Chapter 24 — Gemma

The Enchantress has been weakened from the mortal wound that Emmy inflicted. Now I can fight her, I can escape her claws. I push her out of my body. I watch as her spirit comes out of me. She hovers over me, and a shrill cry escapes her. Her spirit looks like her original self, like Leoria, except now her skin is grey and appears cracked. Her hair is frizzy like she is electrocuted. She swears her vengeance and flies away. I look at my son. He is so handsome. I put my hand to his face to make sure he is real.

“Mom?” Calder says between sobs.

“Yes. It’s me. You have to get me to the Knights Wood Tree near the manor. It’s the only way to save me and Emmy.” My voice is weak and cracks as I speak.

Calder scoops me up in his arms. I watch as Travis picks Emmy up in his arms. They teleport us out of the Dark Forest and to the Knights Wood Tree near the manor. Calder and Travis sit us down and pick leaves to put on our wounds. I look over at Emmy. She has returned to normal. I grab her hand and hold it. Travis and Calder tend to us. As soon as I start to heal Travis kisses me and holds me in his arms. He is crying tears of joy. Calder is next to Emmy holding his sister. The four of us are finally together, but we are far from safe.

We are sitting at the base of the tree while Emmy and I heal. We can’t go back to the manor yet. Emmy and I are too weak to move. Moving us could cause more damage. I have to just wait a little bit longer than I can see the rest of my family.

“I don’t understand. How are you here?” Travis asks.

“Emmy saved me. I told her back in her dream when she was poisoned to kill me if she had to. I knew you would try to find a way to save me, but I wasn’t sure it would work. I knew that if Emmy tried to kill me that she would weaken the Enchantress enough so I could fight her. The Enchantress was already weak with Calder and Emmy both in the Dark Forest. When Emmy stabbed me, she weakened her even more so that I could push her out of me. Granted it was still a huge risk because she could have killed me instantly, but I had faith in our little bird that she would do it just right, and she did.” I gave a small smile thinking of how proud I was of my daughter. She was so brave.

“I thought she killed you for good,” Calder says in a slightly angry tone.

“I did too,” Travis agrees.

“We knew Emmy had been gone for too long and we sensed something was wrong. Once she transformed to her darker self, I knew she was facing the Enchantress. We arrived just in time to see the two of you collide. I’m glad we didn’t get there in time to stop her.” Travis informs me.

I smile. “Yes, me too. Although I think Emmy would have fought you just to kill me thinking that it would also kill the Enchantress. We aren’t free from her yet. She has built an army of the souls she has taken. The army will rise and help her take over the world. She will find another body and this time she won’t need a witch. She found a way, so that she can take over a human's body.”

“How?” Travis questions with worry in his voice.

“She found a way to make a special potion that will allow her to take over a human with a dark soul. The worst of the worst. She will find a human who is corrupt. It was her backup plan. She has back up plans for her backup plans. We have enough to defeat her though. With Calder and I’s knowledge we can take her out.”

“When does her army rise?” Calder asks as he places more leaves on Emmy’s body.

“Soon. I don’t know exactly when but soon. I would imagine once she gets a body she will be after us and she will make her army rise. Her army will cause destruction among the human and magic worlds. We have to get to the manor to tell my mom and the others.”

“Vivian will be able to warn the magic world. Ivy can warn the Warriors and Darren and Stella can warn the Reapers.” Travis states.

I find it odd that Travis is so immersed in the magic world. The last time I saw him he was a lone wolf. It would seem my lone wolf has found a pack after all. I smile to myself thankful that Travis wasn’t totally alone while I was gone.

Travis scoops Emmy up in his arms. She will be out for a bit. Calder helps me stand and I lean on him. I am still too weak to stand on my own. We teleported to the manor and end up in the main living room. Calder helps me sit on the couch. Everyone is there. Emmy’s team, my brother, my mom, Kenzie, and the team's trainers. Travis sits Emmy on the couch, she should be waking up soon. Everyone stares at the four of us like we were ghosts. My mom, Vivian, walks up to me and hugs me.

“Gemma, my baby girl, is that really you?” She asks as she starts to cry.

“Yeah, mom it’s me.”

“How?” Is all Jason, who is my half-brother, can manage because his jaw is still hitting the floor.

“Emmy saved me with her dark magic. She weakened the Enchantress, so I could kick her out of me. Emmy and I both got hurt in the process, but we will live. Emmy should be waking up any moment. She took a bad hit from the Enchantress by saving me.” I inform them.

I look over at my daughter. She is a bit pale, but the color is slowly returning to her skin. Travis walks behind me and puts his hands on my shoulders. Calder sits between Emmy and I. Carter comes up to Emmy and kisses her forehead and then sits on the other side of her like a protective guard.

Kenzie and Jason both hug me. I am finally introduced to my niece and nephew. Brie looks just like Kenzie and Bex looks like a younger version of Jason, but with shaggy hair. I also get introduced to Carter, who is Emmy’s soulmate. I can tell he really loves her. I met everyone else, but after introductions and talking, Travis insists that Emmy and I be taken to the healing wing.

Emmy is laying in a bed next to me. Carter is at her side along with Luna. I make Calder and Travis clean up and get some rest. They need their rest too. Travis is sleeping in the bed with me. He refuses to leave me, so he made my twin hospital bed big enough for both of us. Calder is sleeping in a spare bedroom nearby.

I couldn't believe I had been saved. I am home and with my family. I’m so happy and relieved, even if things are about to get a whole lot worse. Right now, I am with my soulmate and kids. Plus, I’m back with my mom, brother, and best friend. I have dreamed about this moment for so long. I close my eyes as Travis drapes an arm over me. I need my rest. It is going to be a while before I am strong again.