The air filled with the tantalizing aromas from the previous grand feast, as all the once delicious smells were replaced by the sharp, metallic scent of iron, sending Undertow's heart racing in dread. As fear tightened around her body, she hesitated to turn around, bracing herself for the horror she knew awaited her when she turned around. Once she finally summoned the courage to turn her head, her stomach dropped in a heap on the floor. Liora Coral. The skin around her neck was drenched with red, as a small, silver blade stuck out from the middle of her throat. ''Lio-ra...'' she whispered, her voice tearing through the chilling air as it filled the chaotic ballroom. The sound of her friend's name echoed around in the vast chamber, ricocheting off the marble walls adorned with gold leaf and extravagant chandeliers. Undertow's breath quickened as she stumbled back, her eyes locked on the lifeless body that had once lit up the room with such spirit. Liora, vibrant and full of so much life, now lay in a pool of crimson that contrasted dangerously against her pale gown. She felt her heart constrict as a wave of disbelief washed over her. They had been celebrating only moments ago, the very essence of revelry sitting in their glasses and adorning their plates with all the delicious food. And after that, they were finally going to leave the castle behind and start a new life somewhere, together.
This was not the ending she had envisioned for her, not by a long shot. She took an involuntary step forward, her feet moving as if drawn by an invisible string. Every instinct told her to run, to flee from the nightmare unfolding before her, but she was rooted, her gaze fixated on the macabre sight. Plus, she knew if she tried to run, she'd probably end up just like Liora Coral. The blade protruding from her throat glimmered under the flickering candlelight, an ominous winking beacon that seemed to call out for justice. ''Such a shame, the poor girl…'' Undertow's eyes widened in horror as she turned slowly, instantly recognizing the voice. Her heart felt like it was trapped in her throat as she spun on her heels. There, framed against the shadows of the ballroom, stood Morgana—a vision of both captivating grace and chilling cold. Except as she moved closer into the light from the darkness, Undertow wasn't sure who she was looking at. She definitely heard the queen's voice, but this, this body, didn't match her at all. She had long, brown hair that shimmered like chocolate, creating a striking contrast against the deep hues of the room. The orange detailing of the purple gown she wore rippled with her movements, accentuating the haunting beauty that emanated from her presence. Who the heck was she?
''Who are you?'' she murmured, her voice trembling slightly despite her attempt at defiance. ''You sound like the queen, but...'' The woman interrupted her with a soft, almost melodic laugh, a sound that resonated within the cold air. ''Ah, sweet Undertow Blossom, it is I—though perhaps not in the guise that you remember. I've chosen to...adapt.'' Her eyes, dark and shimmering with an inner green light to them, regarded her with an unsettling mixture of amusement and something much darker—something that hinted at intentions yet unknown. ''I prefer this form. It allows me certain...advantages I didn't have before.'' The dress, a deep purple adorned with a mesmerizing neckline, clung to her figure like liquid silk, and every movement she made seemed to cast an enchanting spell over the entire room and the guests, even as the horrifying scene of Liora Coral's body lay heavy in the air still. The juxtaposition of her beauty against the blood-soaked floor created a tension that thrummed in Undertow's bones. ''How did you do that? Why did you kill Liora Coral?! What reason could you possibly have!'' Morgana halted mid-step, her dark, shimmering eyes narrowing slightly as they settled on Undertow, measuring her reaction. A moment of silence stretched out between them, heavy with tension as unspoken words swirled around their heads. The guests were scattered, their horror-stricken faces a blur in the periphery, but the focus of the universe seemed to contract to just the two of them, as if no one else existed within miles.
''I didn't kill her, dear child,'' Morgana said, a hint of amusement lacing her voice, as if Undertow's accusation had spared a secret, delightful game. ''No, the act was performed by hands not as delicate as mine. I merely orchestrated the stage for a far more complex drama. Besides, I couldn't just allow my quest of honor to run away, now could I?''
''Orchestrated?'' Undertow spat, fury bubbling over. ''You think this is a game! A performance, Liora Coral? My best friend is dead! Dead because you gave the order to get me to stay?! Why! What do you possibly need from me!'' Morgana's lips curled into a sly smile, her dark, penetrating gaze locking onto Undertow's fierce angry eyes. ''Ah, there it is—the fire of defiance. It always ignited an interest in me,'' she purred, unfazed by Undertow's anger. ''You really misunderstand, my child. It was never solely about you. Liora was merely the spark to ignite the flames of destiny. Now I'll get to make my wish.''
