Tainted Rose

by Yumoyori Wilson

  Her arms crossed as her right hand rested against her chin in thought; her supporting hand held her wand in place as she stared; her eyes assessed me from head to toe. “Have you been feeling different?” she questioned, eyeing my reaction as my body tensed up.

  I took a nervous glance at Eli; her emerald eyes opened to meet my gaze. They glowed before she nodded, urging me to explain what I’d been dealing with. I assumed Daniel and Ryder had explained to the others what had happened, just in case I broke down again. I looked back at Winterlya before replying.

  “When...I was in the coma, I was engulfed by darkness. No sound could be heard as my essence simply floated for hours. I couldn’t track the time or where I was. I didn’t even know if I was in a body. It felt as though my soul wandered in an empty, black sky, where no one knew me and at some point, I didn’t know who I was either. All I knew was I was lonely, emotion that gripped at me over and over until I accepted the fact I had no one...no friends, no family...my spirits were gone, too. I was nothing.” I bit my lip, as I tried to control my trembling hands. I hid them behind my back as I gazed to the floor.

  Although Daniel had taken the darkness from me, I could still vividly remember the way it felt. It was something I couldn’t forget, no matter how many spells were casted over me.

  Footsteps approached me; Winterlya’s dress came into my line of vision. Her hand brushed against my cheek before she lifted my head; the tear lingered in my eye spilled down and crashed against her fingers.

  “It’s okay. Can you finish?” Her voice was soft and filled with empathy; her expression of acceptance gave me enough courage to continue as I nodded.

  “Eventually, I began to hear voices, the boys and Eli singing to me. Finally, I felt the darkness start to leave me, pieces of it breaking off and I was free. Yet, it didn’t completely leave me. It continued to haunt me whenever I closed my eyes, or if I was left alone for a long period of time. In some ways, I was afraid of it, yet, other times I knew it was a part of me. It was a battle against the darkness inside me and I simply wanted a way out. I asked Daniel to rid me of it or at least dim it down, so I could actually live my life, even if it is temporary. Am I sick? Or is this the result of me having multiple spirits and pushing over my magic limit. Can it be fixed...or am I broken?” I explained before the number of questions poured out of me as they swarmed my mind, craving answers.

  I wondered if she could see my desperation; the need to confirm if my mental status had declined or if by chance, this was a phase.

  She gave me a sad look; my heart sank as I assumed the worse. I am broken.

  “You’re not broken, Princess. Far from it. I think I know what the problem is, but you need to trust me. We can’t try it here for chance of breaking anything, so we’ll head to the forest. Your knights should be here any minute, so we’ll go together. But I will warn you, I don’t know how you’re going to react to it.” she acknowledged, her eyes closed momentarily in concentration. Those silver orbs resurfaced as she opened them, nodding to herself before giving me a gentle hug.

  I didn’t hesitate, my arms wrapped around her as I enjoyed her warmth.

  Was this how shifters were supposed to comfort one another? Was this what I’d missed all these cycles, wishing for anyone to listen to my worries and fears? If so, I was happy that I’d been able to be surrounded by such loving individuals during this situation than back at the facility.

  She pulled back before her face became serious. “Regardless of what happens, nothing is necessarily wrong with you mentally. However, I need to do this in order to prevent it from going that route. Do you understand, Princess? This may hurt, but it will potentially solve the loneliness and darkness problem. I just need your hundred percent trust on this.”

  I didn’t need Hope’s power to hear the truth in her words. She wanted to help me, her expression and the way her hands gripped my shoulders told me more; as if she herself had once experienced my exact predicament. I gave my best, determined look before nodding.

  “Yes. I understand. I’m fine with pain. Been there, done that. Anything to fix this problem. I want to feel like myself again and I’m worried about Midnight, too. If I can do something to solve such concerns, then I’ll do it with no questions.”

  Something about Winterlya made me feel relaxed, not afraid that she’d hurt me in any way, intentionally.

