It had been many years since the secret passageway hidden behind the painting on her bedroom wall had been put to use. Unless spiders counted. They had been using the place quite well, for it had been many years since the secret passageway had gotten a good dusting or sweep, either. Only Kairielis really had access to it, and the idea of the dark corridors had frightened her so much when she was younger that she preferred to forget it was even there.
Pushing open the exit, she stumbled down into yet another dim hallway. At least this one was slightly wider than the last. Feeling a bit guilty for ruining the hard work of possible generations of eight-legged little critters, Kairielis tried not to complain much about the dusty strings now coating her arms and hair. She did a quick inspection just to make sure she had brushed herself clean then checked after Sora once he emerged behind her.
While she had gone through first, he had certainly gotten the worse deal. His hair had decided to fully embrace its new role as a long overdo broom. Despite the emergency circumstances, she bit her lower lip and fought against the giggle that threatened to bubble up out of her. Sora noticed her desperate attempts not to say anything and he glanced down.
One of the cobwebs drooped off of his hair and bopped him in the nose.
"Ah!" He recoiled, swatting, but smiled once he realized what was actually assaulting him. As best he could, he began trying to clear the remaining webs off.
"Where next? Hopefully somewhere less...spidery?"
"Hopefully." She pointed out one stray bit he had missed in his initial inspection draped off his shoulder like a stringy cape, then examined the hallway around them to get her bearings. That passage should have led them to…
It was called the Path of Reflection for good reason. Mirrors lined the walls down the entire hall, stretching from floor to ceiling. At the end was yet another hidden door leading to an inner sanctum, a perfect hiding place at the near center of the castle. The place she was meant to go if intruders had been spotted inside the walls. She felt herself trembling at the thought, but perhaps more at the unknown fear of it. After all, neither her nor Sora knew how many intruders there were now, how dangerous they were, or...if they were even human. All they knew was that the alarm bell had been ringing to signal that something was not as it should be. And while the ringing had now petered out into silence, it was all the more unnerving, because the all clear bell had yet to sound out. She hoped both her father and Namine were able to make it to their respective safe rooms as well. That, or she hoped the danger had already passed. Then she could just treat this whole episode like a bad dream.
The pit of worry in her stomach grew, when she briefly thought about the fact that Riku still had not caught up to them. Sora said he left some sort of...message in her room that only his friend would understand, to lead him to the hidden passage entrance, but she still wasn't sure how easy they would be to follow.
Using her quill he had marked a series of lines and dots on a spare paper. She tried to piece together what it had said over his shoulder as he wrote, but it all looked like chicken scratch. If it was a code, it was going to be hard to crack. Anyone not privy to its secrets might just assume she had a poor quality quill unable to hold ink. But she hoped Riku had accumulated experience decoding Sora style smoke signals. Or more likely, he had been the one to design the code in the first place and had painstakingly taught it to his friend over the years in the off chance it might come in handy.
That was probably it.
In which case...maybe there was nothing to worry about?
She hoped at the very least Riku would see the peculiar crown shaped necklace Sora had left hanging near the hidden door lever. Surely with all those clues he would get here soon?
Unless there was something else keeping him. Or if he was...
Keep it together…
She had to stay focused. Again, she checked both ways, making sure she wasn't going to lead them down to the wrong end. Once she was decided, she started off down the hall, but noticed that Sora was lagging behind her.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
He was fixated up at something high up on the wall back at the opposite end of the corridor, his face torn between confusion and concern.
"It's just...maybe it's nothing, but..."
And then she saw it.
A jet black raven, perched on the upper edge of one of the far mirrors, glaring down at them with a silent judging expression. That was an impressive bird. And not only that, but there was something distinctly ominous hiding behind its calculating eyes. Kairielis took a nervous step back from it, feeling grateful that it was sitting at the opposite end of the hall than the direction she was headed down.
Sora glanced about the passageway quickly, not wanting to take his eyes off the raven for too long.
"How did a bird get in here?"
It was a really good question; one that she wished she knew the answer to. There weren't any windows, or any open doors for that matter. The entire hall was sealed off, only accessible via secret passage. Unless the raven came out the last door with them, it either had to have been living here for some time on its own, or there was some other way in that they couldn't see.
The raven cocked its head and clacked its beak a few times, either taunting her or laughing at the fact that she found it so intimidating.
The hallway was very dark, leaving most of the mirrors filled with haunting black shadows. The only source of light were a few crystals hanging at odd intervals from the ceiling. It did very little to brighten the path, mostly just preventing one from tripping on the carpet. The entire passage had an eerie mystique to it. It didn't help that the mirrors reflected her image, constantly catching in the corner of her eye and making her feel like someone else was there, staring.
This raven certainly didn't help ease any of those feelings.
She felt her skin prickling all over and shivered.
"Sora, let's go. Please."
He nodded, albeit hesitantly, finally willing himself to turn away from the mysterious creature and walk with her.
