Into The Light

Chapter Twenty-Six

Harley looked around. He seemed to have fallen into the middle of a large, domed room. It was bigger than the hall of the Magic Academy. After making sure that there were no guard demons, he took out his wand and waved it around, trying to detect the magic that had been performed here. Almost immediately, he sensed it. Tracing his wand over an oval-like shape, he breathed, "This...It's exactly the same shape as Lylia's portal. She most likely portalled to this room." Harley continued exploring the grounds of the Abyss, not knowing that there was someone watching from the shadows.

Alice smiled wickedly as she looked through her Blood Orb into the room that Harley was in. "It seems we have a guest," she called. "Don't touch him first; when Lylia is ready, she will deal with him." Alice bared her fangs slightly. "In the meantime, let the boy investigate us."

Harley snuck into a room that seemed like a library, with a cauldron in the centre and a bed next to it. He ran his fingers across the numerous books till he noticed one lying on the bed. Harley flipped it open and began reading. Eventually, he reached a page with an illustration of a blood-red potion, the same colour as Lylia's eyes. "Mind-control Potion..." he read. "Signs of usage: blood-red eyes, broken by a true love's kiss..." Struck by realisation, Harley sat up ramrod-straight. "This is definitely the potion that Lylia has taken! But that means..." He flushed as he deduced that the only way to rescue his best friend was for him to kiss her.

Meanwhile, Alice sniggered as she watched Harley through the Blood Orb. "If she's done, send her in," she called to Vexana, who merely grunted.

"Harley, you're here!" the puppet Lylia squealed. Harley sat up at the sound of Lylia's voice.

"Wha- Lylia...wait, why are you so green?" Harley questioned, unaware that it was not the real Lylia he was speaking to.

The puppet giggled and showed him her pale arms. "Do you really wanna know?" Harley stared at her, transfixed. "You killed me, Harley. That day. With your fire. Alice got someone to reanimate me, but my body's still dead. My soul is here, though!"

At her words, Harley turned pale. "I..I killed you? No, that can't be true. I know I didn't." His voice strengthened. "I did not kill you, Lylia. And I know I'm not talking to the real you now. Take me to your master." Yet, Harley's confident voice masked his self-doubt. Had he killed Lylia? Regardless, Lylia seemed to believe him. She bowed her head and gestured to Harley, bringing him to Alice's throne room.