Stella's POV

"So this is an ikillic tree?" I asked Birch as she cut a root from the small potted tree, which was almost completely white. It looked sickly to me, but Birch insisted it was in its peak performance.

Birch nodded as she held the root to the light. It was almost translucent.

While Gray looked through the box of Else's things, he suggested me going with Birch to get the tree, which Birch said she had. I didn't really want to go with Birch, but there was something that told me that Gray wanted to be alone for a moment, so I agreed.

Now I was trying to make small talk with a girl that spent more time with Gray than I had ever done. Even though she said she wasn't interested in Gray, I couldn't help but still feel jealous of what I wished I had.

"Yup. This was actually Else's tree. She gave it to me months ago to watch over. She told me I would enjoy watching it more than she would."

"Hu. That's interesting."

"I thought so too, especially when this tree is pretty rare-" she said as she cut another root off. "There, I think that's enough." She showed me the two thick roots in her hands. "We should grind this before we get back to Gray."

I nodded as I heard breaking glass from behind. My head snapped towards the sound of it and saw the Umbra Mortine staring at me with a vase shattered at it's feet.

"Oops. Didn't mean to break that. Anyhow, do you think a simple spell will stop me?" it chuckled as it shifted to my reflection.

The fact it was listening to our plans, that it was preparing for us to attack, it was enough to freeze my blood. How could we pull a fast one on it when it was always around?

"Ah Stella. You got another thing coming if you think you can just free yourself of me this easily."

My heart beat a little faster as a lump appeared in my throat. There were very few things I was terrified of but the Umbra Mortine was something that scared me the most. I fear for what it could do and what it would do once it took control. It was pure evil, I could see that.

"Come on, Stella. You shouldn't be so dramatic about this," it sighed as it walked closer to me. "It's almost time now. I'm almost strong enough to overpower you."

It was trying to get me worked up, and it was working. Fear consumed me as I worried maybe it was a little too late to any of this.

"The ikillic tree would have been useful maybe a month ago, but now. I don't think that will do," it said as it picked at its black nails.

"Stella, girl, are you with us?" Birch asked as she waved her hand in front of me.

I shook my head as the Umbra Mortine and shattered vase vanished. "Yeah. I'm here," I said as I sniffled, trying to pull myself together.

"Do you see it often?" Birch asked as she followed my gaze to the empty corner.

She didn't need to spell it out. We both knew what it was. "Not that often," I lied.

"But daily, right?"

I twisted my mouth as if I ate something sour. "Yeah, it's daily."

Birch was silent for a moment as she thought about my honesty. "Well, we probably shouldn't waste any more time. Let's get this going."

She grabbed my hand and pulled me into a room beside her dorm, which had plants, tubes, beakers, and other scientific things that labs would use. She wasted no time as she ground the roots with a mortar and pestle.

"Did you know this tree is poisonous if you eat it? I found it really interesting that it was needed. Honestly, I found it interesting that Else had this tree to begin with," Birch explained. "It's poisonous and rare. Why would someone have a plant like that? Especially someone like Else. She looks like the last person who would have plants in her place."

I chuckled at the thought Else with plants. Birch had a point. Else didn't look like a plant person. Honestly, she didn't look like a person with many interests. "It was like she was ready for this."

Birch nodded. "Once a Forest Witch, always a Forest Witch. She probably saw this coming."

"Knowing Else, I wouldn't be surprised."

She poured the mashed white root into a plastic bag, then stuck it in her brown rucksack that hung on her shoulder. She then pulled out a book and flipped it open.

"Between you and me, I think Graywick wants the Umbra Mortine for himself," Birch said as she turned the page and pushed the book towards me.

I skimmed through the text, reading information about the Umbra Mortine and how it contained power. It was the bringer of death and because of that, could hold control over groups of people. I thought about the dream I had where bodies laid in the woods. The Umbra Mortine told me I was death if I didn't allow them control. Quickly, I shook my head to clear the image.

"I didn't think to tell this to Gray because he seems to get very worked up with everything related to you. But I thought you should know."

"Thank you."

"Of course. Just thought you should know. But anyhow, we should get back. Let's see if Gray has any answers," Birch said as she stuck the book back in her rucksack, then left out the door.

We walked back into Gray's room with speed. The sun was now setting, which meant we had little time until it we would cast the spell.

"So, did you find the blood stone?" Birch asked Gray as we walked into his dorm room.

Gray nodded as he held up a small black cut stone in his hands. It was not larger than a fingernail, which made me worried it was too small.

"Yes, this is the stone. Else had it in her things. Did you get the root?"

Birch nodded as she pulled out the paste she made.

"Great. I think we are ready then," Gray said as he grabbed the book that held the instructions. He then walked over to me, then placed the medallion around my neck. It was cold and heavy against my chest, which made me shiver. He then grabbed my hand. "Lets get this monster out of you, shall we?"

I nodded with a small smile. I just hoped that it would work.

The three of us walked out onto the grounds and found a quiet space to set up. Gray and Birch carefully followed all the steps, drawing a triangle in the ground and placing the book at the top of the triangle.

The more the two worked, the more nervous Gray got. Before long, he was pacing. He repeatedly read the instructions and glancing around as if expecting something to happen.

"This will work," Gray told himself, although it didn't sound convincing as I laid in the middle of the triangle, waiting for the moon to shine down on us.

"It should..." Birch said as she placed a gem on my chest.

As the moon shone above us, the stone turned red and hot to the touch.

She let out a sigh, clearly tiring of Gray's heightened emotions. "Could you just stop for a moment? We should get this underway, and we need you to focus."

