Chapter 72

Davina's Point Of View

We had almost all the ingredients we needed for the spell, including Sheila's blood. I don't know how Asula got it, but Sheila had no idea of what we were about to do. Asula had sent Rowena to retrieve the last piece of ingredients, and she was escorted by Kane and a few of his warriors.

We had left the cottage and now followed the familiar trail to the ancient magic cave. Once we entered, she turned to the stone table in the middle, unloading the required ingredients from her basket on the table.

“We must begin at once and be done quickly,” She said, scrolling through the Grimoire.

“And the last piece of ingredients Rowena has gone to fetch?”

“Oh don't worry about her. We have all we need here. I just sent her on a little adventure with Kane. I don't want her here for the spell,”

Her words surprised me but I also didn't want her here for the spell, especially with the phoenix stone out in the open.

“You have to be careful of the witch. I can't believe someone in my bloodline could possess so much dark energy. She's not to be trusted, she's capable of just anything. You must be careful,”

“I will, Asula,”

“The phoenix blade couldn't stop Idalak in my time, do you think even with your daughter's blood it would kill him?” She asked.

I shook my head, honestly. “No, it's not enough to kill Idalak but it's powerful enough to weaken him,”

My eyes narrowed on me. “Then why…” She started but I spoke quickly.

“Yes, we need the blade but that's just the second reason I'm here,” I pulled closer. “I had a vision, Asula. Two visions where in one we all die and Idalak wins and in the other, my daughter dies, and so does Idalak just as the prophecy says. But I can't let that happen. I don't know what twisted fate she has with Idalak but she can't die,”

Asula was shocked by everything I had said. She buried her face in her palms. “Nature always demands both a balance and sacrifice. Your daughter's birth was heaven's way of balancing the darkness that had been birthed and a sacrifice must be made. Yes, it might be a twisted fate, but it's her destiny. If both visions end in a tragedy then my child, it cannot be helped,”

“No!” I was up from my seat, shutting my eyes. I couldn't believe what she was saying. “Something can be done to change what's to come,”

“No matter how one runs from their destiny, in the end, it will always catch up with them,”

I turned to her, snapping my eyes open. “You were able to trap Idalak in the void, banishing him. We could do the same for now, buying enough time to strip him of his powers and locking him away for good, that could work, right?”

Asula paused for a second before signing. “Maybe, but you'll need an enormous amount of magic for that,”

“The magic from a phoenix stone,” I walked closer. “I still have some left,”

“It just might work,” Her words caused the tightness in my chest to loosen.

We started the spell as soon as I took out the phoenix stone and the vial containing Ciri’s blood and handed it over to her.

I watched as Asula began the spell, utilizing Sheila's blood, containing her magical essence that made up Idalak's very own magic, a black kyanite, a circle of candles, oleander, ashes of a flock of starlings, Cirilla's blood, and the phoenix was a binding agent.

As the spell rose to its peak I could feel the nature's and ancestral magic she was channeling and Cirilla's blood began to float in the air, hardening to form a glass-like weapon.

Asula didn't stop chanting, and the phoenix stone began to glow brighter as it merged with the blade. She placed an enchantment on the blade made from my daughter's blood, empowering the stone it hosts at its hilt, and both the blade and the stone glow.

“It's done,” She said after some minutes, handing the blade to me.

A smile found my lips as I held the blade but could feel the magic from the phoenix stone on it.

“The stone and the blade made from her blood now act as a whole with the blade acting as a conduit that gives the stone the ability to trap the souls of anyone when stabbed within,”

I raised a brow at Asula.

“You can use the blade to trap Idalak's darkness within the phoenix stone but it won't hold him for so long, so you have to be ready to create a void that's capable of holding him,”

My attention returned to the blade. “Thank you Asula,” I said genuinely with tears in my eyes. “Thank you so much,”

“We are family. And we help each other don't we?” She smiled. “What do you plan on doing with Rowena? Someone like her doesn't do things for the fun of it, what does she want?

