I collapsed under the pain. A cold surface touched my burning face as my vision darkened several times. I tried to push myself up, tried to get away but my energy had been drained. I felt tired, exhausted even. But with the little strength I had left I threw a surge of dark magic at the Boss, knocking her over as the shadows surrounded her and sunk into her skin. Cry's presence began to lift from my mind and I entered his following his trail.

I felt his energy surge through my mind and give me enough strength to take control of his body. All his memories and the memories of the people he'd killed flashed through my mind but I was used to it. I was used to this pain.

I felt Cry panic when he realized what I'd done and was quick to try to push me out. But I had taken just enough control to transfer myself from Cry's mind to the Boss's. I felt the cold touch of her mind seep into me and mentally shivered. I could see through her eyes and saw my body laying limp across the room.

I saw the cold hand of the Boss raise and a ball of light emit from it. I saw it flying towards my body and felt my energy cut off. I slipped back to my body just in time to roll away, having gained enough energy to barely climb to my feet and shadow jump from the room.

I gasped, stumbling over tables and chairs in an empty classroom. I tried to run to the door leading outside but stumbled and fell, my body aching and burning. I felt a rush of wind push past me from behind just as my vision faded and I fell to the floor.

~

I heard mumbled voices as my vision began to return and I tried to lift my head. My arms felt numb and sore and my head ached. I managed to open my eyes enough to figure out I was being held up by balls of light around my wrists.

"Ah, you're awake," I heard the Boss say and I let out a hiss.

"I know what you want," I said coldly. "You won't get it."

"Oh, don't you see. I already have what I need. You. As irritating as it is for my sister to be alive she is weak now. The only thing that threatens my power is you and that boy. But you weren't as big a threat as I thought you would be," the Boss chuckled.

"You used to be kind, Amber. What happened?" I breathed out, feeling the light draining my energy.

"People change."

Suddenly the door slammed open and Mark burst into the room. Immediately Mark went next to me to make sure I was okay. After seeing I was somewhat alright he stood in front of me to face Amber, who surprisingly didn't attack while he worried over me.

“I know why you want to kill him, Aura told me everything,” he said to her as he raised his hands. Only now did I notice the light around my hands had dimmed slightly. I can probably break out of them if I can just distract the Boss for a second...

“Not everything,” Amber responded to him looking completely unfazed. “I bet she didn’t tell you that I wasn’t going to kill your lover. I was just going to weaken him enough so I could take the power he stole from her. I also bet she didn’t tell you that I’ve never had control over dark magic. Can’t say the same for her though…” she continued to say. But, how do you take one's magic without killing them?

“Then why do you run a villain school?” Mark asked her in a confused tone. He was probably just as confused by her words.

“With darkness there must be light, with light there must be darkness, blah blah blah, you get where I’m going,” She said now sounding completely disinterested in the conversation she’s having with Mark. Her face suddenly shifted though to one of a darker look.

“You know what? I’m just so SICK and TIRED of every SINGLE PERSON blaming me for all the faults and praising my “angelic” older sister for all the good things that happen,” Amber said now in a more angered tone as light magic began to leak out of her body. It was kinda disturbing since I was used to only seeing dark magic do that.

“You know what else! Aura, the person you look up to so much. Haha… She was the one who darkened your father’s heart. All that torture and pain you felt because your father became a warlord. That, was all Aura~ You can thank her for killing your mother,” she said now in a more sinister tone towards Mark.

I saw Mark take a step back after hearing the new information. Taking his shock to her advantage; Amber threw a ball of light at Mark causing him is get thrown against the wall. Getting the distraction I needed I broke my cuffs and threw a shadow ball at Amber. I saw Mark quickly get up to help, but this time he looked angry. Very angry...

I saw him eye down Amber, he wasn’t moving so I assumed he was trying to calm down and plan his next move. But moments later I saw Amber get thrown into the air and against the wall, she tired to stop herself but it didn’t work. Mark began to walk towards Amber, she tried to get to get up, but something seemed to be holding her down. When Mark got to Amber, he grabbed her by the neck and held her up before speaking in a much darker tone.

“Yoú’̢re͢ l҉uc̡k͘y ͝I ̀t̕ook̛ ̛c͠on̛t̢rol, ͡i̸f it̨ ̡werȩ s̛t҉íll͝ ͞hi̷m you͡ w͝ou̵ld́ b̴e ͞d̀ead.”

He held Amber in the air for a few more seconds to watch her struggle before letting her go and walking towards me.  When he got to me he said nothing but put his hand to my back lightly and directed me out. I let him guide me, knowing about the force field and that only shadow jumping could occur inside the school but not to get in or out of the shield.

We continued to weakly walk in silence out of the school and back to the control centre. When we got back I gave him a hug and a quiet thank you. I looked at him and he gave me a weak smile, just like the ones I gave him when I was distancing myself from him.

I gave him a long kiss before pulling away for air, by now my energy had regenerated enough to stand by myself. I was now strong enough to hold my own ground, and finish an old task.

“I’m sorry,” I said to Mark sincerely before shadow jumping back to the base to finish some unfinished business.