On the Tip of the Moon

Chapter 4- Tricked

I was sat on the bed in my hotel room, holding the box in my hands. I still hadn't dared to open it yet. I knew that Isaac was waiting for me to, but I was too afraid.

He was perched in the armchair, resting his feet on the coffee table. Thankfully, his mother hadn't caught us sneaking out.

"You don't have to open it yet." Isaac said. "You can open it when one of the creatures attack, if you'd prefer."

I shook my head. "But we snuck out and begged Cale for it, when we didn't exactly need it tonight. He agreed to help us knowing that he could get killed."

"I know. If my mum hasn't found out yet, then she never wi-"

Isaac was interrupted when the queen walked in. Her face was like thunder.  I attempted to hide the box behind me, but she stopped me.

"No need to hide it, Olivia. I already know." She said, her tone of voice scaring me. She turned to Isaac. "And what have I told you about going to visit wizards? They can't be trusted."

Isaac clenched his fists, tightly. "Cale's different. He helps us. Remember when you lost your magic? He gave it back to you."

"He stole my powers. He's not the wizard that he used to be. You have once again caused my guards a problem that could've easily been avoided."

They were both arguing now, their voices raised. I needed to know more about the feud between the wizards and the queen.

"Actually, they're not your guards, they're Olivia's. Her world, her people."

I felt the icy glare that Amethyst gave him. She turned to me.

"Why did you persuade Cale to give you the box if you knew about the consequences?" She asked, almost yelling at me.  I stared into her eyes, feeling the look of disgust on my face.

"Because I told him that I wouldn't let him die."

Amethyst rolled her eyes, sighing a deep sigh. "You don't get it, do you? I'm the queen. I can do whatever I want. You, on the other hand," She spat, pointing her finger at me. "Cannot."

"Can't I?" I asked, regretting my words immediately. For some reason, a sudden boost of confidence rushed through me, urging me to carry on talking. "I have control over this world, seeing as it is mine, whilst you, you don't. Have you hurt Cale yet?"

An evil look flashed in her eyes.

"No. Cale is, and will, be left unharmed, if that is what you wish. Just don't say I didn't warn you about him."

I watched her leave, wondering why on earth I said all of that. What was going to happen to me now that I was on her bad side? She had power as well as magic, and I don't think for a second she'll be afraid to use either of them.

I sat down on the floor, near Isaac. "I hate to say this, but I think your mum is hiding something from us."

He stared at something behind me. "So do I. If Cale gets killed, it's going to be all my fault." He ran his hand through his sandy blonde hair, clearly worrying.

"Listen," I said softly. "He's not going to die. I don't think that's what your mum is implying."

"I know that's not what she was implying. She was on about the fact that we can't trust wizards."

"But we can." I reassured him.

"No. We usually can't. I admit, Cale is different, but she won't ever see that."

I was about to ask him why wizards couldn't be trusted, but I realized that now wasn't the best time. It could wait.

I glanced over at the red box. It was still stood upright, in the position I left it in. I walked over to the bed, with Isaac following. My hands were trembling as I opened its lid. At the bottom of the box, I found a tiny piece of paper, screwed up into a ball. I opened it up to see a message in cursive, black ink.

'Tricked you.'

All of the colour from Isaac's face left, making him look as white as a ghost.

The box began to shake violently, causing me to let it go. It hit the floor, and a blue, see through hologram popped up. It was Cale. He looked so different. His hat was a dark purple now and his wizards gown was a dark shade of grey.

"Hello, Olivia. I am guessing that you have opened this box. Bad luck. I tried to warn you, but neither of you heeded my warning. Proves just how foolish you two are."

What's foolish about trusting someone who seemed genuine? I wanted to yell, but I didn't. It would fall on deaf ears anyway.

"As you have probably discovered, this box does not contain your nightmares. They are locked away in a place that you'll never find." He continued, laughing madly. "Instead, the box has released a form of dark magic. It's a powder that can make you have serious nightmares, forever. There is no cure."

The hologram faded away, and the box shut, vanishing into thin air. I felt tears well up in my eyes.

"I'm sorry, Liv." Isaac apologized, noticing the tears forming in my eyes. "This is all my fault. I never should have gone against my mother. If  I had listened to her, you wouldn't be in this mess."

I had to use all of my strength to prevent the tears flowing from my eyes. I didn't want Isaac to believe it was his fault.

"It's not your fault. You were only trying to help." I said, noticing how my voice wavered. I felt warm tears slide down my face, and I wiped them away, quickly. Unfortunately, even more tears slipped out, rolling down my face. I was unable to stop them. For the first time in 7 years, I had cried.

Isaac sat down next to me, pulling me into a warm hug.

I felt ridiculous crying into him like I was weak, but it was nice to have the comfort. The times when I was a young child, the time when I really needed a mother and always cried, I never had anyone.

After what felt like hours, but was only five minutes, I stopped crying.

"I'm sor-" I began, before Isaac cut me off.

"What for? You don't need to be sorry."

He let me go and I yawned.

My phone read 03:30.

I sighed, shutting my eyes, so that they would stop stinging. As soon as I did, the monster from my nightmare last night came into sight. I jerked my eyes open. Looks like I wasn't going to sleep tonight.

"Will you be ok to sleep with the spell cast on you?" Isaac asked.

No. "Yeah, I'll be fine." I lied, smiling secretly at how he cared.

He left my room, closing the door behind him as he did. It hit me then that I was alone. All alone in a dark room.