The noisy festival of the fox had never been so quiet. The crowd watched, spellbound at the two people in the arena.

Cybelline shook the blood from her hands, the wounds had already begun to heal. Lady Celia's eyes narrowed, "Impossible. How?"

"I'm gifted."

Celia looked down at Cybelline. "No matter, that was only a small taste of what is to come." She closed her eyes and began to mutter a spell, a long gash appeared on her forearm and blood fell onto the Shadow bow. It seemed to glow with darklight.

"Child, she has fed her own life force into the bow. It will be twice as powerful." The Augur warned, he was on his knees, his body shaking from shock and blood loss.

Celia's raised the bow once more, and another arrow of the same grey material rose on the bow. Her face paled as she drew the gold string back to her ear.

When she loosened, the shadow arrow looked more solid than any of the other ones before.

Cybelline took a step forward and caught that one. She gritted her teeth, feeling the skin of her palms that had ripped open once more. The power from the arrow exploded in her body, it felt as if she had swallowed a bomb. This was even more powerful than the last one.

Cybelline fought to stand as a wave of pain pierced her bones.

Killian took a step towards the girl but Lord Jacen and Evan held on tight.

"Let go." His voice could have skinned them alive.

Lord Evan shook his head, "My lord, what good will you be right now?" He shoved a few more healing crystals into his general's hands, "You aren't any good to her if you die. That is not magic we are strong enough to deal with." Lord Jacen looked at the girl in front them, "You know nothing about her, why are you doing this?"

Killian said nothing, he felt the rush of magic enter his blood and hoped that when it was done, he would not be too late.

It took much longer to shatter the third arrow. Cybeline felt the magic within her shudder and roll. The two magics that she had a handle on, fire and light roared up to protect her from the invading magic.

FWSSSHHHHH

Another arrow. Cybelline grabbed it, this time, the arrowhead had pierced her arm, hissing and searing as it ate the magic in her body. It felt as if someone had poured gasoline on her skin and lit her on fire. She gritted her teeth and pulled the arrowhead out. The skin on her hands blackened and crackled.

Celia laughed, her voice soaring into the sky as she watched the blood flow freely from Cybelline's arm.

The more Cybelline touched this magic, the more the Source fought. Untamed magic rushed through her body, wreaking havoc. It was as if oil and met water, the two forces were ancient enemies that would devour each other. Pain shot through her in white hot streaks. Cybelline stumbled and nearly fell.

Celia was delighted, "I thought you had real power but it turns out you only know brute force!" She drew another arrow from air, the veins in her eyes had popped, she swayed.

"And I thought you had more tricks up your sleeve." Cybelline shrugged, in spite of the pain, "But you're a one trick pony." She looked the woman up and down, her white robes were now stained with black blood that dripped from the bow. "Sorry, I meant, one trick cow."

Celia growled, "Swear fealty to me and my son, concubine. And I'll let you live." Celia opened her mouth and her teeth were stained by blood, "But if you die, there's still your sister who will serve my son well."

"I actually prefer it much more if you die." Cybelline said evenly as she fought the pain.

She could feel herself losing control of her power. It raged in her body, the source was hard to control as is with the invading shadow magic, she felt as if she was being burned by two separate forces. She heard the hateful voice, and felt a sense of helplessness that she had not felt in a long time.

Was she still not strong enough to protect her family? Throughout all the time, she thought that her strength was her best form of attack. Had she missed something?

"Kneel, child. For no magic is as powerful as shadow magic. No single magic can deflect my power!"

Celia took a shuddering breath and the arrow, now fully formed rested on the bow. She nocked it and pulled, blood streaming out of her eyes, nose, and mouth as she stumbled a little. She would not lose to this chit, and she would not accept this girl's defeat. She had proven too dangerous. But Celia did want to see this girl beg.

Killian's eyes turned ice, he would throw himself across Cybelline the moment the arrow loosed. She would not be harmed.

Cybelline's brows snapped together and she bit her tongue to clear her head. The tang of blood and pain kept her cogent.

No single magic.

Perhaps no single magic could face off against the shadow bow. But what if? What if what Cybelline had been forgetting was there all along? Not to be on the defensive as she had been, but to attack. And attack with a force that she rarely used.

