Aoife was overcome with a sense of peace as soon as she locked eyes with Ximena. She could practically feel the remnants of her ancient magick rippling from her, reaching for her as though they were old friends.
"We don't have much time," Aoife whispered, "Do you know how Narcissa is binding your magick?"
Ximena snorted and held her wrists up before her.
"The oldest trick in the book, iron cuffs." She smiled wryly, "But Narcissa being Narcissa, had to take it one step further." She continued as she turned her wrists to show the bolts that ran straight through the flesh of her wrists.
Aoife gasped as she reached forward, grasping onto the iron cuffs and inspecting the horrific contraption.
"Interesting that you can touch iron, young one," Ximena said slowly as she peered at Aoife, "There's only one family that I know of with such a blessing."
"You're looking at the only surviving member of that family I'm afraid, " Aoife answered flatly, as her mind raced with the limited options that she had.
"Don't worry," Ximena smiled, "I know removing them is going to hurt like a bitch. I'm fully prepared for that."
Aoife lifted her eyes to meet Ximena's gaze.
"It's going to hurt…a lot." Aoife said softly, covering Ximena's hands with her own.
"I know dear, but it can't be any more painful than having my magick forcefully drained in Narcissa's contraptions. But, even with these off, I'm not sure I can be of much help. I have nothing to give..."
"That's okay, I'm going to give you my magick." Aoife said quickly as Ximena frowned.
"You do know how dangerous that is, right?" Ximena answered softly.
"I do, but you are the only person capable of killing that bitch," Aoife hissed, "We don't have a lot of time. Eromaug has Lexi in his chamber and..well…I'm sure you can guess what's happening there." she continued with a sideways glance towards Allen and Greyson.
Ximena's face hardened and her eyes flared with fury.
"Then let's get on with this." Ximena said,pulling her hands free from AOife's grasp and offering her wrists to Aoife once more.
Aoife held the iron bindings firmly in her hands, closing her eyes and calling on Hecate to help her free one of their own. She could feel her magick swell within her and something else alongside it, a magick that was not her own but wrapping itself around her magick, strengthening it and filling her with a strength that she had never felt before.
Without warning, a whisper seemed to surround them, cloaking them and rippling between them both as the sound robbed them of their breath with its exquisite beauty.
'I am with you both in this moment.'
Their eyes locked with each other as the realization hit and a blinding light exploded from under Aoife's hands, the iron bindings shattering into nothing but dust as the light faded away leaving them in the dimly lit dungeons once more.
Neither of them said a word to each other for a few seconds, each of them staring in amazement at where the bindings had sat previously.
There was no gaping wound that needed to be healed, no life threatening pouring or gushing of blood from open wounds, just a band of extraordinarily clean skin where the iron had sat previously, at odds with the filth that caked the rest of Ximean's skin.
"That was…unexpected." Ximena smiled softly, "It appears we are favored by those that watch over us, although it would have been nice if they had intervened a little sooner." she added bitterly.
Aoife nodded as she reached for Ximena's hands, clasping them in her own.
"Are you ready to take what you need from me?" She asked, eager to move the rest of the plan forward, "I don't know how it works, but both Orynn and Bella assure me that you know what to do to draw from me."
"I do," Ximena hesitated, "but..."
"I know what you're going to say and I know what's at risk." Aoife interrupted impatiently, "If this kills me, I want you to promise me that you will protect Orynn and Bella with your life. They have tried their best to ensure that Lexi never came here, but she did. Since she has been here, they have done nothing but try to protect her and free us all so we owe it to them to safeguard them both."
Ximena nodded solemnly.
"On my honor, I swear that I will bind my life to theirs and protect them at all costs."
"Then let's get this over with. It would be easier if I have enough energy to at least hide myself again, otherwise, Narcissa will know something is wrong."
"Understood." Ximena smiled, "I promise that I will take only what I need. I will not drain you of your magick, young one."
"I trust you." Aoife smiled as a solitary tear escaped her eyes.
Ximena wiped it away quickly with a motherly smile, cupping Aoife's cheeks gently.
"It will be over quickly Aoife, close your eyes."
Aoife did as she was told and all too quickly it felt as though she couldn't breathe.
The sensation of having something pulled from deep within you, turning you inside out was one of the most painful things she had ever experienced, but she didn't make a sound.
Instead she clenched her jaw and thought of her family, her friends, the sacrifices that each of them had made just to make sure that evil such as Eromaug could never walk their realm unchallenged.
If she was to die right now, it was for a good cause and it wouldn't be in vain. What more could a person hope for in their death? At least this death would be better than her last. She had chosen this, with someone that she trusted. She would be forever known as one of the hero's who fell in the fight against unspeakable evil. In Aoife's mind, she was completely at peace with whatever fate had in store for her now.
And then, it was all over.