The Witch's Tool (The Witch's Tool #1)

Gone II

Jace

Celenia is gone.

After being attacked by Hareem, The Witch appeared out of thin air and just, took her. I couldn't even do anything because once I felt her dark menacing presence I stalled as all the emotions came flooding back to my mine and for a second, I just stood there.

When I did come back to reality thanks to Lyris we both tried taking her on, but she was just too powerful. The Witch defeated us without even looking at us. She just flicked her hands and we were finished. I still don't know why she didn't kill us because that' what she's known to do plus, me and Lyris were making it harder for her to get Celenia. And if that's not reason enough to get rid of a couple of teens interfering with your plan, I don't know what is. But what is even more puzzling is what Hareem is telling us now.

Hareem is telling us that he attacked Celenia because he was instructed to do so by the Order. I wanted to smash his head in but Lyris stopped me and told me we should listen to him before doing anything drastic. After all he's the only person that can help us get Celenia back. So instead of smashing his skull in, listened as he spat lies about how the council members made him attack Celenia. It seems they had not only warded this area but placed a spell that gives them control over one's mind and actions. It was to be for The Witch and her subjects but instead, being that Celenia has some similarities to that of her mother, the spell still activated nonetheless and transformed Hareem into an almost killer.

"But they knew we were on our way. They would have disarmed that spell." I still don't believe a word he's said.

"Things have not been the same with the Order since you left. The Order does things differently now and with your father missing, I can only imagine how much worse it's going to get." Hareem head is hung low and he's staring at the ground with a hard look on his face.

A part of me knows he's telling the truth but I don't want to believe what he's saying because that would only mean that The Order are trying to kill Celenia and if The Witch hadn't shown up when she did, she probably would've been killed. So, The Witch protected her from those that were tasked with the duty of keeping her safe?

Something is certainly not right.

Ever since I got here, things are more confusing than ever. But there is only one way to know for sure what is going on and that is to talk with the council members. Even though a part of me is itching to get Celenia back, there's nothing I can do about that right now. To get Celenia back I would have to venture into dark territory where there are things no living person has ever seen and survived to tell, and if that isn't bad, I have to get into The Witch's castle, a place no one knows exactly. No one except one.

"Jace." I look up to see Lyris staring at me, she's trying to figure out what I'm thinking. "I know what you're thinking and it's stupid."

I turn from her and move, but she stops me with a grab to my shoulder. "You cannot get her back."

I push her hand off and turn to her. "So you expect me to just forget about her, just like that?"

She doesn't even wait a second before giving me a resounding, "Yes."

My eyes narrow and I clench my fists from the anger that's trying to lash out. "You'll never get it."

Her eyes narrow too and she steps forward. "Get what, that you've fallen in love with her? That she's more important than your own life? That you would risk everything for this one person? Yes, I get it!" She shouts and I see her eyes are wet and she's trembling. "But you don't get this. she's the spawn of the devil and she doesn't deserve to live, she doesn't deserve you."

Her words burn my ears and make my chest heavy but I say nothing.

"What did you expect was going to happen, as long as she lives, everything will seize to exist because she's just like her mother. You might not see it now but I do. You need to let her go Jace, she isn't worth your life. She's worth nothing!"

At her final words, her face relaxes and her body stops trembling.

I look up into her face and meet her eyes, "If it was me, would you do whatever you can to get me back?"

Her body goes rigid and she stares at me hard. "You're different."

"How, why would I be worth the risk?" My voice shakes but I keep the volume at a minimum.

Her eyes darken and she watches me. "You're not the spawn of some she-devil!" She shouts the last part and I see that she's about to lose it.

"You don't know Celenia like I do Lyris. She's nothing like her mother."

She rolls her eyes, and makes a sad laugh. "For magic sake, stop it. I know you are in love with her but you can't possibly be so blinded by it." She stops and stares. "You need to listen to me, forget her. You know me right?" she walks up to me and holds my hand, "We've been friends before we could walk, before anything mattered. Don't you trust me?"

I drop my eyes, "Yes I do trust you."

"Good. Then let's go home." She pulls me as she walks off but I don't move, I stand there looking at our hands joined together.

"What?"

I drop her hand from mine and shake my head, "If you know me Lyrics you would know I could never do that."

She turns fully towards and steps closer. "Do you love her more than me?"

I say nothing and she nods her head. "You do."

Still I don't respond and she nods her head again.

"I'm done."

She walks away and even though a part of me wants her to stay, I know that I need to let her go if I'm going to do this.

"You really do love the girl?"

I give Hareem a long side-eye before looking away. "Do you remember where The Witch's castle is?"

He hesitates for a minute before answering with a sad "I do." That makes me think it's not something he wants to remember.

"Good." I reply, ignoring the part of me that's screaming that I'm being selfish. "We're going there, I'm going to save Celenia."

***

Dedicated to all of you.  : )