“I promised her the last phoenix stone in my possession,” I told her and the color on her face drained.

“You cannot let her get her hands on it. You have no idea how dangerous a phoenix stone can be in the hands of someone as deadly as her,”

“I would never. My mother died ensuring Rowena never got her hands on them, I won't let her sacrifice be in vain. I swear it to our bloodline,”

A sudden calm washed over her features. “That's good to hear,” She took out the ring made from the phoenix stone from her finger, placing it in my palm. “I have a feeling you'll need this and—” She began but instantly, gripped both sides of her head in pain.

“What's wrong?” I jumped to my feet about to touch her when a force lifted me from the ground and tossed me against the roughness of the cave walls, the phoenix blade in my hand falling from my hand.

“Sorry for the intrusion,” I turned my head to the entrance of the cave where Rowena was standing, leaning against the wall with blood in her hands, looking at Asula and me, with dark amusement. “What did I miss?” Her eyes fell on the phoenix blade on the ground. “Oh my, Asula. Good job, now my favorite niece has exactly what she came here for, and I'm about to get mine as well and we can both leave this godforsaken past happy,”

How on earth did she get her magic?

She seemed to have read my mind, and she snickered. “Did you think I'd follow you blindly without as much as a contingent plan? You should know me better than that by now,” She raised her, exposing the enchanted beads on her wrist. It was a dark object and she was channeling its dark magic.

“How dare you desecrate this sacred temple with such a dark object,” Asula groaned in pain with rage in her eyes.

“You sound just like Fiona. My mother and your grandmother,” She pointed a bloody finger at me, while smearing the walls with her other hand, her raging eyes on Asula as she started towards her.

“What did you do to Kane?” I asked, bringing her focus to me instead.

“Oh, lovely Kane. He's dead. Next time, you shouldn't have sent an inexperienced witch who's still learning how to walk with me,”

I groaned in pain, channeling the magic from Asula's ring and instantly freeing myself of Rowena's hold, tossing her against the wall, and also breaking her hold on Asula.

I felt the brutal intensity of Asula's magic come to the surface, her blue eyes glowing brightly, and without muttering a word, she destroyed the dark beads on Rowena.

Rowena's dark laughter filled the cave. “You cannot kill me,”

“But I can do this,” Asula said, using her magic, forcing Rowena against the ground, and inflicting immense pain on her.

“I'm afraid we have to leave now,” I said, tucking the phoenix blade underneath my dress, wearing Asula's ring on my finger.

Asula's soft gaze fell on me, and slowly, she nodded. “I'll help you open the portal,”

I went to where Rowena was still pinned, grabbing her hand, while channeling the power from the phoenix stone on Asula's ring and joining my magic with Asula's.

We began chanting, and the stone on the ring and that on the hilt of the blade began to glow, producing a white light that formed a portal, and as the blinding light covered us the last words I heard from Asula were, “May the spirits of our ancestors be with you,”

*****

It felt as if we were falling down a pit in the middle of a wild storm with darkness creeping all around us. And just at the bottom, a bright light began to emerge, once again, swallowing us.

As the white light covered my vision, I was tossed from the wild storm and crashed hard against something sharp.

I realized I was hanging on a tree with one of its branches protruding through me. I gripped it, snapping it with my strength and falling to the earth. With one hand, I pulled it out of my stomach and instantly I healed up.

The first thing I felt was the shift in the wind. Then my eyes lifted to the unusual gray sky and dark clouds that covered the sun.

It was almost picturesque. Exactly as I saw in the visions. I felt the hairs on my skin stand in outright fear. It had started. I could feel the dark energy that had settled in the air, he was tearing down the void. He was unleashing his darkness on earth. We were approaching the end.

With a snap of my fingers, my clothes changed and I was now dressed in my casual jeans and leather jacket. I safely tucked the phoenix blade underneath my jacket while my eyes scanned around for Rowena.

