"So you've come to your senses then, child?" Merikh smiled, but I could see a gleam in her eyes that no one else seemed to notice.

I clenched my jaw and nodded, there was no sense in arguing with her now. I needed to visit Etherea officially, and that was only going to happen if Merikh and I showed a united front.

The High Lord crossed one leg over the other, still giving me a smile that could easily pass for love. But I knew better. Unlike my brother, I was sent here at a very young age, when our dear father had perished in the war and I had to train to take his place as the next High Mage. So despite her facade of warmth, I knew Merikh better than most people in the palace did.

"Lovely," Merikh's voice was a scratchy whisper as she plucked a dark crystal from her long, black dress. Strands of shadowy threads split away as the crystal was pulled harder. All the while Merikh gave a gleeful smile, "then we begin the Life Oath."

I turned my sights from the crystal back to Merikh, "Of course, My Lord." I had to remain impassive in her presence regardless of my sentiments. She would never let me leave if she had as much as an inkling of my true intentions, "I have a request, however," I added.

Merikh arched an eyebrow as the last shadowy thread frayed off the gem.

"I travel with two people only," I insisted. Appearing too appeasing would have been just as much of a problem, I did not want Merikh to suspect anything. So I continued, "not only would an army be unnecessary, it would be counterproductive to my main objective."

Merikh's eyebrow stayed up, "The magic water?"

I felt the twinge in my gut again at her tone. I turned my attention to the floor for a moment, shutting my eyes and taking a single deep breath. I needed to calm myself before I looked back up at the High Lord, "Yes." I forced a smile, although considering how tightly I was pressing my lips together, I'm certain it came out a grimace.

Merikh sighed, "Very well," she said, leaning back on the studded throne, "I suppose I can always bring an army to annihilate them after you've seeped magic from the land."

That was never going to happen. No matter how monstrous the people of the Light were, I would not destroy an entire nation like that. But I gave Merikh another tight-lipped smile, "Secondly," I continued, "I choose who goes with me. My brother Enzo and an apprentice of my choosing."

The High Lord had remained indifferent until I mentioned my brother's name. She sat upright suddenly, narrowing her eyes at me once more. Merikh wasn't fond of our bond, never had been.

I shrugged coolly, opting to lean against the wall instead, "I need people that will not question my actions—my split-second decisions, knights of your choosing will." I turned away from Merikh's piercing gaze and to my long, black boots barely visible under the hem of my clean, black robes. I was playing the woman's own game with her now, "If you want me to infiltrate their kingdom successfully," I went on, "I need to do this on my terms."

Merikh continued studying me silently for a minute as long, shadowy wisps rose from her dress like plumes of smoke. "Very well," she finally said, leaning back on her chair and popping one leg over the other once more. I nearly smiled—nearly. The High Lord wasn't as sharp as she pretended to be.

"We will go to Etherea under the guise of peace," I continued. Only it wasn't going to be a guise for me. I fully intended to initiate peace between our lands, return with some water from the Fountain of Divinity and somehow still be alive at the end of it all. The finer details of the plan still needed work, but I had time.

"Peace?" The High Lord raised an eyebrow again.

"Peace," I repeated with a nod, "we have the largest Ether deposits across the land. We barter a trade, crystals for some of their water."

Merikh was smiling now. She stroked her jaw with her thumb, slowly, as if in thought, "And then destroy them from the inside?" the High Lord paused for a minute, "My my Valeria, that's cold for someone that despises death."

The way she drawled my name, letting it roll on her tongue sickened me. It was nothing more than a means for her to exude her power over me, remind me that I was not the Viginti Vacuus to her. But I remained emotionless, "You underestimate how far I would go for the children, My Lord."

It wasn't a lie.

"Then kneel, child." Merikh held up the shadowy gem with her forefinger and thumb, "Swear on your life."

I walked up to the throne, my throat suddenly drier than the arid land beyond the palace. But I head my head high as I got down on one knee at her feet. I wasn't bowing to her. I had to make that very clear.

This was for the children. For Zarethia. For Tomlinson.

Merikh placed the shapeless mineral on my head. It was warmer than I had expected it to be, and I could already feel the wisps of smoke, like tentacles, wrapping themselves around my head. But my head stayed poised in the air.

"Swear on your life," the High Lord began, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, "swear that you will eradicate magic from the Light or die trying!"

"I swear," I repeated and a sharp pain pierced the centre of my chest. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to look at Merikh. I would never give her the satisfaction of knowing I was in pain.

"Swear that you will never leave the Light until magic remains in its borders."The woman was almost smiling now, her voice, a harsh whisper.

"I swear."

Plumes of shadowy wisps rose from the floor, wrapping themselves around my body like vines. They swathed themselves around my hands, my chest, my throat. I gasped for air, letting out a choking whine as their grip tightened.

"Swear on your life, Valeria Oengus." Merikh was so close to my face that I could smell her foul breath. My eyes began to sting at the sight of her.

No no no! I had to control myself before I accidentally nullified the Life Oath itself in the middle of the spell. Merikh would consider it an act of defiance, and that was a nightmare I had no intention of dealing with right now.

I let out a wheeze. I could hardly use my breathing to control my emotions right now. The wisps of smoke felt like long fingers, clawing at my throat. My chest heaved painfully as I struggled for air. As I forced the words out, "I swear!"

And the shadows enveloped me like a blanket of absolute darkness, without warmth, without any air. They pushed at my chest with sharp, needle-like pain, lunging at me from all sides until I thought I would be torn to shreds.

I screamed, but no sound came. The shadows had wrapped themselves around my throat and mouth, like a heavy, wet hand pushing down on my face. The harder I tried to breathe, the harder I struggled, the more I drowned. Until my world began to fade to black.

If I sleep I die, if I sleep I die.

I repeated the words over and over in my head, like a mantra. A prayer that I hoped would keep me alive. I couldn't die, not until I saved the children. I couldn't sleep.

I couldn't die.

I felt my strength give away just as the shadows released their hold. I gulped an enormous amount of air with a loud gasp. My whole body ached as I was freed of the devouring grip. But I could breathe again.

I lay panting by Merikh's feet. After everything I had just been through, the strangest part was uncovering that air had a taste too. It tasted good. Oddly sweet.

Merikh's face had lost the glint. She knelt by my side, stroking my long, black hair, "Come child," she cooed, and the voice that normally turned my insides was a soft, comforting sound, "rest for a day," the High Lord continued, "I will send a messenger announcing your parley."

I nodded, the idea of moving my body was akin to moving a mountain with my bare hands.

"Rest," Merikh repeated and one of the gems on her dresses glowed brighter than the others. But my eyelids were so heavy that I had no energy to focus on anything else.

Sleep sounded like a marvellous idea.

(1482 Words)
(Total: 6,566 Words)