Chapter 2: To sacrifice something or everything
pt 2
The bad feeling I have only spreads as Albert meets with Hal and I and we begin our trek into the glass cave. We file one by one because the pathway is too narrow. It's so dark that at first I bump into Hal's back. After that happens, Hal extends his hand for me to take. I grab onto to it without a second thought. I refuse to get lost in this glass cave. It's beautiful but yet terrifying with all the spikes hanging from the ceiling.
The ominous feeling is still looming over me as we stop in a giant chamber. I watch as Albert draws a circle on the ground.
Looking down, I notice my hand is still in Hal's. The rabbit-eared beastkin does not indicate letting go by any means. Not that I'm complaining. Hal has somehow calmed my nerves; he must be using magic on me. That would explain how my mind emptied its negative thoughts at his touch.
"It's ready," Albert announces, gesturing us forward.
As I step by him, he stops me by placing his hand on my shoulder. I turn to look at Albert's worried face.
"No matter what happens, Miss Amelia. You mustn't let go of Hal's hands until the ritual is complete."
I nod in silence, understanding if I did, our magic link would break. We might both be in danger if that happened.
Hal and I stand in the middle of the drawn circle, facing each other with our hands clasped around a glass stone.
I had a feeling I was squeezing Hal's hands too tight, but if I was, he wasn't commenting on any pain. Only squeezing my hand just as snug. The firm grip was more comforting than anything else.
Slowly we say the chant together, little by little the stone glows and the brighter it becomes the warmer it is until it's so very hot.
A whimper of pain escapes my lips as I refuse to let go and continue my words in sync with Hal's. My hands shake from the unbearable heat as I force to keep my grip. Hal looks down at me in worry, not missing a beat on his chanting. Our eyes meet and hold, his telling me it would be okay.
Then I realized I felt or rather didn't feel the pain from the burning stone.
(What? Hal?) Pain fills his eyes and I realize what is happening. (Hal is taking my pain as his, but why? He's hurting…)
The ritual is over after that. As we walk one at a time through the narrow paths, I notice Hal keeps his hands out of view. Has he burned them, taking my pain away? I'm quite sure of it. And why was I the only one feeling the heat until he took it from me? Maybe it had to do with being Queen.
We were all silent on the way back to Fairy-Tale Kingdom. Hal continued to hide his hands from my view I was determined to find out about what he did and the condition of his hands when we got back. I can't help being really worried.
I've been thinking of the Queen's side affect for this story. I'm not really sure what I should use. I was thinking a slow paralysis. What do you think?