I met his eyes and forced a smile. "I'll be ok," I reassured him as I took a deep breath in, trying to block out the sound of the Umbra Mortine complaining to me.

I pretended I didn't see it in the corner of my eyes, but it was there, telling me how hopeless all of this was.

He nodded, then stopped pacing as he looked over the protection barrier. His worried face changed into anger as he stared out in front of him.

"Hello Gray. Great to see you again," I heard Graywick call out.

That voice instantly caused me to shoot up from the ground. He came for me like Birch warned. Quickly, I stuck the gem in my pocket as I locked eyes with Graywick.

"Hey, Stella. How have you been?" he asked as he stepped through the protection barrier with ease.

"Don't come any closer," Gray threatened as he took out his dagger.

"Oh, that's poetic. Is that the same dagger you killed Else with?" he asked with a smile.

"Enough!" Gray shouted. "You don't deserve to speak about her."

I felt Birch step closer to me. She grabbed my hand and placed a plastic bag in it. I knew it was the paste from the ikillic tree. Instinctively, I curled my fingers around it, refusing to let it go.

"You need to run. On my signal," Birch whispered in my ear.

I gave one nod, then readied myself. I didn't know where I would go but Birch was right, I couldn't stay here in the open. It was dangerous, with Graywick approaching.

"Graywick, you are not welcomed here," Birch said as she stepped in front of me.

Graywick smiled as he flashed a gold bracelet in his hands. "This was Else's," he said as he tossed it to Gray. "Thought you should have it."

Gray caught the bracelet but didn't take his eyes off Graywick.

"Now, as much as I would like to talk to you, Gray, I'm actually here to pick up Stella," Graywick said as he tried to peer over Birch to see me.

"Run Stella," Birch whispered. "Run now."

I didn't wait any longer. With my heart pounding in my chest, I turned on my heels and ran towards the school.

A howl echoed through the night as I heard Gray swear. I couldn't slow down and see what was happening behind me. Instead, I needed to push forward.

I felt something wrap around my ankles, pulling me to the ground. I looked behind and saw the Umbra Mortine holding my ankle.

"That's new, but that's exciting," the Umbra Mortine said with an enormous smile as I got up from the ground.

I glared at my reflection, although I said nothing. The Umbra Mortine brushed itself off, then looked at Gray.

"You are selfish, aren't you? You can take Graywick, but instead you are running away."

This was not the time to argue. What happened at the library should not happen again. I wouldn't let it. Instead, I needed to flee.

As I opened the front double doors, Graywick stood on the other end.

He smiled at me as smoke came out of his blackened hand. "Hey. What do you think about coming back to my place? You can live like a queen there, like you deserve."

I shook my head as I looked back to see Gray and Birch fighting with another Graywick. "How are you in two places at once?"

"That's a Shifter for you. Get them on your side and can convince them to do anything for you."

"Gray! Birch! He's here!" I screamed before he pushed me across the floor, knocking the wind out of me.

I felt my head hit the wall with a thud, making my world spin. I scurried to my feet as my body shook.

"Stella, I forgot to mention, I actually need the Umbra Mortine. But I need it to grow in strength. I thought about just waiting until it was ready, but I'm not that patient," Graywick said as he walked closer to me.

"Stop. Please," I begged as I backed up against the wall.

"The thing was, the more I researched it, the more I found out how much raw power the Umbra Mortine possesses. And the more it stays within you, the more it grows. And I want that power for myself. I need that to keep my position."

I shook my head as I rose my hands. The color in the room faded as I felt stronger. Graywick frowned as the smoke stopped coming from his fingertips. I felt myself gaining the upper hand, but I wasn't sure how I could push him out of this place. A deep breath filled my lungs as I took a step closer to him, challenging him.

Breaking us from our moment was Gray's voice. "Father, please. Don't," Gray begged Graywick.

Suddenly, my concentration wavered as I locked eyes with Gray.

In one smooth move, Graywick wrapped his arms around me. With one hand, he placed his blackened hand against my throat, threatening Gray. "Sorry, but I need her. Probably more than anything else."

"She is my everything. Don't do this," Gray pleaded.

"One day you will understand. This is all for you," Graywick sighed, then opened a gate and pushed me through it.

I didn't have time to react or fight back. The last thing I heard was Gray yell at his father before the gate was shut.

I pushed myself from the floor and looked around the room I was in. It was the same bedroom I stayed in before Gray got me. "I will not stay here. You know that, right?"

Graywick smiled as he shook his head. "No, you will stay because if you don't, I'll kill your parents."

Instantly, I shut my mouth and backed up from him.

"Yeah, you heard me. I have Darklings in Jackson and one command from them, and they will know how it feels to have Darkling poison course through their veins."

"What do you want?"

He smiled. "That's the spirit. I just want the Umbra Mortine. If we can get that out of you, then we can get you back home."

"Fine," I muttered as I backed down.

"Great. We just need to wait a few more days until the Umbra Mortine gains strength. Then we can take it from you. Until then, make yourself comfortable. It's not every day you get to spend the night in a castle," he said, then left the room, locking me in.

"We can't let him get what he wants," the Umbra Mortine said as it came out from the shadows of the room. Normally it looked smug, but as it stared at me, I saw the fear in its eyes. It feared Graywick.

"Well, at least we agree for once. But he threatened my parents," I explained to it.

The Umbra Mortine smiled as it walked closer to me. "Good thing Darklings listen to us, isn't it?"

Suddenly, I was reminded of the times the Darklings listened to me in Jackson. The Umbra Mortine was right. They listened to us. Maybe we could get the upper hand in this.

"We just need to find a Darkling to relay the message," it said, then vanished.

Once again, I found myself in the castle that Graywick called home.