Finally, an update!
* I own nothing STF*
Chapter 23: Unveiling
Cedric's mind went blank. Then it roared back to life once he saw bloodstream down Sofia's stunned face, a hideous gash decorating her forehead.
This was unlike the time when Greylock cast the standstill spell. The depths of rage Cedric felt could not even compare, for Sofia wasn't bleeding before his eyes. He did not recall ever seeing her bleed, and as he witnessed the horrific sight, his senses snapped back into reality.
He saw Grimtrix raise his scepter to strike again, and Cedric thrust his wand forward. "I will kill you if you touch her again!" He thundered.
Grimtrix giggled. His peels of laughter chanting throughout the empty halls as eerie echoes. Digging the end of his staff into Sofia's throat, he demanded calmly, "Put down the wand."
"Stop!" Cedric cried as Sofia choked for air, struggling to lift the scepter off her throat.
"Put down… the wand," Grimtrix repeated slowly. "I am not going to lay a finger on you, but I could care less about what I do to her! You don't want your precious princess to get permanent scars and bruises, do you?"
Defeated, Cedric threw down his wand. "I… I don't understand. Why-"
"All in good time. I'm afraid I don't have much time to explain, dear boy." Grimtrix lifted his scepter off of Sofia, aiming at Cedric's wand. The wand lit up before disintegrating into the floor. "Wriggley!" The headmaster called out, and Cedric felt something small move up his leg and into his robe sleeves. Grunting, the sorcerer twitched around as the animal thoroughly checked his robe sleeves, vest, and pockets.
"No wands or potions here!" Cedric heard a weasel announce as she popped her head out from his other sleeve. She gave Cedric a nasty grin before jumping off and onto Grimtrix's shoulder.
"Tsk, tsk, Cedric. Remember for next time that a great sorcerer always carries at least two wands with him. Oh dear, now you can't even fail at escaping!" Grimtrix leaned down, filling a vial up with Sofia's blood and pouring a few drops into his scepter's orb. "I was running out!" The headmaster nonchalantly commented as if he ran out of a food item. "Get up." He directed to Sofia, and to Cedric's horror, Sofia's limbs started moving involuntarily, forcing her up to stand.
"You're... you're controlling her through her blood. How?" Cedric asked.
"With dark magic," Grimtrix snatched a disoriented Sofia by the wrist, roughly pulling her to him and holding her firmly by the neck. "Anything is possible!" Noticing Cedric clenching his fists when he touched her, the headmaster smirked. "However, this blood spell is limited in its power. Think of it as a strain to a much more powerful spell. I can only control her words and physical actions for now, but she can still do much damage. Like expose all of your secrets that you two discussed, tell terrible lies, and she can even do this!" Whispering in Sofia's ear, Grimtrix pushed her.
Stumbling forward, Sofia's injured face brightened as she gave Cedric a wide smile. The smile took Cedric by surprise, for he now saw how fake it was. All those smiles earlier were like this, and he felt like a fool for not seeing it sooner. Forgetting all caution, He worriedly outstretched his hand to Sofia.
Her hand made sharp contact with his cheek, which jarred him briefly while she continued striking his face and pounding her fists against his chest, all with a gleeful, twisted, insincere smile on her face. However, her eyes brimmed with tears each time she landed a blow on him, and even the smile could not halt the strained sobs escaping her throat.
Finally, Cedric calmly snatched her raised wrists. "Stop it," He ordered Grimtrix, who leaned lazily against his staff. "Do you hear me? Enough!"
The older sorcerer pouted at his spoiled fun but then muttered, "Stop."
Sofia's fists went limp, and her smile vanished into sorrowful whimpers. "I'm sorry," The words fell pitifully from the princess's lips, and Cedric wrapped his arms around her.
"You don't need to apologize for anything," He murmured, gently stroking the back of her hair. "I am the one who's sorry for not protecting you as I promised." Then, inhaling sharply, Cedric began inspecting the ugly gouge above her left eye.
Her eyes! The sorcerer lifted her chin to get a better look, and he saw that the usual blue pulsed a murky black. This was not the first person he'd seen whose eyes were like this.
"The royals versus the sorcerers. Retribution is coming and a curse upon the crown!" Grimtrix drawled. "I'm sure you're putting the pieces together."
"You've been controlling Greylock too?" Cedric grimly said as he rubbed some of the blood off Sofia's face with his sleeve. "I knew something felt off about him, but it was you using him to take the blame for your cruel actions. So the cult and the curse are also you're doing?"
"So intelligent." Grimtrix purred. "Yes, I am controlling Greylock to appear to be the leader of the cult and that he has a bone to pick with the royals. Hence, him trying to kill the princess. He didn't lie though, I wasn't planning on killing her at the ball, I was going to have him cause a little mischief and perhaps kill your father, but when I saw a royal, I couldn't pass up the delicious opportunity to spice things up a bit! And look where we are now!" He beamed. "I have her and Greylock to heed to my every beck and call as well as the cult. Everything is turning out in my favor!"
Cedric had a million questions about Grimtrix's deception, but all he could focus on right now was Sofia. "Undo the spell."
