how he'd never stopped loving her. He remembered the way she smiled and the look of delight in her eyes when she made him laugh. The scent of her perfume, the toss of her head, the way she ran her fingers through his hair during their moments of passion--it all rushed at him--along with anger.
He always had done the right thing. Never being someone to act rashly, Toby liked to weigh every action, every use of magic done carefully in order to make sure that his actions never harmed another. It was a code he lived by.
But right now…rage just about blinded him.
What was happening to Jacqueline, to their child, was so unfair.
Toby Williams had had enough.
Leaning over, he kissed Jacqueline on the forehead and then turned to face Gwydion. The old wizard lifted an eyebrow and grinned.
"Careful, Toby. You wouldn't want to do anything to hurt the child."
Saying nothing, Toby walked slowly towards Gwydion. It pleased him when Gabe fell into step beside him.
"Give me the child, Gwydion, or face the consequences," Toby said. "Or are you too much of a coward to fight me?"
"I am far more powerful than you," Gwydion said.
"You keep saying that, but I noticed you didn't exactly stick around to prove it at our last encounter. A wizard's snare is a pretty easy way out."
"I have always loved a good wizard fight, Gwydion." Arwan held out his arms as the wizards squared off. "And you assured me that you didn't run away the last time you faced them. So finish it now. Hand me the child."
Gwydion hesitated a moment before using a transport spell to send the child to Arwan.
The old wizard rubbed his hands together.
"Let's begin."
*****
"There is no need for you to die in such pain. You can be saved from that," Morrigan whispered to Jacqueline.
All around them the fight raged in the pool room. The three wizards tossed fireballs at each other that hissed in the air and the smell of sulfur from their exertions lingered everywhere. Yet, Jacqueline was only dimly aware of it.
The taste of iron was in her mouth. Bitter and metallic, she recognized the sharp tang of blood as her body shut down, organ by organ.
"Listen to her, "Angela urged, as she cowered next to the table to avoid getting hit by one of the wizards.
A blue wash of light circled the pool table and Jacqueline watched as a fireball bounced off it.
"I've cast a small protection shield that will keep us safe," Morrigan explained." As I said, there is no reason for you to die like this. You can be saved from all this pain."
"How?" Jacqueline croaked out the word, trying hard to focus.
"Kill the child."
She shook her head, rejecting the thought.
"I know it seems harsh, but it's the last shred of humanity that connects you to this world. With that part of you dead, you can quickly pass on. The nightmare will be over. All this fighting ends."
Over.
The pain would stop.
Oh, but that did sound nice.
"Arwan," Morrigan commanded the god. "Bring that child here."
Without hesitation, he walked through the blue shield.
"But I thought he was on Gwydion's side," Angela said. "I'm so confused."
"A ruse. My son is an idiot. A god like Arwan will always be faithful to me." Morrigan smiled at Arwan. "Isn't that so?"
"Indeed," Arwan said. "Gwydion needs to be taught a lesson. I knew he was out of line the moment he first approached me about killing Jacqueline. I went to Morrigan to better understand the situation. It's amazing the clarity you can find in a goddess's bedroom."
"You mean, you two…?" Angela shook her head. "And I thought I got around."
"I owed Morrigan a favor. So I agreed to stay help stir up trouble, to bring things to a head. It wasn't hard with Hades on my back."
"Your baby is dead, Jacqueline," Morrigan said, softly. "What you gave birth to was no longer even your child. Death killed its soul."
"No," Jacqueline cried, grief overwhelming her. "No!"
"I’m sorry to break it to you like this, but everything going on is part of greater plan," Morrigan took the baby from Arwan, bouncing it soothingly. "Death has been reborn."
"I don't…I don't believe you."
"See for yourself."
Morrigan held the baby out. Jacqueline could see the stark blue eyes of the child turn blood red.
"Oh, god," Jacqueline whispered. "Not my child."
"So you see, this is why the baby must die." Morrigan laid the baby on the table next to Jacqueline. A silver knife materialized in her hand. "Things like