Happy (Late) Thanksgiving!!!

Okay, yes, it is a bit late to post this... Lol, but I haven't been able to get on the computer lately. Anyhow, I want to thank everything that happens in this world (But stupid, idiotic, bad stuff :D) Because everybody is AWESOME!! (Except you... Just kidding  :D)
I also want to thank everybody who takes the time to read my story :) I know I dont post chapters very often anymore, and I want everybody to know that I'm still writing and that eventually, the chapters will be on here (You just have to be patient, which is kind of a lot to ask, right? Lol, sorry...)
I love you guys!
-Bloody Mary <3

Hehe... :)

Cant wait for the holidays!!

Hehe...

Chapter 47 :)

Chapter forty-seven—The Peacemaker at her walk

I felt my body hit the ground in a hard tumble. I grunted, surprised by the texture. It was dirt and softer than the gravel and brick of Marleybone. Was it possible to port into another world, and if so, where was I?

I opened my eyes, but my head was too heavy to lift. I didn’t realize how exhausted and tired I was; it hit me like a cannon. My heart was pounding for some reason, as if it was fighting to give me back energy.

Everything was in a blue haze; I was in the center of a village of wood and straw, and it looked as though it was growing slowly to dawn. The sky was a grayish blue, and mist formed everywhere, so you couldn’t see something coming if you even tried to look. It looked vacant.

It looked as though it would look on Earth, in the locations of China or Japan… Of course, I couldn’t be accurate, considering I’ve never been on Earth. It looked so similar to the pictures in our textbooks, though…

“Mary- how’d you get through the wall Malistaire cast against porting?” Nikki rushed up to me out of the mist, followed by Sophia and Abby. Bell, nor the beast, was with them. “We tried porting back, but it wouldn’t let us.”

I felt as though my whole body had been dosed in ice water, and it was draining all of my energy to get my body heated. I felt my stomach rumble ferociously, and I couldn’t even sit up. “My amulet helped me with my powers… But I haven’t practiced at all, so it drained all the energy in me. Where is Danielle?”

“We hung on to the beast as much as we could.” Sophia spoke as dismal as the scene around us. “But somehow it dropped us off here… At least we know that the beast and Danielle are in this area. We don’t know where, but they’re close.”

They slumped in next to me. They weren’t as exhausted, considering that they didn’t use up all their energy, but they still looked dead tired. We sat there for a while, wondering what to do. We couldn’t just wander around in some foreign area… What if something jumped out at us from the fog, and tried to kill us?

It was a while until something in the haze changed. A small, fuzzy light appeared, and seem to be coming towards us. Pointing it out, we squinted. It was so hard to see; I could barely keep my eyes open- to lift my head was to take all the energy I had left. Maybe it was worse because I don’t remember the last time I last slept… Besides being knocked out by Caspian.

The closer it got, the more alarmed and interested I became. I was so tired, I felt as though it was a dream. Was it bad to not know if I was either sleeping or awake?

I think Sophia and Nikki stood up, weapons raised, at the upcoming person with the lantern. Abby, however, was just as exhausted, and stayed on the ground with me.

I must have passed out for a few seconds, because the person with the lantern was standing before us, and Nikki and Sophia’s weapons were sheathed. I squinted, trying to make out the details in the foggy haze. Everything was hard to make sense with at the moment.

It was a woman... Her hair was long and fell past her shoulders. She had on a cloak, and her voice was soft and kind. “It’s dangerous to be out here. Why are you here?”

          “It’s a long story.” Nikki replied with truth. “We just need a place to stay.”

          I felt eyes on me, and smelled honey and vanilla when the woman knelt towards me, studying me. I turned my heavy head, and the woman pursed her lips sadly at the sight of my sick, paling face. “Whats your name, honey?”

          I took a deep, shuddering breath. “My name is Mary Ravengem.”

          The woman’s eyes widened slightly, and her mouth moved apart in an “o” form. At first, I thought she’d leave, but she spoke the words of generosity. “Come, I have a cottage just near here.”

          I felt myself be lifted up, but the world turned into darkness: I passed out.

          I awoke slowly, realizing that my head wasn’t heavy anymore, and I felt lightweight and peaceful. My stomach grumbled loudly, and I opened my eyes, squinting at the light flooding from an open window.

          I could hear dishes being moved, and somebody moving around. I turned my head, and saw a woman with long reddish, auburn hair. Her skin glowed and matched her dark red lips. When she looked up, she smiled and her honey colored eyes lit up, showing slight wrinkles and signs of aging. She looked as though she was in her thirties or forties. “I was wondering when you’d wake.”

          I sat up, taking in the scene around me. I was in a small room, made out of bricks and wood, and lit up by a skylight window. The floor was made of straw, and there was a small fireplace with a cauldron simmering. “Where am I? Who are you?”

          The woman poured a kind of soup or food into a bowl from the cauldron, and brought it over to me, steaming and hot. It looked like a kind of meat and vegetable stew. I took it, ignoring the fact that it could be poisonous, and inhaled it with my mouth watering. I couldn’t remember the last time I ate something that smelled so good. The woman stood beside my straw bed as I ate, pondering. “My name is Fiona Dawn, and I am a Peacemaker of the Mooshu society.”

          “Whats a Peacemaker?” I asked as I took a bite of the soup, the hot liquid burning my throat and sending chills through my body in warmth and pleasure. “Is this place called Mooshu?”

          “A Peacemaker is a medicine woman or a medicine man. We are true spiritualists.” I heard a hint of pride in Fiona’s voice. “I was born in Marleybone, but moved to Mooshu when I was young. It’s always been a beautiful world and I fell in love with it.”

          “What is it, exactly?” I asked.

          “It’s a world of peace, clarity, wisdom, and greatness.” Fiona sighed, and took my empty bowl to a small sink near the fireplace. “Well, it used to be. A lot of problems have been occurring lately.”

          “Like what?”

          Fiona smiled, wiping off her hands with a dish towel. “I believe your sister’s have been waiting for your awakening.”

          “I-“I protested at the change of subject, but Fiona was already out of the room. In a flash, my sister’s poured in, squealing and chattering.  I felt myself be hugged a dozen times, with lots of “I thought you’d never wake!” and “You slept forever!”

          Fiona walked back into the room, smiling at the sight. “I knew they would be happy to see you.”

          I laughed, comforted by the love of my sisters. “Has anybody heard anything from Marleybone?”

          “No,” Nikki replied. “For all they know, we just disappeared.”

“Speaking of disappeared.” Abby smirked, but she had curiosity in her bright green eyes. “What happened when we left you alone with Malistaire?”

Fiona glanced around awkwardly and she put a basket of bread and herbs down on a small wooden table. “I’ll just leave…”

“No, Fiona.” I objected, smiling kindly. “It’s alright… You already know who I am.”

“I…” Fiona almost seemed speechless, but she blinked and corrected herself. “I know. I just figured it would be a bit private for you.”

“It is.” I agreed. “But you took us in and trusted us… You trusted me. Therefore, I owe you, and I will trust you.”

Fiona sat down on an old wooden chair, and put her hands in her lap quietly. “I have very strong instincts, and when I first saw you…” She looked up at us, and we made eye contact. “You are so young… What, seventeen or eighteen of age? How could you be evil, and yet, so weak and innocent at the same time? When I looked into your eyes, I only saw Sylvia Drake. Of course, I never met the woman, but I’ve never heard anybody with more good things that she had done.”

