The Fountain of Life. The waters that nurtured all life on earth and carried the wisdom of the gods. Its beauty, glimmering like countless stars, had known no match as long as Rakshi could remember – and that was a considerably long time.

Now that shine had almost disappeared. The new guardian that should have been born by now was nothing more than a shapeless dark lump in the center of the pillars. The waters had become poisonous.

They had lost the war. Although they had sealed the darkness once again and stopped the efreet from burning the world of men, they had lost the Fountain.

Xerxes laid his hand on the djinn's shoulder. The previously tan skin of his oldest friend had turned completely red, a testament of the forbidden power of the flames dwelling inside him. "I'm sorry."

Rakshi gently covered the human's hand with his own. "The fault lies in me. I should have realized sooner."

He was the guardian of the Fountain. Yet in his blind belief that a new one would soon take his place, he had failed to see how his newly-found magic would corrupt it. Still, he did not regret seeking the power to protect his lovers. His family. Within the garden his power had been absolute as it was, but in the outside world it had not been enough. He had needed more. A way to fight, a way to kill. And so he had fallen...

He cast a brief look at Xerxes. "You don't have to do this."

Xerxes shook his head, the heavy burden of knowing too much reflecting in his eyes. "It is the only way."

He had searched. For days, weeks, months. He had lost all track of time in the intricate visions of possible futures. But only one carried any hope for the world. One that came with heavy sacrifices.

The two shared a long, bittersweet kiss in silence.

"Will Medela be alright?" Rakshi finally asked.

"She will sleep for a long time. And when she is awoken, she will only remember what I told her to remember."

One day, one of his descendants would have the potential to seal the darkness permanently. Medela would guide him. Without hesitation, without the knowledge of the bitter choices made.

Rakshi slowly let go of Xerxes. "Thank you."

She would only know that Xerxes had died to ensure their victory. She would live happily.

Even if it meant living alone in what remained of their perfect garden and taking the lives of any humans he managed to trap to keep the Fountain from poisoning the rest of the world, he would do it.

Even...if it meant that the man he loved would be sealed amidst those poisonous waters. Together, they would hold the door shut until Xerxes's vision would become reality.

And if it didn't...Forever, if need be.