Courting Chaos

Chapter three

                   Chapter three

   "What's your plan?"

   "There's a spell," he states.

   "Yes?" I urge impatiently.

   "It can open a portal."

   "A portal that leads where exactly?"

   "Into the Nox."

   I'm on my feet, shocked and angry suddenly, almost foaming at the mouth.

   "Are you insane?" I almost roar, unbelieving about how ridiculous he is.

   He stands and slaps a hand over my mouth, giving me a dangerously pointed look. "Are you? Shut up!"

   "We are not going into the Nox," I snap.

   "It's the only way out of here."

  "Or we could maybe just leave by boat?" I raise an eyebrow.

   He shakes his head. "I've been inspecting, listening in... experimenting. I found something out."

   "What?" I frown.

   "There's a sort of a force field around Elzora. All around it, no way through it."

   "What? But..."

   "I've been practicing Black Magic, Faye," he says in a rush. "I know that there's no way through."

   "You've been what?" I gasp, horrified. "You've been practising? You weren't supposed to have already been practising it. This was meant to be a one time thing!"

   "Yes, but that doesn't matter," he dismisses it straight away. "What I'm saying is there is no way through."

   "Except through the Nox," I mutter.

   "There is another way, but it's impossible."

   If I'd been an animal of some kind, my ears would have pricked upright straight away. "Oh?"

   "The Head Mage," he sighs. "He's the only one who can get through. It's his Magic."

   "How'd you know that?"

   "I've seen him do it. Felt his Magic, felt the Magic of force field. They're one in the same."

   I chew on my lip, hard, almost biting through it. "Sol... do we really have to go through the Nox?"

   He surprises me by reaching across, brushing his fingertips over my forehead before tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. He sighs as I frown, his brow pinching slightly.

   "I know how against Black Magic you are, I know, okay? But I could never leave here, not leave without you. You want to leave just as much as I do... and once we escape, they'll crack down on security, there will never be another way out. This is going to be our only chance. Come be free with me."

   My own brow pulls together as a bittersweet longing fills my soul, my every being. I want to be free, I've always wanted to be free. This is my one and only chance. I cannot live here any longer. I need to go.

   "I've located Elzora's sweet spot, where my power is strongest - where everyone's power is strengthened."

   "Where is it?"

   "In the Guardians Quarter," he states hesitantly.

   I groan and flop back onto the bed. "Are you serious, Sol?"

   "Unfortunately, yes."

   "And how do you propose we get to that?"

   "Easy. The Guardians have their annual meeting in the Main Hall tomorrow morning, as they do every month. One Guardian will keep watch."

   "Who is it?"

   "Guess," he grins cheekily.

   I can't stop myself from pulling a face. "I don't want to get Eric involved. Please don't make me."

   "He's the only one who you have sway with. Besides, all you have to do is distract him briefly so I can get past him and gather my power."

   "Gather your power?" I raise my eyebrows skeptically.

   "The sweet spot," he sighs impatiently. "I can gather my power, do a small spell, be prepared to make the portal."

   I pause. "And you need me to preform Black Magic for the portal, right?"

   "Yes."

   I chew on my lip again. "So, for the first part, all you need is for me to distract Eric?"

   His grin is back in place. "Any way you like."

   I roll my eyes. "Tomorrow morning?"

   "Yes."

   "Fine," I sigh and stand.

   "Where are you going?" He questions.

   "I need to say my goodbyes."

   "Faye," he warns.

   I roll my eyes. Does he think I'm stupid? "I won't actually say goodbye. I just want to talk to some people. That's all. It'll probably be the last time I see them."

   "Fine, go say your goodbyes. Be discreet. Please."

   I don't say anything, can't think of anything else to say. Instead I just leave the room, my mind swimming with the strange thoughts, thinking about practising Black Magic.

   Tomorrow.

   Tomorrow I'm free.