Love & Deceit

Chapter 23: The Darkness

I felt as if I was floating in the sea of my own consciousness. I couldn't move, but was fully aware of my dark surroundings. Every tendril, every nook and cranny, I could see it all perfectly. One would assume that darkness would be empty – just as empty as how I feel at this very moment. Utterly drained, searching for a way to regain control of my body. – But it's not...it looks like its own world inside here, with corners, and bends and twists and turns. It looks real, even though at this very moment, I don't feel real. I'm not even fully sure what I was hoping to accomplish in here, I just knew I had to do something. But now...I think I'm trapped in this oasis of darkness...at least for now.

I need to move, this whole paralyzed in mid air thing isn't working for me.

Gemmae ex animo

I started regaining feeling in my body, starting with my feet and then all the way up to my head. Then I fell to the floor surprisingly gently. I got up and I shook my body from head to toe, to make sure everything is working properly. Good to know that my spells work in here at least. Now onto the big question, how the fuck do I get out of here? Or the even bigger question; is it possible that I can find James in here?

So I started walking. Not quite sure where I was going, but trusting my gut and following my instincts. After about an hour of walking I decided to sit down. I'm literally getting nowhere; this entire place looks exactly the same. It's like I've been going around in circles. Maybe if I can't do anything for myself right now, maybe...just maybe, I can check and see if the others are okay.

"Vocant Matt"

...I waited. Nothing. Great, communication spells don't work in here. Ugh what do I do now...? Hmm...what if...?

"Ostende mihi faciem Matt" A white cloud popped up in front of me, showing me Matt and Ash's whereabouts. Good, if I can't talk to them the least I can do is check up on them. They were still back in Maisonia, Matt looking thankfully conscious but distraught. "We need to get her back Ash." Ash had an alarmingly blank look on his face; he looked as if someone had yanked his soul out of his body. "..." "Ash." "..." "ASHTON!" Ash slowly turned to face Matt, still wearing that blank expression. "..." "Ash..." "...." Matt sighed in understanding before grabbing Ash's face, forcing him to look at him. "I know that this was what you were most afraid of happening. I get that. This is everything you were trying to prevent...I fucking get it, okay? I love her, too. But you can't shut down, Ashton. You just can't. She needs us...she needs you...okay?" Ash's face was starting to regain its color a little bit. "Now fucking snap out of it, and help me find a way to get her back." Ash nodded, looking more or less like himself again. "Let's go. The Darkness destroyed the rest of Maisonia while we were out...but it couldn't have gotten too far." "Where do you think it went, Ash?" "Judging by the direction of destruction it left in its wake. My guess would be that Lykos is its next target." "Damn...the dimension of angels?" "Yeah, it's where the Plight founders were from...it's kind of a big deal." "Then we should call the rest of the Plight. Heaven knows we're gonna need them..." The cloud dissipated as I turned back to look at my haggard surroundings. "The dimension of angels..." I suddenly heard a shuffling noise behind me. Startled I turned around, holding my palm out in front of me, ready to blast whatever I find. "Don't shoot..." The voice that spoke was eerily familiar, but the figure was cloaked by darkness. I couldn't see them. "Ostende mihi" The revealing spell shed the cloak of darkness revealing two very silvery blonde, very pale skinned figures, both exceptionally beautiful, both all too familiar...Oh my god.

"Jasper...MOIRA?!"

"Raven...we've been expecting you."

"Expecting...what...I"