Allegra reeled backwards, barely catching herself as she fell to the ground. Nya, the image of her hauntings and guilt stood not even two feet away, stunning Allegra. Some things were better left dead so others could begin to heal, and she could feel the wound of Nya's death reopening in her heart.
Nya didn't do much at first. She only gazed down at Allegra with no emotion held in the lifeless orbs of her eyes. For the first time, Allegra noticed the dress she was wearing. It was the same dress she had worn to her memorial service, a message that Nya had been there, watching.
On the brink of a mental breakdown after this realization, Allegra swore she would start crying if Nya asked where she was or why she was in this state.
Only, instead of asking questions when Nya opened her mouth, no words came out at all. Allegra's face mirrored Nya's in confusion, while Carlotta murmured, "Ah, so she lost her voice."
"What do you mean?" Allegra asked.
"Well, some lost spirits lose things when they die, only to be regained when they free themselves. Nya lost her voice obviously, and I partially lost my beauty. Eh, she wasn't a good singer anyhow."
"Talent has no place among the dead. Some things are more important than how good your vibrato is once you are no longer breathing." Avoiding Nya's eyes, Allegra stood up, her legs still shaky.
Carlotta scoffed. "Perhaps not, but self-esteem is. You lose your self worth and you are nothing but a shadow in this world. Vanity, talent, etc. fuel passion, and passion means surviving. Speaking of talent.. Now that my other disobedient child is here, she can watch my talent for killing. Too bad another experienced killer of best friends isn't here to watch and learn."
Allegra's voice shook as she replied, "Don't you dare bring Erik into this. Not right before I die." Truthfully, she was afraid of dying and never seeing him again. Never having the chance to say goodbye, or tell him about her feelings. Only holding the last image of her friends in the library as her life seeped out.
"Ouch. Did I strike a chord?" Carlotta grinned viciously. "Just wait 'till I slash through those vocal chords of yours. No one would hear you scream either way."
Nya pounded on the pentagram's invisible barrier, silently screaming at Carlotta.
Speaking louder than before, Allegra said, "But I'm not alone."
"Yes, yes, Nya is here, I get that."
"No. I'm not alone." Silence. Melody must have heard the signal, but there was no rushing out with a net covered in oil. No help whatsoever. "Oh God.." She felt herself shatter. "I am alone."
Allegra blinked and suddenly Carlotta was holding a knife against her throat from behind, the cool metal pressed against her skin.
Acceptance was hard to find, but Allegra accepted that she was better off dead. The universe had already tried to kill her numerous times, and she was weary of fighting back. And so she didn't reach for her holy water like Melody instructed.
She only asked if her friends would be let go if she willingly died, blood dripping down her neck as she spoke.
"Sure, fine. I'm sure they will be in pain for the rest of their lives anyway."
"Okay... Kill me fast then."
Nya placed the palm of her hand on the barrier towards Allegra, offering a small smile of reassurance. Her spirit would be awaiting Allegra's, affirming her decision to die.
"Oh come on," a voice called. "I expected more of a fight in you. So disappointing indeed. We'll speak about your killing tactics later."
"Phantom?" Carlotta cried out, not moving the knife's position.
Allegra smiled. "That's my nickname. It would be better to find your own."
A tuft of black clouds formed twenty feet away, swirling into an enlarging mass of what appeared to be storm clouds. Erik stepped out of the clouds as they dissipated, not an inch of happiness measurable. Rather, his face was so contorted with rage it troubled Allegra.
"Let her go and face me. If you can kill me then you can have the pleasure of killing her."
"Uh, I'd rather not have my life bargained with," Allegra interrupted. Erik shot her a cold glare. "Right, shutting up now…"
"Why can't I kill her now? I've been waiting ages to serve revenge to this family."
"Revenge? What about the pride of knowing you obliterated the most powerful phantom known to mankind? People would fear your name instead of laughing at it."
Carlotta seemed to mull over his proposal. "It would be a nice fight… Why not?" She took the knife away from Allegra's throat. While she touched the cut that had been left behind, Carlotta traced a circle around Allegra. Setting it on fire, she exclaimed, "There! Now if she leaves before my spirit has left she will burn to death. If I don't die, she will also burn to death."
"Fine," Erik nodded. "But here are my terms. No emotional influence. Nya is ordered to be released."
"What about Allegra? She's a rather big emotional influence, am I right?"
"Her influence is not beneficial to my powers. Rather, the opposite."
Allegra looked at him, understanding what he meant but needing to hear it for herself. "Meaning what?"
Emotionless, Erik said to her, "You bring out the good in me," accompanied by a shrug. "That is the worst thing to have in a fight."
That struck a deeper chord than Carlotta's comment ever could have. The fear of being useless, or even worsening the situation, was one of her greatest fears. Allegra still forced herself to nod and pretend that it hadn't hurt.
Nya looked at Allegra before vanishing, looking okay about her situation, and leaving behind only a trail of salt.
Gradually, a rumble of thunder filled the clearing, only there were no clouds in sight. Allegra realized that the sound radiated from Carlotta, who was engulfed in a red halo of energy.
Erik took out a long sword, a dark black surrounding him as well. "Begin," he spoke.
Not even a second afterwards did they clash together, a shockwave of energy pushing out towards Allegra. Erik faltered slightly under Carlotta's power before forcing her back with a black orb of energy.
She returned the attack with a wall of red collapsing on top of Erik, who threw up his arms for protection. Stumbling backwards, she thought she could see him already breathing hard in exhaustion.
"Allegra!" he shouted, raising his sword as Carlotta conjured a huge ball of fire. "Don't look, our pure forms are known to scare people to-" he ducked her fireball, "insanity!"
