Book 4: Reunion Ball prelude
Present day, Enchantia….
As the servants and maids of the Royal Family of Enchantia prepared for the Hexly Hall/Royal Prep Reunion Ball, which was less than a week away, Sapphire couldn't help but be in awe at how busy they worked. Even walking back to her chambers, Sapphire had to be quick on her feet to avoid bumping into servants who carried banners, crystal punch bowls, bouquets and centerpieces to the dinning hall.
Since they had arrived, King Maximus and Greylock had dined with them, with Sapphire joining them on a few occasions, and every time the older king was bragging about this or telling them how great that was, Sapphire hated ever-single moment of it. Sofia glanced a worried look at Sapphire every time she would suddenly drop her utensil, looking embarrassed each time it clattered against the china.
"You know Roland," King Maximus said for the thousandth time that evening. "My court orchestra is the best singer in the kingdom." The red haired king smiled proudly while Roland did the same thing he did when Maximus boasted about something: halfheartedly stir his soup and commented, "I'm sure she is."
"Sapphire's a pretty good singer as well," Sofia said proudly, making the young sorceress's spoon stop half way to her mouth. She blushed profusely, not really used to be complemented on her singing. Her uncle used to say that her singing was like a small brook running over small stones; a lullaby in its self. But being a teen with no self-confidence whatsoever she just figured he was being nice for the sake of being nice.
Now here she was, being complemented by the youngest member of the royal family, and was probably going to be asked to sing for their guest. As if on cue King Maximus laughed at Sapphire's expression.
"Oh can she?" He asked, kind of sarcastically in Sapphire's opinion. The older king gave another hearty chuckle. "Then I would like to see it. How about after dinner tomorrow night? That should give you plenty of time to right something…. original. Don't you agree, miss Sapphire?"
Sapphire didn't hear him at first, she was too busy glaring at Sofia angrily, but it did register with the young woman that she was being talked to.
"Oh of course your Highness," she said ripping her glare from the young princess. "It would be my pleasure." The dinner went on for about another hour with out another incident, but Sapphire couldn't stop thinking about last time she sang. It was when she and Cedric were intermediate students at Hexly Hall and it was the talent show against Duke's Academy. Her song brought the Wizarding School in the lead, but it wasn't enough to bring home the trophy.
As soon as King Maximus and Greylock retired for the evening, Sapphire went straight to the music room, in hopes she could remember some songs she wrote when she was in school.
(15, 16): Hexly Hall….
Cedric ran down the hall, trying to catch up with Sapphire, ignoring the pounding pain in his head. He didn't know what happened to make her go all crazy but he had to be sure that she was all right.
The young sorcerer barely made it before Sapphire slammed her door behind her and locked it from the inside. Putting an ear up to the door, Cedric could hear muffled sobs, things being thrown across the room, and something shattering. The son of the Royal sorcerer could only bang on the doors as hard as he could before he remembered he had his wand.
"Sapphire you better open up!" Cedric yelled bracing himself for what he was about to do.
"Go away Cedric!" he heard Sapphire yell back. "I want to be alone."
"Too bad sweetie," The young sorcerer muttered under his breath. Out loud he started to recite the spell, "Ostium Solvite!" The door fell down with a crash, sending decades of dust flying. Coughing and trying to get the old dust out of his eyes, Cedric walked through the soot, feeling around for Sapphire. What he actually got was another body slamming into his.
When the grime cleared, he saw Sapphire untangling herself from him, her wand in hand, glaring at something. Walking through the receding wall of dirt, stepped a young woman roughly around Sapphire's age, her hand balled up and on fire! Her eyes were nothing but pure black with two glowing yellow orbs in the center. When she smiled, Cedric almost whimpered out loud when he saw those dragon like teeth, rows and rows of teeth that could rip his throat open in an instant.
"Well, well, well," the girl said, making Sapphire take up a defensive stance, putting her arm in front of Cedric to protect him. "Look what we have here. Sapphire's wittle fwiend."
"Leave him out of this Ruby," Sapphire ordered, her amulet slightly glowing a light blue. "This does not concern anyone but you and me." Cedric's friend pointed her wand at the girl and shouted, "DURATUS!" The pale white wand shot out a freezing mixture of ice and snow, swirling around this Ruby.
