A/N: Hey everyone, I am glad you guys enjoyed that short chapter. You all probably thought "That was nothing." but I felt I needed to end it short for some reason. Strange how things happen, right? Well, I hope to have this and upcoming longer chapters but it depends where my imagination takes this. You could say it has the driver seat of this story. So I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Amethyst Ambition

Chapter 2: Return to Danger

When it was time for Sofia's arrival everyone of the family members as well as Baileywick went out await her arrival. While they were expecting the arrival of Sofia they had heard that Duchess Matilda would be joining her on the journey home after hearing all that the girl had went through the duchess wanted to be extra precautions and see that her niece had safely returned home, even though Tilly had great faith the girl could handle herself.

"Thanks for covering for me while I was on my mission, aunt Tilly. Who would think this secret library job would sometimes take a few days to solve." The young preteen said as she sat in the flying coach with her aunt.

They were nearly home and Sofia couldn't wait to see her friends and family again. She felt a little guilty leaving them after all that had happened but she knew she had a duty and had to answer when the secret library or the Mystic Isles called. She would make it up the family somehow.

"No problem, back when I had the amulet of Avalor the secret library had sent me away for a few day as well."

"How did you cover for yourself?" Sofia asked curious.

" That's a story for another time but for now I believe you have got to make up for lost time." Tilly said as she pointed at the awaiting family members and steward.

Sofia smiled when she saw the family members and Baileywick awaiting her return but there was one person missing from the group. Where was Cedric? Did he forget she was coming home today or did something bad happen to the sorcerer? She decided to go with the first one since he probably had planned to bury himself in his work to try and keep a certain raven out of his dinner was over she would go and see her fiend.

When the coach landed the coachman helped the girls out of the carriage and went to see others as the guards helped with Sofia's luggage.

"Did you enjoy your vacation, Sofia?" Miranda asked beating her husband to the question and hugging her her daughter tight. It had seemed pretty clear the queen had missed her daughter terribly but that didn't mean the others didn't miss her too.

"I did, it was vey relaxing and aunt Tily was showing me all kinds of of new stuff she found on her previous travels."

"I'm glad the trip made you feel better,"Roland said as he hugged Sofia then his sister. "Thank-you for taking Sofia during the weekend Tilly, I know her request on visiting you came out of the blue when we sent our messenger..."

"It was no problem,"She said waving it off. " I wasn't planning another trip until tomorrow so Sofia fit right in the free weekend I had." Tilly explained.

"Would you like to stay for the night, we sure would like to hear all about your trips?" Miranda suggested.

I'll stay but tomorrow I must be on my way. I plan to visit this forest, it is said strange creatures come in and out."The group then made their way inside and towards the dinning hall for the royal supper.

Once dinner was over Sofia made her way to Cedric's workshop. The wait during dinner seemed like an eternity but when it was indeed over the girl couldn't wait any longer.

After Sofia reached the door to of the tower she knocked and enterred finding Cedric reading a spell book. It would seem was still workinng. Had he fallen behind on his work?

"Hi Mr. Cedric, what are you doing." she asked as she wrapped her arms around him in a surprising embrace making the man's head snap up from his book and look towards her.

"Work, what else would I be doing?" Cedric said surprising his apprentice with his sudden angry greeting. Sofia wasn't quite sure what had gotten him so upset but guessed he had a hard day.

"Well, if you want I could help you and get back into my apprentice duties, it looks like your workshop could use a good cleaning."Sofia said as she observed the messy workshop that had books and clothes cluttered all over the place as well as a few misplaced potion bottles and beakers.

"Do what you want." Cedric answered again with a glare then turned back to his book ignoring the girl completely this time.

"Um, okay." Sofia answered a litlle disapionted that she hadn't caught her mentor in a good mood. She went to get her wand and used it to cast a spell to change into her sorceress outfit then went to get a duster to start cleaning the selves.

Throughout her cleaning duties Sofia kept an eye on Cedric. She hoped by the time she was done he would be in a better mood and give her an explanation to his rudeness. When she picked up a green leather bound book Sofia looked at the cover "Gemstone Curses." Sofia muttered to her in confusion. She didn't remember Cedric having this book.

All of a sudden Cedric jerked the book out of her hands and used his magic to put it back on the self. "Don't ever mess with that book, it's dangerous." he warned.

Sofia frowned and crossed her arms. "Since when are book dangerous, Mr. Cedric?" She was really getting annoyed of his attitude.

"The information is dangerous and I don't want you studying curses unless I say you are ready."

Well, perhaps he was right and he was protecting her. "Okay, point taken." she answered and got back to work on cleaning the workshop.

"'I'm done, Mr. Cedric." Sofia reported as she walked up to him and found him busy again but this time he was brewing some sort of potion in his cauldron.

"Very well, you may go." He answered in a no nonsense tone as he focused on the purple concoction. "We will get back on our lessons tomorrow after school."

Hearing that they would get back to her magic lessons made her happy but she was glad her mentor's mood had lightened up a bit. Perhaps, she had caught him at a bad time and was getting close to being himself again.

"Okay," She answered and then hugged him again "I hope you'll feel better tomorrow." When she released him from her hug he saw her smile and left the workshop in a happy mood.

After the girl left Cedric growled and glared at the door with angry purple eyes showing up yet again. Sofia had no idea what was going on and he wanted it stay that way for a little while until the time was right. Soon she would see that she couldn't control him and find she hadn't gotten rid of "Cedric the Great" completely!

Glancing back at his purple potion the sorcerer saw the concoction begin to turn black making him evilly smirk in satisfaction. " Be prepared, princess. You are about to find yourself in more danger than you usually are use to."

"Everything's smooth sailing so far, Wriggly. We just have to keep mind controlling Cedric and make him deal with Sofia. Once he realizes what he's done to her...I'll step in and make him realize that forgotten dream of his." Grimtrix said to his weasel as they both watched Cedric brewing the potion through the crystal ball.

Meanwhile, behind the curtains of the enchanted portrait parlor someone was watching the evil sorcerer enjoy his fun.

A/N: I hope the length in this chapter will make you all happy and if not not I'll try to make it longer. I don't know if I'll update during the week but we'll see how it goes from here.