I nodded. “I’ve been told that before… But nobody actually told me what she really did.”

Fiona raised her eyebrow. “No?”

“Wait,” Abby interrupted. “I still don’t know what happened with Mary and Malistaire.”

“All that happened,” I spoke curtly, slight agitated. “Was that Malistaire saved my life from an avalanche of rubble. Evidently, he wants us alive, for some weird reason. It seems that he sent the fairytale curse on us to kill us, but then he changed his mind. That might be the reason Malistaire wanted Bell away from the beast in the first place.”

“Why would he want us alive? Isn’t it his mission for our death?” Sophia asked.

“Yes, but he obviously needs us for something. Hopefully, not some sacrifice; isn’t that what all the bad guys need?”

“Mary, I need to tell you something.” Nikki seemed kind of nervous, so I raised my eyebrow, not wanting to change the subject. “It’s rather… Important. For everybody, especially you.”

“What is it about?” I asked, aware of the chill rushing up my back.

“It’s about your mother.” She replied in a slight monotone voice.

“How do you know anything about my mother that I don’t know?”

“I know.” Nikki perked up. I stared at her, as if the words “I know” would sum it up. I wondered why she never told me that she knew things about my mother. “I’m good at remembering, after all.”

“Hardy har har.” Sophia laughed sarcastically. Of course, Fiona didn’t get the joke, but it was still a smile to the face. I did not laugh, not even sarcastically; I felt something timid in the air.

“Tell me?” I asked hopefully.

“Alright.” Nikki pushed a strand of golden red hair behind her ear, positioning herself for a story. “Sylvia Drake did the basic things, such as charity funding, teaching, helping the homeless that turned up on her doorstep. However, she did something that nobody in the Spiral ever did before.” Nikki leaned in, smiling.

“What did she do?” Abby asked, frowning slightly. She did not like secrets.

 “She saved a human’s life.” Nikki crossed her arms, studying our reactions.

“She what?!” I gasped, frowning. “No wizard or witch has been to Earth since the Salem burnings.”

Nikki shook her head. “My father was an archeologist in Krokotopia, but we lived in Marleybone most of my life. He was associated with the Higher Order, which is like the government of the Spiral.”

“I didn’t know the Spiral had a government.” Sophia cocked her head suspiciously. “Why didn’t you tell us this before? In fact, how do you even know these things?”

“The Higher Order is a very secret society; they want people to think that they have lots of free will. I know these things because, well…” Nikki tapped her head knowingly and I understood the message. “Plus, I liked to spy on my father.”

“What does this have to do with saving humans?” I asked, trying to process the new information.

“Because,” Nikki spoke fiercely, as if trying to get as much information out as possible, but having trouble with it. “The Higher Order has been sending out wizards to Earth for centuries. I didn’t even know this until my father was sent there on my sixteenth birthday, right when I was enrolled into Ravenwood, around the same time as Mary. However, we did not see each other, because I lived in a dorm. Later, I moved to Krokotopia to study there; which was before the murder of Mary’s family.”

“Why are they sending witches and wizards to Earth?” Abby asked, finally speaking up. She had a grave, serious look that made a chill go down my spine.

“To study, and see if the humans have any clue of what the Spiral is.” Nikki confirmed. “The Higher Order, however, could not interfere with the humans. My father told me this when I had asked him when I was very young; he replied that it was dangerous to associate with the mundane community.”

“I have no idea how you kept this in your head all along.” I grumbled, irritated.

“The subject never came up to be necessary.” Nikki shrugged. “It was a secret between my father and I, and I wanted to keep it as much as you wanted to keep the Seraphina-Alleyen secret, Mary. Anyways, Sylvia and Malistaire were probably associated with the Higher Order, which may be the reason on how they met. I know for sure that Sylvia was in the Higher Order, because she saved a human. She couldn’t have gotten close to a human without being in the Spiral’s government.”

“So, if people know that Sylvia saved a human, wouldn’t that release information on the Higher Order?” I asked, suspicious. I crossed my arms, annoyed that Nikki knew more about my mother than I did.

“The press claimed that it was a freak accident, and that Sylvia had risked her life on somehow porting to a platform somewhere in space, close enough to save a human’s life because it was so close to Earth. They never really told anybody how Sylvia actually did it, because that would release too much information of the Higher Order, just like you suspected.”

“But that theory is ridiculous!” Abby exclaimed in shock. “It’s idiotic for anybody to actually believe that.”

I noticed that Fiona was sitting quietly, her hands in her lap. “Most people believed it because they didn’t have to know the details to know that Sylvia was a good woman. It’s just surprising that there’s actually a government that nobody knows about… Except a politician archeologist’s daughter.” 

Nikki smiled, then it faltered and a sorrow gleamed in her eyes. She looked out the window, as though she was memorized by the swirling dust in the slight breeze, glowing from the golden sunlight. “My father never arrived back from Earth. Some say he was lost. Some say he’s still working. I suppose I will never know, considering that I can’t go back home, now. It’s too dangerous.”

I scooted myself next to Nikki, and put my arm around her gently. She rested her head on my shoulder, and I rubbed her arm empathetically. I knew how it felt to lose a parent. “I’m sorry, Nikki. We shouldn’t have made you go through with telling us that.”

Nikki shook her head. “I know he’s still out there. He has to be. He’s one of the last immortals.”

I gasped, realizing something. However, before I could speak, Fiona had looked up in wonder. “Immortals..?”

“Oh, I suppose we forgot to tell you.” Sophia smirked, and before I could tell Fiona properly and calmly, Sophia blurted it out. “We are Angels.”

Fiona’s mouth went from slightly ajar to a full gape. “It’s not possible.”

I raised my eyebrows, glaring at Sophia silently. “It would have been nicer to say it more calmly and sincerely, but it’s true, we are Angels. Of course, we can easily prove it.”

Abby was staring at me, slightly confused. “I thought you didn’t like telling the secret, Mary.”

I swallowed, barely believing that I was going to say this. “I have figured that my mom has made a few mistakes and… I think it would be safer with more people on our side that know the secret. Of course, only the close people we trust.” I glanced at Fiona. “Such as people who know who I am, and still help, despite the danger.”

“H-how are all of you A-angels?” Fiona stammered wildly. For a neat woman, she suddenly seemed disorderly.

“Our ancestors were immortal, which gave us a better chance at catching the attention of the Fates.” Nikki explained, considering she knew the knowledge best. “When Malistaire began trying to rein, it threw off the balance of good and evil. Therefore, the Fates chose us to defeat Malistaire and control the elements of chaos and order.”

“This brings me to a question that I thought of a few seconds ago.” I spoke slowly. “Somehow, I never noticed, as I have been ignorant and unresponsive.”

“You’re not ignorant.” Sophia smiled, but she had a worried look in her eyes. I wonder if she knew what I was about to ask.

“I am.” I denied her protests. “How could I not notice that since our ancestors are immortal, and if that’s where we get our main immortality from, then how are they not alive?”

“Because…” Nikki looked as though she was about to answer, but she frowned. We were all stuck on this one. “I actually don’t know… My father is missing and my mother died when I was born, because she sacrificed herself to save me. I was born… Premature. Even as an immortal, when you’re so young, it could be deadly at that time.”

“I had wiped away my parent’s memories when I had left them.” Sophia spoke up quietly, sadly. “They don’t remember me, or that they were even immortal. Soon, they will wither away. At least its better, considering that they’re protected…”

I felt like I was going to choke up. I now realized that I wasn’t the only one with a tragic childhood. We all had similar pasts; we were all orphans. The orphan sisters by golden blood, but not by relation.

