Chapter 65 Con
"Isla!" Mara ran through the gates. Into the fortress. Following the pull of their bond.
She found her daughter in the central chamber. Floating in the air. Eyes completely black. Dark energy pouring from her body.
"Isla? What is happening?"
"Mother." Isla's voice was wrong. Layered. Multiple voices speaking at once. "I tried to stop it. Tried to hold on. But I gave too much. And something else filled the empty space."
"What something?"
"Oblivion. Part of him survived. A fragment. It was hiding inside me all this time. Waiting. And when I weakened, it took over."
"No. We killed him. You destroyed him with the blade."
"We destroyed his body. His consciousness. But essence cannot be destroyed. Only moved. Contained. And I contained it. Without knowing." Isla looked at her mother with those black eyes. "Now he is awake. And he wants out. And I cannot stop him."
"I will help you! We will fight him together!"
"There is no fighting this. He is too strong. Too deep inside me. The only way to stop him is to kill me. Before he grows stronger. Before he breaks free completely."
"I will not kill you!"
"Then everyone else dies. He will consume the world. Starting with you. Starting with Father. Starting with everyone we love." Isla's voice cracked. "Please, Mother. I do not want to be a monster. I do not want to hurt people. End this. End me. Before it is too late."
"There has to be another way!"
"There is not. We both know it. You just do not want to accept it." Isla floated down. Stood before her mother. "It has to be you. Father will not be able to do it. Grandfather will hesitate. But you. You will do what is necessary. Because you always do."
"I cannot. You are my daughter. My child. I cannot kill you."
"You can. And you will. Because that is what mothers do. We protect our children. Even from themselves. Even when it hurts."
Isla pulled out a knife. The same knife Mara had given her years ago. For protection. For emergencies.
She held it out. "Take it. One strike through the heart. Make it quick. Make it painless. And then burn my body. Do not let Oblivion use me even in death."
Mara's hand shook as she took the knife. "There has to be another way. Please. There has to be."
"There is not. I love you, Mother. Thank you for everything. For my life. For my freedom. For my choices." Isla smiled. Her real smile. Breaking through the darkness for just a moment. "Now give me one more gift. Give me peace. Before I become the thing I hate."
Mara raised the knife. Tears streaming down her face. "I love you. So much. I am so sorry."
"Do not be sorry. Be proud. I lived well. Fought well. Loved well. That is all anyone can ask." Isla closed her eyes. "Goodbye, Mother. See you in the next life."
Mara prepared to strike. To end her daughter's life. To save the world one more time.
But before she could, a voice spoke from the doorway. "Stop."