Changing Hearts

Chapter 6

The next few days had been torture for Isadora as she had to take in what had just happened to Lucian, Kaecilius's self-called worshipper and his once most faithful zealot. Kaecilius had come down to the dungeon to check on her daily, though she always snarled at him to get out of her sight because of how terrified she had just become of him. When she demanded to know why he had killed Lucian in the most unimaginable way he did, he explained that because of how important she and Remi were to him, he could not have a "bird going around spreading annoying cries that could wake the whole neighborhood." Out of the visits he made to her cell, one day struck her in particular. Even though she had been stripped of her magic gear, she could still sense a strong, evil darkness that had spread through Kaecilius's body. It was as if the dark powers he had deciphered from Dormammu's rituals were growing stronger by the day, yet he claimed he still needed to read a few more spells before he could fully conduct his plan to take Remi's power for his own and release Dormammu from the Dark Dimension.

This day was a different day. Isadora Ramirez crouched against the corner of her cell right underneath the torch that provided the only source of light. She had prepared for another one of Kaecilius's daily visits to check on her or give her food and water as he routinely did, but this time, something was off. Three hours had passed by and the lead zealot never visited her even for a couple seconds. She clutched at her sore wrists, the metal chains clanking as she rubbed her hands together. The rings were light weighted but tight enough to where she could not slip her hands free. The bars of the door was so heavy she could not pry them off with her limp arms, and because Kaecilius had stripped her of most of her power, she had begun to think that escaping was impossible, but when Kaecilius did not come visit her, her hope and faith began to rise again.

"You may have ridded me of my magic, but I will see the love of my world again!" Isadora determined, balling her hand in one fist. If she would ever find the perfect chance of escaping, this was the best time, she figured. Looking around her cell, she could see the brown and red bare walls, with the torch flickering just above her head. Looking down at her wrists, she stared at the metal rings connected to the heavy chains. She saw two rusted looking nails that were screwed together to keep the rings in place. She used her thumb and index finger to try and pry the screws loose so the rings would slip off her wrists and drop to the ground, but even in the condition of the large nails, they were still strong enough to hold the rings together, and prying them loose proved to be a useless option.

Realizing this was getting her nowhere, Isadora dropped her hands to her side and began to think further. Rubbing her temples with two fingers, she began to brainstorm various ideas until she felt a headache began to grow its way into her brain. Just as she thought she was getting nowhere, a sudden idea came to mind. It was a grizzly disgusting idea, but it was the only chance she had. Turning to her left, she saw that Kaecilius had left Lucian's body in the same condition he had killed him, his head rolled across the floor, his body slumped over on his stomach in front of her cell door. The smell of thick blood and body odor reeked her cell, causing her to cough to the point where Kaecilius had to provide her with a bucket in case she was going to vomit. Her breath began to grow heavy as she rose to her feet and plodded towards the man's headless body.

"I'm so sorry," she apologized. "May the Lord have pity on your soul."

With shaky hands, Isadora grunted and groaned as she painstakingly lifted her arms underneath him and rolled his body over from his stomach and onto his back. It had taken her several minutes to try, but she finally felt the weight kick underneath her. Stretching her shoulder muscles and rolling her arms about for a moment, she soon began to pat down Lucian's body. She stuck one hand inside his robes and felt her way down his stomach and on his sides, searching for anything that could prove to be useful in her aide for escape. At first it felt like the zealot had nothing on him, until she stuck one hand in Lucian's left breast pocket. Her fingers coiled around something hard and metallic with a cool sensation. Tugging it out, she unfolded her hand and saw what she had pulled out. It was a golden ring with two bands she could slip her index and middle finger in. On the top of it it had a sort of mosaic design that formed two eyes staring back at her. She remembered the Sling Rings the Ancient One had provided students would always be in different intricate designs.

