Everything

"Cora, get up," Ace stared down coldly.

Cora shifted slightly under the covers of her blanket. However, she did not move from the bed.

"I know you are awake," Ace sat beside her, "How would you like to get revenge on Michael?"

"How can I?!" Cora threw her head up angry, "He's taken all my magic! If Silthus discovers it, he'll Kill me,"

"Silthus already knows, " Ace stated apathetically, " He knows and yet here you are alive,"

" Because he thinks I have not woken," Cora breathed venomously.

" If I know," Ace shrugged," don't you think Silthus knows? He has always had a soft spot for you. He spared you,"

"He has?" Cora's eyes widened, " but what are you doing here then? Have you decided to relinquish your army?"

"Michael has commandeered my army," Ace replied flatly," they have broken through the castle's magic. The battle has already begun."

"Then Silthus wishes me to fight? But without my magic..." Cora's eyes panned down apprehensively.

"That is why I've come here," Ace smiled coldly," Don't you want a chance to get your magic back?"

*************

Tomas ran at full speed down the corridor. He could see an explosion of light from beyond the castle windows. The sound of swords colliding followed. Suddenly, a ball of fire shot through the glass setting the hallway in a blaze. Tomas blasted the fire with cool wind. He proceeded carefully down the narrow steps to the dungeon.

The ground began to shake and Tomas halted. He saw a flicker of light at the top of the stairwell. A great red ball of fire knocked Tomas back. He fell a few steps down and hit the lower level. He turned back quickly just as a cloaked figure flew against the wall and fell down dead. The body was charred to a crisp.

" You've become careless," Estelle stared down with her steely silver eyes splattered with blood.

" Where are the others?" Tomas ignored her provocation.

"Darius is in the courtyard. His magic is holding off Silthus' mages. Leva Veral has breached the castle. Her men are cutting through Silthus' warriors as we speak,"

Estelle watched Tomas rise with difficulty, but did not offer her hand. The grounds above and below trembled once again. Tomas turned to proceed.

"Where are you going?" Estelle questioned, "Putting your disloyalty aside, I did not think you a coward,"

Tomas turned back sharply, "My friends are imprisoned here. I'm going to free them,"

"Is that wise?" Estelle raised an eyebrow.

"Michael gave me the key," Tomas returned smugly.

"And where is Michael?" Estelle interrogated.

"He's gone to get the scroll," Tomas answered dismissively. He was already turning the lock to open the dungeon door.

"The scroll?" Estelle repeated slowly.

Before Tomas could answer. The whole level shuddered once again.

"I must go," Estelle said briskly. She began up the stairs but paused. She looked back at Tomas, "Don't die,"

Tomas met her gaze with resolution," You too,"

As Estelle disappeared up the stairwell, Tomas raced through the dungeon until he reached Yona's cell. He hastily turned the lock. Yona was lying still on the floor. Tomas knelt down beside her and pressed an elixir to her pale lips.

"Come on...Work...please work," He pleaded.

Yona's crimson eyes fluttered open. For a moment, her surroundings overwhelmed her senses. She pulled back abruptly. Her eyes searched around apprehensively. Tomas slowly took her hand in his. She flinched at his touch.

"It's okay," he reassured, "It's just me,"

Yona's eyes focused upon him. She immediately threw her arms around him. They embraced tightly. At last, Yona pulled back hesitantly.

"Forgive me,"She said, averting her eyes.

Tomas gently lifted her gaze to his. He kissed her passionately and without reserve, "It's me who should be sorry. I'm sorry I took so long," He gave a wide, bright smile that sent ripples through Yona's chest. However, in the same instance, a tide of memories came crashing back to her.

"Where is my master? " She asked fearfully.

"We're going to rescue him now," Tomas helped her to her feet, "We just need to free Veretta and we can go,"

Yona gave a nod and they started down the corridor hand in hand. It didn't take long to reach Veretta's cell. It was too dark to see anything, but Veretta did not answer when called. Tomas searched inside frantically.

"She's gone!" He uttered in disbelief, "How can this be? Michael said she would be here,"

"Perhaps he freed her himself?" Yona considered.

"No, this is strange." Tomas exhaled uneasily, "Well... For now, let's go find Ace,"

They started back up the stairs. According to Michael, Ace was being held in an isolated cell on the upper level. As they proceeded out of the dungeon, they were met by a chaotic sight. The hallway, once draped in finery and painting, was blackened. There were a slew of cloaked bodies painting the carpets red. Shattered glass fell calamitously at the wayside. In the distance, screams of war echoed endlessly.

Tomas gulped, "This is..." he's breath caught and he shook the thought from his head.

He clutched Yona's hand tightly and they ran out into the courtyard. From there, they could see smoke clouds rising. There were Western women cutting through a tyrant of mounted riders. The warhorses snorted loudly as arrows of fire rained from above.

