by Tacori Bean
He laughed, “I haven’t.”
I smiled and laid my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat, letting my mind calm to the rise and fall of his breathing. Tears began to pour down my cheeks.
Why do you have to make goodbyes so hard?
I felt him relax in my embrace and rest his head on mine.
I’m sorry Damon… but if a life is to be lost, I would choose my life a million times over yours.
~27~
Asmund’s POV:
THE SUN SET on a day of fighting with Journey. She had improved so much in such a little time and it was impressing, but she had been off all day. Stepping wrong or misjudging an attack. Something was bothering her and I had a feeling I knew what it was.
Sweat coated her glistening face as she fell to the ground.
A smile tugged at my lips as she looked up at me with annoyance in her stunning, emerald eyes.
“I win.” I took a seat next to her and handed her sword back to her.
“For the fifth time today…” She complained.
I tried to get her to look at me, but she kept her gaze off in the distance, “You came to say goodbye...” I rubbed my upper arm.
She gave a small laugh, “Nothing gets past you.” Her voice cracked and her beautiful smile faded.
“You made your choice?”
Tears shining in them, her eyes met mine, “I didn’t have a choice to begin with. My people are counting on me.”
“But you aren’t ready to go yet, are you?”
She shook her head, lose pieces of golden brown hair curling around her face, “I can save everyone by doing this.”
“So… if you save your people… does that mean I get to save you?”
“That isn’t amusing, Asmund.” She paused and a sadness filled her eyes, lingering in her voice, “You didn’t see how happy they were yesterday… when they were all together… I want them to be like that always, even if it cost my life to insure it.”
“You know you're human, right?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” She sounded annoyed.
There was a touch of harshness in my tone that I hadn’t intended on, “Everyone is treating you like an immortal being that is ready to save everyone… when you are human just like the rest of us.”
She looked away from me,“You can’t change my mind.”
“I’m not trying to. I’m just trying to remind you that as soon as Calvin takes you're magic to open the portal, you will not survive long. I don’t think dying is the only way to stop this.”
The silence that hung between us terrified me.
“I’m going to miss you.” I couldn’t keep quiet anymore, “I told myself I wasn’t going to get attached to you. T-That I wasn’t going to let the fact of us being the only Mystics get to me, but I have… And the only thing I can say is that I’m going to miss you so terribly.” I choked, drained of every bit of hope to keep her around any longer.
She gazed up at the sky, at the twinkling stars no doubt, but I couldn’t make myself look away from her. I felt like if I did, she would disappear.
“Will you do something for me, Asmund?”
I stayed quiet.
“Will you find the other Mystics?”
“Why? The Mystics would never be complete without Althea.”
She shook her head, the strain of everything visible on her face, her voice barely even a whisper, “But you wouldn’t be alone.”
My chest tightened and I habitually tensed my jaw. I couldn’t believe that she was actually going to do this.
“When you find the others… I want you to bring them here. I want you to bring them home.”
I nodded, my throat too dry to speak, my black eyes watering slightly.
She turned to me and a sad smile came over her face. Placing a hand on my shoulder she stood and began walking away. How badly I wanted to call to her, to convince her that she out of everyone deserved to stay among us all. But she turned on her own and came back to me, wrapped her arms around my neck and stood there.
“I’m going to miss you too.” She whispered.
I couldn’t speak as I tightened my arms around her waist, wanting the night to last forever. But it wouldn't… for this moment was just as temporary as the twinkling stars in the vast sky overhead. Soon morning would come and steal her away. I could find no way to convince her to stay, to make her realize there was so much more for her to do before she was gone… but it was already too late. For she, our angel, had already strayed too far to return home now.
She spoke with only a strained whisper, “Goodbye, Asmund.”
~28~
THE DARK MAGIC seeped into my skin and flowed through my body, taking any trace of magic from me. My knees buckled and I collapsed under my own weight to the ground. I would become like the fallen around me, abandoned by the others who left to tend to the fighting in the streets of Secret Hollow.
Painfully, I gazed up to Calvin who sat across from me, a smirk coming to his pale face.
“So much hatred when you look at me.” He laughed slightly.
“I am not the kind of person my brother makes me out to be.” He started again, “My throne was taken from my grasps by my younger brother, because my father looked down on magic users. I am only taking what I have long since deserved.”
I could feel my strength fading, yet I met his chilling eyes, “C-Call… Call off- t..he war.” I coughed.
“Everyone has prepared to fight in a war, let them have their fun.” He waved his hand at me.
Anger pulsed through my veins. I gave in, hoping he would call off this fight, that no one else would have to die. I made a deal, that was never meant to be kept.
“Y- You Mon...Monster…” Every breath caused my lungs to burn.
He stood and moved towards me, kneeled in front of me, and took my chin in his cold, rough hands, “Believe it or not, Dear, I am not the only monster. The world is full of monsters. Though, you won’t last long enough to meet anymore of them.”
