Recovery and resignation

You gently lay Kali on the couch, cradling her head as you sit as well. Anna rushes over with the first aid kit she keeps handy, but you wave her off. She turns to Maya, who sits down heavily on the floor nearby. Elys sits beside her, and Anna looks over Maya’s injuries.

“Thanks Anna, but I’m fine. The blood isn’t mine. Just bruised, big bastard hit like a truck.”

Anna nods, and sets her kit down. Sadie walks in, unusually subdued. Lynn comes in as well, giving you a concerned look, and her eyes widen as she sees the collar.

“Josh! What is that?”

You sigh. “I’ll explain what I know soon. Everyone sit, take a deep breath.”

As you speak, Kali begins to stir in your lap. You brush some of her red hair from her face as her eyes flutter open. She stares at you for a moment with her striking blue-flecked golden eyes. The looks down to your neck and gasps, sitting up.

“They collared you? No...”

You take her hand as she starts crying again. “It’s all my fault...and I made it worse...”

“Kali, calm down. Everyone, yes, the asshole collared me, and it seems stuck on. It’s blocking my magic.”

Murmurs from the girls and tears from Kali. She composes herself long enough to look at you and explain things.

“It’s a null collar. They must have hidden it somewhere, I thought I destroyed all their gear. It can only be removed by an artificer or...the one who put it on. Who I killed...I’m so sorry...”

You gather her into a hug. “It’s fine, Kali. We just need to find an artificer, then.”

Kali shakes her head. “You won’t find one in the new world. There’s not enough magic here to draw upon yet.”

You sigh, giving her a squeeze. “Well, I guess we’ll be calling Rachel again soon. But first...what was all that, Kali.

“I...I don’t really know. Ever since I changed, I haven’t been able to use fire magic anymore. But when I saw everyone getting attacked, I felt something awaken. I’ve never been so angry, and I’ve never felt that powerful.”

Maya looks up at her. “Can you call up the white fire now? Carefully?”

Kali holds out her hand, palm up. She concentrates, but nothing happens. “No. I think it responds to strong emotions. Also...” She lays a hand on Maya’s shoulder, and her hand glows slightly. Maya shivers, sighing.

“Wow, Kali, that feels good...maybe I should get hurt more often, let you touch me some more.”

Kali giggles, and you are internally grateful for Maya’s ability to lift the mood. “So, to go with your healing ability, you’ve got a kind of ‘avenging angel’ mode now. Interesting.”

Kali nods, blushing. You lean back, tugging at your collar. Kali sighs and speaks again.

“There’s a cost to the power, though. While I was using it I felt justified, righteous. As soon as I stopped though, nothing but guilt. Rex was awful, but did he deserve ****? And Count, he was basically a giant puppy, just doing what he was told...” Kali’s eyes harden, “No tears for Rein, though. He served my father for almost a hundred years. He was rewarded with long life for being my father’s hound. Scum, I’m glad he’s dead.”

You look at her, and ask quietly, “What did he mean about how you look like your mother?”

Kali looks at you, biting her lip. “As I mentioned, he took me from the enslaved villagers after I was born. He was one of the men who took her to my father. The reason she was...violated. Even at my worst, I always hated him. My father sent those three to babysit me in the new world. I thought they died on a scouting mission he requested of them. I was wrong.”

You nod. “Thank you, Kali. None of this is your fault. I was lax, complacent. It won’t happen again. Now...I think we need to call Rachel.”