The week passed slowly; each day that passed felt agonizing. What was Luna planning? Could Luna actually get me out of here? I didn't want to seem hopeful, but I couldn't help the small feeling growing in my chest. Finally, it was Wednesday. I sat outside by the koi pond. Sylvin watched me with intrigue as I swirled the water around. It danced in spheres and waves, twirling around the garden. "You have great control, Audra. Why don't we try it on a larger scale?" he suggested, placing himself beside me. I tried. I pulled forth my magic, calling it to my fingertips. It surged beneath my skin, rushing out in spiraling tendrils. They twisted around the pond, floating just above the surface. A small smile pulled at my lips. Though, as soon as I did, I slipped. My concentration broke, and the once-tight coils of water came crashing down onto the koi. Water spilled out onto the bank, the fish darting away from the commotion. "Hey, that was a really good try," he chuckled. "Maybe later we will try holding onto the little stuff for a longer time. Then, when you have that under control, we will move to larger scale wielding," he said gently, offering me a hand. I hesitated but eventually took it, and he effortlessly pulled me to my feet. I brushed myself off and we walked back through the garden, the smell of tulips and orange blossoms tickled my nose. The scent was sweet. Comforting. We reached the dining hall. I sat down, and he ran and grabbed us both a plate of food. He returned, setting the plate in front of me. I waited for him to pour the powder, but he didn't. Did he forget? I didn't care. I dug in, finally tasting food that wasn't tainted by drugs. We finished in silence, and he took me up to Acheron's room. After I was settled, he left me to myself. I took a quick shower and changed into a sweatshirt and leggings. I yawned and crawled into the bed, letting sleep overtake me. Hundreds of years ago… Acheron sat by the lake, the same one that stole his little sister's magic. His voice was hoarse as he called out into the night. "Why her? Why Mallory?" he asked, his voice breaking and getting lost in the darkness. I had never seen so many emotions on his face—fear, pain, longing. He stood up violently, throwing flames at the water. "I hate you, Nyxthul!" he screamed, crying before he fell to his knees, sobbing. Sylvin ran to him, helping his brother to his feet. They both walked off toward a house. My vision blurs and I see a slightly older Acheron. He's yelling at someone. "There has to be a way to save her?" His voice cracked as he choked on a sob. Save her? Was he trying to save Mallory? "I'm sorry. There isn't anything we can do," a doctor tried explaining. Acheron wasn't listening, or if he was, he chose not to acknowledge him. "I will find a way," he said angrily, clenching his fist in front of him. Present… I was ripped from the vision, Acheron's chilling voice ringing out through my ears, breaking the haze of my sleep. "That's enough sleeping. It is time to train." I sit up lazily. I felt like I had gotten no sleep at all. I threw my legs over the side of the bed and pushed myself to stand up. I trudged outside where I was once again thrown around, beaten, and burned. I still wasn't good enough. Acheron made sure to tell me that always. We returned to the room and I flopped onto the bed wearily. He lay himself beside me, opening his tablet, scrolling through a spreadsheet. "Go and shower. You smell," he said, barely looking up from what he was reading. What crawled up his ass? I scoffed and stomped over to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind me. The door slams shut behind her as she enters the bathroom. I roll my eyes. Damn teenagers. Of all people to possess such a unique and powerful gift—it had to be some teenage girl. I read my plans again, going over the details, when my eyes fell over the part Sylvin was in charge of. Barely anything was done. I scowled and breathed out. No… I reasoned. He has been helping me train Audra. Though I hate to admit it, she was responding to his teachings well. I guess I will send someone to check on the prince in his stead. Maybe Darious. I text him, opening a gate to the Royal Residence. Good. That is finally taken care of. It was like a weight off my shoulders. I stood up, stripping off my clothes and putting on a pair of black joggers. I brushed out my hair, its length reaching the dip in my back, just before my butt. I braided it tightly, draping it over my shoulder—the one Malik had ripped into. I stared at myself in the vanity's mirror. I traced my fingers lightly over the scar, feeling the slight rise in my skin. Audra had used her magic to heal it. I wonder why she had done