Something cold dripped onto my face, waking me from the spell-induced sleep. I bolted upright. I was in a small stone room. There was nothing in the room except one small bed in the corner of the room. Large open windows lined the walls, along with a small fireplace. A blast of cold wind blew the curtains allowing the sun to shine through. My eyes widened as I looked out the window, and my stomach lurched.

I was high, very high. I could see the entire city of Listra along with the small patches of trees surrounding it. Where exactly am I? I wracked my brain. I had a killer headache.

Then it all came rushing back to me.

Isaac! Oh god, Lilith! I frantically looked around the room for a way out, but the only door led to a small cramped bathroom. I noticed a small balcony to my left. Gathering my courage, I stepped out. The wind whipped through my hair. I clung to the railing, searching for a way down, but there wasn't. I quickly realized that I was in one of the highest towers of the castle.

BANG!

I whipped around. Lilith suddenly stood there, a smirk on her face. Beside her was a human-sized hatch on the floor that hadn't been there a minute ago. She had come in alone, probably to torment me.

With that thought in mind, I felt immense anger and reached out an open palm. "Collumino!" I yelled.

To my horror, nothing was there.

Lilith laughed heartily. "You really think I would let you keep your magic? I put a dampener on you the second Isaac brought you back to me. It's stronger than the one your mother had placed on you and the one I imbued in that bracelet."

"Where's Isaac, you monster? What did you do to him?" I spat.

She sat on the bed and sighed, pretending to massage her temples. "Oh goddess, you're starting to sound like a broken record. Isaac is resting until I have need of him, that thorn in my side! He couldn't leave well enough alone ever since that attempted kidnapping in the plaza." She shook her head at me as if she was disappointed. "My, oh my, what you should be asking is what I'm going to do with you."

I stayed silent, my heart pounding hard in my chest.

Her lips curved up into a smile. "Well! Since you decided to snoop around my office to find that book, I can't let you run around and tell the staff I kept precious Isaac's cure a secret. They would get suspicious! And rightly so, seeing as I was the one who sent the Stalkers."

I nearly jumped out of my skin. I was right all along! "Why... Why would you do that? He's your son! Don't you love him?" My legs felt weak.

Lilith scoffed. "Love? Love is fickle and fleeting. I thought I was in love once. I was tortured, experimented on, and raped until I bore that man a child. I fled to Arvora carrying my newborn. I wanted to leave him in the Deep Grove, let the Elves have him... but I couldn't. He was mine, after all—my baby boy. I loved him even though he looked up at me with the same eyes as the man I thought loved me. But then he grew up and looked so much like him..." A tear rolled down her cheek, which she quickly brushed away. Her expression turned ugly. "I had hoped that after I got you to help me with my plans, Isaac would run off with you to the earthly plane, and I would never have to be reminded of my past."

"What are you planning?" I asked with suppressed rage, fists clenched hard to restrain myself from jumping at her.

Lilith's previous face turned into a coy smile. "Wouldn't you like to know?" She slowly sauntered into the middle of the room and reached for the long thick chains attached to the floor.

My blood ran cold. I quickly bolted towards the hatch in the floor but was quickly frozen with a wave of her hands. I scowled at her as she clamped the cold metal over my wrist. They started to glow, and I felt my energy drain from me. She released me and I fell, my body aching.

"You," she huffed, "Are going to stay in here until you're weak enough to be controlled. Then, you're going to perform my spell for me. I don't have nearly enough power to use it, but you do." she scoffed as she pulled her gloves off revealing blackened fingers. "I found that out the hard way. Magic isn't without its drawbacks, I suppose. But then again, I should have known. It is such a big undertaking."

"Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a lot of preparation to be done." She laughed, then exited down the hatch. I watch the heavy wooden door close and disappear, my hope disappearing with it.

I struggled to sit up, the heaviness of the chains pulling me down. I slowly and painfully crawled towards where the hatch had been.

"Someone help!" I screamed, hoping someone would hear me like Ember or maybe one of the guards. I banged on the floor, screaming until I became hoarse, and my voice was nearly gone.

"Please... anyone..." My voice wavered. Pain radiated up my arm as I lightly tapped the stone floor. My energy was waning, night had fallen, and I was quickly losing consciousness.

