We Must Win

We Must Win
Lilith POV

I sighed. "We don't have much time left, Lilith," Cleo said, and I agreed.

"What’s going on, guys?" Ava asked.

"Ancient magic is being used again," I said. "I can feel it. The new moon will arrive soon. The dean is aware of it." I scoffed. "He’s clever."

"What do you mean? What’s going on?" Ava asked.

"The last time the new moon appeared, I broke down. My powers went out of control."

"What do you mean?"

"I think every new moon is the time when a new magic is said to be discovered," Cleo explained, but I had no idea.

"Oh, I read that in the book Theo gave me," Ava said. "But you shouldn’t be scared. Your powers just increased."

"I don’t know, Ava. I don’t know if it will affect my powers this time. The dean is very clever. He’s aware of this time and will use it to his advantage. He wants me dead, and this is the time he can achieve that."

"When will the new moon appear again?" Ava asked.

"Today is the 13th..." I heaved a sigh. "The next 18 days." I nodded, sure of the date.

"The 31st of the month. Wow. We have to find ways to defeat him before that day, or he’ll use it to destroy you," Cleo said. "You once said if you figured out who he was after, you’d attack." I nodded. "My instinct tells me the Kanimas will complete their forms on the new moon before he sends them out to get you. We need to attack before they take their forms. Before the new moon appears, we must make sure the Kanimas are gone," Cleo added.

I nodded and placed a call to Theo, wanting to meet him. Although I’d told Theo that the dean was after me, we hadn’t seen each other since the last time I was at the community. He’d been busy checking out the cave, and I’d been busy with school—the exam was fast approaching.

"Let’s get out of here." I stood up from the chair.

"But Daniel?" Ava asked, also standing.

"He’s with his friend. I’ll tell him something came up, and I had to leave early."

"All right. Let’s go." Ava took her keys from the table, and we all headed outside the ice cream shop. She drove me to the community, and Cleo drove her car as well.

Theo met us outside the community. The clouds suddenly grew dark. "Guys! What’s happening?" Ava looked at the sky.

I looked up—it had turned dark. It looked just like it did when King Cain ruled the Shadow World. His world was dark, just like this. "Magic," Cleo said.

"What do we do, guys? The police will notice something’s wrong. My dad will lock me in."

"Calm down. Even if they investigate, they won’t find anything," Theo said, hands on his hips.

"Guys! Hello! I said I’ll be locked in," Ava called, but we ignored her. There were more important things to discuss.

"Did you find anything?" I asked. "Theo!" I called.

"Well, after hearing you’re related to the warlock, the community is against you fighting."

"What?"

"I'm sorry, Lilith, but you won’t be part of this fight," he said.

"But they’re after me! What part of that don’t you understand? People could get hurt, Theo. Did you even consider that?" I yelled.

"I'm sorry, but we need to keep you safe too."

"That’s bullshit! I can take care of myself. I don’t need protection," I said, frowning.

"I heard there will be a new moon on the 31st, and if my theory is correct, then the warlock is very clever. He knew that day would cause your powers to go out of control. He’ll use it to defeat you. Is that what you want?" he asked. Of course not—I didn’t want that.

"Well, we’ve decided to attack before that day," Cleo said.

"What?"

"Lilith and I talked, and since she has unleashed new powers that could defeat the dean, we should attack before the Kanima fully transforms on the new moon," Cleo explained.

Theo scoffed. "You both know how dangerous that is?" he asked, and I nodded.

"I'm aware of that, but it’s the only option we have right now, or it’ll be too late," I said.

Theo shook his head. "The community and the council won’t allow this. We can fight him—we just need to keep you safe first. If the warlock gets his hands on you, the world is doomed."

"They’re after me, Theo. They won’t stop until they find me, so I have to be there. We need to think of another plan. I was born for this. I couldn’t stay at home under protection while you all fight this deadly thing alone. You needed me." Our eyes met, but he looked away. He doesn’t want to get emotionally involved. 

"All right. I guess I’ll head home now." I looked at Ava and Cleo. "Let’s get out of here."

"Is she really not going to fight?" Riley asked.

"I did what I did to try to protect her."

"But you know she won’t just sit still without doing anything."

"I’m aware. She’s very stubborn, and she’ll do the opposite of what I say."

Riley approached us. "I’m sorry to hear what happened. I wish I could help."

"Well, maybe you can. Either you join us to fight, or follow what the community says," I replied. I got into Ava’s car and shut the door behind me.

Ava drove us back to the dorm. As soon as I arrived at my room, my phone began to ring. Cleo had made it home, and Ava was in her room.

