The Weight of Returning

The Rescue

"Hello, Mrs. Morgan, how nice of you to join me.” Prince Aviv’s called out with calm authority as he stood by outside the dimly lit warehouse, his face fixed on the just-arrived women. The faint glow of magic still shimmered in the air, remnants of the magical barrier Mary had blasted through moments earlier.

Mary stopped, her instincts flaring as she stepped protectively in front of Kelly. "Prince Aviv," she said cautiously, her voice even despite the tension within her. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

Aviv tilted his head slightly. "I could ask you the same question, Mrs. Morgan. I mean, imagine my surprise to see you and your girl here, using magic. I must admit, it’s quite… revealing and much more exciting. I wonder if the citizens of Emerald Province are aware their governor’s wife is a witch."

Mary wasn’t scared, though Kelly took a small step back, her face pale. "We’re here to rescue my daughter," Mary said, firmly looking at him. "And you?" Her tone betrayed her suspicion. "Why are you here?"

Aviv took a leisurely step forward, his hands clasped behind his back. "Cara Morgan is not just your daughter, is she?" he said, his voice low but filled with meaning. "And you are not just a simple governor’s wife. How exciting."

With a flick of his wrist, dark energy erupted, forming into glowing, obsidian black chains that shot across the room. In mere seconds, the witches who had held Cara captive were bound, their own spells powerless against the might of the demon prince. The captors struggled, their surprise turning to fear as the chains tightened, glowing faintly with a magical aura that drained their strength they moved.

"That should hold them," Aviv said with a calm certainty, his eyes shifting briefly to Mary and Kelly. "Now, where were we?"

Mary’s expression hardened, but before she could respond, Aviv’s attention shifted to the center of the room. There Cara was, tied to a stake. Her face was pale, her hair scattered, and her wrists bearing the marks of the enchanted ropes that bound her. Her platinum streaks shone in the dim light, a reminder of her awakening power.

Without waiting for further conversation, Aviv turned away from Mary and Kelly, striding toward Cara. "I’ll take it from here," he said over his shoulder, his tone leaving no space for argument.

"Wait!" Mary called, stepping forward, but Aviv raised his hand; energy radiated from him, forming an invisible barrier that stopped her in her tracks.

"You’ll thank me later," Aviv said. Then, with a wave of his hand, the ropes snapped, and Aviv reached for Cara, his movements quick and calculated. Before Mary or Kelly could act, both he and Cara vanished, leaving no trace of his magic behind.

Mary stood frozen, her heart pounding. Kelly’s voice broke the silence. "He took her, oh my goodness, he took her," she whispered, her eyes wide. "What do we do now?"

"We go home."

The journey back to the Morgan household was tense and silent. Mary’s mind raced with questions. Why had the prince intervened? What did he want with Cara? And most importantly, where was her daughter? Was she safe?

As they approached the house, Mary’s hastened, she could feel Cara’s presence. She pushed the door open, and the sight that welcomed her stopped her. There, seated in the reception room was Cara. She looked unharmed, although visibly shaken. Beside her, Prince Aviv leaned back casually, his arms crossed as though he had all the time in the world.

"You’re late," he said, "I thought you’d want to be here for this."

"Cara!" Mary rushed to her daughter, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

Cara shook her head, her voice trembling. "I’m fine, Mom. I don’t understand what’s happening, but... he saved me."

Mary turned to Aviv, her protective instincts flaring once more. "Why did you take her? What are you playing at?"

Aviv stood, his demeanor unbothered. "Playing? Hardly. I simply ensured her safety. If I had waited for you to act, I would have waited forever, and things might have gone differently. Besides," he added, his gaze settling on Cara, "we needed to have a little conversation."

Kelly, who had been lingering near the doorway, stepped forward. "What did you tell her?" she demanded, her voice unusually sharp.

Aviv raised an eyebrow. "Only what she deserved to know. About who she is, where she comes from, and what awaits her."

Mary’s stomach sank. "You told her everything?"

"Not everything," Aviv admitted. "Only the parts that concern me. But I think it’s time you fill in the blanks, Mrs. Morgan. Or should I say, Aurora, former handmaiden to Queen Elora of Eryndor?"

The room fell silent. Cara looked between her mother and Aviv, her confusion evident. "Mom? Is it true?"

Mary sighed, the weight of years of secrecy pressing down on her. She guided Cara to sit beside her, her hands trembling slightly as she held her daughter’s. "I’m sorry I hid it from you; you deserve the whole truth," she began. "About who you are. About who I am."

Mary’s voice was steady as she recounted the tale. She spoke of the vibrant kingdom of Eryndor, a land brimming with magic and life, ruled by Queen Elora—a queen of true royal blood. She described the night of Cara’s birth, the joy of welcoming a new heir, and the tragedy that followed. Selvya’s coup, the queen’s assassination, and the desperate escape that led Mary to the uplands with an cara in her arms.

"I vowed to protect you," Mary said, her voice breaking. "To keep you safe, even if it meant hiding the truth from you."

Cara listened in silence, stunned, her mind struggling to process her mother’s words. "So... I’m not just a witch," she said slowly. "I’m supposed to be… a queen?"

"Not just a queen, you are the queen," Aviv corrected, his tone matter-of-fact. "The only one with the power to restore Eryndor."

Mary shot him a warning look but didn’t argue. She turned back to Cara. "There’s more," she said. "Your connection to the Tree of Light—the source of Eryndor’s magic—is what makes you unique. That’s why Selvyahunted you."

Cara’s head spun. "This is too much," she murmured. "How am I supposed to…? I can’t do this."

"You don’t have to do it alone," Aviv said, his voice unusually gentle. "There are those who will stand with you. Myself included."

Mary looked at him skeptically. "And why would the prince of the hinterlands care about the fate of Eryndor?"

Aviv’s expression darkened slightly. "Because Selvya’s corruption doesn’t stop at your borders. Her actions are destabilizing more than just your kingdom. The hinterlands have felt the effects too, especially King Alexander. And," he added, his gaze fixed on Cara, "because there’s something about her that feels different."

"Now," Aviv said, his voice filled with resolute, "we prepare. The journey ahead won’t be easy, but it’s the only way to save Eryndor—and yourself."