"Your father would have been proud. I'm sorry, but I really need to leave right away—"
"No Astri, I have a much better idea. Just use the upside-down mirror to find him," Emilia cuts me off, and I'm already shaking my head.
"It's too dangerous. I trapped the warlock witch in the mirror and I have no idea what kind of evil it might unleash if she gets out," I say, my heart is beating way too fast right now. The liquid magic has given me the strength I need, but I'm worried about my fire magic. There can't be anyone around me when I release the deadly power. The impact can kill innocents too, like did in the past.
Emilia’s shaking her head, like she wants to disagree with me. Then takes something out of her pocket. Alex is watching her intensely and I'm surprised to see that she has the other mirror wrapped in silver foil.
"No, if we use it together to get you through the portal, I'll protect you. Ruscal knows that he's losing, so he's most likely using magic to find a way out. We both know that he can be anywhere by now, Astri," Emilia says, and I have to agree with her.
Ruscal’s wounded, but he has other allies that must be scattered around the city. Maybe he managed get to the Black Forest by now, and he's heading towards the mountains. Once he makes it to Sergiej’s territory, I'll never find him.
"Fine, I'll use the mirror and I hope it works," I say with determination in my voice. Emilia asks me to open the mirror and then tells everyone to move away.
I take a few deep breaths, accumulating my energy and thinking about the scum who murdered my parents. The lights around the room start flashing. The portal appears right in front of me and Emilia waves her magic wand, whispering a magical incantation.
A cold waft of the air chills my skin; the air all around me starts vibrating. Then I see the forest in the portal—and Ruscal. He's walking, limping and glancing behind him.
The arrow is still in his shoulder and he's losing blood.
"Go on, Astri. We’re all counting on you. That mage cannot live, he doesn't deserve it," Emilia says.
"Please avenge my father, his life cannot be lost in vein," Aria tells me and I nod. Seconds later, I jump through the portal. I'm surrounded by darkness, falling into the unknown. A pair of hands with the sharp nails tries to grab me, and the wizard witch’s voice keeps buzzing in my ears
You came back. Good. Now, I can finally kill you, little Wyvern bitch.
I lose my breath for a moment while being pulled into another direction, until I slam on the ground.
It takes me a moment to realise that I'm in the Black Forest. Ruscal can’t be far from here. My energy is back, pounding through me like an active volcano again. I start running, moving past trees, bushes, and drunk on the power rushing through my veins. I sense him nearby, and when the forest ends I see him. There’s a large open valley right in front of me.
He's climbing the high hill in the distance, most likely hoping to get to the mountains. It's obvious that he's struggling, trying to hold on to something or maybe there’s someone else there too.
"You can’t escape your destiny, mage. Pray to Hommis, because I'm coming for you," I roar and he finally turns. I realise that he's struggling because he has someone tied to his upper body.
"Astri, whatever you do, kill the motherfucker, don't worry about me," my uncle shouts, catching me completely off guard. I can't believe that Edvard’s alive. For Hommis, he's alive.
Chapter Twenty-Four
I was born with mercy.
The mirror didn't show me everything, it didn't show me that Edvard was alive on the battlefield. Ruscal must have kept him close the second he was injured. He kept him alive for a reason.
Now, we’re alone, standing several meters away from each other, both ready for the final battle.
I see him, struggling to stay on his feet halfway up the hill. He's staring at me, weighing his options. My hands are shaking with anger, at the same time relief washes over me,
I'm so happy that Edvard’s alive.
I walk closer, aware of the magic drifting around my hands and legs. Part of my soul is burning with raw fire, waiting for the moment when I can release my fire song. Ruscal's hardens his jaw, and it seems that the arrow is giving him hell. Good. Even from a distance, I can see the hatred in his eyes, waiting and wanting to hurt me.
Edvard looks wounded too and there are silver chains around his neck. I recognise them from the book that I read a long time ago. Ruscal connected himself to Edvard with the Chains of Glory. I gasp, realising that if one person dies, the other will too.
