ELIZA

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Please Enjoy! ***** “Greed has consumed you!” Exclaimed Deirdra as she rushed into the witches’ lair. It was midday outside, but this room was always pitch black except for the light permeating from whatever concoction was being manipulated in the pot. This lair had been in existence for generations and had been used by countless witches in the past. These days, Agatha had taken over, and only a select few witches were allowed into this hall. As the Supreme Sorceress, she was essentially their leader and all her orders had to be followed. But she had gone too far this time. “Greed?” How dare this witch lecture her about greed? Everything Agatha had done was for the betterment of her sisters. She had saved their legacy. Now, the world will write their names in history books! They will be famous! They will be remembered! Too many times in the past, their people had been kicked to the side like they were nothing. Now, they had taken their power back. They would rule this nation and every creature within it. How could Deirdra not see that? “You should be thanking me. I saved our kind!” She had done much more than just save them. She had changed the course of history. They would be respected. They would be feared by all others. She had saved them. They should be worshipping her! Deirdra responded, “But you’ve destroyed others by doing so. Destroyed our world! Have you no honor?” “Honor?” Agatha laughed. “Our ancestors had honor centuries ago when they were forced out of their birth-right. They should have been the ones ruling. The throne belonged to them! Where was the honor then?” “Our ancestors chose to live a life of peace. They wanted what was best for our people. You have now destroyed our home, Agatha.” Mythos had always been an island of peace. All creatures alike lived in harmony for centuries. Now, it was utter chaos, all thanks to Agatha. Her spell had erased all sense of love among the islands’ inhabitants. Deirdra feared that this was only the beginning of the end. “Good!” Agatha laughed. “It’s about time someone made some changes around here.” She didn’t realize it but her ‘changes’ had diabolical effects. If things were not set right soon, Mythos, their secret haven, and all its secrets would be lost forever. Deirdra needed Agatha to see the c*****e that she had caused. “Have you seen the Black Forest today?” That sure peaked her attention. Even as they spoke, a new spell was taking effect. Agatha, a once loving woman, had lost herself to the impurities of the world, the darkness. Deirdra feared that it was too late to save her, but maybe there was time to save Mythos. She had to try, at least. The survival of everyone depended on this spell being reset. “The Black Forest?” asked Agatha, sounding slightly worried. “What’s happened?” “It has finally lived up to its name.” The Black Forest was one of the island’s treasures. Although it was called ‘Black’, it was the most beautiful, magical forest on the island. At least, that had been until this morning. The sun had literally stopped shining there. Not one cloud was in the sky and the sun shone everywhere else. There could only be one reason for this phenomenon. It was cursed. All these spells within such a short period of time had dire consequences. With witches, there were rules. However, in Agatha’s quest for power, she had set every rule and law aside – every code. Their world was in grave danger, and she was the only one who could undo what she had done. “Take a look”, said Deirdra and, using her powers, she conjured up The Black Forest in the Mirror of Secrets. The curse had spread even beyond the forest line, and into the bounding packs. Agatha, shocked to see the state of the forest that she held close and dear to her heart, ran to the mirror to take a closer look. She couldn’t find the words. The forest was pitch black, but it was only noon. “I didn’t mean…” she trailed as the realization hit. “I just wanted to make the world better for us”. “But in doing so, you destroyed it.” The darkness seemed to be spreading from the heart of the island – the very center. “I-I-I can fix it.” Agatha said as she paged through the book of spells. Minutes felt like hours as they went by, until finally she was confident that she had found a way to undo the c*****e that she had caused. “Μέχρι τότε λυτρώνεσαι, και με το δάσος σου, είσαι ελεύθερος” Agatha, with all her might repeated those words, which roughly translated to until then you are redeemed, and with your forest you are free”. There was no change for a while. Until finally, they heard it. A loud rumble that shook the earth for minutes. Then another. Then another. Then ash. Tons and tons of thick, black volcanic ash. Until finally, oblivion.