The Prisoner of Fate

by Jacob L White

  "Please!" I screamed, only to be drowned out. I tried to grab his arm and pull him back but he wouldn’t budge.

  The Garnog hit by wind and ice holding him in place. Black lightning struck the side of him. I looked to a beat up Tye, his brows furrowed in concentration. Every seven was fighting but me. The Garnog continued to laugh as more magic came at him.

  "More! More! Show me your desperation!" The demon called out.

  Jovanni walked right past the demon and came at me.

  I stood up and stared him down. "Why?"

  "A woman seven. Have you lost your mind?"

  Jovanni held up his and I was immobilized on the wall. "This is a sacred order and you thought you could just come here and be one of us? Join the ranks of the chosen?"

  I tried to speak but his magic was holding my mouth shut. How could I get Aster’s attention?

  "You are a fool for coming back."

  My nostrils flared. I worked my shoe off and kicked it at the back of Aster’s head. I missed, but he still turned around. He immediately set his wind on Jovanni but it hit an invisible shield.

  Jovanni raised his hand and Aster went flying to the Garnog. The monster turned to wait for him. All the magic that was thrown at the him started to collect into a multicolored ball. The demon sent that ball into Aster.

  "No!" Time slowed. The ball flew into Aster’s stomach and his skin glowed red and black. He screamed as his skin melted off his bones. His screams stopped and his body flopped down next to me.

  "A gift," the Garnog echoed.

  It couldn't be true. Not like this. Aster had done nothing. I looked to his lifeless eyes and his still glowing skin. He looked like he was sleeping.

  "Aster..." I whispered. "Aster, please." I started to cry. My feet left the ground. "Aster, dammit! Get up!"

  Nothing.

  "Please, no..." I reached for his hand. I wanted to touch him. Give him my life instead. He didn't deserve this. "I'm so sorry..." More tears fell and I screamed facing the demon.

  "I'm going to kill you!" I thrashed, trying to escape Jovanni's grasp.

  I was going to kill them all. I screamed and screamed. My other boot flew off, leaving me barefoot. I put my feet against the wall.

  "It's over, Noah. Just accept your fate." Jovanni said. Magic was still being casted at the Garnog. Jovanni and I were just in the background. Nobody was coming to save me.

  I grew warm and started sweating. There was no way that it was going to end this way. My feet dug into the wall behind me. I felt it crack behind my feet. The sensation of a hand around my neck became visible and I began to mentally peel them off one by one. I fell to my knees.

  "Impossible,” I muttered to myself.

  I stood slowly, in a haze. I drew my sword and charged at Jovanni. He blasted me back. I stood again, but the force was too strong and sent me backwards again.

  "I will kill you." It came out as a snarl.

  I charged again, ignoring my wounds. I felt even hotter now. It was easier to ignore the pain. I charged again and felt more power come into my legs. Jovanni was starting to sweat and my hair stood on end. He cast on me again, but nothing happened.

  "How..." He stumbled backwards. He held out his hand again but nothing happened. He tried to run but I just held up my hand. He shot into the air and his legs kept moving, as if he were still trying to run in mid-air. I couldn’t help but smile.

  I had the magic now. And vengeance was my calling. I closed my hand and Jovanni's head slowly crushed in on itself. Blood and other fluid dripped down his shoulders, leaving the rest of his body limp.

  The fight against the demon raged on, but I didn't care.

  I walked over to Aster and held him in my arms. The glowing had faded, and he was just him. I gently placed his head in my lap. My tears dripped down onto his scarred face.

  Elise came over and bent down next to me. Her tears matched mine as she placed her hand on my shoulder.

  "I'm so sorry," I got out. Then, I started to sweat as the events raced through my mind. Aster was gone, but it wasn't Jovanni's fault alone.

  I kissed his lips and stood to face the demon. “Watch him…”

  “With my life.” Elise answered.

  A blinding heat took me over. I floated in mid-air, screaming even louder.

