Chapter-HundredForty Two, Awake The Soul Spell

Chapter-HundredForty Two, Awake The Soul Spell
Zoe's POV – Part Two

The moment everyone took their positions around the ritual circle, the atmosphere inside the underground dungeon changed.

The air became thick.

Heavy.

Ancient.

It felt as though the earth itself had awakened beneath our feet.

Every torch lining the stone walls suddenly dimmed.

Then the silver candles surrounding the ritual circle burst into life.

Their flames danced wildly despite there being no wind.

Ancient symbols carved into the floor began glowing one after another.

The newborn dragon scale slowly lifted into the air.

The peacock feathers started spinning around the circle.

And the Firstborn Dragon Light rose from its crystal container.

The glowing orb hovered directly above Gemma's chest.

Thump.

Thump.

THUMP.

The sound echoed throughout the entire dungeon like the heartbeat of an ancient god.

Every hair on my body stood on end.

Magic.

Pure magic.

Ancient magic.

The kind witches spent entire lifetimes searching for.

The kind demons feared.

The kind dragons worshipped.

I swallowed hard before turning toward Deadly Tree.

The woman remained chained against the stone wall.

Darkness still leaked from her skin.

The corruption still clung to her.

Even after Luicen's death.

Even after everything.

Her silver eyes slowly opened.

The shadows around her body twisted violently.

Lara immediately moved beside me.

Without saying a word, we both raised our hands.

Silver and golden energy exploded from our palms.

The dungeon trembled.

Then I began.

"Aurora."

My voice echoed throughout the chamber.

"I call upon the soul buried beneath darkness."

The runes surrounding Deadly Tree lit up.

"I call upon the spirit hidden beneath chains."

More symbols ignited.

"I call upon the mind trapped beneath curses."

The darkness around her body immediately reacted.

Fighting.

Resisting.

Refusing.

I pushed harder.

"I give water to replace the fire."

Silver energy flowed through the room.

"I give light to replace the darkness."

Golden energy joined it.

"I give peace to replace the rage."

The shadows screamed.

"I give truth to replace the lies."

The dungeon exploded with power.

Lara stepped forward beside me.

Ancient golden symbols appeared beneath her feet.

Then she spoke.

"Per lumen aeternum."

Golden light burst from her body.

"Per aquam puram."

Silver mist filled the chamber.

"Per memoriam antiquam."

Ancient runes appeared in the air.

"Excita animam."

The chains rattled violently.

"Excita mentem."

The darkness began evaporating.

"Excita veritatem."

BOOOOOOOM!

The room exploded with power.

Deadly Tree's body arched violently.

The chains shook.

The corruption pouring from her skin evaporated beneath the silver light.

Purified.

Destroyed.

Burned away.

Then—

Her eyes snapped open.

The room froze.

For a moment her eyes were silver.

Normal.

Human.

Then she smiled.

A cruel smile.

A terrifying smile.

A smile filled with secrets.

"Oh..."

Her voice echoed.

"Look at all of you."

Maggie stepped forward immediately.

"Aurora."

Deadly Tree laughed.

The sound sent chills through my entire body.

"You all look so hopeful."

Nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

Her smile widened.

"You think you're bringing her back?"

My stomach tightened.

Deadly Tree slowly looked toward Gemma's body.

"She's gone."

Silence filled the room.

"Lost."

"Broken."

"Forgotten."

Lara growled.

Barry's dragon surged forward.

Larry's eyes flashed silver.

Yet Deadly Tree continued.

"She isn't coming back."

The words hit like a knife.

"Her soul is trapped somewhere none of you can reach."

The room became deathly still.

"She belongs to darkness now."

"She belongs to places even your precious magic cannot touch."

"Shut up!" Lara screamed.

Deadly Tree laughed harder.

Then her gaze landed on me.

"Oh, Zoe."

My wolf immediately pushed forward.

"You should know better than anyone."

The smile on her face widened.

"Sean is gone too."

The room erupted.

Jayden's wolf surged to the surface.

Barry growled.

Larry's dragon roared.

Logan took a threatening step forward.

But before anyone could move, Jayden spoke.

"Let's hurry and get this demon gone."

His voice shook with fury.

Without hesitation, he carefully lifted Gemma into his arms.

His hands trembled as he carried her toward the center of the ritual circle.

The second her body touched the ancient markings—

BOOM!

Silver light shot across every rune.

The symbols erupted brighter than before.

The ritual had begun.

I took a deep breath.

"Jayden."

He immediately looked at me.

"Stand at the Star of the West."

He moved without hesitation.

"King Larry."

Larry stepped forward.

"The Moon of the North."

He nodded.

"King Barry."

"The Moon of the East."

Barry moved into position.

His dragon growled beneath the surface.

"Lara."

She stepped forward.

"The Southern Horn."

Golden power immediately surrounded her.

I turned toward Maggie.

"I'm the Traveler."

A small smile appeared on her face.

"Exactly."

John moved beside her.

Emily joined them.

The final points of the circle completed themselves.

The dungeon reacted instantly.

The newborn dragon scale floated higher.

The peacock feathers spun faster.

The Firstborn Dragon Light pulsed.

Thump.

Thump.

THUMP.

The moment had arrived.

I stepped into the center of the circle.

Directly beside Gemma.

Everyone immediately began pouring their power into the ritual.

Dragon magic.

Alpha magic.

Moon magic.

Ancient witch magic.

Every ounce of power flowed toward me.

My body trembled.

