A rock crashed to the ground beside the young boy, and Callum leapt to the side. He landed awkwardly on his ankle.
Ow, the boy hopped around, trying to keep his balance. The world seemed to tremble around him. The gray hues of the cave mixed with the purple glow of the falls, creating a blur of colors. Callum squinted his eyes, trying to see straight.
"Easy, child." Something snatched his upper arm, holding him in place. Callum glanced up, his eyes wide as saucers. Wishlin was holding on to him, a tight smile on her face.
"Don't fear," she assured him. "This is perfectly normal."
How is a whole mountain vibrating normal?! Callum chewed his lip, his heart racing.
"It… it is?" He managed to get out. Wishlin nodded.
"Of course it is!" She promised him. "What you're feeling now, that is the gateway being opened. The fabric dividing our worlds being torn apart."
Oh… Callum leaned against the strange woman, tenderly placing weight on his twisted ankle. He cast her a sideways look. He didn't know what to think of the lady. On the outside, she seemed so kind… sweet and motherly, almost like a grandmother with her grandchildren… and yet…
Something about her made Callum shiver. Something about the glint in her eyes made his stomach turn…
And what she was asking him to do…
I want to make things right, Callum glanced down at his hand, where the silver dagger was held tight in his fist. I want to be someone that people can actually love… that people like Arthur wouldn't reject. The boy licked his lips, a lump forming in his throat. But maybe I can't be. Maybe what happened to my mother… maybe fate is angry with me for it… maybe I have to make up for that sin, before I can ever be happy. Callum took in a shuddering breath. The shaking of the cave suddenly seemed like nothing in comparison to how hard his body began to tremble. I can do this… if I bring her back… then I'll finally be free. Like Dad said, I was born with blood on my hands. If I make it so that she can return, I'll have washed my hands of that blood.
"What do I do?" Callum asked Wishlin. He nodded towards the waterfall. "Do I just… you know…" he held up the dagger. "Do it over there?"
"Let your blood run down into the falls," Wishlin told him, her eyes gleaming. She released her hold on his arm, and he winced as the throbbing in his ankle worsened. "Go on," she urged, nudging him towards the waterfall. "You're ok, little one."
Heart in his throat, Callum slowly made his way over to the falls. He stared at the flowing water. Callum listened to the screaming originating from the falls. It sounded like millions of people yelling out for help… yelling out in loss, pain, and grief.
It sounded so sad.
Ok, Callum drew in a shuddering breath. He bit his lip, gazing down at the dagger. Here goes…I'm doing the noble thing. I'm doing what a good knight is supposed to do; give his life for the greater good. I'll be bringing back so many people…
Squeezing his eyes shut, Callum lifted the dagger with both hands, and-.
"bewépnian!"
The dagger was yanked from his hands. Callum opened his eyes, watching in astonishment as the weapon clattered to the ground a few feet from him.
What happened? He marveled, his eyes flitting around the cave. Wishlin looked just as shocked as him, her mouth parted in surprise, and her brow furrowed.
"No," a deep voice growled. Callum's eyes finally settled on Thomas. The young man was holding out his hand, his eyes gleaming gold. A thin trickle of blood dripped from his nose, and his other hand clutched at his side.
"I'm not standing here," he carried on, his voice a snarl. "And letting this happen."
"Thomas!" Wishlin roared, her surprise morphing into fury. "You were not to interfere!"
"Yeah?" Thomas drew in a shuddering breath. Callum noticed his hands were shaking. "Well, sorry. I'm interfering."
"You foolish, foolish, boy!" Wishlin screeched, causing Callum to flinch. Gone were any traces of the sweet figure she had been portraying. "Do you not know what you've just done? We have limited time before the gateway closes! We do not have time for your games, boy."
"I'm not playing any game." Thomas lowered his hand, his breathing hitched. "Not anymore. Callum," a note of urgency entered his tone. "Come here, kid. Come stand by me."
Callum took a cautious step towards the warlock.
"No!" Wishlin's command stopped him in his tracks. He turned to blink at her, fear making his heart race. "Stay there. I'm going to give you the dagger… and this time, you will do what I said. This time," she turned her snarl on Thomas. "He will stay out of it!"
"I won't." Thomas stared at her through half-closed eyes. Callum watched confliction turn to weary acceptance on his face. "I can't. All these years, I've waited, and waited, to get the chance to bring Camelot to its knees… because Camelot is evil. Camelot is the bad guy in the story… I'm supposed to be the hero. But that's not how it's going." Thomas let out a sigh. "No… I've become the very thing I've spent my life trying to destroy. I've become a servant of injustice, murder, and manipulation… and that's not who I want to be… I refuse to be that." He swallowed. "Perhaps Camelot deserves to perish, a part of me will always hate everything, and everyone, within that kingdom… but him?" He jerked his head towards Callum. "He's a good kid. He's got a bright future… probably at Arthur's side. Maybe he can finally change things for the better… having no Pendragon blood in him." Thomas shook his head. "I don't know. What I do know is that I will no longer help you… or her." He waved his hand at the air beside him, leaving Callum even more puzzled. "I should never have sided with any Pendragon to begin with. Evil is in their veins." He narrowed his eyes. "Now… Callum, come. Here."
Callum swallowed. He began making his way over to the youth. But before he could reach Thomas, he heard Wishlin whisper something behind him. Next thing he knew, he was being thrown across the cave. His head hit the wall, and his ears began ringing.
"Hey!" Thomas cried out. "What are you doing?"
Callum blinked the glaze from his eyes. He saw Wishlin facing the dark-haired boy, her body seeming to give off an aura of power.
"If you will not help us," she growled. Rocks tumbled down from the ceiling behind her, but she didn't even flinch. "Then you are against us, Thomas. Those against the Old Religion do not have my favor… or her's. So, you, my friend… have sealed your fate." Her eyes glowed amber. "Face me, and face the consequences of your betrayal."