helps instead of killing us all."
"When do we leave?" Kael asked.
"Tomorrow. Before I lose my nerve."
That night, I held Nyx. Watched her sleep. Wondered what kind of future awaited.
Wondered if releasing Arianna would save Nyx or doom us all.
But we would do it anyway. Because that was what parents did. Risked everything. Sacrificed everything. For their children.
Even if it meant unleashing another monster to teach the one we made.
Even then.
Always. And the distant sound of someone laughing.
Always.