Ashes to Ashes

S3: The Brief Encounter

   

          Valtor stands at the head of the altar. Lydia tied up writhing in pain and Bloom stands there arms raised. Her skin glows brightly, eyes vacant of all humanity. I tinted yellow, encases her eyes as her dragon flame turns Lydia's body red and raised with burns.

     "Nice of you to join us."

     "Why are you doing this!?" Riven shouts while being held back by Sky.

   

      "You see her family kept something very important from their daughter. Her abilities have yet to awaken, and dear old Bloom here, will unlock those abilities with her dragon flame. She is the key to what I need to finish what I started. What I truly started so long ago." Valtor states while glancing at Bloom.

       "Continue."

    Lydia screams in pain pulling against the restraints. Bloody-ringed and raw around her wrists and ankles she forces her eyes open to look at Riven and Sky then her friends. "Save Bloom." She shouts while her back arches from the intensity of the pain. Like a force taking over her body, she slams back into the stone alter and her lungs heave. Catching her breath, Lydia feels light. A feeling she hasn't felt in such a way before. She relaxes accepting what this is. To not feel that pain anymore draws her closer to the euphoric feeling. The last thing she hears is Rivens screams.

       Sitting up quickly I look around seeing my surroundings. The atmosphere is light, feeling water drip down my body. I look down to see my body in a shallow pool of dark water. "Free us."

     Looking up she sees a dark tunnel surrounded by glowing bars. Three sets of golden glowing eyes look at her and she stands up peering closer at the eyes. "Free us." The voices repeat and she covers her ears at the echoing intensity. "Free you, why?" She questioned walking closer to the glowing gate. "We have been trapped here for so long. Only you can free us."

    "No." Lydia states firmly stepping back. "I won't, I will not." Lydia confirms finality. Looking at the beings whose golden eyes change to red from anger. "FREE US!"

     Covering her ears again she sinks to the ground and cries. "Lydia?" "Lydia, come back to me. Come back. Lydia."

    "Riven?" She whispers and she feels a pain in her chest. Collapsing in the water she hears the screams of the creatures as her eyes close once again.

      Hearing the shouts and the screams, Lydia's fingers twitch. Her eyes flutter behind closed lids when she feels herself being picked up into someone's chest. She can't control her body as her head falls back. Not having the strength to hold it up herself. She feels a palm on her face slightly hitting her cheek. She reaches up quickly stopping the stinging pain from continuing. "Ouch." She mutters while a laugh escapes the lips of her friends. Opening her eyes after much persuasion from her brain she looks up at Riven who cups her cheeks.

     "You, you, died. We watched you die. We took care of Valtor. Bloom is okay just knocked out. Her mom wasn't her mom but a shapeshifter who was being controlled by Valtor, to awake the three witches. She was the starter and you are the key. We brought you back, we actually brought you back." Riven quickly explains while I look down at my body. "The burns are gone." I whisper while Riven runs his fingers through my hair.

    "Yeah they are, thanks to Aisha's water healing ability. Let's get you back to Alfea."

    Being helped up. I follow the group out looking back at the stone alter one last time.

      I sit by Blooms bed watching the rise and fall of her chest. I was filled in more about what happened. How much of a fight the girls and boys put up for us both. How Sky managed to kill Valtor and Riven helped deal the killing blow. How automatically the hold and control over Bloom vanished. How I was pulled back once the connection was severed and Riven managing to pull me back from where I was. I sit back in my chair, wrapping my sweater tighter around myself. Although that visit in that place was short. I have many questions still. Why am I a part of this? What else will try to awaken the witches? What do we do to stop it permanently?

        "Lydia?"

     "Welcome back Bloom."