The Darkside

Flame and Fury

"Hold on, girls! Don't let go, and don't stop chanting!" Aunt Cassie shouted as they got pulled into the darkness. They were travelling at an alarming speed before they landed in a bare land, where I stood.

"Octavia, are we glad to see you," Aunt Cassie said, hugging me, and so did Melissa and Anastasia. "So am I, but we need to get Dad," I said. "Yes, but where is he?" Anastasia asked. "He is here, but we got separated," I said. "Well, let's use a spell to find him," Melissa said. "Wait, I will find him; I can teleport and bring him to you," Christen said. "Thanks, Christen," I said. "You're welcome, Octavia," Christen said as he disappeared. After a few minutes, which felt like an eternity, he appeared with Dad. Christen and Brian then teleported us back home.

As we sat in our living room, speaking, I noticed Dad sneak out. "Dad, are you leaving without saying goodbye?" I asked, following him out. He turned around and said, "I'm sorry, honey, but it's better this way."

Right then, the door opened as Anastasia, Melissa, and Aunt Cassie came out. "Where are you going, Dad?" Anastasia asked. "I'm sorry, girls, but I need to leave before—"

He couldn't finish his sentence as a ball of fire descended and incinerated him within seconds. "Dad!" I screamed as another fireball descended, now heading towards me. Christen jumped before it as he pushed me away and was engulfed in its flames.

"Christen!" I shouted as he disappeared before my eyes. "No, no..." I cried, and then I heard an evil laugh rise from the shadows. "Who are you? Show yourself!" I yelled. "Sure, I will," the shadow said as it appeared before us. "Mom, you did this? You killed Dad?" Anastasia yelled in anger. "Yes, I did—and I am not your mother," she said as she lifted her arms. "Oh, no, you don't, you evil wretch," I said, putting my hands up. Melissa and Anastasia joined in as we chanted, sending her into the shadows. "No, not me," she screamed as she disappeared into the darkness.

Brian appeared, asking "What was that sound and where are your father and Christen?" as we were hugging each other. "They are gone," I said with tears in my eyes. "I'm sorry, what?" he asked, confused. I explained what happened and how Christen sacrificed himself for me.

"Honey, he did that out of love," Aunt Cassie said. "What?" I asked. "Yes, Octavia, Christen was in love with you; but as your advisor, he couldn't say anything as it was against policy," Brian said. "What, why didn't I know it?" I asked. "Because you didn't know that you felt the same," Aunt Cassie said. "I did? I guess I did," I said, suddenly realizing why losing Christen felt as if I had lost a part of myself.

I went into my room and shut the door, wanting to be left alone. "Octavia," Melissa said, tapping at the door. "Let her be; she needs to grieve on her own for now. You lost your father, she lost her father and the man she loved," Aunt Cassie said. "No, no, not now!" I shouted, shattering the vase and everything breakable. I couldn't control my rage; All I could think about was that I not only lost my father and Christen, but I also didn't realize for so long that Christen and I loved each other—we never got the chance to confess our feelings. "Why do bad things keep happening to me?" I shouted, throwing my hands up and shattering everything around me.

"Shouldn't we check on her?" Melissa asked, looking at Aunt Cassie. "Maybe," she said, opening the door slowly. "Get out," I shouted, putting my hands out and sending Aunt Cassie crashing against the wall. "Oh, no," I said, realizing what I had done and rushing to Aunt Cassie's aid, and so did Melissa and Anastasia. "I'm sorry, Aunt Cassie," I said, touching her. "Octavia, you need to know something about yourself," Aunt Cassie said. "What more is there to know?" I asked.

"I'm sorry, honey, but there is a darkness in you," Aunt Cassie said. "Seriously, because of what just happened? It was an accident; I didn't mean to hurt you," I said. "No, it's not about that; it's about what happened when you fought Anastasia," Aunt Cassie said. "What happened?" I asked, confused. "Your eyes turned amber," she said. "What? No! It was Anastasia's eyes that changed colour, not mine," I said. "No, it happened to the both of you," she said. "No, that's not possible," I said. "It's true, Octavia," Melissa said.

"So what do you want to do? You want to lock me up?" I asked. "No, we have a spell to treat you," Aunt Cassie said. "Only me, what about Anastasia?" I asked. "We took care of her when she was unconscious," Aunt Cassie said. "Oh, so now I'm the dark witch?" I asked. "No one's saying that," Aunt Cassie said. "Yes, no one said that; we just want to help you," Melissa said.

"Right, if I didn't help you, I wouldn't be in this mess in the first place," I shouted at Melissa, who looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, "I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you, Octavia."

"Seriously, why is everything about you? You're not the only person to lose loved ones. I lost my Dad, and the Mom whom I never knew—and the woman who I thought was my mother killed my father and turned me into a dark witch, after which she tried to kill me, too. You need to stop being a spoilt brat and just get over yourself," Anastasia said, making me furious.

"Sorry to crash the family reunion, but vengeance never rests," came a voice from behind.