The wind whipped Megan's hair as the lifeboat descended towards the castle. As they neared the castle, the vessel stopped.

Megan turned to Jace. "You don't have to come. I can handle myself."

"Are you kidding?" He replied. "I wouldn't miss this for the world."

She stood, one foot on the edge of the craft. "Which one?" Without waiting for an answer she leapt out of the boat and landed in thin air. Taking four more steps, she dove forward, rolling to a stop on the floating island. She looked up and back to watch Jace extend his rope and pull himself to the castle. They walked through the gates together. The huge oaken doors closed behind them by themselves.

"Well, that's not at all ominous." Jace stared back at the closed doors.

"Just another day with the Sky Raiders." Megan brushed it off.

Something rumbled inside of the castle.
"Here we go." Jace held his rope at the ready.

Megan gripped her sword. "Just like old times."

He smirked. "Let's see if you've gotten any better."

"Funny." She responded. "I was about to say the same thing."

The doors separating them from the rest of the castle flew open to reveal a lithe woman with long silvery hair and smooth, pale skin. She wore a sleeveless dress that tied around her neck and hugged her torso tightly with a flowing skirt. Her slender ears ended in points and her eyes were a piercing blue.

She looked almost surprised to see them standing in her foyer. "More guests? So soon?"

"Uh... Who are you?" Megan looked around the room confused.

"I'm your host of course." The woman released an airy chuckle that echoed through the room like wind chimes.

Jace stared at the woman.

Megan narrowed her eyes something was off.
Suddenly, she realized that she was alone.
Both Jace and the woman were gone.
She took off into the castle. Whatever this woman really was, she had convinced Jace to follow her. Megan had to find him before something bad happened to him. She was starting to see why Bly had failed.

The castle was a maze, a labyrinth that seemed to change whenever she got close to her goal. It was like it didn't want her to find its master.
When she reached yet another dead end, she fell to her knees in exasperation. There was no way she could catch up to them. Not like this.
Her eyes flashed black and white. She blinked it away, but paused. This could be the only way to save him. Taking a deep breath, she let the power overtake her. Her right side seeped inky shadows and her left shot rays of light through the hall. She thrust out her right hand and the wall before her exploded into a rain of pebbles.

Beyond that, the woman stood over an unconscious Jace, a pair of fangs visible in her open mouth.

Megan groaned. It just had to be a Blix.