Severed

Chapter 6

Sometimes my deal with Magic isn't all it's cracked up to be. It cost me a lot which is probably why Hallie and I have never met another Magic Dealer. Simply put, the price is just too high. Sure there are other ways to gain large amounts of magical energy like having a magical creature for a partner. Hallie counts as my partner, but some other begins include Companions, Artemians, and Mims, all of which possess large magic reserves. Believe me, I tried to find one of them before I made a deal with magic, but they're so rare that almost no one ever even sees one.

After 3 days of walking, Hallie and I finally arrived in Apocalypse. Though the name implies that the realm is more disgusting than Savage, it's actually a hidden paradise. Overflowing with gorgeous waterfalls, lush forests, and surprisingly beautiful creatures, Apocalypse contains some of the most appealing natural formations on the entire continent. Because it's so pretty naturally, all the cities are located in the center of the realm, which was where we were headed. Left with no choice, since we had no food, we had to risk being seen in a city in order to eat and buy some supplies with our ever dwindling amount of money. The trek to the massive capital, Brighten, wouldn't take too long, though it was dangerous since many of the beautiful creatures are also extremely territorial. Over the long walk to this point my magic had completely recovered so the spell I began to perform wasn't difficult. Drawing a bit of energy from Hallie, I sat down, scooped up a bit of mud from the nearby riverbed, and started tracing the symbols necessary onto my bare legs. I had already cut the fabric my jeans short with a knife I had attached around my upper thigh so I could paint the marks with ease. After the symbols coated most of my skin came the actual words, Speed Overdrive, but I only got through the first half before being interrupted. Someone wrapped their arms underneath mine and latched them upwards so I was unable to fight back. I screamed for Hallie, but even that was cut short when another person slashed a bit of mud across my throat and whispered a spell. After that, no matter how much I screamed and yelled, not a sound came from my lips. Thankfully though, Hallie was able to disappear before my attackers could see her and they didn't go after her so they either didn't know she was there or I was their target.

I didn't go easily, kicking and silently screaming the entire way, though my captors didn't seem to mind as they pulled me along behind them. The male who's arms were locked around mine held up firmly as I flailed my fists backward at him and the other male continually cast multiple ensnaring spells on me. First was the spell to cage my voice, then another locking my ankles together, and finally, a last one that kept my fists at my sides. My captors had me locked up pretty tightly, but even still the one behind me never released his arms from around mine. I guess my captor was strong because they carried almost my entire weight for a long, long time. The men attacked me in the morning and it was dusk by the time they stopped dragging me along. The male sat my body against a tree and finally disengaged his arms from underneath mine, allowing their spell to fully take effect and my arms to be entirely pinned at my sides. At the same time, the one who had cast the spell undid the one on my voice and I cleared my throat uncomfortably. That was actually the first time I saw the attackers who were two males, probably around 19 or so in human years, one with brown hair and soft features and the other, the one who drug me the entire way, with raven black hair and sharp, faerie like features. It wasn't until the black haired boy's long locks shift that I recognized him. "AceEntrack?" I called when I noticed the pointing of his ears. Sharp features, pointed ears, extreme hair colors, they were all signs that pointed to one race; the faeries.

His name. That, and a rush of some strong feeling, was all the memories of my past that I was allowed. I had a feeling I should know more and a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. "Hi Hallie, it's been a while" the boy from my past said, smiling sweetly. He definitely had some prior experience with me with the kindness I saw in his smile. Possibly a friend from when I was a faerie, before I made a deal with Magic? It's just so frustrating that I don't even remember my family or this obviously important boy. All I know about my past is that I was a faerie before my deal with Magic, I'm no longer a faerie, and now I know this boy's name. I do also remember my dealings with Magic which weren't exactly pleasant. "Ace. I know your name, but not... You" I said sadly. The boy looked so hurt by my simple declaration and replied slowly, "but Hallie I...I don't understand. Why did you run away from Ala? Did something happen? Hallie... You're scaring me, what's wrong?" I gave him a little sad smile and a tiny shrug of my trapped shoulders. The boy sighed in a huff and said "Hallie, I was your betrothed".