Caged Birds Will Fly

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Chapter Ten: All Isn't Lost

M A D A L I N
I run through the crooked curves of Witch's Forest; my feet battered, bruised, and bleeding. My breath hitched on the forest air. The sun rose from the east, glazing the tops of the trees. Almost there. My red hair twirled with the wind; my black eyes sharp. I knew where it was, The Coast, but it always had a way of... disappearing. I stop, turn around, and started to run again. The light started to cast down. Sunset was coming. Fast. My green cloak stuck to my white skin. I pushed through the branches, and there it was: The Coast. She lay there, purple hair covering her face. "I know why you seek me, revenge on your blackened heart?". I gulped, she knew everything, "I need the-"

"Resurrect potion, correct?"

"Yes". She hands me the grey vial, "One drop and everything is over". She seems troubled. "It is saddening that you think that the world is only in black and white. There is grey, Madalin. Life must move on, are you sure you understand what I am saying?". I scowled, "Yes. Perfectly".

"You've met her, haven't you?", she continued to knit something that flowed off her lap and into the lake.

"Yes"

"How was she?", she tilted her head and her clear blind eyes studied me. I swallowed, "She was... different"

"Just like her mother"

I turned, "I will save this forest"

I never heard her murmuring, "Only if the Prophecy is fulfilled".

The shadow already fell by the time I returned to the Palace. The stars covered the black sky, covering myself as well. I gripped the vial in my hand. She will die. I will make sure of that.
My hands scaled the walls up to my room, where my books lay scattered across the floor. My feet ached and my mouth was set in a grim line. I had lied to the Coast, I hadn't slept since meeting her, I couldn't shake off the feeling something was wrong. I lay down on my bed and cringed at the noise it made; my red hair fanned out against the golden sheets. My dinner lay untouched on the counter. My mind was in shambles; therefore, I didn't like The Capital, it always had a way of twisting your mind... for better or for worst. I scoffed at The Coast's prophecy and tried to get some sleep; instead, I got repeating nightmares of the Burning. The screams of my fellow witches and the muffled pleas for help. The army grabs us and proceeds to give us a choice: Either help the army with our "demonic" powers or be burned at the stake. My mother chose the latter and hid us away from those monsters. She looked down on us, tears streaming down her face. " Madalin, Carmine, Claret. I love you all, but this is the end. Do not hate does who are simply tied by fate. I-". I never knew what she said for she was apprehended before telling us the rest. Years after, Witch's Forest still hasn't returned to its former glory. I shuddered and awoke in a cold sweat. My hand reached into my pocket and pulled out the red vial and swallowed; the bitter taste stains my lungs but hastily put me to enviable sleep. 

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In the deepest part of the castle lay a being of horror and destruction. Jezebeth climbed the cliffs of the Neverlands, her hands bleeding and her fiery raging. "How long has it been?". She couldn't remember. The long years of slumber seemed almost non-existent now, but she knew that wasn't possible; she had been banished by her brethern and left to rot away. The nightshades scurried at her feet and she crackled horrendously, her long black hair was stained matted with dirt and her powers were low. She gazed up at the pink sky and smiled, she had always loved it for it resembles her brother Greinth, who helped her escape after the war. She sighed and continued climbing. Her fingers dug into the red soil and she struggled to lift herself up, "I need more power is I am to ever make it out of here", she exploded in rage. She slumped knowing it was her fault she was here. I am sorry Mother. Her white eyes scanned for something that could be of use to her and she landed on a young dragoness, "Finally, something of use", she muttered sarcastically. The girl had flowing red hair in a high ponytail and rode an ember dragon, Jezebeth was about to kill her when something stopped her. The young dragoness was about 17 years old, 10 years younger than she was. She reminded her of herself when she was still pure and naive...stupid and clueless. "Useless", she muttered and walked on, eventually settling for a powerful Nightshade. Her claws grew back and so did her horns and she almost jumped with glee, but soon stopped herself. To her dismay, the young dragoness was nowhere to be seen and she felt, for the first time in her life, utter loneliness. One that pricked her heart and may end her entire view of the world. 

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Okay, super short I know. It's kinda an introduction to our new characters and to our main "villain" or at least I think she is?