Billy ran around the room at full speed. He had seen the others tiring and knew it was time to end this. He had trapped Masq away from the others. At the speed he was going, nothing made it past him. All of her attacks bounced right back at her. And she was failing with each new burst of desperation. What he hadn't counted on was Masq using a dark field of energy. She used the Negative speed force, draining away his speed and energy. Like a whip, it wrapped around his throat and she held him high in the air. The others were pushed against the ukuta with the same force.
“I warned wewe Speed! This is your last chance! jiunge me.”
Billy clawed at the force that was damaging his air pipe.
“N-never...”he rasped out as best he could.
He started choking when the dark magic was tightened against his throat.
“Billy!” Willow yelled.
She fought to get free, hurting herself in the process. Artemis and Adam had tried to get free too, but Willow had seemed to cut herself on the Dark Magic. A sudden light blinded them. It dimmed down and Twila hovered in the room, her body surrounded in a phoenix of white fire. When she spoke, it was with rage and hatred.
“Melissa Schaffer! wewe dare harm my brother! wewe have been a thorn I have let slip through many cracks! I knew my brother might be able to turn wewe back but now wewe harm him! For your violent and intolerable behavior, wewe have sentenced yourself to a life in the Realms! Never shall wewe see Earth again! Never shall wewe kill au harm anyone! I command wewe to be silenced at once! Back to the Realms, witch. I am your warden and wewe are forever my prisoner!”
There was another bright flash of light and then Masq and Twila disappeared. Billy fell to the floor, gasping for breath. Willow ran over to him, cradling his head in her lap.
“Billy! Are wewe okay?”
“I...will be...”
“Oh dear. wewe could have been killed! I'm sorry I dragged wewe into this.”
Billy gave a dry laugh.
“Masq was someone I should have taken care of long ago. I thought I could help her. But I was wrong. She only wanted blood.”
“You're better than she is! Don't blame yourself. I would have never met wewe if wewe had gotten rid of her before.”
Billy smiled.
“Yeah. Meeting wewe was something I wouldn't want to miss.”
Willow smiled down at him, tears in her eyes.
“You're so much like him,” she whispered.
“Like who?”
“My old boyfriend. He always flirts but would do anything I ask. He has superspeed and wewe look exactly like him. But wewe have a bravery and a patience I haven't seen in him.”
“Willow...I can see wewe upendo him. And as much as I would upendo to take wewe away from him and just hold you, I see that there's no hope of that. But if you're ever hurt like that again, look me up.”
Willow smiled again, bigger this time.
“I will Billy. Thanks.”
He nodded.
“Ready to go home?”
“Are wewe able to take me?”
“Yeah. I'm good now.”
“Then yes.”
Billy smiled and stood. He grabbed Willow in his arms and took off, heading straight for Mt. Justice.