But the strange assailant just swatted it away with her fiery hand like she was swatting a fly. Sapphire's brave expression faltered to that of horror and confusion before a look of resignation molded itself onto her perfect features.
"Cedric, listen to me closely," Sapphire said, her eyes still on Ruby, who was starting to circle the duo like a vulture. "I need you to run as fast as you can to the Headmaster's office and bring back as many wizards as you can."
"What about you?" he asked, worried about leaving his hopefully soon to be wife behind.
"I'll hold this snake off until help arrives," She answered, her tone more firm, her hands subconsciously adjusting the wand so she could grip it more tightly. Cedric stood frozen there for a few moments before whispering, "I love you," into Sapphire's ear before running as fast as his skinny legs could carry him towards the Headmaster's office.
Present day, Enchantia (Sapphire pov)
The next day was filled with stress and anxiety for Sapphire as she tried to find something original for that night's performance for King Maximus. Around lunch she decided to take a break, wondering off around the castle until she bumped into Princess Amber, who was on her way to the gardens.
"Oh Sapphire," she giggled waving a fan in front of her face. "Would like to join me in the gardens? They are absolutely gorgeous."
Sapphire bowed respectfully to the young royal. "It would be my pleasure Princess Amber." This caused Amber to dissolve into a fit of giggles, which made Sapphire's pale cheeks catch fire with blush.
"Oh such formalities," she said fanning her face even harder. "Just Amber's fine."
"Alright then," Sapphire conceded, and the two walked down the congested hallways of the Enchantia castle. The pair were quiet, both of them not really knowing what to say since they only met like two weeks ago, but still it wasn't an awkward silence.
Anyway, as the princess and the sorceress walked outside, a blast of cold wind hit them, making Amber readjusted the olive shawl that was draped around her shoulders and Sapphire to close her eyes and take several deep breaths in, letting the cold air crack and burn her lungs, but in a good way.
"Aren't you cold?" Amber asked as they walked through the gardens, pointing out that Sapphire only had on a light cloak and a sleeveless gown.
Sapphire just shrugged as they continued to walk down the path that she and Cedric took all those years ago during the Wassailia Ball, the night that her life ended. "The cold never really bothers me. Besides, it's the best feeling in the world! The prickle of the snowflakes on your bare skin, the numbness in your cheeks, nose and finger, and sharp but soft pain you get when you breathe deeply…. there is nothing I wouldn't give to feel all of it." They continued to walk, nodding a hello to the gardeners who carried garden tools. Sapphire was lost in her thoughts, as she reminisced about the Wassailia ball and what that would've been like if she wasn't attacked by Ruby. In the end she figured it would just be a boring life, and who in their right mind would want a boring life anyway?
Anyway as the pair made their way down an unknown path, something in the corner caught Sapphire's eye. She saw pale blue flowers, with small stripes of pinks and whites, their petals all wilted and closed. The young sorceress gasped as she veered from the path and knelt down to examine the poor things.
"Don't waste your time Sapphire," Amber stated waving her fan. Gosh did she ever put that fan down? "No matter how many the gardeners try that just can't get those blasted flowers to bloom. Not even our Royal sorcerer has been able to make those bloom."
"No offense to your Royal sorcerer your majesty," Sapphire said, carefully digging the roots up. "But these are special flowers, and they only bloom when the moon is full."
Amber looked at her strangely as the sorceress quickly picked up the blooms and quickly rush back towards the castle.
In Cedric's chambers….
Sofia quickly ran up the stairs with Amber in tow. The young girl had been told that Sapphire wished to see both of them in their royal sorcerer's chambers. They found her rushing around in the laboratory, mixing, boiling and crushing things into powder. The sorceress glanced over her shoulder after hearing the heavy door open and relaxed when she saw Sofia and Amber walked in.
"Ah princesses, so glad you could assist me," She said returning to work. "I need your assistance with my performance."
"But that's in an hour!" Amber protested, her eyes widening in shock at the thought that someone could figure out something in an hour.
"How are you going to pull something like that off in an hour?" Sofia asked, calming down her stepsister. Sapphire held up a little mixture bowl, where fine white powder at the bottom.
