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“Come in,” I called, Wilder and I both sitting up in bed with my words.
The door cracked open and Kalani’s smiling face peeked in. With a quick glance at Wilder, her eyebrows quirked and I knew that soon we would need to spend some time together. The guys weren’t the only ones I had missed desperately.
“Everyone’s heading down to the meeting room. Knox spoke to the rest of the committee and Willow, so everyone is up to date on what the discussion will be about.” Kalani explained before exiting the room, her voice trailing down the hall with Maeve’s echoing along.
Sliding out of bed, I turned towards Wilder with a smile and he returned mine with his own full force.
“Get your smiles in now, princess, it’s time to plan the next war.”
Wilder kissed me on the cheek before flashing out of the room to get ready and I considered his words. I was tired of fighting. All I wanted was to enjoy the life I had found. And yet, I knew, that I would fight every second of my days if it meant we could all find peace once again.
???
“We’ve had about twenty Divines volunteer to help on our expedition to attack the Dark creatures. We turned away several young adults who have only just manifested their powers.” Hank explained to the group seated around the large table.
I had been updated on how things were being run on Agrum Di Vinum and the plan for defeating the Darkness. Now we had moved on to the stage of discussing who, when, and where the initial attack would take place.
“Twenty Divines should be plenty. Right now, we don’t know how many creatures there are or how the Darkness will affect us. This first movement will be about gathering information and weakening the ground force the Darkness controls.” Knox explained, looking down at a map of Agrum Di Vinum sprawled across the table for us all to see.
Willow had brought the map for us, explaining that it would help designate where we would explore. Speaking of Willow, the ethereal woman refused to sit at the table, instead, wandering around the room, every so often her eyes landing on me. I don’t know what it was about her, but chills spread up my arms whenever she glanced my way. Realistically, I knew that she was the start of my bloodline, and I was undoubtedly related to her, but I felt no familiar connection to her. Even as the last two Enchanters alive, I couldn’t find myself letting my guard down in her presence.
“Based on the perimeter searches and sounds, we know that there is a large presence of creatures on the northern border of the castle.” Wilder spoke, pointing to a spot of forest on the map. Moving his finger, he traced an open area east of the castle. “However, there is a smaller number of creatures seen in this area. As to not be outnumbered, our best bet would be to move in here.”
The others in the room nodded along in agreement, several of the Guard members in attendance asking Wilder about the exact position. While they discussed more plans, I leaned over to Kalani, whispering as to not interrupt the discussion.
“What do you think the creatures are made of?” I wondered, morbidly curious about the Darkness. How powerful was something that destroyed an entire realm of powerful beings?
Quietly talking back, Kalani responded. “Maeve’s father is one of the Guard members and he said that they look like they’re completely made out of shadows. Some of them look human while others look like animals. They didn’t dare get closer, but he said that it was the most terrifying things he’s ever seen.”
A shiver ran up my spine at her words and I wondered if we’d be able to defeat something made out of shadows itself. Could you destroy something that wasn’t physically there? Before I could debate the idea further in my head, Knox spoke loudly, garnering my attention.
“Then it’s settled. Tomorrow morning, the volunteers as well as myself and the other Heirs will leave the castle grounds and attack the small group of creatures. Our main goal is to keep our people safe and learn more about the Darkness. Spread the word.”
As Knox finished speaking, the entire room stood up, shaking hands and exiting to go on with their daily schedule. The seven of us remained, as well as Willow, who continued to wander the room, as if she didn’t realize everyone had gone. Until she turned to look at me, and realization dawned in her eyes. Gliding closer to me, I looked around the room, hoping someone would step in like Knox had yesterday. Unfortunately, no one got the chance.
“Dear, may I speak with you? I’ve been waiting too long to spend time with you.” Willow’s sweet voice seemed to lull my anxiousness and I simply nodded, following her out of the room and leaving the others behind.
Chapter Fourteen
Halley
Willow guided me throughout the castle, her comfortability within the walls more proof that she was the last Divine leader before they escaped to the human realm. Bypassing the corridors Knox had shown me, she led me deeper into the castle, until we reached a hallway with only five doors. Stepping closer to the doors, I recognized the golden etching on each as the symbols that we had seen in Sanctum Library.
Willow opened the door with the Enchanter’s symbol, ushering me in silently, and I followed without a word. I was immediately taken aback by what I saw in the room. Unlike the current rooms we were staying in, that had only the necessities, this room was clearly lived in. Lights hung from the ceiling, changing colors every so often, half burnt candles littered the dressers, and hundreds of photos sat among one wall.
Walking over to the wall, I surveyed as many as I could. They didn’t look like photos from the human realm. Instead of paper, the photos seemed to be mirrored onto the wall, no aging evident. And yet, it was clear these photos were from long ago as I recognized Willow in most, at her current age and even as a young girl.
“What are these photos?” I wondered, finally breaking the silence.
Willow stood next to me, her arm slightly brushing mine, as if she needed the contact.
“Ah, photos. These are similar yes, but not quite. These can only be created by one of us. You see, these aren’t pictures from a moment, but instead taken from memories. It takes many years of practice for an Enchanter to take someone’s memory and create a photo. Much easier to do for yourself. But the result is priceless. Take a look.”
Willow pressed her palm against one of the images, closing her eyes for a moment, and then suddenly the still frame was moving as I watched someone’s memory play out in front of my eyes. A group of Divines were sitting around a fire, several of them dancing to music I couldn’t hear, all of their heads thrown back in laughter. It was hauntingly beautiful, knowing this happy moment was not yet tainted by the destruction that had followed.
Turning away from the photos, Willow grabbed my hands in hers, pulling all of my attention to her. Her grip was strong and I could feel her power trembling beneath my palms.
“We’re special, Halley. Enchanters always were. You see, Agrum Di Vinum created our kind to be the balance between the other Sectors. We will always have an extra power that the others do not.”