  The demon turned to me. “Yes. Show me your despair.”

  His words sent me over the edge. "Fine." I felt the magic soar into me. I absorbed everything that was sent towards the demon.

  It was so much that I became a blinding light.

  I was awakening.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Awakening

  My skin was on fire. I didn't know what to do. I felt magic enter me from everywhere. I was absorbing everyone's magic.

  Flames erupted all around me. Everyone in the stands ran, trying to get away from me and the Garnog.

  I had become just as dangerous.

  My voice came out, encouraging all to leave. "Go from here!" More heat rushed into my body and I could to see my veins. I wasn't going to make it. I was going to implode just like in the stories I learned in class. There had never been a case of a female surviving an awakening.

  I concentrated. I couldn't let that happen. Not yet. There was still too much to do. I closed my eyes and drank in the magic. Instead of fighting it, I took it all in. As I absorbed the magic the Garnog was free to move now and came right for me.

  "Yes. Yes!" he shouted. He raised some type of scythe limb and tried to cut me down.

  A shield erected around me and I blocked its attack. There was too much magic for him to pierce. He let out a guttural roar and tried again. He still tried to cut into my shields, but it was no use. He beat on the barrier harder, faster. My skin started to cool. It was no longer burning. I took control of my breathing again and I felt like for the first time, my eyes were open.

  Everything was clearer. Everything sharpened, and I had magic. I could feel it in my veins, my fingers, my chest. It was everywhere and it was mine. I floated back down to the platform and realized I had become a seven. I waved the shield away and the Garnog's scythe came down on me. I lifted my hand and I caught it.

  "Impossible!" The Garnog said.

  I crushed the scythe beneath my fingers. The demon screamed.

  "Believe it. You can feel this, yes?" I squeezed tighter. Orange fluid left his arm. I wasn't paying attention to his other arm. It came around and smashed me into the wall.

  I stood up and shook my head clear. "That almost hurt." I ran at incredible speed, unsheathing my sword in the process. I went straight for its gut, slicing it open. A thick orange fluid spilled out. The wound sealed before I could do anything else.

  "More!" The demon’s arms waived me forward.

  "So be it." I continued to cut him, over and over. His blood or whatever it was, stained the platform. Everyone who remained stood there in awe. No longer were they helping. They were watching history, even if they didn't know it.

  The demon’s wounds continued to heal. I wasn't making any progress. I backed up and looked at the beast.

  "Do you understand now, child? I cannot be slain. I am everlasting. You are just a mage."

  "If that's true, then why is your limb shaking?" The limb disappeared into his body and repaired, striking out in the shape of a large hammer.

  "Come take a closer look. Tell me if it's shaking when I crush your little head."

  I jumped up higher than I ever had and cut the limb off. In mid-air it grew again and hit me in my back.

  I winced at the impact. I slide to the edge of the platform and slowly stood. He hit me again. I crashed into the ground. Before he struck a third time, I rolled off the side of the platform and I slingshot back over his head due to the enchantment preventing anyone from falling off.

  I stabbed my sword deep into where its head should have been. I then gripped my weapon, and slid down its back, cutting him in half.

  He was slower to regenerate this time but still, his fl
esh mended together like wet dough. There was a crease where I had attacked.

  "You will die. Even if it’s the last thing I do," I told him.

  "It might very well be." He laughed and charged me again.

  The hammer continued to destroy the platform, sending debris across the training floor. I couldn't afford to lose my footing now. I had to try something else. I remembered that some sevens could enchant their weapons.

  I pushed the magic into it, and a blue haze crept from the bottom to the top. I stabbed the beast again and he screamed. The same discolored orange oozed out of the wound. The wound tried regenerate, but my enchanted sword must have inhibited his wound in some way. I made more and more cuts while he was struggling. Still no wound healed.