“My parents are serving Malistaire, at the moment.” Abby added, bitterly. “They are not immortal, but they are good as dead.”

“I believe the immortal line goes all the way back to our grandparents.” Nikki spoke, deep in thought. “I was never told of a living pair of great-grandparents.”

“Me neither.” I replied. “Only grandma and grandpa Gem.”

“Same here.” Sophia frowned in realization. Abby sat in an armed chair, quiet. We all knew she had great-grandparents; her line of heritage weren’t immortal. We still had to figure that mystery out on how she became half of who she is… I wondered if it was only her parents that were evil in her family, or if it was even farther back.

Fiona stood up calmly, and it surprised me, after all, not many people can act so calm after they figure out the truth of the S.A… I saw her hands shaking as she asked us kindly. “Would anybody want some tea?”

“No,” I smoothed out the new clothes I had been dressed in- I truthfully didn’t want to know how I was dressed unconsciously, and I didn’t want to know who did it. “I think we should go outside and study the new area.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea, Mary?” Sophia asked me quietly enough so Fiona couldn’t hear. “We’re fugitives, remember?”

“As far as they know,” I repeated from earlier. “We just disappeared.”  I sat up, and walked to the door. My hand on the knob, I turned my head. “Want to come with?”

“You honestly think that we would let you go alone?” Nikki replied, slightly frustrated. “Come on, girls.”

I saw Fiona nod. “Just be careful… If you stay out all day, make sure that you are here by night. It’s very dangerous at that time.”

I raised my eyebrow. “How so?”

Fiona’s eyes narrowed. “It’s when the darkness and evil awakes.”

I cocked my head, wondering if Fiona was slightly crazed. “Alright…”

I wondered if there was more to Mooshu than I thought…

I left the room with Nikki, Sophia, and Abby trailing behind me. Fiona departed to the kitchen and I touched the doorknob to the outside world with a firm grip. Taking a deep breath, I realized that this could be a whole new world of different tongues, religions, and things to see. It was a lot to take in- and then there was the stress of somebody figuring out we were fugitives. I opened the door, and sunlight burst through.

There was no more fog; the sky was a bright, brilliant blue, without a single wisp of cloud. I stepped out, exhilarated by the wonderful feeling of soft, dirt ground. No more brick. I had rather gotten used to wearing high heels, however.

Looking around, I was astonished to see the beautiful landscape around me. Unlike the first night we had come, there was no fog or darkness. It was an artwork of colors and different scents and things to see. Dark against the baby blue sky, there were grey mountains with white tops. They looked far away, and seemed to surround this incredibly large village. There were pathways of light brown dirt, grey tile, or lushes green grass that was perfectly trim. Wooden or brick cottages lined up around the area, and along the large dirt path, it seemed to lead to a Market.

There were also so many things to smell. I caught scents of baking goods, garden herbs and vegetables being cooked, and sweet smells that were similar to the scents that candles can make. Some how, this place didn’t exactly seem familiar- but it seemed that there was something here that related to me. Something that made me feel like it wasn’t me who was here, but someone like me. Is that strange?

Of course it is… I laughed mentally to myself.

Sophia gasped, and I turned my head. I felt my mouth drop in shock. Sophia was the first one to speak, however. “What is my teacher doing here?”

“I don’t know,” I exclaimed. “She should be in Ravenwood- Ms. Wu!”

Sophia and I ran forward at the cow-woman. I felt something odd when I was running towards my old Life teacher; I remembered the cow having black hair and white skin… The Moolinda Wu I saw now had a darker tint to her skin.

Sophia must be Life, I thought. She had stated: What is my teacher doing here? It seemed strange that her main school would be Life, when she was a huntress at heart.

She placed her hand on the cow’s shoulder, and the cow turned towards us calmly, but with a weird face on. I felt myself frown, wondering how this could get weirder. In Marleybone, it was dogs and cats… Now cows?

I need a world with human looks. The cow in front of us was not Professor Wu.

Sophia gaped, but recovered herself quickly. “I’m sorry; we have the wrong per-“ She stopped herself. “Cow.”

The cow’s big brown eyes glanced at Sophia to me, and back to Sophia. It nodded, turned, and walked away. I turned to Sophia, wanting to scream ‘Oh my gosh’ like I would have done with my little dead sister. “What was that about?”

Sophia opened her mouth, but was interrupted by a young, quiet voice. “The world of Mooshu has lots of cows, goats, horses and pigs that are like wizard and witches, but they are animals.”

I turned to see a young girl; probably about fifteen or sixteen- a few years younger than I. She was a pretty little thing; caramel colored skin, and honey colored hair that looked thin and wavy enough to be like baby hair. It was so long that it fell past her shoulders and on both sides of her chest; the honey color made the grayish green of her eyes stand out, right above a small, but slightly hooked nose. In her hands, she held a basket full of different kind of flowers- one I recognized as lavender. I cleared my throat, gently. “Who are you?”

“My name is Natalia Moon.” She replied. I wondered if her voice was permanently so calm and quiet. “Fiona Dawn had told me she had visitors.”

“How do you know Fiona Dawn?” Nikki came up behind Sophia and I, making me jump. I heard Abby stand by Nikki’s side.

I hoped Natalia didn’t feel like she was being cornered; she looked like a fragile, babyish teenager. However, she looked perfectly fine. “I’m her apprentice… I’m taking these herbs to her because she needs to make medicine for a patient.”

I heard Abby make a strange, excited noise out of her throat. “Fiona Dawn makes medicine?”

“Potions and such, yes.” Natalia frowned. “Why do you ask?”

“I’m an excellent potion maker,” Abby explained. “But I want to get better… Would you think that Fiona would want to teach me?”

Natalia wore a blank face. “I don’t know. Come with me to her cottage while I bring the herbs, and you can ask her.”

Natalia began to walk towards the cottage, where Sophia and I had just run away from to find a not-so-much Professor Wu. Abby grinned mischievously, shrugging at us as she turned and began to run. She shouted as she ran: “Sorry, guys!”

“I feel so loved,” I assumed sarcastically. “To have been ditched for somebody that Abby barely knew, whereas she has known me since my first days of school.”

“Who knows,” Nikki laughed, trying to cheer me up. “Her excellence of healing and potion making can come in handy during the war. We will need lots of healers.”

I heard Sophia clear her throat. “Hello? I’m Life!”

“Right,” I replied jokingly. “You’re in the school of Life, and yet, you’re an angelic warrior huntress.”

“I can’t choose who I am, fool!”

We laughed, walking along the dirt path, towards the Market. “Abby will be missing out on fun, while she is making potions with Fiona and Natalia.”

Nikki sighed. “I’m serious about the war, you know.”

I stared at the ground while we walked. It was silence, and I knew we were all thinking the same thing. We didn’t know when Malistaire would attack Wizard City… Or the whole Spiral, if the worst was actually to happen. Malistaire was either gathering up recruits or bringing people back from the dead to serve his needs. Either way, he was building up an army. It surprised me that he has not done any true attacks with an army; in fact, he’s done all his battling alone.

He’s waiting for something. A secret weapon? Minions?

The problem is, we can’t gather up an army of normal wizards and witches without finding where the remaining S.A. are, considering that they are our most powerful allies. I pray that there weren’t more S.A.’s in Marleybone- I have a strong feeling that I wouldn’t be returning there anytime soon.