Where was everyone? Why hadn't anyone heard me?

The door to the hatch shook and hope spread through me. Did someone finally hear me? A familiar black bun emerged from the floor.

I quickly bolted towards him but then stopped. He was carrying a small food tray, his green eyes dull and vacant. He was still under control.

"Isaac?" I whispered brokenly.

My breath hitched when he turned to me, his face devoid of any expression. He placed the food down on the floor next to me and stiffly pointed at it.

"Eat," he said flatly. There was no warmth in his voice at all. It was just cold and monotone.

Without saying anything else, he turned his back to leave me.

All alone.

No! I desperately threw myself forward and wrapped my arms around him.

"Please... Come back to me." I sobbed. He stiffened and held onto my arms. "You have to fight this! You're strong, Isaac... I know you can fight it," I pleaded.

I silently prayed to the goddess to help him. To break the hold Lilith had on him. We stood like that for a few minutes and I started to hope. I felt him tremble as his grip on me tightened. Was he still in there? His heart beat wildly in his chest and his breathing quickened.

He let out a sinister chuckle and my heart broke at its coldness. "Fool."

He forcefully pried my hands off of him and harshly pushed me away. I yelped when my back hit the ground. Pain shot up my back, making my head woozy. I was sure my ribs were bruised from the force. Holding back a groan, I pushed myself up with my elbows to look up at him.

He just blankly stared at me.

No reaction at all. Nothing of the man I kissed back at Hopper Pond. It had been so long since I felt his gentle caress. So long since I heard him say my name. I just want him back. God, I would do anything!

I hung my head down and shut my eyes, hot tears escaping. Rage was boiling inside me. Without my magic, there was nothing I could do. I couldn't climb down without falling several stories.

When I heard the hatch close, I let out a shaky breath. He was gone. I peered at the tray of food. It was a couple rolls of bread and a glass of water. A flashback of his blank face and Lilith's mocking laughter appeared.

I didn't feel like eating.

Still sobbing, though quietly now, I slowly crawled onto the bed and hugged my legs to my chest.

This isn't fun anymore. I want to go home.

A sudden jolt of lightning awoke me. Thunder clapped above and shook the walls. Panic surged through me as I got up and rushed to the windows to try and close them. Rain pelted the floor and wind whipped through my hair. I held my arms up in front of me, blocking several leaves and rocks that flew by. I finally managed to get a hold of the window panel, and my eyes widened in shock.

The entire sky was covered in a swirling purple storm. Thunder rolled through and lightning struck multiple times. If I weren't terrified, I would be fascinated. Was this a part of Arvora, or was this all Lilith's doing?

Giant beasts flew in the distance, trying- unsuccessfully- to fight off the storm. Were those the Denali? They certainly looked like dragons. I pushed hard against the windowpane to get it to close. The wind was so strong, but I managed to get the windows closed. I sank to the floor. The chains that bind me clatter against the stone.

Every minute the chains zapped my strength and I couldn't access my aura. If only I had stayed in that manor. If only I hadn't panicked. Isaac would have been better off not knowing me.

Tears stung my eyes. All I could do now was cry. I was pathetic, just a pawn in Lilith's game. What was she even planning?

Thoughts of Luna and Isabella drifted through my mind. Had they been telling the truth? Was my mother really still alive? And I had a sister... a twin? Why keep us apart? Why all these secrets? I was so sick of all the lies!

Hours passed as I silently lost my mind in the cold tower. I watched the storm continue to grow. Smoke filled the sky as fires started all over Arvora from the lightning. I could barely lift myself now. Soon Lilith will come to me and make me do her bidding. The dragons were no longer in the sky, and the swirling mass of purple light had grown into a massive hurricane.

Suddenly something flew out of the sky. It was hurtling towards the tower. What is that? More objects followed, some small and some large. They flew in various directions and crashed into the ground. One came crashing through the window, completely shattering it. I slowly crawled over to it. The object was covered in ice. Gently taking it, I brushed off the chunks and tried to unfold it. It seemed to be some type of cloth. I finally managed to clear it off to see what was on it.

It was a shirt. Strange... My heart sank into my stomach as I read Union Prep Varsity. My head shot back to the hole in the sky. It was a portal! My heart raced as I watched more things come through from Earth.

