A soft click sounded, then the noise of bolts being released within until the door released its latch and slowly crept open in
front of us.
Shoving me forward, he held the sword against Ornella still. We all stepped into the hall where the portal stirred in
greeting. The torches that surrounded the room lit up in welcome, revealing the tall pillars of black Obsidian stone. And finally
at the end of the room stood the large portal decorated with the symbols of the moon cycle.
“Well, start the ritual!”
Dorian addressed Panya as he started to lower his sword. I caught Ornella’s beautiful hazel eyes as she stared at me. Both
of us at that moment were wondering what was going to happen next and how I was going to get us out of here.
I needed to get her away from Dorian, that would be my first step. Preparing to lunge myself at him, Panya sent her magic
towards me. I flew through the air, landing hard against one of the pillars. The female mage bound my body with the same
magic that wrapped around Ornella’s.
“NO!” I shouted, twisting, trying to break free.
“YOU SAID, YOU’D KEEP HER SAFE!”
I shouted at Panya who ignored me as she stepped towards Ornella, pulling from her waistline a jewelled encrusted dagger.
Lifting up one of Ornella’s wrists, she sliced down it, creating a large wound. The air was sucked out of me as Ornella
squealed in pain. Ornella’s eyes met mine again as a trickle of a tear ran down her cheek. She mouthed the words‘it will be
okay’as I thrashed against Panya’s magic.
I couldn’t understand why she was so easily able to control mine. This wasn’t right, something didn’t feel right. Watching
then as Ornella was taken towards the portal I continued to shout. Shouting for my sisters to hurry, begging my shadows to help
release me.
Ornella’s bloody hand was placed against the side of the stone. The ground immediately shook with the connection,
rippling and starting to glow. It would only be a matter of minutes, ten at most, until the door was completely shattered.
Releasing the very monsters that lived behind it, allowing them to step through.
Chapter 67
ORNELLA
Icould feel every drop of blood as it flowed through me into the portal. A painfully slow process, but I would do it if it
meant keeping Nicholas and the others safe. He would be able to close the portal before it was too late. Then he would
destroy Dorian. I was ok with the fact I may not survive. That I may not be here to see them succeed. It would be okay, as
long as they did.
“Why is this taking so long!?” shouted Dorian as he paced the bottom of the steps.