I couldn't pick up her scent or her heartbeat. But I knew without a doubt she was still in the spelled woods of Edenville and there was no way she could leave even with her magic.

I was about to leave when I heard the slight twig of wood, and I swerved around slightly to find Rowena, coming through the thick bushes.

“What's a lovely sight, isn't it? Your precious and perfect world is about to go up in flames again,” Her dark eyes were on the gray sky.

“Not now Rowena,” I said with impatience in my tone. “I don't have the time for this nor the strength to fight you right now,”

“Neither do I. And we've had a rerun before remember, I'm not eager to meet the same fate. So I'll get straight to the point, give me the stone and I'll leave —”

My abrupt scoff stopped her. “Leave? Are you freaking kidding me? You could never simply just leave Rowena. You are like a hound that could never stop chasing after more power. You are incapable of leaving Rowena. Mother died ensuring these stones never get into your hands. So if you want your precious stone, sweet auntie, you'll have to get it right after I'm dead,”

An evil smile appeared on her lips. “You didn't let me finish. Give me the stone and contrary to what you might think, I'll leave or risk dying here with no one to save your precious perfect world and everyone you love in it while this darkness and the world goes up in flames,” With a glint of pure evil, her hand reached inside her cloak and she fished out a small jar of glass with magic ingredients in it.

As recognition dawned on me, my eyes widened. It was a Witch Cruid. A mystical object used to kill witches instantly.

“My unaccounted time in the past didn't leave me without a contingent plan you know. With only a breath of magic, you would be dead, so I advise you to rethink your given situation. The stone or your life which in turn could probably save the lives of everyone you love. What's it going to be?”

I smirked. “Read my lips again sweet auntie, you are not getting your hands on any of the stones,” I took a step closer, my eyes narrowing on the tiny beads of sweat on her forehead. “You are not well Rowena,” I smirked darkly. “And for a witch who is pretty obsessed with magic, I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet,”

Her eyes hardened as they leveled on mine. “What are you talking about?” The dark flame in her eyes ignited and the jar in her hand tightened as I took another step closer.

“How do you feel Rowena?” I took another step closer. “Don't you feel the anomaly in your soul, contaminating your magic? Like a little leech feeding off your magic. You may not have felt it in the past because you didn't have your magic but I'm sure you can now,” I folded my arms. “I corrupted Emily's resurrection spell and infused an anomaly into your resurrection with my magic. In plain words, you are already as good as dead, Rowena, and now, you come up with a little brilliant plan to kill me,” I smirked. “I dare you Rowena, light up that jar, and let's see who's going to get burned,”

With a sick smile on my lips, I pulled a finger up and my nail extended into a pointed sharp claw. I brought it to my neck, my eyes not leaving Rowena's and I made a swift cut on my neck. A cut appeared on my neck but soon it disappeared like the wound on my arm in the past and it appeared on Rowena's This was more than a bonding spell, if anything happened to me Rowena would be the one suffering in my stead.

“So what's it going to be Rowena?”

For the first time in my life, I got to see the fear in Rowena's eyes. Her hold on the glass jar loosened, but before it crashed against the ground, I sped and caught it, taking a few steps back.

Rowena's dark eyes were a storm of several emotions. Hate, pain, anger, and my favorite of them all. Fear. She stumbled back against the tree. “I curse the day you were born Davina Amnell. That night I should have killed you first, not Petrova. But you,”

“Burn in hell, Rowena, and this time, you'll stay dead,” I gave a last chuckle, before I flicked a finger, and instantly, the jar caught on fire.

I shifted my eyes to Rowena as her piercing scream filled the forest, and she was caught up in flames. Her harrowing wail was music to my ears as I watched her burn until her entire life was reduced to mere dust of ash.

I dusted my hands, sending a glance to the gray sky, and without a second hesitation, I zoomed out of the forest.

