Chapter 75

Chapter 75
Emily's POV.

For the past weeks, my soul has wandered in this unknown land, trapped by the spell of the witch.

Over here it was dark, cold, and malevolent. I can't count the number of times I've been chased by strange creatures, monsters with only bones and shadows.

My throat burned from thirst, my stomach churning from starvation. But none bothered me, like the chains Dinding my hands together. This was the reason I bonded, I stood no chance against them...like now.

The grounds began to vibrate, and then split open. A shrilling cry broke out in the atmosphere.

My heart pounded in my ears, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

A massive clawed hand shot out from the fissure. Then another. As I expected, a bone and shadow creature emerged, screeching as it hauled itself from the abyss.

My eyes widening in sheer horror, my feet buckled before my mind could catch up. I ran through the dark, desolate land, my breath coming in frantic pants.

The chains around my wrists clanked with every desperate stride, their weight slowing me down.

Behind me, the creature let out an ear-splitting screech, its bony limbs scraping against the cracked earth as it lunged after me. Shadows twisted and curled around its skeletal form, stretching unnaturally, reaching for me like ghostly fingers.

I ran faster, dodging jagged rocks and deep crevices that split open in the ground. My lungs burned, my muscles screamed for a rest, but I couldn't stop.

A sharp gust of wind slammed into my back, nearly knocking me off my feet. I risked a glance over my shoulder-a mistake. The creature was closing in on me, its yellow eyes locked on me, its mouth a gaping void filled with writhing shadows.

My foot snagged on a rock, and I stumbled forward, and crashed violently on the cold ground.

Pain shot up my elbows as I struggled to push myself up, but before I could move, the creature was on me. Its skeletal jaws parted, a screech of triumph splitting the darkness as it reached for me.

I braced myself, squeezing my eyes shut, knowing I had no way to fight back.

Then, suddenly-silence.

The air shifted, unwinding into something powerful. A low, guttural howl echoed through the void, sending tremors through the ground beneath me. The monster stiffened, its claws mere inches from my throat. It let out a strangled shriek and convulsed violently.

Then, as if seized by an unseen force, the creature jerked backward, its form unraveling into streams of shadow and bone.

The monster let out one final wail before exploding into nothingness.

Gasping, I scrambled to my feet as I watched the dark magic holding this world together begin to shatter. The oppressive cold lifted, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, rays of sunlight touched my skin.

The chains binding my hands crumbled to dust.

Tears pricked my eyes as a name slipped from my lips. "Calix..."

A bright light shone ahead of me, the brightest I've ever seen.

Limping, I staggered toward the light and froze as I beheld a familiar body sprawled on the floor. Although he had his back to me, I quickly recognized the tattoo on his arm.

"Calix?" I scurried over to him and dropped on my knees. My breath hitched as my fingers brushed his shoulder; a swirl of emotions-hope, relief, love surging through me.

Slowly, his head turned, and the moment our eyes met, something inside me broke. His brown eyes dimmed by pain, widened in disbelief.

"Emily?" His voice was hoarse, as if he had been calling for me over and over again in the darkness.

A sob tore through my throat as I cupped tus face, my thumbs tracing the bruises marring his skin. "It's me... It's really me."

Calix exhaled sharply, his body shaking. Then, with a groan, he pushed himself up, pulling me into his arms. I melted against him, burying my face in the crook of his neck. His warmth seeped into me, chasing away the cold that had gripped me for so long.

"I thought I lost you," he rasped, his hand threading through my hair. "I searched everywhere-i fought through hell for you."

Tears slipped down my cheeks as I clutched him tighter. "You're really here," I whispered. "You found me."

I pulled back just enough to take in his injuries. They were minor, except for the deep gash on his shoulder, back, and his stomach. The wounds still bled, oozing blood onto the cold ground.

My heart twisted at the sight. "You're hurt," I said, my fingers brushing over the torn fabric of his tunic and cloak. "You saved me."

He let out a breath that sounded almost ike a broken laugh. "Not yet... but I will."

What did he mean?

Before I could realize what was happening, the ground trembled beneath us

A sharp gust of wind howled through the void, and above us, the air began to shimmer. A golden light burst open, a portal forming towards the sky.

I gasped, my breath catching, at the sight before me.

Beyond the swirling light, I glimpsed the faint outline of the real world I belonged to.