  I wiped sweat clear from my forehead. I was losing energy fast. The Garnog’s movements were sluggish and his body started to collapse in on itself to close the wounds I had made. I was making a difference, but I wasn't sure how much longer I could go on. My adrenaline was gone, and I started to feel the pain he inflicted on me.

  "Not yet," whispering to myself. In my field of view, I noticed my summoning circle and they were both still intact. Running over I slid across the platform and willed the candles to light again. I didn't bother with the salt, since he was already released.

  "No!" the demon shouted, limping over. "I will not let you send me back."

  I began chanting the un-summoning spell. The Garnog let out a guttural growl. The mountain began to shake all over again. I knew this was the right plan to rid ourselves of him.

  "Keep him off me!" I yelled to whoever remained.

  The council members and a few remaining students acted fast. They used their magic to hold back the Garnog, making its focus the council once again.

  I began my chant again. I spoke faster and faster, remembering every word that was placed into my head. I reached the last word and said the demons name three more times, just like before.

  The small black hole appeared. The hole grew to match the size of the Garnog, and a strong wind began sucking everything in. The demon screamed and grabbed onto three students. Their screams filled the air. The Garnog’s grasp didn’t falter but I couldn’t stop the summoning.

  "Save them!" I yelled to the council.

  No one moved.

  “How about me?” Elise said running up behind me. She held her hands up and the three students became invisible. But then she created the scene in front of me that showed the students running away from the demon.

  The Garnog screamed.

  But I still knew the students were being dragged to their doom.

  I called on my magic and tried to cast a sharp wind to sever the tie from the creature to the caught students. The wound wasn't deep enough to detach its appendage and I had no idea how to cast magic. I screamed and more wind came from me.

  "Aster, give me your strength," I whispered.

  The wind cut right through the demon’s arm.

  I smiled.

  I had done it. But I celebrated too soon.

  The three students reappeared and scrambled away from the Garnog. Elise looked to me and smiled. In an instant a long red arm came over my head and took hold of Elise.

  Elise screamed as she was lifted into the air.

  I conjured more wind but I missed the appendage. He was moving too fast and half of the demon’s body was already in the hole.

  "No... No!" I screamed jumping at the hole but I was too late.

  The hole shut. I clawed at the ground until my nails bled. "No! Elise!"

  I couldn't take any more death. I stood up and dropped my sword stumbling backwards. What had I done? Looking all around the destroyed platform my gaze fell to Aster. My feet automatically went towards him. I fell to the ground next to him.

  "Child..." A voice called to me from the council but I ignored it. I took Aster’s head into my lap and rocked.

  "Aster, please wake up now. It's gone. Please. I don't know what to do.” More heat erupted from me. My emotions were getting the better of me. I picked Aster up and took him to the council. “Heal him!" I yelled.

  "There is nothing we can do," the elderly man answered.

  "I wasn't asking. Nor will I repeat myself." My hair stood on end covered with fire.

  The council stood, ready to defend itself. "You would dare challenge us?"

  "No... Just please bring him back to me." My hair fell back to my shoulders and my shoulders slouched down. More tears fell from my eyes.

  The elderly man met my gaze, then lowered his head. "There is no spell that exists that can do that. I'm truly sorry."

  "I can't accept that..." My voice faded off.

  "Put your hands on him, child," a female voice spoke into my mind.

  "Who are you?” I said turning around panicking. I reached for my sword but I had left it at the summoning circle.

  "Easy. I am you. Your awakened side."

  "I don't understand." I looked back down to Aster.

  "You will in time. But if I bring him back, it will severely weaken you for some time," the voice echoed in my mind.

  "I don't care. Bring him back!" I yelled to the open air.

  "I will need your help."

  "Anything," I whispered, looking into Aster’s lifeless eyes.

  “Child, who are you talking to?” The elderly man said but I didn’t have time for his questions. I ignored him and focused on Aster.

  "Listen carefully. Place your hands on his chest."

  Without questioning what was happening, I did.

