The Broken Faery

Chapter 10 - The First Clue

The room was deathly cold. My fingers were trembling profusely as I held up the dome. A loud shriek echoed throughout the building as the rogue wave that Karla created. Steam filled the room, confirming my suspicions. This will buy us more time…I just hope that it's enough for Demise to make it in time. Her growls grew fierce as if her anger was consuming her. Ever since I’ve met her she has done nothing but try to protect me, so I can understand how stressed she must have felt right now.

"Lavender," The Tin man said.

I turned to him, the heavy dome shifting with my movements. "Is now really the time…sir!" I struggle to keep the dome afloat. The Tin man only smiled.

"Your answer is in that note, it's a riddle so I'll give the first clue." I was utterly confused. What was he talking about? Couldn't he just tell me where to find out about Lethals?

"Do you think that I'm Nancy Drew!" I yelled at him.

The screeches got louder which successfully wavered my attention but he began to walk closer to me so I glared at him. "This is life or death! My life is in that stupid page's hands!"

"Here is your clue. As cold as Ice, painted crimson. Lurking in the darkness, never the light. It stays away from what shines bright," he chimed.

"What the hell is that-"

Suddenly, I heard Demise whimpering. "D-Demise!" I yelled.

"Good luck Lavender." The tin man farewelled before transforming into a high onyx owl. Flying away to somewhere hidden in this mysterious library.

"Wait!" I yelled at it but a sudden vibration from the earth knocked me off balance along with my dome. I quickly waved my hands around in circular motions before yelling another incantation.

"Forté Lifevrio Ecouver!" The boulder stood still in the air as my body grew weaker.

"Demise, come to us!" I yelled, panicked and frightened from what might have happened to her.

"Drop the boulder and use a fire incantation, Lavender," Lily shouted.

"But Karla-" As I reasoned with Lily, Karla turned to me.

"What was that?" She asked. "Windfero Stripandino Grav!" Another powerful blast of vapour washed the room.

"Drop the darn boulder and search for Demise. Kill the Noxi and tell Karla you have to lore the others away." After the order, Lily fell quiet.

"Fine," I mumbled. I threw the boulder to where I heard the noise which seemed effective as a boisterous wail filled the library.

Without much thought, I created a smaller boulder and covered Karla before dashing off to save Demise. There they were smack in the middle of the library teeth clashing against teeth, claws against claws, and both looking defeated.

"Demise!" I yelled as I looked at how her wild green fur was soaked in her own blood.

"What spell should I incant?" I asked Lily.

"It's a Noxi, so a Halexinious Ecouver won't work..use Luminous Grav."

The creature picked up Demise before throwing her into a bookshelf successfully knocking her down. I don't even get a chance to react before its sharp teeth glimmer in the natural light, gleaming at me.

I launched for me, so I acted quickly. "Luminous Grav!" I screamed at it with my hands outstretched.

Suddenly, my hands felt numb before whimpering from pain as a bright lilac light erupted from my palms, shooting straight through the Noxi's transparent body. I hunched over in pain before burning from the inside out until it was just ash.

It was over..for the most part. Now that the door was open to more Noxis.

I wasted no time dashing off to Demise only to find her…healed. The only thing that remained was the blood. She tried to shake it off as she stood up, alert and ready to fight again but I touched her temple.

"We need to go," I instructed. She quickly lowered her back so I could get on before dashing out of the library.

As we were engulfed in the light again I saw Kaïzer, on the floor battling his injuries. The Noxis surrounded him ready to land their final blow.

"Over there girl!" I ordered Demise. She hastily made her way over to him. I quickly created another dome, throwing it over Kaïzer. I got The Noxis' attention as they screeched and hissed at me. I wasted no time dashing off into the forest and past the Night Howler's Pack borders. I knew that I was once again in the Krynsín Forest.

As Demise went faster, I saw that familiar dark hood moving through the forest saluting me. I wonder who she is and why she went through the trouble of finding me.

The Noxi's were hot on my tail. Gliding towards me at a steady pace.

My eyes landed on the book strapped tightly to my body with the help of my belt. "What the hell did that owl..tin man..what did he say again." I looked around the dangerous forest as I tried to recite the clue.

"As dark as midnight….no-"

"Stop uttering nonsense," Lily chuckled. "He said, 'As cold as Ice, painted crimson. Lurking in the darkness, never the light. It stays away from what shines bright'."

"Ugh...I hate riddles."