Within seconds, the explosion can be heard for miles. Jake’s blade stops inches from my skin as he looks toward it. A large column of smoke is rising up from it. I start to see military men run toward the smoke as Jake looks down at me. “Time to die Zona Everlast.” Before he can finish me off, a large amount of wind blows into a nearby building. The crowd of people start to run as I feel two guards grab me. I struggle to get away as a full on riot breaks out. I struggle trying to escape the guards but I feel them let go of me. I look confused as the men who were chanting savior start to attack the guards. The form a little circle around me preventing guards or people getting close to me. Alistar lifts me up in the air and brings me over to him in the alley. He tries to unchain me.

“I’m sorry.. I didn’t mean.” I stop him by hugging him.

“Thank you for saving me.” He pause for a second and hugs me back for a second. He tries to take off my chains. It takes a few tries but he is able to shatter them. I instantly feel amazing as my soreness goes away. I feel energized, but angry. “Where’s everyone else?”

“Lupa is leading an attack on the northern wall. Aleem and Anna are hiding out in the city. He said something about a bar. Like the Drunken Man. We had a few issues and we thought this was the best place for them.” I frown for a second.

“I will go help Lupa. You go find Aleem and Anna.” I go to run but he stops me.

“You need to go to Anna, Zona. The Lion is here. Aleem knows it. I will go help Lupa. Go find Aleem and Anna.” I frown but sigh.

“Fine. Hurry.” Alistar flies into the air and heads to the giant column of smoke. I dash through the backstreets trying to find the Drunken Man. I run pass a bar and stop seeing the sign for the Drunken Man. I stop and quickly head inside. I see Aleem with Anna sitting at a table. No one else in the bar. I go to them and see Aleem look relieved seeing me. Anna gets up running toward me. I bend down hugging her. She hugs me tight burying her head into me. Aleem gets up coming to me.

“Thank goodness that you are alive. We were worried sick.” I stand up holding Anna.

“I am glad you guys are alright. Anyway, where’s the Lion?” He makes a face and goes back sitting down.

“Without my book, I am not able to find them.” I pause for a second and sit Anna back down.

“I know where it is. Follow me.” I lead them back to the military district. Just as I thought no one is here. I blast down the doors and lead them to the Jake’s office. A few guards start to come down the hall and I blast them away with my flames. This is the first time in forever I felt full control of my powers. We get to his office and I point to the desk. “It’s over there. I will guard the door.” Aleem and Anna head over to the desk and Aleem starts to look through it. I close the door and melt the door handles together. I hear Aleem huff in annoyance.

“I can’t find it!” I run over to him to help him look through it. I see Anna staring at a picture on the desk of Jake. He’s younger and has a smile on his face. The picture breaks as I glare at it slightly. Anna has a mixture of confused on her face.

“Why did you do that to my brother?” I look at her annoyed at the question.

“That man is evil. He is the worse thing in this world. I am going to..” I pause processing her question. “... Your brother..” The door gets blasted open as Jake walks in. Hides behind me scared as flames appear in my hands.

“Zona Everlast. Today you will d…”

“Jake?” Anna pops her head out from behind me. He stops blinking rage leaving his eyes.

“Anna..” He binds down on his knees as she runs told him. I try to stop her but Aleem grabs my arm.

“It makes sense Zona.” I don’t take my eyes off of Anna as she hugs Jake tightly.

“No. He is not…” The building begins to shake slightly. Aleem sighs looking at both Jake and Anna.

“Yes. He is the Lion.”

Jake picks up Anna holding her close. Even though I hate to admit, they have that bond I’ve seen families walking down the street. However, I can not let that bastard take Anna away from us. As he holds her close, I run blocking them from the door.

“Out of my way Zona Everlast. I am taking my sister far away from here.” Aleem comes up with a book.

“It makes sense Zona. The Lion ruthless, angry. The Lamb innocent. These are the two.” Anna whispers something in Jake’s ear. Jake looks at her for a second and looks back at me.

“I have no idea what’s going on with this Lion talk Zona Everlast. I am going to protect my sister above anything else.” I glare at him as he returns a glare back at me. The building slowly starts to shake with the glass windows starting to shatter. Aleem falls to the ground and I hold myself upon a wall. Jake quickly moves and jumps out the window. I curse jumping out the window after them.

Jake lands on the ground creating a small crater around him. As I approach the ground, I grab onto a banner lowering me to the ground. Jake takes off and buildings around us start to crumble. A huge earthquake has hit the city as I chase after Jake and Anna. People run past me trying to find some cover from the city being destroyed. The chaos has gripped the city causing large riots. Jake makes his way to the large hole in the wall. Signs point to that being the result of the explosion. A wave of people block him from escaping from the hole in the wall. Alistar flies overhead stealing Anna from Jake.

On instinct, shadows start to surround the area. I see Jake cut a hundred people trying to get to Alistar. I barely blast him with flames sending him off his track. Alistar triest to turn back into the city but he gets shot with an arrow. He crashes through a nearby building roof. I turn back to face Jake, but I notice an eerie quietness surrounding me. Walls of shadow raise up around me. Before me surrounded into total darkness, I create a small fire in front of me. Dark wisps come off the walls and the ground as Jake’s cold voice reverberate off the walls. “Zona Everlast. I will kill you this day.” I swallow my building up anger and get a determined look in my eyes.