I lifted my head to the sky, embracing the warmth of the sun. There is so much ahead of us, I thought. I could only hope that we are one step in front of Malistaire, and not the other way around. People also don’t realize that reality isn’t all nice and happy anymore, as it used to be. When I was young, and my family was still very much alive, things were good. Sure, we were poor, but we had family to keep us together. We were tough, and yet we were still happy. I wasn’t old enough to realize that every moment of my life, I was in complete danger. What would the people of Wizard City, Marleybone, and perhaps Mooshu, say about fighting? What about the children, during the war? I doubt we would actually have a battlefield.

I shuddered. The war was going to be brutal; if there was no exact battlefield, and the fighting was everywhere in Wizard City, then it would be a bloodbath.

Even for the children and the weak. The undead were as merciless as their Lord.

“We will not improvise.” I decided carefully, glancing at my sisters. “We will plan things out. We will find our sisters, and when the war comes, we will not only do whats right, but we will protect the weak and young.”

“It’s so much to do,” Sophia whimpered. “What if we can’t do it?”

“We can.” I protested. “It’s our destiny.”

“I-“ Sophia started, but Nikki shushed us. She pointed at the villagers in the Market, and we dropped the discussion for secretive reasons.

And, of course, that the villagers were goats, cows, and pigs wearing robes and using walking sticks for support.

It was like Marleybone, I tried to comfort myself. It’s totally normal to see animals walking and talking about… Everyday stuff, you know? I grimaced, but all thought went away, and was replaced with excitement as I walked through the Market.

“My dears!” A goat jumped in front of us, and I bit my lip in order to not cry out from slight fear. I hated goats. They were ugly little creatures, with sharp horns and beady eyes. It stood up like a human, and wore yellow and red robes. In its hoofed hands, it held a tray of… Buttery biscuits with garlic sprinkled upon it. “Try it- it’s a new recipe! If you like it, buy it!”

“Oh?” Sophia picked one up, and sniffed it. She shrugged, and stuffed it into her mouth. I laughed at her indecency of eating. Her eyes twinkled as she responded to my laughing: “I’m just checking if it’s poisonous.”

“Of course you are.” Nikki chuckled. We both took a biscuit, and munched on it as we walked through along shops. It tasted sweet and buttery, but the garlic made it strong. It was delicious.

Nobody would have guessed that we were sisters. Of course, if we had the same hair color, we would look like triplets. However, our hairs were vividly different. Red, black, and blonde…

There were other merchants giving us free food to try: I tasted honey candy, seasoned fish, an earthly food called sushi, and reptile meat. Also, we tried a hot chili pepper soup that made Sophia turn as red as Nikki’s hair. We had to sit down for fifteen minutes while Sophia practically held her head underwater in a small pond near a large, maroon summer tree.

Later on, I pointed out a map shop. It was around three o’ clock when we left, carrying out tons of maps of Mooshu, and a couple of Wizard City. I had figured out, then, that I had a love for maps. Also, I figured it would help us around here, considering that we barely knew this world.

Of course, I ended up in a bookshop while Sophia and Nikki were in a store of weaponry. In the end, Nikki and Sophia had to come and get me before dark. While walking to Fiona’s cottage, I kept babbling about the art of spear throwing, manga, and sushi. Somehow, I never figured out that I was being extremely boring. I didn’t have to, because I was having so much fun.

When we arrived before dark, Fiona had made a large dinner. It was roasted chicken with apple slices and pumpkin juice. While Nikki, Sophia, and I chewed our meal, Abby and Natalia were talking, unnoticing their food growing cold. Fiona was slowly eating her dinner, but seemed more content on correcting Abby about cutting rat tail’s too thin for an acne potion.

“Abigail, darling- if the slices are too thick, the boiling will tire-”

“It could possibly take longer to make, but it doesn’t have any affect-“

“Wouldn’t it be serious, though, because it’s a main ingredient-?”

I chuckled, and turned my head to Nikki, who was eating on my right. “I’ll never think of putting cleansing stuff on my face the same again.”

“I ain’t putting no rat crap on my face.” Nikki whispered, smiling mischievously.

“I’m officially disturbed.” I joked back, barely having the ability to chew my food without giggling. I made sure that Fiona, Abby, and Natalia could not hear me. “Rat tail’s juices all over our faces.”

Nikki hid her face in a napkin and I saw her shoulders shaking slightly with laughter. I bit my knuckles to not burst, and I saw Sophia grinning quietly as well.

“Abigail, the blood within the rat’s tail can stop toothaches, as well-“ Fiona was interrupted by the burst of laughter between Nikki, Sophia, and I. Natalia, Abby, and Fiona stared at us as we laughed, sharing our inside joke. They didn’t even think it was weird that they were talking about rat juices on our faces and teeth during dinner?

“Whats so funny?” Fiona asked, frowning.

“You honestly don’t think that rat juice sounds funny to you?” I asked, smirking.

“Mary, Fiona uses rat juice in everything she cooks.” Abby smirked while I coughed into my napkin, wondering if I was choking with disgust or laughter. I wasn’t sure if Abby was joking or not, until she spoke the next words. “Especially rat pee!”

Sophia clumsily fell out of her chair in laughter and the whole room was full of chaotic voices and laughing. Nikki went down with her, and I even joined the fall. Pretty soon, everybody but Fiona were on the floor, giggling. The funny thing was, however, Fiona was sitting on a chair with her legs crossed, staring at us like: ‘I ain’t gonna’ be no fool and fall outta my chair like some psychotic weirdo.’

She didn’t say it, but she was thinking it.

It was that night that I had realized something: through all of the pain and suffering and busy work that we have been going through… I hadn’t had one, true night of fun since I was sixteen, during the campfire that my mother threw at Unicorn Way Park. I remember that that was the night of my first kiss, and when my family was still together as one.

For some reason, the thought of Richard made a ping of sorrow go through me. It was just a reminder of my old life, when everything was so different.

I smiled, trying to think of something funny to get the sad thoughts away. On that night, I saw Richard shirtless!

For a mere, regrettable second, I kind of wished I could see Caspian shirtless.

Oh man, I’m becoming boy crazy. I think I’ve spent too much time around girls; I laughed to myself.

I wondered how Caspian was, after all. The last thing he ever said to me was memorizing… And rather scary: I think I might love you.

Those words had been going through my head like a broken record player. I think I might love you… I think I might love you… I think I might love you…

Caspian really was a cocky bastard, but he was also incredibly hot. He was stubborn, hard-headed and incredibly selfless… I don’t understand something, however. Why had he been so mean to me on the night I had met him? Abby had stated straight after that, words that confused me from the start: ‘What did you do? You must have not done something he wanted you to do, because he always gets what he wants. He was my parent’s favorite.’

Well, I think that’s what her words were. It was so long ago, I could only vaguely remember.

What kills me is that I don’t really even know how I feel. There were times when I felt drawn to Caspian, in ways that I never felt drawn to anybody before. Even Richard. Compared to Caspian, Richard was just a little girl crush.

Am I saying that I might actually… Love Caspian?

Is it love when I want to run my hands through his chocolate hair, or gaze into his eyes for hours? I barely know anything about him, really. Is it just his looks that I want? Could I really be this conceded? I didn’t want to be that kind of person.

I shook my head, and I excused myself from the dinner table, leaving the laughing friends behind. I walked into the bedroom I had slept in, unconsciously, still thinking of Caspian.

