The Alpha Master waved his hand. The sharp morning light glowed through his splayed fingers. The black bubble melted away. Haven sat easy on still water. No movement could be seen on her deck. Cousin stood atop the figure head.
The Alpha Master rose and flew to face the subject of his obsession. “Finally, we meet,” he said with the same quiet command that sent the most powerful of his kind into terrors.
Cousin didn’t reply. She only stood, tapping a sliver staff against her leg.
The Alpha Master frowned. Of all the things he expected, seeing Cousin unafraid and calm was not one of them. He couldn’t feel anything of her power. A corner of his mouth turned up and his eyes shone. “Finally. Finally, we will test your Depth.”
The spell hurtled at Cousin had all the power of the island behind it. She didn’t flinch. The spell raged through the space were Haven sat and continued on.
The Alpha Master blinked, then he laughed long and loud. “You changed it to something that can’t react with physical matter!”
“Wasn’t me,” Cousin said in Kraken’s voice. “It was her.” The sliver staff, fading to black, pointed to the dock.
The Alpha Master turned to see Cousin on the dock. He turned back to look at Cousin standing on the figure head. “Two?”
“No,” the Cousin on the dock said. “I am Cousin.”
“And you have never looked more beautiful,” Kraken said as the illusion fell away. He held up the black staff. “When you are ready, my love.”
Cousin smiled despite herself. All worry and confusion evaporated as chaos erupted.
Thousands of spells flew. Some were aimed at Cousin. Some at Kraken. Some at Haven. The wards and charms Cousin had made sang.
Haven’s crew swarmed the deck and fired back with cannons, guns, arrows and re-directed spell. Kraken used his black staff to repel attack and direct his own power. Gabb used the power gathered by his charm to enhance his water powers and flooded great chunks of dock and beach, washing away Masters, Hunters and wielders alike.
Cousin floated up to met the Alpha Master.
“You have armed them well,” the Alpha Master said. “But it will do no good.”
“No buts,” Cousin said.
The Alpha Master smiled. “Agreed. Come and I will spare them.”
Cousin tilted her head to one side. “No.”
The Alpha Master shrugged. He waved a hand and every motion on Haven froze. Every spell directed at the ship and crew hit. The explosion rocked the island and sent great waves out into the ocean.
Cousin waved a hand and the smoke cleared. The ocean settled. And Haven rested unharmed on gentle waves. Curses, challenges and cheers came from her decks.
A loud crack and the Alpha Master clutched a broken arm. He glared down as Kraken sent another attack at him with the black staff. A few words in whispered tones absorbed the attack and healed the arm. “Perhaps, we should make this between us?” he said to Cousin.
“That is your only lie.”
The Alpha Master laughed. The Al’Ri wielders of all stations stilled and cringed. All the Masters bowed their heads, and fed power to the Alpha Master.
“No buts, Father,” Cousin said.
“Do you think you are my only off spring?” The Alpha Master laughed. “Such naivety deserves to be destroyed.”
Cousin smiled death, and all the world disappeared. The Ether expanded all around. She and the Alpha Master lingered on the edge of the eternal. Cousin looked at Haven, then closed the door.
The Alpha Master looked around calmly. He took in the vastness of all and nothing, and embraced it. He rejoiced in it. Pulled the essence of it into himself. Reaching for everything, he let his greed take hold.
Cousin watched. She didn’t attempt to stop him. Didn’t try to hide from him. Didn’t interfere in anyway. Cousin let the Ancient Gods grow closer. She didn’t warn them or the Alpha Master. In her core she knew it wouldn’t make a difference.
The first touch of the Ancient Gods jolted through the Alpha Master. He cried out in ecstasy. He moaned. He laughed. The power filling him was exactly what he craved. He pulled and sucked and consumed it as fast as it would come.
Cousin looked on.
The Alpha Master began to morph. His body stretched and distorted. His mind mutated. His power bloated.
Cousin left the Alpha Master to his feast.
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