Chapter 36: Too late

SERA

The loading dock was empty, we slipped inside without resistance, moving through like ghosts. The shift change had left a perfect window, exactly as Thorne predicted.

Too easy, my instincts whispered but we kept moving.

Thorne led us through the corridors, his knowledge of the building was flawless. Every turn, every doorway matched his descriptions. We passed sleeping quarters, storage rooms and administrative offices.

No alarms, no guards.

They weren't expecting an attack, they'd probably expected me to surrender, Fools.

We reached a stairwell leading to the prison levels, my heart pounded as we descended the first floor, second, third. The air became colder, stone walls replaced polished wood, the luxury of the upper floors gave way to practical darkness.

Cells were on both sides of the long corridor, most were empty. Few hostage watched us pass with hollow eyes.

We descended further, the cells here were more secure, heavy doors with small barred windows and my father was somewhere down here.

"Spread out," Kade said quietly, "check every cell."

We moved quickly, looking through the small windows. Empty, empty then a woman I didn't recognize.

"Sera."

Marcus's voice stopped me, he stood at a cell near the end, his expression so cold.

I ran.

Through the window, I saw my father, Matthias Blackwood, slumped against the wall, his clothes torn and dirty, his face bruised, but he was alive.

"Dad!" I grabbed the door handle, it was locked. "Step back!"

Silver light exploded from my hand and the lock shattered, I yanked the door open and rushed inside.

"Dad it's me, It's Sera, we're getting you out."

He looked up slowly and my heart broke, his eyes were empty like he was already gone.

"Sera, he whispered, "You shouldn't have come."

"Of course I came," I knelt beside him, my hands already glowing with healing light. "You're hurt, let me.."

"No," his hand caught my wrist weakly, "Don't."

"What? Dad, I can heal you, I can.."

"I don't want to be healed," his voice was quiet but certain. "I'm tired baby girl, so tired."

"Don't say that," panic rose in my chest. "You're coming home, Lila needs you, I need you."

"Lila has you now, you're strong, you don't need me anymore," He smiled faintly. "Your mother is waiting, I've been without her for so long, I just want to.." his voice broke, "I just want to be with her again."

"No," tears rolled down my face. "No, you can't give up, you can't leave us."

"I'm not leaving, I'm just... letting go." He touched my face with a shaking hand, "you're so much like her, so strong and brave. I'm proud of you Sera, so proud."

"Dad, please.."

"Let me go, please let me rest,” he whispered.

I felt it then, the way his body was failing, the injuries weren't bad but it was more than that. He'd stopped fighting, stopped wanting to live.

My healing power tried but he was resisting it, pushing it away.

"I can save you," I sobbed, "please let me save you."

"You already did," his eyes were closing. "You became everything I hoped you'd be, that's enough, that's.."

His hand fell from my face.

His chest stopped moving.

"Dad?" I grabbed his shoulders, "Dad, no, no, no, no"

My power surged, pouring into him, trying to restore his heart, trying to force life back into his body but it was too late, he was gone.

"SERA!" Kade's voice echoed through my grief. "The guards, we need to move!"

I looked up through the cell door and saw them, a dozen of council guards rushing down the corridor with their weapons out.

I snapped.

I stood slowly, laying my father's body down gently. Silver light blazed around me, so bright that it hurts to look at.

"Sera, we need to go.." Kade started.

"Move back," I said quietly.

The guards reached the cell, "surrender now or.."

I raised my hand.

Silver light exploded in a devastating wave, the guards were slammed into the walls with bone crushing force. Those who tried to stand were hit with blasts of power, controlled and lethal.

I walked out of the cell, more guards appeared at the end of the corridor, my power lashed out like whips. Guards screamed, weapons fell to the floor, bodies fell everywhere.

I felt no mercy, no hesitation. They held my father hostage, they let him die, they..

"Sera!" Kade's voice was sharp, "That's enough!"

I turned toward him, the power surrounding my raised hand. For a moment I didn't recognize him, I didn't recognize anything except rage.

Then his hand touched my shoulder, "they're dead," he said quietly. "It's over, we need to leave."

The red haze cleared slightly, I looked around at the bodies everywhere, the corridor destroyed, the stone walls crumbling.

I'd done that, all of it and I'd been in complete control the entire time.

"My father," I whispered.

"I know, we'll take him with us.” Kade's voice was gentle.

Thorne appeared, his face pale. "Sera, I'm..I'm so sorry, he's at peace now with your mother. No more pain, no more suffering."

I wanted to scream at him, wanted to destroy something else but what was the point?

My father was dead.

Marcus emerged from the cell carrying my dad's body carefully. "We need to go now, the alarm will alert more guards."

We moved, I felt numb, disconnected from my body as we retraced our steps through the corridors. More guards appeared, I attacked them without thinking, my power automatically responding to threats.

Kade stayed close with his hand on my arm, guiding me forward.

We reached the loading dock and into the clear forest.

We ran.

Behind us alarms finally blared, shouts echoed but we were already disappearing into the trees, Marcus carrying my father's body, Thorne leading the way.

I didn't look back, I didn't think. I Just ran until the headquarters was far behind us.

We stopped in an area as dawn broke, Marcus laid my father's body down gently.

I knelt beside him, he looked peaceful like he was sleeping.

"He wanted this," Thorne said quietly. "He wanted to be with your mother, that was his choice."

"It doesn't make it hurt less," I whispered.

Kade crouched beside me, "we'll take him back and give him a proper funeral. Let him rest beside your mother."

I nodded, unable to speak.

My father was dead, I'd failed to save him and I'd killed dozens of Council guards in rage but I'd been in control. Every death was intentional.

I was stronger than my grief, I just didn't know if that was a good thing or not.