As they followed the path past the multitudes of mirrors, Kairielis couldn't help but cast a side glance at her reflection, hoping to spot any remaining dust bunnies hitching a ride on her robe. She didn't see any wayward travelers, but she did notice how horribly unkempt she looked. Her hair was ruffled and snarled, a smudge of gray dirt marked her right cheek and both knees. Not to mention her outfit was incredibly inappropriate. She tugged on her nightdress, hoping it would somehow magically lengthen her skirt. Even though she knew it wouldn't help, she brushed her fingers through her hair and tried to wipe at her cheek futilely with the edge of her sleeve.
"It's okay, you look great."
She froze, her fingers half entwined around a snarl, her reflection making her blushing all the more obvious. Well, there went being thankful Sora hadn't made a single comment about her appearance.
"E-excuse me?" She clutched her robe a little tighter around herself, extra aware again at how short her skirt was. "That's not exactly something you...you shouldn't..."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." He was looking a bit pink on the cheeks himself, and he suddenly seemed to find the back of his head very itchy. "I know you are worried about a lot of things right now so I just wanted to help take something off that list. I don't mind the dust or that you haven't had time to brush your hair."
Maybe it was just lingering thoughts from that dream she had, but he was being particularly charming right now and she struggled to keep her composure. "You don't think it looks...unbecoming?"
He laughed a little, a sound she hadn't realized how much she had been missing. "Of course not! You look like you and that's all you need to be. I don't want you to feel like you have to tidy yourself up for my sake.
She gulped. He needed to stop saying those sorts of things. He needed to stop smiling at her with those eyes...
"Uh...unless it makes you feel better to do it. Then in that case, uh...just let me know if you need anything! Then again, I don't really have much on me...so..."
Well, at least he hadn't mastered smooth-talking completely.
Clearing her throat, she tried to put on a more regal and authoritative air, but such things were difficult to do in ones pajamas. "Y-yes, well...that aside, I'm not properly dressed, so I formally request you not to look at me more than necessary, please!"
She saw him nod vigorously, and avert his gaze from her face. However, with all the mirrors around the two of them, he could still see her reflection and panicked a little, not sure where to stare for a moment before finally settling on his shoes.
Even at a time like this he still somehow made her smile.
A loud caw echoing from down the hall snapped their attention back to the raven, who had decided it was far more interested in following than staying put, glowering at them from a distance. It sailed gracefully overhead, and fluttered down at the end of the hallway just eight or so mirror lengths away…
Right onto the shoulder of a woman who most definitely had not been standing there before. The woman stepped forward slightly out of the shadows, her face only dimly illuminated from the faint crystal glow.
Kairielis had barely started to register her shock when she saw Sora dart in front of her, his sword already drawn. He was staring down this mysterious woman who...in the simplest of terms, was bad news. Kairielis knew this, despite not recognizing her face at all, and despite how elegant the lady looked in her flowing gown the color of amaranth, deep mauve and ebony. The woman's skin was immaculately covered with cosmetic paints, with extra care taken on her eyes. The color was weighing her lids down and giving them a poisonous allure. So alluring, it was hard to look away. No wonder the raven on her shoulder, who Kairielis assumed was her pet, was so adept at its own glares. He had quite an intimidating role model to learn from.
If Sora was intimidated, he wasn't showing it.
"Who are you!?"
The woman at the end of the hall took one step forward and Sora copied her, signaling back to Kairielis not to follow. It was clear he wanted to put as much distance between her and that woman as possible.
"I could ask the same question but I don't see much value in it, boy."
Her voice was sultry, smooth, and carried a deep venom to it. Kairielis saw Sora's hand tightening on the hilt of his weapon and she tried to make herself as invisible as possible against the wall. No such luck, with all these mirrors. Her anxious face was just reflected down the hall ad infinitum.
Sora took another step towards the woman, which she copied back at him in turn, like she was a mirror herself. She said nothing more, so Sora shouted towards her again.
"What are you doing here!?"
"I could tell you. But I won't, even though you asked so nicely."
A crooked smile, and she made another move forward, continuing the slow confrontational dance with the knight staring her down. Kairielis noticed that clenched in her hand was a long staff with a glowing yellow stone atop, like a small sun. And just like a sun, it felt like it was pulsating with its own energy.
Meanwhile, Sora was bristling.
"Are you the intruder everyone is looking for?"
"Do you really need to ask?"
Another step. Another answer.
"What's that staff for? Are you a witch or something?"
"Such a foolish, unnecessary question."
They slowly drew towards each other, when the woman finally stopped and sighed, flicking an errant speck of something off her sleeve.
"You and I know this back and forth tittering isn't going to achieve a thing. Why don't you just be a good knight and come throw yourself headlong in my direction like all the others."
For the first time, Kairielis sensed some hesitation in her knight's voice.
"The...others?"
