Twin Mages Book 2: Deception

Chapter 12: A Newfound Power

Lily stands alone in the dungeon, unable to do anything about whatever is happening above her. She begins pacing, her bare feet cold against the cobblestone floor, the iron shackles rattling an irritating chime with every step. Out of the darkness, she hears a voice she's heard before. "Lily." She turns, seeing a man in a purple robe. She backs up, running into the wall. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"

The man steps forward, and she sees a marking on his robe. The same as her scar. "We've met before, and you have trusted me in the past." The man pulls his hood back. "I am F." Lily feels her blood leave her face as her heart drops to her stomach. "Leo was right!" Across from her, Lily sees Fox, but he looks different. Not as mousy or weak. He reaches his hand toward Lily's feet, launching smoke daggers as she flinches.

She looks down to see the chains on her shackles broken, with only the cuffs still attached. The man turns around, tossing Lily her shoes as he motions toward her. "It's time to go, my Liege." Lily slips her shoes on, confused. "Why are you helping me, Fox? And why did you call me that?"

Fox turns, looking Lily in the eyes. "I am a servant of your father. And your father is King of his own rising empire. That makes you, by definition, a princess. And I've been sent here to rescue you. Your father wants you to come home." Lily doesn't speak. She just stands with her mouth ajar, unsure of what to think. After a minute, Lily finally finds the ability to speak again.

"How do I trust you when you betrayed us? You put Dez in a coma, and you gave both of us that scar!" Fox nods. "I understand the loss of faith. But I was told to test you. You became stronger because I was a threat. And in all fairness, I've never told you a lie. You just never asked."

Fox walks over to the black box on the table, throwing it to the floor. The box shatters, chunks of ebony stone scattering across the dungeon floor. Lily sees her necklace float up from the ground, flying to her. As she puts her necklace back on, she looks to Fox. "Before I make any decisions, you have to answer some questions for me." Fox nods. "Yes ma'am what do you want to know?"

Back in the courtyard, Zeus appears instantly in front of Leo, picking him up by the arms and throwing him into a wall. Kei attempts to throw ninja stars at the massive man, but they are all knocked away easily. The man dashes to the girl, too fast for her to react. He hits her with the back of his hand, launching her like a missile through a tree. Kei tries to get to her feet, but can't on account of a stabbing pain in her side. Leo stands to his feet, tearing his torn shirt off of his body, exposing the scars and marks of his past battles across his chest and torso. He can barely stand, a sharp pain in his leg. "That's definitely broken. What am I gonna do?!"

Before his eyes can process the hulking man's unfathomable speed, Zeus appears in front of Leo, spiking him back into the ground, ruthlessly pummeling him. Leo feels himself losing consciousness, falling deep into a dark abyss. Leo thinks to himself. "This can't be the end."

Leo sees himself standing in an ankle deep pool of water, no light source around him. He's completely alone, until he hears a deep voice call out to him.

"This isn't your time, Leo."

Leo looks around, calling through the empty void. "Who's talking to me?" "Look down, Leo." Leo glances at his ring, his stone pulsing with every word. "Mana is a living source of energy, and the stones are living by extension." Leo raises his hand as his stone speaks to him. "I have decided to link our minds, giving you access to your full potential of power." Leo feels his body explode with energy. He hears his stone again, a more serious tone than before. "I can only give this power for a few moments. Your young body cannot handle it." Leo nods. "I'd better get this over with then."

Leo wakes back up in the courtyard, Zeus winding up with both fists to finish him, when he stops momentarily. "What the hell kind of mana is that?!" Leo feels a rush of energy like he's never experienced before. All of the pain in his body is gone, all of the exhaustion fading. "You're not getting up this time, Zeus!" As Leo calls out to Zeus, his every breath like fire, Kei is unable to move as she watches from a distance, seeing the inferno rising from the ground. "Is that you, Leo?!"