"No." Grimtrix shook his head. "I still need her like this, and there's no point anyway. I don't have or know the counterspell."
"W-what?" Cedric's voice trembled. "Th...then find someone who does."
"Well, that depends on your decisions from here on out." The headmaster grinned. "Now, come."
Sofia weakly began to stumble towards him, but Cedric restrained her arm. "We're not moving until you give her a bandage and ointment for her head."
Grimtrix pursed his lips but obeyed Cedric's request, forming a cloth and ointment with his scepter, which he tossed to the younger sorcerer.
"Cedric," Sofia mumbled, "The weasel stole my amulet earlier today. The voice...it was all Grimtrix, and he forced me to lie and..." She winced as Cedric applied the ointment to her cut. "And I think my amulet really was trying to protect me from him. That's probably why he sent the weasel in the first place, but I don't understand why-"
"I have many questions too," Cedric interrupted gently as he wrapped the fabric around her head. "But don't get yourself worked up. We will figure this out."
"Aww, how touching," Grimtrix yawned loudly.
"Shut it," Cedric snapped.
Chuckling, the headmaster brandished his scepter at Sofia, causing both of them to flinch. "You really should respect your elders and not mouth of to me. I won't repeat myself again but step out of line, and she will suffer for it." Striding to them, Grimtrix placed his hand on Cedric's shoulder. "Now, you must have many questions, but I cannot answer them all at the moment. I am on a tight schedule, so grab hold of her and let's not waste time!" Grimtrix closed his eyes and hummed the teleportation spell.
In a second, Cedric blinked, and he was standing inside a spacious tower. The rectangular room overflowed with hundreds of magical curios and artifacts, yet everything lay untouched and lifeless.
This was Merlin's workshop. Cedric remembered visiting it long ago, but he didn't remember the sickening vibrations of magic pulsing throughout or how deserted it seemed. The grand carved stone and wood that outlined mythology and magic creatures, the whole cabinet full of wands, and endless books on shelves as far as the eye could see no longer held a childlike grandeur but a dismal dread of something long forgotten and uncared for.
"I'm surprised no one has come to raid this place," The sorcerer said in astonishment as he admired shelves of wands decorating a wall.
"There are heavy protection spells on certain valuables, and the Order of the Wand made sure to always guard it in case of Merlin's return," Grimtrix answered. "I always believed Merlin never died, as some have speculated. But, instead, I feel that he is very much alive. What do you think, Cedric?"
"I...I always thought so too. But that was more than 200 years ago." Cedric's brows furrowed, "Why are you asking me this?"
"I had the joy of overhearing every little thing you and the princess talked about." Grimtrix preened. "Thanks to Wriggley, I learned a great deal about the Amulet of Avalor. Oh! And your heart-wrenching confession about being such a bad boy." The headmaster dramatically clutched his chest, "So brave!"
"Enough!" Cedric and Grimtrix both faced the princess, who raspily spoke up. "I'm sick of your vague answers. You already have my amulet, so you don't need us anymore. Just let us go or tell us what you're planning!" Sofia whimpered. "
"Wouldn't you like to know!" Grimtrix sneered.
"Yes, I would like to know." Sofia harshly retorted. "You're using me against Cedric. You're using Greylock and the cult to burn down villages and hurt countless innocent people. All for the sake of what? How many more people are you going to use and hurt for your plans?!"
"It's alright, Sofia." Cedric soothed when he felt her body tense up against him.
"No, it's not!" The princess quivered. "I'm sorry, but you weren't the one who was forced to say all those terrible things to your face. Cedric, you looked so broken-" Her voice broke as fresh tears trickled down her cheeks. "His sickening voice was in my head. It's still in my head...making me say and do things I would never do! How can you live with yourself?" Sofia yelled at Grimtrix.
Her body nearly collapsed again, but Cedric held on tightly, making no comment and subconsciously tightening his grip around Sofia's waist. She grunted in pain, and realizing what he was doing; the sorcerer slackened his hold.
"Sorry," He muttered.
What a pitiful statement. Sorry wouldn't even begin to cover all that Cedric had done to her. Yes, Grimtrix was the perpetrator, but if Cedric only hadn't trusted him or stuck out to the headmaster in a way that made Grimtrix want to use him for whatever nefarious reason. He was the absolute fool for not realizing everything sooner. Instead of seeing the truth, he allowed himself to be distracted by Magnus' and Greylock's actions. Saying he was sorry to her in their situation was like casting a spell with a broken wand. Pointless.
"Let's get something straight, my dear." Grimtrix bared his teeth, "I need him." He aimed his scepter at Cedric. "This isn't about you or your pitiful amulet, which has been nothing but a thorn to my side. As for me being behind the cult, let's just say I took advantage of the long-awaited rift between royal and sorcerer. But, of course, all of that is a mere distraction for my real plans."
"Mere distraction…" Cedric repeated in disbelief. "So the curse upon the royals, is that even real?"
"I never said it wasn't... it's just not what everyone is expecting." Grimtrix stroked his mustache. Reaching into his sleeve, he whipped out a small journal, tossing it to Cedric.