I clench my fists, aware that I can't let Ruscal hurt him. Now everything is clear. I understand why Ruscal was rushing to get back to the city, he must have been keeping Edvard a prisoner in case I showed up. He’s well aware of the destruction that my fire magic would bring, and right now he knows that I won't dare use it.
"Touch me or try to use your magic, Wyvern, and he dies. I’m sure you’re aware of how the Chains of Glory work," Ruscal sneers, spitting blood on the ground. He's almost swaying on his feet, probably from the loss of blood.
I continue walking towards the hill, still keeping a safe distance. We both know that he trapped me and there’s nothing that I can do if I want Edvard to live. My fire magic will kill them both instantly and I can’t let that happen.
I remember the moment when he killed my father, after that I ran away. For months and months, I was forced to dream about the night when he caught up with me in the dark chamber. Now it's worse, and I don't want to remember it. I wish that I could just end him.
"You won't get away with this," I say now standing close enough for him to hear me.
It seems to me that I have only one option. I must let him leave. He smiles, draws his sword and steps towards me. Pure energy ripples through my system, pulsing all around—waiting to be unleashed. The Chains of Glory are limiting every option that I have.
"Astri, don't listen to this bastard. Use your energy. He has to die," Edvard shouts, then Ruscal elbows him in the stomach.
"Do it, silly girl. I dare you and then we’ll both be dead. I have nothing to lose. If you want him alive, then you have to let me walk away, Wyvern."
I shake my head, as more anger roars through me like an out of control typhoon. Then a very reckless idea pops into my head. Edvard lifts himself up, glaring at me. His eyes are telling me not to worry about him, but I can't sacrifice his life. Aria would never forgive me, knowing that I had a chance to save her father.
"Me and Jorgen went back in time you know, to the exact moment when the black warlock witch took you away from your mother," I say, reaching inside my pocket for the old rusty mirror that Emilia gave me. Now I have two and one tiny chance to save my uncle and kill Ruscal. Energy is crackling along my skin, connecting with the magic inside the mirror.
The pupils of his eyes start to glow with anger. He pales slightly, taking long raspy breaths, waiting to see if I'm going to let him walk away. Maybe I’ll never have this opportunity again.
This is the very end and I have to make it right.
"Whatever you're planning to do, it won't work. My brother should have killed me when he had a chance, but he didn't. And the prophecy is going to be fulfilled whether you like it or not, whore. This world will be much safer without Wyverns," he tells me, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
"Funny, because the warlock witch who showed up in the castle after your mother gave birth, was only trying to save you. Me and Jorgen heard the new prophecy, an interesting take on the way she interpreted it. She said that you were destined for me, that only love could have altered the bad gene that you were born with. It's funny how life works sometimes. I fell in love with Jorgen, but according to fate, you were the one who was supposed to love me," I say, trying to open the mirror inside my pocket, but it's getting stuck.
I remember the spell, the instructions that Emilia gave me. The Chains of Glory must be broken inside the Neverworld, but I have to act faster than ever before. I have to send Edvard away
before Ruscal realises what I'm planning.
Ruscal's shakes his head and spits on the ground again. The vein on the side of his neck keeps throbbing dangerously fast. Edvard’s breathing hard, watching me and waiting for a sign. Throbbing sensations are rolling along both my arms. I must focus, but it's difficult when my fire magic is on the verge of slipping away.
"I would never have touched you. And love only exists in fairy tales. If I get away, I'll come back to kill you, to end you before you destroy the world," he spits with hatred.
"Unfortunately, that isn't what the prophecy said. The warlock witch was governed by love and devotion, but then your guardian showed up. I suppose he ruined her chance—ruined you. My friends have already spread the rumours throughout the entire Eastern World that we were destined to be mated. I guess you’ve lost your credibility now. Mated to a Wyvern—the very creature you’ve been on a mission to kill all these years. What do you think your people are saying about you now? You have nowhere to go. I bet that even Sergej won't take you back," I say, laughing, knowing that this will only anger him further.