  "Now, fill him with your magic. Imagine pouring a cup of water. Fill him the same way."

  I closed my eyes focusing on my magic the way she advised. I imagined a cup filling up with my magic. It was all different colors. The process left me weaker and weaker as the magic left me. My sight began to waiver and the world was turning upside down making me dizzy.

  "Stay with me." The voice said in my mind. Just a while longer. You can do it. Anything for Aster.

  I pushed more magic into him.

  "Okay, hang on. And don't lose hope." The voice encouraged me.

  Then, everything went black. I looked around and all that remained was Aster and I. He was still unmoving, but his body had healed.

  "Aster? Are you with me?"

  Nothing changed. What was happening?

  I stood on shaky feet. I felt like I was standing on water and couldn't quite get my balance. I kneeled back down and looked to him.

  "Now would be the perfect time for you to awake. I’d really appreciate it. Don't leave me here alone." I continued to whisper to him. I couldn't give up hope. I had to remember the voice's words. I told him of my life growing up. The fights I’d gotten into and even how I kissed another girl. I stroked his head, waiting, but nothing changed.

  I stood up and threw a magic spear at the blackness and the darkness rippled in all directions.

  Maybe...

  I threw another but nothing happened. Just more waves. I closed my eyes and threw all my magic at a singular spot. I didn't know what I was casting, but I did it anyway.

  A small hole opened. I could see the outside world, including the platform from where I sat. The hole closed.

  "It's impossible," I heard the councilman say.

  Again. Again.

  I threw Aster over my shoulder and threw all my magic out again. I walked over to the hole. I was so tired I started to stumble. I didn't make it in time.

  "He is dead, child!" more voices said.

  "No," I mumbled as I held on to Aster and cast one more time. My magic was so erratic. Lights sparked everywhere. I tried to visualize the small hole, but I couldn't get it through. So, I had to do it with brute force. I sent the magic into my hands and ripped it open myself. The hole was big enough. I threw Aster out of the hole and saw him sit up and cough in the outside world.

  It was like I was in two places at once.

  I smiled.

  But the voice was right. My energy was gone. I got
dizzy and fell over. I was going to be trapped in this place.

  The witch stood before me. "Stand child. Assume your role."

  I blinked. "My role?"

  She offered me her hand and I took it. "You have been so brave. Now, more than ever, I know it's you."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Questions for another time. Now, Aster waits for you."

  I looked through the hole and now our positions were reversed. I was dying.

  "Are you the voice inside my head?" I asked the witch.

  "No. I am just a messenger."

  "For who?”

  "No more questions. We will meet again, and I will answer all you seek. Now, it's time for you to go before you cannot."

  I looked to the hole and climbed through. As I did, it was my eyes I was looking through now. I was looking up at Aster. I had made it back.

  "That’s it. Come back," Aster said.

  I kept pushing through and my eyes were fully open now. I put my hand on his wet face.

  "You are alive." He brought my head into his chest. Aster cried into my hair.

  I grabbed his arm and squeezed. "Yes, yes I am."

  He bent down to kiss me, and I no longer cared. I kissed him back with all the members of the council looking down at us.

  He backed away. "You are still burning up."

  I felt my hair and it was still flowing upward.

  "I don't know how to stop it."

  "Just breathe... calm down."

  I closed my eyes and I did as he said. My body calmed, and my skin cooled. It was working.

  He nodded. "That's it."

  I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I smiled up at him. I placed my hand on his face. His face became blurry from my wet eyes.

  The council began talking with one another.

  “How is this possible?” I heard through the chatter.

  I didn’t have any answers for them. I didn’t have any answers for myself for that matter. All I had was Aster.

  "I love you. Thank you for coming back." I whispered.

  He shook his head. "I love you, too. Never scare me like that again."

  "You first." My eyes fluttered shut. I couldn't hold on to consciousness anymore. I was just so tired. Once again, I was entombed in darkness.