"Oh, it was no fun at all. I'm warning you now, I don't enjoy things that are pointless wastes of time. It tends to bring out my bad side..."
"My friends..." His voice trembled slightly, but he quickly collected himself, sinking into an aggressive attack stance. Raising his sword, he gestured it towards the threatening figure. "What did you do!? If you hurt them, I'll never forgive you!"
She had never heard him so angry. It made sense that even someone like him could, when something so precious to him was being mocked so carelessly. Kairielis also knew at least one who was likely lingering on his mind. And she knew there were many others who she had never met that were now weighing down his heart with concern. More than anything she wished for this figure to be nothing more than a panic-induced illusion. But her fear was growing. If this one woman, by herself, had truly been able to cut down so many knights on her way here, what hope did Sora have of standing up to her? And if she had already found Riku...then...
Not only that, but the woman was already trying to goad him to fight. To no doubt get him out of the way, confident she could do so. And the confidence was the scariest part.
"Why don't you go ask them yourself? I'm sure a few can still talk, or groan at least." She glanced down in idle boredom at her long pointed nails, coated in a thick lacquer of color, the same color as blood.
Sora was trembling, but Kairielis was sure it wasn't from fear. The woman didn't seem to even pay him any attention, instead just checked her own reflection in the mirror, priming herself, straightening the horned headdress she had nestled on her head.
"Though I will admit it was quite fun watching them struggle, at least. I might have overdone it a bit." Her twisted smile was so, so cruel.
Kairielis knew that she needed to alert the rest of the castle that this woman was here. But how could she do that? The passage back to her room was too far down the hall, and she wasn't even entirely sure which mirror it was hidden behind now. It would take far too long for her to find the secret symbol in the wood paneling. And that would mean leaving Sora alone here with that woman...
"There was one feisty upstart in particular I remember. He kept doggedly chasing after me, screaming something about destiny and some girl he expected to keep an eye on him from beyond the grave."
Sora froze. "...Seifer?"
"I don't bother learning the names of insignificant insects. Hopefully that ghostly sister of his didn't mind watching him thoroughly embarrassing himself. Maybe he'll join her soon."
"You-!"
Rashly, Sora tumbled head first into her trap. He charged across the remaining distance between him and that witch of a woman, whose malevolent grin only spread further across her face.
"There it is! Just like your foolish friends..."
Kairielis gasped, but knew there was not much she could do to stop him. "Don't-!"
The princess knew it was a trap. She knew he was running headlong into danger. But her call had come far too late, and he was focused only on the evil woman with the pet raven, so he didn't even hear her plea. Sora was only a few strides away from his target when the raven suddenly dived at him from off her shoulder. It flapped its wings right in his face, blocking his view of the woman entirely, cawing and pawing the air with its talons. Not expecting the bird to attack, he barely ducked out of the way and raised his sword, but seemed hesitant to cut the creature even as it blocked his path. However, that was when the raven did something even more unexpected.
It's entire body began to twist and pull itself like a line of taffy. Morphing, growing, pulsing outwards in a grotesque burst of dark light, it's wings stretching into two giant clawed hands, turning into nothing but a pulsating mass of feathers and twisting tendrils. It no longer looked like a bird, but instead some horrific nightmare creature made of dark sap.
It charged him with a swoop, claws outstretched. It was shockingly fast, and Sora only had time to clumsily stagger to the side to avoid it. The former raven knocked into his shoulder slightly as it passed, tipping him off balance. He tried to take a step or two to adjust, but the monster gave him no quarter at all, rushing back in his direction in a frenzy. Kairielis could barely see what was happening under the dark swirl of the beasts' form as it lunged and encircled him. But the fact that it kept trying to reach him gave her hope that he was holding out alright.
She saw him roll out from under the onslaught and charged over towards the woman coldly watching him with disdain from the end of the hall. He swung his sword at her, but the raven jumped in front of his strike, blocking it with its own body.
A body that seemed to be made of nothing but thick lard, as his blade sank into the center of its core like it was being pulled into an inky black mire. Sora gaped in horror at its intended sacrifice, but the raven didn't seem particularly phased by the weapon stabbing into its own breast. He moved to withdraw his sword, but nothing happened. She saw him yanking on it, trying to pull it back out over and over again, but it must have been stuck firmly inside the core of the creature.
The woman in the elegant gown chuckled while he wrenched at the trapped sword like he was some amusing plaything to her, which only made Kairielis even more angry. Who was she, anyway? And was she really a witch, like the ones from her storybooks? She certainly had the same cruelty and haughtiness that was to be expected, despite her face being far less warty and her nose far less pointed than all the pictures always depicted.
"He's called a familiar. I made him with but the tiniest touch of my own shadow. An impressive feat, especially knowing that he is unable to be harmed by a mere sword. His body is as dense as tar, and he feels nothing. So by all means, wear yourself out."
