The Riddle Of Magic

Chapter 25: Riddles In Arpeggio

Charlie Morningstar may have been a princess, but she had known pain throughout her existence. She'd been cut and stabbed, and even shattered her body when first trying to fly. She'd had rough arguments, and known violence, too.

It was all a dream compared to this.

She couldn't even fathom the concept of greater agony than having a part of her beating essence pulled from her, other perhaps than having the entire thing ripped apart.

It was only a portion, but the process was tortuously slow as Alastor's shadow used Transfer to feed energy back to her while it drained her essence. Charlie felt tears streaming down her face when the process had started, but that strength had quickly left her, siphoned to the spectre.

The memory of Blue's grasp was a distant thing, and she felt a slight embarrassment at even considering the Other Radio Demon's bite comparable.

Despite the boost in stamina from the rune, there was a weakness to her she'd never felt before. Even drawing breath took effort, and it came in whimpering gasps.

As she felt the drain on her life force, she wondered if this was what it was like to die.

It wouldn't let her. It had made a deal with her not to kill her, and she had no choice but to trust the spectre's word.

But her fear was a primal thing, practically alive. Her power flared, as she had known it would, and she recoiled from the spirit.

Its grip tightened, pinning her in place as best it could. Through the haze of her pain, she heard the spectre's warning in her thoughts. She could not run. If she broke free, it would hunt her.

But pain was in her every pore, quaking so badly she could scarcely perceive her limbs at all.

She couldn't do this.

She had to run. To escape this torture.

Charlie reared backwards. She felt fire blazing into her hair, and the hurt dulled just slightly.

Endure! You must! The spectre roared.

She could scarcely hear the other being through her agony. I can't! Her mind reeled as she tried to shake the shadow off of her.

You promised! Its voice echoed.

With Transfer, their thoughts drifted close, and she saw herself through the spectre's vision. Proud and determined - regal - despite her fear. Whatever it takes, she had said.

The spectre's grip was tight, but she could break free if she willed it. It was only a shadow, and far, far weaker than herself.

But... she couldn't break away, this was for Alastor.

He needed her, and she needed him, too.

Charlie steadied herself, and gripped the spectre's umbral shoulders tightly, bracing herself as the agony surged once again.

More of its thoughts grazed her vision as it drained her, and she focused on those as an effort to escape the torment, though there was scarce comfort as she began to understand the spectre's motivations.

It needed Alastor too, and she was a means to an end for it to accomplish its goal of reviving him.

Whatever it takes, she had said, and it had thought the exact same thing.

The kiss had been a test.

A trap, she knew.

A trial, it insisted.