"Emily!" Calix shouted over the howling winds. "That's your way out!"

I turned to kim, my heart hammering against my ribs. "You're coming with me!" I pleaded, gripping his arm. "We're leaving together."

But Calix didn't move. He looked at me with a pained expression, his brown eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place. "I can't," he murmured.

My blood ran cold. "What?"

The portal is for you, Emily," he whispered.

"No," I shook my head frantically, gripping the front of his tunic. "I won't leave you here. Not after everything."

He exhaled deeply, cupping my face with his rough, bloodied hands. "You have to. Your family is waiting for you... Everyone is waiting for you."

"You're my family, Calix. You're world." I sobbed uncontrollably. "There's no way I'm leaving without you!"

Tears burned in his eyes as he caressed my cheeks and lips. "Thank you for loving me, Emily. I'll keep the memory of you with me, always. But now you have to go."

"No, Calix! Stop! You're coming with me."

He pressed his forehead against mine, his breath warm and steady despite the chaos going on around us. "Leave before the portal closes. Live."

A sudden force yanked at me, an invisible pull dragging me toward the portal. My fingers slipped from his grasp. "Calix!" I screamed, reaching for him, but he only gave me a small, determined smile. "Noooo!!!!!"

The bright light swallowed me whole.



"Are you sure Mr. Petecin? Are you sure there's nothing we can do to help her?" a familiar female voice echoed in the background, faint, almost distant.

"No, My Lady. There's nothing we can do in this situation. Like I said earlier, this beyond science,," an older voice replied. "I'm so sorry"

My soul swirled into my body like a tornado, the darkness which has consumed me for weeks giving way. My eyes fluttered open, and I welcomed nothing but blurry images.

A sharp gasp tore from my throat as I sat up on the bed. My lungs seized, dragging in air too fast, too much, and I choked, coughing violently. My limbs ached as though I had been torn apart and stitched back together. My skin burned from the sheer force of reentering my body.

"Emily?" she called.

The room spun around me...and then, gradually blurred to focus. And then, I saw her, scurrying to my side. Leia.

"Emily, are you there? Can you hear me?"

"Leia?"

She gasped and broke into tears-tears that were laced with smiles. "Oh, Emily. You're back!" She pulled me into her arms and gave me the tightest hug.

It felt warm and soothing, grounding me in this world.

My gaze traveled across the room. The royal physician, Mr Petecin stood, his face etched with surprise. Standing next to him was Randolph-my father's gamma. He waved at me, smiling. And then there was the three handmaidens-Brielle, Adalyn, and Laura. They dipped in curtsies as our gazes met.

My brows creased.. He wasn't here.

"Calix-" The name came out in a rasp, barely a whisper. I straightened from Leia'a hug and studied her face. "Where's Calix?"

Leia bit her lip, hesitating. "Emily..."

I gripped her wrist. "Where is he?"

She didn't answer.

Panic surged in me like a tidal wave. I swung my legs off the bed, but they gave out beneath me. Leia caught me before I collapsed.

"Where is he?" I demanded, my voice cracking.

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "We don't know. But we know that he left to bring you back."

The room tilted. My heart shattering into pieces. "No!" I rasped. A sob clawed up my throat, my fingers curling into fists as a painful truth settled over me. It wasn't a dream. What I saw was a reality-Calix had given up his life for me.

"No!" I broke into tears. "No, that's not happening. It's a dream, it has to be a dream." I shook my head.

Leia's grip tightened around my arms.

"Please be strong, Emily. We need you to be strong."

My mind was jumbled up. I wasn't listening.

An agony unlike anything I've ever felt rippled through me. A great pang gripped my heart, tightening my chest as if an invisible hand was squeezing the air from her lungs. It hurt so much.

A knock rapped on the door, stealing our attention. The portal swung open, and a servant rushed in, breathless, her expression stricken.

"My Lady," she gasped, her eyes darting between Leia and me. "Beta Han and the men have returned," she announced.

My body moved on instinct, shoving past Leia and stumbling toward the door. The world blurred around me-voices calling my name, footsteps trailing behind me-but none of it mattered.

I traced my way to the terrace and then saw them. Han and two other soldiers, stepping down from the carriage, carrying Calix's limp body.

I let out a deafening scream.