9.2 Chains and Anchors

Considering their strong feelings of hatred, it was rare for Dorian and his demon to be in the same place at the same time. Today, they made an exception.

I stood between Dorian and his demon, looking on as the twilight sun cast the last of its golden rays across the smoking wreckage of Salt by the Sea. Even if we started over, it would never be the same. I was just glad Miriam wasn't here to see the damage, damage I had caused.

"We'll rebuild," said Dark Dorian, as if he could read my thoughts. "Better than before."

"But that's not the point, is it? Elijah and Danny--they're hurt, because we were selfish. Things got out of hand. Even if we rebuild, Salt by the Sea will never be what it was." And neither would I.

"Nor will Elijah and Danny," said Dorian.

"They haven't finished with us," I replied, arms folded. "When Elijah finds out you're not dead..." I shook my head. "We can get through to Danny, maybe, but his brother... I don't think he'll ever stop. Trapping Elijah is the only way to fix this. I just hope Danny understands."

"He won't," said the twins, speaking in unison.

"And then what happens?" said Dorian. "When you've stopped Elijah and there's no one left but us?" He glanced over my head, returning Dark Dorian's glare.

"I have a plan for that too." I exhaled as I turned to face them. "I just hope it works."

"You mean the plan that's so bollocks you won't even tell us about it?" Dark Dorian snorted.

"If I told you, you'd try to stop me--and that can't happen," I said firmly. "But it's for the best. And I think this way, we'll all finally get what we want. Even you, Mr. Darkwater."

"Then I suppose I'll just have to trust you--for once." He smiled, and for the first time, I actually believed in it.

Knowing that Dark Dorian was no longer the star of my nightmares, that I was just as safe with him as I was the real Dorian, I took down my dreamcatcher and put it away, saving it for the next disaster. As I climbed into bed and pulled up the covers, the details of my plan turned over and over in my head. None of it would be possible if it hadn't been for Genesee, and the gift hidden under my bed. To use it would be dangerous, to use it might mean the end of life the way I knew it... But what choice did I have?

I turned on my side, staring at my newest painting where it leaned against the wall, covered by a white cloth soaked in shadows. A consolation prize. I just hoped Danny would forgive me someday.

I yawned, eyes fluttering, and hoped for a better tomorrow as I drifted on the waves to sleep...

In a forest clearing lit by the flames of a bonfire, standing beneath a sliver of the moon, Elijah and Danny Begay were gathered with the supernaturals of Harbor Village. I wasn't quite sure how I came to be there, but judging from the night slip I was wearing, it wasn't by traditional methods of travel. I took a look to my left and there was Leo staring back at me.

"They can't see you," he whispered. "Watch and listen."

I nodded, following silently behind as he made his way through the ring of onlookers, where Elijah addressed the crowd.

"You've seen what they're capable of," he said, his angry eyes scanning the nodding faces before him. "You've seen what they can do. They destroyed the Talisman and killed my grandmother--the beacon of our community! Humans fear us, but they're the real monsters, and we're going to stop them. This ends tonight!" The crowd cheered and clapped for Elijah.

Someone called out from the crowd. "But the fire didn't work. Maybe he and his demon can't be killed."

"Maybe," Elijah agreed. "But Danny says they have a weakness--Amelia Thorne. Without her, they're powerless. They're nothing."

Leo broke from the crowd and stepped forward. "She's just a girl, Elijah. She's human--you can't hurt her. It goes against the alliance, and everything we worked so hard to build. The Village is meant to be a sanctuary--you can't say this is what Genesee would want."

"We'll never know what Genesee wants because she's dead, Leo. So either help us, or get out of the way." More cheers from the riled-up crowd. Maybe Leo didn't realize it, but he was in just as much danger as me. Standing against Elijah Begay was clearly a death sentence.

"Fine. Do your worst, Elijah." Leo shook his head; his cat trotted forward to take her place at his side, green eyes glowing. "But you should know--I read your fortune; I flipped the hand of Justice. Your quest for vindication leads to a dead end. The cards aren't in your favor, Elijah. Go against Amelia and you--will--lose." Flames from the bonfire soared, shooting high towards the sky. But Elijah wasn't fazed.

"We'll both lose. And that's good enough for me."

I blinked and suddenly, I was alone. The bonfire was dead and the clearing was empty. The moon sat high in the sky...

Choking, gasping noises erupted behind me. I whirled to see Dorian lying on the forest floor, his body bound by thick, heavy-looking chains tethered by a rusty anchor. He was wet, skin and clothes dripping, his wide eyes staring back at me as he struggled to breathe.

"Dorian!" I dropped to his side, tears flowing as I struggled uselessly against his chains.

He tried to speak, but when he his mouth opened, all that came out was water.

"He's drowning." Leo appeared at my side, looking soberly down at the both of us.

"What? Why?"

"Fate? You? All of the above? I'm sorry, Amelia, but I don't know if you can save him."

"Help me," I begged. Sobbing, I threw myself over Dorian as he continued to choke and gasp. "Pease, Leo! I-I don't know what to do! I can't watch him die over and over, I can't!"

"Then wake up, Amelia." Leo dropped to his knee and took my face in his hands. "I pulled the sun card when I thought of you. Look." He pressed the card in my hands. "It means love, joy, union. But the sun can't shine if it doesn't rise. Wake up, Amelia. Wake up."

Wake! Up!

I awoke, clutching Leo's tarot card. The red numbers on my alarm clock said it was nearly midnight.

Maybe there's still time...

I jumped out of bed, threw on my day clothes, and was out the door in a matter of minutes.

By the time I pulled up to Dorian's beach house, I knew it was too late to stop Elijah from acting on his plan. For a minute, all I could do was sit and stare, speechless, at Dorian's home. The whole thing was engulfed in flames. It wasn't until I caught sight of the figure slumped on the lawn that I jumped into action, running from the car and up the sandy grass.

"Opal?" She was a bloody messy, with too many wounds to count. Right away, I could tell her wounds were fatal. "What happened to you?" I dropped to her side, covering her body with my hands, trying to staunch the blood that leaked between my fingers.

"I... tried to stop the crowd." Opal gasped in pain. Every breath was a struggle. "I followed them here from the forest. But there were too many. They took him, Amelia--they have Dorian. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault." I shook my head. "Just get up--please." I took her hand; she covered mine with both of hers. "Get up and come with me, okay?"

She smiled. "Not this time, chérie."

"No. No. Opal..." My head dropped; the sobs tore through me like shrapnel. "I can't do this without you--I can't."

"You must." She coughed, choking on the blood dripping from her mouth. "Elijah knew you would come. He is waiting for you, at the docks. I gave my life for his promise that he wouldn't hurt you. He said he will let you say good-bye. Go to them."

"I can't leave you, I can't..."

"If you cry for me, I will haunt you." It broke my heart, watching Opal struggle to laugh. "Go--be beautiful, be dangerous. Save him." A final sigh escaped her lips. The light in her eyes dimmed, and she was gone.

Swallowed in a tide of rage and agony, I lifted my face to the smoke-filled heavens and wailed. The pain at losing Dorian was nothing compared to the pain I felt at losing Opal. Because when Dorian died, he always came back - but Opal was lost forever. And once again, it was my fault.

With a long, shuddering breath, I passed my hand over her face and closed her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Opal. I'm so sorry. Elijah will pay for this, I swear." I rose to my feet, drying my bloody fingers on my jeans. I backed away, hating myself for leaving her there, all alone. But Opal was right--there wasn't a minute left to waste. If my dream with Leo was a sign of the future, Dorian was running out of time...

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