"Crushed moon lilies,' she said simply grabbing a small jug of water from the upper shelf. With a steady hand she poured a small amount into the bowl and continued to stir, mixing it into a thick mixture. "With a little bit of water, timing and magic these precious babies will create magical scenes over the instruments." She demonstrated this by sprinkling the powder over a violin and played a song about lost love. The instrument glowed brightly for a minute before sparkles appeared, two figures dancing a waltz but soon one figure disappeared and the woman continued to dance by her self, albeit a little slowly.
Sapphire stopped and the figure disappeared in a puff of smoke and burst of light. The sorceress set the violin down carefully and continued to mix the powder, a slight smile on her face.
"Whoa," Sofia said, both of the princesses' mouth opened in amazement. They had been captivated by the show, their eyes dancing with wonder along with the figures.
"Before the performance, I'll sprinkle this on the piano and then the show can really begin." She explained as she poured the mixture into a vial before putting a cork.
"Will it actually work?" Amber asked, as she fiddled with her hair. Sapphire just started to chew at her fingernails nervously as she rushed down the stairs.
"We'll find out," was all she said before she quickly darted towards the music room.
Hexly Hall….
Sapphire watch Cedric sprint as fast as he could towards the Headmaster's office, then she turned her attention back to the monster that was stalking towards her like prey. Ruby's clenched hands were engulfed in flames, her eyes practically glowing with an evil light that scared Sapphire to no end. But of course she refused to show it.
Ruby let out an evil chuckle. "Just because you sent him away doesn't mean that will protect him. Once I am finished taking care of you, sister dear, then I will hunt down and eradicate everyone close to you. And I will do it as slowly as possible." Sapphire sent out a burst of ice magic as her response, and Ruby barely had time to cross her arms in defense before the blast hit her, throwing her back. The evil woman slid down, kneeling down as she landed, a small line of gold trickling down from her forehead. Ichor.
"Very good, my dear," she growled, reaching for a blade made out of pure black metal. "You have gotten stronger Corundum, and I see that your host was able to hold your power very easily."
"What are you talking about?" Sapphire asked as she moved dodging the blade with difficulty. "My name's not Corundum."
Ruby let out another maniacal laugh as the light in her yellow eyes turned into that of a madwoman's. "Has she not told you? Has she not revealed herself to you?" Sapphire's confusing expression was enough of an answer apparently for Ruby, as she a sick sadistic smile slowly spread across her face.
"Oh this is too good to be true," The woman said as she put down the blade, which made Sapphire's stance tense. "I was wondering why the throne didn't accept me after all these years. Now I have my answer. My sister is still alive and she lives around your neck. Hello sister, it is good to see you again."
As if in response, Sapphire felt something move inside of her, something powerful and ancient. The sorceress clutched her amulet, but hissed in pain, the thing was icy hot. She had never felt so powerful in her life, except when she snapped in front of those bullies.
"Who is Corundum?" Sapphire asked her brave façade falling. Looking down she saw fine frost spreading out from underneath her, traveling up and down the walls, hissing as it got closer to Ruby's heat.
"Don't you know?" Ruby asked as she stalked closer to her, her ice magic producing more and more frost, which seemed to thicken drastically. "She is the true heir of the Kingdom of the Gods, the oh-so-powerful Ice Sorceress of legend, and the eldest daughter of Mother Earth. And at the moment, protectorate to Sapphire Starlight." Soon the only sound was the crackling of the ice as it continued to spread across the hallway.
"You're crazy," Sapphire stated but something told the young magic wielder that, deep down she knew the truth.
"Hand over the amulet and maybe your death with be painless and merciful." Ruby said, her dark blade catching fire. Something in Sapphire shifted, and she felt all of the fear melt, and felt it be replaced by something else…. courage maybe strength. She didn't want to know which, but now she knew that she had a mission: protect her friends, especially Cedric, even at the cost of her own life.
Sapphire felt herself straighten up, power coursing through her. "I will never give you the amulet. You will have to pry it from my cold hands.'
"If that is thy wish," Ruby said, her eyes turning into slits. "Then let it be so." She laughed herself at Sapphire and as their weapons clashed, thunder rocked the sky and lightning turned the night into day.
Present day, Enchantia….