My wolf pushed forward.

The shadows around me rose like black flames.

Silver moonlight poured from my skin.

Light and darkness intertwined around my body.

Life.

Death.

Balance.

I raised both hands toward the ceiling.

Then I began the true ritual.

Not a summoning.

Not a resurrection.

A soul retrieval.

The most dangerous spell ever created.

"By blood given..."

The runes ignited.

"By bonds forged..."

The floor shook.

"By sacrifice made..."

The dragon scale cracked.

"By love remembered..."

The candles exploded brighter.

The pressure doubled.

My knees nearly buckled.

Still I remained standing.

Then I spoke the ancient words.

Words older than kingdoms.

Older than dragons.

Older than magic itself.

"Per animam dispersam."

The room trembled.

"I call the scattered soul."

"Per memoriam fractam."

The symbols glowed brighter.

"I call the broken memories."

"Per cor aeternum."

The Firstborn Dragon Light pulsed.

"I call the eternal heart."

"Per vinculum sanguinis."

Silver energy exploded outward.

"I call the bonds of blood."

The room shook violently.

Cracks spread through the floor.

Dust rained from the ceiling.

Yet nobody moved.

Nobody dared interrupt.

I closed my eyes.

Then I called her.

"Gemma."

My voice echoed throughout the chamber.

The candles burst brighter.

"Wherever you wander..."

The dragon scale glowed.

"Whatever darkness hides you..."

The shadows twisted.

"Whatever realm holds you..."

The air cracked.

"Hear me."

BOOOOOOOM!

A massive silver portal exploded into existence above the circle.

Everyone gasped.

Inside the portal were endless stars.

Endless darkness.

An endless void between life and death.

A realm no mortal should ever see.

Yet the ritual had opened the path.

Blood trickled from my nose.

My vision blurred.

Still I pushed forward.

"Gemma."

The portal trembled.

"I call the child who survived."

Silver light surged.

"I call the woman who fought."

The stars began moving.

"I call the friend who never abandoned us."

The void shifted.

"I call the sister who refused to break."

The portal widened.

"I call the warrior."

The room shook.

"I call the survivor."

The stars spun faster.

"I call Gemma."

BOOOOOOOOOM!

A shockwave exploded outward.

Several warriors stumbled.

The walls cracked further.

Ancient power surged throughout the dungeon.

Then Lara stepped forward.

Tears streamed down her face.

Golden power erupted from her body.

"Gemma!"

Her voice cracked.

"Come home!"

Barry stepped forward.

Silver dragon fire exploded around him.

"Come home!"

Larry's dragon roared.

"COME HOME!"

Maggie collapsed to her knees.

Tears poured down her cheeks.

"Please..."

Her voice shattered.

"Please come home."

One by one everyone joined.

Jayden.

John.

Emily.

Logan.

Every voice echoed together.

Calling.

Begging.

Praying.

"COME HOME!"

The ritual reacted.

The stars inside the portal began spinning faster.

Faster.

Faster.

Faster.

Until a silver bridge appeared.

A pathway made of pure light.

A road leading home.

My heart nearly stopped.

I could feel her.

Far away.

Lost.

Broken.

Searching.

Waiting.

Then came the final part.

The dangerous part.

The part that could kill me.

I placed my hand over Gemma's heart.

The weak heartbeat beneath my palm echoed through the room.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

I poured everything into her.

Every ounce of magic.

Every memory.

Every promise.

Every hope.

Then I screamed.

"BY BLOOD!"

The runes exploded.

"BY MOON!"

The candles shattered.

"BY DRAGON!"

The dragon scale fractured.

"BY SOUL!"

The Firstborn Dragon Light erupted.

"BY DESTINY!"

The portal trembled.

"BY THE LOVE OF THOSE WAITING FOR YOU!"

Silver light consumed the room.

"RETURN TO US!"

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The portal exploded.

Thousands of stars burst across the chamber.

Everyone shielded their eyes.

And from within the darkness—

A beautiful silver figure appeared.

Silence fell.

Complete silence.

My breath caught.

Gemma.

Her soul.

Glowing.

Whole.

Beautiful.

Tiny stars danced around her body.

Silver light flowed from her skin.

She looked exactly as I remembered.

Only stronger.

Brighter.

Free.

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

Beside me, Lara began crying.

Even Barry and Larry looked emotional.

For several moments nobody spoke.

Nobody moved.

Gemma slowly looked around the room.

At Maggie.

At John.

At Emily.

At Jayden.

At Lara.

At me.

Then she smiled.

A soft smile.

A grateful smile.

The smile of someone finally finding their way home.

"We found you," I whispered.

The silver light surrounding her intensified.

Brighter.

Brighter.

Brighter.

Until she looked like a living star.

Then slowly—

Gracefully—

Beautifully—

Her soul descended.

Straight into her body.

The second she entered—

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The tunnel dungeon exploded with power.

Everyone was thrown backward.

The candles shattered.

The dragon scale turned to dust.

The Firstborn Dragon Light vanished.

Then silence fell.

Complete silence.

Nobody breathed.

Nobody moved.

Everyone stared.

Waiting.

Praying.

Hoping.

Then—

Gemma's eyes slowly opened.

Silver light flashed through them.

Life.

Real life.

For the first time in so long.

Then her eyes slowly closed once more.

And the entire room held its breath.

Because after everything they had sacrificed...

After everything they had lost...

Everyone prayed that this was truly the beginning of Gemma's return.