  “Let’s go to the forest. EliaseAnne, I’ll need you nearby. Inform the others to gather outside the barrier I place, but you need to be within it. Understood?” She gestured to Eli who nodded, pushing off the table to walk towards the forest.

  After a body scan, courtesy of Daniel who’d arrived first before the others, I stood in an open field deep within the forest.

  Eli had directed us to the untouched area not far from the house, but in an area that would be difficult to come across without a sense of direction.

  Winterlya was a few feet away, Eli next to her. I could see the worry in her eyes as she stared at me from afar, but I tried to ignore it. I already had to deal with the flood of questions from the boys after they caught up to us, anxious as to what Winterlya had planned.

  Apparently, she’d taught them during their teen cycles back at Heila, helping them strengthen their designated elements, but she must have been a strict professor; their immediate silence when Winterlya’s eyebrow perked up as her silver eyes landed on the group, gave me such an impression.

  I swallowed the lump in my throat, doing my best to calm my nerves as I stood there, waiting for Winterlya’s signal. Such events reminded me of the day I lost Lily, our failed mission to escape the walls of the facility resulted in her death. It had been awhile since I’d pondered about her. I hoped the stars treated her well. Maybe she watched me as I stood here.

  “Makoto. You ready? As I explained, just relax. If you can’t bear the pain any longer, let us know,” Winterlya announced. Her hands fell to her side, and the silver wand in her right hand glowed.

  “Okay,” I replied, my eyes landed on Eli’s.

  She gave me reassuring smile, informing me that she’d be right here if I needed her.

  “It’s just a test. Nothing to worry about,” Hope stated softly.

  “You don’t sound confident at all,” Lexi pointed out, dryly.

  “Hush up, Lexi!” she argued.

  “Didn’t Mako JUST say we got along well and now you guys begin to bicker?” Rose complained, sighing.

  “They’re just anxious. We all are,” Lily defended.

  “Such bickering isn’t helping Mako, you know,” Rose replied.

  “None of your comments are helping us,” A toneless voice announced.

  I blinked, Midnight resurfaced piquing my interest as the others fell silent.

  “Midnight? Are you okay?” I questioned. I didn’t know how long we’d have before she faded, let alone until we started this apparently, painful procedure.

  “I’m fine. Thank you. I’m here to protect you from whatever happens. Don’t fear,” she comforted before fading. It felt nice to hear her comforting words instead of reading them off paper. Maybe one day I’d get to hear her paragraphs of poetry.

  “Let’s begin.”

  Winterlya raised her wand – the silver object floated as three magic circles emerged beneath her and Eli as they began to turn clockwise, spinning faster and faster.

  Her wand was engulfed in light before a figure formed, the light dimmed to reveal a large white owl. My eyes widened, the pure white feathers reminded me of Nightmare’s white fur. Not only did its outer appearance demand attention; the power emitted from it was enough to send familiar signals to my brain; my body shivered at the realization.

  Another Starlight god...no way.

  I was caught up in watching the familiar flap its wings as it kept itself up in the sky; so entranced by its light blue eyes, I hadn’t noticed the dimmed shouts coming from outside the barrier.

  I turned my head in the direction of the sound, my eyes squinted to try an
d make out the blurred figures. What’s the commotion about?

  I looked down to see black hands poking out of the soil below; my body grew stiff at the reminder of my nightmare – the hands that dragged me into darkness.

  I didn’t dare move as the hands began to rise; the scream that begged to escape me was caught in my throat as I was frozen in place.

  “Winter! Is that supposed to happen?” Eli’s voice panicked.

  I wanted to look up to see what was happening, but I couldn’t glance away, in fear I’d lose track of the frigid cold hands that crawled across my skin. It’s just a test. A simple test, to rid me of the darkness. It’s probably just an illusion. Yes, an illusion.

  My self-talking fell on deaf ears as I tried to sense my spirits, their presence suddenly gone. Now, I began to panic. I tried to move my body, but the hands were already around my waist; my hands clenched.