I lay in bed, trying to escape the world of Caspian Nightstone. I could only remember the way he saved my life, twice, once with a knife to his back. I could vividly remember his face inches from mine, the dagger deep in his back, his sky blue eyes flecked with gold staring intensely into mine with immense pain. He did that for me.

It was a comfort, really, to feel loved. It was also a curse, considering the consequences of the prophecy. The barrier between me and any man I would love.

I remember when Caspian had found my letter from my mother, and when he had said he wanted to protect me. There was something there, something not exactly mundane about him. I felt… Intense and breathtaking.

I realized that I miss him. I believe I fell asleep after that, but it felt as though I was only half asleep… Like those nights where you feel like you were awake all night, but you really slept.

His broad shoulders framed his upper body as he stood his ground, his arms crossed and a blank look to his handsome face. Strands of dark, chocolate-like hair hung over his gorgeous eyes that seemed to stare right into my soul.

“No…” I spoke, and my voice sounded unlike of my own. “Don’t do this.”

Caspian’s eyes pleaded. “I can’t stop myself from loving you, Mary.”

I shook my head. “No… You don’t know me…”

I was suddenly alone, in the dark. I couldn’t see. I wished for Caspian to be there, to hold me and protect me. He wasn’t there.

I heard Abby’s voice, ringing and echoing in the darkness.

“Mary… Mary… You love him, Mary… Open your eyes..!”

I awoke, and the dawn sun broke through slightly in the cracks of the windows. The room was dimly lit, besides a dying, flickering candle left on the window sill. I was alone.

I sat back down in my straw bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking of the last words I ever spoke to Caspian Nightstone.

I think I love you, Mary.

What should I do?

No…

What have I done?

Newz... I guess

I'm very sorry for the long amounts of time between posts... I have not have had the ability to go on the computer (W101 or Word), and I am at a friend's house at the moment. However, despite the fact that I cant technically write anything, I've been discovering mistakes in my stories and getting new ideas!

I feel bad for not posting, and I cant really give you any real writing, considering that I havent written it yet; so, I'll just post some sneak peek "ideas."
...Such as...
-Lots of new characters, many of which are quite... Evil! (Mmm, its gonna get yummy and twisty XD)
-Unexpected love (Oh, yes!)
-GRANDMA GEM... Is dead!?! Or is she?! Oh wait, yes she is... o_0
-Bonds and spells and curses... The usual
-Fun :D Its about time the Seraphina-Alleyen go partying.
-A beautiful girl who needs a SERIOUS haircut...
-The perverted beast has a secret...
-Secret codes and messages (Subliminal!)
AND MORE!!!!
So keep reading, because its not finished yet! The excitement has only begun, and if you keep reading, I guaruntee that you will not regret it :) Its going to be epic (Especially the story finale)
Just remember, if you have any ideas, post them on the W101 Central group or comment on this post before its too late, b/c I cant go back and change it after I post it and have many people read it.
I love you guys, and I thank everybody for taking the time to actually read my story... It means a lot to me :)
Love,
-Bloody Mary <3

BTW! :D

I NEED IDEAS! (Not for in my story, but if you have ideas, post it on the group on central /The Tale of the Enchanted/)
I'm wondering... Besides Central and this blog, WHERE else should I post this story? I mean, I cant post it on central, but the most I could do is make a group on it, even though I cant post the link of the blog on there. (-_-)
The reason I cannot post a link of my blog on Central is b/c its not approved, and my story has swearing/voilence (Yay!). Its the same with posting the actual story on there, as well.

I'm thinking MAYBE Facebook, but the story is so long... So, if you guys have any ideas, talk to me! I'm free for any observations or suggestions :D
I dont bite... :P
Btw, do a shout out if you want me to involve Celestia or Zafaria in my story! (If you do, you have to have a reason why... Like "Blah Blah was sent away from Celestia into Zafaria, and then was exiled to Dragonspyre because Blah Blah did this or that, which is this or that happened."
Give me feedback, please! :)
Love,
-Bloody Mary <3

Central group!

I made a group on Wizard101 central for y'all to join (If you have read my story).
Its called the "Tale of the Enchanted." (Duhhh o_0) Lol...
I made a group for all of you guys and your ideas (Oh, you guys-- so epic XD) For example, if you want your character to have a paticular past, or power, or ANYTHING, then post it on the group! I will look forward to making plans in my story :)
Rules would be posted, however, on the group.
Sincerely, with lots of love (:D),
-Bloody Mary

Chapter 46!

SUPER sorry for the VERY large gap between the last few chapter posts... I get writer's block, and it usually goes away after a week or so. (I cannot write a good story/chapter when I dont feel like writing it, as well... I tend to make the story too fast, b/c I would want to get it over with too fast).
Also, I have been kept away from the computer for a few days... x_x thats why I havent posted my Halloween Special (Damn you, computer problems!)

Well, I'm very happy to say that this is the NEW CHAPTER that you guys have been waiting for :P I'm so cruel for making you wait...
So, since your probably desperate, here is the story! (If you even read this part, cuz' I bet somebody will skip right to the chapter...)

Chapter forty-six—Clockwork Masquerade

My head was laying on something soft, but my body felt as though it was lying on rocks. My neck seemed to tingle, and it felt bruised and heavy. Cautiously, I opened my eyes, and blinked at the blurry sight.

I was staring up at a grey ceiling, and the room was dark, besides a small lantern on a barred window perch. My head was in Sophia’s lap, and Nikki loomed over me, both their faces clear with worry and fatigue. I saw two pair of hands over me, all of which were still glowing with a vague emerald.

Turning my head, I still felt a sharp pang on the back of my neck. Abby was staring at me as she stood by the bars of the room we were in. Blinking, I realized that the bars meant that we were in a dungeon. I was lying on a bed of straw and stone.

“Mary, can you hear this?” I heard Sophia’s voice, but it seemed far away. I heard a snapping sound on my left ear, and then on my right.

I felt my lips tremble as I replied quietly. “I heard it.”

Nikki murmured something to Sophia and they both stared at me with a little more relief. Nikki took a purple vile out of her pocket, and unscrewed the top. “Drink this, Mary. It will ease away the pain while it heals.”

I couldn’t answer, because she poured the liquid down my throat before I could reply. The liquid burned like acid, and I leaned forward suddenly to cough. I felt somebody’s hands rubbing my back as my neck ached in the sudden new position. I felt a coldness dissolve through my throat and under my skin of the back of my neck. The pain edged away in a fast, chilling way.

I touched the back of my neck, gently, feeling for a gash. However, it was only skin; not even a scratch. “What happened?” My eyes widened, and I looked around frantically. “Where is my sword?”

“The Queen betrayed us.” Abby answered, walking forward with her arms crossed. “Caspian had thrust your sword into the back of your head… And it sliced into the back of your neck instead. Sophia and Nikki healed you the best that they could, but they could only do so much.”

I stared, confused. How could Caspian try to kill me? “I…” I was lost for words.

“We don’t know why he did it.” Nikki spoke, as if reading my mind. “When you collapsed, we panicked and the Queen’s guards captured us. She threw us in the dungeons for a death sentence.”

My heart was pounding, and I stood up to look out the barred window. There were still no stars, and no moon. “We have to get out of here- who knows where my father is.”

“It’s the night of the prophecy.” Sophia agreed with a dismal tone. “But there is no way to get out of here without a key. I don’t know why the Queen betrayed us in the first place; she’s terrified of Malistaire, and evidently didn’t expect him tonight. I don’t think she is working for him.”

