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.
“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.
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.
“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
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
“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.