  The crippling cold made me shiver as my teeth began to chatter. It felt as if my blood cooled – my breathing became rapid as I struggled for oxygen. I heard banging against the barrier and Eli’s frantic voice, but everything faded; the darkness now reached higher, the thick slime like substance rubbed against the mark on my chest – the mark of my Owner.

  That’s when the pain began. Agonizing, crippling pain that forced a scream out of me. This wasn’t like anything I’d felt – nowhere close to the electrifying shocks that had soared through me during our trial sessions or the pain that bore through me when I saw Lily’s head detached from her little body. This pain could kill, and I was dying.

  I knew what dying felt like, my heart stopped on a number of occasions during those intense trials prior to Midnight’s awakening. Death crept around me, but someone always stopped him from taking me away; the woman with the long, strawberry pink hair came to my aid before I awakened in a jolt as the assigned scientist removed the shocking pads.

  The darkness was at my neck now, my body unable to move as I continued to scream from the pain, tears rolled down my cheeks.

  “Makoto, endure it. You need to embrace this side of you. Give the darkness a chance.”

  The unfamiliar voice begged; I struggled to open my eyes, my surroundings no longer the open valley, but pitch black. The only sign of life was the woman before me – the woman who always saved me from death row.

  “But it hurts! How is this a part of me! The darkness is evil, isn’t it?” I cried to her, wishing she’d understand the immense pain I was in.

  “Darkness is nothing but an element. Just as there’s light, such a part of nature assumed to be good and everlasting, there is darkness. My child, only humans and shifters believe that Darkness is bad or evil. It’s wrong to make such judgments. Darkness can be used for good with the right intentions. Just as light, water, fire and the other elements can be used to cause destruction and devastation to our lands.”

  “But if you’re here, it means I’m dying. You always show up when I’m dead,” I argued, trying to wrap my frantic thoughts around her words of wisdom. Her mismatched turquoise and pink eyes reminded me of my familiar, wishing she was here with me.

  The woman smiled.

  “You’ve taken care of me when you could barely walk and even after all these cycles, you’ve shown the same compassion with no knowledge or memory of my existence. The least I can do is save you from my father’s clutches. It’s not your time Rosalina, my sweet Mako. But your spirit needs to be fully awakened, or it will overpower you and my Father will have no choice but to claim your soul,” she explained, frowning as the last words left her; her sadness apparent.

  “Night...mare?” I questioned. I struggled to breathe; my body grew cold as the darkness reached my face; already covering my hair and neck.

  “In time, I’ll explain, but this needs to occur, or Midnight will do more harm than good. For Midnight, Makoto, accept the darkness. Such admission will reward you with power and clarity. I’ll be by your side when you wake.” She finished, her image faded away as the darkness covered my face, my breathing stopped.

  Accept the darkness...for Midnight. I accept.

  ~ELIASEANNE~

  “MAKOTO!” I screamed her name as the thick, dark sludge covered her whole. I heard the others frantic voices through the bond we shared, but I muted it, my concentration needed to be focused on Mako.

  I was ready to launch myself forward, my power erupted in me as I began to shift. A wave of power hit me, strong enough it lifted me off my feet; my body landed on the grass a few feet away. I blinked in shock, as the powerful waves kept coming.

  Winterlya stepped in front of me; her hand spread out as a silver magic circle emerged, shielding us from the ongoing, burst of power.

  “Winter. What’s going on?” I screamed through the bashing wind, the power that hit us only became stronger.

  “The spell I cast did not get rid of the darkness. It was to unlock Midnight.”

  “Unlock Midnight! What do you mean unlock? She wasn’t trapped?” I accused, anger ran through me as Elias attempted to take control. I shoved his rage down, overpowered his attempt in retrieving his body. I stood up, approached her as she continued to block the intense waves.

  I noticed the beads of sweat formed at her temples as her breathing picked up. Shit, if Winterlya was struggling this is serious.

  I needed to interfere, but she needed to tell me exactly what was happening.

