Prompt from @highfantasy "Contests and Challenges", January 2023: "A kiss at midnight is overrated. Until now, you've never participated in New Year's festivities, and you expect this event to be no different. At midnight, a portal opens, revealing a magical surprise..."

Story word count = 3489

**** Contest Prompt Winner ****

The visions haunted me. At first vague flickering sleep dreams, they grew into vivid waking premonitions that struck without warning, stealing my mind away.

Three suns, one yellow and two faint red, illuminated a strange world. Small twin moons shining faint eerie light over misty bogs and deep forests. Witches weaving ethereal threads of magic, bending the laws of probability. Bones and shattered blades littering a scorched field. I envisioned twisted creatures wielding steel and fire marching across the world, leaving death and desolation in their wake. A being of pure light, held captive within a dark magical cage beneath an abandoned stone tower, pleading for rescue. The visions had one thing in common — a woman with piercing emerald eyes. Somehow, she was important.

They seemed so ominously real.

My friends worried, seeing how I phased out, eyes unfocused in breathless stillness. "Between job and college, you've been working too hard," they said. "Take a break and live a little." Maybe they were right, so I accepted an invitation to a New Year's Eve party.

Crowded parties were not usually my thing, but I was determined to make the best of it. Putting on my only clean pair of black cargo pants and a green shirt, I arrived late and scanned the festivities. Pounding bass shook my teeth as dancers gyrated seductively under colored flashing lights. Others staggered about in an alcohol haze, moving between small groups of gossipers. In a shadowed corner, a couple groped each other while playing an enthusiastic game of tonsil hockey.

I sighed. Alcohol and my horny friends — what could possibly happen? A lot of bad choices, that's what.

The friend that invited me pressed a red solo cup into my hands. "'Bout time you showed up, Jake." Grinning, he tilted his head. "There's this girl asking about you."

"Where?" I asked, re-scanning the room.

"Over there," he answered, pointing across the dance floor. "Standing by herself by the snack table. The one that looks like a witch. She resisted my charm, so obviously has poor taste in men." He slapped me on the back. "Might be perfect for you, though."

I studied her from afar in the pulsing party lights. Attractive. Tall black boots and a flowing black dress that hugged a willowy figure gave her a modern goth vibe. Streaks of red in long black hair matched dark-cherry lips. But why was she interested in me? I have some good qualities, sure, but I'm not generally considered a chick magnet.

I took a sip, then immediately spit it back into the cup. The purple liquid tasted like grape cough syrup mixed with rubbing alcohol. While no one looked, I abandoned the cup on a table.

When I looked back up, she appeared closer, sauntering my way across the floor with lips turned up into an alluring grin. But her eyes — dazzling emerald green.

My breath halted — it was her.

She came up to me until only a hand-width separated us, with eyes sparkling. "Long have I searched for you, Jake," she drawled.

"You..." I said in a shaky voice. "You are the woman in my visions."

Giggling, she asked, "Is that, how you say, a pickup line?"

"No, no," I stammered, holding up hands. "I actually have seen you--" I clamped my eyes closed and groaned. "That does sound kinda weird, doesn't it?"

"Worry not. I have also seen you in my visions. That is why I came here."

"So many questions--"

As the pounding techno beat shifted to a swirling ballad, the strange woman took up my hand. "Dance with me."

With my arms around her waist and her hands on my shoulders, we swayed to the music. Her eyes never left mine. "My friend thinks you might be a witch," I said.

"Maybe I am," she responded, rounding her lips. "But my spells had no effect on you, so I must resort to more conventional methods to entice you."

Oh, they were working, I had to admit to myself. I have never been so enticed. "So, what did you see in your visions?"

She stopped the dance and lowered her eyes. "War. Desolation as dark forces sweep across my homeland. And us." Her eyes turned up, but this time seemed more vulnerable than piercing. "Once my world falls, they will shatter the veil and take your world as well."

A tremor crawled down my spine. The rational part of me resisted, scoffing at the incredible fantasy, but a deeper part of me stirred, somehow recognizing the truth of her words. A chilled helplessness swept through me. "Then, is there no hope?"

"There is always hope," she replied with resolution, gripping my arms. "The visions show only the most probable path, that without intervention. The One calls us to action. Will you help me?"

My jaw dropped as I shook my head. "But what could I do? You have the wrong person."

"More than you know, Jake. Please?" she pleaded.

"Okay," I answered as the music faded and the enthusiastic crowd began the countdown to the new year. "But I don't know your name."

"Ember," she replied.

