Gloria awoke to being dragged across a cold stone floor. The image of Seth kissing the beautiful woman flashed into her mind, and her heart ached.
I told you he was too good for you, the ugly voice in her head said. But you wouldn’t listen.
Gloria bit back tears. But it wasn’t real!
Perhaps… but the ache in your heart is…
Gloria opened her eyes just as strong hands gracelessly tossed her beside a pedestal. She groaned and looked up to see a strange, black, pulsating mound of flesh.
Her eyes widened, and a bit of hope came to her. Her heart! Gloria tried to pull herself to her feet. If she could at least save her home, then all this heartache would be worth it.
Before she could grip the hewed pedestal, rough hands gripped the collar of her coat and yanked her back. “Perhaps that was too close,” The Lady said.
Gloria clawed desperately at the base of the pedestal, but Seth’s body yanked her away and tossed her to the floor a few feet away. “This is much better,” The Lady said. “The things you have to think of when you try to plan a ritual on your own!”
Gloria rolled back to see Seth’s body looming over her. His left arm was consumed by glowing blue ice. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw the ice slowly creeping up his neck. Oh Seth… Are you still in there?
Seth’s body leaned down, and The Lady let out a throaty chuckle. “But I’m sure I can handle one girl.” Seth’s face twitched into a vicious smile. “All I need now is a sacrifice.” Seth’s icy hand reached out and brushed back a few curls from Gloria’s face. “You’re perfect.”
A shiver went down Gloria’s spine, and she wrenched herself away. “Stay back!” she screamed, kicking Seth’s body in the stomach. His face twisted from malice to rage.
“You pathetic wench!” The Lady roared. Seth’s hands shot out and grabbed Gloria’s ankles, then pinned them to the ground.
Gloria cried out as a cold, sharp pain shot through her feet. She looked down and saw her feet bound to the floor in two shackles of ice.
She tried to tug her ankles free, but while she was distracted, Seth’s body pounced on top of her and shoved her to the ground, then his hands snatched her wrists and pinned them to the floor. Gloria struggled but couldn’t break free of the hold.
The Lady panted, and Gloria braced for the cold, but it never came. She looked up and saw Seth’s body sag in fatigue.
The Lady grunted and narrowed Seth’s eyes in frustration. “That stupid clever boy!” she raged. “I didn’t think he’d be this weak!” The Lady pursed Seth’s lips. “No matter! It won’t stop me!”
Before Gloria realized it, Seth’s hands wrapped around her throat and began to squeeze. She flailed and grabbed at his arms, trying to pull them off her.
A twisted, wicked grin spread across his face. “It’ll be more fun this way, anyway!”
Gloria gasped for breath and gripped Seth’s wrists, trying to pull them back. “Seth…” she wheezed, but only The Lady’s dark eyes glittered back at her.
Her heart roared in her ears, and her chest felt heavy as her lungs screamed for air. She squeaked and struggled to continue fighting, but her arms felt like they were weighed down by iron.
Gloria’s vision blurred, and she trembled as memories of Father’s drunken fits floated into her mind, but Seth’s face began to replace Father’s bloodshot eyes.
Tears came to Gloria’s eyes as she tried to force the image away. No! He’s not here! It’s not Seth! It’s her! It’s all her!
The Lady peered through Seth’s eyes and cackled. “This has happened to you before, hasn’t it?” The Lady threw Seth’s head back and laughed, her cackles echoing off the dark walls. “What poetic irony!” she howled.
Seth’s black eyes glittered with mad delight. “I wish you could hear him…” The Lady sighed as Seth’s hands tightened their grip. Gloria’s heart began to slow. “Feel his spirit giving into darkness… Ripe for me to finally take him!”
Gloria’s vision blurred and her hands began to grow limp and slip from his. Is this it? She thought distantly, gazing into the vile black pits. Memories of Seth flooded her mind. His smile, his kindness, his strength….
I wish I could see his eyes...the edges of her vision began to blacken. Just one more time…
Then Seth’s hands loosened just a bit. Fresh air trickled into her lungs, and Gloria coughed. As she did, the cord for the talisman shifted around her neck.
“Oh, no, no, my dear,” The Lady cooed. “You don’t get to succumb to death that quickly. This must be slow, or it won’t work quite right. Darling Seth needs to be completely broken!” The black eyes widened in delight. “And what better way to do that than to make him watch his own hands destroy what he loves most?”