*****

Cirilla's Point Of View

I exhaled silently, leaning against the glass window to my balcony, as I watched the sun creep over the horizon and the warm glow of orange hues touched my face but honestly, I couldn't feel any ounce of warmth. I felt quite the opposite, and I wasn't quite sure if it was from the slightly chilled morning wind or the anxious feeling in my bones. Or maybe just both.

It's been almost a day since Mum had left, and so far, there's been no word from Uncle Ben, even though I know it should be considered good news, I just couldn't stop myself from feeling this way.

I buried my face in my hands, groaning, badly hoping Mum was doing a lot better in finding Asula, bringing back the phoenix blade, and finally, we could put an end to Mason.

I moaned internally at the sparks that breathed new fire into me as Asher's arms wrapped around my waist from behind and nestled his head on my neck. I placed my hands on top of his and sighed deeply.

“What's wrong princess? Can't sleep?” Asher's lips kissed my marking spot, digging me deeper into his arms.

“How can I, Ash? I don't know why, but I have this sickening feeling in my bones. It's awful. Like something wrong is going to happen. And I can't help but think what if mum doesn't come back in time, what if the phoenix stone still doesn't work on Mason, I mean it couldn't kill him s thousand years ago so—”

“Hey,” He turned me around to face him, cupping my cheeks. “Don't do that Ci. Don't torture yourself with any of that. You are simply worried, and I get it, but I'm positive it'll work. The blade would work and we'll stop whatever is going to happen. Mason is going to hell, I swear it,”

He kissed my forehead and I wrapped my arms around his waist as he hoisted me up in his arms and back into the bed.

I snuggled into his arms, trying to get some sleep but frankly, I couldn't.

Soon it was morning, and as usual, we began the day with some training, and then breakfast after that I decided to engage myself in more training with Shirley and Kayla. It was what I needed.

It was already past noon when we wrapped up from the training grounds and showered, strolling back to the mansion.

“Aunt Davina is the baddest queen I know and if she didn't think we could stand a chance against that asshole, she wouldn't have zoomed off into the past you know,” Shirley commented, shoving a branch out from her view.

She was about to speak again when It happened so fast. No one could have prepared for it. But we all felt it, almost like an explosive force of darkness in the air, contaminating everything and covering the sky in a gray mist, and dark clouds covered the sun. The next thing that followed was an ear-splitting ringing that sounded through the territory and my heart started thundering in my chest. It was the battle alarm.

Shirley, Kayla, and I exchanged glances, and in the next second, followed by a harrowing scream from the village nearby where some pack members stayed with their families within the pack lands.

Quickly, I shifted into Nina, adrenaline coursing through us at the screams that forced us to run our fastest with Shirley and Kayla behind us.

I shifted back to my human form as we reached the village and we were greeted by the scene of chaos. Women, children, and men running out of their homes with fear-stricken faces.

I heard them before I saw them. The alarming sounds of ghastly growling and snarling. A mist of dark smoke kept appearing around, and filling in hundreds of beasts that were the literal definition of hounds from hell.

Instantly, I felt my blood turn cold. And dread swallowed me up as I recognized these hellish beasts. They were straight up from one of Kali's memories. They were Mason's creations from the void, having Mason's pyramid symbols on their foreheads.

My body froze. Only my eyelids kept on moving as I blinked rapidly trying to process what I was seeing.

“What the fuck!” I heard one of the girls scream in pure horror.

“What are these things? How did they get into our lands it's enchanted,”

The cold feeling in my bones suddenly felt like a jab of knives stabbing me as my eyes lifted back to the darkness covering the sky.

This was it.

It was starting. This was happening. This can't be happening. Not now. Mason had finally made his move. He had torn open the void.

I glanced at the vicious-looking beasts as they bounced around at hurtling speed attacking those around.

“Run!!!” I snapped out of my shock and into action, bellowing at everyone around. “To the mansion. Now!!!” And more chaos broke around.