''Destiny? Wish?'' Undertow repeated, her voice rising in disbelief. ''You clearly possess your own magic, so what wish could you possibly be unable to grant yourself!'' Morgana's smile deepened, revealing that glimmer of true mischief as a hint of something darker lurked behind her captivating and beautiful facade. ''Ah, my dear, the power of a wish is not merely about the magic one wields. It is the intent behind it, the intricate threads woven into the tapestry of fate. You see, it is true I possess strong dark magic, but even my powers cannot twist the string between life and death.'' Undertow felt her anger transform into a frigidness at that last sentence. ''So...you needed Liora Coral's soul in order to trade her for someone beyond the world of the living?'' Morgana's expression shifted, a flicker of surprise crossing her features as if Undertow had momentarily surprised her. Yet amusement quickly followed, her dark eyes glinting with a mix of intrigue and pride. ''Very astute, my dear. You grasp concepts quite fast, even amidst the chaos. Yes, I required Liora Coral's essence as a means to an end—a transaction that transcended your mundane understanding of reality.''
"Transaction?" Undertow could hardly contain her revulsion. "You're talking about a life—Liora's life! You're using her death as a bargaining chip! How is that not monstrous?"
"Monstrous?" Morgana seemed genuinely amused by the accusation, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "Such a dramatic term. Are we not all creatures shaped by our circumstances? Every breath, every heartbeat, each life is but a piece on the chessboard of existence. Sacrifices are required for advancement. You simply lack the broader perspective."
"And you've decided that Liora is expendable in your twisted vision of power?" Undertow shot back, her voice rising in anger. "I won't let you get away with this! I will not stand by while you take innocent lives!"
''Come now, precious! Would you rather take her place?!'' The suddenness of Morgana's question, laced with a perverse sweetness, caught Undertow off guard. The implications struck her like a physical blow, forcing her to recoil slightly. ''Take her place?'' she repeated, incredibly hanging heavy in the air. ''You're insane if you think I'd ever agree to something like that!'' Morgana's eyes glimmered like polished obsidian, her demeanor shifting to one of playful cruelty. "Insane? Perhaps, but ask yourself this: would you not sacrifice yourself if it meant saving your friend? If it meant preserving the light she brought to so many? Would you not bear that weight willingly for a girl you claim means so much to you? ''
"I—" Undertow stammered, torn between the raw emotion surging within her and the overwhelming dread of even contemplating such a choice. "No one should have to make that sacrifice! That's not how this works! Life isn't a trade-off; it's precious!"
"Precious, indeed," Morgana purred, her tone now a mixture of mockery and allure. "But in a world filled with darkness and deceit, precious things are often the most vulnerable. You seek to protect the innocent, yet here you stand, facing the dark currents of fate. Do you truly believe you can save everyone?" The words rattled Undertow, shaking her conviction. "I have to try! I won't let this evil go unchallenged!" She gritted her teeth, struggling to grasp her own spiraling emotions and the weight of Morgana's taunting proposition.
''Undertow, remain where you are. I advise you not to move.''
''Maris? What are you doing here?'' Maris, the loving woman from the marketplace, the woman who told her beautiful stories about the Night of Stars in the kingdom of Eldoria. Why was someone like her doing in a place so horrible like the queen's castle? A mix of relief and confusion washed over Undertow as she recognized Maris standing at the edge of the lit ballroom. The usual calm, nurturing presence of the kind woman from the marketplace seemed so out of place now, as she stood with her amidst the chaos, blood, and darkness. Maris's soft features were set in a stern expression, her eyes holding a depth of urgency that startled Undertow. ''Maris?'' she repeated, her voice low as she struggled to understand why the woman she had always viewed as a comforting beacon of kindness and wisdom was here now, veiled in the shadows of Morgan's sinister domain. This was the same lady who called the palace the witches keep for a reason, after all. ''What are you doing here! This place, you can't be here! You need to leave right now!'' she warned. ''Undertow Blossom, please forgive me. Please know this doesn't need to change anything between us.''
"What do you mean?" Before Undertow could process Maris's reply, the woman lunged forward, her fingers closing around the shell necklace she wore around her neck, pulling it up and out of the fabric in which she was hiding it beneath her dress—the very one Maris had polished and transformed with care for her earlier that afternoon. The moment she gripped it, the shell pulsed with energy, warm and alive in her hands, as if it had been waiting for this precise moment, when someone would come along and awaken its power. It was as if Maris knew what she was doing. However, just as the long list of questions began writing themselves in her mind, Undertow felt the entire ballroom shake, just as it was ignited in a blinding, golden light that blurred the boundaries between reality and magic. ''Summon Kayleth Lira!'' Maris shouted, her voice echoing through the dazzling brilliance. And in that heartbeat, as the light surged and the air cracked with energy, the ground beneath her began to shake again. Undertow felt her body shiver now as the forces of magic and secrets danced circles around her.