Catching it, Cedric slowly opened the pages, his eyes wide when he saw a name written in ink. "This is by Erasmus, Greylock's ancestor? How did something like this even survive?"
Grimtrix clapped his hands. "Exciting, is it not?! It was here amongst Merlin's things though only Greylock or his family could open it because it was sealed by blood magic. I bribed Greylock to open it and break the blood spell for me before I took control over him."
"What do you want me to do with this?"
"Why, to uncover the main reason for why you're here!" Grimtrix grandly gestured with his arms. "Take a look through the journal, and maybe you can figure it out. I've stayed too long chatting with you two. I must go."
"But-"
"Don't worry; I'll be right back!" Grimtrix grinned callously. "And while I'm away, don't either of you even think of trying to escape." Then, striding to Cedric, the headmaster, grabbed him by the chin, forcing the young man to be at eye level with him. "Not only will my weasel be keeping an eye on your every move, but you never know when I will be watching through your precious princess." Gripping his jaw even tighter, Grimtrix whispered in Cedric's ear, "If I catch a whiff of you even trying to come up with a plan to trick me, I will make Sofia split her own guts open as you watch, completely helpless to save her or even move. Do I make myself clear?"
Cedric cleared back the lump in his throat, nodding quickly as Grimtrix gave him a sharp slap upside his head. "Good lad!" He smiled widely before exiting the room, leaving them alone in their prison.
Stillness swept over Cedric and Sofia as they stared after the headmaster, their faces worn and ragged from all the information.
Cedric broke the silence with a frustrated cry as he hurled the journal into a bookcase across the room. The loud thud coincided with the sorcerer slamming his fists against the worktable in the center of the room. Gripping the ends of the table, Cedric exhaled. "I'm a fool."
"No," Sofia muttered. "No one could have seen this coming, Cedric. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine. I blindly trusted that weasel, and without my amulet… I'm just weak. I can't defend myself at all against his spell, no matter how hard I try. He's going to make me do terrible things to you to get what he wants, and I'm so weak-"
"Don't say that!" Cedric shouted before pausing. "Don't say that." He repeated quietly. "You can't do anything against a spell that powerful. No one can. However, I am not under any spell, and I...I still am too weak to protect you. Whatever man I thought I was becoming...it doesn't matter, does it?" Gazing up, Cedric stared at Wriggley, who made herself comfortable on top of a shelf above them. "We can't escape."
Bursting into tears, Sofia held up her hands to her face. "No, no." Falling onto her knees, she clutched her bandaged head.
"Sofia!" The sorcerer worriedly knelt down, grunting when she snatched his hand that was about to hold her.
"I have nothing." The princess said, her tone engraved with distress. "I can't think of any words of comfort or encouragement. I... I'm just so scared." She wept, her eyes devoid of any of the ordinary brightness Cedric knew. "All I ask is that..even if you feel like you have none...please lend me your strength because I know you're so much stronger than you realize."
Although their circumstances were dire, Cedric could not help but smile. Even when she was at her worst, Sofia still managed to encourage him without realizing it. Pulling her to him, he whispered, "So are you. I will lend you what little strength and faith I have that we will get out of this together, and I know you will do the same."
Sofia only responded with a sob, burying her face further into Cedric's chest. Their future was uncertain, yet they stayed in their embrace a long while.
"Are you sure it's wise to stop here first?" Lucinda whined as she and Wormwood landed in front of the Rudistan palace.
"Yes." Wormwood sighed. "Cedric could still be here for all I know. Perhaps King Magnus and King Roland kept him to come up with some strategy to defeat the cult. It would be foolish not to do anything as quickly as possible."
Shrugging her shoulders, Lucinda frowned as she surveyed the area. "Hey, isn't that the Enchancian royal coach?"
"What? Oh, yes, it is." Wormwood cocked his head to one side.
The palace doors swung open, and Prince James stormed down the steps, his mouth gaping open at the sight of the young witch and Wormwood. Darting towards them, James bared his teeth, yelling, "Wormwood, where's Cedric? Where is he?"
Taking a step back, Lucinda held up her hands in defense as the prince roughly grabbed her arm. "Who are you, and what's Wormwood doing with you? Where did he take Sofia?"
"Calm down!" Lucinda snapped, slapping his hand away. "We came to find Cedric. He's not here?"
James didn't even pause to catch his breath. "He took my sister, Sofia, and vanished. Right after she told everyone that Cedric has been planning to overthrow our kingdom for a long time and that he's behind the cult!" Leaning closer, the prince threateningly glared at the raven. "My dad left me to find her and I know he must know something, so make him talk!"
Wormwood's heart pounded madly as Jame's angry shouts faded. They know! Not only that but Cedric… where did you go?
A/N: Well, it's been a minute since I updated this story! Thank you for waiting and for reading, sorry that I left you on such a cliffhanger :(
I've been feeling poorly lately as well as struggling with some writer's block, but I am happy to update when I can! Let me know what you think of this chapter, and I'll see you next update!
Stay happy and healthy, everyone! :D
~Anya Fyre