“Help me!” Aaliyah commanded, seizing Zaritha and Faiza’s hand and striding towards Christy and the hag. “We can beat her together. This is your mind, Faiza! Yours! Take it back! For your son and daughter!”
Faiza’s hand tightened in her grasp. “For Kyle and Fatima!”
They slammed their will into the Goddess’s. Christy’s moans lessened, her wife sitting up, a determined expression on her face. Aaliyah kept on the pressure, forcing her will harder and harder at the goddess.
“I am the daughter of Sheikh Umar ibn al-Jann! I am the wife of Sultan Kyle Unmei! The strength of my ancestors fills me!”
Hecate recoiled, fixing her eyes on Aaliyah. “Pesky Jann!”
The crushing will of Hecate slammed into Aaliyah. The Goddess focused every bit of her will upon the Jann. Aaliyah’s knees wanted to buckle beneath the assault and her spine wanted to break. But she wouldn’t bow her head. She wouldn’t submit.
“I am Sultana of the Hidden People!” Aaliyah spat, stepping towards Hecate, pushing back her will. She had been raised to be meek, to submit to her father and husband. Her will had been bridled, hidden beneath her submissive demeanor. Aaliyah unleashed its full power. “Bow and pay homage to the rightful rulers of the Hidden Realm!”
“No!” the crone hissed, her knees bending. “No! How?”
“Kill her, Faiza!” Christy shouted. “This is your mind. Shape a weapon and end Hecate’s existence.”
“Please!” gasped the Goddess, forced down to her hands and knees. “I submit. I am your most humble and abject servant.”
Faiza strode forward, a sinuous dagger appearing in her hand. “You wanted to kill my son and all my daughters!”
The dagger flashed. Hecate’s blood spurted.
“Ishtar!” Christy chanted, seizing Aaliyah’s hand. “Channel the energy of Hecate into the Noble Djinn. Let her be your focus and Hecate your fuel. Let the power of the five artifacts all rest in the hands of Kyle Unmei! Let the six of us unite in one spirit.”
Energy poured into Aaliyah’s soul. The Darkness of Christy and her staff merged with her. Aaliyah became one with Christy, their souls merging. Fiery Fatima’s soul flowed in next, adding her love and heart to the fire. Fumi and her beguiling wind gusted in, bringing fresh delight to Aaliyah’s soul. Deep water flooded in, carrying the deep intelligence of Britney.
Then their united souls poured into Kyle. They met his stony strength, uniting with his strong love. Aaliyah was mixed with them all, merging together to form one happy soul brimming with such power. Aaliyah laughed for delight. Fatima, Britney, Christy, Kyle, and Fumi laughed with her.
Their six souls were one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Energy poured into Kyle.
Aaliyah, Fatima, Fumi, Christy, and Britney merged into his soul.
Kyle’s eyes shot open.
Makerah loomed over him, hammering at the shields Phillipa and Sable had conjured.
“Where’s did they go?” Sable gasped. “Where’s Christy?”
“Britney?” cried out Phillipa.
They were inside Kyle, merged with him. “Everything will be okay,” Kyle said, the sound of six voices issuing from his lips.
“Britney?” Phillipa gasped. “Are you in him?”
“I am,” Kyle answered as he rose. His body was no longer battered.
“I AM THE SULTAN!” raged Makerah, crashing another wave into the shield.
Kyle transformed Earthbones into Waterclaw with a thought. He guided the water away from the shield, striding out to face the Marid. Makerah’s eyes widened as Waterclaw became Windfeather. A howl of wind slammed into Makerah, throwing the Marid across the room.
“What?” gasped Makerah, blinking in bewilderment.
Windfeather became Fireheart. “You tried to hurt my family!” Kyle snarled, fire lashing out, boiling away Makerah’s water.
“Master?” his concubines called out, dragging themselves to the side. They were all soaked, their bodies battered by the violence of Makerah’s waves. It drove Kyle’s passion. He channeled all of it into the heat roasting Makerah.
“No!” screamed Makerah.
Makerah became water, flowing through the damaged diamond wall and crashing through the sapphire door, shattering the gemstone. He flowed into the hallway of the palace, fleeing before the intensity of Kyle’s fire, howling in terror.
Kyle smiled. Fireheart became Shadowedge. Kyle folded darkness and appeared in the hallway behind the fleeing Marid. Shadowedge flashed gold into Earthbones, and Kyle molded the blue stone of the hallway, cutting off Makerah’s path.
Makerah reformed into flesh, turning to face Kyle. “What are you?”
“A man,” Kyle answered. “Supported by those who love me.”
Water lashed from Makerah. The weapon in Kyle’s hand shifted as he used all the elements. Water guided Makerah’s attack from Kyle’s flesh. Earth blocked the attacks. Fire boiled them away. Wind disrupted the waves. Darkness transported Kyle to safety.
He hurtled a piece of stone at Makerah, slamming into the Marid. Makerah became water. Kyle sent a great gust down the hallway, carrying Makerah into the wall. Fire roared, boiling away Makerah’s essence as he reformed into flesh.
“Please!” howled the Marid.
Kyle stood over the blubbering Marid.
“Mercy! I surrender.”
Britney and Fatima urged Kyle to kill him. Aaliyah and Fumi were moved with pity. Christy was twisted with indecision. Kyle…wanted to end the monster. But he was so pathetic, blubbering like a child that had lost its favorite toy.
Makerah’s attack caught Kyle in the stomach.
The wind was knocked out of his chest as he fell back. The blow would have killed Kyle if [he] wasn’t swimming with the power and essence of five others. The pain was intense, burning through him. Makerah scrambled up, fleeing down the corridor as Kyle struggled to stand.
Fatima berated Kyle.
Kyle stood up and chased after Makerah, Windfeather summoning a great breeze that propelled him forward. But Makerah was swift, hurtling through the hallways as a whirling mist. Other Marid crowded the corridors, cowering as Kyle hurtled past.
Britney believed Makerah was going for the throne room.
Fumi agreed.
Windfeather became Shadowedge.
Kyle folded space and appeared in the throne room. He stood on the very spot where he had failed to save his mother.
Aaliyah and Christy proclaimed with joy that they had saved Faiza.
The Marid gasped at the sight of him, recoiling as he stood in the center of the throne room waiting for Makerah to appear. Power radiated from him. Shadowedge became Fireheart, the tip of the yari burning bright.
Britney told Kyle when to strike.
He hurtled a great ball of fire towards the entrance to the throne room. Britney was sure Makerah was about to enter through the door. She had calculated Makerah’s speed and the path. The sapphire floor cracked from the heat of the fireball as it streaked across the throne room.
Makerah stepped through the doorway.
Water flashed into steam as he screamed in pain. The fire boiled the Unbound Makerah. Kyle held firm, ignoring his piteous screams. He had shown Makerah mercy. The Unbound had repaid him with treachery. Even Aaliyah and Fumi agreed to kill him now. Kyle poured all his energy into the fire. Steam billowed, rolling along the ceiling of the throne room.