that. Thursday dragged on slower than yesterday did. Acheron seemed off. He wasn't as focused on my training as he normally was. His mind seemed lost in thought. He was just humming along, watching silently. I curled my water around the rock, lifting it up with ease. I smiled to myself. I was finally doing it. After months of practice, after falling in the lake, I could finally see progress back to where I was before. I floated the rock around, and Acheron watched, uninterested. He looked at his phone, the screen lighting up with a text. His eyes burned with rage, and he started to grind his teeth together. He turned and walked away without a word. I furrowed my eyebrows. Despite my sudden lack of concentration, the rock I held floating stayed steady, my magic holding it in place. I dropped it and hurried to catch up to Acheron, but he had disappeared into one of his gates. I huffed, staring out at the lake, the midday sun reflecting off its surface. The gentle breeze shook the trees, making loose twigs fall. The trees, still bare from winter, were budding with the slow arrival of spring. This spot was beautifully serene. I took in a deep breath, feeling the sun's warmth on my skin. The air, still cool, made it a welcome sunny afternoon. The moment didn't last long. I heard Sylvin calling for me. I rushed over, meeting him by the gate to the garden. "Acheron is not having a good day, so you get to spend the rest of it with me," he said cheerily. I roll my eyes playfully. "Yeah, he seemed like a grouch during our training. Even when I perfectly picked up a rock and held it," I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "That's very good, Audra. Mind doing it again?" he asked, sounding amused. He walked around the garden and found a medium-sized rock by the koi pond. He strutted back over, wiggling the rock at me, setting it down ten feet away from where I stood. I focused and thrust my hands forward, feeling my magic surge beneath my skin and course through my veins. It flew out in controlled tendrils, wrapping around the rock, lifting it steadily into the air. Sylvin smiled as he watched me. I willed the rock around the pond before setting it back down gently by the edge of the water. Sylvin clapped slowly. "That was great! What do you say we head in for dinner?" he asked, pointing to the door. "Isn't it a bit early for dinner?" I asked, confused. He stopped moving, hesitating. "You've had a big day. Maybe you should go to sleep sooner," he said finally. I stared up at him, my mind racing. No, he couldn't. Could he? I studied his face. He looked at me nervously and nodded his head toward the door. I shook the thought. Once we were in the dining hall, he grabbed us both a plate and set my food in front of me. He started picking at his plate, making slight conversation. No drugs again? I shrugged. I wasn't going to question a good thing. We ate and chatted playfully; the interaction seemed almost normal. Once we were done, he took me back to Acheron's room, leaving me by myself. I sighed and changed into an oversized shirt and a pair of loose shorts. I crawled under the covers, feeling tired all of a sudden. Did he drug it? He had to. I closed my eyes, letting sleep overtake me.
I woke many hours later and glanced at the clock on the bedside table—12:26 A.M. My stomach started to twist, my nerves finally eating away at me as doubt crept in. What happens if Acheron finds out? What if he doesn't? We get away and live our lives happily. I decided not to dwell on it. I stood up, pushing away my thoughts, instead eyeing the man sleeping next to me. My eyes softened as I watched him, his chest rising and falling in peaceful slumber, his face relaxed. I wasn't used to seeing him like this. I walked over to the balcony door, quietly sliding it open. The cool stone floor chilled my foot as I stepped out onto the platform, the breeze from the night billowed through the door, shaking the curtains gently. The moon's glow was bright, illuminating the forest in front of me. I placed my hands on the rail, the cold metal shocking my senses as I leaned over, admiring the scenery. I pulled myself away from the rail, remembering my fall. I sat down on the couch, slipping my legs underneath me as I stared out into the quiet darkness. I closed my eyes, reveling in it. After a while, I poked my head inside the room and glanced at the clock—1:43 A.M. I sighed, the knots in my stomach returning. It was time. I changed quietly into a loose long-sleeve shirt and sweatpants. I grabbed my sneakers, slipping them on, then quietly sneaked out the door. My heart sank—Sylvin stood at Acheron's door, keeping guard. His hazel eyes pierced mine as he watched me exit