“Then who would she be working for?” Abby asked, frowning.

“I don’t know.” Sophia sighed. She stood up, and walked over to the bars. As she touched the bars, it glowed red and Sophia jumped back with a shriek. I looked at her hands, and they were an angry red. “Damn it! It burned me.”

“We can’t even touch the bars.” I felt my heart drop. “What the hell are we supposed to do? We can’t let the next S.A. slip out of our hands.” I ran my hand through my hair in stress.

“We know that, Mary.” Nikki growled. “We’re all pretty pissed off about it. It’s all Caspian’s fault, as well. He’s not only a traitor, but he knows our secret.”

I sighed. “This is another reason why I didn’t want anybody to know: people could use our secret against us. It’s not safe until we find all of our sisters, so they can’t blackmail us.”

“It’s too late for that, now.” Sophia’s hands were in tight fists. “We’re getting out of here if it is the last thing we do.”

“Maybe I can break the bars with my sword.” I suggested. “Where is my sword?”

My sister’s glanced at each other warily. I raised my eyebrow, and my stress level went up a million bars. “Mary…”

“Where-“I gritted my teeth. “The hell is my sword..?”

“Caspian has it.” Abby answered with sorrowful guilt in her voice. “He disappeared with it the moment you fell to the ground.”

I stared at my hands. “I have no way of fighting anymore- that was practically my wand.”

“Alhazred taught you to fight with your hands, right?” Nikki suggested quietly. “You still have magic in you.”

I snapped my fingers, and a flame erupted from my hands. “Yes, but it’s not the same.” I closed my hand in a fist, and inside my hand tingled as I put out the magical fire.

“I doubt your sword will work, anyhow.” Nikki sighed. “My staff didn’t work.”

I shook my head furiously. “Aren’t we Angels? Are we really this weak, unable to get past some magical bars? I think its time we prove how much power we really have.” I rolled up the sleeves of my tattered gown, and kneeled in front of the bars.

I closed my eyes, as if praying in front of the entrance of the cell. I remembered the things I learned in Life.

I am the rain, and my spell is the impact. I took a deep breath, and I planted my hands on the bars. They burned white hot, but I dared not open my eyes to let my tears fall. I could feel each layer of my skin peeling and burning, becoming redder and angrier. It felt as if it was burning to the core of my bones.

And then I waited. I waited through this agony, and I urged forward the summoning of rain. I heard a drop of liquid hit the sill of the window. Then another.

I squeezed my hands on the white hot bars, and I could see them glowing through my closed eye lids. I felt wind picking up my hair and clothes, mixed with rain and my tears that managed to leak through my eyes.

I felt energy filling my body, and I felt as if it was radiating out of me, like a sun. There was a sharp, very loud crack, and my hands were holding air. I felt the heat and energy immediately leave my body, and I fell to the ground, cradling my damaged hands. I did not bother to look at the door; I knew it had been melted away.

I opened my eyes to see my hands bloody, and a bit of white in my fingers. I realized that my skin had completely burned away on the insides of my fingers, and white bloody bone poked showed through. I heard my sisters rush towards me, but I shook my head in protest. “No… Not yet.”

The rain had stopped, but the amount that came through the window made a small puddle near the wall. I crawled on my knees, cradling my hands near my chest in pain. I prayed for my mother’s voice to have been correct in the desert. Slowly, painfully, I spread my hands out and placed them in the puddle of rain.

Miraculously, I felt no pain. I felt the skin of my fingers growing, and scabbing over and radiating with health. In a moment, I took my hands out to see them fully healed, and no longer hurting in agony. I smiled and closed my eyes, silently thanking my mother.

“It takes courage to put pain on you like that, Mary.” Sophia spoke quietly through the silence. “Which is why I don’t want you doing that ever again… I could barely stand seeing you go through that.”

I shook my head. “You don’t understand… I’ve been through so much pain that was worse than that.” I stood up. “We depart now; we have a sister to save.”

“Yes, you do.” A voice came from behind us, and I turned around to see him leaning against the wall in front of our cell, unhurt and holding my sword with murder written all over it. “I didn’t expect you to get out.”

In a flash, I found myself face to face with Caspian, furiously glaring into his torturous eyes. “You betrayed us.”

He shook his head. “I saved your life.”

I did not stir from my position. “You are threatening the lives of my sisters and the next Seraphina-Alleyen; how is that saving my life?”

He leaned forward, and I actually saw an apology in his eyes. “The moment you saw your father in the street, I knew you would try to escape from the battle that was still occurring.” He frowned. “Your sisters were fighting. You would have gone alone. You may think that your father may not actually kill you, but he will betray the tiniest bit of trust you still have of him and he will stab you in the back and murder you on the first chance he gets.”

I stared at him with a blank face, knowing that he was correct. “Why are you here?” I asked, numbly.

“To save all of you.” Caspian glanced at the open door. “But I see that you got that figured out.”

“How are you unhurt?” Abby spoke up, walking forward, scanning her brother. “I saw you take that knife for Mary. It should have killed you.”

I suddenly remembered that knife, and I frowned. How could I have thought that Caspian would hurt me, when he had almost taken his own life for mine? I recalled the knife hitting the ground after I had mutilated a guard’s face. I wonder whose hands it was in now.

Caspian flexed his back and arms. “Never mind about that. You have limited time, so you must go now, or forever hold your guilt, because Malistaire is eager to kill.”

“To the clock tower.” I agreed. “Malistaire wants the Krokonomicon, as well. We can’t let him get it.”

I urged my sisters forward, and nudged Abby more than the rest. She peered at Caspian, and even I would want to talk to him, but since she was his sister, she was yearning to talk. However, I succeeded, and my sisters snuck out of the room.

“Mary- wait.” Caspian grabbed my arm, and I gazed up at him, wondering whether to be angry with him, or forgive him. “I’m sorry.”

I shook my head, falling for the idea of forgiveness. “You did it to save my life, and therefore I owe you.”

“You will need this.” Caspian pushed my sword into my hands as he held my hands tight over the metal with his own. “When I am not there to protect you.”

I searched the emotions showing through his face, wondering how it came to this. “I might not return after this night, Caspian. I will only say that I shall not be killed.”

His eyes searched mine, almost pleading. “If you stay, and I could go…”

“No, Caspian.” I moved my hands away from his. “It’s safer to stay away. You know about the Prophecy… I can’t let you get hurt.”

I moved towards the dungeon door with a flash, wondering if my sister’s were irritated with my absence. It was when my hand touched the cold wooden door when Caspian spoke the words I was dreading.

“Please, Mary.” Caspian stepped towards me and grabbed my elbow. “I can’t let you go… I might love you.”

I turned towards him, now furious. “Damn it, I hate the way you talk kindly to me. I hate it that you spy, and that you care, and that your stupid looks make me stare. I hate the way you read my mind, and that you’re always right- even when you lie.” I jerked my elbow away, my bottom lip quivering and my eyes burning with tears. “I hate it when you make me laugh, and even worse when you make me cry… And by the Fates, I mostly hate the way I don’t hate you… Not even close, not even a damn bit. That’s what makes it so hard for me to say this: it’s not to be. I can’t love you. I’m cursed, and I will hurt everybody I touch. Please, Caspian, leave me alone, so I could help you. It’s for the best, and it always will be.”

I left the room before he could say another word.

