Legacy of The Enchanted

Freedom

(Alex's P.O.V)

The forest loomed ahead, dark and silent, as we reached its edge. My heart pounded in my chest, the adrenaline from our escape still surging through my veins. I glanced back at Taryn and Archer, their faces pale in the dim moonlight. We had done it—we had escaped—but the danger was far from over.

"We need to keep moving," Archer urged, his voice low and urgent. "We can't stop now."

I nodded, but something tugged at me. My hand instinctively went to the small object hanging around my neck—the key I had stolen from my aunt just before we fled. She hadn't noticed when I took it, but I knew it was only a matter of time before she realized.

"Wait," I said softly, halting in my tracks. Taryn and Archer turned to me, confusion and concern etched on their faces.

From beneath my shirt, I pulled out the key. It was plain and unremarkable, yet it held the power to change everything. "Give me your wrists."

Archer's eyes widened in realization, but he obediently extended his arms, revealing the iron cuffs that had bound his powers. Taryn quickly followed suit, her hands trembling slightly.

With a deep breath, I slid the key into the lock on Archer's cuffs. A soft click echoed in the stillness, and the iron shackles fell away, clattering to the ground. A flicker of something—hope, perhaps—glinted in Archer's ice-blue eyes. I turned to Taryn and repeated the process. The moment the cuffs hit the forest floor, I felt a surge of energy in the air, a palpable sense of power returning to its rightful owners.

Taryn flexed her fingers, a small flame dancing in her palm, casting eerie shadows on the trees around us. Archer closed his eyes, and a cool breeze rustled through the leaves, stirring the air with a sense of freedom. They were free—truly free.

"Thank you," Taryn whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Archer nodded, his expression unreadable but intense.

Before I could respond, the sound of footsteps and snapping twigs shattered the quiet. My stomach dropped as I recognized the figure emerging from the shadows—Lord Zephyrus, my former betrothed, flanked by several of his guards. His brown eyes locked onto me, and a cruel smile spread across his face. It was the smile of a predator who had just found his prey.

"Leaving so soon, Alessandra?" Lord Zephyrus sneered, his voice laced with venom. He drew his sword, the blade glinting menacingly in the moonlight, and took a deliberate step toward us. The metal caught the light just right, sending a cold shiver down my spine.

My hand flew to the daggers at my waist. My fingers curled around the hilts, desperate to feel some sense of control. "Stay back," I warned, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice, but I could feel the fear creeping in.

Lord Zephyrus only chuckled, his gaze dark and dangerous. "You can't escape me, Princess. You belong to me now."

"Never," I spat, unsheathing my daggers and raising them defensively.

In a flash, he lunged at me, his sword aimed at my stomach, I figuered he was only trying to wond, not kill. I barely had time to react, crossing my daggers to block his strike. The force of the blow sent a shockwave up my arms, the impact rattling my bones. Pain shot through my wrists, but I gritted my teeth and held firm, glaring at him with all the defiance I could muster.

Lord Zephyrus snarled, his breath hot and rancid as he leaned in closer, pushing harder. "You can't win, Alessandra. Your aunt was right—you're weak, just like your parents."

His words cut deeper than his blade ever could. My aunt had taken everything from me, including my parents, and she'd been trying to control me ever since. The pain of their loss surged through me, fueling a rage so intense it burned away the fear.

"You're wrong," I growled, shoving him back with all the strength I had. "I'm stronger than you'll ever know."

I lashed out with my daggers, striking at him with a fury that surprised even me. My movements were fueled by pure adrenaline, each strike driven by the memories of everything my aunt had done. Zephyrus stumbled, momentarily caught off guard, but he quickly recovered, his expression darkening with anger.

He retaliated with brutal force, his strikes more precise and aggressive. I could barely keep up, my arms screaming in protest as I parried each blow. Every clash of metal sent a jolt of pain through my body, and I knew I was losing ground.

Taryn saw my struggle and acted. She unleashed her firepower, sending a wave of flames toward the guards. The heat was intense, the flames licking at the air. The guards scattered, some of them screaming as they tried to dodge the fire. It gave us the briefest window of escape.

"Alex, we have to go!" Taryn shouted, her voice barely audible over the roar of the fire.

I nodded, ducking under Lord Zephyrus's next swing and sprinting away. Archer and Taryn followed. The trees blurred around us, the night air stinging my lungs as I pushed myself to keep going. My legs burned, every muscle screaming in protest, but I couldn't stop—not now, not when we were so close to freedom.

We didn't stop until we found a cave hidden among the rocks, its entrance obscured by thick vines and shadows. Panting and exhausted, we stumbled inside, the darkness wrapping around us like a protective shroud. 

"Is it safe?" Taryn whispered, her voice trembling. Her usually steady hands were shaking, the adrenaline beginning to wear off.

Archer stepped out to listen. After a long, tense moment, he nodded. "They passed us. We're safe here, at least for now."

Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. The weight of everything that had happened—the engagement, the escape, the fight, and the truth about Aunt—came crashing down on me all at once. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground, tears blurring my vision.

"Alex," Taryn said softly, kneeling beside me, her eyes full of concern.

I shook my head, my voice barely a whisper. "Please... just give me a moment. Wait outside."

She hesitated, glancing at Archer, who gave a silent nod. Reluctantly, they stepped outside, leaving me alone in the cave.

As soon as they were gone, the dam broke. Sobs wracked my body, and I buried my face in my hands, the enormity of everything that had happened overwhelming me. The pain in my arms and legs was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. It felt like my heart was being torn apart, piece by piece, as I thought about everything I had lost.

My parents, my unborn sister, the life I could have had—it was all gone, destroyed by my aunt and uncles' greed and cruelty. And now, even though I was free, I felt more trapped than ever. Trapped by the memories, by the guilt, by the fear of what was still to come.

My tears fell to the ground, mixing with the cold earth beneath me, leaving me hollow and broken. Suddenly, the cave was filled with a bright blue light, so intense that it illuminated every corner of the cave. I gasped, lifting my head to see where the light was coming from.

The light seemed to be emanating from the very ground where my tears had fallen, swirling and pulsing with an energy I couldn't comprehend. It was beautiful and terrifying all at once.

I stared at the light, my breath hitching in my throat, as the pain and sorrow of the night washed over me in waves. All I could do was let the tears fall, let the pain pour out of me.

And then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the light began to fade