Kelsie saw him through the fighting crowd, a mingle of black fatigues and Order leathers, bodies scattered on the ground, injured or dead. The smell of blood and death was so thick in the air that one could taste it. She had watched his progress through the fighting. Little to nothing of the battle had touched him.

"I want my stone," he bellowed at her from across the field, "give it to me."

Kelsie watched the unholy light fill his eyes. It had been the same when he had tortured her. She waited as recognition filled his expression, a sneer marring his deceptively beautiful face.

"I will hurt you as I did before until you give me what I want," he yelled, slowly moving into a run directly at her.

Kelsie didn't wait. Turning, she ran toward the House's boundary line; he thought he had the upper hand because of their history. Kelsie mentally slashed away the clawing fear trying to make its way into her head. She knew things about him that would be to his detriment. Determination blossoming; she would use her knowledge against him.

"Zander," she called, making it to the boundary line as her neck hair came to attention as she spun, deflecting his cowardly attack muttering, "a coward as usual."

"You are the coward," he grunted, sweat already breaking out on his forehead and upper lip, "you steal what is not yours. You are a traitor to the company you worked for, therefore a traitor to me."

Kelsie shook her head, "I cannot be a traitor to you," she said, evading another clumsy attack, punching him in the exposed rib cage. "I never belonged to your world, nor will I ever belong to whatever your deranged mind wants to achieve."

He roared, pure rage shaking his body, pulling a gun he aimed at her, "You will never be able to defeat me if you're dead."

The tang of an arrow sizzled through the air, piercing his hand as a sniper bullet pierced the weapon. He bellowed in pain, making those under his command near him flinch and move away, forming a circle around them. Kelsie watched him snarl as he pulled the arrow from his hand. Blood gushing over his fingers. Easing back toward the boundary line, she could feel Zander close by, ready should she not be able to make it.

"Alyx," Zander called, "cover."

Surprised at the command, Kelsie looked around as she heard Alyx make a strange cry across the meadow. She blinked rapidly as she felt it vibrate through her into the ground running beneath everyone into a rumble that could be heard from the ridge to the House. Were more arriving to attack them? Was there an earthquake?

Kelsie watched as defending brethren forced their black-clad attackers between the evil snarling man and herself. Easing back, she felt the vibration of the boundary line under her feet, Zander's hand linked with her. Glancing at Zander, she nodded as they began to say the words appointed by their attacker's mother. Repeating them getting louder until it sounded like a battle cry.

Anger snarled from his sneering lips as he began pushing through the fighting between them, Kelsie knew she might die, but she would accept her fate if her life saved millions. Raising her hand and plunging it into the odd light around the circle containing the stone. She watched the stone begin vibrating, shaking harder as she pushed her hand toward its position and held it directly above as they continued saying the words.

Zander's hand gripped hers tightly, making her look up at the raised blade directly in front of her. A malevolent panicked expression crossed their attacker's features as he neared them. Kelsie nodded, changing their wording slightly by adding his name.

"Chernobog has no ground, has no tread, has no hold, has no heart and will be destroyed by his own blood and hand," they shouted. Repeating the words while holding eye contact with a blazing furious stare moving toward them.

Kelsie wanted to defend them, to take action as the panic rose in her chest. Watching her demise move closer with a pounding heart, a deep yearning cracked around her heart ... for time ... with her parents, with Kim, with Zander and with those she was meant to rule.

"Kelsie keep saying the words," she heard her father shout as he spun into view, slicing across Chernobog's exposed stomach. "You both have to keep saying the words, no matter what happens."

Horrified, Kelsie watched her father engage with the spawn of the man who had nearly taken everything from him. Zander clenched her hand painfully as they repeated the words together, helpless to defend their brethren. Just when Kelsie thought her father would die, Jason appeared next to him, deflecting the would-be death blow joined by Cal and Jackie, fulfilling their pledge to their ruler and guard. Suddenly Anne spoke next to her.

"I found this," she whispered in Kelsie's ear, "keep saying the words."

Kelise repeated the words as she took in Connie's writing next to a drawing of their bloodline. Nodding her understanding, Kelsie watched her mother take a position on the other side of the ring, standing on the boundary line. Her father grasped Anne's hand as they began repeating what Zander and herself were saying. Her mother plunged her hand into the circle covering Kelsie's and folding over it, adding the words Connie had written next to their bloodline diagram.

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The stone began to strain, and Chernobog became frantic, slashing at those keeping him away from what he wanted and the four who would destroy him.

Alyx watched the elders fighting. They were stealthy, cunning and deadly, but nothing seemed to keep the attacks from happening. Quickly making it to the top of the house stairs, he held his sword in the air calling at the top of his lungs for all to hear.

"It is time for Zander's Guard, to your ruler, to your Captain, defend and conquer," he waited a moment before releasing a warbling battle cry.

