Chapter 72- Whispers In The Wind

Levi was struggling with his emotions. He wanted to tell her what she meant to him. The way she looked at him with hope and determination sent his heart racing and a flock of butterflies to take over his stomach.
He wanted to kiss her, hold her, and never let her go, yet deep down he knew she deserved more than him. He would only bring her more pain and misery.
She lifted her head from his shoulders and the desire in her eyes drove him over the edge.
He couldn’t fight his heart any longer. Softly he pressed his lips to hers in a feather like touch. When she didn’t pull away, he kissed her harder until they both clung to one another as they both deepened the kiss.
***
Crystal lifted her head. The pain that shot across her skull caused her to lower her head again. Opening her eyes into slits she then snapped them open. She screamed against the pain that made nausea rise.
Her mother stood in front of the tree that held the portal. Her sisters flocked each side of her while Levi was tied up at the side of her.
“What are you doing!” she yelled at her mother.
“What must be done,” she said splashing water over them both. She looked in the direction of Ruby. Her eyes were blank as she stared ahead. In her hand she held a gem.
“Ruby please. Don’t let her do this,” she pleaded with her sister. Slowly Ruby turned her head in her direction and cocked it to the side.
“Ruby!” Crystal screamed and she saw a flash of recognition flitter through her eyes before they became blank once more.
“Don’t bother. The darkness has too much of a hold on her. She is a slave to the shadows now,” Jeanette tutted.
“Repeat the words after me,” she said to her sisters who nodded. Crystal surveyed her surroundings. Seth and Mary were nowhere to be found. “Levi, Levi wake up,” she shuffled closer to him and used her foot to tap him. He was also tied up and her movements were restricted.
“Where in trouble,” she whispered as her mother and sisters chanted.
Out of the corner of her eyes she saw a movement turning she watched as Ruby moved from the line. Slowly she crept up behind her mother. Crystal narrowed her eyes and caught a flash of sliver.
“Ruby no!” she yelled as Ruby stuck a knife into their mothers back. Pearl’s scream was like a dagger to Crystal’s heart.
“My father may not have been able to choose. But I can,” Ruby said coldly as Jeanette eyes went wide.
Dropping to her knees and placing a hand over her wound she gazed up at Ruby who had no remorse.
“This is all your fathers doing. You child are naive and now you will pay for your mistake,” Her mother’s words were low as she struggled to breath. Blood dripped from the corners of her mouth as she took her last gasping breath. Crystal stared on in horror; her scream had caught in her throat.
“What have you done?” she asked Ruby, struggling to say the words. Her other sisters all stood motionless.
“I did it. I killed the wicked witch,” Ruby confessed proudly.
“She was our mother,”
“You hated her too,” Ruby pointed her finger at Crystal her eyes flashing red.
The necklace on Ruby’s neck went up in flames. Crystal could smell her scorched skin as she screamed out in pain. Two large puffs of black smoke rose from the ground and two figures began to take form.
“Dad?” Crystal said in shock.
“Henry Hudson you are now free. Ruby Hudson you are now enslaved,” A bold headed man with horns on his head said in glee.
The same man that Crystal had seen her mother with the day she had been locked up to stand trial.
“What? Wait!” Crystal yelled trying to get to her feet with her legs tied at the ankles.
“Henry Hudson, you played the game well. To trick your daughter into taking your place was one hell of a move,” Henry bowed keeping his eyes averted from his children.
“You tricked me!” Ruby yelled taking big strides she swung her hand and slapped their father across the face.
“It was easy. Fake my death and enchant another to look like me. You all fell for it. And you Ruby you fell in line and did exactly what I thought you would do. You put on that necklace and did the act of greatest evil. You killed your mother,”
“How could you?” Crystal asked him in a small voice. The man she had looked up too for love and guidance had betrayed them.
“After years of being a slave to demons. One shall do anything to be free,” Henry grinned and vanished.
“Now, Ruby. I give you one hour. Then I shall return,” The bold headed man vanished in the same black puff of smoke.
In a fit of rage Ruby tossed a fire ball that lit the candles that surrounded them. A bright flash of light instantly blinded Crystal. The world seemed to rotate around her, and her body lifted from the ground. She looked down to see the light spreading over the forest. From the air she began to descend at lightning speed. The ground rushed towards her. Then everything became still.
“The two worlds are now one.” She heard a familiar voice say as her body filled with dread.