A Song Named Alice

Chapter 30

Chapter 30~finally~

As I close up the clock up, Erik and Meg dash into the room, Meg holding Loki's pocket watch. Upon seeing the room's condition, blood spattered over the floor and four bodies laid out, they stop in their tracks. Their faces pale to a white quite like blankets of snow until the smell catches up to their noses. 

Meg runs up to Raven as soon as her fear washes over, a bright smile to her face, and buries her head into his back, carefully minding his injuries. "You're not hurt again, are you?" She asks while she hands Loki his pocket watch.

"I'm fine, Edwin too. Alice came close though, but she'll be fine now." 

"I'm glad," she whispers before returning her head to Raven's back. 

Erik spots me as I prepare to leave, but I no longer have any time to talk, though I didn't have any time before either. And once back at Asgard, I sprint my way to Pleasance. Down the dark and empty streets of town, to the countryside, through the meadows of flowers I made for Pleasance, and beyond the bend in trees. I finally reach my house, but as I bring the clock back up while I open the door, I know that I should have ran faster. 

Through the halls and around a corner, I grab the stool outside the door and yank the door open. I make sure it doesn't crash; but as I sit next to her on the stool, I notices her breathing has become labored. 

"You're back," she says. She slowly tries to sit up, but gives up after I urge her not to. Several times while I stare at her, in shock, her eyes flit, trying to keep conscious. 

I then realize how weak she's gotten since the last time I saw her. She looks so pale, like every milligram of her strength has been sapped. Before I can think, I grab her hand, waiting for her quickened breath to relax from her exhaustion. 

"Pleasance, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for it to come to this. Honestly. I tried to get Time to help you, but he won't listen. I don't have enough time for his demands." I hold her hand tighter, but my heart won't calm. 

"All Father," she starts to say, her voice weary and frail, a rasp of its original height. "I know it's not your fault. It's okay." 

Her eyes shine at me so gently, breaking my heart beat by beat. I know what I have to do now, but my fears keeps my voice from letting out even a squeak. Yet, I force my voice through; even if it breaks afterward, I will do anything to save her. 

I squeeze her hands together, jerking my head to her, holding her hands dearly near my face. "Pleasance, will you let me try something? I want to see if there are any spells that could work against your contract. Please, let me use Black magic on you." 

She smiles. "I won't stop you, Sir. I trust you. Just try not to blow up the house if the spell doesn't work properly. But I'm sure that you can do it." 

I pull out his contract. Pleasance watches as the circle lights up, every rune shining purposefully. The complimenting glimmer flashes a childlike look to her eyes, exactly how she looks when eating ice cream and tending to the flowers. A smile returns to my face, but it provides little comfort. 

I start the incantation as she glances back up to me. "Wind that blows across the land cast a barrier on this lost soul and provide a fruitful home. Let all the elements guide this soul to its proper place. And let the soul stay on the path that the caster guides her through forevermore." 

Impatiently, I wait for a reaction, but even after nearly a minute, nothing does. My hopes drop and the smile disappears. Pleasance, trying her best, strokes my hand with a free thumb. And silence continues.