Kelsie watched as leather-clad fighters seemed to peal through the throngs, mowing them down as though they had been waiting for this moment. Three lines formed in front of the four chanting people. Alyx moving to the commanding position in front. Kelsie turned at movement on the roof. Lines of archers rose from their places of hiding, sending an answering volley of arrows into the black-clad attackers. Kelsie felt if they failed now to break the stone, they would not live through the day. Desperation drew her thoughts toward the House. Repeating the words, she connected with the House drawing from all who had left their secrets, knowledge and strength. Closing her eyes, she braced herself bellowing the phrase across the field, and the ground began to shake. She could feel Chernobog's panic, anger and desperation. In her mind, Kelsie called on her brethren to stand and defeat the lineage of Hadeon Than Wulfric. Suddenly Zinnia stood with her, motioning for Kelsie to raise her open hand toward the target. Pulling on Zanders's hand, Kelsie placed it on her shoulder before submitting her own toward the battlefield. Zinnia smiled, raising both of hers and pushing toward those defending them. Kelsie heard Chernobog cry out. Kelsie opened her eyes to see him frantically trying to move through the lines, his one hand convulsing on his chest. Looking down at the stone, she noticed a crack appearing. Zinnia started repeating the words the four of them were saying. Kelsie felt light-headed but kept saying the words. She held her hand over the stone and toward the battlefield while connecting with the House and Zinnia.

Zander caught her as her legs wobbled, pulling her against his chest and folding his arm around her. She could feel his hot breath against her cheek as he repeated the words giving Kelsie any strength he could to complete this mission. Kelsie drew on her determination pushing her feet into the earth and straightening her legs as she used Zander's muscular frame to remain standing. They were nearly there. Zinnia looked behind her as her sister Leilani joined them, grasping her sister's hand and Leilani pushing her other out toward the battlefield while joining in the repeating of words.

Zander held Kelsie against him. She was panting, bellowing the words, and had a glazed look in her eyes, which meant she was connected to the House and whatever was happening in that conversation. Glancing at Anne and George, he noted their worried expression, concern etching their features. Still, they repeated the words, standing firm with them in the bloodline. Anne gripped Kelsie's hand, keeping it in place. Kelsie pushed herself up against his body, forcing herself into a standing position, determination oozing from every pore. The stone cracked deeper, beginning to crumble but seemed resistant as Chernobog bellowed in pain. Suddenly, an electrical charge ran along the House's boundary line, hitting the middle of the circle. The explosion was sudden and blinding. A dome formed just under Kelsie and Anne's hands, containing the shattering black shards. A terrified scream ruptured the air on the battlefield, bringing a sudden, deafening silence. Zander watched as Chernobog looked toward the mountains, terror in his eyes. His hands suddenly slack, dropping his weapons, looking around as though trying to find a place to hide. There was nowhere for him to run. He pulled his dagger and glanced at the mountains before plunging it into his chest. His final act was to utter his father's name. Dropping to his knees, he remained there as his eyes glazed over, still looking at the mountain.

The dome disappeared, leaving a mound of ash. Kelsie sagged in Zander's arms, her head rolling back onto his shoulder before hanging to the side.

"Finish it," Zander called, scooping Kelsie into his arms and entering the House at a run.

George noticed Alyx hesitate, glancing over his shoulder at Zander's disappearing form. Keeping the momentum, George signaled Zander's Guard to move into motion. The fighting was fierce, quick and over in moments. Turning to Anne, he pointed to the House.

"We have this," he said, "see to our daughter."

Anne did not hesitate, turning she ran after Zander finding him in Kelsie's room. Stopping in the doorway, she gazed at the vases of flowers filling every surface. Smother a gasp of dismay, she watched Zander gently tending to Kelsie.

"Is she dead?" the whisper filled the space between them.

"What would make you ask that?" he frowned.

"The House supplied flowers," Anne said, pointing to the many vases.

"Oh, I asked for something that would rouse her," he said, "the various smells have a potent effect. I'm hoping she will awake soon."

"Oh, thank heavens," Anne sighed, sinking into a chair next to the opposite side of the bed, "I could not bear to lose her when I just got her back."

"How is it outside?" Zander asked.

"It should be over before nightfall," Anne smiled, "no mercy or leniency is being offered."

"None will be. Our attackers and persecutors have tormented us for decades. They have no morals, ethics or honour. If you saw some of the attempts made today, you would show no mercy or leniency. Alyx and I decided on no life being spared, and none shall be."

"What of those who joined us during the fighting?" Anne asked.

"They are unknown Elders," Zander said, "I was aware of them. They did defend the House and assisted where they could. It will be up to Kelsie to decide their fate."

"Then we wait," she said, "will she wake?"

Zander nodded, "I believe she will when she is finished with whatever is happening within."

Anne looked in the direction Zander pointed. Kelsie's eyes moved quickly under her lids. Her breathing was rapid and shallow; however, she still gripped Zander's hand, unwilling to relinquish his presence.

"Then ..." Anne smiled, "... we wait."