As the royals made their way towards the throne, Sapphire couldn't calm her heart down. She wasn't sure why she was nervous; it was just a routine performance, unfortunately everything was riding on the moon lilies. Thankfully Sapphire had an unnaturally strong connection with the moon and was able to feel the changing of it.
"And now, for your after dinner entertainment," she heard Baileywick start to introduce her. "It is my esteemed pleasure to introduce to you, Sapphire Starlight!"
As the royals, including one Greylock, clapped softly, Sapphire made her way out from the curtains and made her way towards the piano, which she coated in Moon Lilies three minutes before the dinner was over. Taking deep, calming breaths she sat on the piano bench, the eyes of the royals boring into her soul, as she prepped her self to play the tune.
(Sofia pov)
As Sapphire started to play the piano, Sofia was immediately enchanted by the haunting tune. It was like As the sorceress continued to play the piano glowed white, before sending sparkles of magic in the air, which formed a young woman and a moon. The Sapphire began to sing:
Silver light
She turned her face up to the starlit sky
And on this night began to wonder why
She knew that soon the day would come
Born to be
An heir of beauty and serenity
Into this world she entered quietly
To her surprise she was the one
Destiny was close behind her
Phantom of borrowed life
And the sea was a reminder
Mirror of given light
Sofia was surprised to see a violin float up, playing with Sapphire as she continued to play, unfazed by what happened. The sparkles from both the violin and piano forming to make two pictures as one: a man and woman.
Then one day
The sign she'd waited for in skies of grey
Traversed a winding road and came her way
She found the love she hoped she would
But she knew
That she had promises to stay true to
The dormant daughter of the silver moon
Then all at once she understood
Destiny was close behind her
Phantom of borrowed life
And the sea was a reminder
Mirror of given light
From the sky
She watched the life
She'd known she would leave behind
Said goodbye
And gave her people
Life through her sacrifice
When Sapphire got up from the piano, the figures disappeared in a flash of light and the violin gently floated back to the ground. The royals erupted in applause, King Maximus calling for an encore. Sofia quickly ran up to hug her new best friend, surprised at how cold she suddenly felt.
"I have never seen anything quite like that in all my life," The older king said clapping the sorceress on the back, which made her cough. "Well, Roland it seems you have a talented voice here in your keep."
King Roland smiled proudly, not noticing that Sapphire was swaying slightly, but fortunately for the young sorceress Sofia noticed it. "Well thank you King Maximus."
"Say, aren't you the Sapphire Starlight that disappeared from Hexly Hall five years ago?" King Maximus asked her swaying form. Unfortunately, the sorceress didn't register the question as she collapsed, Greylock barely able to catch her before she cracked her head on the floor. Sapphire didn't feel right. Her head felt like it weighed a ton, yet light headed, scorching hot yet freezing cold at the same time. She barely registered being gently laid on the floor, and through her blurry and darkening vision she saw the faces of the royal family hovering over her.
"Sapphire can you hear me?" she heard Greylock yell. It sounded weird like she was underwater or she had wax stuffed in her ears. Suddenly his face shifted to look like that of Cedric's, the last time she saw him.
"Cedric…" she whispered through her cracked lips. His face shifted from a look of fright to that of happiness and Sapphire could only smile back, albeit weakly. Sapphire gave into the enclosing darkness, tired of fighting for consciousness, and plunging she into a memory that made her feels it more like a nightmare….
(Amber pov)
As Sapphire grew limp in Greylock's arms, Amber couldn't help but feel worry for the young sorceress. In the short two weeks that she known the young woman, the spoiled princess of Enchantia felt herself grow a liking for her. True she had come out of a mirror, which would creep Amber out super much, but since her dad knew her from when he went to Royal Prep, the trust soon followed for the youngest princess Sofia, but of course Amber was still very weary of the stranger.
After seeing Sofia and Sapphire together a couple of times, Amber decided it was time to get to know their guest since it was obvious that it she was going to be staying there for a while.
Greylock grunting as he picked up Sapphire brought Amber out of her train of thought. The royal sorcerer of King Maximus picked the woman up ordering any servants around to bring a bowl of ice-cold water and a washcloth up to her rooms as soon as possible.
