Chapter 174: The guard

AYLA

I was already awake when Willow came to tell me it was time for training.

I had barely slept.

There was something about Emberfall that made it impossible for me to ever truly relax.

I sat before the mirror, tying my hair back as Willow stood behind me.

"Amara is waiting."

"Thank you." I nodded.

She gave me a strange look through the mirror.

"What?"

"Nothing."

I narrowed my eyes and Willow smiled faintly.

"You look tired."

"I am tired."

"Then perhaps you should tell the witch that."

I turned to look at her.

"I think she would tell me to stop being weak."

Willow snorted.

It was strange.

A few days ago, I would have never imagined having a conversation like this with Willow. She had been one of the people I had once considered my enemy.

I stood.

The training chamber was not where Amara was waiting for me.

Instead, she led me down another corridor.

"Where are we going?" I asked as I approached her.

"We are going to learn something different today."

"What?"

"Potions."

"Potions?"

"Yes, follow me." she said and began walking.

The moment I realized where she was taking me, my skin crawled.

This was the room where Amara had used magic on me and stripped pieces of my mind away.

My stomach twisted.

I hated this place and the strange smell that lingered in the air. I did not want to be here but I forced myself to step inside.

If Amara noticed my discomfort, she said nothing.

The room had already been prepared.

A large mat had been spread across the floor and on top of it sat several cups, bowls, bottles, herbs and strange materials I could not identify.

Some looked like dried roots and others looked disturbingly like pieces of bone.There were small glass containers filled with liquids of different colors.

I swallowed.

"What exactly are we making?"

"You will learn that soon enough."

Amara sat down on one side of the mat and gestured for me to sit opposite her.

When I had lowered myself as she wanted, she extended her hands to me.

"Hold my hands."

I hesitated for a second before placing my hand in hers.

The moment our palms touched, cold rushed through me. It travelled from my fingertips, up my arms and straight into my spine.

Goosebumps covered my skin and I fought the instinct to pull away.

Amara’s grip tightened.

"Look into the bowl."

I lowered my gaze to the bowl between us and the white liquid in it.

"I want you to focus on it and repeat after me.

Amara closed her eyes and then she began to chant.

"Sanguis qui quondam fluxit, nunc vocat."

I said it back.

"Anima quae periit, nunc redit."

I had no idea what I was saying. For all I knew, I was agreeing to hand over my soul.

"Aperi ianuam. Solve vinculum. Redde quod raptum est."

The liquid in the bowl began to move.

My eyes widened as it bubbled.

"What..."

"Keep chanting."Amara barked at me.

I swallowed.

"Per sanguinem, per spiritum, per mentem..."

The liquid sputtered and a small bubble burst against the surface then I began hearing screaming coming out of the bowl.

My breath caught in my throat.

"Amara..."

"It is all right." Her voice was calm, her eyes were still shut. "It is the spell working. Do not stop."

I stared at the white liquid as the screaming grew louder.

"You’re going to do this on your own eventually," she said. "So focus on the words."

I looked up at her. She had blood dripping from her nose.

"Amara." I called again.

She ignored me.

"Amara, you are bleeding."

"Keep chanting."

I stopped.

"I think we should..."

She squeezed my hands.

"No." The word was sharp.

"Keep going."

More blood came from her nose and it ran down to her mouth.

My stomach churned.

"You are hurting yourself."

"Focus, Ayla."

Her voice sounded different and the room suddenly felt colder. I tried to pull my hands away but I couldn’t.

I stumbled over the words.

"Per... per sanguinem..."

"Again."

"Per sanguinem, per spiritum..."

My voice shook.

The screaming from the bowl became deafening and suddenly Amara’s eyes snapped open.

They were completely white... glowing white eyes staring directly at me.

A scream rose in my throat then suddenly her eyes closed and her fingers went limp and she released me, doubling over.

"Amara" I reached for her. "Are you okay?"

She slowly lifted her head and smiled.

"Never been better." She wiped the blood away with the back of her hand.

"Now." She pointed toward the bowl. "Repeat the spell."

I stared at her.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"I wasn’t listening. You were bleeding and I was scared."

Amara sighed. "It’s fine."

"I’m sorry."

"You were distracted." She leaned back. "And quite frankly, it would take a lot from me to repeat the entire spell until you learn it."

I lowered my head.

"I am sorry."

"I need you to focus, Ayla. Harnessing your powers is the reason we are here. No one will be able to help you forever. You can only help yourself. Do you understand?"

"Yes." I nodded.

"Good." She waved her hand. "Then go. Rest. We will work again tomorrow."

I stood.

My legs felt strangely weak as I walked out of the room and my skin still crawled.

I rubbed my arms as I walked.

The spell had taken something from me. I could feel it. My head felt light but my body felt strangely heavy.

Maybe this was simply what magic did.

Amara had bled from her nose and I had not because I was stronger, more powerful. At least, that was what she kept telling me.

Still, I needed to rest.

I turned the corner before I noticed a guard walking behind me.

I slowed my footsteps, hoping he would pass but he did not.

My heart began beating faster as I hurried to my room.

He was wearing his helmet.

Most of the guards I had seen inside the palace did not wear their helmets unless they were stationed somewhere or preparing for battle.

Maybe I was imagining things, I thought. But I walked faster and I heard his footsteps quicken too.

My stomach tightened.

No.

Something was wrong.

I took to my heels, rounding the corner to my room. I grabbed the handle, shoved it open and slammed the door shut as soon as I stepped inside.

My chest heaved as I sagged against the door.

I heard footsteps walk past my door and sighed in relief.

I was overreacting.

That was it.

I was exhausted and now I was imagining things.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Just then a knock sounded on my door.

I jolted so hard my soul left my body.

"Who is it?" I asked. "What do you want?"

"My lord Lucius summons you, Lady Ayla." A voice answered.

I opened the door.

The moment I did, the guard pushed it open and stepped inside.

I reached for the lamp beside the door without thinking and swung it. The metal base smashed against the side of his head.

"Fuck!" He cursed but I was already moving.

I stepped forward, grabbed his shoulders and kneed him in the groin just as Willow had shown me some days earlier.

Another curse tore from the guard’s mouth as he doubled over.

I raised my knee again but this time, he caught my knee with one hand and then reached for his helmet with the other, shoving it off his head.

He lifted his head and I froze.

My entire body went still as I stared at the face in front of me.

My lips parted.

"Ares."