With that, his dark halo started to envelope him like a cocoon, expanding and contorting into inhuman shapes. Carlotta began to shift as well, though her form looked already larger in size.
Ignoring Erik's warning, Allegra gaped at the huge beasts. Erik stood at about two stories tall, while Carlotta stood a good story taller.
Their forms were very ineffable, but they looked like shadow monsters, not really looking solid, with human proportions and an large head that jutted out behind them and were stretched out in creases this way. Their arms looked jagged, with no actual hands, and enormous looking stumps for feet. Their faces, contorted because of the off head shape, only contained small almond eyes. Erik's form was ink black with blood eyes, and Carlotta flaunted a crimson shade of mass with piercing green eyes. An allegory to Allegra's mom perhaps.
They looked otherworldly.
Once more, they began to battle, only this time throwing waves of dark energy like waves at each other with their arms.
When Erik began to fall back, Carlotta spun into a red tornado, shockwaves of lightning flaking off of her, and heading in the direction of Erik. Wearily, he began turned into the form of a tornado, and the two started to bounce like tops on a table. One of them was bound to die if they continued.
"Stop!" Allegra shrieked. "Just stop!" The fighting continued, but they were almighty then surely they could hear her. "Carlotta, what is the point in revenge? What's the point in all of this? Look at what you've become! Think of your children! One is dead because of you and the other one hates just the sound of your name. Just because your voice sucked doesn't mean you had to ruin your whole life. What happened afterwards was your choice, not mine, not my mother's, so don't take it out on me or the people I love!"
Taking a deep breath, she continued. "If you keep the past inside you it's going to tear you apart. I know that. I grew up watching my mother in pain because of the opera house too. You know what? Life sucks sometimes, deal with it. And I'm not saying forget everything that's happened to you. Just find a way to forgive yourself and everyone you're so mad at! I looked at you in the past. You were accomplished, beautiful, and kind. What happened to the girl that money and fame corrupted? That's the woman I want to talk to, the mother your children wanted, and the person you need to be to move on."
Carlotta's tornado slowed down, back to her shadow form. It turned towards Allegra.
"Let go," Allegra said. "Just let go."
The form shrinked down to Carlotta's human self, and Erik quickly followed, falling down to the ground.
Before Allegra could help him she had to stop Carlotta.
Tears started to stream down Carlotta's face. "You don't know me. You don't know the humiliation I went through daily."
"That humiliation is gone now. You're dead. It doesn't matter. Stop reliving the past and start moving on. Please.. We all want to see you happy again."
Carlotta genuinely smiled at Allegra for the first time, offering her a small nod.
Then she collapsed to the ground, clawing at her throat and gasping for air.
"Carlotta!" Allegra yelled, unable to leave the circle.
She writhered on the ground, a white halo enveloping her. A harsh bright light formed around Carlotta. Allegra's eyes squinted into it, trying to see what was happening.
When it faded Carlotta stood up, a vision of white, with angel wings adorning her. She looked Allegra's age again, beautiful, and with a down-to-earth image.
"Thank you," she said, her voice softer. "I was so consumed with hate, I forgot who I was.. Now I'm free."
"Does this make our families even?" Allegra asked, smiling.
Carlotta returned the smile. "More like we are forever in your debt." She began to fade away. "Thank you," she repeated before vanishing.
The circle around Allegra stopped burning, and she tentatively stepped out of it. Once free, she ran to Erik's side.
"Erik! Erik wake up!" She held his limp head in her hands, kneeling beside him. At least he was still materializing himself, a hopeful sign. "Phantom.. I need you.."
Erik took in a sharp breath, most likely in shock than in actual necessity for air, opened his eyes, and started to cough. "Did" cough "someone" cough "say they need me?" He attempted to smirk at her.
The tears she was holding back fell down, and she hugged him tight.
"Hey, ow, still in immense pain.."
"Oh! Right! Sorry." She let go of him, brushing away her tears with a smile.
"Allegra!" Melody called, walking into the clearing and waving her arms. She said, "Hiya, what's up?" when she made it over to them.
Allegra stood up, clenching her fists. "What's up?! You left me stranded, almost about to die, and all you have to say is 'What's up?'"
Melody held up her hands. "Hey, sorry. I told you I didn't want to get involved."
"You!" Allegra held her breath, trying to calm down. "You were probably right about staying away. It was really dangerous."
"Great show though," Melody remarked. "I should've brought popcorn."
Allegra counted down from ten, breathing in and out slowly.
Erik chuckled, slowly standing up with Allegra's help.
"Let's go home guys," she said. "I think that was enough action for a lifetime."
"You mean you guys can't fight another demon?!"
"Mel. No."
"But-"
"No," Allegra and Erik responded, Erik's tone harsher.
"Fine…"
(Hey guys, so sorry about the wait. I've been like crazy with anxiety the past week. My AP Chem test was horrible, but I think I did okay. The AP Lang test next Wed is the one that really counts. Oh! And this week I found out the most incredible news! I was accepted, after a very long process, to earn a full ride scholarship to Girls State! It's complicated to explain what it is, but it's a week long in June. Speaking of the future, during the summer my updates will be a little wibbly wobbly. I'm spending a week at a college in June, and after the Fourth of July I'm leaving to Arizona... In the summer.. 120 degree weather.. I need to check out some colleges on the way there (UC-Davis and either Oregon State or University of Portland, plus Northern Arizona University.) Then my family will be coming back to Washington while I go with my older cousin to the East Coast on our own for almost all of August to check out Oberlin (Ohio!), Yale (New Haven!), and Emerson (Boston!). Crazy summer indeed, but very important. I have no idea what's in store.. More about that in the future. 'Till next time!)