  “Midnight is most certainly a spirit. With what Matthew told me and the little information Makoto just explained, it was enough to tell me that she had to be her fourth spirit. Mako’s fainting spells and the feeling of darkness and loneliness wasn’t due to her surpassing her limit. It’s due to the ongoing suppression of Midnight’s powers. Midnight was awakened by force; not by the grace of the gods. Such circumstances led to her only partially being able to come forth – resulting in Mako having to be unconscious for her to take control instead of taking control on her own. Midnight was incomplete and that is why I needed to unlock the restriction on her,” she explained.

  Fuck, Midnight.

  Just the confirmation that Winterlya’s speculations were true, Midnight being a spirit, made me even more fearful. Whatever was happening could potentially kill them both.

  I wasted no more time, shifting into my Fairy form with ease as the power gathered within my flickering wings, flapping them at a low speed to stretch them out.

  A black wave shot out from the dark cocoon encasing Makoto; Winterlya cursed under her breath. I stepped forward, slashing my hand through the air, summoning a wave of wind. They clashed together, dissipating in a loud burst. Winterlya sighed, lowering her hand as the magic circle vanished.

  I could see her exhaustion, adding in the travelling and amount of power she’d exerted summoning enough magic to remove the lock on Midnight.

  “What spirit is she?” I demanded; my eyes glowed with power as I began to gather my magic. I had a wild hunch, but there was only a one percent chance of such a possibility, but knowing Makoto, anything was possible.

  “Midnight is a Dark Fairy.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  I awakened to darkness – it’s cold, welcoming embrace clung to my skin, as I floated around; my body nothing but a ball of light. I couldn’t see, nor hear anything as I continued to float by. Who am I? Where am I? Wasn’t I here before?

  I couldn’t quite grasp why I was aware of my circumstances, but my mind continued to buzz away, in attempts to figure out my situation. I was doing something important, wasn’t I? It’s so cold here...I’m lonely.

  Time seemed to slow as seconds turned to minutes, and minutes seemed to pass into hours.

  I wandered around, felt my being continue to float, until I started to remember fragments of information.

  Darkness. Acceptance. Power. Midnight

  My memories returned; the thoughts of Midnight lingered in my mind.

  Yes, Midnight. Is she here? The thought of Midnight being encased by the darkness during the hours I’d been in control hurt my hear
t. I couldn’t imagine being entrapped in such a cold world, alone with no one to talk to. Is this why she’d felt so alone till we bonded? If this was where she’d resided when I was in control, I’d have no more of it. She deserved a chance to enjoy the light, the world that I’d finally been able to experience. She’d helped me survive this long; battling the hardest challenges. I never could have won without her aid. Everyone would have died the night of the exam without her quick thinking and exertion of power to save the others before ourselves.

  “For Midnight, Makoto, accept the darkness”

  Nightmare’s words echoed through me. I needed to accept this cold, desolate place. If what Nightmare said was true, darkness could be used to do good, and Midnight wanted to do many good deeds. I wanted to support her new mission, to give her a chance to experience the world through my eyes like the other spirits. The cold was simply a part of the darkness; I needed to accept it with open arms.

  I focused my concentration on myself; my wandering soul came to a stop. I felt warm, another mind brushed against the walls of mine – Midnight.

  “Midnight, is that you?”

  “Why are you here Mako? You should be up there in the light,” she questioned.

  I could only picture my copy of her – those midnight blue eyes blinking as she tilted her head in confusion at my presence. If I was one with my body, my heart would bleed with unbearable sadness as reality sank in.

  “Is this where you’ve always been? When I’m awake, is this where your mind stays till summoned?” I needed to hear her confirm my suspicions.

  “Yes. I know it’s cold...and lonely most of the time, but you get used to it,” she admitted, her voice seemed as if she was brushing off the matter like it was nothing.

  “I’m sorry Midnight. I’m so sorry. This isn’t right,” I cried. I would have been in tears if I could cry; my voice the only method to express how hurt I felt.