"Those are my master's men," Yona said, glancing up.

'Wait a Second," Tomas uttered breathlessly, "What is that?"

Along the castle wall where the archers were mounted, a figure drew up from behind. Suddenly, a group fell forward. Bodies cascaded over the balcony. Fast as lightning, the figure cut through the remaining men.

"Who is that?" Tomas gasped.

"It is... Cora," Yona faltered.

"How can that be? She has no magic... " Tomas began.

"Tomas," Yona's expression darkened," Look,"

Tomas followed her line of sight again. Cora was dragging another person behind her. It was Veretta.

"Gods!" Tomas exclaimed, "We have to go help her!"

"Tomas," Yona's expression was pained, " We don't have the magic to stop Cora. We must find my master,"

"It will be too late," Tomas shook his head grievously, " Please Yona, go and find Michael. I have to go after them."

"Michael?" Yona blinked, confused.

"I know it must sound crazy after what he did, but he's the only one who can help Ace now," Tomas exhaled deeply.

He flew up into the air in a burst and landed on the castle wall. He started off in the direction Cora had taken Veretta. The wall led up to the second floor of the castle. Tomas followed an open balcony door and arrived inside.

He found Veretta tied to a chair. Her hands and legs were bound. Her head hung low. Blood was dripping from her forehead. Tomas ran towards her calling her name, but she didn't answer. He began to unravel the rope around her wrists.

"Tom...as," Veretta whispered in a low whimper.

"It's okay," Tomas continued to battle with rope," I'm going to get you out of here,"

"N... No..Tomas...Look..." Veretta stuttered.

Tomas' brow furrowed. He turned back to the empty room. There was no one there. Nevertheless, he hastily undid the rope and began to pull Veretta up. Just as he did, a heavy blow knocked him over the head. He fell through Veretta's arms and hit the floor. Veretta began to lean forward, but found cold steel against her throat.

"Sit." Cora ordered.

Veretta obeyed, but brought her eyes to Cora pleadingly, "Please Cora! You said we were friends. Don't do this,"

Cora stared down coldy. Her temperament was unusually restrained. There was no hint of mischief or amusement. Only an all consuming emptiness in her eyes and uncharacteristic severity.

"Cora!" Veretta reached for her.

" Quiet," came the monotone reply.

"Why are you doing this?" Veretta questioned," Is this about Michael?"

Upon asking this question, Cora's cold stare fell on Veretta directly. She clamped her hand over Veretta's mouth and pushed her face side to side.

" You're pretty," Cora saved after a long pause, "You look like the Emperor's sister. Michael had a thing for her as well. Though she was much prettier then you, "

Veretta attempted to reply but her words were muffled through Cora's hand.

"I said be quiet," Cora drew back her hand without hesitation and slapped Veretta hard across the face. Veretta let out a gasp. Her hand came up instinctually. As did a slew of words. However, they died in her throat open meeting Cora's gaze. It was like looking into the eyes of a stranger. Cold and dead.

Cora bent slightly inspecting Tomas, " He looks just like him. It's as Ace said. A replacement for Bird..."

Cora let Tomas slip from her fingers as she rose. She pulled from her pocket a collection of four coloured stones and began to lay them out on the table.

"South,"She said, laying the first. It was a black stone with a strange inner glow, " East. North. West,"

As she said these words, she proceeded to lay the rest. A green, a red and finally the last, a pure white stone.

"Do you know what it means?" Cara asked," I think I know, but I don't know how I know. A life...from death. Do you think it's possible?"

Veretla hesitated to answer. The longer she sat, the more she felt her magic return.

" Answer," Cora ordered.

"Michael...was raised from the dead," Veretta hesitated, " So then, It must be possible,"

" Why did you bring Michael back to life?" Cora questioned.

"I thought he was a powerful wizard. I thought he could help me get my revenge on Silthus," Veretta faltered.

"Revenge?" Cora repeated slowly, "An obsession you both share..."

" Cora, you don't seem yourself," Veretta said cautiously," You said you met with Ace. What did he tell you?"

"He hasn't changed a bit either... Still obsessed with Clover," Cora's eyes looked glazed, "...poor Clover. I miss them so much. He stole them from me. Ungrateful brat,"

" Clover?" Veretta glanced at Cora surprised, "the demon Ace loved? I thought they died 300 years ago. You knew them?"

Cora stared down indifferently, "Clover raised me. Gave me a name, a home. Then Michael came...he ruined everything,"

" What does Michael have to do with it?" Veretta asked uncomprehendingly.

Cora suddenly slammed her hands down at Veretta's side. Her eyes were wide and unblinking.

"EVERYTHING!"