Destroyer of Worlds

6

From the dark, Veitch watched Ruth launch her attack on Church. In the dying flare of the light, he dashed forwards and threw himself at Ruth, clamping a hand over her mouth as he dragged her back into the dark. The shock of the attack prevented her from using her Craft, and by the time she had recovered, he had his sword at her throat.

Across the bridge, he could hear the Libertarian mocking Church as he talked about wiping him from Existence, but he kept his focus on Ruth. Her eyes crackled with power, but he continued to whisper her name and slowly the subtle manipulation of Mictlantecuhtli ebbed away to reveal the Ruth with whom he had fallen in love. Right then he understood his role in the pattern. If he and Ruth had not shared affection, she would never have responded to his quiet words, would have fought him and probably killed him. There was a reason for his heartache, and that made it a little more palatable.

'It's all right, darlin'. You're back.'

'Church-'

'He's still alive.' Veitch could see she was aware of everything that had transpired.

'You have to stop Church becoming the Libertarian, Ryan.' Tears flooded her eyes. 'If you kill him, Church can't be wiped from Existence. He'll always be a symbol. He'll always have the power to affect things, even from death. And the Libertarian will never come into being.'

Veitch glanced over at the Libertarian counting out the seconds as he held Church close to the abyss. 'There's a better way,' he said.

'You can't take any risks!'

He gave the cocky smile that she had always loved. 'There's always a better way.'

Yet she saw in his eyes something deep and mature and very unlike Veitch and it troubled her deeply. 'What are you planning?'

He whispered it in her ear.

'You can't, Ryan!' Gripping his arm, she fought to stop herself becoming distressed.

'I don't matter here,' he said. 'Church matters. You matter. I was always along just to make sure you two made it through to the finish line. And that's what I'm going to do now. My last act.'

'Ryan, if you go into the abyss, you'll be wiped from Existence. No one will ever remember you.'

He grinned. 'Not the end of the world.'

'But that was all you ever wanted — for people to remember you as a hero.'

'Yeah, that was all I wanted.' He glanced back to check on the Libertarian and Church. A minute to go. The fires of the Burning Man were growing more intense; the Void was coming. 'I've learned a lot from Church, and you, and the others. I'm a better man now. I know what's important. It's not what's out there, or what people think. It's what's inside. I've got a whole world in here. In the past, I could never look inside myself — it was too frightening. But now if I know I'm going out a hero, well, that's good enough. That's important.'

'Don't do it, Ryan-'

'There isn't any other choice, darlin'. This is the whole reason I'm here. I know that now.' He wiped a tear from her cheek. 'A kiss?' he said. 'Won't mean anything. I know you love Church, and that's right. I've got my head around it now. But it would be… nice.'

She pulled his head down and kissed him deeply.

When he broke away, his smile melted her heart. 'I can die easy now. There's nothing else I want.'

He tore away from her grip as a roar began to fill the cavernous space. The heat from the Burning Man increased sharply, the flames turning a deep scarlet. Dropping his sword, Veitch ran. He thought of his father and his mother, of the mermaids swimming by his boat and the tiny people with gossamer wings who always instilled such peace. And he thought of the woman he loved more than anything else in the world, more than life itself.

Hitting the Libertarian full force, they both went over the edge of the bridge while Church slumped against the side, clinging on. At the last, Veitch thought he saw relief in the Libertarian's red, lidless eyes. His adversary had time for one word — 'Ryan…' — and then they plunged down into the dark.