Finally freeing his weapon, Sora completely ignored her taunts and tried to strike a second time. The familiar, as she had called it, once more intercepted him despite his best attempts to dodge around it. And he was again left tugging at his trapped blade, looking increasingly more frustrated.
The witch, Kairielis was sure of that now, rather than wait for him to regain control of his sword again, lifted her staff and struck him with it. Sora tumbled backwards across the carpet, as if knocked back by a blow far more powerful than the small metal pole should have produced. It must have been enchanted as well.
To her immense relief, he leapt back up to his feet, but was now without a weapon.
"So, what would you do, brave knight? Knowing how hopeless your situation-"
He didn't even pause before running straight at her again. The raven almost proudly displayed its sword-stuck breast towards his charge, waiting for his third attempt to withdraw it. Sora reached his hand for the hilt, but at the last minute rolled right underneath the bird, kicking at the golden staff that had just struck him. Taken by surprise, the woman screeched, the staff clattering to the floor out of her pale fingers. And in her momentary distraction in retrieving it back up from the ground, whatever spell was commanding the raven faltered, and its form temporarily shifted back to a regular bird.
Sora's sword tumbled freely to the ground, released in the confusion. He grappled for it, swinging towards the villain in front of him in one swift motion.
The woman barely managed to stumble back from his attack. She hissed as the blade sliced a thin line through her gown, shaking with rage as she viewed the damage.
"That was expensive imported silk, I'll have you know."
There was a crack like thunder as her staff glowed, shooting an electric pulse that struck Sora hard in the chest, sending him thumping unceremoniously across the hard tiles.
He groaned but staggered up to his feet, still looking just as obstinate as ever. Taking a moment to catch his breath, he once more charged without a second thought. Kairielis felt like she was barely breathing, watching him in trepidation. And as terrified as Kairielis was, she couldn't help but also feel a little proud of his tenacious spirit.
Now back in control of her magic staff, the witch was again able to sic her transformed guardian after him. It also looked like the previous sick joy she had been getting from toying with him was now starting to shift into a more peeved growl.
As he dashed at the raven this time, it burst into an explosion of swirling dark tendrils, flying at him from all directions. He slashed through a few, but his blade passed silently through the rest like they were nothing more than smoke. Yet they most definitely did have form.
The smokey blackness dodged around his weapon, twisted around each of his limbs and yanked his arms down to his sides, gripping him tightly around the middle and leaving him completely defenseless. They shook him back and forth roughly then slowly lifted his struggling form up into the air where he could only kick out into the empty air, and roar in frustration.
His sword clattered to the cold stone floor, useless.
"No!"
Her words dropped to the floor as well. Unheard, as the monstrous creature that had once resembled a raven continued to assault its prey, smacking him against one of the mirrors. It shattered instantly, shards of glass raining down across the floor, among a few scattered specks of blood. The remaining bits of mirror beneath Sora's body crunched as the clawed shadow pressed him harder into the wall, one finger wrapping itself around his throat. With his arms trapped at his sides, there was nothing he could do to stop it from choking the air out of his throat.
Whipping him to the other side of the hall, it smashed him into a second mirror. More glass. More blood.
She couldn't watch much more of this.
"Stop it, please! Don't hurt him any more!"
This time her words were not completely ignored. The raven didn't care at all, and just kept tossing Sora around in amusement, bashing him against the walls, breaking more mirrors in the process. She heard him yelp lightly in pain, and Kairielis couldn't help but gaze on in horror at the reality being fragmented across the once pristine glass surface, recalling those bitter words that breaking a mirror would cost a price.
She prayed Sora would not have to pay too dearly.
The woman in the elegant dress, however, was now looking straight at her, not caring about the glass now coating the carpet like black shimmering snow.
"My apologies, princess. It is princess, isn't it?"
With one hand she gave a tidy snap, and the raven immediately halted its attack, but kept Sora clenched tightly. He sagged, painfully struggling to breathe. Kairielis rushed towards him, not even knowing what she was planning on doing when she got there. Even with the dark being crushing him on all sides, he didn't cry out; only focused his bright eyes on her with such intensity that she froze in place. She could see him pant for air, and he tried shifting under the grip of the creature to loosen its hold over him.
"K-Kairi..." What little he could gasp out sounded so desperate and pleading that she couldn't stand it. "Stay back. P-please."
The horrid witch at the end of the hall had such an elegantly deep laugh. She really must be heartless if she could find amusement at something like this.
It felt like the dead of winter in that hall. Kairielis could not only feel, but see her entire body trembling, like she was on some sick display. A familiar nausea began rising in her throat. The sight of the blood, the glass, the laughter, the dark tendrils spinning around the room...
It was all too familiar.
Her legs wobbled, and her vision of the hallway began to sway. She swooned sideways into a mirror, leaving light blurry streaks under her dragging fingertips.
"I...I can't just...leave you...Sora."
"Please!"
Kairielis knew that logically, Sora was right. He was meant to be her shield, no matter what horrid monsters stood in his way. And she was meant to stand back, to stay safe. To watch. But even then...
