Chapter 57: Power Hungry

Elaine’s POV

I looked around to see if I could find anything unusual but I couldn’t, everywhere seemed so quiet and noise free. I used my eyes to search for Rachaela but she was nowhere to be found.

I stood up from where I have been sitting all these while tied up in ropes and I ran out of the room and through the dimly lit corridor, I couldn’t see anything but I just kept running hoping to see something that may give me a clue to escape but there was nothing just darkness. I continued running not stopping until I felt a hand grip my arm and I tried to scream but the person covered my mouth and held me firmly.

My mind travelled to a lot of places in that instant, has Rachaela finally caught me or was someone else here to take me to another location.

“Hello Elaine” I heard a baritone voice say, the most familiar one I ever knew, It was Alexander, how did he find me, I kept on asking myself.

“Eddy… are you the one” I said as I couldn’t see anything in the darkness but there was no response, instead I heard a loud laughter, it was Rachaela’s voice and I knew that she was playing tricks on my mind. I crouched down to a sitting position as I cried so much covering my ears with the palm of my hands as I felt the laughter agonize me.

“Stop!!! Stop it!!!” I said screaming in top of my voice hoping that it will stop but it didn’t it continued and few moments later, l heard footsteps approaching me and I knew she was the one.

"Oh, Elaine, you thought you could escape me? How foolish of you. You underestimate my determination and ambition" Rachael's voice dripped with malicious triumph.

"You won't win, Rachael. I'll fight until my last breath to protect Edgar and stop you from using that stone for evil." I said screaming on top if my voice as I choked on my own tears.

I felt a sharp knife inserted and retracted on my arm, and I screamed in pain but she showed no pity instead she pressed the knife wound.

“Arrghhh” I said on the top of my voice and my screamed echoed through out the walls of the the crypt.

“Next time, you be a good girl” Rachaela said as she dragged me by my hair back to where I was before and dumped she dumped me there as I bled profusely.

“Don’t ever try to do such foolish thing again as long as you live here with me” Rachaela said and I looked at her with so much disgust as her foolish actions kept replaying in my head.

“I don’t live here with Rachaela, I am a queen and unlike you I don’t deserve to live in this filth” I said holding my wounds as I pressed it to stop the bleeding and begin healing.

“You must be wondering why your wound is not healing” Rachaela said and I looked up at her, I only thought of it now and it was actually true, my wound was supposed to stop bleeding long ago but the blood keeps pouring like I was just stabbed a minute ago.

“You laced the blade with mountain ash?” I said jot able to believe that woman will actually do something so foolish.

“It isn’t mountain ash, I know you don’t react much to it so I made it more interesting, I cast a spell on the blade that keeps the wound fresh and the blood pouring. That way when your beloved Edgar comes here, he knows where you are from the scent of your blood” Rachaela said and I couldn’t believe what I just heard, she’s doing all this to get what isn’t even hers and neither will she ever be able to control it.

***

“I found a way to enter into their lives and cause problems to see if I can steal what’s actually mine, but all were to no avail until I saw Edgar, he was such a young boy and responsibilities was soon to be bound with him, so I made my move by going after him and who he loved most, his mother. I cast a spell on him, made him made in love and I killed his mother, that way I win. But it didn’t break his spirit, instead he was stronger” Rachaela said as she paced back and forth from where she stood.

“You’re really more delusional than I thought, who plans things in such a disorganizing manner?” Elaine said not minding the blood rushing out from her arm that was stabbed by Rachaela the previous night because she tried to escape.

“All I want is power and what rightfully belongs to me” Rachaela replied shrugging her shoulders like it was something casual that anyone could get once they said it.

“You’ve been trying for so long, what makes you think that the stone is really yours to take” Sapphire said looking weak as her blood continued pouring.

“It is mine to take, it will empower me to rule the world so why shouldn’t I yearn for it” Rachaela replied.

“The stone may have tempted you with its allure, but it's not the source of true strength. It's the choices we make, the bonds we forge, and the unwavering belief in ourselves that truly empowers us.” Elaine said as she recalled that her father had told her this constantly when she was just a girl and she have grown up to be exactly what he said. She was proud of herself and how far she had come.

“How naive you are, Elaine. The stone grants me unimaginable power. With it, I can bend reality to my will. I can control minds, manipulate events, and shape the world as I please." Rachaela scoffed, a sinister smile playing on her lips and Elaine only watched her talk with so much confidence for someone with nothing to show for it.

"But at what cost, Rachaela? Is it worth sacrificing everything, including your own humanity? You’ve been trying for more than a hundred years but nothing seems to be working don’t you think its time to let your soul rest in peace? How far do you have to go before you realize that you can never be a guardian?" Elaine's eyes narrowed, her voice unwavering as she felt so much pity for the soul of Rachaela that seemed to be trapped in this earth because of its ending desire of worldly things.

“I will get the power I want no matter what” Rachaela said with a smirk on her lips.

“Power doesn’t come from dark objects or earthly crystals, power comes from within us, within our very souls” Elaine said groning slightly in pain.

“You speak of strength coming from within and power from our own souls yet you're here, wounded and helpless without any hope of recovery. What good has your inner strength done for you Elaine Peregren” Rachaela's laughter echoed through the room.

"Physical wounds may weaken me temporarily, but they can't break my spirit. Even in the face of darkness, I choose to fight for what's right, and you’re all shades of what’s wrong.” Elaine winced in pain but refused to back down.

"Your idealism will be your downfall, Sapphire. The stone has shown me the true nature of power, and I will use it to reshape the world as I see fit. I would’ve asked you to come join me but you always want to be the hero. Edgar will be mine, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."Rachael's eyes gleamed with malice.

“You don’t want my stone, you’re using me to lure Edgar here so you take his by force and turn him into a soulless body that will follow your every word till the day he perishes” Elaine said realizing the gravity of the words she just spoke.

“You’re a smart girl Elaine, I see why Edgar loves you so much but that isn’t going to last for long” Rachaela said smiling with evil filled in her eyes.

“You may have the stone, but you'll never have Edgar's heart. Love is a force far more powerful than any dark magic. It will protect him, guide him, and ultimately lead him away from your grasp, you might have him but you won’t ever feel true love from him because he is mine.” Elaine voice grew stronger, and more fierce as she tried to make it clear to the mad woman that Alexander was hers to have and not for another.

"We'll see about that, Elaine. Prepare to witness the true extent of my power." Rachael's expression twisted with anticipation.

“What power?” Elaine said mockingly.

“Wait and see” Rachaela replied.