The ones that weren't busy with the decorations complied, rushing around with a renewed burst of energy as they rushed around to help Greylock take Sapphire up the stairs. Amber picked up her dress and rushed behind the slew of adults that were ahead, each talking rapidly about what was wrong with the young woman.
As soon as the young woman was lying in her bed and being attended to by a servant, Greylock decided to give his answers.
"It's some sort of sickness," he said thumbing through a spell book. "I don't know what kind it is but I know for sure it's not contagious."
"What's going to happen?" Queen Miranda asked, not noticing that Amber took her place behind Sofia who was holding Sapphire's sweaty hand.
"Not sure," Greylock said still focused on the page he was reading. "But we may have to wait till Cedric gets here."
"No, Cedric…" Sapphire whispered, seeming to fight something in her sleep. "Run, she's coming! R-run!" The sorceress started to thrash and fight in her sleep, and the entire room seemed to drop ten degrees.
"Sapphire calm down. You're safe." Greylock said trying to stop Sapphire from hurting herself. He hissed in pain and pulled back, showing his hands to the others. They were covered in frost, which seemed to burn painfully. Queen Miranda grabbed both her daughters and pulled them back as the group watched in horror as the bed became covered in a thin layer of frost.
"What's going on Greylock?" King Maximus demanded, as he backed away.
"I-I don't know sire," the royal sorcerer answered as the frost continued to spread past the bed and up the walls.
"G-Greylock," Sapphire said, cracking her eyelids showing her river blue eyes. She searched the room until she found them cowering in a corner, their eyes widened in fear. She reached out a trembling hand, and she started to sob as they flinched.
"Please, help me," she begged. Tears started to flow, which soon was begun to freeze as they hit the floor. Sapphire shook her head slowly as they edged towards the door. "I'm not a monster. I didn't hurt anyone I swear! Please just help me!"
Sofia broke free of her mother's grasp and quickly ran towards the bed-ridden woman, the frost immediately over taking her feet, immobilizing her. Sapphire looked deep into Sofia's eyes and searched her face for something, anything.
"She's coming for us," Sapphire whispered to Sofia before the ice began to spread. Thankfully, the king of Enchantia and King Magnus pried the doors open before the ice could seal them shut. "She won't stop until everything is caught in her blaze, until the mortal world is nothing but a crisp."
"Come on Sofia," Amber said pulling Sofia free of Sapphire's grasp. "We need to leave now."
"Run Sofia!" Sapphire called after them, the frost thickening, turning the room into a miniature ice rink. "She won't stop until we're dead!" Her pleas and warnings were cut off as the doors were slammed shut and the ice sealed the entrance. Amber and James both had to hold Sofia back as guards were placed on either side of the doors.
Hexly Hall…
Cedric quickly got to the Headmaster's office and hurriedly explained the situation in rushed English. The headmaster, who was meeting with Brandon and the bullies about the incident involving Sapphire, quickly nodded his wand in hand. He ordered one of the young boys to quickly take a Pegasus from the stables and fly as fast as possible to Royal Prep and get one of the fairies. The boy nodded and quickly followed orders.
The Headmaster then ordered three professors to evacuate the grounds, while he and the remaining professors quickly ran down the hall to confront the evil with Cedric in tow. They expected a goblin or an evil spirit or something, but they didn't expect what they saw.
Sapphire was battling the woman, except they had started to battle, sword to wand combat. It appeared the woman had the upper hand, though ghostly fingers of frost had started to spread around the hallway, a layer of ice sealing the entryway off from the women. The headmasters pointed their wands at the closing vantage point, but their magic hit the wall as it finally closed.
Cedric couldn't see or hear much, but from what he could see, Sapphire finally knocked the woman out, her face tired but triumph. Unfortunately that expression was wiped off her face as she turned around to see the hallway blocked off by the wall of three-inch thick ice.
She ran to the ice wall, and started to bang on it, yelling something that Cedric couldn't hear. The young sorcerer put his hand on the wall, and Sapphire did the same thing, tears starting to flow in both of their eyes. Finally she smiled, and Cedric, who hadn't seen that smile in months, smiled back. But something behind her caught his eye and the smile immediately vanished. It was that woman, injured and beaten but alive and she stalked towards Sapphire, who didn't seem to notice her. The woman raised her sword.