Wait a minute. Isadora shot her head down at the ring and one of her prayers had been answered. Quickly pocketing the Sling Ring into the right pocket of her torn grey pants, she continued to search through Lucian's dead body, Isadora continued to feel around, but so far, nothing more had come up. When she felt like she had been searching long enough she gave up and decided to cover Lucian's headless body with a blanket that Kaecilius had provided her in case she had gotten cold. For a prisoner, he played the part of being her caretaker well, she thought sadly. Isadora got to her feet and looked at the prison cell door. The large black bars and the heavy metal door had intimidated her ever since because when Kaecilius opened it, a loud metal creak echoed through the small dungeon.

"You must see Remi again, you must let her know you are live!" Isadora mentally reminded herself. She walked towards the metal door and tugged at the bars. They were perfectly intact and impossible to break off, but because Lucian did not have anything that could unlock the door, she was left to ponder how she could do this on her own. A few moments had passed and Isadora could think of nothing to unlock her cell door, but then a thought had come to her that she had completely forgotten. It was a longshot but she had no choice, she realized. Running her hands through her long matted silvery white hair, she felt the bun atop her head. She grabbed at it and felt hard plastic. She pulled the long bobby pin that was holding her hair up out, causing the long strands of hair to fall in front of her eyes.

Isadora thanked the Lord repeatedly as she held the bobby pin in her right hands. She was about to unlock the cell door when she heard the clanking of the metal chains around her wrists. Looking down, Isadora stared at the metal rings before an idea came to mind. She turned her wrists over to the insides and saw there were two tiny lock inserts. Turning her attention to the bobby pin, she grabbed it with her opposite hand and began to play with the lock on her left wrist. She heard the rustling of metal as she continuously fiddled with the metal rings until, by a sheet of sheer luck…click! The metal ring around her arm automatically separated itself from her wrists and dropped to the floor, heavy metal sounds echoing through her cell. She repeated the same motion with the other metal ring, unlocking and dropping it to the floor. Isadora shuttered as the tight metal restraints around her arms had finally come off. Both of her wrists were swollen and bruised, the purplish-blue markings covering her palms, the back of her hands, and halfway up all five of her fingers. Rolling her wrists around, Isadora cried as the muscles began to ache with every stretch she made with her hands, quickly stopping until the pain subsided.

Turning her attention to the door, Isadora raced towards it and slipped the hand holding the bobby pin through the doors. She felt around the bars until she felt a hard metal plate that had a lock insertion she placed one finger over. She slipped the end of the bobby pin between her fingers and fiddled around until she felt it go inside the lock. Grunting, she began to feel around for the lock insertion point, but so far, the bobby pin kept hitting metal and actually got stuck to the point where she had to tug hard, almost dropping it across the dungeon floor.

"Come on, work with me!" Isadora pleaded with herself as she continued to fiddle around with the cell door. Before she knew it, her ears picked up a click! At first Isadora stopped dead in her tracks, but she quickly pulled herself together and slipped the hand with the bobby pin back between the bars. Tugging as hard as she could, she groaned as she pulled at the door. This time instead of the heavy feeling she always had when she gripped the bars, they felt lightweight and manageable. She tugged one last time until she saw something that almost made her heart drop right out of her chest. The loud sound of metal echoed through the dungeon as the cell door slid effortlessly open!

"Thank you, thank you!" Isadora kissed her fingers and waved at the air. Poking her head out in the small dungeon, she put one foot out and felt the dirty, rock covered floor beneath her. She pulled her body out of the cell and slid the door behind her shut. Her heart racing, she made a run for the door leading to the cathedral just outside her reach. However, she quickly stopped when she saw felt the lock on the door leading into the dungeon was a lot bigger than she had anticipated. Racing back to her cell, she grabbed the keys she remembered Kaecilius held when he had killed Lucian. Making her way back to the stairs, she felt her way around until her hand came over the black hole in the wall. Panting and breathing heavily, Isadora fiddled with the black ring of keys until one fit perfectly into the lock. When she turned the key, loud gear sounds echoed through the prison and the grand organ leading to the dungeon that she was kept in for so long slid open.