An appropriate name for this mysterious, smoldering woman. "May I kiss you, Ember?"

She smiled. "I had counted on that."

At the stroke of midnight, I drew her in and pressed my lips to hers. She responded with passionate enthusiasm, wrapping arms around my neck and molding herself against my body. My heart fluttered as tingling electric jolts connected me to this woman I hardly knew.

Then time stopped, but not in a trite, romantic sense. The surrounding revelers froze as the collectively sung words of Auld Lang Syne fell silent. Silvery threads of energy spun around us, weaving an elaborate cocoon of magic. Gasping, I broke the kiss.

What was happening?

A blinding flash of light. Disorienting vertigo and a sense of falling through a swirling abyss. Ember held me tight as I trembled. Then another flash of light.

Dizzied, I dropped to a knee on grassy soil as she let go, and struggled to retain my stomach contents. "What the hell was that?" I asked in an airy voice.

"We crossed the veil," Ember answered, kneeling beside me. "Our kiss triggered the portal opening. You are in Xairus now — my world."

I looked up with narrowed eyes. "Is that why you kissed me? Just to bring me here?"

"Yes." A smile grew on her face. "Although, I did rather enjoy it."

With her help, I stood and took in my surroundings. Three suns warmed my face, just like in the visions. We stood within a circular courtyard of blue-green grass surrounded by a low stacked rock wall. A large rock fire pit stood in the center. Brown-colored tents of various sizes surrounded the courtyard. Definitely not in Kansas anymore.

A small winged lizard-like creature with white fur, about the size of a house cat, bounded across the courtyard. With a yeep, it jumped into Ember's arms. She cuddled the rambunctious little beast as it slathered her cheek with a forked tongue. "I missed you too, little one," she said, scrunching her face.

I reached out to stroke the creature's fur, but quickly withdrew as it hissed, baring tiny dagger-like teeth. Ember giggled. "Oh, behave, Porug. This is Jake, and he is with me." Despite her assurance, Porug kept its red eyes on me.

Several people ventured into the courtyard, tension filling their faces. One, a tall athletic woman with short, dark hair and wearing a suede dress, drew her eyebrows down in anger. "Crossing the veil is forbidden, Ember," she spat. "Even more of a fool you are to return here with an outsider."

Porug climbed up Ember's shoulder and let out another hiss, caring for this woman even less than me.

"You don't understand, Corrine," Ember replied. "I found him!"

With a growl, Corrine formed a shimmering silver ball in her hands as if from thin air, then thrust it forward. It struck Ember in the chest with a shower of sparks, sending her and Porug sprawling across the grass.

As my mouth gaped, Ember rose to unsteady feet. "Do not do this, sister."

"You are a danger to us all." Corrine formed another magic ball and flung it toward Ember with a grunt.

Without thinking, I dove, pushing Ember away. The ball struck me in the back. But instead of delivering a punishing blow, it evaporated, consumed within swirling dark vapor that somehow came from me.

A collective gasp came from the small crowd and Corrine froze, jaw dropping.

"I told you," Ember said, coming up to her sister's wide-eyed face. "We need to see Mother."

Porag reclaimed Ember's shoulder and hissed again as Corrine led us through the parting crowd. I muttered to Ember. "You have family issues."

"More than you know," she whispered back.

We came to a brown tent at the community outskirts. Red banners fluttered from the entrance poles. A parting of flaps revealed a white-haired woman in a simple tan dress sitting cross-legged with hands turned upward as if meditating. A cloth sash covered her eyes. The tent inside was barren except for a bedroll and a small table on which an open book laid.

She spoke without seeing. "Ember, so you return. A dangerous act you did."

Ember rushed over to the old woman, taking up a hand. "But Mother, I found him! He is the Magique Null. I know this."

My eyes widened. Umm, what?

The old woman wrinkled her forehead. "I sense no one else but your sister--"

"His name is Jake, and he stands beside me." Ember pulled me over to her mother. "He is invincible to Magic and invisible in the Aura."

I raised a hand and said, "That would be me, I guess."

The woman jerked at my voice, then rose and reached out a wrinkled hand. "Allow me to touch you, Jake."

After I guided her hand to my face, she stroked my cheek and traced my head with fingertips. Silvery sparks of energy sizzled at her touch, but did not burn. Her eyebrows lifted. "It is so."

As the woman plopped back down on her mat, Ember exclaimed, "He would free the One!"

"Perhaps, but we know not where she is imprisoned."

I wondered... "Is this One like a being of pure light?"

