Destined

29. Real Magic

Alva, bewildered by my smile, stood stiffly at the wonder that filled me. Peace can come amid chaos. Everyone else was curious about this magic that now filled the air. Real magic cannot take and only give.

"Free flowing as the springs, as buoyant as air, as passionate as fire, as stable as soil, these are the elements at their cores. They don't bend to anyone. You cannot control them, Alva. Neither can I." I said. Ire filled his eyes. He received a glare, and Alva flinched. "You thought wrong about me when we first met here. You took the lives of my family and friends before me, who wished for me to be free. Killing them, then imprisoning me with a curse, was what sealed that grave of yours." I threw my scythe at him, and he batted it away. "We all die for what we love. However, what you die for is not love, just a façade." Alva's dark aura grew quickly, with his shadows amassing around him.

I readied myself for another fight, however, Artemis let go of my hand. She walked to her father and paused a yard away from him. At that distance, he could kill her, but she took the risk.

"Father, this fight is over. You know as much as I do." She said as her sunny glow shined around her. She searched her father's eyes, Artemis cried. Her tears were not for herself. A tremble went through her as she summoned the white flame sword into her hand. "I know what you did!" She swung at him, and he glowered at her. She lashed out with several strikes, only managing to no avail.

Alva evaded her blade as he glared at her.

I don't understand why she is fighting him.

"Foolish girl, I should have killed you."

Artemis scowled at him, and her aura radiated off her. The ground scorched under her feet as she ran at him. "I won't lose to you!" She pierced him through the chest and his eyes grew wide. "You already killed me, but I am back, Alva. I never forgot what you said." She tore her hands from the hilt, and with it, her attire changed. "You said I would fail, Alva. That I would not remember, however, you failed to see me for the woman you killed."

Alva's gaze hardened on the two long daggers in her hands. "You cannot kill me, you little witch."

Artemis was never how I have seen her before. Golden armlets clasped around her upper arms. They exposed her slender waist with a tight half-top and a pair of leather pants. "Witch? You are the villain here. For years, I played like I forgot. That failure you created is not blind. My soul never forgot, nor has the magic that runs through me." She readied herself to lunge at him while I saw Alva rip out the sword in his chest. "I will rip out your heart the way you did mine that day."

Alva sneered at her and then grinned back. "Hurts knowing you are the only one who remembers, does it not, my dear?" He peered at me from the corner of his vision and returned his attention to her. "You could try, but I doubt you could."

"Just what does that mean?" Artemis asked him the question. "You will never be my father because he died long ago. You tied me to this plane so you could amuse yourself with tormenting my heart." She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. When her eyes opened, a golden fire burned in her eyes. "You just couldn't get over me accomplishing something you never could. Jealous coward!"

Alva's grin finally faded and lunged at her with his sword, but she held her ground, blocking his sword from striking her. "You got in my way once. This time you will not get a chance."

A dangerous shiver tore through me with his threat looming over Artemis. Then, I recalled she told me he always disliked her more than Mesmer or her sisters. So, why is he so intent on killing Artemis? It never made sense why she was strong enough to go against him.