Spellcaster series #4: The Virtuoso

The Sage's Oath

TRISTAN

In my dazed state, my vision blurred and eventually came to clarity. That was when her figure came into view. She had a white dress on that fell to her knees and the laces of her boots were untied. I had never seen her in such clothing and dreaded to think about Dean Ryans dressing her in such. And why.

"Heidi?" I croaked. I garnered enough energy and stood up.

Her hazel eyes bore on me but there was a distant coldness to her expression; she seemed void of humanity.

"What happened to—what did Dean do to you?"

She tilted her head at me. Somehow in her vacant scrutiny, I knew she did not recognise me.

"Heidi, it's me," I said, almost pleading.

Edward turned to me. "She can't hear you. Or at least, not Heidi anyway."

I raced to her only to be tackled by Edward.

"This is it," he said gleefully before striking a punch to my jaw, "we are at the end times!"

My head snapped to the side as he did. He struck another fist but I blocked the next blow. Edward was on top of me as we scuffled on the ground. I lifted my legs and caught him in a triangular chokehold. He choked and gagged—and I had forgotten all about Heidi.

She sent an arcane spell towards me. It wasn't enough to kill me but it was enough for me to release Edward. The force of the spell winded me as he got up and took a few steps back. He coughed and hacked while he did. Coward.

She made her way towards with me, pulling a bloody knife. I dreaded to think what she had done with it. I raised my palm and teleported myself to the third floor of the mansion.

I sigh as the silence welcomed me. I took a few deep breaths to gather myself as I leaned against a rotting wall. I peeked out from one of the windows and saw scrawny Edward running about the foyer, looking for me. I also noticed he was alone.

I felt a presence behind me.

I caught her wrist and pinned it to her back. Heidi grunted as I tightened my grasp and tugged her arm without dislocating her shoulder.

"Heidi! It's me!" I said into her hair.

She reversed my grasp and, while gripping my wrist, she swung a kick to my head. I ducked and her leg landed on the floor before she booted me in the chest. I fell backwards into the wall behind me.

Heidi's movements were fluid. She wielded her knife as she eyed me. I felt her strength increase exponentially from her usual self. Either the dark energy aided her physical capabilities as well or she had simply grown ridiculously strong.

She threw a fist but I caught it and pinned it to her back once more. The more she struggled, the more I tugged at her arm.

"Do not make me hurt you!" I pleaded but she kicked backwards, hard and fast. I released and she swung her knife at me. I ducked in time.

"Remember who you are, Heidi!" I raised my voice.

Her eyes were filled with soulless determination. There was no stopping as long as Dean Ryans still controlled her.

I held out my palm and channeled my energy but she tackled me into the floor as we crashed through the rotting wood. We landed on the second storey, the hard fall knocking the wind out of both of us. Heidi lay unconscious a metre from me. I rolled over and and felt a sharp ache in my back. I winced as I crawled towards her to shake her.