*LYCIA*It was silent. An embarrassing silence to my outburst that had resulted in nothing.“The only reason she didn’t come is because she is scared,” Seff said, bringing me within his arms to comfort me as he patted my back.Frustration nipped at my nerves as the seconds passed. I had been trying to run my mind, to find a way but no matter what I did it only resulted in failure. How long would we have to wait here like a shivering prey that is waiting for its unknown future to stab it?“Forever a kid, huh? When are you going to grow up and stop throwing tantrums?”The voice that said those words could only be of one and turning around to stare at her I blinked my eyes a few times to check if it had been merely a fragment of my mind or an ugly reality.“Alora?”“Always slow on the uptake too, just as usual,” she said walking inside the room to the doorframe of which she had been leaning.“Oh my goodness! Did Mom send you here to save us?” I asked turning in Seff’s hold but he didn’

*LYCIA* “Enough!” A third voice finally intervened, “I don’t appreciate you sowing seeds of doubt in my partners’ heads.” The voice came from behind us making a shiver crawl through my skin. The intensity of her magic was so severe that I didn’t want to turn around to see her. I feared what she could do with that power. “Won’t you greet me too? It’s the first time that we can finally have a clear conversation after all?” the voice said and clenching on Seff’s hand to let me go I pulled away from him and turning around I stood beside him. ‘She is a human,’ he said in my mind, his voice shook from the disbelief, ‘She really is a human for the first time I can smell her.’ And although he said this all I could feel from her was an overwhelming store of dark magic that could destroy me with a flick of her finger. She looked just as we had seen her so far. The same raven black hair, the same pale white skin but this time her hollow black eyes though sunken actually had an iris. Complete

*LYCIA*No sooner did the two leave when suddenly there was the clear sound of shuffling feet coming towards us.We had barely gotten a moment to ourselves to talk when around ten people marched right in without so much as a word to us.Walking in without a stop they formed two groups on either side of us, five men on Seff’s side and five women on my side. Noticing now that they had been carrying some things with them I tried to determine what it was. Black bags bulged with things but the contents inside were hard to guess. Whatever they were they couldn't possibly be good.“Who are you? What are you trying to do?” I asked, sticking closer to Seff wondering if Alora had baited for time so that the Spirit could until then get everything ready for the process.It wasn’t as if I didn’t know who they were. I could tell from the similar robes they wore and by the weak magic that they pertained that they were the other humans who were a part of this cult that the Spirit ran.“We are here to

*LYCIA*“Would you put the two of them over onto the markings” she said and nodding Alora brought us to the circles.I was finding it hard to believe what was happening. I knew I was destined to doom but seeing her right now I couldn’t help but feel my blood boil. What was wrong with her? Did she really hate me to this extent that she would want to see me go through this? To make sure that I would really not come back to ruin her life?“Don’t make that expression, did you really think I would change?” she asked, noticing my glare on her.“I am sure Mom will find out about this, one day and when she does she will know your reality. You will never be able to take my place in her life either way,” I said and for a second I saw her lips twitch.“We’ll see about that,” she said using a vine to clamp my mouth shut, “Can we hurry with the process? She is getting on my nerves.”“Don’t try to get ahead of yourself,” Spirit snapped at her but Alora didn’t wince as she stayed in her place waitin

"Lycia! Oh, my goddess! You are back!" Dad's worried voice fell on my ears like a salve, and tears spurted to my eyes like those of a child. I turned around to let him gather me in a hug."My sweet child, I am sorry. It's all my fault. Are you alright?" he asked, his shaky hands reluctantly pulling away from me to look me over. I could see in his eyes that even as I stood there, he found it difficult to believe that I was before him, safe and sound."Why are you covered in soot? Did she try to burn you?" Roz's aggravated voice roared out his anger and concern as he grabbed Seff by the shoulders and turned him around to check on him."We are fine, but let us talk about everything after Lycia and I take a bath," Seff said, pointing at his attire and our state."Yes, of course, but first, tell me, are you both hurt anywhere else besides this?" Dad asked, still anxious as he examined my burnt hands. He didn't wait for my response as he closed his eyes and started working on healing my han