The Paths We Take

Decisions

Mia's POV

They... did they mean Grayson and Drake?!

I start to panic as the weight of this problem sinks in.

We slowly get out of the bushes as the patrol leaves, and regroup on the other side.

"Mia, are you okay?" Raecthel looked concerned. "You're a little pale."

"I-I...." I stammer, not able to lie, not even able to speak at all.

"I think you need to sit down." Raecthel nodded at the others. "We're almost to Silver Ridge, can you make it there?"

"I... I need to go now." I let the words fall out of my mouth. "There's some business I need to take care of."

"Wh-What?" A voice gasped from the back of the crowd, which parted to reveal Silvia. "You... You're leaving?"

"Yes." I reply. "The Empire has my friends. I need to get them back."

"Your friends?" Raecthel turned away from Silvia and back to me. "You're friends with the egg thief and the mage?"

"Yes." I reply. "I'm surprised you didn't know that."

"I guess we left before word got around about you."

"You must have left a while ago then." I laugh.

"Not that long, no." Raecthel shook her head. "But that doesn't matter. So... you're really leaving?"

"I have to help them, Raecthel!" I exclaim. "They could be in peril right now as far as I know!"

"Yeah..." Raecthel sighed. "I guess I just wish there was more that I could do. That we could do."

"I'm coming with you!" Silvia said firmly, but I shook my head.

"Oh no you're not!" I say, crouching down next to her. "I promised I'd protect you!"

"But who's going to protect you, Mia?" Silvia asks, her eyes cold.

"Look Silvia, this is something I need to do alone." I look her right in the eyes. "What you can do to help me is go with the group, so I can make sure you're safe."

"That's what my sister said to me..." Silvia said, starting to tear up. "And she's dead."

"Silvia, Mia's right." Raecthel tugged the young girl's shoulder. "Let's go."

"But.." Silvia protested, but the elf started to pull her away.

"Good luck Mia." She smiled. "And thanks. If you ever need us... you know where to look."

I nod, and glance at all the other elves.

"I'll meet up with you as soon as I can." I say, and dash off.

Right now, time is everything.

Drake's POV

I wake up again, to find that I had been taken off the wall, and had instead been placed in a more comfortable position, an iron collar attached around my neck, and two iron cuffs.

It was still aggravating, but at least I could move around.

When will this end? Don't we all deserve a break?

I stand up, my chains straining just enough to accommodate my height.

Still cancellers. Dang it.

I sit around for a few minutes, and soon hear muffled footsteps echoing from above.

Someone was coming down.

I turn my head towards the doorway, as Darius walks in.

"I felt my spell snap." Darius looks me over. "I hope you had a nice rest. You looked pretty bad the last time we talked. No offense."

I don't say anything, but I do give him the fiercest look possible.

"Are you going to be silent this time, or should I just leave?" Darius asks gently. "You've probably been through quite the ordeal."

"Ordeal?! You have no idea!" I growl. "I've been through more than any of you so-called Mages have been through their entire lifetime I-"

And the I feel something expand in my throat, blocking all sound from coming up.

What?! What is this?! Did... did he MUTE me?!

"I'm sorry Drake." Darius stated apologetically. "But I need to tell you something that you ought to know, and I can't have you interrupting me. After all, the fate of your friend depends on it."

Now I was listening.

"The Emperor has decided..." Darius sighs. "That he wants you to join us, which is quite a feat for someone who usually despises your kind. But I guess in your case, you're pretty special so..."

I was about to yell out that I would never, but then I remembered I couldn't.

"He has decided... to make a deal with you." Darius stares at me sympathetically, as if he really did care... and I realize that maybe he did.

"So... his deal for you is this." Darius started, when I break free of the spell, and yell.

"Why would I trust you? Why would I trust him?" I say, but then scream out as the canceller chains attack me.

When the pain fades away, I realize Darius is looking at me in astonishment.

"You... you broke free of the spell." He said. "Even without the canceller chains that would have been an incredible feat. So you are just as powerful as they say you are. Now I understand why the Emperor would be willing to make this deal..."

"Why should I?" I ask, ignoring Darius's expression, but trying to say it more evenly.

"I can't answer that." Darius sighed. "But I can tell you what the deal is."

I slowly nod, trying to keep my temper in check.

"The deal is, we can let Grayson go." Darius stated, looking as if it pained him to say it. "But you need to join us and become an apprentice Mage."

"What?" I gasp. "How is that an option?!"

"There is another way..." Darius winced. "We can let you go... but Grayson has to stay here. Depending on his conditions, and how harsh the Emperor's torture is... it could kill him."

At this point I'm just staring at him, dumbfounded.

"I'll give you time to decide." Darius started to walk towards the cell door. "But you should decide by tomorrow. I don't think the Emperor is good with patience."

And the door shut, and I silently listened as the footsteps receded, walking up the stairs.  

Okay, I know I know, a bunch of the stuff that I write is REALLY dark and sad, and I haven't really had any happy moments in any of my Haunted stories... (other than the Christmas one) Sorry, but I will tell you, this story is gonna be a longer one, so it's not like the ENTIRE thing is gonna be depressing! But I'm sorry if you guys feel that the storm cloud has been raining down for too long. Hopefully someone will blow that away at some point. Bai! ~Dream