"Sapphire, the- the woman she's behind you!' Cedric screamed, but it was useless. Sapphire just looked at him confused, wondering what was up with the sudden change of emotion. Then Sapphire's eyes widened as she realized what was going on and turned around just as the woman plunged the blade into her….
Present day, Enchantia…
Sapphire woke with a start, letting loose a burst of ice magic. The young sorceress got a hold of her breathing, which mirrored a stampeding horse running down a hill, and looked around her room. It was covered in layers and layers of ice, the door sealed shut like a tomb. As she tried to rack her brain to figure out what happened the night before then she suddenly realized that several days might have passed, so in her search for answers, Sapphire skated across the floor towards the door.
Breathing in she reached down into the well of power that lay at the very bottom of her soul and used that to bust down the sealed door. The sorceress was met with swords at her throat and guards circling her like vultures.
"It's alright guys," she said holding her hands up to show that she had no weapon. "It's only me." They relaxed, albeit hesitantly and they dispersed, leaving Sapphire to wonder what in the world was going on.
Okay so I'm not going to get answers from them, she thought as she searched the abandoned hallways. Maybe Greylock will have some. She made her way towards his quarters, encountering no one, no servants, butlers, nothing. After she made her way down the stairs, where the servants were almost everywhere, Sapphire was avoided at any cost.
When she approached Greylock's doors, the young woman had some idea of what happened based on the servants reaction. Some gave her wide berths when she walked past a large sea of them, some averted her gaze when they caught Sapphire's, and the some that didn't look away, looked at her with fear shining in their eyes.
Monster, freak, a voice similar to Ruby's whispered, they see you for what you truly are: a monster; a freak.
Sapphire quickly shushed the voice as she knocked on the door, and as soon as her hands went to her side, the door opened to reveal a weary Greylock, dark purple bags brining his eyes down. When the royal sorcerer realized who was at the door, he seemed to get a shot of energy immediately.
"Sapphire…how are you feeling?" Greylock grabbed her arm and yanked her into the room with him, shutting the door and locking it.
"Better I guess," she said walking around the room. "But let me ask you something what happened after the performance?"
Greylock rubbed his neck nervously, as he adverted his eyes away from Sapphire. "It seems that you fell ill afterwards and fell into something that I would only describe as a power illness."
"A what?" Sapphire asked confused. She never heard of 'power illness', but she had something similar to it while in the Mirror Realm. Greylock sighed nervously and walked over to his desk, picking up a spell book and placing it in Sapphire's hands.
"Power illness," Greylock recited, "when a person becomes overwhelmed by a magical item that is filled with power, which over takes the wearer and destroys them from the inside out." As Sapphire continued to read the page, something inside her seemed to move, something that felt familiar from when she was young. Suddenly, she felt her hands let forth a small burst of ice, and she quickly dropped the book, which as covered in a fine layer of ice.
"No, not again," Sapphire whispered as she stepped back. Tears threatened to spill as Greylock examined the book.
"Sapphire what's going on?" Greylock asked as he tried to stop her from leaving. She fell to her knees, sobbing into Greylock's shoulder. After her sobs had quiet, Sapphire looked at her old friend with tired, red and puffy eyes.
"Ever since Cedric gave me this amulet, I have been feeling something happen to my magic," Sapphire explained, holding her hands out so Greylock could see them. "It has grown extremely powerful over the years, so powerful it has been extremely hard to keep it under wraps." Sapphire glanced up to see that Greylock was looking at her with confusion, but also understanding as he knelt down and gently picked her up, sitting her down the bed.
"What happened that day Sapphire?" The young sorceress shivered as she recalled that memory, and recalled the horror she felt as she stared down the monster she faced that day…
Hexly Hall…..
Sapphire's eyes went wide as the blade pierced her stomach. It was like a hot rod just plunged into her insides, melting them from the inside out. But that wasn't the end of the strange feelings, as it felt like Ruby hit something which made Sapphire throw her head back in pain and yell, sending out a burst of light that instantly healed the wound and threw the evil mistress back, cracking her skull and leaving her unconscious.