Seconds of silence drag on and I wait, watching as the aftermath of my words sink in. I don't have to wait for long.
He roars, then launches himself forward, pulling Edvard with him. In the same moment, I throw the mirror between us, whispering the poisonous spells. Flames of black magic rush through my veins, but I'm in control of the fire. I have to hold on to it for a bit longer. I can’t kill Ruscal just yet, especially not when the Chains of Glory can harm them both.
The energy vibrates, and the earth starts trembling when the portals opens up in front of me.
"Edvard, tell the witch that I'll let her go if she breaks the chains. Tell her that she has my word," I shout, a second before my uncle’s pulled inside the portal. I truly hope that he heard me, that he knows what he needs to do. I snap my fingers, and cut the connection.
The portal disappears and my heart jackhammers in my chest.
Ruscal’s alone now and the chains are broken, its spell won't affect Edvard as long as he’s trapped in the mirror. The problem is that Edvard is under the warlock witch’s mercy. She has to listen to him, has to help him or I'll kill her myself.
Ruscal’s on the ground now, trying to pick up protective crystals. Unfortunately, nothing else is going to save him now.
Bursts of power and energy begin crackling all around me. My moment has finally arrived. In the past two days, I’ve been relieving the moment when Ruscal had me pinned to the wall in the dark chamber. The moment when my own fire started burning my face. I was screaming for a long time, remembering how my skin was slowly melting.
"Any last words before I burn you alive?" I ask, calmly approaching him. My fingertips are charged, sparkling and crackling.
"You won't touch me, because you're an unworthy dragon shifter like your parents!"
I shut my eyes and let go of my fire magic. The flames shoot through me, drowning the static energy inside me.
My beast sings the fire song, then thunder and lightning cracks through the blue sky. Even my scar’s stinging painfully, but I ignore it. Ruscal's death won't be quick, he must suffer for a long time.
It's my energy, my fire magic that’s being unleashed. He's already burning, my flames are covering his body, and he’s screaming. More power races across my shoulder, rushing around like an overflowing stream.
Nature witnesses the fire song; wild animals are watching him as he’s dying and suffering in the distance. I drain the energy from the soil, using my beast to rise above the ground.
Ruscal continues to burn and the pain around my scar is becoming unbearable. Even now, when he's facing death, he doesn't regret anything.
"I’ve thought about this moment for a very long time. I’ve been planning it too. You deserve to suffer for eternity," I say, not recognising my own voice. It's deeper and raspier.
I'm a leader, the last Wyvern of my clan. I'm the only person left who can avenge the others that lost their lives. His roars are ringing in my ears and I sense a storm approaching. I touch the mirror again, killing him slowly. He's aware of what’s going on, of what I'm doing to him.
Then I open the portal for the final time, and we both get pulled inside instantly.
The darkness shades me when we’re back in the Neverworld. I release my energy, sensing a presence in the distance. The deformed warlock witch and Edvard are watching my spectacle of fire.
"You really are her, I repeat again. I’ve underestimated you, Wyvern girl," she says.
Half of her face is burned, and her magic is weaker. I'm the alpha in this situation. She no longer has power over me. I'm the one that decides who lives and dies. She has to accept it.
"Astri, kill him. It's over, let's go back," Edvard says, standing somewhere nearby. I keep seeing the faces of my mother and father. Then the other members of my family. My uncle’s wrong.
I can’t let him burn—he must suffer—longer.
"You will stay here and keep burning unable to die until I decide when you’ve suffered enough," I shout, and my own voice sends a shiver down my spine. He keeps screaming louder, cursing and wishing that I would die. The warlock witch is laughing out loud.
"I let your uncle live and it's time. I have seen enough. Get me out of here," she says.
