Cedric found himself shrouded in darkness, completely engulfed and vulnerable. He tried to move, but his arms and legs refused to obey his commands. He panicked, having always hated the feeling of being powerless, and desperately tried to free himself to no avail. As far as Cedric could tell nothing was holding him down but the shadows and inky blackness. Is this what death was like? Was Cedric doomed to an eternity of darkness? Cedric was snapped out of his thoughts as the sound of footprints met his ears.

"Why must you be such a disappointment? You cannot do a single thing right! You have failed me for the last time!" a voice roared, making Cedric quiver with fear. A figure of his father, greater and more terrible than in life, approached him from what seemed to be the darkest corner of the room. His eyes were empty and held no emotion, but his expression was one of pure loathing and disappointment. Cedric, suddenly finding the use of his limbs, shrank back and held his hands above his head to protect himself.

"I never really loved you, you know. I was just finding an excuse to hate your father." It his mother now, wearing a haughty expression and regarding him with indifferent eyes. Cedric felt his eyes prick with tears as the words of his mother, the only person who had ever seemed to truly love him, cut through his soul like a knife.

"I should have fired you. The castle has been a complete disaster since you first got here!" King Roland II said as he emerged. "Why can't you be more like your father," he added after a moment of silence, smirking as Cedric buried his head in his hands and held back a sob, his shoulders shaking. The three older people had surrounded Cedric, all of them glaring at him, sometimes nudging him with their feet and laughing when he whimpered.

"You were never my friend." Cedric snapped to attention and got to his feet quickly at the sound of the young, familiar voice. Sofia smiled wickedly at the distraught sorcerer, floating from the darkness as if she were a part of it. The three adults parted for her as she approached a trembling Cedric. She grabbed his hand and yanked him down so he was eye level with her. Unlike the others, Sofia seemed sad and almost hurt.

"Did you think I was an idiot? That just because I am a child I didn't know what you were trying to do?" Sofia whispered softly, her eyes welling. Cedric's heart leaped into his throat as Sofia looked down at her amulet, lifting it off of her breast and examining it before looking up at Cedric with wide eyes.

"I loved you. You were my hero, my best friend, my mentor, and my teacher. I thought you would never hurt me. But, I knew that was too good to be true," Sofia said with a sigh, lifting the amulet off of her neck and giving it to Cedric.

"Here, take it if you want it so badly. I hope it was worth losing me," Sofia said coldly. Cedric clutched the amulet to his chest, tears spilling down his cheeks. Sofia didn't fade away but the others did, leaving the two of them alone. Cedric shook, crying silently as Sofia looked up at him with sad brown eyes.

"S-Sofia, I can explain-"

"DON'T!" Sofia screamed, stomping her foot. Her voice echoed through the darkness and Cedric shivered, bowing his head. He tried to take command of himself and give the amulet back to his friend, apologize to her, tell her he never wanted to hurt her. Once again, his body would not obey.

"There's nothing to explain, Mr. Cedric. You're a cruel, evil man. You wanted to hurt me. You lied to me, you manipulated me, and for what? A dumb magical amulet. Your father was right about you. You're pathetic," Sofia said, turning and walking away from the sorcerer. Cedric ran forward, grabbing at the back of the fleeing princess' dress, but they past right through her.

"Sofia! Sofia, please, let me explain!" Cedric pleaded, falling on his hands and knees and clasping his hands together. The amulet had clattered at his side, forgotten. Sofia hesitated, turning slightly to glance back at him Cedric's lip had begun to quiver and he was still crying, his cheeks and the collar of his robes still wet with tears.

"No," she finally replied before disappearing into the darkness.