She sagged against the mirror, shaking in fury. She was useless. A useless princess who could only stand by as someone precious to her was…
A precious someone trapped just out of reach.
The sound of hungry rats, scurrying along the corridors.
Wheezing laughter, like a sick pig.
All alone. Left alone. She abandoned him. Behind a metal grate.
"Don't go!" Her voice sobbed out against her will, echoing down the darkened hall.
She was trapped in the swirling memories that were trying to force her into submission. Even through the haze of sensory onslaught, she could hear Sora calling out to her. Calling her Kairi over and over. And in that moment she didn't care one bit that it was improper for him to do so.
She shook the horrid images from her head and bit down on her own cheek to shock herself back to reality. The pain worked, slightly, but left her still dizzy and sick, sweat dampening her forehead. When her eyes refocused, she saw him, still gazing at her sincerely through the dim shadows. Almost as if curious about what he wanted to say, the raven slightly loosened its grip on his chest.
He spoke slowly, taking deep breaths.
"We are...staying together...remember? I won't let her...hurt you...no matter what...Kairi..."
And she did the only thing she could do. She nodded, and complied.
The pain in her cheek hurt, but the pain in her heart raged all the more as she forced her legs to back away from him, one step at a time, unable to tear her eyes away, desperately trying to choke down the bile rising in her throat. She couldn't have another terror episode and faint here. Not now. Not when he was doing all this for her.
"...Kairi, is it?" The woman was mocking them now.
"Not to you!" The princess tersely spit out, feeling angrier than she could ever remember, yet continuing to back away.
"...And yet a lowly knight is able to address you so?" The woman sneered over at Sora who had now fallen silent, glaring at the intruder with eyes filled of pure defiance. "I thought you weren't meant to play favorites? If I didn't know any better, I might think you two were lovers the way you carry on."
Kairielis wanted to fervently deny such a thing, but she just couldn't bear herself to say that he meant nothing to her. The words sat like dry bread in her throat, soaking up any remaining moisture; a heavy lump that wouldn't leave no matter how hard she swallowed. He might be a knight but he was far from lowly. He was so, so much more than that.
And that was something she could never say aloud.
Still hanging in the hand of the enemy, Sora's eyes never lost their focus on his target. And he also said nothing.
"Neither of you are speaking now? Both giving me the cold shoulder? I understand. Forbidden romance is always the sweetest, isn't it?"
The witch laughed again and snapped, allowing the raven to hurl Sora against the floor heavily and scoop him back up before he even had a chance to wince or even grunt from the blow.
"Stop it!" Kairielis began to desperately look around her for something, anything, to use to help him. But it was nothing but mirrors, reflections and more mirrors, mocking her impotence.
"What do you even want from me!?"
"Don't worry. We'll have plenty of time to get acquainted, your Highness, just as soon as I squish this little bug." She leered into Sora's face again, this time tuning out Kairielis screaming once more for her to stop.
"I won't. Unless he has decided to give up for now and stay down?"
Sora didn't pause as he tried to kick out at her staff again the moment she drew it close enough. This time, the witch was expecting him to do something of the sort and moved it swiftly from his reach, clicking her tongue.
"What a sweet little noble thing you are. Unfortunately the call of nobility tends to allure the most foolish kinds. How unfortunate for you to have been dealt this hand by fate."
She reached over with her free hand to where he was captured, cupping her long bony fingers around his chin. He grunted and tried to pull himself away from her, but was held fast. Her nails scratched threateningly along his cheek, hard enough for him to flinch from the touch, but not enough to leave a mark.
"Oh...?" A thin smile spread across her pale skin. "But of course! Why did I not see it before?" She leaned back a bit, giving him a second look over. "You do seem to be the correct age as well...what an amusing hand indeed!"
She laughed again, sickeningly, at some joke that only she understood. Her fingers finally releasing Sora's face only to slap it so heavily that his whole body twisted. His pained whimper died in his throat, as he struggled to maintain his stoically brave front.
"Aw, did that hurt? You are a cockroach. So you deserve to be swatted like one."
The dark clawed tendrils of the raven familiar squeezed him harder, wrapping one long feathered hook around his neck, forcing out another gasp as it started to restrict again. His face was starting to look pale.
Sora turned to the only option left to him and, grimacing, bit down on the black mass wrapped around him. The witch burst into the most sultry of cackles imaginable and snapped, urging her demon to release him to the floor again. He slumped like a heavy sack of flour tipping to its side, staggering for his sword, gasping and coughing.
"Go on, then. Show me what you think you can even do."
"S-Sora, please don't..."
Kairielis already knew how it would end. How was he supposed to beat something like that raven? Something he couldn't even damage? It truly was a death trap. She wanted him to run, wanted him to flee to save his own life. There was no way he could win against that. And yet she knew. She knew there was no way he would abandon her even if she ordered it.