Pulling on the vein of fire from her blood where it had usually resided, Cybelline envisioned a bow.

In a flash, it appeared in her hand, a bow of red flames, dancing tendrils of red heat around the girl. It stood as tall as she was, a long bow that the sun god would have been envious of.

She raised her hand an an arrow of pure light appeared. Cybelline pinched a streak of fire and it fed itself into the white arrow. Spirals of fire encircled the arrow like rings around a planet.

The crowd watched, entranced as the girl suddenly seemed to turn into a goddess of the old legends. She was slight and slender but her might was immeasurable, she was fire and steel, light in darkness. They wanted to fall at her feet to worship her, to offer their all, to beg for her blessing.

Killian felt pride swell up in his chest. He smiled in spite of the pain. His Cybelline. She had grown up to become someone that no one could harm.

She had grown up to be spectacular.

Cybelline looked only at the Celia. From the fire bow, the arrow flew, in its flight, faster than eyes could follow, thunder roared as light broke through the sound barrier.

Celia only laughed and let loose the shadow arrow.

"You are NOTHING compared to the shadow bow!"

BOOM.

The two forces met in the center, with the lighting arrow swallowing up the shadow arrow. The force knocking people back into the stands, a wave of power rolled across the land, causing a small earthquake.

The audience closed their eyes in that bright flash. When they opened their eyes, nothing but air remained in the arena. Cybelline was no longer where she had once stood. Had she died?

A squeal drew their attention to the Lady Celia.

Cybelline stood in front of Celia, her hand on her collar. Swiftly, quickly, she punched the woman in the mouth. The other woman looked dazed, not sure what had happened.

"You seem to have something in your mouth that makes it possible for you to say things that you'll regret."

WACK. Cybelline backhanded the woman, and ivory teeth began to fly out.

"Let me help you get rid of them" WHACK. WHACK. WHACK. Teeth clattered down like little raindrops, bouncing as they hit the ground.

The crowd winced as they saw the merciless backhands the young woman was raining on the much older lady.

The other woman screamed, incredulous at how easily the girl had gotten to her. But she could not think as the powerful slaps knocked out most of her teeth.

Most of her teeth were gone and her nose broken before Cybelline stopped. Blood and tears washed the once lovely face.

Cybelline dropped the woman on the ground next to the shadow bow. Celia lay moaning in the dirt. Cybelline started walking back towards the Augur.

"Waitthhh!" Air whistled between her teeth as Celia rolled and crawled, she stood, leaning on the shadow bow, her blood still flowing furiously into the bow. She could not believe it, how did this girl do it? How did she not die?

"Accept defeat." Cybelline said as she walked away, "You are no match for me. You and your son will be arrested. Pay for your crimes"

"You bith! You'll pay for thith!" This would have sounded more frightening if she had more teeth.

Celia looked around and saw Miri in the crowds. With the last of her strength, she took aim at the girl with the shadow bow.

Celia looked at Cybelline, "You touth my thon, and I'll kill your thister!"

She was betting that Cybelline was weak and unable to command any magic. After all, had the fire bow not disappeared and the girl had used her force instead of magic?

Perhaps this girl was faking, perhaps she was not as strong as she appeared.

How could a girl have more magic than she, the most powerful mage of Londaros?

A sigh, light and quiet, came from Cybelline.

"I chose mercy. " Cybelline raised her hand, on it floated a beautiful white arrow with flame rings, "But you chose pain."

Her back was still to Lady Celia, but her voice seemed to pierce the lady's heart. Celia shuddered, finally feeling fear she heard that voice.

"Break." Cybelline commanded quietly. The light arrows split into eighteen small daggers that flew for Celia, who couldn't even draw the string of the shadow bow in time.

Cybelline waved her fingers and nine daggers pierced Celia's arms and legs. In an instant, the former mistress of Londaros screamed in pain and terror. These were no ordinary wounds. She was being marked in fire and light, being burned alive was more bearable. They sliced away at her skin until she was writing in pain.

Cybelline waved again.

