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There was a knock at the front door, interrupting her thoughts and she practically jumped out of her chair to go answer it. As bad as it would be when they had to face the dark spirit, even more so she hated waiting.
Hazel pasted a wide, and what she hoped was an innocent looking smile across her face, warning the dragon warriors still sitting behind her to play it cool with a pointed look cast over her shoulder. Finally ready, she opened the door.
A very serious Elizabeth stood in her door way and Hazel’s heart sank pitifully as she noticed almost twenty council members standing behind her like an army ready to march. That was almost half of the entire high council standing in her front yard!
“We know you’re all in there, so you might as well join us!” the Mother Guardian’s voice rang out like steel against iron, echoing in a way that had even the two dragon warriors instantly on their feet and facing the crowd of disapproving faces alongside Hazel.
“We have heard all about your plans to confront this so called dark spirit without permission or consent of the council, Hazel Domitreu.” The same council member, the one with the face stern enough to make rocks line up and pay attention spoke form Elizabeth’s side, and Hazel’s stomach lurched at the censure in her tone.
“We…I…”
“He is not ‘so called’, council member.” Nika’s interruption stalled her from having to make up some excuse, for which she was more grateful than she could say. But then he continued speaking and she could see the ire rising in the council member’s eyes.
“He is one of the most powerful dark spirits to wreak havoc over this country, and you owe us some merit of respect for imprisoning him hundreds of years ago, witch.”
Hazel could have groaned. That was definitely not the tone to take with a member of the high council, let alone any witch. She cast him a sideways glance, trying to warn him, but it was too late.
“At least, give us some credit for not being complete idiots.” Jayce added unnecessarily. The Mother Guardian snorted loudly at that, pretending not to see the glare he sent her way.
“Well, despite all…that,” Elizabeth waved dismissively in the air, gesturing toward Jayce and Nika who were still standing, glowering. “You said it yourself. That was hundred of years ago that you imprisoned him. We have new ways of doing tings, ways that work better even that some of the ancient ones.”
Elizabeth paused, giving them all a look sharp enough to cut. She opened her mouth to continue but the now furious council member beat her to it.
“You will do nothing!” She spat at them, “you will sit her like the children you are, and do as you told.” There was a little too much malicious glee in her voice, and even the Mother Guardian seemed a little taken aback by the vehemence in her voice.
But no one had any time at all to respond before a scream sounded from the back of the crowded group of people. Every one turned at the terror in that cry, and it was then that Hazel saw him. That nightmare face grinning like a corpse straight at her. The face that had her blood freezing to ice right where she stood, rendering her totally immobile.
No one else seemed to be as effected as she was as everyone else exploded into chaos. Shouts and screams echoed loudly across the front yard, but time seemed slowed all at once, the sudden noise reduced to nothing but a low hush as she watched, petrified as his mouth began to move, revealing a gaping maw filled with dripping black like oil, or congealed blood. Just like in her dream.
And just like in her dream, fire followed. A heat so intense she could feel the hair on her arms shriveling as they burned away. And still she couldn’t make herself move. There was only one thing she could do, the thing she had formed a habit of doing when ever she was scared or in trouble, and boy was she in trouble now.
Hazel closed her eyes, the hardest thing she’d ever done, and thought of them. The golden eyes and laughing mouth that always invited her to join. The strong, caring arms and glimmering silver yes, so often lost in thought. She focused her mind sharper and though about them harder than she had ever though of anything else in her entire life and lie a miracle, they were there.