Acheron's room. "Can't sleep, huh?" he whispered, something flickering in his eyes. I nodded slowly. "Just a quick walk, okay?" he said hurriedly. I nodded again and scurried away. My heart thumped loud in my ears, the blood rushing to my head. I breathed heavily, the anxiety still hadn't gone away. I arrived at the lab; my heart fluttered as I saw Luna waiting for me. She outstretched her arms, welcoming me into a hug. She was warm, inviting. Her kindness eased my nerves a little. "It's okay," she murmured, stroking my hair. "We are almost free." She pulled back, her sweet smell of honey and lavender lingering in my nose. She handed me a bag with clothes, food, and water. We were actually doing it—we were going to escape. Luna led me out of the lab through the tunnels. Our footsteps echoed off the walls; the silence was deafening. We were both on edge as we broke through the tree line. Our feet crunched the dead leaves as we walked. Our footprints were shallow in the muddy earth. A few hours later, we came across the same road I had followed during my first escape. I gulped. Isn't this too obvious? "It's okay," Luna said, sensing my fear. "Malik will meet us out here. I texted him. Here." She brought the camera up, pointing it at us. She smiled widely, and I gave a soft, nervous smile as the flash clicked, lighting up our faces for the picture. "I sent it to him. I'm sure he'll be glad to see you," she said softly. Suddenly, the screen lit up, Malik's picture displayed across it—he was calling us. Luna swiped up, answering it. "What are you two doing, taking silly pictures? Let me talk to Audra," he said impatiently. His deep voice rang out. It was something I had missed. Luna smirked, passing me the phone. "Hey," I breathed out, not believing I was able to talk to him. "Hi," he answered, sounding just as nervous. "We're coming, Audra. Just please hold on. Your parents and Kai, Ajax, and Isla are here. We are all coming to get you," he said, his voice breaking. I heard a chorus of reassuring voices and then my mom's voice. "It will be okay, Audra. You will be home soon," she whispered. Tears started rolling down my face. "Mama?" I asked. "I'm right here, baby," she said softly. Tears clouded my vision as Luna ripped the phone from my hands. "Okay, that's enough. We're wasting the battery. We will see you guys in a few days," she said, hanging up. She patted my shoulder. "We are so close," she said, determination lacing her words. The cool air suddenly became thick and hot. I heard the faint swirl and pop of magic—the familiar sound of Acheron's gates. To confirm my fear, his deep voice cut through our warmth, ripping it away. "So close to what?" he snapped, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.
My heart jumped in my throat. I turned to see Acheron, Sylvin, and a tall, muscular blonde guy. Luna shoved me behind her, her fingers dancing with electricity. Acheron clicked his tongue as he stepped closer to us. "I expected more from you, Luna. And trying to fight back now? It's just sad and pitiful." Sylvin wore an unreadable expression as he and the other guy stalked closer to us. Luna's hands lit up as she shot Acheron with lightning. He barely flinched as her magic struck his flesh. He let out a laugh, the noise echoing into the still night air. "Is that all you've got?" he taunted. She looked at me, her expression full of fear and determination. "GO, AUDRA! GO LIVE!" she screamed. I stumbled backward as Acheron launched a flame toward her. It grazed her shoulder and she let out a pained gasp. "Please, Audra, go live your life," she pleaded. I nodded hesitantly and started to run. "Darious, get her," Acheron snapped. Within moments I was pinned. My arms were held tightly behind my back as I struggled desperately to break free. Fire and lightning filled the night sky as Acheron battled Luna. He could have easily overtaken her. He was just playing—like a lion playing with its food before devouring it. It was painful to watch. Tears streamed down my face as I thrashed around. "That's enough," he said, stepping back. They were both breathing heavily. "Luna. I order you to die. You betrayed my trust, and that is unforgivable," he sneered. He looked toward Sylvin, and he stepped forward, a large dagger made of ice formed in his hand. He coiled his arm back, launching it toward Luna. It struck her leg, pinning her to the ground. She let out a shriek of pain as a smile grew on Acheron's lips. Another spike hurled toward her, pinning her arm. Again, and again. Blood trickled down her arms and legs as she gasped for air. I wailed more than she did. I cried and tried to tear myself away. Sylvin walked up to Luna, each step agonizingly long.
