"Whatever you must. The Others cannot be allowed into your world." The Watcher winked out of existence, and Darian looked up.
The power within him stabilized and filled him until he felt ready to explode.
"Sofi?" he whispered. "I don't know what to do."
The Oracle was silent. Darian drew a deep breath.
… balance the realms … Gatekeeper. Xander approached the woman from one side and Jule from the other. He met her gaze and saw the confusion that crossed her features. Xander took the first shot. She blocked, her gasp audible as the Original Being's energy flew through her. The vamp's blow and magic threw her to the ground. He stepped back, and Yully rolled away before climbing to her feet.
The Other no longer smiled and took a step forward, unwilling to move closer to his daughter with the Original Vamp standing between them. Yully was floating again. Instead of preparing to face off the vamp, she floated upwards. Jule could see the energy flying to her. Lightning no longer left her for the clouds. She was holding it within her.
"Yully!" he shouted. "Yully, stop!"
The vamp snatched her out of the air and flung her to Jule. Jule caught her. He almost missed her first punch and caught the second, pulling her against him. Her eyes were glazed, her body too hot.
"Jule," she whispered. "I need your magic."
"Sweetheart, you have to let it go before it kills you."
"No. I have to destroy him, or he'll destroy you. I can do this, Jule."
Something melted within him at her words. Her body shook with her effort to contain the magic. Jule looked up at Xander, who stood near the Other, waiting. Their plan was risky, but the alternative was killing the woman he loved.
"You still with me?" he asked as she started to sag.
"Yes."
"On the count of three. You can end this, Yully." Jule released his newfound power into her. Yully's body bucked in his arms, and she opened her mouth in a silent scream. "Three, two, one. Now, Yully."
The woman didn't respond immediately. Jule held her tightly, struggling to balance the power flowing between them.
"You can do it," he whispered.
The woman pushed away from him and staggered. She dropped to her knees. Her gaze settled on the Other, and she forced herself up. The vamp moved out of her path. Jule trailed as closely as he dared.