I nodded, surprising myself at the conviction I felt. Whatever the price, I would save Damaeon as I had promised. I would save him for the Dyrel I had failed, and for Clothis who was my friend. They needed a leader in this time of war, and I would not be responsible for taking him away. Ruella narrowed her eyes and stared deeply into mine, judging the strength of my resolve. I raised my head and met her gaze steadily, and she nodded once.
“Very well,” the witch said.
She took me by the arm and placed me in the centre of the grove. I looked up at the trees that circled me, their branches swaying in the breeze like dancers in an intricate ballet. I swallowed and took a deep breath as Ruella took my marked hand in hers and pried my fingers open. The mark was there, no longer hidden, but not burning as it often did. She moved my hand so my palm was against my heart and muttered a few words. I felt a stabbing pain in my chest, and inhaled sharply.
“Now, you’re ready,” Ruella told me. “Form the wish in your heart, and be ready to accept whatever comes.”
She bowed once to me and backed slowly out of the clearing, leaving me standing in the growing twilight. I heard an owl hoot and the scurry of animals as they hid from predators, and I waited for what might come. Closing my eyes, I formed a single wish in my heart.
Please, I thought. Give me the power to save Damaeon from death.
The wind picked up, whipping my hair against my face and tossing the branches angrily. The grass bent to its will and my clothes plastered themselves against my body, but I did not move. I concentrated harder, feeling the spirits within me stirring to meet my wish. I kept my hand over my heart, could feel the mark on my palm begin to burn and glow red, even without opening my eyes. The whispered voices of the spirits surrounded me, calling to me eagerly.
“Spirits of Earth and Sky, Water and Flame, Day and Night,” I called in a loud voice, opening my eyes to stare up at the darkened sky. “I summon thee! Fulfill the wishes of my heart!”
Suddenly, I was overwhelmed, choking and gasping for air. I was submerged, unable to breath, all of my senses subdued. I felt nothing but the weight of the spirits as they came to me from every corner of the Spirit Wood. I resisted for only a moment, struggling for my own survival against the forces that threatened to drown me, when I recalled Ruella’s instructions. I closed my eyes and forced myself to relax, allowing myself to be overcome by the emotions of the spirits, until it was too much for me to handle and I fell to the ground.
I inhaled sharply and deeply, like a half-dead swimmer breathing for the first time. My eyes snapped open, but all I could see was darkness. Then, slowly, the stars formed in the night sky, twinkling above me. Then the moon came out, and I could see the shadows of the trees.
I sat up, feeling heavy and light at the same time. I pressed my hand to my forehead and breathed again. I was alive, but changed. My mind raced with newfound knowledge and wisdom, and I realized I had been granted my wish. I knew what I had to do. I only hoped I was not too late.
Standing, I walked towards Oponoe. I moved with a slow and sedate pace, but the ground beneath my feet moved with incredible speed and I found myself at the palace doors after only a few steps. Part of my mind found this odd, but the majority was unconcerned. The doors opened without assistance and I walked into the palace of the Dyrel.
“Leila!” Jakob said, his voice full of relief. “I’m so glad you’re safe! I saw you run out of here, so I waited and …”
His voice broke off as I turned to look at him. I saw the colour drain from his face and his eyes widen in fear. His hands trembled as he reached out to take mine, but did not succeed. He took a step back.
“What have you done?” he breathed. “Leila, what have you done?”
“Only what is necessary,” I answered.
Part of my mind was stunned and confused. The voice that had answered Jakob had come from my mouth, but did not sound like me at all. I could not control my body as I wanted, could not reassure Jakob that everything was all right. I was being pushed aside, tucked away, and forgotten.
I moved forward, my destination firmly ensconced in my mind. The doors to Damaeon’s chambers opened without my touch and I saw both Gael and Clothis were still at the prince’s side. The physician stared in shock as I approached, stumbling out of my way as I moved to Damaeon’s side. Clothis raised her head and was visibly jolted, her grip tightening on Damaeon’s hand.
“Leila,” Clothis began.
“I have the power to save him,” I told her as gently as I could. The voice that came from my mouth was harsh and cruel. “Is this not what you desired?”
Clothis bit her lip, unable to answer. I raised my hands and placed them over Damaeon’s wound. A white glow emanated from my palms, surrounding the dying prince in a pale light. I found that I could see his death, the shadow that was destroying his soul as he slept and would eventually kill him. I focused my eyes on the shadow and heard Clothis gasp.
“Leila, stop,” Clothis said. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
I ignored her, intensifying the look until the shadow was consumed by my light. I smiled in triumph and restored Damaeon’s soul to its former glory, closing his wound as I did so. The light faded from my hands and I lowered my arms back to my sides, feeling exhausted and exhilarated as I did so.
“It is done,” I said.
Gael moved around the bed to stand next to Clothis. I noticed that the humans were keeping their distance from me, and I smiled to myself in mild amusement. They had no idea how powerful I had become. The physician checked the prince and stared at me in astonishment. Damaeon’s colour had returned, and he was breathing normally. His wound was completely gone, the bloody cloths on his chest doing nothing more than covering healthy skin. Moving quickly around the bed, Gael caught my arm and held my wrist tightly in hers.
“Lady Leila,” she said, her kind blue eyes filling with tears. “You have no pulse. What happened?”
“She is ours,” I said, my voice echoing as many voices came from my mouth. “She is promised to us, and we have claimed her. She is no longer of your world. It is the price she willingly paid.”
Gael stared at me in shock as I pulled my arm from her grip and laughed. I was free! I had never felt so alive as I suddenly had the urge to dance, and I spun in circles around the room. Staring at the humans as I twirled past, I saw the physician turning her head in every direction, as if searching for something that was lost. The soldier, too, was looking around in confusion, her hand still gripped to that of the prince.
“Leila?” Gael called. “Where did she go?”
“She’s vanished,” Clothis replied. “She’s gone.”