Isadora put one hand in front of her face as she saw not the light of torches aligning the prison walls, but light of the actual sun shining through the glass windows of the cathedral. She stepped off the hard-rocky steps and put one dirty foot out into the light. Her eyes had to adjust to the new surroundings, but when they finally settled down, tears poured down her cheeks. The marbled floor felt cool and inviting beneath her feet, and at last, she felt like she could finally breathe real true air.

However, as joyful as she was, Isadora knew she was not out of the limelight yet. Her joy turning heavy once more, Isadora looked around the room. It was empty, with a few benches for church goers to sit at, but from their condition, she knew the cathedral was abandoned. The large pillars, religious images across the glass windows, and the grand organ were covered in a million dust particles and spider webs, somethings she had to swat at as she made her way out of the dungeon. The grand organ slid shut behind her as she turned around to see it settle back into place.

Looking around, Isadora's bare foot steps echoed through the large room as she sprinted towards the large brown and gold door. Once she was in front it she reached for the doorknob, but stopped dead in her tracks when she heard the muffled voices coming from the other side. Backing away from the door, Isadora hastily sprinted behind one of the large stone pillars. Dropping to the ground with her knees pressed against her chest, Isadora heard the sound of the door opening followed by footsteps, several to be exact.

Peeking her head out ever so slightly, Isadora saw two men and a woman step into the room. They were all wearing the same sangria colored robes. "Master Kaecilius will be with us shortly," one of the men said.

"Good. Soon his plans to bring the true Lord and Savior will go without haste," the second man looked at the first.

"However, we need that stupid girl! I don't understand why she is so important to Master Kaecilius," the woman crossed her arms and glared at her two male companions.

"Because she holds a power you cannot possibly understand, Delilah," a voice interrupted their conversation. Turning around, the three saw Kaecilius himself enter the room with another young woman with long blonde hair tied back into a ponytail.

"Kodi, Sam, Katrina," Kaecilius instructed the woman by his side to stand with the others. "Get ready. You will now receive the power to destroy the one who betrayed us." The woman by his side walked towards the three.

"The one who betrays the world betrays us all!" Kaecilius's voice echoed off the walls, making Isadora have to cover her ears at just how deep his voice truly was. Peeking her head out the slightest, she observed the scene in front of them. Kaecilius pulled something out of the back of his robe, a black scroll and unrolled it, staring at two pieces of paper with a smile of satisfaction. She watched as he walked behind the podium and began to read the words from one of the pages aloud.

Isadora used his business as an opportunity to make another slip for the door. Getting to her knees, she hastily but slowly made her way towards her chance at freedom. She could hear chanting and felt the sensation of bright red light, but she did not have time to notice. All that mattered to her was getting back to her granddaughter.

"I can make it, I can make it!" Isadora mentally told herself. As she made her way towards the door, however, she felt her footing give under. She tripped over her toes and stumbled, sending her to the ground on her stomach with the side of her face to the floor! Isadora groaned slightly and slowly got to her feet.

From behind the pillar, Kodi, a young man in his mid-twenties with short grey hair, thought he had heard something. Turning towards one of the pillars, his voice died down as he stared at it.

"Kodi," Kaecilius stopped mid chant. "What is it that distracts you?"

"Uh…nothing, Master Kaecilius. I thought I heard something, almost like a loud groan form behind that pillar," Kodi pointed to the one where unknowingly, Isadora was hiding behind.

"Do not be ridiculous Kodi, we are the only ones here. Now focus!" Kaecilius ordered sternly, and the young man did he was told. However, he could see Kaecilius's eyes widened and his brows arch upward a bit, but decided to pay it no mind. They got back to chanting, unaware an elderly woman was getting to her feet.