Sylvin
I inhaled a shaky breath, blood pooling at my feet—Luna's blood, the dark red substance hot and sticky. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks as I threw my ice into her. With each one, a piece of me broke. This had been my friend for decades. I couldn't go against Acheron; I had to prove my loyalty. I felt the cool water from the ice as it dripped down my arm. I raised it up higher, aiming for her heart. I looked at her, tears welling in my eyes. "I'm sorry, Luna," I choked out, just loud enough for her to hear. She coughed out blood, turning to face me, her expression—though pained—softened. "I know. It's okay," she whispered, a tear falling down her face and landing on the floor beneath her, mingling with the blood. No fear, only acceptance. "Enough, Sylvin. This is taking too long,"
Acheron stalked closer, fire flickering in his palm.
Audra
No. He threw the fire at her, the flames licking up her body. She thrashed against the ice that was now melting as the flames engulfed her. Acheron turned slightly so I could see his face—he smirked, reveling in her agony. I cried, screaming, finally breaking free from the man that held me. In a fit of rage, I threw my hands up, shooting water at the flames. It was wild and uncontrolled. Steam mixed with smoke, hissing as it trailed upward. It doused her body, putting out the flames. "Please stop!" I screamed, my vision blurred by my tears as I crashed to my knees. Acheron laughed as Luna sat shaking on the scorched earth, her body too weak to move. He walked to me, painfully slow, his eyes gleaming from the fire he ignited in his palm. He knelt beside me, grabbing my hands tightly in his and igniting them. Instantly I felt the red hot flame eat my skin. I jearked back, screaming in agony, trying to get away. But he held on. Refusing to let me leave. I tried to grab at my magic, to heal, but he was too fast. The fire lashed at my now open skin in a continuous rage. He finally pulled away, his lips curling into a sinister smile. Looking down on me. I cried in pain, cradling my hands, now red and leathery. I cried, looking at them. I couldn't use my magic. I tried. I tried calling it, but as soon as the magic hit my hands, they burst into pain all over again. He had burned my hands to the point I was powerless. He forced my head to look at him, an evil smile spreading on his lips. "Oh Audra, you're just delaying the inevitable." He was right. I couldn't stop this. I was too weak. I was just making her suffer for longer than she had to. I glanced at her—she was coughing violently, blood spewing from her lips. He stood abruptly, not sparing me another glance. He threw flame after flame at her, laughing maniacally. The sick bastard was enjoying this, relishing in Luna's death. The smell of burning flesh and clothes hit my nose, the acrid scent swirling around the night air. I felt sick. I could no longer do anything—just sit and watch the scene unfold. I cried violently, my sobs rang out, drowned by the roar of the flames. The man still held my arm so I couldn't run. I lay on the floor crying, trying to turn my head away. I didn't want to watch. I didn't want to see her die—to watch as her body went limp, her life cut short. The man grabbed my hair, forcing my head up to witness the scene. Thick black smoke billowed into the air. The flames grew brighter, hotter, penetrating the space around us. I coughed violently, Acheron's laugh echoing through the trees. She stopped moving, and over the dying flames, I heard her faint voice—"Mommy's coming, Aria," she whispered just as the final flame stole her life. Acheron smirked. "Clean this, and let's go," he said, slightly amused. I cried out in agony, the man releasing me. I scrambled over to her. The flames were now completely gone. I choked on my own breath as I stared at her. Her body lay still, unmoving. It was blackened to a char—unrecognizable. Her once sweet scent of honey and lavender was gone, replaced by the deathly stench of burnt flesh and blood. I lay myself on top of her, wailing in pain, my screams lost in the still air. Her body sunk beneath my weight, making me sob harder. Sylvin walked over, his face a stone-cold mask as he grabbed my arm, forcefully ripping me off her. "Let's go," he barked before dragging me away, back to that awful place.