5

Dear Amelia,

It took me a while to write this, because this is where things become hard. So much happened so fast and I just don’t know how to slow it down. I won’t give you all the details. You are old enough to fill in the blanks of what I left out. Truthfully, though, don’t try. Please don’t try.

Jordan was the first to show up. As soon as I pressed the little button on my pin he was there, and he instantly shifted into Milo to try and help. Markus saw this, and compelled him to stay put. As strong as Jordan is, he couldn’t break it. He was left being a sitting duck, vulnerable to both Markus and Darius, and I couldn’t help him. Not while fighting Markus at the same time.

Markus wasn’t immune to my powers. He was just too strong to be held down by them. I pulled roots from the ground to hold him. I enchanted him a dozen times. I used telekinesis to throw objects at him from every direction. Nothing worked.

When my mom showed up with James, they both jumped in to help. We were the majority. We outnumbered the two kings. But it still felt like that wasn’t enough. James shifted into Onyx and attacked, and the moment he did, Markus threw him into the wall. But then my mom came into the picture, and Markus stopped fighting. He wanted to know if she was really his granddaughter, so she showed him.

The distraction allowed me time to free Milo from the compulsion, while Onyx shifted his attention to Darius, who was gaining the upper hand on Grandpa.

Markus, as soon as he saw what he needed, threw my mom off him and at the same time, a pure silver blade at me. It was laced with wolfsbane, and I felt the burn of it as soon as it cut me. It honestly should have killed me. But Victoria blessed me with immunity, so besides the burning pain, I was fine.

Milo and Onyx switched, and Onyx and my mom coordinated their attacks while I tried to find a weak point. It felt impossible. Markus and Darius had centuries of experience and power on their side. I was only 19 with no experience of war.

I figured jumping into the shadows until I could find a opening was the best option, so I did that, and didn’t have to wait long. I jumped onto Markus’s back and sunk my dagger deep into his side. He shook me off and as I was getting ready to attack again with another dagger, the unbearable pain started.

It was my bond breaking. Pain radiated through my body like fire and I was paralyzed with it. When I turned around, I saw Darius’s wolf with his jaws around Milo’s throat. Grandpa was going everything to pry him off, but it wasn’t working.

That’s the thing about war, losing people was a part of it. But this is Jordan we are talking about. Jordan was my best friend. He was my brother. He was strong. He couldn’t die. Yet the bond we shared, was telling me otherwise.

I sent the silver dagger into Darius wolf’s side and he let got. I didn’t pay attention to anyone else but Milo. I did everything to heal him. Gaia did everything. But his injuries were too severe, and I knew I couldn’t heal him.

Amelia, I pray everyday that you never have to feel the pain of losing your best friend. Or anyone close to you. Losing them is enough pain to last a lifetime. Feeling them die is another pain I wish on no one.

I knew I couldn’t heal Jordan or Milo, but I still tried. Because that’s what you do, you try. You don’t give up on the people you love. Stella showed up in a panic, and took him. I don’t know how she knew to come but I’m glad she did. The bond was still there, but it was hanging by a thread and fading by the second. Stella was his only chance.

As soon as she left, I turned my anger back to the fight. Back to Markus and Darius.

Amelia, I need to stop here. The memories are too painful and I find it hard to keep holding my pen. My tears are already ruining the paper, making the ink smudge. I hope this letter is still legible by the time you get it. When I find the strength to continue, I’ll write again.

~Mom

MJ. B