CURSED: The Last of Five Kingdoms.

Episode24-Dark Magic Conjuring(B)

Mael continues draining every bit of blood in the man. Biting, sucking and groaning. When he could no longer draw out blood and the man has gone unconscious, he lets them loose. The body falls wearing to the ground, landing in a thud like a piece of log. Mael let out a high pitch growl. He has completely transformed into a vampire. His sense of smell, speed, sight, agility, strength and brain function, all heightened. The blood sticks his tattered shirt from his lips down his chest. First of him tasting blood. He had been a vampire.

Trying to make for a run back into the woods as his vampire side has overtaken him, the door opens and Mackenzie cast a binding spell to restrict.

"Albius Hunder Lreta," she chants with a concentration of mind.

Mael fights through the spell, breaking it bit by bit. Mackenzie increases her chant but instead of weakening Mael, his fore power reveals itself and his wizard part overrun Mackenzie spell. He is too strong for her and far gone from Mael to Antigon.

"I cast you to freeze," he orders. 

Mackenzie begins to turn into a stone from her legs upward but getting to her waist, Rabbi Humbledore intercepts.

"Enough!" He rapidly with a whoosh of wind appears before Mael, grabbing both his hands causing Mael to lose focus which breaks the spell and frees Mackenzie. 

"What happened?" Humbledore asks a recovering Mackenzie.

Mael becomes weak and nearly slumps but Humbledore catches him on time slouching Mael's hand around his neck to support him walking.

"What happened? Ouch!" A confused Mael falls unconscious.

"Someone is using dark magic. He was conjured and led to the Oaktree and Hunters was manipulated to reveal the forest to him."

"That is serious dark magic and the person is relentless. We need to call the council at once."

"That is true. This is a sign that something greater is happening and this is used to distract is."

"What about his friends?"

"They are very much safe and sound. A diversion was created, separating them."

Both of them carries a weak Mael back to the school, taking him straight to holdings. A place where he would be until they figure out what went wrong.

************

Back at Amara and Lucas's house, lots of candles are burning late into the night. It is Amara:s idea as she is having a romantic moment with her husband. Both of them are surrounded by books. Squinting through his spectacle, Lucas is jotting things down on a piece of paper while Amara is entangled in his arm, legs entwined. As they both continue reading, Amara becomes aware that a message has arrived.

"For that to arrive at this hour of the night, it is very important." Lucas struggled up to get the box.

It is a brown box but when they unwrap it, it is an orb. The revelation orb is used to gather all the members of the council. Amara and Lucas have been members since Amara arrived on earth. It was now important for them to be gathered once more to find out what is happening.

"The revelation orb. Show me what is hidden."

The orb shows the face of Rabbi Humbledore, "Amara. Lucas. The council must gathers. Someone has broken the binding spell and is using dark magic to draw out Omiri. Today he was conjured into the forbidden woods and a vampire from nowhere attacked him but he killed it. We seek that the council finds a solution as soon as possible because the veil has been weakened and if that is the case, Evalon might become aware in no time. As for Omiri, he is in the holdings. There he would start his training and learn how to control his powers because the forces he has to deal with are struggling within him. With all that said, I expect you as soon as possible." The orb burst into flames, destroying itself.

"I told them that he wasn't safe anywhere else apart from here. If the veil had been weakened, it wouldn't take long for Evalon to find out about him. About us. And everything we have worked so hard for would become absolutely nothing. The kids aren't safe." Amara fumes.

"Honey, calm down. This is all too much. Mael's powers are beginning to reveal themselves and I don't think it is easy for him. For all of them at Rayvin Academy. Pack. We must leave at once. This is only a warning. Something bigger is coming. Maybe the prophecy is getting fulfilled and we do not know yet.

Amara and her husband immediately suspend their peaceful moment and throws in few clothes into their travelling box and set out for the chambers. A long drive throughout the night, a few stops here and there, and by morning they are at Rayvin Academy.

Driving into the compound, they meet an already waiting Rabbi Humbledore and Vice-principal Mackenzie.

"Welcome, counsel members," Mackenzie greets.

"Amara. Lucas." Rabbi Humbledore shakes them.

"It is so good to see you both after a while," Lucas says.

"Why is this session not active?" Amara observes that activities are coming from one side of the school.

"We had to close of the weakened part from the student. The oak tree is withering, the moon has darkened, and the ice has cracked." Mackenzie leaves out mentioning the sword of truth under the roots of the oak tree.

"Whosoever that is doing this, is putting in a lot of effort."

"That is what we have to find out. Come. The rest of the council members are here."