The other nine daggers came for Celia. Her fingers were cut off, one by one, chopped away until her hands were bloody stumps. She rolled in agony. The bow clattered to the ground.

"No one can harm my family without paying the price." Cybelline's voice was not loud, but every person heard it.

Those word seemed to be carved into their hearts as the screams of the woman burned in their ears.

------

Miri saw her sister walk away safely. She sighed and put her heart back into her chest. She raised her skirts and ran for her Cybelline.

She had pushed through the crowd when suddenly, she saw a familiar figure.

Lord Norian, his face half hidden by a hood, had slipped through the crowd, with another person in tow. He was using the confusion to his advantage, he had failed, but he had not lost entirely.

Jasreth, she realised. The man she had danced with was being dragged away by that evil half brother of his. With a sickening jolt, she realized that the gentle youth she had danced with would die if she did not do something. She wasn't ready to let him die.

That Lord Norian would cause more havoc if not captured. Miri was sure of it. She looked at Cybelline's direction and then back at where lord Norian disappeared. She bit her lip.

Grabbing a page, she told him to give Cybelline a message from her before following the brothers.

------

Cybelline swayed on her feet as she walked towards the Augur. She had used magic, really used magic and it had cost her strength. She felt as if she could sleep for years. Her knees buckled before a strong hand gripped hers.

She looked at it uncomprehendingly, it was so large that it engulfed hers. It felt familiar and oddly comfortable. Why? She closed her eyes.

Flashes of something seemed to fly underneath her eyelids. Pictures that she had forgotten. Images and speech. What did she forget?

Killian breathed a sigh of relief as Cybelline did not shove him away. She seemed to be in a daze. He looked down at her hands and frowned. Bloody and cracked, they were red and swollen, she needed help immediately.

"Give me the healing crystals." Killian ordered his men.

Jacen looked affronted, "My lord, they are to save your life. This is a wound a healer could see to, not one that we use such precious materials for. And you are still injured, you nee-"

A large hand plucked the bag from Jacen's hands and Killian dumped out all the blue-green crystals into his own palm. He wrapped Cybelline's hands around them.

Warmth flowed between their entwined fingers. Killian's eyes never left Cybelline's pale face, as little by little, the color returned.

Peach pink tint colored her skin, her long lashes quivered and danced. Killian was mesmerized by the sight. He held his breath, cautious that if he disturbed the silence, she would fade away again in front of his eyes.

When was the last time he had felt the warmth of another's touch? The touch of someone he had trusted completely.

It was a flame in his palm that he would protect against the world and its tribulations. A warmth that had protected him since he was a child.

He looked down at their entwined hands. How could he ever let these hands go willingly again? The injuries and the blood could not hide their worth, rather, they were signs of her strength. She had grown and perhaps she had forgotten him, but she was still her.

When Cybelline opened her eyes, all she saw was green. She felt being pulled into those eyes, unable to resist their beckoning. Galaxies warred in those eyes that reflected her soul. It was deeply intense and deeply familiar. Her heart sped up ever so slightly, but in her tired state, she had not noticed.

"Ahem."

At that sound, Cybelline pulled away quickly. The half-used crystals fell from their hands. Jacen bent down and picked them up, scowling at Cybelline.

Killian glared at the Augur.

The Augur walked over, his bloody hand hidden by his robes, he pretended not to notice the Lord of War, even though the hostile stare raised the hair on his neck.

"Your sister has gone after Lord Norian and his brother Jasreth. She will be fine, we have sent men after them."

Cybelline frowned. The Augur handed her a note, "Trust your sister, she is no longer a child." She read it and sighed. Miri had always been headstrong, she would go after the girl once her business had finished here.

His face was pale as he looked at Cybelline, "I can not give you the throne, it is not yours to take."

Cybelline smiled, "I never wanted it."

He opened his mouth as if to say more, then he shook his head, "Come find me in my hall tonight. Bring Ithos and Myrai, we must talk."

-----------

Author's note: Thanks for your patience. I took a small vacation in July, and it delayed my schedule a bit. All your comments from the last chapter were so lovely and I apologize for making you guys wait! Your comments on my story always surprises and humbles me. And, I emphasize this enough, thank you for your support!