Because Sora really did run at his problems head on, just like she had been told. Rashly. Stubbornly. With an unyielding determination. With every strike that witch cast down on him, he kept getting back up again. It seemed that he had long since stopped caring that his sword couldn't cut her bird and instead decided to keep slashing as fast as possible in the hopes that he would eventually break through to the woman controlling it. But even when he knocked the demon aside with his shoulder and jumped at her, she would just banish him back again with some kind of magic beam from her staff.
Kairielis had lost count of the times he had been hurled against the floor, or had been forced to chase his sword after she disarmed him.
It was horrid. Torturous and horrid.
All she could do was watch behind her tears, nursing the pain in her cheek.
The dark mass of the former raven struck Sora hard in the gut and he collapsed to the floor heavily, his sword once more spinning away from him, ringing out sadly against the tiles. His arms shook as he fought to lift himself back up, and he collapsed with a faint groan.
And this time he stayed down.
Some part inside of her was almost glad he did because it meant he wouldn't get hurt any longer. She just wanted his pain to stop.
The witch, however, seemed to be having a wonderful time with it, her face curled in delight.
"Is that all? You're pathetically incompetent! Not even good enough to wipe my heels on."
Just to demonstrate this point, the woman hoisted up the hem of her dress to reveal two very sleek high heeled shoes adorned with emeralds. The heels were sharpened like dagger points. Raising her right foot, she kicked him onto his back and stepped over and right on top of him, her heel biting into his skin just under his shoulder blade. He inhaled sharply, unable to mask the pain.
Kairielis recoiled in horror. "I said, don't hurt him!"
She felt her back bump against a mirror. Even though Sora had prevented the woman from drawing closer, it felt like the entire hallway had shrunk around her. And it was growing even smaller still.
"Oh, don't fret over him. You should be more concerned about your own fate, my dear."
The hatred in that woman's eyes spoke volumes, and Kairielis tried not to betray the terror she could see reflected within her own.
"I don't f-fear you! Why should I!? You act as though you are so important but I certainly don't know who you are!"
She wasn't quite sure if she succeeded. But at least the witch wasn't torturing Sora any further, despite that sharp heel still being pressed onto his chest.
"Oh my, oh my, I'll try not to be insulted. I suppose it can't be helped. I'll repeat it this once, just so my name finally etches itself into that broken memory of yours."
She grabbed the hem of her torn dress and gave a mocking curtsy as best she was able with her heel still perched on Sora's body, her piercing eyes never parting from Kairielis' face.
"Maleficent. It's been a long time, your Highness."
A long time…?
The woman sneered and moved forward, then suddenly froze with an irritated grimace. Whipping back around, she scowled down at the ground. More specifically, at her ankle, which Sora was now clutching desperately to his chest. His grip effectively preventing her from taking a step.
"Let go, boy."
He glared back at her.
She pressed the pointed heel harder into him and he squirmed in pain, but refused to release her.
"Are you really that stupid? Let go. Now."
"No!"
Kairielis felt her heart drop. Why was he still fighting? Even after all this…? His face was smudged, his body bruised and bleeding in several places but his will remained untarnished in the slightest.
"Why so rebellious? I could stab right through you with a heel this sharp. Do you honestly think you can do anything in that position?"
The witch waited for an answer, but Sora just gritted his teeth and continued glowering back. She didn't seem particularly pleased at this.
"You are completely at my mercy so you should try to act more deserving of it. I was going to let you live. Now I'm not so sure."
She once more tried to step forward down the hall, but Sora clung to her ankle even harder, his breath coming out more and more pained.
"You won't...take...a step...closer..."
Maleficent hissed through her teeth, realizing her leg was now fully trapped under his unflinching grip, and he was too heavy for her to drag along with her.
"You are starting to really try my patience, boy. I'd think carefully about my next action if I were you."
The witch shifted her weight and clubbed him in the elbow with the end of her staff. He winced, but refused to let go. Even when she sent a zap of electricity to strike him, tried to singe him with green flame, set her raven down to try and yank him off, he still held on tight.
Shaking with rage now, she resorted to kicking at him with her one free foot, each blow dragging the tiniest yelps out of him as he fought to swallow back the rest.
"You really are a pathetic fool! What's your plan, annoy me to death!? Do you really think you can win this way? Maybe you just like being beaten silly!"
Sora coughed, shaking his head into the carpet and mumbled something that Kairielis couldn't hear.
"What was that, you insect? Are you going to beg now?"
"I said..." He coughed again, his breath rattling in his chest. "You've already lost. You just don't know it yet."
"Oh?" The witch seemed to be oscillating between feeling indignant and intrigued.
"Don't believe me? Just wait and see."
Maleficent narrowed her eyes at him and stopped wrenching her leg. "And what, pray tell, are we waiting for?"