They walk to the chambers which is Dark blue-grey stone walls, high ceilings with small slit-like windows, a round table and twelve seats surrounding them. There is a goblet mounted in the centre of the room, built around it is the round table and twelve seats. There are candle lights in every corner. The entire place echoes and glitters with the sun beaming brightly into the chambers. The chambers have been around for ages and have faded into an old Elizabeth space.

Now, everyone is dressed in emerald green and silver robe except Rabbi Humbledore who is dressed in dark purple and silver robe. Rabbi Humbledore takes the first seat which is a throne with fangs around it. Next, Vice-principal Mackenzie takes the seat beside him which is a smaller throne than that of Humbledore's, with a wand sticking out the edge. The rest of the seats are made of stones and are all the same except the one in the middle. It is a golden throne with precious stones all around it. It is glittering with the reflection of the sun. Amara seats next to Mackenzie, Professor Edward seats next to Amara, Lucas seats next to Professor Edward and the rest of the seven seats are empty.

"Councilmen and women, I welcome you all. Thank you for responding within such a short period. The remaining seven council members would be joining us briefly but for now, they are on an assignment. We have all gotten the warning of the great prophecy happening. But, somebody is trying to push the prophecy to happen before it is supposed to. Someone is using dark magic to disturb the balance. Our veil has been broken. Our protection spell weakened. Omiri was possessed and his powers are revealing themselves. We gave a lot to deal with and cannot sit back anymore while our enemy plots out their plans." Humbledore explains.

"I think we need to look into the conjuring. If I remember correctly, the protection spell guarding the school is a strong one. For it to have been weakened, it thinks someone from within the school is helping whosoever that is doing this. So we need to add technology to your supernatural world." Harry starts going through folders.

Professor Edward spitting, "I feel insulted to have a commoner who doesn't understand how our world works as a member of our council. I song know why the decision to keep him was reached. It is only unfair that we are now a laughing stock. Reduced to an ordinary suggestion such as technology. We are the technology. We built them from scratch. They are irrelevant."

Everyone keeps quiet and waits for Professor Edward to finish ranting.

"I wasn't trying to insult you. But we need all the help that we can get. Moments like this, there is no right or wrong, powerful or smarter. It is just for us to devise a strategy that we would use in fighting this battle. Together. As a team."

"Edward, we are not here to choose sides. As Lucas said, we need all the resources available. Did you put the forgetting spell on the tree, Mackenzie?" Humbledore is drumming his fingers on the table.

"Yes, I did." Mackenzie adjusts her robe uncomfortably.

"Then his power is growing that is why it wasn't effective on me. The boy needs to start his training?" Edward says for the first time.

"How is my son?" Amara rises.

"He is no longer your son, Amara. He is now a King. But we need to keep it under control. Lucas, what do you have in mind." Humbledore calmly says.

"It pains me to say, but, we need to use the revelation orb. We need to know what we are dealing with. If they could boycott the law of nature, we need to bend the laws a bit to bring balance. Professor Mackenzie, you have to do the conjuring." Lucas suggests.

"Enough of this madness! Conjuring? When we use dark magic, what difference does it make? What differentiates us from them? We have to find another way to deal with this."

"I agree with Lucas, Edward, there is no other way. If you have no idea, Omiri almost turned me into a stone just with his mind and whispering of few words. He killed a vampire. What says you when this gets out of hand? We just have to try. We need Rimalon right now to find out what is going on. Is this the fulfilment of the prophecy or someone is bending the rules." Mackenzie reaches for the centre of the table.

"I'll not be a part of this madness. When you find out a better option, let me know."

"You dare not leave your seat!" Rabbi Humbledore roars, "when you got chosen as one of the council members that means that you will defend whatever that has to do with our world until your very last breath. I don't care if you like it or not, but what has to be done will be done. I don't appreciate it either but do you have another suggestion? Omiri is in the holdings now because we haven't figured out his abilities but our enemies might already have done that. While we waste time and fight amongst ourselves, the grow. This is not about what we like but what should be done." Humbledore slams his hand on the table.

Edward sees that what everyone is saying is right. Never in the history of the school has such happened before. It has been eighteen years of peace and breakthrough for them. Been one who rebelled against Evalon and her regime, he found refuge in Rayvin Academy with Humbledore and Mackenzie. If anything happens to the school, many will be affected including him.

"Let us say that Rimalon answers us, have we heard anything about Evalon?" Edward is buying into their idea.

"That is it! They've been awfully quiet since I ran into them on Mael - Omiri's birthday. Nothing about them has been revealed. If they are the ones doing this then we need that conjuring because Evalon is with Nimshi and no one needs reminding of how powerful those two are."