Groaning, Isadora shook the dust and dirt off her stained pink shirt. Hearing they were still preoccupied, she hastily but carefully slipped behind each pillar, trying her hardest to give no indication someone else was in the same room. Hopping behind another pillar, she saw the large golden and brown door was just a foot from her reach. Smiling and wiping tears from her eyes, she looked back and saw Kaecilius and his students were still reading aloud the rituals of Dormammu. A part of her wished she had most of her magic back to stop them, but in her state, that was out of the question. She quickly made her way towards the large door and hastily but as quietly as she could, cracked it open enough for her skinny form to slip right through.

Unfortunately, the incident did not go without notice. Kaecilius's eyes darted up from the ritual he was chanting out loud and just happened to catch a glimpse of the door closing. His eyes and lips tightly narrowed, teeth gritting behind his mouth.

Isadora sprinted down the hallway and into another room of the large cathedral. She hastily closed the door behind her and looked around. It was not as large as the room with the grand organ, but a good twenty people could fit comfortably. A large golden empty tub stood in the middle of the room with a white marble fountain stood in front of it. She realized it was a room used to perform baptisms and took a moment to sit down on one of the large brown wooden benches. After a few seconds, she stood in front of the large golden tub and dug through her pockets, pulling out Lucian's Sling Ring.

"I may not have much magic, but please Lord, let me muster enough strength to get to my granddaughter," she prayed. Sliding the ring on her left hand, she held it out in front of her face and held her middle and index finger from her opposite hand just a few inches from the ring. She began a circular motion with her right hand, visualizing an image of Kamar-Taj. After a few moments of what seemed like nothing was going to happen, Isadora opened her eyes to see orange light beginning to appear in front of her. Gasping and laughing, she circled her hand even faster as the orange light began to form in a circle.

Just as the portal was about to be finished, Isadora was completely unaware of heavy footsteps echoing behind her. With the portal completed, Isadora thanked God and walked towards it, but before she could jump to freedom into the arms of her granddaughter, two strong arms clasped themselves around her abdomen and mouth. Isadora felt a man's hand go over her mouth and she attempted to scream, but he tightened his grip. Her eyes darted upward and she grew terrified to discover an all too familiar man wearing orange robes and long hair pulled back into a braided ponytail.

Isadora kicked her weak legs in an effort to free herself, making Kaecilius pinch her nose tightly with the hand he clasped over her mouth and move the other from her abdomen over her chest. Isadora punched at the air in all directions to free herself, but it was no good. Before she knew it, the elderly woman's punching and kicking slowed down until her body was completely still.

Kaecilius released the elderly woman from his grasp when he realized she was not fighting back. Isadora slipped from his arms to the ground on her stomach, arms bent forward in front of her face. As her vision began to grow blurry, she saw the orange portal was still glowing and circling in front of her. Groaning and panting, she made an effort to crawl towards it, but her legs and arms would not budge. Kaecilius walked to her side and bent down, grabbing her hand and pulling the Sling Ring right off her fingers. Once he did, the orange portal began to dwindle, making a buzzing sound until it completely disappeared. Isadora reached a hand out for it, but her eyes widened when she saw it vanish from her sight. Hot tears formed in her dark amber eyes and a few ran down her cheeks.

"No. M-m-my R-Remi…"

Kaecilius walked in front of her and squatted down, resting his upper arms on his thighs. Shaking his head, he watched as Isadora slipped into a state of unconsciousness. Her head dropped to the ground and her arm lowered. Getting to his feet, he looked down at Lucian's Sling Ring and pocketed it. Turning his attention back to Isadora's body, he effortlessly rolled her over onto her back and scooped her carefully in his arms bridal style. She was incredibly light and feathery in his arms. Smiling, he walked out of the baptism room and carefully kicked the door shut behind him.

To Be Continued

Well, what do ya know? Another chapter has arrived! I am so proud how this came out and it was one of my favorites to write. I may have not made clear that Isadora had to feel her way around the dungeon for her escape, so I apologize for that. Anyway, here it is for you to enjoy!

DO NOT FORGET TO LEAVE REVIEWS! I welcome flames and all. :)

See ya next chapter! :)