The young sorceress turned back to face Cedric but she wasn't able to see him, due to more layers being added to the wall. Turning back, Sapphire saw Ruby start to stir, and a figure starting to form in between both of them. It was blurry but soon it came into focus. The figure was a woman, with pure white hair, which flowed around her as if a wind blew through the hallway, her skin as pale as freshly fallen snow. She wore a light blue dress that also moved as though there was a phantom breeze that blew through the room. Her eyes were similar to stars on a clear winter night. And when she spoke, it sent shivers down Sapphire's spine.
"You are destined for greatness," she said in an icy tone. Something clicked in Sapphire's mind.
"Corundum," she whispered barely above a whisper.
Her eyes started to glow as she recited what sounded like a prophecy. "A child of ice and snow shall defend the gods and the world below. For hers is a path marked by sorrow, only when the sun rises on the 'morrow. When the sky is painted red by blood, only then will she learn to truly love." And with that she disappeared in a swirl of snow, vanishing into nothingness, leaving the young, exhausted sorceress alone with an all powerful fire elemental.
"I will not let you ruin my plans like she did" Ruby shouted before Sapphire snapped once and forever. Her amulet let out a burst of magic, as it used the sorceress as an outlet and she froze the angry elemental in place as well as herself. Looking around, Sapphire found her mirror, the last thing sent from her uncle, and decided that was the perfect prison for this snake.
Of course she knew that if she was going to keep Ruby Brimstone trapped then she would have to disappear with her. One last glance behind her where Cedric still couldn't see her, she mouthed the words, "I love you too," before she uttered the spell that sucked her and the evil snake into the mirror. Unfortunately Sapphire dropped her wand on the way in, forever trapping both of them in the mirror forever.
After that, the wall of ice melted slowly and Cedric quickly ran to find Sapphire. But all he and the administrative of Hexly Hall could find was a partially frozen room, with burn marks on the wall, a lone piece of wood in the middle, next to a mirror.
Cedric gingerly picked up the wand and walked towards the Headmaster, who was looking around the hallway with his keen eyes.
"What do we do now sir?" Cedric asked timidly as he picked up the mirror.
"We send a search party out," he said turning to the Flora, Fauna and Merryweather. They had shown up towards as the wall started to melt, but by that time they were too late. "Search every kingdom for the two girls, use every Pegasus. We mustn't rest until they are found, and Sapphire is safe." The headmaster looked down at Cedric with sympathetic eyes. "Don't worry Cedric we'll find her."
Present day, The Northern Mountains….
As the alarms sounded, Jade and Argent rushed to the upper wall, where they had a better view of what was going on. The two former goddesses could barely see what was going on, but by the way the soldiers shouting and swords clashing they could immediately guess what was going on. She was here, and she was trying to take the ancient fortress.
"What are we going to do?" Jade asked the question that weighted on both of their minds.
"We need to retreat," Argenta said, hating the words even before they rolled off her tongue. "Fall back to the Western Plains. I believe there is a small port fortress that can cover our retreat long enough for her to lose our trail for a while."
Her sister followed the battle strategist, both hoping on their Pegasus and blowing the horn, signaling the retreat. The soldiers followed, some of them picking up their wounded as the fell back. They disappeared behind the mountain's fog as they retreated, Ruby's soldiers right on their heels
(Ruby pov)…
"Cowards," The dictatress muttered as she watched her sisters fly off. She turned her attention back to the fortress that she had her eye on for decades. "Finally the ancient fortress of the Northern Mountains is mine."
"Mistress," a soldier politely interrupted her victory. "We have secured the fortress and we send our best troops after the traitors."
"No, we will not waste time following those pigs. I know where they are headed, but now we must consider the fact that we can now turn our attention to the Enchantia, the kingdom which my dearly departed mother protected the most."
"What's there mistress?" the soldier asked, wilting back as he expected a hit. But instead he got a demented smile as Ruby sensed the girl grow more and more powerful.
"The key to eternal victory," was all she said before walking away towards the battle rooms.
Finally finished! Hope yall enjoyed the suspenseful chapter; it was an extremely difficult one to write. Anyway, let me get copyright out of the way then I can finally study for my mid terms (uggggghhhh) Daughter of the moon was written, performed, and is owned by Adriana Figueroa. Hope everyone has a safe and merry Christmas and happy new year.