"You are right, Amara." Keeping quiet for a few minutes, Edgar appears from nowhere "Edgar, call the rest of the council members." He had called Edgar with his mind. "We need the table complete."

Minutes later, the remaining council members arrive through Hunters, all in wearing their wear and looking concerned.

"Welcome, council members. Now, we can proceed to tackle this problem that has started growing deep."

Of the eleven seats, ten have been occupied and one that is the throne of the leader is empty. It is a golden seat with precious stones all around it.

"The twelve council members. Keepers of the veil. The strong force of our worlds. Omiri's true descendants. Welcome." As he starts to mention their names and responsibility, they respond with a bow, "Professor Mackenzie, the head witch, Guardian of the Moon dormitory and a true councilwoman. Professor Edward, a true bloodline of the Omiri's warriors, our very own historian and a true councilman. Professor Vieni, a man with the power of fire, Guardian of the Dark dormitory and a true councilman. Professor Ellen, a woman with the power of Ice, Guardian of the Ice dormitory and a true councilwoman. Professor Weasely, King of Air, Guardian of the Oak dormitory and a true councilman. Edgar, my wonder messenger, Head of all messengers and a true council boy. Lucas and Saviour, two kings who have sacrificed so much for the good and growth of this council, the best commoners, Saviour are the Guardian of the Blue dormitory and true councilmen. Myself, Rabbi Humbledore and Amara, descendants of the Original Vampires, leaders of the house of Omiri and true council members. We are all welcome. One of us is still absent but when it is time, we will be complete. One way or the other, we have sacrificed a lot. The council is grateful." Taking a deep breath, "the school is in trouble and we need everyone to solve the issue. All our powers, resources and information should be shared henceforth. It is no longer a matter for one person but all of us as a team. First, we need to conjure Rimalon. We need her."

"Do you think that is wise, Rabbi?" Professor Saviour asks.

"It is not. But we do not have much of a choice."

"You know that when such strong magic is done, it weakens the veil more and at the moment it is on the brink of collapse. It is us giving Evalon easy access to this place. We have done so much to let it go in a puff," Vieni says.

"There is another way," Professor Ellen says.

"No. I won't agree with that. It is so not happening!" Amara rejects the idea.

Professor Ellen rises to her feet, "this council is about what we all agree on and not what one person wants. Your preference doesn't matter. Let us face it, all the energy we are spending on disagreeing is irrelevant because one who is doing this is trying to put us against each other and most importantly, to get us to weaken the veil. We have to be careful and not fall into their trap."

"We would be messing with nature and you know that it works against us so much." Professor Mackenzie takes the wand on her seat out.

"We have to do the conjuring with the power of the eleven." Humbkedore finally speaks.

"Decided!' They all echo.

" No one seems to be talking about Omiri. What is going on with him?" Professor Edward asks.

"He is in the holding. His powers are getting the best of him. He needs training. Whatever disrupted the recitation ground must be what is affecting him. All his powers seem to be revealing themselves at once. Maybe he is not ready for all this." Humbledore says.

"You know that the five powers are fighting to dominate. One must be on the lead. Keeping him in the holding isn't good news. If the darker side takes over, it is only a matter of time before he destroys whatever force using to guard him there. It is best to distract him like we have been doing. Get him involved in school activities, allow him to live his normal life and even fall in love. All that will guide his path to true discovery." Edward is looking ahead into Hunters like he has seen something. "Something happened that is being left out!"

"Yes. He is in the holding because he was first drawn to the recitation ground and then later, the woods. He killed a vampire out of self-defence." Mackenzie explains.

"Is the vampire ours?" Saviour asks.

"No, it isn't. In fact, we have been investigating since the incident and discovered that somehow, it gained access to the woods. Checking all the sources we have, the vampire is a ghost. No identity. Not even in the bank of vampires." Edgar informs.

"If that is the case, we need not waste more time. First, the school should be guarded with even the modern technology and secondly, we need to get to the conjuring. But speak of, how did Omiri find himself in both restricted areas? Wasn't he supposed to be in his dormitory?" Professor Ellen asks.

"He sneaked out after lights out. I think that is when he got possessed and he had help," Edgar replies.

"Help?" Professor Saviour asks.

"Yes, his friends, Melody and Harry were involved too but both of them got lucky and returned to their dormitories. At least Harry got to his dormitory and Melody found herself in the library. However, that wasn't supposed to be the case. The three were supposed to return to their dormitories but Hunters somehow got manipulated." Edgar explains.

"Interesting. And have we tried to find out what happened from Omiri? Maybe he will remember something." Professor Vieni speaks.

"All that we have said is important. We need to get to the root of this." Turning to Mackenzie, "get ready for the conjuring. We will be doing it now."