Chapter 74

Quietly and stealthily, I tiptoe through the halls. I’ve landed in the servant’s quarters, and I must make my way to the other end of the building.
I hide behind every large pillar holding up the decaying walls, and in every dark corner I see. I make my way to the main foyer and then I hear voices. I dart inside an open door and peek through a crack, holding my breath as I do.
Three servants walk by. I let out my breath as I watch them turn the corner, then I open the door slowly.
“Kayla?” a soft voice says. I turn around, and I am face to face with Lillian. I cross my arms and glare at her.
I cling to the pendant around my neck. She looks at me with blank soulless eyes.
“Well, well, I never thought I would see you here again, and returning of your own free will,” she mocks. There is a slight smirk on her lips.
“Well, if it is not the maid,” I spit the word maid at her with disdain. She was always shy and quiet before. Now she has a look of evil in eyes, and her lips twist into a creepy smile.
“He will already know you’re here. You will pay for not giving him his wish. You, my dear, have just signed your death warrant.” She sings these words in a cheerful voice. My stomach turns in disgust.
“You lied to me, Lillian. You pretended to be a prisoner here as much as I was. In reality, I find you’re as evil and as sick as the king.” I go to walk away.
“Hah, how right you are, stupid child. I will become the king’s wife and queen of the supernatural creatures. As soon as you give the king what he needs, that is. You see, you are the key. You will be the one who kills your friends and family. You will be the one who brings the other realms crashing down and into the rule of my Lucifer.” I turn to look at her. Her eyes dance with delight.
“But I’ve already played my part in that prophecy. I’ve opened the portal that’s given him his freedom. The battle is raging on…” I trail off. She laughs and gives me a phony smile.
“That is only the start, sweetheart. Lucifer wanted you to marry Cole so you would become his to control and so he could see the world through your eyes. He would use your body as a vessel, and your powers would be at his disposal. Don’t worry, my dear. He has found away to undo your bond with the angel.” I stand firm. “Once you give him access to the angel realm, he will kill you.”
She steps closer, and I fight the urge to step back. I stand firm. I will not show any fear.
“That’s crazy,” I say, looking her in the eyes. She laughs, a high pitch cackle. I leave the room, letting the door slam behind me.
I worry now that all this time Cole has really been Lucifer. Can he really use one’s body as a vessel?
I don’t have time to dwell on the question as I come to the door of the torture chamber. I’m surprised to find the door unlocked and slip inside, closing the door softly behind me.
I let an electric ball come to life in my palm. The ball illuminates the room. I gasp as I see my grandmother’s body dangling from the rafters. Her hands locked in metal cuffs and her head dangling forward.
I can’t reach her. I call her name and get no response. I look around the room for something to stand on. There isn’t anything. An idea forms, and I call on my power of the wind and hope and pray it works.
I float at a snail’s pace into the air. Once I reach my grandmother, I struggle to unlock the chains.
I pull and tug on the chains and cuffs, wracking my brain for something to come to me.
“Use your magic,” a croaky voice says.
“How?”
“Chains of death, break. Let this woman keep her breath,” a low hum of words reaches my ears. I only just catch the words. I repeat the rhyme, and to my amazement, the chains shatter, and my grandmother floats to the floor. I lose control of my wind power, and the floor rushes towards me.
“Are you okay?” I ask as I help her up. I can see her battered body and her visible weakness. I just want her to tell me she’s fine. She nods her head, and I orb to the maid’s quarters where the portal is.
Everything feels too easy. I look around waiting to be attacked. No one is insight.
Bang! I hear a door slam shut and jump and glance at my grandmother who is healing with every passing second.
“Go!” I yell at her, and she shakes her head and straightens her back.
Lillian rounds the corner with the king a few paces behind her. She has a wicked smile on her face, and the king’s eyes are ablaze with fire.
“Kayla, how nice of you to drop in,” he says in a cold voice. I keep my eyes on him. He stops a few feet away.
I pull power towards me, allowing it to gather in my palms.
“I knew you would come back. You are so predictable,” the king mutters.
I let the power loose as the pain in my hand becomes too much to bear.
The king and Lillian fly backward and crash into the stone wall. He recovers quickly and shoots forward in a blur. Before I have time to react, I am lifted into the air by my throat. I can’t breathe.
My grandmother freezes Lillian, her wicked laugh and joyful face is frozen in time.
I try to concentrate and pull my power to me. My mind grows foggy. I manage to pull some power. I fear it’s not enough though. I grab hold of his arms, and he jumps back, letting me go.
My grandmother grips my hand.
She chants in an unknown language. I find myself able to repeat her words. An electric cage shoots up around the king and Lillian.
“Quick, it won’t hold him for long,” Grandmother says.
We go through the portal and land back in the middle of the fight. There is so much blood the ground runs with it. Bodies and body parts scatter the area. I place my hand over my mouth. I feel physically sick. The beautiful countryside is set alight. Torched. Soon it will be nothing but barren land. The thick plumes of smoke affect my chest. I cough and splutter as we fight our way through the demons and our own army.
I see a glint in the distance. I know what it is. The music box told me it will guide my way.
Three demons charge at my grandmother. I kick one in the ribs and elbow another in the face. I shoot an electric ball at the third and run. I leave my grandmother to fight alone.
There is something I must do. She’s strong enough to look after herself. The glow becomes stronger. I can feel it calling to me. I hear my name and turn around. Chris is fighting his way towards me. I can see the sadness and panic in his eyes.
He knows what I’m about to do. All this time he knew what I must do. I mouth, “I love you,” and orb. I can see his shocked face in my mind.
My heart feels broken and torn. I look at the shimmering blue portal below. It looks beautiful, it sparkles and glints. I look down at the raging battle and see there are more demons than our army.
We are failing. It won’t be long before the demons win. I must do this.
“Kayla, don’t!” Chris’s voice echoes in my mind. I ignore him. I must do this.
“There is no other way…I’m sorry. Tell Clara I love her, and not to be sad. Tell my grandmother I am sorry. I know she was just trying to protect me. I love you, Chris. I caused this mess. My blood opened the portal. My blood must seal it shut. One life to save many,” I run and leap into the air.
“I love you, Kayla.” I hear his tear-filled voice in my mind as I fall. I close my eyes and let gravitation do its job.
“I call to thee, to help me set my people free. Send them back from whence they came. The kingdom of darkness shall be the place they claim.”
I utter the spell I memorized from the ancient book. Blue lights gather around me. Then everything turns black. My mind feels at peace as calmness I’ve never felt before claims me.