"Yes," the woman answered. "So she appears."

"She called to me in my visions. I believe she is held beneath a tall crumbling stone tower."

Ember rushed to the table and thumbed through the old book, stopping at one page as I looked over her shoulder. "Like this?" she asked.

"That's it," I replied.

"Nightwell Reach."

The old woman stiffened. "Ember, you must go immediately. Our powers weaken by the day, and the Dark Lord's forces march now as we speak. Soon, we shall be overrun."

"Forgive me, Mother," Corrine said, stepping forward. "But Ember has always been reckless, and she disregards our Ways."

"True, but these times require reckless action, Corrine," Mother answered. "If so concerned are you, then go with them."

Ember rolled her eyes. Apparently, she did not look forward to sister bonding time.

"Gather together," the old woman said as she raised her arms. Silver streamers leaped from her fingertips, encircling us in a glowing web. Then a blinding flash, sickening vertigo, and another flash.

I again collapsed again to one knee, this time on rocky ground. Fighting to catch my breath, I said, "You need to warn me next time someone does that teleport thing."

Ember shrugged. "Sorry."

There, before me under gray skies, stood a single square tower built of stone block, just like in my visions. Among fallen rubble, it appeared to be the only thing left standing of an ancient fortress, but then only just barely. Nothing grew on the scorched land within a hundred paces, and only dry thorny brush in the hills beyond. What had been a moat was nothing but a slimy bog that smelled of death. A chilled wind tossed Ember's hair. Everything about this place seemed ominous.

"Let's go," Corrine said, motioning.

"Wait," I said, firming my stance. "I need to know what is going on."

Corrine glared. "We don't have time for this, Earthman."

"Then make the time!" I responded, matching her glare. "First, who is this One?"

Ember came between us. "The One is magic personified. Through her, the magic flows across our world. Those sensitive and true, like my sister and I, can wield it. But somehow, the Dark Lord tricked her and imprisoned her here. So, we grow weaker while he grows stronger. Even the veil separating our worlds thins." She grasped my arms. "We must free the One for both our worlds sake."

"But why me? I'm not so special. Why am I this so-called Magique Null?"

"I know not. The ways of the One are unfathomable." Ember leaned up and kissed my cheek, leaving behind a warm spot. "But I am not disappointed."

Corrine huffed and rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath.

Only hours ago, I danced with an enchanting and mysterious woman. And now... I took a deep breath to calm prickling nerves. "What do I need to do?"

"Break the magic that binds her," Corrine answered with narrowed eyes. "Now, are you ready?"

Behind us, a chorus of shouts and snarling grunts rose above the swirling winds. We turned to find a horde of ugly creatures lining a rocky hill crest about a hundred meters away, brandishing spears and rusty curved swords. Standing on two legs and wearing only loin-clothes, they appeared like festering combinations of human, demon, and warthog, and menacing as hell. Both sisters gasped and Porug let out a defiant hiss.

"I take it this is not a good development?" I said meekly, stating the obvious.

"Magg," Corrine said in a low voice. "Mindless thrall to the Dark Lord."

The Magg ranks parted, allowing about two-dozen archers with crossbows to the front. They kneeled, aimed, and fired. Deadly bolts arched through the air toward us.

Corrine stepped forward and motioned Ember to her side. "Shield!" she yelled.

The women raised arms, forming a wavering screen before us that distorted light as if a thick liquid. The bolts struck, but wedged into the shield, suspended.

"Now, turnabout! Give these abominations back their own." Corrine spat.

The women thrust arms forward, and the bolts reversed, streaking back to their origin. A dozen Magg fell with feathered shafts protruding from their bodies.

The horde roared with indignation, baring stained, cracked teeth. At the direction of one, they charged down the slope in a rumbling stampede, shouting with weapons held high. 

"Run!" Corrine yelled.

She didn't have to tell me twice. Together, we sprinted toward the tower, aiming for crumbling stone steps that led to a narrow dark opening. Alternating, Ember and Corrine grew sparkling kinetic balls in their hands and thrust them behind. The balls streaked like missiles, striking at the feet of the enemy and exploding like grenades, each time upending a few enemies. But they hardly stemmed the Magg flood.

They grew closer. Crossbow bolts pinged off the stone as we raced up the steps, Corrine in the lead. Behind me, Ember stumbled, collapsing on the steps with a grunt and sliding back. Jumping down, I grasped her arm before she fell from the precipice.

Gasping for breath, we passed the threshold into the darkness. Corrine turned and cast a shimmering silvery screen across the opening. "That will not last long," she warned. "We must hurry."

