A Spark in the Dark

Chapter 3: The Turn

She found him near the stone fountain that marked the farthest corner of the enchanted garden. The moonlight cast a silvery glow over the scene, and for a moment, Zara was struck by how quiet it was out here, away from the laughter and music.

Jaxon was standing with his back to her, both hands raised, his fingers weaving intricate patterns in the air. His sigil glowed fiercely beneath his sleeve, the magic within it pulsing in time with his movements. Dark tendrils of energy coiled around his hands, twisting and writhing as if they were alive.

"Jaxon!" Zara called, her voice sharp.

He didn't turn, didn't even acknowledge her presence. His focus was entirely on the spell he was casting, and Zara felt a chill run down her spine. She recognized some of the symbols he was drawing in the air-old, dangerous magic. Forbidden magic.

"What the hell are you doing?" She ran forward, grabbing his arm to pull him out of his trance.

The moment her hand made contact with Jaxon's arm, a surge of dark energy pulsed between them, sending a shockwave through Zara's body. She staggered back, gasping as her sigil flared in response, a warning. The air around them felt thick like it was charged with the weight of something ancient, something that shouldn't be disturbed.

"Zara, stop!" Jaxon finally spoke, but his voice sounded distant, strained. He was still lost in the spell, his eyes glowing unnaturally bright, and the dark tendrils of energy around him began to spread out, snaking along the ground like living shadows.

"Jaxon, whatever you're doing, it's wrong!" Zara shouted, her heart pounding. She could feel the magic building, a dark pressure pushing down on them, twisting the air around them. "This isn't just a trick! This is dark magic!

"Jaxon's expression twisted, a mix of determination and fear. "I can control it," he muttered, but even as he spoke, the tendrils of dark energy were spiraling out of control, lashing at the air like angry serpents. "I just... I just need a little more time!

"Zara shook her head, panic rising in her chest. This wasn't the Jaxon she knew. The calm, confident wizard who always had control over his magic was gone, replaced by someone desperate and reckless. "No, you can't!" she cried, stepping forward again. "You're going to get us all killed if you don't stop!

"But Jaxon was too far gone. The spell was in motion, and even if he wanted to stop it, Zara could see that it had already taken hold of him. The sigil on his arm was glowing so brightly now that it looked like it was burning into his skin, cracking and sparking with raw energy.

The ground beneath their feet began to tremble, and Zara's instincts screamed at her to run, but she couldn't leave Jaxon like this. Not without trying to stop him.

She reached deep within herself, summoning her magic, her sigil flaring to life as she cast a protective barrier around them. The tendrils of dark magic slammed against the barrier, hissing and writhing like caged beasts, but Zara held firm, gritting her teeth as the pressure built.

"Jaxon, you need to let go!" she shouted over the roar of magic. "This isn't worth it!

"For a moment, Jaxon's eyes flickered, the glow dimming as he seemed to hear her. But then, just as quickly, the darkness surged again, stronger than before. His face twisted in pain, and the ground split open beneath his feet with a deafening crack.

Zara barely had time to react before the earth itself seemed to collapse, a gaping fissure opening up between them, black as pitch and filled with a pulsing, oily substance that shimmered in the moonlight. From within the fissure came a low, guttural growl, a sound that sent a shiver of dread through Zara's entire being.

And then they began to crawl out.