The hatch burst open and Lilith came through. I tried to sit up, but my muscles didn't want to work. All I could feel was utter exhaustion.

"What is the meaning of this?" I yelled.

She smiled. "All part of my plan." She waved her hands, and the chains lifted, pulling me to her. I groaned at the pain from earlier and now, barely able to stand upright.

She led me down the tall tower. Her magic holding the chains helped keep me standing. The stairs never seemed to end. After several minutes we finally reached the bottom and through a door that led directly into Lilith's office.

No wonder no one came looking for me. They'd all been fed lies, and no one ever really comes into Lilith's office except Isaac and I. Lilith released me from the magic holding me up, carelessly dropping me on the ground.

"What are you planning? Destroying Arvora? Earth? What could you possibly gain from a giant portal?" I breathed.

"This isn't about me, but Arvora. We've been stuck in a rut for centuries. All the sickness and poverty, there's no easy way to travel between. The only way to fix this is to bring a bit of the earthly plane into our world!" she exclaimed and started to pace. It seemed like she was trying to convince herself this was right. She's gone insane! "Once this is finished, the dreams from the goddess will subside," she whispered, her smile widening as she gazed up into the sky.

Dreams? "What about the people on Earth? Won't they be hurt?" She was a madwoman! This can't be the right way!

Lilith waved her hand dismissively as she pulled out the hefty black tome. "I'm only taking a piece, Elizabeth. What are there now? Like seven billion people? This is the only way for Arvora to grow!" She pulled me into a circle encasing an eleven-pointed star that had been chalked into the floor. Candles surrounded us and sage burned in the multiple corners.

This is it, she's going to take everything from me! Though all my tears had dried up and I couldn't cry anymore, nausea clawed at my stomach. Lilith grabbed a thin knife and I paled.

I attempted to move away, but someone came up behind me and firmly held me in place. I glanced up and saw Isaac... Oh, Isaac. His grip was tight around my arms, which would undoubtedly leave bruises.

"Now hold still dear, this will only take a moment, and it may hurt." Lilith calmly approached me with the knife. I closed my eyes and looked away as I felt her cut across my palm.

I whimpered. "This can't be what the goddess wants!"

Lilith froze. Her cold eyes met mine as anger radiated off her. "Do not speak of what the goddess wants! You know nothing. She has spoken to me in my dreams." She sneered and snatched my bleeding hand and squeezed it until it filled a small bowl. "I know what I must do, and you can't stop me." My stomach did somersaults at the sight of my own blood. I felt like I was about to pass out, but Isaac jerked me awake, still holding me in place.

I frantically looked around the room for anything I could use. But there was nothing but pain. She soon dismissed Isaac and started to pour my blood onto the floor, tracing symbols.

Isaac stood near the door, blank as ever. My head throbbed- thoughts of our night before all this started came flooding through my mind. How I wished I could go back to that moment. If only I could free him... But I had no magic. I was nothing but useless to him now.

My forehead suddenly tingled, reminding me of the tattoo that appeared after the goddess came to me. Had she known this was going to happen? This can't be what she wants. As I looked back at Isaac, the tattoo seemed to burn. Could it help? How would I even use it? The goddess was obviously trying to tell me.

The burning got increasingly worse. I closed my eyes and focused. What could I do? An image of Hopper Pond flashed across my vision and my eyes shot open. It couldn't be that simple, could it?

It's now or never.

Lilith grabbed her book off the table and started to chant the spell. " Per mandatum meum." Inky, black tendrils branched off her and slithered towards me.

There was no way I could fight her, not without my magic. Energy surged within me as I once more bolted towards Isaac. Please let this work! I prayed to the goddess.

Before anyone could react, I wrapped my arms around his neck and whispered, "Come back for me."

My lips pressed hard against his and willed the golden magic to flow from my tattoo into Isaac. Free him, I pleaded. I held back my tears- his lips were still as soft as I remembered. How I wish he would return my touch!

The tendrils Lilith had conjured soon reached me and sank into my head, pulling me away from him. My body spasmed in pain and everything was becoming hazy. I saw Isaac's eyes clear and widen before mine rolled back.

Her ritual to control me was complete.

©2021 Jessica Powell. All Rights Reserved 

-Thank you to my wonderful editor Arco