Ember created a sparkling white light above her outstretched hand, like a miniature sun to provide illumination. "Where do we go?" Stairs lining the walls led up or down to more levels.

"In my visions," I answered, "the One was imprisoned underneath the tower. So, down."

Again, Corrine led the way, creating her own light. We descended two levels on treacherous steps to an arched doorway. The door of cracked wood, supported by rusty iron straps, creaked on corroded hinges, revealing a dank circular chamber with a low ceiling supported by several stone columns. Grimy cobwebs lining the damp stone walls gave the place an eerie dungeon vibe.

In the center of the chamber stood a cage constructed of countless intertwined black threads that vibrated with energy. Sparkles of white light shined through the tiny gaps between the magical fibers.

"This is what I saw in the visions," I said. "The One must be within."

As we drew closer, the vibration intensity increased, emitting a deep hum in response to our nearness while blue sparks danced and crackled across the surface. The women grimaced in obvious discomfort at the dark magic. Ember formed a silvery magic ball and thrust it toward at the cage. But it only fractured into shimmering sparks, shattering as if glass against rock. 

Distant shouts and footfalls filtered in through the doorway, becoming louder by the moment. With my help, Corrine shoved the wooden door closed and engaged the latch. But we all knew it would be little obstacle to the Magg.

Corrine said, "the doorway is narrow enough to be defensible. Ember with me, and Jake, do what you came to do."

Something big crashed against the door, making it shudder. The echoing boom had not quieted when the door shattered inward, spraying wood shards across the floor. 

Ugly and snarling, a Magg barreled through like a blitzing linebacker, knocking Ember to the floor with a yelp. As the monster raised a rusty sword, Porug let out a screech and attacked in a flurry of wings and talons, scratching at the Magg's eyes. While it swatted at Porug, I wrenched the sword out of its hand, and in a single motion, plunged it into the beast's gut. With gurgling gasps, the Magg folded to the floor. 

As more Magg appeared in the doorway, weapons in hand and shouting war cries, Corrine cast shimmering magic balls, pushing them back with reverberating blasts.

After I helped Ember stand, she leaned forward and gave me a quick kiss. "Go," she said. "Free the One. That is our only hope now."

A sword of blazing light burst from Ember's hand as she turned to join her sister in defensive struggle.

I faced the magic cage and gulped, as I did not know how to breach it. But if I failed, two worlds might fall. And Ember. The fearful thoughts twisted my gut.

When I touched the magic threads, they rebelled, churning and lashing out with blue arcs. I yelped as my entire arm erupted in burning pain, and I withdrew.

The clamor of battle intensified behind me. Corrine shouted, "Jake, we can't hold out any longer!"

Now or never. I steeled my resolve and rushed at the cage, opening my arms as if to grapple it.

Burning pain. Crackles and deafening buzz. Trembles, as if an earthquake. Brilliant white light between swirling black threads. A pressure pulse that knocked the breath from me. Then darkness as I passed out.

*****

Beams of warm light woke me and my eyelids fluttered open. As my eyes focused, I looked around. This was my bedroom, my bed, and my pile of dirty laundry in the corner. I still wore the same clothes as last night.

Was it all a vivid dream? My heart dropped. Ember, too? 

A crash of something falling made me jerk. Someone else was here in my apartment. As I staggered into the small kitchen to investigate, my heart rose.

Ember!

Holding a pan in her hand with another on the floor, she wrinkled her brow while gazing at the stove and microwave. "I wanted to make you breakfast, but I don't know how any of this works."

I sighed at the cluttered kitchen mess that I should have cleaned before. Porug hopped across the floor, still eying me with suspicion.

"What happened?" I asked, rubbing my forehead.

A wide smile brightened her face. "You did it, Jake. You freed the One. And the One saved us."

"So, is it over?"

"No," she explained. "The Dark Lord still threatens, but we are stronger now. There is new hope! The veil separating our worlds is still weak, so I came here to protect your world from intrusion. With you." Ember fell into my arms, pressing her head into the crook of my neck. "Thank you, Jake. You are my hero."

Waves of warmth spread through me as I returned the embrace. I had never believed in soul-mates, like in cheesy werewolf romance stories, but Ember presented a strong case.

She leaned back and wrapped arms around my neck, raising those intense emerald eyes to mine. "In my visions, I saw us together."

I grinned. "Is that one of those pickup lines?"

"Maybe." She rounded her lips to a seductive 'o'. "May I kiss you, Jake?"

"I had counted on that."