"Lilith, where are you? I’ve been trying to reach you, but I couldn’t get through. Are you okay?" Alaric’s voice made the pain I was feeling worse.

"Yes, I’m sorry I didn’t call you earlier—I left. I had this..."

"Girl’s thing? You’re strange. Anyway, look at the sky. It’s dark, and it’s not even seven yet. Neither does it look like rain is coming."

"Yeah. Really strange," I said.

"But it looks familiar—just like Shadow World. Do you remember? Do you think this is magic?" Alaric asked.

"I’m not sure yet."

"Are you alright? Hope it’s not affecting you in any way," he said, sounding concerned, which bothered me.

"Lilith!" Ava ran into my room. "It’s on the news, and Dad already called. He’s outside the dorm."

"I’ll call you back, Alaric." I ended the call. Ava sat next to me.

"What do I do? My father won’t let me come out until all this is over."

"Calm down. I’ll come see you at your house when your dad isn’t around. I promise. Just go with him so he doesn’t suspect anything."

"Will you update me on everything you’re doing?"

"I promise. Now go before he comes inside looking for you." Ava waved, and I waved back. She left my room, closing the door behind her.

I looked out the window and watched her get into her car. The vehicle drove off. I understood her father’s intention—if I were human, my parents would have locked me inside just to protect me.

I sighed, closing my window. Would what I said reach Riley and convince her to join us? I couldn’t just sit back and watch the community and council get hurt fighting these things. They’d get hurt in the process. I was born for this. It was my mission, and I wouldn’t let anyone get hurt. They were after me, and I’d have to make them come to me—one way or another.

What was Theo thinking? I thought he was on my side. Maybe not. He had always sided with his people.

I placed a call to my mom. I didn’t tell her Berkeley was in a dark state, just like Shadow World used to be. She would have worried if I had told her.

I asked how they managed to find Alaric’s family in just a few days. She reminded me how good her trackers were. Mom said it was fortunate they were in California, and Alaric would be able to see them again, but that wasn’t what I was thinking. His family would be exposed to the magical world, and I didn’t want that to happen.

"They will be devastated, Mother. Imagine hearing that your son didn’t die after believing he did for two years—and then seeing him buried. How would you feel?"

"That’s true. What will happen now? Did you tell him?"

"No, I didn’t. I couldn’t bring myself to do that. He was so happy at the cinema today. If I told him, he might be happy for a moment, but he’d realize it’s impossible to meet his family. I need time to think—first, I have to figure things out."

"All right. Take your time. Are you sure you’re okay over there?" she asked.

"Yes, Mother. I’m fine," I lied.

"Good. Please take care of yourself. I miss you."

"I miss you too. I’ll call when I have the time."

"Good luck with your exam." She blew kisses over the phone and ended the call.

As soon as I set my phone down, I leaned my head on my pillow. I sighed, trying to figure out what to do next. Can I make everything go smoothly without risking my friends’ safety? And will I really be able to defeat this thing, as Corner told me? Even though I tried to push the fear away, it began to creep into my heart.

That night, I left my dorm to clear my mind. Cleo and I decided to walk together and discuss everything while we did. After she finished her call, she met me five minutes later.

"Are you going to do as Theo asked? Stay indoors?" she asked as we walked through the woods.

"You know I won’t. I need to train my mind so the new moon won’t be a problem," I replied. We continued walking until we reached the lake.

As I resumed my training, Cleo made me conduct some mental experiments on her. I was stunned at how my powers could work on a witch. I’d compelled her to do many things.

"It won’t be easy with Beauty. I made you get into my mind willingly, but she won’t."

After training, we sat on the ground together. "I miss Ava already," I sighed.

"Well, when she was here, you never acted like that," Cleo chuckled.

"Yeah, I didn’t want her to know I care."

Cleo looked at me, then looked back at the sky. "Is this how it will be tomorrow too?" she asked, sighing heavily.

I sighed along with her, gazing at the sky. "I guess so. The dean won’t stop until he gets what he wants. And if you ask me, he sent Olivia to Beauty for a reason."

"To brainwash his daughter?"

"I think so. He seems like a selfish man. If he could create that creature to defeat me, then I don’t think he loves his daughter as we thought."

"There’s no star tonight. I can’t wait for all this to be over," Cleo said.

"Me neither," I replied. She reached out and took my hand, holding it tightly. "I never thought this lake would be a good spot."

"Well, it’s a secret place. I come here whenever I want to calm my mind. Trust me, it works."

I nodded. "It does indeed." I smiled at her. I looked at the lake and smiled again. "We have to win this fight."