CHAPTER 144: MY LITTLE TRIP
I thought about it for days, I had to act fast. As the days went by, Emaline’s intentions became clearer than ever, and Kieran was walking right into her trap.? Telling him directly was a gamble, one I wasn’t sure he’d believe.? So, I needed a plan.
The only solution I could think of was to return to the Coven.? They were the only ones who could tell me what I needed to know.
“Where are you going to? You are all dressed up.” Kieran asked.
“For ante-natal babe, I’m still pregnant,” I chuckled.
“I know darling. You look gorgeous,” he pecked my cheek, “maybe I can come with you.”
“Oh no, I thought you said you had a meeting. I do not want to drag you away from that.”
“It’s not as important as you and my child.”
I smiled, “Don’t worry, I’ll be back before you know it. The head maid will take me.”
But I left the palace without the knowledge of anyone as I headed into the Wilds.
Every rustle of leaves and snap of a twig sent my heart hammering against my chest. But the thought of Kieran’s safety pushed me forward.
Finally, the familiar clearing came into view, the modern structure standing there.
I pushed open the wooden door as usual, they were aware of my coming as the forest might have told them.
The witches were seated in the same arrangement as before.
“Greeting our queen. What troubles you?”
“Kieran the King, his nightmare returned.”
The red-haired witch turned sharply to me.
“That’s not possible. How did it return? Did you doubt the reversal ritual?” She asked.
“I didn’t do anything but Emaline did. And now she is at the palace preparing for a final ritual that she claims would end everything but I think there is something more attached to it.”
“Emaline, what is she doing at the palace?”
I looked at them, “she claimed that she had been sent by her mothers to help the king. Did you not send her to the palace?”
“We banished Emaline from this coven months ago for practicing forbidden magic, for meddling with the balance of life and death.”
My jaw dropped.? “Banished? Oh, my goodness, then what is she doing at the palace? She… she lied to us all,” I stammered, “The ritual… it’s not to save the King.? It’s to…”
The leader didn’t need me to finish the sentence.
“She wants to use Kieran as a vessel to bring back someone she’s lost.”
“Oh shit,” I was right it was just as I had thought.
Time was running out.? I had to get back to Kieran, to warn him before it was too late.
“Thank you. I need to get back… I need to tell him.”
“We’ll help you. But hurry, Emaline won’t waste any time.”
I hurried back through the forest with Kieran in my mind. Emaline might have started the ritual. The thought of losing Kieran to some witch made me wish I could fly. As soon as I got to the palace. I rushed towards Kieran’s chambers, my heart beating faster than I could imagine. But as I flung open the door, my head spanned. The room was empty.
“Kieran!” I screamed, my voice echoing through the empty room.? There was no answer. Where was he?? What had happened? I thought.
Suddenly, a heavy blow struck the back of my head and I fell to the ground. My vision was blurry but I could see her looking down at me.
By the time I opened my eyes again, my wrists were bound tightly behind my back, and a gag around my mouth. I panicked. I was locked in a small, bare room. With just one window.
The gag muffled my screams as I desperately strained against my restraints.
Tears my eyes. I couldn’t tell where I was or if Kieran was still out there.
The wooden door creaked open, and Emaline stepped into the room. She smirked.
“Clara, what a mess you’ve gotten yourself into.”
“What… what have you done to Kieran?” I growled; my voice muffled by the gag.
Emaline tilted her head.
“Oh, your precious Kieran. He’s just fine… for now.? But don’t worry, you’ll be reunited very soon.”
“Where is he?”
“Preparing for our little ceremony,” she replied, “The one that will bring him back to the light… and bring someone else back to me.”
I writhed against my restraints, as the urge to reach out and strangle her with my bare hands overwhelmed me.
Emaline’s smile faltered slightly, “Don’t struggle, dear,” she said, “It won’t do you any good.”
She reached into a pocket and pulled out a small vial filled with a purple liquid.? My eyes widened. The ritual.? She was going to start it without me.
“No!” I screamed, tears streaming down my face.? “You can’t do this!”
Emaline ignored me,? “Silence,” she said walking towards the door.? “The time has come.”
She shut the doors as she walked out.
I fell to the ground again breathing slowly. I couldn’t let her win. She was still with the vial which meant that Kieran was still alive and there was time to save him.? I wouldn’t let her win.? There had to be a way out of this.
I looked around the room and my eyes fell on a broken pottery lying by the wall.
Focusing all my energy, I strained against the ropes binding my wrists. My muscles burned as I plunged forward and grabbed the piece. I began slowly and steadily seeing the edge of the broken pottery on the rope.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.
I heard heavy footsteps outside,? Emaline was coming back.? I had to work fast.
Finally, with an extra tear, the rope came loose.? I ripped off the gag from my mouth, gasping for air.
Ever since I was banished from my land, I had developed a swift skill from unlocking doors even with a piece of pottery shard, and in a bit, I was out.
Emaline had taken Kieran into the chamber. With a deep breath, I rushed towards the door but it was locked. I had to find a way in and stop her.? Pushing open the door, I stepped into the chamber.
I stumbled on my step as soon as I walked in. There it was in the middle of a pentagram drawn in glowing runes. Her eyes were shut, she couldn’t have cared that I had stepped in if she knew. She was chanting in ancient words and her voice rose in every passing second.
In the middle of the pentagram, Kieran lay strapped to a stone altar.
“Kieran!” I heard the quaver in my voice. But he did not respond. His eyes were shut but I could see his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths.
“Stop what you are doing,” I said moving towards Emaline but she was far gone in what she was doing. I didn’t know what exactly to do next. She took up the vial containing the purple liquid and poured it into the heart of the pentagram.
It sparked letting out a flare which rose into the room with a mist that filled the air with a choking smell. My eyes began to feel hot from taking in too much of whatever it was.
With each word she chanted the symbols on the floor glowed brighter, casting a bright light in the room.
I retraced my steps watching the lights increase.? I couldn’t let her finish this ritual. I shut my eyes for a second, the lights weren’t letting me think.
As soon as I opened them again, I scanned the room.? My eyes landed on a small bookcase tucked in a corner.
Perhaps there was something I could find within the pages of the books. Anything at all that could stop her from completing the rituals and taking Kieran away from me.