Drawing on the strength of Shadow, Midnight, and my creatures, the bonds I had to them fueled my power. I only took enough to boost my own strengths as I wove my power around Dannie in long beams of light.

Angel, my beautiful best friend, tried to reach out to me through the bonds as well, but she was weak. Instead of taking, I sent power back to her, the connection between us stronger than ever. It was so strong that when Dannie saw what I was doing and changed her attack to focus solely on Angel, I felt the full force of her crushing blow.

I screamed as Angel’s presence flickered in my mind, each beat of her lifeforce fading as Dannie decided to take her out and remove one of my strengths. No matter how hard I held on, there was no way to counter the goddess.

Angel, I sobbed, holding on to her with all my power. Pull from your land. Take all the energy. Fight her.

The touch of her mind was so strong and calm, the ancient being that she was did as I said and used the last of her strength to draw on her ancestral power. It was at this point that I felt some hope, right up until a burn of power shot down our bond. Take this, Mera. Take this and finish her off.

Angel gave me the strength of her family. Strength that could have saved her life, but she knew without it, we’d all be dead against the might of this goddess. In that moment, I didn’t care though.

“Angel, fuck, no!” I screamed both mentally and through our bond. “Save yourself.”

It’s too late, Mera. My power base is fractured and I’m leaking my life force. I can’t replenish it fast enough, and this power would be wasted. Use it to save the others. Save yourself.

I tried to pull away from Dannie, but she wouldn’t release me. And with more power funneling into me as Angel faded from this realm, a scream built in my chest. Hopelessness crashed into me and I was crying and screaming and fighting, but there was nothing I could do.

It’s my time, Mera. You saved me and now I can repay the favor. I’ll be at peace, with my family. You need to let me go.

No.

I was an ungracious stubborn asshole, but I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t let her go.

No, I repeated. If you fall, so do I.