Chapter 22 —Emmy

Calder leads us to a cave, and we follow him inside. It’s cold and dark, but not for long because candles light up along the stone walls. The shadows cast by the candles give the illusion that we are not alone as if there are ghosts with us. I sit down on a rock that is carved out like a chair. My dad leans against the stone wall and crosses one leg in front of the other. His signature stance when he is calm or trying to stay calm. Calder plops down on the ground across from me and lights a small fire in the fire pit that is in the center of the cave.

“What is this place?” I ask.

I’ve never been here before, but then again, I’m normally wandering the woods. The last time I was here was the first time I saw the cemetery. I didn’t even know anything else was part of this world except for the woods.

“I built this place when I was the Enchantress’s prisoner. It was where I could escape to think. Sometimes I had free rein when I was here. It all depended on the Enchantress’s mood, and whether I had pissed her off.”

“Please tell me you two came up with something in your research?” I ask with dread.

“Not much, Little Bird. All we have are theories. It’s not much to go on either. One of the theories is that if we remove Gemma’s heart from her body, it will weaken the Enchantress enough that Gemma can fight her way to freedom, but that would require us to get close to her to remove her heart.”

“The other theory is we do an exorcism type thing, but we don’t know if it will work.” Calder adds.

“An exorcism like people do with demons?” I ask.

“Well yeah that’s what the humans think they are, but it’s just a spirit that possesses someone else’s body. Ghosts who can’t let go or want revenge tend to possess humans. There are ways to get them out. The Enchantress is a spirit at this point her physical body is long gone, that’s why she needs to possess someone else’s body. She is weak in her spirit form, enough that we might be able to kill her, but that’s another theory that we haven’t proven yet. The problem is we don’t know if an exorcism would work because normally they are performed on weaker spirits, but the Enchantress is strong even in her weakened form.” My dad informs me.

Great, this is hopeless. The Enchantress has set us up. I am pissed that this bitch has been messing with my life for far too long. I’m over it and I am ready to end her. I remember what mom said in my dream after I was poisoned. She told me that if I had to kill her to do it. I don’t know if dad or Calder will go for that option. I’ve been afraid to ask them if they are willing to admit there might not be a way to save mom.

There are too many ifs and maybes at the moment, and the hard truth was that time was not on our side. I have some of my magic, but it is not as strong as it should be. The same goes for Calder and our dad. We are all weaker in our spirit form. Calder and our dad start to talk and come up with a plan, but the thing is their plans are filled with holes. We just don’t have the time to have a half assed plan. Not only that, but there is too much at stake. I can’t be stuck here. I have a soulmate waiting for me and I am pretty certain that Carter is flipping out right now. Plus, if we are stuck here forever then the Enchantress will win. The team will be helpless to fight her. I know they will die trying to stop her, but in the end they will lose.

I tell dad and Calder that I’m going for a walk to clear my mind. It isn’t a total lie. I do need to think, and I can’t do that with them around. I think I have to kill my mom in order to kill the Enchantress. I don’t want to do it. I know it will destroy me to kill my mom, but I don’t think there is a choice. I want to scream and cry all at the same time as I make my way to the cemetery where I know I will find the Enchantress. I hope my dad and brother can forgive me for what I am about to do. Hell, I hope I can forgive myself.

I have a dagger strapped to my thigh under my dress. It’s always there. I never had to use it before. Never thought I would. Most of the time I just ignore the fact that it is there, but now it was like a sack of stones weighing me down. I removed the dagger from my thigh and clutched it tight. It’s in its sheath and my knuckles are white from gripping it so hard. I walk into the cemetery. I take a deep breath. I can do this. I have to do this.

There is a wind that blew by me and then the Enchantress appears before me. “You’re a fool to come here by yourself,” The Enchantress looks at the dagger as I remove it from its sheath. “What do you think you’re going to do with that?” She sneered at me.

“I’m going to kill you.” I state with determination.

I will not falter. I have to tap into the monster side of me. Time to let the monster out to play. I close my eyes and when I open them again. I look at my skin, it is pale, and I have the black spider veins running throughout my body. I know my eyes are black. I can do this. I will win.

“You’re letting your true colors show. Perhaps there’s hope for you after all.” She gives me a wicked smile.

I give her a smile of determination. I put my hand out in front of me and hold the Enchantress in her place. She is weaker because Calder and I are both in the Dark Forest. However, she is still strong, and I am not at my full strength which I am sure she has something to do with. The Enchantress brakes free from my hold and now the two of us are charging at the other. She has her arm raised with an electric ball. I hold the dagger out in front of me. We collide. We both scream out in agony. Her electric ball sends shock waves throughout my body. I can only imagine this is what electrocution feels like. The Enchantress cries out because I have stabbed her.

“Emmy!” My dad screams as he runs to my side.

I’m now on the ground. My body is convulsing from the electric shock coursing through me. I look over at the Enchantress. I got her in the ribs just under her heart. Like me the Enchantress is on the ground. Calder runs to her side. Calder is holding our mom's body. I killed her. My world is fading to black as I hear Calder shout at me. He’s angry, but I did what no one else was willing to do. I close my eyes and let the darkness take over me.