Kairielis had no idea how, but in an instant there was a blindingly sharp flash of light bouncing down the entire corridor, reflecting from mirror to mirror, lighting up all the fragments that had been scattered across the carpet. Just like someone had just opened a door to let in the rising sun. Not that this was possible, for it should still be the dead of night. Sora hadn't delayed Maleficent that long.
She slammed her eyes shut, unable to withstand the piercing brightness suddenly illuminating them all. In the brief darkness as she hid behind her eyelids she heard the rush of footsteps, a sword clashing against metal, and a brief wailing cry of disbelief.
When she braved it enough to flutter open her eyes, she saw in the fresh light the witch huddled at the far end of the hall, clutching her arm with fiery anger in her eyes. And standing protectively over Sora's limp body was someone they truly had been waiting for.
Thank goodness.
And it was really like he had brought the dawn with him. She felt another wave of hot tears pouring out over her cheeks, but this time it was out of welcome relief.
Riku had his sword held aloft towards his enemy with one hand, with a glowing crystal in his other that was the source of the bright light dancing across the room against the reflective glass all around.
"Let me know if you want more, witch."
Sora moaned into the carpet. It was hard to understand, but sounded a lot like a very sarcastic, "You're a little late."
Not taking his eyes off the enemy, Riku bent down to hand his friend what looked like the crown pendant on a chain he had left in the room earlier. "Yeah, well your directions were a little pathetic. And your spelling in the note was atrocious."
Sora moaned again, his face still buried in the rug. "At least I remembered the code enough to write something."
Dropping the sarcasm from his voice entirely, Riku allowed himself to properly check on his friend, very gently resting a hand on his injured shoulder. "Sora...can you stand up at all?"
He waited to at least get a confirming nod, lending him an arm for support before he flipped the sarcasm back on.
"Need to sit this one out?"
"As if..." Sora, with Riku's help, managed to stagger back up to his feet and retrieve his weapon for the umpteenth time. He was still panting, out of breath like he had just run a great distance, but was finally able to speak more freely now that there wasn't something pressing down on his chest and lungs.
"Oh, and before I forget! You completely ruined the set up I had going for you. I mean, what you said was cool and all, but you didn't say the right line."
Kairielis expected Riku to look frustrated, but instead he seemed more relieved than anything. "What did you want me to say?"
"She asked me what I was waiting for. You were supposed to jump in saying 'Me!' I can't believe you wasted it, that would've been the perfect timing..."
Sora was definitely feeling better.
"Uh-huh. Fine. Want me to leave so we can try it again?"
Sora rubbed his sore shoulder, wincing. "It wouldn't be the same..." She saw him temporarily glance back at her, almost as if he was just making sure she was still truly in one piece. "But I'm really glad you're here. I knew I could count on you."
"You always do." Riku half-turned and gave Kairielis his own brief acknowledging nod. "Everything alright over there?"
"Y-yes. I'm as alright as I can be, thanks to you both."
The corner of Riku's mouth lifted into the tiniest smile, despite the rest of him remaining quite stoic. "Thanks to Sora, mostly."
A burning green light surrounded Maleficent's arm, and her wound vanished like smoke. Her eyes were glowing with a similar emerald colored fire as she grimly stared towards the three of them, right at Riku in particular, obviously not amused by the show of brotherhood and camaraderie between the two.
"How long as it been, since someone dared strike me? I reluctantly commend you on your skill. Riku Morizaki, isn't it? I definitely remember you."
"Can't say I can return the sentiment."
The witch gave an unsatisfied humph, and lifted her staff, summoning her raven to her side. It perched on her shoulder and clacked its beak, looking warily at the light beams shooting from the crystal in the distant knight's hand. Riku seemed almost bored.
"Go on, try it. I dispelled it once, I can do it again."
Sora eyed his friend slightly in confusion. "How did you...?"
For his sake, Riku offered an explanation. "That bird's made of shadow, so any light shined on it will immediately dissipate its form." Addressing Maleficent now, Riku tightened his grip on his sword. "We also finished off all those goons you swarmed the courtyard with. You've got nothing left. Care to come quietly or are we still doing this the hard way?"
Maleficent sighed, twirling a long finger idly across the top of her staff. "I can see you're just as promising as I expected you to be. A shame, really. You so elegantly found my one weakness. I waited very purposefully for a new moon so even its light would not impede me."
"Your waiting was in vain. There is always light here, and always will be. We'll make sure of it."
Riku spoke with such iron clad conviction it was inspiring, and his friend cheerily bobbed his head in agreement. Sora certainly was worn down, but the appearance of his friend had almost refreshed the bright aura surrounding him.
Rather than look upset, Maleficent shrugged her shoulders. "And I suppose the rest of the cavalry is on their way here right now?"
Riku continued to give away nothing with his stoic expression, so Maleficent instead lifted her heavily painted lashes towards the princess.
"Indulge me for a moment, then, oh source of the light. Tell me why you do that flashy glowing nonsense every day."
