Chapter twenty four:
Angel perks up hearing the sounds of someone walking around and she wonders if it is Darcy. "Darcy?" She tries calling hoping that maybe she can talk her witch out of this. She hears footsteps come to the door then it sounds like someone trying to bust it down.
Bursting in as the door flies open a soldier with a familiar of a basset hound come into the room. The two hurry and the soldier uses her wand to break Angel free.
"What's going on?" Angel questions turning to them worriedly.
"We are from the kingdom. We are here to rescue those that the group has captured." The soldier explains as she checks Angel over. "I am guessing that you must be Darcy's familiar. I've heard about you."
Angel nods. "Yes. I am. And I have to stop her." She gets away from the soldier and dashes off pausing as she steps outside only to see the battle going on. She brings her focus back and charges into the battle searching for her witch.
Burnie tries to slam himself against the bars of the cage as he can hear the raging battle going outside. He only manages to almost tip himself over.
Then two soldiers with their familiars including a calico Maine coon cat and a black bear.
"We're here to help." One of the soldiers explains as they both pull out their wands.
Burnie feels such a big relief to see them here and part of him wishes that they could have arrived sooner.
The soldiers scan the magic used on the cages and realize what they need to do. They use their wands to cast the spell they were taught when faced with this kind of spell causing the cages to open.
The witches come out and the Maine coon sadly looks down at Ray's body.
"I am sorry we didn't arrive sooner." One of the soldiers apologizes at seeing her familiar looking at the body.
"At least you saved the rest of us." Burnie points out not hiding the grief in his tone. He turns to the other witches. "Lets go! We have to snap our familiars out of it and stop this fighting!" He leads the way with the others following.
The soldier with the black bear familiar comes along while the other soldier stays with the Maine coon cat with Ray's body.
The now free witches charge into the battle without fear desperately wanting to save their partners.
Burnie rushes over to his partner grabbing him before he can charge at a Minotaur familiar. He has his partner around the neck since the other increased in size to help fight. "Joel!" He calls out trying to reach his magic out to the other who struggles. He hardly notices wounds being given to him as he tries to bring his familiar back to him. "Wake up!" He pleads and the other slows the attacks which come to a stop. He pulls back and sees his partner looking at him. He smiles with tear filled eyes as he knows that his partner is back.
Joel snuggles against his witch happy to be himself again.
Around them more of the witches are getting through to their familiars bringing the attacking numbers down to just being the evil witches and familiars… As well as Ryan…
Ryan shoots fire at Lyra who runs along dodging.
Darcy is locked in a fight of magical beams against her brother.
"Darcy!" Angel calls turning to her familiar form and hopping up at her witch. She manages to slam the arm holding the wand in which Darcy ducks to avoid her brothers beam.
"Damn it Angel!" Darcy snaps at her familiar and grabs her with her free hand. "Don't get in my way! I have to do this!"
Angel tries to get free without hurting her partner. She notices Darcy fire a beam at Spire who jumps back to dodge it.
"Look around you!" Spire tells her aiming his wand at her. "As we fight your minions are being outnumbered and are falling. Release this familiar and admit defeat!"
"Never!" Darcy can feel glares at her from all around. She holds Angel close then looks to Ryan. "To the sky."
Ryan takes off into the air and flying familiars with their witches, including Gavin and Michael hurry after them.
Darcy waves her wand and attempts to grab them all as well as Spire in black tentacles. She manages to get them but Spire uses a flash of light that dissipates them even the one on Gus… Though by now it is too late for him… She uses her wand to float Angel then waves it around in circles around Angel pulling out magic from her from their shared bond. She lets Ryan use his fire, claws and tail to try to keep the others at bay. "They'll see. They'll all see how powerful I can be with my familiar." She mutters to herself too out of it in anger to see the pain she is causing her familiar.
While Darcy prepares her attack a ball of light that is small appears by Ryan that goes towards him then fades.
Ryan can't move his body from the chains wrapped around him. He can't see or hear anything that is going on and he can't find a way to break out. He needs Ray here. He wonders why the other isn't here yet because its been forever. He wonders if the other can even reach him now or if there is a spell blocking it.
"Ryan."
Ryan looks around as much as he can only moving his head frantically upon hearing a soft yet familiar voice. "Ray?"
"Ryan!" The voice of his partner becomes louder though Ryan doesn't see him anywhere.
"Ray! Where are you?" Ryan keeps looking hoping to catch a glimpse of the other or see him hurrying towards him. "I need you. I need you Ray. I can't get out."
"I believe in you."
Suddenly a warmth spreads through Ryan's body and he feels like Ray's presence has become a part of him. He can't see the other though he knows that he is there. He growls with fierce determination and uses the burst of magic he feels to slam it against the chains breaking them into a million pieces that dissolve. His eye sight is brought to what his body can see and he realizes he has control again. He stops attacking those coming at him. He glances back at Darcy who fires something at someone below. He doesn't pay attention to who as he chomps onto the arm holding her wand. He lets his sharp teeth really sink in.
Darcy yells out in pain and is suddenly tossed off and thrown to the ground by Ryan.
A seagull familiar with its witch riding swoops down letting the witch catch Angel to check on the poor familiar.
Cassandra watches as Angel is caught feeling sad for the poor familiar. She believes that the other didn't deserve what had happened to her. She watches the seagull land, and the witch gets off placing Angel on the ground only to see how the other is doing. She stays back to let the soldier witch help Angel to help make sure that she will be alright.
Ryan turns his attention away to look around for Ray however he sees no sign of the other. He blinks in confusion wondering where his partner is. He looks down to Darcy wondering if she knows though sees Spire about to cast a complex spell on Darcy.
