The demon had returned a few hours later, sensing the change in the room and he looked around in confusion, her and Kai still on the floor and she was dozing in his arms.
"Epharis told me to jump in a volcano and that he would do what he liked with his things," Daemon said angrily as he dropped into the chair. "So now we have to look into alternatives."
"What alternatives do we have?" Versalis asked, still standing as far away from her as was physically possible in the confined space.
"Well, we can have either have Etani kiss some serious arse and try to get him to do it, or we try and force the abilities to return. The former is only dangerous to her pride, the second could get her killed."
The idea of begging Epharis made her feel ill, but that was the better alternative.
"They're both a risk. What if he hurts her? If it would amuse him to break her bones?" Kai demanded.
"Talking to him is the safest option at this stage. We might not be able to trigger the return, we don't know where it is."
Something about his tone made her think he was lying, and she frowned at him. "What do you know?" she asked.
His eyes found her, making her shiver at the clench in her stomach.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Not all your talent comes from magic, hm?" he asked snidely.
"Shove it, Damion. What aren't you telling us?" she said, her intentional use of the wrong name making his eye twitch.
"Your magic would have returned to Faerie, and back into the ones it originally came from," he said slowly.
Everyone was still, confused as they tried to understand what that meant.
"What does that mean?" she finally demanded, and it was his turn to look confused.
"What doyou mean? Surely you know where your magic came from?"
They all looked perplexed, none of them having any idea at all.
"You can't be serious. It's obvious if you stop and think about it." He was indignant. Pushing himself out of the chair and pacing. "Think about it. What happened on the day you were born?" he demanded and still everyone looked confused. "Do you not know the date of your birth?" That seemed to confuse him even more.
"Not at all. Why would I know that?"
They all looked at her, baffled.
"Everyone knows the date of their birth," Kai said gently.
"It wasn't important. It was just a day, my parents never kept track."
"Your father did, I suppose you were too young. He always ensured he was there on the day," Daemon said.
Etani frowned at him, trying to recall.
"Well that makes sense with you, but you two? You're scholars, the lich is a scholar. How did none of you make the connection?" Daemon demanded of the twins.
Kai and Versalis exchanged a glance and then shook their heads.
"What happened on the day?" Kai asked.
"It was the day the creators tried to bring down the human world!" Daemon shouted.
"So? Lots of people were born that day," Etani said, frowning.
"I'm not sure if you are messing with me..." When they all just looked confused, he sighed. "The attempt failed, because there was a great vacuum of power in Faerie. Something sucked it all up, right at the point where things were looking good for Faerie. Something stole all that magic, and specifically, stole all the magic from the Creators and the Protectors. Very few others were affected in any meaningful way. But those two groups were hit the worst. Why would that be? Why those two in particular?" He paused, hopeful. But no one had anything to say. "Because you took it all!" he exclaimed.
"I stole magic?" She felt suddenly sick, thinking of her doing to others what Epharis had done to her.
"Not like what Epharis did. You took their ability to create and to protect. It is generally believed that the Protectors were born to protect Faerie from itself, but it was actually to protect Faerie from the inhabitants. These Creators could bring down the human world, but they also had the power to change Faerie and the Protectors existed to counter that. To stop them from upsetting the balance. So, when all the powers of the Creators was sucked away, they no longer had a purpose and so they fell. You're the Creator now, you're the one who can destroy this world and change Faerie. I already told you that you were capable of creating worlds, infinite worlds. You are the Creator, and the destroyer of worlds."
The silence was palpable, and she had begun to chew on her lip.
"So what now?" she asked finally, thinking she might already know.
"Now, the powers have gone back to Faerie and the Creators will be reborn. They will have the power to bring down the worlds and because so many were killed, more will be changed. The Protectors will be able to fly again."
Looking at Versalis for confirmation, she found him staring at her in terror.
"You have to get your magic back. Right now," he whispered.
There was a sudden whirl of movement around her as the vampires moved and she found herself on her feet, having no idea of how she got there.
"I don't know if he should be told," she said slowly.
"Only if he refuses. A last resort," Daemon breathed, and she turned to find him behind her.
He cupped her cheek and kissed her, her entire body flooding with a sudden need.
"Be careful, don't take any risks until you are back to yourself," he said gently and then stepped back before Jaia could grab him.
She was deeply confused, accepting Jaia's hand, and he pulled her to him.
"We will come with you, but we will stay outside so you can have privacy," he said gently, and she nodded, her eyes wide with fear.
"I'm scared, Jaia," she whispered. His smile was devastating. How had she never appreciated just how incredibly attractive he was? Even more so that Versalis and Daemon, more so than the fallen Galad.
She swallowed and he gave her a wicked grin, unable to help but enjoy her reaction to him.
"You be a good girl and keep us all from dying," he said.
"I'm not a hero," she said gently, not wanting them to think that of her.
"No, but you're not a villain either. You are both and neither. Just save the world this one time and you can get back to killing things like any other day," he replied
"Don't make jokes," she complained.
He kissed her hard but briefly. "It wasn't one, my love."
And then he was gone, leaving her alone.