“What took you so long?” Nikki hissed at me as we rushed down a dark corridor, leaving every trace of Caspian behind, and heading to our destiny.

“Nothing.” I replied. “We need to find an exit… Does anybody know this castle by heart?”

“I know it pretty well.” Abby spoke up. “Enough, I hope.”

“Are we witches, or not?” Sophia exclaimed. “Port, for goodness sake.”

“Ugh,” I felt stupid. “I’m sorry; my head is just too clouded… Let’s port to Regent’s square, center of Marleybone. It’s only a few blocks away from Big Ben, the clock tower.”

I heard footsteps, and my thoughts suddenly went to Caspian. I linked arms with the S.A., and closed our eyes. In a flash of color and a bit of a dizzy, our heels touched gravel in sharp clicks.

We opened our eyes to darkness, except the street lights that glowed dimly. Shops were closed and boarded up, and not a single being was in sight. Nobody would want to be outside with Malistaire near; but we didn’t know what time it was, anyhow. I couldn’t even tell by reading the time with astral methods, considering that there was nothing astral to read in the sky.

“By the Fates.” Abby stopped, pulling us back. Her eyes were wide.

“What is it, Abby?” I turned to face her, concerned. I saw her pale against the darkness of the back round. “What do you see?”

I felt Sophia tense, but Abby spoke first. “You spirit animals… All of them… They are here.”

“You mean… There is danger coming?” Nikki asked, gripping her staff.  

“It’s not coming.” Sophia took out her bow. “Its here. I think you guys know what.”

“It’s the wolf, isn’t it?” I groaned.

“We don’t have time for this: let’s run.” Sophia was gone in a flash and we were all running. I felt the ground shaking, and I could smell the matted fur. I heard a roar, and I ran like never before, sword in hand.

We approached the Museum, which connected with Big Ben. The closer I got to my father, the more I felt it coming over me. The feeling of slavery of my memories and pain. Is this the end to everything?

Or just a new way to hurt..?

Before the wolf could catch us, I burst a beam of magic at the Museum doors. The chains burst off them with an explosion, and the large metal doors caved through.

Give me a reason to believe again…  

We ran down the marble steps, casting spells at the door like a shield. The wolf was immune to us, however, and it still charged.

“Up here!” Nikki shouted, urging us up a large stairwell, past Krokotopian artifacts.

Make me strong enough to do this…

We were out of breath, but we kept running up the steps. It felt like a hundred flights of stairs until we reached a landing, but there was no time for energy.

The wolf was too big to go up the stairs, but it always found a way.

“Mary, look out!”  

I turned, but only to be knocked backwards into a wall by a burst of light. I felt as though somebody just kicked me in the chest. My medal from the Queen was searing hot, and I tore it off of me in a shriek. I had no time to realize that the medal just saved me from an upcoming spell.

There were about five creatures in the room we were in. They were tall, cloaked with shredded black cloaks, and skin as blistered as if burned. They were all black and dead, with glowing white eyes that made you see double of them. Standing up, I slashed at them with my sword, but they seemed to fly away from me every time I charged. They dodged Sophia’s accurate arrows, and Nikki’s dangerous beams of light. Abby was the only one quick enough to touch them with her knives, but that didn’t do much damage overall.

“Grab my hand!” Sophia shouted, and Nikki and Abby raced towards her. Hesitating, I rushed to Sophia, but hardly knowing what we were doing.

Sophia took all of our hands in hers. “What are we doing?” I shouted, noticing the charging demons.

“Just concentrate on destroying them.” Sophia ordered us. “With our power, it might happen.”

I nodded, and closed my eyes. Concentrating hard, I thought of the elements of nature. I did not think of destroying the demons, however. I only thought of the demons obtaining what they deserve; a judge and a sentence.

I felt our hands vibrate, and my veins pulse with power. I heard terrible screams, like nails on a chalkboard. Opening my eyes, I watched as light exploded through the creatures, killing them, just as the wolf burst through the door.

I don’t know how the wolf managed to get up here, but it didn’t go for us. Instead, it broke through the wall on our right. We broke apart, watching as the wolf roared, clawing into the next room.

“Why didn’t it attack us, instead?” Sophia gasped, her eyes wide.

“I don’t know, but let’s see what it is after.” I moved quickly, throwing away rocks and rubble in my path. Smoke and dust blinded us as we difficultly made it through the broken hole, my hands bleeding in scratches and dust.  

“Mary- wait.” Nikki’s voice rang out, and I felt her hand take my wrist before I got through the rubble. “We don’t know whats out there.”

“It will be alright.” I encouraged her. “Whatever is out there, I can take it.”

“Mary, Nicole is right.” Abby protested, but I was already out of their grip, walking through the dust and rubble.

I heard roars from the wolf, but it sounded as though it was echoed. It took me moments to conclude that there were two beastly sounds coming from in front of me, but hidden through the swirling abyss of dust. I forced myself to stay silent, dying to cough, since the dust felt like ashes in my throat. I swallowed to keep from gagging; I ended up coughing, but the noise coming from in front of me was too great to notice my choking lungs.

I heard two types of screams, and two types of beastly roars; a high pitched one and a rich, creamy shout.

“How dare you defy me?!”  His voice was unmistakable.

“She’s mine!” The voice was incredibly deep, like a growl, but it was a scream that pierced the air. What the hell are we dealing with?

I heard a girl attempt to cry out, perhaps something like help, but she was muffled out.

Frustrated, I decided to make my entrance. Calling forth the Sands of Balance, a mini tornado of sand whipped around, and sucked the dust out of the air. It twirled as I flicked my wrist, and it disappeared, the scene now clear.

The scene only half surprised me.

 My father was the only one who noticed my arrival, and it seemed to be at the worst moment for him, considering the look on his face. He held the Krokonomicon in his pale, bony hands.

The wolf was dead at his feet, its stomach spilling out strange contents. I knew that it was officially dead the moment I noticed that it had not turned to ashes; but I don’t think it was my father that had killed the wolf for the last time.

There was another body lying on the ground in the corner, and it seemed to be a cat the size of a human. It had no fur, and was pink and ugly. Its throat was slit, and I knew who it was before I was even told. Malistaire had killed Meowiarty.

Near Malistaire, there was a giant thing. It was as though it was human, but covered in hair and mass and muscle. Its legs were like a bear, but longer. It had claws and teeth like a lion, with a black mane around its furry neck. Its eyes were onyx black, small and beady over his long snout. The beast’s claws were covered in the wolf’s black blood, and in its grip, it held a girl shaking with fear and anger.

Only a fairytale can kill a fairytale..? The beast and the wolf?

“Beauty and the beast.” I spoke quietly, staring in amazement.

I heard my sister’s calling my name, but I was too focused on Malistaire and the girl. She had white blonde hair, tan skin, and shining moonstone eyes that resembled the most important detail of a Seraphina-Alleyen. She was short, and wore a small blue dress that showed off her calves. Black blood was smeared across her body as the beast held her either protectively, or lustfully.

“Get off-“She cried, but her voice was muffled by the matted fur of the beast’s arm. She seemed to be struggling, but was losing to the beast’s monstrous strength.

“Let her go, beast.” I’ve never heard my father so angry, and it was a fright to my very soul. “It’s your death sentence to defy me.”

“I’m not giving her over!” The beast cried out, anger rumbled in his voice. “She’s mine!”

I heard my sister’s walk up and stand next to me, taking in the scene. Somebody whispered in my ear. “The beast is obsessed with her.”