“Bring it.” The ball of fire I created expands trying to find Jake. He deflects some of the flames off his sword allowing me to focus on him. He rushes me hitting with blunt of his sword in my side. I stumble back a few feet with him kicking me in the stomach. Before he rushes me again, I blast a hole into the ground. With his anger so focused on me, he rushes toward me trying to deal a leath blow. He steps into the hole twisting his ankle violently. With him being distracted, I grab ahold of his face burning him as hot as I can make it. He breaks my grip his face with an double upcut. As his armor and face slowly heals, I create a small ball of flames in my hand. I push it against his chest piece blowing a hole straight through his chest. He grunts in pain throwing his sword at me. I barely back out of the way as the side catches my side. Blood pours from the wound as I grit my teeth. The walls around me fall and with that chance I make a break towards the nearby alley. Halfway down it, I lean against the wall burning my wound shut. His sword isn’t allowing my wounds to heal on their own.

“Zona Everlast.. I will finally end you and this.” I look behind me seeing him walk towards me. I notice something about him also. His armor isn’t healing anymore. The hole in his chest looks healed but not perfectly fixed. His helmet is completely gone. I turn back to him reading myself. I dig deep trying to bring anymore magic out of me. I have to figure out a way to buy some time.

“You won’t end this because you can’t.” He stops for a second as a slow smiles appears on his face.

“I can’t wait to prove you wrong.” He steps told me as a howl in the distance can be heard. His eyes move toward the direction as I take the moment to charge him. I tackle him to the ground causing him to drop his sword. I kick the sword away from his grasp before he pins me to the ground. “Idiot girl.” He wraps his arms around my neck trying to crush my windpipe. A bright flash of light shines blinding both of us. I remember who and what I am fighting for. Everyone is counting on me, Lupa is counting on me. I find a new source of something as I place my hand on Jake’s chest. I blast him through as he coughs blood all over me. He falls off of me letting go of my neck. I sit up breathing heavy. I look over to him to see his body starting to heal. I try to get my breathing under control as I stand up going to his sword. I pick it up feeling how perfect it feels in my hand. I look back to him seeing him on his knees as his wound in his chest has stopped healing. He looks at me with his cold eyes. “Zona Everlast.. I..” His head bobs up and down. “I.. won’t let you have her.” I frown walking over to him.

“Fuck you Jake.” I raise his sword up piercing deep into his heart. He doesn’t react, blink, or breath. I hold my side looking away from him. I stumble toward the alley way opening. I look around seeing Alistar stumbling out of the building carrying Anna. As quickly as I can, I stumble toward them. I notice Anna knocked out in his arms.

“We have two problems Zona. Anna won’t wake up and the thing I saw surrounding the city.” I look at him exhausted.

“What is it this time?”

“There military is surrounding the city. It looks like they are going to do destroy the city with catapults.” I frown looking at Anna. I feel her head looking back up at him.

“Where is Lupa?” Alistar shrugs.

“She led a few groups of soldiers away from everyone.” I let out a sigh of relief as I take Anna away from him.

“We need to leave the city. Aleem was in the military district. We need to get him.” We head toward where I saw Aleem last. The catapults start to be let loose from behind the wall. Buildings are being destroyed as we see Aleem running along the top the away. Alistar floats us to the top of the wall. Aleem stops looking relieved to see us. A large gash is across his chest as he gets to us.

“Where is the Lion?” I frown as catapults continue to destroy the city.

“We need to go now Aleem.” He looks confused as I get that cold feeling again. I hand over Anna to Aleem as I turn around facing Jake. I see Jake shirtless fully healed. His eyes glow black with anger as he cleans his blade. “

“Give me my sister.” I know I have no magic left in my body I pick up a discarded sword raising up in my hands

“Not happening.” He rushes at me as a catapult hits the wall causing it to crumble. Time seems to slow as rocks get pushed out of the way of me and Anna. I hit the ground with a thud as some of the rumble falls trapping my legs. I quickly look around for Aleem and Anna. I see them land safely. I look at Jake and see him trapped underneath rumble. I try to pull myself out of the rumble looking for Alistar. I see him knocked out next to me. I look back to see Aleem standing next to Jake with Anna. Anna slowly wakes up seeing Jake underneath a large piece of wall. I struggle trying to free myself. I look down free one of my legs. I look back to see Aleem whispering something in her ear. I frown yanking myself from the rest of the rubble. I look back to see Anna walking toward the catapults.

“Aleem! What did you tell her?” He looks at me with sadness in his eyes.

“A way to save her brother.” Another set of catapults gets released as I run toward Anna.

“Anna run away!” As I get a foot from her a giant rock lands on her. I hear someone shout for another volley of catapults. I feel deep anger inside me fill as I see the rock get cut in half. The rock splits and I see Anna’s body looking unhurt. I look as Jake picks her up in her arms. Anna looks toward me with tears in her eyes.

“I’m sorry Zona..” She slowly fades into Jake. Once she fully disappears, dark veins rush all over Jake.

“Zona Everlast. Run. Run far away and never look back.” Dark shadows start to come around him as I feel Aleem grab me. He pulls me to my feet as we start to run away from the destruction. As I look back one last time, I see Jake’s body explode as dark tendrils destroy everything in front of him.