I walked towards Kaden, though it felt like my feet barely touched the ground. The purple mist, now under my control, swirled around me like I was the sun in the middle of a small galaxy. I reached out and touched Kaden, allowing the tiny purple sparkles to rush into him. I watched as the blood stopped dripping and the wound on his head healed. The purple lights flowed faster and he suddenly gasped as he realized I was dumping a ton of power into him. His breathing became easier and he straightened. Once I knew he was able to control his brother with ease, I moved passed them all to Brie. She looked as prim and proper as ever, but the last few days had a toll on her as well. I moved to her and hugged her, allowing the purple cloud to envelop and flow into her. She stiffened and looked shocked, then once she realized what was happening, she relaxed and giggled. Her injuries, stress, exhaustion and fear were replaced with health and peace.
"Now, it's your turn." I said, turning on the 'King'.
"You! You have stolen power that belongs to me! You thief! You bitch!" The 'King' spat at me.
"Shush. It's never nice to call a lady that." I waved a hand at the 'king'. "in fact, I don't think I ever want to hear you speak again." The purple lights zoomed forwards and swirled down the 'king's' throat. He began coughing and gagging and tried to yell, but nothing came out. I smiled sadistically.
"Now, for your punishment." I contemplated, tapping a finger against my chin.
"For the injuries and deaths of countless innocent lives, for attempting to flee punishment for your last offences, for attempting mass murder on a dimensional scale, and for having zero respect towards women, your brother, humanity, your own kind, or even your own minions whose very bodies are scattered here..." I paused for dramatic effect. "I sentence you to the Banishment. forever... and hereby strip you of your title, power and rank as Lukoie... And believe me, when I say forever, it means FOREVER." The lights few from my body as I finished speaking, enveloping the former king of nightmares. With one final whistling screeching sound, the swarm stripped him down to bare bones, until the sound stopped entirely. Then the lights and remains winked out of existence. I staggered a bit, and felt two sets of arms catch me. The darkness swirled around us all and we were suddenly standing in the field by Brie's car.
I turned away abruptly and vomited. I could feel the buzzing of the energy in my body, and it was quickly getting worse. It didn't belong to me, and it wanted out.
"Kaden..." I yelped, reaching out for him. He caught my arms as my knees buckled, and I let the energy flow out of me as quickly as I could, the lights swirling into him so quickly he flinched at the onslaught, but held on until the light faded away completely.
"Are you sure Rue?" Kaden asked me, concerned. I could hear the question echoing in my head about my lack of trust of him up to this moment.
"That power was never meant for me...for this world. I don't know exactly how I know that, but I do. You have a whole world to rebuild and people to restore. I think it chose you because it knew that, and knew you willingly gave it up..." I replied, panting lightly.
"Hmph. And here I thought it was because you had begun to trust me after all." Kaden smirked. I rolled my eyes at him.
"Brie, let's go home. Or maybe you're home, since it's late." I said with a grimace. Brie stared at us open mouthed.
"WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED!?" She screamed. I winced.
With a feeling of finality, we entered Brie's house together. I immediately collapsed on the couch, listening to Kaden update Brie on the things she had missed out on. I.e. the power exchange(s) that had occurred and what had happened to the 'nightmare king' and the shoes. The house eventually got dark and quiet and my dreams shifted into a low rumbling chuckle which made me jump off the couch in fear. A hand touched my shoulder, making me jump even higher, spinning around.
"Did you hear.." I shrieked.
"Yes." Kaden replied.
"Is he coming back?" I asked
"I don't know" He answered cautiously.
All of the stress from the last few days broke inside me, and my eyes ran with tears. Kaden reached out hesitantly, then pulled his arm back. I saw the gesture, which made me cry a little harder. I threw caution to the wind and reached out to hug him, burying my face in his shirt. He quickly wrapped his arms around me, murmuring nonsense in my ear and in my head, trying to calm me. Brie came down the hall, rubbing her eyes.
"Is everything ok? I heard Rue yell and... oh" Brie joined in the hug with concern, stroking my hair.
"Do you need me to block all this out for you?" Kaden asked me, and I heard it reverberate in my head. I shook my head, unable to speak through my sobs. I let my mind speak for me. 'Just let me cry myself out.'
At some point, Brie fetched a large quilt and threw couch cushions on the living room floor. We all sat on the floor wrapped in the blanket, Kaden between us, softly lulling us all to sleep.