"I am sorry big sister." Spire informs Darcy who glares at him. "But you brought this upon yourself." He completes the spell and drains Darcy's life out of her like he was taught for extreme emergencies. He turns away as Darcy lays there now dead on the ground.
Ryan notices something by a witch who is laying dead by Darcy. He swoops down landing then turns to his human form. He picks the object up that seems to have fallen from the witch's pocket. He recognizes his partners wand. He glances around himself as Spire turns to him. "Where is Ray?" He questions the other. "Where is my witch?"
"Your majesty!" A call can be heard and they all turn to the soldier witch carrying Ray's body towards them.
Ryan's eyes grow wide and tears appear in them. "RAY!" He screams rushing over and takes his partner from the soldier. He falls to his knees holding the other close and sobbing. "Ray! Please! Please don't be gone!" He pleads despite knowing that the other is indeed gone. "I can't lose you!"
Michael hugs Gavin, who is in human form, who turns away as they all realize that Ray is dead. He can't stop his tears that fall down his face as Gavin sobs into his chest.
Jack and Geoff look down sadly at this turn of events as a heavy silence falls upon everyone. They let some tears fall at the tragedy of having lost a young witch.
Spire gazes at the two with a sad sympathetic look. He can't bring someone back from the dead though he kind of wishes that he could so that the witch can live again.
Burnie moves forward with Joel on his shoulder. He places a hand on one of Ryan's shaking shoulders. "I shouldn't have pushed him into trying the idea of how to get out. I am sorry." He tells Ryan truly wanting to help the other. He steps back as his hand is slapped away.
"I don't want your apologies!" Ryan snaps glaring at him with grief-stricken eyes. "I want Ray back!"
Joel hops off of his partners shoulder and turns to his human form. "How did you snap back to reality if Ray has been dead?" He stares at Ryan who stares at him then continues to stare as the other turns to his dead witch.
"I heard him. He called to me." Ryan explains pausing to sniffle a little. "I couldn't see him but I suddenly felt him. Like his presence became a part of me. Gave me strength to break free." He closes his eyes as he wishes he had been able to save his partner before it had been too late.
"What are you thinking?" Burnie inquires to Joel who turns to look to him.
Joel heads over to his partner then looks to Spire. "Your majesty. I have an idea. I don't know if it will work. However we can try it. Maybe there is something in some older books that might be able to help us out."
Spire nods his head. "Of course. You are all welcome to the castle with us to rest and recover." He heads to his fathers body and crouches beside it. "Rest in peace father. It is over now. I will keep this kingdom under peace. I promise."
Ryan, who had looked to Joel when he said that he had an idea, turns to look to Ray's peaceful face. "I hope that it works." He admits and shifts to carry his witch's body bridal style. "And when you're back with me we can go for a fly together. Enjoying being together again."
Cassandra goes over to Angel who is now sitting in human form on the ground. She stops beside the other looking down at her. Her gaze sympathetic as her heart aches remembering what she had seen Darcy do to her own familiar. She can't believe that someone would do that just to try to win a fight. She knows that it is severely wrong. "Do you have anywhere to go now?" She inquires as the other turns to her.
"I don't know." Angel admits and glances to Spire in uncertainty. Her heart aches as she thinks about everything that had happened. "I lost my witch Darcy because I couldn't get her to stop what she was doing. And I am not fully sure that Spire will want me back in the castle… Or if I actually want to go back there." She lowers her head no longer looking at the king. She can feel her heart hurting as she never though that Darcy would treat her like that. She feels like she was just a means to an end that could be thrown away by Darcy in the end.
Cassandra stares at the familiar thoughtfully for a few moments then places a gentle hand on her shoulder. Her touch gentle yet with attempt to be a little comforting to the other. "Then why don't you come live with me?" She suggests and Angel turns to her as she slightly perks up in hope. She smiles kindly to the other. Her eyes shining with sympathetic comfort. She really wants to help the other so badly. "I live on my own, so there's plenty of space. And I swear to you that I won't ever let anyone treat you the way that she did. You'll be free to figure out what you want to do. You don't have to stay if you feel you need to go. But there will always be a spot for you at my home if you ever need or want it."
Angel smiles softly. She feels grateful for the kindness of the other. "I think I might like that." She agrees to this adding a soft thank you in which Cassandra assures her that she doesn't have to worry about it. "I won't be lazy. I'll help around your place. Do whatever you need me to do." She swears that she will make sure that the other doesn't regret in offering to help her out. She could make a new start and no longer be a means to an end. She can just be herself.
"I am glad to hear that. Though we'll focus on healing you first." Cassandra helps her up and is fine with letting her lean against her. She knows that the other will need some time to relax and recover. "And you don't push yourself too hard. Okay?" She is glad to see Angel nod in agreement to that.
"I wish you two happiness." Spire comes over to Cassandra and Angel in which the two turn to look to him. He had secretly been hoping that Angel would come back to live a well-deserved spoiled life at the castle. Though he understands that Angel has her own life to live in the way that she chooses to do. He won't stand in her way on going with Cassandra to live a more normal life. He just wants the best for her especially after seeing Darcy do such a horrible thing to her familiar. "If you need a favor or help then send a message to castle. I will be happy to help you out."
"Thank you." Cassandra nods and Angel also nods in thanks. She walks with the other to head home so they can rest. She doesn't push the other to go too fast. She makes sure that their pace is a more comfortable one for the other. She doesn't want to be rude by asking if she can carry Angel in her familiar form. She knows that she isn't the others partner so she doesn't feel like she has a right to ask her to do that. She will help the other in anyway that she can while still being respectful to her.
So the rest begin the journey to get to the castle with those less injured helping the more heavily injured as well as help carry those who have died.