Dropping my head, he moved me to one of the trees right outside the clearing, and took a rope, tying me tightly to the tree. Finishing the knot, he threw his hand in the air and muttered some ancient spell. Dark magic shot up from his hand and expanded, forming a sheer, black dome around us.
“Just in case you get any ideas…” He glared at me.
My head started nodding off as I slipped in and out of consciousness. Everything went blurry, the pain subsided as darkness crowded my mind.
“I have some unfinished business to tend to with my brother.”
~~~
Asmund’s POV:
I had hidden in the shadow of the forest, watching what Calvin was doing to Journey. Everything that he was saying, all of the things he did, they made my blood boil.
Once Calvin left the black barrier, I moved quietly through the trees, coming face to face with the dome. Reaching my hand out, I exhaled slowly as I was able to enter the dome.
I ran over to where Journey was tied and knelt down in front of her. Her sickly pale face was drenched in sweat, though her body trembled uncontrollably. Lose pieces of golden hair fell and stuck to parts of her face. I reached my hand up to her cheek, her clouded green eyes fluttering open.
“As-Asmund?”
I offered a shaky smile, “We are gonna get you out of here, alright?” My voice shook.
Taking my cloak and placing it around her shoulders, my attention turned the ropes binding her to the tree.
Her hand touched mine, and I looked to see her shaking her head.
“It-It’s al...alright.” Her hand went limp in mine and her eyelids went heavy again, “I-I’m ready...now.”
I blinked back tears and watched as she nodded off to unconsciousness again. A dry lump formed in my throat when I dropped her hand.
This is what she wants…
My mind kept telling me to leave, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn away from her. To leave her to go through this alone. I moved
and settled myself next to her.
Because I am here, you have no reason to be alone.
~29~
Damon’s POV:
JOURNEY HAD ESCAPED the fighting and disappeared into the forest after Evnock stormed the kingdom. Tristan and Ozara were already searching when I arrived from town, trying to help Piper with the injured. She understood my need to leave when I had heard that Journey was missing.
I pushed my way through the overgrown brush into a small, snow covered clearing.
The heaviness that entered the area as I called Journey’s name, burned my mouth, making it worse as I gasped for air.
“Hello, Brother.” A cruel familiar voice haunted.
My eyes shot up to meet a pair of ice blue eyes, that once I may have recognized, but now were unrecognizable to me.
“My, how long it has been. You sure have grown, matured, since I saw you last.” A devilish smirk crossed his face, “Imagine Mothers reaction if she were to see you like this.”
My legs trembling beneath me, I drew my sword and took a stance to fight.
“Seems like I’ve already struck a nerve.” He chuckled, “You were the one who abandoned her, I don’t see why you are upset at me.”
He motioned to the forest around him, “You must like this… quaint kingdom. I must say it definitely has a charm, and the history behind it is impeccable, but still I wonder how… blind the people must be to not notice a runaway king among them.”
“What do you want, Calvin?” My throat burned.
He held his hand up, “Hush now, Brother. I’m speaking and it is rude to speak when a king is speaking.”
“You are no king.” I declared.
His eyes grew wide, “I’m hurt, Brother.” A smile crossed his face.
It was only distant memories of what it was like when we were children. What it was like before our father began putting us against each other to fight for the crown. Back when we were happy just by being with each other, and now everything has changed.
“Times like this, I think of the prophecy that old man in the kingdom told us when we were lads.” He continued to ramble as if there was a point to it, “‘There is two brothers, only one with power in their blood, and rightfully so in the end one shall rise and one shall fall’”
He acknowledged my attention with a chilling laugh, “I have risen, Brother, and you... have fallen.”
“That tale was foolish! Father could have chosen either of us.”
An uneasy smile crossed his face, before anger washed over him, “No, Brother. You always had the throne. I thought you would have learned by now that you are the only one with royal blood between us.”
“What are you speaking of, now?” I questioned.
“How foolish are you!” He yelled, “You are the royal child and I… I am the illegitimate child of the Ashton family, the disgrace to Father’s name. Trying for so many years to obtain the throne and after all of my hard work, you were handed a kingdom without even lifting a finger. So yes, Brother, you may have power in your blood, but I deserve my kingdom. For everything I never had I deserve this kingdom.”
He paused and for a moment met my eyes and I could have sworn I was looking into the eyes of my vulnerable, hurt, older brother. The one I knew long before kingdom politics became us. Long before evil took over his heart, and long before he threatened the people I love.
“Father always said magic was a weakness, only because it wasn’t his child who possessed such a capability. I’m sure you’ve once wondered why I was the only one in our ‘family’ that had magic.”
I spoke through gritted teeth, “The thought never crossed my mind.” I swallowed hard.
“Lies!” He spat before holding a long pause, “You always asked why I didn’t value family… because I never had one. You, Mother, and Father… you were a family. In Father’s eyes, I was nothing but a weakness just as my magic was to him. Now with him and mother out of my way I will prove to everyone that the outcasts, the weaknesses, the infidels, and the cowards deserve more than they obtain. No longer will royals and immortal beings be the dictating factor.”
