Chapter seventeen:
The next day the five of them are standing outside with Gavin turned into his familiar form.
Michael adjusts some ropes to help carry some stuff. He is glad that Gavin trusted him to put this on him. He also has a backpack on his back to also carry the stuff that they will need. He knows that though it is a bit much of stuff they will need all of it.
They have supplies, food, camping gear, a map, a few items to be able to use nature to help them along with magic, a charm to warn them of an incoming magic attack, and some blankets as well as a pillow for each of them. They took the pillows that they used last night which Cassandra doesn't mind.
"Good luck you two." Cassandra wishes to them stepping forward as the two glance to her. "We will do what we can here while the two of you are gone. I made sure to mark the map with the information you'll need to know. Like where the castle is, where my place is, and where the enemies place is. Don't fly by the red circle. The red circle is the enemies place. The blue circles will guide your way."
"Thanks." Michael tells her. "We'll try to be as fast as we can. We will get the help we need."
The three nod as they believe in them.
Michael climbs onto Gavin who stands tall once his witch is ready.
Gavin spreads his wings taking off quickly flying off out of sight.
"Good luck." Geoff wishes to the two of them staring at where he had last saw them. He hopes that the two of them won't run into any trouble. He would have gone instead of sending students… However he can't help the fact that those two students are much faster. He is well aware that they'll reach the castle before he and Jack would. He has to trust his students to be able to do tasks on their own. He turns to Jack and Cassandra who also turn to look to him. "Okay. Let's try to scope out the area of the enemy. See what we can find."
The other two nod their heads in agreement to this idea.
Angel looks around herself as she awakens from having been knocked out. She looks around finding that she is in an empty room that could be a small bedroom. She gets up and feels metal rubbing against her neck. She explores it with her hands to try to see what it could be. She finds a metal collar locked around her neck leading to a chain. She turns to try to see the chain spotting it go into the wall where it is held securely by the carpet on the floor. She spins around when she hears the door open. She sees her witch walk into the room leaving the door open. "Darcy." She greets finally speaking the name she had tried to not speak of for so long. She still feels the terror running through her. She knows that this terror had stopped her from sharing the scrolls with anyone until she found out about what Darcy is doing now.
"Oh Angel." Darcy moves closer and places a gentle hand on the others cheek letting their eyes meet. "It has been so long since I last saw you."
Angel feels a heavy lump appear in her throat as she stares at her witch. She can still remember the innocent wonder of the world in her witches eyes… Before she turned down a path of darkness… "I did this." She looks down and closes her eyes with sad acceptance. She blinks in surprise as Darcy pulls her into a hug.
"It pains me to see you locked up in a room like this. Even though you left me with no choice." Darcy informs Angel who she continues to hold close. "I want you to know that I don't blame you for not coming to get me. You tried to hide the scrolls and I know that seeing my fate at the time must have torn you up inside." She turns her head to look at Angel's hair when she feels the other shake in her arms. "Angel. We can do this together. Just do what I tell you to. You'll be there to watch me rise to the throne."
"Darcy." Angel's voice is shaky so she takes a moment to steady it before she continues with what it is that she wants to say. "I wish I hadn't let you learn about that dark magic. Maybe things would have been different."
Darcy pulls away enough to look into Angels eyes. "Come now Angel. With you I am stronger. And you can be free. As long as you follow what I say and keep your loyalty to me."
"This isn't right." Angel almost snaps at Darcy who flinches slightly at hearing this. "I was just as caught up in the idea of power like you were! Now I realize the damage that has been done. If you don't like seeing me like this then take a look at the other familiars you have! And think about how their witches would feel at seeing them like that! That time away gave me a lot of time to think. A lot of time to reflect on what I did in the past. I don't want things to be this way. They don't have to be this way. I should have never let myself get caught up in the fact that we had authority back then."
"Angel. You have a choice right now. You either can join me or sit in this dark room. The only sunlight you'll see is through that small window. I can't use the spell on you. Since you're my familiar. Our bond would break it."
"Then leave me." Angel transforms into her rabbit form and hops away aware that the chain changed size along with her turning to her familiar form.
Darcy snarls. "God damn it Angel! You used to be all about these things! And now you fall into the weak mindset that the outsiders force upon everyone! You're only lucky that you're my familiar!" She spins around and storms out slamming the door behind her.
Angel hangs her head letting her tears fall down to the carpet as she sobs brokenly in the room. Her small rabbit body curling up as she sobs with her long ears flopping down in distress.