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SO CONFIDENT. IT'S GOING TO BE HEARTBREAKING ONCE YOU REALISE THAT YOU'VE NEVER LEFT.
Suddenly, the world evaporated. It was like the people around Macey suddenly dissolved into mist and drifted away, leaving her alone. Well, not quite alone.
Amber was by her side. There was nothing else. Not even colour. They were standing on a white floor, but there were no walls, no nothing. Just endless whiteness.
"Amber?" Macey asked carefully, "Are you seeing the same?"
"If you mean a lot of white, then yes. And no Izban." Her voice was quivering slightly.
THE NEXT TIME YOU'LL SEE HIM WILL BE ON THE DAY OF YOUR DEATH.
"Stop being so dramatic!" Macey shouted, trying to convince both herself and Amber that they needn't be afraid.
The Voice ignored her.
LET'S CONTINUE WHERE WE LEFT OFF EARLIER.
Mist drifted into the air around them, forming shapes and colours, until they were suddenly back in the courtyard where Macey had first laid eyes upon Amber. She still didn't know what that girl was, except that she was strong. Incredibly strong.
"I will get out of here, I will get out of here," Amber began to whisper, a desperate mantra. "I will get out of here. I will..."
YOU WON'T. NEITHER WILL YOU, LITTLE KELPIE.
Without warning, they were ripped apart, flying through the air until they landed roughly on opposite ends of the courtyard. Ignoring the pain in her limbs, Macey jumped to her feet. She could guess what the Voice was planning next.
BEITHIR. KILL HER.
A beithir! Finally, Macey knew what Amber was. And it scared her a little. She didn't know a lot about beithirs except that they could kill in a variety of ways. Their fangs were poisonous, they could control the weather, they could fly and attack you from above. When they shifted, of course. So far, Amber had stayed human, which is why Macey hadn't figured out her species before. It was hard not to recognise a shifted beithir... there weren't any other supernaturals that looked like a giant snake.
Amber was still on the ground, weakly trying to get to her feet. She'd expended too much energy; she wasn't going to be much of a threat.
But... when had reality been taken over by the Voice? Had it been after Amber attacked Macey with lightning? Or before? If it was before... then Amber would still have enough power to do another such attack. And Macey wasn't sure if she could escape her fate a second time. Had the Voice let them play out their battle in their minds so he could see what was going to happen? Did he want to see how they would escape so he could prevent it from ever happening?
Macey shivered. How was she supposed to fight someone who could play with her perception of what was real and what wasn't? She was still having trouble believing that she hadn't just spoken to her men. Were they really coming for her? Was Izban actually able to do a tracking spell, or had that bit been Amber's wishful thinking?
KILL HER, the Voice repeated and this time, Amber was magically dragged onto her feet by an unseen force. She wavered, but somehow managed to stand. Tiny sparks of lightning began to flicker around the girl's fingers and Macey prepared for the inevitable.
But wait... she was no longer wearing the copper cuffs. That had to mean that the battle had taken place and their combined power had opened them.
Was the Voice aware of that? Did he want an execution or a cat fight?
Amber opened her mouth, but Macey couldn't hear what she was saying. They were too far apart. Well, that could be rectified.
Macey carefully walked towards Amber, aware that there might be a dangerous surprise waiting at every step. Earlier, there'd been guards lying dead or unconscious all over the courtyard. This time, they were alone.
She shook her head in confusion. There was no way of telling what was real and what wasn't. Maybe she was still in her cell. Maybe she'd never even met Amber and this was all one giant illusion.
Suddenly, the air in front of her flickered and someone appeared. Someone very familiar with very blue hair.
Izban.
KILL HER OR I WILL KILL HIM.
Amber's eyes widened as she saw her friend. He didn't move; he seemed more statue than living being. Macey walked around him and took a closer look.
His eyes were moving but the rest of him wasn't. His face was an expressionless mask, but his eyes told her of his fear.
She could almost believe that he was real. That he was in danger.