Nikki and Sophia walked towards the beast, weapons drawn. Abby, however, stayed by my side. I knew she was fighting against the sights of the spirit animals. She had her daggers in her hands, ready for combat, and her eyes never left Malistaire.

I stared at the Krokonomicon in Malistaire’s hands. “Father, give me the Krokonomicon, and nobody will get hurt.”

He turned his eyes to me, flashing in disgust. “You honestly think you can coo me to give you this relic like this little… Kitten?” He acknowledged the beast.

I turned serious. “Then I’d have to force you.”

Malistaire glared at me. “Get out of my way, you are just hurting yourself. Don’t think that I’m scared of your powers, for I am not part of the mundane community.”

I whipped my sword, casting a deadly spell at him. However, I felt my wrist twist backwards, and I fell to the ground, my hands burning. It felt as though they were on fire.

I heard my father’s fingers snap, and the pain melted away immediately. “If you even dare challenge me, make sure that you know how to use your powers.” He hissed at me. “Such a pity… It’s your mother’s dear amulet that is keeping you caged up…”

I lifted my head, sending daggers through my eyes. “It’s my mother’s amulet that is keeping me from killing innocent people.”

I heard him chuckle, but he walked past me, and continued to the beast while my sister’s fought to get the S.A. girl.

“Hey, you idiotic icon of a father!” The girl cried out suddenly to Malistaire, and he glanced at her with mere surprise. She seemed to have gotten out of the beast’s grasp, and yet she was still trapped by his guard. “You have something that’s theirs.”

The girl held out her hand, and a very large gust of wind came out of nowhere. Almost knocking me over, I could see the Krokonomicon fly into her hands through my hair spinning out of control in the fiery wind. Malistaire looked bewildered, but only for a mere second. He spoke with mock sarcasm.  “Danielle Sandstone… Have you been practicing your powers?”

Sophia shot a golden arrow at the beast, but it missed just as the beast jumped towards the girl, whose name was apparently Danielle. Danielle jumped out of the beast’s way as it tried to grab her, and I saw more grace in her than I saw before. Perhaps being so small was a bit chaotic. She smirked, and spoke with no fear. “My friends call me Bell. Well, if I had any.”

I raised my eyebrow, but then realized it would be hard to make friends when you’re locked up with a beast. In fact, the only friends I remember I ever had were Richard, Abigail, and my sister…

Malistaire shot a terrifying spell at Bell, and it missed her by an inch. She looked like a snake, her curves and body swerving with the wind and dodging spells like she was a hoola-hoop. With the Krokonomicon, she was an extreme target.

The beast knew it, too. Somehow, the beast was programmed to kill Bell, but ended up being possessive and obsessed with her. In a flash, the beast tackled her, squeezing her against his furry chest like she was a rag doll. The Krokonomicon was pinned against herself, and her feet dangled off the floor helplessly.

“Danielle, fight back!”  I screamed, and I knew she was struggling.

“I can’t, he’s too strong!” She cried out in pain at the beast’s strength. “Get it to let go of me!”

Nikki, Abby, and Sophia ran towards the beast, shooting spells. However, the beast’s mass was too much for the spells to do any effect.

Suddenly, many things happened at the same time. My sister’s grabbed onto the beast as he crushed his fist under the ground, causing a massive collapse. Stone and rubble rumbled over me, and I looked up to see an avalanche of wood, rock, and metal falling towards me.

I was frozen, staring up, wondering if I was going to die being crushed.

I felt myself be magnetically forced out of the way, as if thrown by an invisible force, while hearing a large crack from where the beast stood. In a flash of red and black lights, my sister’s, the beast, and the Krokonomicon disappeared in a port. I saw my father’s wand pointed at me, menacing anger in his eyes.

Did he just save my life?

I felt for my sword; it wasn’t with me. Instead, I felt my cold amulet in my hands. Why had it transformed?

I crawled backwards, and my back hit a part of a wall that was still standing. I felt something warm trickle down my cheek, and my left temple pulsed with pain.

Malistaire was still pointing his wand at me, revenge showing in his eyes. He’s going to kill me.

And I’m all alone…

I held up my amulet in front of me, as though it would make a difference… To make him see that my mother was on my side. “I’m an Angel; you cannot kill me.”

He lowered his wand. “You’re harmless to me… But useful. You cannot kill me, even if you wanted to.”

I was breathing heavily, staring up at him. “You don’t know what I would do.”

He smirked. “I know that you wouldn’t kill your only father?”

I felt myself choke up inside. “I heard my mother and sister screaming in that fire… In pain, until the very end. Then you saw me, and you had the same intentions. I had frozen inside myself, and had known a long time before this, that you will never be a father to me.”

He actually smiled. “I knew we would have this nice chat someday.”

I shook my head in grief, knowing that he didn’t even care. “The balance of life shows that we shall all die, and yet that does not begin to justify you. You poison the truth that should be pure, and I could have run forever, but how far could I have gone without mourning the regret of not finding justice in you?”

Malistaire walked over, and lifted up my chin with his pale hands. His skin was cold and hard as marble. “Lies are wide as an ocean; they hide inside those big blue eyes. You’ve gotten dirty, angel, aren’t you ready to come clean?”

I glared at him with hate. “How could you be so cruel?”

His face turned into fake sorrow, as if in pain. “Do you think that I never wanted to be a father? I’ve had one too many sleepless nights, over you, my precious daughter…”

“You lie!” I hissed. “I can see it in you! Can’t you see that I’m wounded? And by the Fates, I’m dying to believe you, but who would want to play fool, and then find out that it was true?”

He stood up, stiff as a board. He knew he was losing this conversation. “As I can see the darkness in you, my dear.”

I stood up, staring into his eyes, almost pleading. “Should it hurt to love you, as my father?”

Malistaire leaned towards me, smiling, almost kind. However, his eyes were blank with only a lie. “No, sweetheart…”

I gazed at him, my blues into his black eyes. “Then why does it feel like I’m being stabbed in the heart whenever I look at you?”

He stepped back, his eyebrows raised. He had a pitiful expression. “Why do you fight?”

I sighed, with only one answer in my head. “Because I have something worth fighting for.” It sounded like a question.

He began to pace around me, studying me like I was an insect. “You look so much like Sylvia… I miss her so. If only she didn’t betray me.”

I frowned, turning my head towards him slowly. “More like you betrayed her.”

Malistaire put his hand on my shoulder, and I felt chills go down my spine. “I always wanted a family, despite everything.”

I shook my head in anger. “Have you ever, in your lifetime, even once.”  I felt my hands shaking. “Loved me as your daughter? Had no urge to hate me so senselessly?”

I saw his eye’s flash in truth, and before he could speak, I stopped him in his tracks. “Maybe I thought I’d have to change the world for you to realize that I’m your daughter, and not your enemy. It’s your choice, now.”

I touched my amulet gently, and then gripped it as tight as I could. Malistaire cocked his head. “Trying to port? Good luck trying. You’re in my possession, now.”

“You severely underestimated my mother’s power.” I snarled. “I’m quite sorry to miss such a chance of father and daughter bonding time… But I must be on my way. I have an Angel to save and a Krokonomicon to obtain.”

“Impossible.” Malistaire laughed, expecting to watch me fail.

I shook my head, smirking. I thought of my sisters, desperately using all the power my amulet would give me, and the last thing I saw was my father’s bewildered look in the flashing colors of porting.