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A dark mist began to rise from the ground where Luch sat, enveloping her slowly. What started as grey wafts became thick fog, and Macey was wondering if it would stay that way. They'd have no chance attacking mist. There was nothing to focus their magic on.
Luckily, the fog thickened even further until it formed a shape. Moments later, a second Luch was sitting on the floor, facing the real one. Just like sludge-Macey, Luch's doppelganger was black without detailed features and seemed to be made from tar or black oil. It leaned over to Luch as if it was sniffing the air, before stretching out a hand to touch the woman. Luch was keeping her eyes closed and Macey knew she would have done the same. It was one thing looking death into the eye, but quite another to see yourself about to kill you.
She tightened her grip on her magic. This was their only chance to kill Self-Doubt. It had to work.
Macey did a quick survey of the others. They were all ready and looking at her. She took a deep breath and nodded, giving the signal to strike.
What followed next was chaos. Lightning, water, fire, wind and ice flew at Luch and her clone, meeting in one giant explosion of light. Macey was thrown back by the shock wave, but luckily, she'd been standing in front of her throne and was now slumped on the seat. She got back up as fast as she could and threw more water into the middle of the room. She couldn't see Luch anymore, there was too much magic happening around her. The ground was rumbling and suddenly, sharp shards of earth flew at the point where Luch had been sitting. They looked as piercing as spears and were surely able to kill a human. But was it all enough to kill the evil that had copied Luch?
She formed a giant ball of water and had it hover above the centre of the room.
"Amber!" she shouted. "Give me some lightning!"
The beithir immediately grasped what Macey was planning and nodded. "Three... two... one... now!"
Lightning crashed into the water at the same time as Macey released it. Sparks flew and hot steam rose to the ceiling.
A sharp scream came from their target, but it wasn't Luch's voice. It was someone else, someone in a lot of pain. Hopefully, it was the sound of Self-Doubt dying.
"Again!" Macey shouted and conjured another ball of water. "Now!"
Even quicker than before, Amber's lightning entered the water, and more steam filled the room.
The cries disappeared, but the Wardens continued to throw their elements at it. They were taking no chances. Macey dared a quick glance around. Flint was covered in soot but seemed elated at being able to create so much fire. Cam was breathing heavily, sending whirlwinds towards Flint who infused them with fire before Cam directed them into the middle of the room. Izban was throwing icicles while Jared threw similarly shaped earth lances.
Everyone was giving all they could. Was it enough?
When Macey tried to create yet another water ball and failed to even get a drop of water, she knew they had to stop. They'd be defenseless if the evil being wasn't dead yet.
"Stop!" she shouted as loud as she could and immediately, the others ceased their attack. It took a moment for the smoke and dust to clear. Carefully, Macey approached the place where Luch had been sitting.
There was nothing left of the woman and her doppelganger but a pile of ashes, one of them white, one dark.
She sank to her knees, grief overwhelming her. She'd not met Luch long ago, and yet she felt as if they'd known each other for a long time. Maybe it was because Luch had been a Warden like herself. Maybe they were kindred spirits.
Amber kneeled down by Macey's side, her tears flowing freely.
"Thank you, Luch," the beithir whispered. "Rest in peace."
Epilogue
She was weary to the bone, and hardly wanted to move at all, but that wasn't going to stop her on her mission. Not when she finally had time where she didn't need to be anywhere, or defeating anything, and with all three of her men in one room.
Oh, the things she could do with them all in one room. If they could see her thoughts, she was sure even Jared would blush.
Flint closed the door, and turned the lock, effectively shutting them in for the night. Macey wasn't going to complain. She couldn't think of a better place to be.
After checking that all three sets of eyes were on her, Macey untied the robe she was wearing with fumbling fingers and dropped it to the floor. Even though she’d already been naked today, she felt suddenly slightly self-conscious. Maybe because it had been months since she'd been with any of her men. Even if it didn't feel like that at times. She really had lost track of time while being trapped in the Voice's Keep.
"Macey..." Flint warned.
"Yes?" she asked as innocently as she could, looking up at him with an expression that would leave no doubt what her intentions were.
"Didn't you hear what Amber said, you need rest," he attempted, but his voice cracked at the end, and his eyes strayed, leaving no doubt that he'd be easy to persuade.
"Of course I did. But some things are a little more important than rest right now."
She sashayed up to him, swaying her hips slightly and could feel Jared and Cam watching her.