With every word from his mouth came the raw anger from within him, and hearing them now, made me feel more angry at myself than at him.
How did I miss this… this large section of our lives that was stolen from my mind since childhood.
“The magic has nearly been drained from Althea and we are only moments away from being able to enter Althea’s realm.”
I felt the blood leave my face, my eyes widening at Calvin’s sly grin.
“Journey…” I fell to my knees, a stabbing pain spiked through my chest as I whispered her name.
“It isn’t possible…” The world faded from around me, “She can’t be…”
Calvin knelt before me, “I’m sorry, Brother, but her magic was never hers to begin with.”
“You… are killing the woman I love!” I yelled.
He smiled. Out of every disgusting thing he could have done, he prided himself in smiling at my misery.
“I have to leave, Brother.” He whispered, “Let me help you up, and I will go. You will never have to see me again...”
I dropped my head and held my hand out. His dry hand clasped mine tight.
Darkness and evil.
I felt them flood my veins, take over my mind and soul. It narrowed my vision and fogged my mind.
“Reverse.” Calvin whispered the one word.
My mind was on fire, hatred and pride filled my being.
“Are you ready, Brother? It is time to rid this world of Althea.”
Lifting my head, I smiled, “Always… Brother.”
~~~
Tristan’s POV:
‘Annually, a light shall appear in our home and guide us back to the fallen, back to Althea.’
The words filled my endless mind, spiraling, pulling me deeper and deeper-
“Tristan, look at me.” Ozara’s calming voice broke through my thoughts.
My eyes met her magnificent teal eyes.
“You need to stay focused. We can’t have you falling out on us, alright?” She gently put her hand over mine.
Heat spread across my face and I nodded slowly.
We had been trapped in the dark magic barrier since past midday. Journey kept slipping in and out of consciousness and the man with her had not left her side. We got few words to come from him, trying to explain what happened.
The barrier warped as two people entered.
“Calvin…” The name shook in Ozara’s voice, and her hand trembled in mine.
I gazed at the man whose devilish smirk crossed his face the moment his chilling ice eyes landed on Ozara.
Beside him quietly stood Damon. His whole expression was dull, unusual for the normally bright, determined man he was. Something was different about him. About the way he stared at Journey, hatred and anger filled his glare at her.
“The time has come…” Calvin’s deep voice called, before he shouted a series of strange words and nodded to Damon.
Damon, mindlessly, moved to Journey, pushing the other man out of his way, and removed a dagger from inside his cloak. He sliced the ropes clean from her lifeless body and lifted her in his arms. Carrying her to where Calvin stood in the middle of the dome, he handed over the dagger. Calvin took the dagger from Damon’s hand and sliced Journey’s upper arm as she laid limp in Damon’s arms.
Blood dripped down her arm and dropped to the ground, causing the earth beneath us to tremble.
Lights encased us, beaming up towards the heavens. Ozara grasped my arm and tightened her hold on it as the light overtook us all and pulled us into Althea’s Realm.
~30~
Tristan’s POV:
THE BRIGHTNESS OF the white room strained my eyes. Magic surged through the air and washed calmness over us all.
Standing there, awe stricken, I marveled at the room before us. Somewhere bells were ringing a happy tune, bouncing around the white walls. At the back o
f the room, hanging tall above a raised platform, was a tapestry of the Mystics, every detail carefully sewn. On the platform, sitting atop a pedestal, covered by a glass case, sat a small, glowing, pink stone, spinning slowly.
Damon followed Calvin up the stairs to the platform and laid Journey behind the stone. Calvin carefully removed the glass case surrounding the stone and smiled as it raised in the air.
He uttered another series of ancient words that made the relic spin faster and faster until it stopped.
Calvin’s eyes went wide as the stone slowly lowered itself above Journey. He reached out to grab it but the magic from it threw him and Damon far across the room.
The stone embedded itself in Journey’s chest and lifted her high into the air. Light began to glow around her, coming from her fingers and eyes. The glowing light blinded us all. When it subsided, Journey was being lowered to the ground, her green eyes glowing and a pair of large angel wings, folded underneath her curled, golden brown hair.
The ground beneath us began to shake and the lights appeared again, but it did not surround us all this time. Someone emerged from the portal and pulled me and Ozara into the light.
~~~
Welcome home, Journey. The voice called through the magic surging around me.
“Where am I?” I asked the empty space.
You are where all good things begin and end.
“Does that mean this is the end?”
No, Journey, this is only the beginning of your story…
The voice and light disappeared from around me.
I opened my eyes to complete chaos. Magic surged through my veins and the ground began to shake beneath us. A beam of light appeared in the corner of the room and two figures emerged from it, pulling Tristan and Ozara into the portal.
I jumped from the ledge and gently glided down to the others.
Asmund stood by the portal, calling to me, but my attention was stolen. Across the room, Calvin stood, sword drawn, and aiming it at Damon. Pure fear filled his lapis blue eyes as he inched away from Calvin’s blade.
I ran to him. The wings on my back lifted me above them and dropped me between Calvin’s blade and Damon’s life.