Remain Nameless | Michael Langdon

v.

The two weeks before the test felt so long. Elizabeth was nervous every second just thinking about it. As they arrived back into the familiar territory of the warlocks, Elizabeth found herself drawing blood on her hands as she picked at them. Zoe reached over and stopped her. "You're going to do fine."

"You know you can perform all of those things on that list, Elizabeth. You're going to do great. We have nothing to worry about." Cordelia looked at all of them. There was so much pressure on her. Maybe they were right, maybe she should've practiced Descensum. So she could be sure she was going to win this. But then again, Michael is so powerful... there's no way he won't pass. That was what scared her. If he could complete all those things, that definitely meant she couldn't perform Descensum.

As soon as they arrived, the test commenced. All first six wonders were fine, but Michael always performed them better than her. It wasn't that she couldn't do any of those things, she just didn't. She was following the test as it was meant to be done. It made her look weaker. Descensum was saved for the last.

"And so we arrive at the final test. Descensum. Elizabeth will go first." She demanded, looking to her. Everyone could spot the nervousness on her. Including Michael.

"Why don't they go at the same time? It'll take less, we know she's not coming back anyways." Ariel said. Elizabeth's heart pounded, practically about to pop out of her chest. She wasn't scared of anything... except for this. Michael wondered why. Maybe it was that she was truly evil, and maybe going to Hell might make it surreal for her. And if she's meant to be his queen, how would it be different for her? He had many questions about it, all he hoped would be answered soon. It did anger him how the warlocks talked to her and about her.

"Don't speak to her that way." Michael advised him. Ariel went silent, and the other witches wondered why he was defending her. He seemed like a nice guy after all. Michael noticed the blood on her hands. He took them and looked at them in front of everyone. Elizabeth stared up at him with surprise. He gently healed them. Then he put his hand on the back of her neck and leaned in to whisper something in her ear. "I will save you if you don't come back."

She nodded once he pulled away. She got down onto the floor with everyone standing over her, looking down. She spoke the chant and as soon as she emerged, Cordelia set the timer.

For so long, it was just darkness. The blackest black she'd ever seen. She couldn't feel her body, there was hardly any ability to think. Nothing ran through her mind. It was almost as if she couldn't even feel her soul. It was so incomprehensible that she just woke up eventually. She inhaled so sharply that everyone in the room knew she was back. Zoe reached down and pulled her up. "You just completed the Seven Wonders! You're the next Supreme!"

Michael was ultimately confused, knowing he could perform Descensum. How could her power possibly meet his. Was it because she was born from his father's hands? Did he do this on purpose? "I want to do it. I want to do Descensum."

Cordelia looked to him. "If you want to do it, and prove that you're so much stronger than her, bring back Misty Day."

"I'll do it." Michael said instantly. The warlocks were out raged that Cordelia was meddling with the test, especially with the possibility that he could die since there couldn't be two Supremes. Nonetheless, Michael laid down onto the floor and ascended. Before too long, he was back. At first, they were all saddened that Misty wasn't back, but then she appeared. Elizabeth never doubted him for a second.

"That's impossible. Two Supremes?" Everyone began to murmur amongst themselves.

"So, what do we do? There can't be two." Ariel was concerned. That was obviously all he cared about. "Michael surpassed her in all the tests. He's stronger, he should be the Supreme."