Then something changes inside me and I realise that I can’t turn into the person that I’ve been trying to escape from all my life. I can’t be like him, filled with hatred and resentment—a monster. A world without him in it will be better. Hommis would never forgive me if I stop being human. My own parents wouldn't want it.
"Die Ruscal, die for every sin that you ever committed. I forgive you. I thought that I wouldn't, but deep inside, Hommis has spoken to me. It's time to let go of my hatred and need for revenge. My parents raised me much better than that," I say and then wave my hand again.
By the time the fire’s gone and the darkness consumes us, it's all over. He's not screaming or cursing me anymore. He's gone and silence fills the place. Then I remember that we’re still in the Neverworld and we’ve overstayed our welcome.
It's time to go back.
"Wow, really? That was a little anticlimactic, Wyvern girl. You should have left him in the burning spell for as long as you could," the warlock witch says, breaking the silence.
I ignore her, feeling drained and tired. I want to get back to reality, finally rest and hug my cousin and kiss Jorgen too. I glance at her, wondering if it's wise to let her go. After all she did save Edvard, and he doesn't look so good.
"I never thought that I would be capable of just letting him die, but I wanted to bury the past forever," I explain.
"Astri, I'm proud of you, proud of the decision that you made, but please can we leave the Neverworld?" Edvard asks, and I know that he's scared. We’re crossing a line by staying here for too long.
"Leave. I never want to see you again. If our paths cross again, I promise to end you," I say, turning to face the warlock witch. She must realise that right now I'm much more powerful than her, and she has to accept that my fire song might alter her future.
I can control it much better than before and she's aware of it.
"Good luck in your new life, Wyvern shifter. Maybe justice was served here, but you're a fool for letting him die. Your power could still be your downfall," she says, and then walks though the portal vanishing a moment later.
I walk up to Edvard and grab his hand. Ruscal's burned body is laying in the distance. The mage can stay here, he doesn't deserve to be buried.
"Let's go back. Our family is waiting for us," I tell him, smiling.
He nods and then some time later the portal takes us back to the main square in Rivenna. We hear shouting, then Aria’s there embracing me in her arms.
She finally notices her father and start sobbing. I have to tell her over and over again that he's truly alive, that he survived.
Then I notice Jorgen; Thayer’s helping him out and he's limpin
g. His head, and arms are bandaged. Moments later I smile at him, realising it's all over. My battle with dark forces has finally come to an end.
"He's gone, this time, forever," I tell him when he walks up to me on his own.
"I love you," he says, and that's all that matters to me.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The happily ever after.
"When I get married, I'm not going to have a party. There will be a ceremony and straight after, me and my lovely bride are off to a honeymoon," Lenin says when the dressmaker from the city is trying to fix my veil.
It feels strange to be standing in my own chamber, wearing this beautiful white, wedding dress. I have butterflies in my stomach, and I'm nervous. I shouldn't be because it's my happy day.
I’ve been counting down the hours until today and now I can’t wait for it to be over. I glance at Lenin and laugh, unable to control myself. He's holding hands with his fiancé—a charming pixie named, Dazzy, who recently agreed to marry him.
"You can do what you want Lenin, but you really need to keep other people in mind. We all want to be part of your special day too," Emilia explains, and hovers her eyes over my dress. She wants to make sure that everything fits perfectly.
She looks stunning herself, wearing a bright red tunic. Aria and her father are waiting for me outside the temple of Hommis that was recently built in the castle.
The war with Ruscal and his men came to an end. It's been two years since I killed him in the Neverworld and my life has turned around completely. Right after Jorgen took the castle back I handed the upside-down mirrors back to Emilia. I didn't want to have such a powerful object in my possession anymore. Ruscal was dead, and there was no longer a threat hanging above us. I wanted to start over, this time without magic.
Jorgen was severely injured by his brother. He had multiple stab wounds and he needed to stay in the hospital wing.