"It isn't nonsense! It keeps our home safe!" Sora interjected, looking ready to charge at her again.
"My, my, what was that? A little cricket is chirping. What an annoyance. A mere bug."
"And yet he managed to thwart you." Riku retorted sharply. "Maybe you shouldn't dismiss him so easily. He's stronger than you give him credit for."
Sora beamed at the compliment.
Maleficent, however, looked sourly at the two knights and for once, said nothing.
With both of her knights so close, Kairielis also felt courage surging through her, and she stood up proudly in the hall, pajamas and all.
"We will never let the darkness steal our light away. No matter how hard you try it will never fall. Because even though you call him an insignificant bug, people like him are willing to fight with their whole heart. Even with an army of thousands you could never hope to destroy the blessing our ancestors gave-"
"The ancestors who banished all the darkness away from your precious little kingdom and made everything sparkles and rainbows? You still believe that faerie tale of a lie?"
"It's not a lie! My grandmother-"
"Your grandmother, I would say, is not the best source of information regarding events that occurred generations before her lifetime!" Maleficent seemed far more upset at Kairielis' words than she had any right to be, considering all the trouble she had caused everyone at the castle tonight. Perhaps the witch was just bitter that she was cornered.
Kairielis crossed her arms, trying not to let her frustrations overwhelm her. "Are you suggesting that you know better?"
"It's much more than a suggestion, my dear. But for clarity's sake: Yes. I do." Her voice was low, threatening, like a cornered animal.
Any fear the princess had was slowly being erased by a growing confidence. This witch was nothing compared to the two friends standing her down in the hallway, side by side. Nothing compared to the strength of the thousands who wanted to protect their home. A strength that Kairielis could feel coursing through her.
"Sorry if I continue to believe my grandmother over some witch who-"
"Sorceress. If you please."
"I don't please."
Maleficent had definitely noticed the sudden shift in the princess' voice. No longer did it tremble with fear, but rang out with firm clarity.
"You are every bit like your mother. Has anyone ever told you that? Or are they too busy slandering her to mention it?" Her voice was a coy coo, like she was trying to seduce out the fear in her heart again.
Kairielis didn't grace this with a response; only stood her ground, regarding the witch with an even stare. It was just like dealing with all those wild predators disguised as dukes and duchesses. If you show any sliver of fear, they pounce on weakness to exploit it. It wasn't a coincidence that Maleficent had mentioned her mother. She was trying to bait her. But Kairielis was definitely not a simple fish to catch.
From beyond a hidden door, Kairielis could hear the sound of rapidly approaching feet and clanking armor. Maleficent must have heard it as well.
Her time was up.
"Since you are being stubborn and refusing to ask, I'll be kind and simply tell you. I fear my time has come."
Clearing her throat, Maleficent spread her arms wide, glowing as she began to be slowly consumed by an ever growing emerald fire.
"Listen closely, princess, because this will be your final warning. A premonition, if you will, of your rapidly approaching end. The darkness is coming. A darkness far more cruel than I. A darkness coming to reclaim what was stolen. Because you are nothing more than a thief, descended from thieves, and the day will soon come for you to repent for your ancestors' crimes."
The flames flickered brighter, and the shape of the witch was almost obscured within them. The mirrors all burned green and purple. Sora tried to rush forward and attack, but Riku surprisingly held him back, concentrating intensely at the center of the conflagration.
"I was once part of that vengeful wave of darkness. But over time I've realized it would be far less satisfying to see you fall if I don't see you struggle a little first. That's why I came to offer you a chance of salvation. The faintest hope that will make you squirm until the very end."
Kairielis stared at the fire, heard the sound of the knights bursting through the secret passage further behind her, but none of it was really registering in her mind. She couldn't look away from the fire, that somehow wasn't catching on the carpet, or singeing a thing in its wake.
"The truth is buried in your past, princess. Unless you free your trapped memories, and return what you have stolen, there is no hope for you and your kingdom will fall. And unlike the others, you might actually have a chance at succeeding."
"Return...what I have stolen? I've never stolen a thing in my life! And my past is-"
The army of knights rushed towards the end of the hall, but there was no one there to catch. The flames faded into low flickering embers, Maleficent's voice still echoing through the hall despite her body being nowhere to be seen.
"Save your home, or not. I don't particularly care either way how the story ends, princess, because either way I get something I want. So entertain me, will you?"
"We don't exist for your amusement!"
But she wasn't sure if Maleficent had even heard her. One more elegant cackle, and the witch was gone.
And while her presence had disappeared, something still lingered. An uneasiness that could never really go away. Like a ghost haunting the halls. Because it still wasn't clear how she had managed to break through the light barrier in the first place. Or if she could do so again.
And the princess' dreams would soon be filled with the sound of cawing crows, angrily screeching, reminding her of the impending wave that threatened to wash everything to sea. Thousands of eyes, boring down on her.
Safety, nevermore on the horizon.