The Unity of Spellbound Threads

19

_-_Rick's POV_-_

As we journeyed through the dense forest night turned into day, but the endless questions from Lilith and Andy seemed to have no end. "What's going on, Rick? Why is the Darkness targeting me?" Lilith asked the question for the fifth time since dusk.

She wasn't going to stop asking anytime soon and I had gotten quite bored of the question. Sperantia and I exchange a glance, our faces neutral. "We're not entirely sure, Lilith," Sperantia says vaguely. "We're still trying to figure it out."

Andy who had been silent most of the time finally speaks up, his voice laced with frustration. "Yeah, and how do we get out of here? We can't just keep running forever."

But Lilith ignores him, her focus is fixed on me. "Rick, you know something. I can see it in your eyes. Tell me the truth."

I shake my head, trying to appear clueless. "Lilith, I swear, we're telling you everything we know." We're not. We just can't tell her yet, she wouldn't believe us and even if she did she would be too scared to accept it.

But like every other answer I have given her she's not buying it. She presses us for answers, her questions becoming more insistent and urgent. Sperantia and I try to deflect her, but she's not having it.

As we round a bend in the path, the trees part to reveal a large fortress in the distance. Sperantia and I exchanged a nervous glance. We need to keep them away from this place. It's not their time for this yet. We can only hope that he doesn't sense us.

"Hey, let's take a break," I say, trying to sound casual. "We can rest for a bit and figure out our next move." But Lilith's eyes are fixed on the fortress. "What's that place?" she asks, her voice laced with suspicion.

I am tired of trying to come up with excuse after excuse. But like always Lilith's not having it. She starts walking towards the fortress, her determination evident in her strides.

That's when I get desperate. "Fine," she stops. "If you must know, your parents were part of a group called the Unity of Spellbound Threads. They were powerful magic users, and they worked with others like them to maintain peace and balance in the world."

Lilith's eyes widen, her gaze intense. "What does this have to do with the Darkness? And the Darkness kidnapping Lila, Dave and Daleyza?!"

I sigh, hoping that my irritation isn't as visible as I think it is I say this "the Unity was caught off guard by the Darkness. They were unprepared for its power and scope. Your parents, Lila's parents, Dave, and Daleyza - they were all part of the Unity. And they were one of the most powerful members."

Andy's eyes go wide. "So, the Darkness killed Lilith's parents because they were the strongest?"

I nod grimly. "Yes. And now, the Darkness is after Lilith because she's the last living heir of her parents' power and legacy that they would expect."

Lilith's eyes are narrow. "What do you mean, 'power and legacy'? What did my parents do?" Sperantia and I exchanged a nervous glance. I said too much.

"Let's just say they were important members of the Unity," Sperantia says vaguely. Lilith's not satisfied. "Important how? What did they do to make the Darkness target them?" I try to deflect her questions, at this point it has become a habit. "Lilith, we're not sure. We're still trying to figure it out."

But Lilith's not having it. "You're hiding something from me. I can see it in your eyes. Tell me the truth." Sperantia tries to intervene. "Lilith, please. We're trying to protect you."

But Lilith's anger boils over. "Protect me? I have trusted you two this long with no answers for the questions I asked. If I am a legacy of power I deserve some answers. Not to mention that I am a princess. You're the ones who know what's going on. Tell me the truth!"

I grone this time my anger is very visible. "Lilith, if you are so impatient and important that you must know everything. Your parents were leaders in the Unity. They were powerful magic users who helped maintain balance and peace in the world. And the Darkness killed them because they were the most powerful members of the Unity."

Lilith's eyes flash with anger. "So, you're saying the Darkness killed my parents because of their power? And now it's after me because I'm their daughter?" I nod, extremely thankful that she finally understands. "Yes, Lilith. That's exactly what I'm saying." And to fulfill her wish of knowing everything I add this, "Also for your information you are no longer the princess, you are the queen."

Lilith's eyes widen, her gaze intense as she processes the revelation. Her face pales, and her lips part slightly, as if she's struggling to breathe. The air around her seems to vibrate with tension, as if the very fabric of reality is shifting to accommodate this new truth. I don't care that I just brought her world down around her. She pushed my buttons, so I pushed hers.

Sperantia's eyes flash with disapproval, her gaze darting between Lilith and me with a mixture of concern and annoyance. Andy's face is a mask of shock, his eyes wide and unblinking as he struggles to comprehend the magnitude of what's been revealed.

The fortress looms before us, its walls towering above like sentinels, their stone surfaces weathered to a moss-covered gray. The gates are old and rusted, hanging crookedly from their hinges like a gaping mouth. The air around it seems to hum with an otherworldly energy, as if the very presence of the Darkness is palpable.

As we stand there, frozen in a tableau of shock and revelation, the wind stirs, whispering secrets in our ears. The trees creak and groan, their branches swaying in an eerie rhythm that seems to match the beating of our hearts.

Lilith's voice breaks the silence, her words barely above a whisper. "I see." Her gaze drops, her eyes fixed on the ground as if she's searching for something. "I understand now."

Sperantia steps forward, her eyes locked on Lilith with a mixture of compassion and caution. "Lilith, we need to talk about this. We need to figure out what's next."

But Lilith's not listening. She's already walking towards the fortress, her strides purposeful and determined. The gates creak as she pushes them open, and she disappears into the darkness within.

We exchanged a glance, Sperantia and I. We know we can't let her face this alone. With a shared nod, we follow her into the unknown.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Hellooo!

Sorry that it took longer than expected, at the time of posting this I am at home after the second to last day of school. Tomorrow is the last day of school.

I'm hoping that I will have more time for writing during summer but I do have a few summer plans to do but I will try my best.

Anyways I have been thinking and I think that a sequel and or a prequel of this book would be very fitting.

Would you flowers like this to happen?

Which one should I do first?

A link to an anonymous voting pole thing will be posted on my message board to vote for a prequel or a sequel.

I'm going to look into doing that if you flowers would like that.

Be kind
Be considerate
Be thoughtful
Be loving
Be a good person!

Byeeee
-Rose out!

Word count: 1275