Then Seth’s hands closed around her throat again, this time gripping around the cord of the talisman as well.
As soon as The Lady touched the cord, she shrieked, and Seth’s hands jerked back, releasing his grip. Gloria took a gasping breath and lay on the ground dazed. Cold, dank air filled her lungs, and her vision began to clear.
“What was that?” The Lady cried.
Still dazed, Gloria blinked and slowly looked up to see Seth’s eyes darken. His eyes locked onto the cord around her neck.
She found it! Gloria struggled to move, but she couldn’t.
“What are you hiding?” The Lady scowled, and Seth’s hands lunged towards Gloria’s neckline, gripping the hem, but before The Lady could tear it, Seth’s hands froze, trembling.
What…?
His hands let go and shakily pulled back. Gloria blinked, finally returning to herself, and looked up to see brilliant blue eyes fighting against hideous black.
Seth! Relief washed over Gloria. She blinked away tears that rolled down her cheeks. “Oh Seth…” she sobbed. “Please help…!”
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Seth trembled as he fought to pull his hands away from Gloria’s throat. Whatever The Lady had touched a moment before had shattered the walls of his mental cage in a white-blue light.
The sudden freedom was overwhelming, but Seth quickly shook off the feeling and sprinted down the dark corridor of his mind towards the iron curtain that separated him from his body.
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You’ve tormented her long enough! he thought, successfully pulling his hands away from Gloria. His heart twisted when he saw tears pouring down her cheeks.
He could feel The Lady reaching through the iron curtain to pull him away. You’re not going to hurt her again! I won’t let you!
The Lady’s hand reached through and dragged him through the curtain, then tossed him down the mental passage. I’ll deal with you later! She growled, then turned her attention back to Gloria.
Seth looked up and saw his hands shake Gloria violently. “Where is it?” The Lady screamed. “You have something! What is it? I thought it was just you, but clearly I was wrong!”
Gloria choked back a sob and shook her head. “No!” she sobbed. “No! I won’t give it to you!”
Seth scrambled to his feet and tried to run down the mental passage to the iron curtain, but the floor turned to mush and sucked at his feet, slowing him.
Gloria! he cried, pulling at his feet. I’m coming! He wrenched a leg free and slogged towards the curtain.
Suddenly, there was a scream and a horrifying rip. Seth looked up to see Gloria’s neckline ripped back just enough to reveal a necklace with a crudely carved pendant. The engraved runes glowed like blue embers, and Seth felt a holy aura emanating from it.
The Lady lurched his body back in fear. “Where did you get that, you miserable little mudsprite?” she snarled. Then his hand drew his dagger and tipped the point under Gloria’s chin.
Seth’s heart stopped, and he watched Gloria’s face pale as she sat frozen in place.
“Take it off and toss it away.” The Lady demanded.
Seth gritted his teeth and pushed through the muck. I have to get to her!
“Now!”
Gloria trembled and slowly began to slip the cord from her neck.
Seth could almost touch the iron curtain now. No! he cried vainly. Don’t take it off! It’s the only thing keeping her… Suddenly, an idea struck him.
He pushed aside the curtain and, with one final grunt, he heaved his top half through.
Seth blinked and saw through his own eyes again. He looked down at Gloria and fought against The Lady’s grip on his hands, trying to pull the dagger away from Gloria’s throat.
“Gloria!” he cried, desperately meeting her eyes. “Put the necklace on me!”
There was a shriek behind him. What are you doing? The Lady screeched, and Seth felt her try to drag him from the iron curtain.
Saving the woman I love! Seth shot back, then he grunted and kicked against the grip, gaining an inch inside the iron curtain.
“Gloria!” he cried, the dagger shaking in his hand.
Gloria shook and stared at the dagger point. “I can’t! She’ll—
“Do it!” Seth shouted. “I’ll worry about the dagger! Just get the necklace on me!”
The Lady renewed her grip on Seth and dragged him out of the iron curtain. His hand seized up, and the dagger pricked Gloria’s throat. Gloria shrieked and tried to pull away.
No! Seth cried, trying to wriggle out of her grip.
I’ll do worse next time if you keep fighting me! The Lady snarled at him.
Go to hell! Seth raged. Then he twisted out of The Lady’s grip and pulled his torso through the iron curtain again. As soon as his hand was his own, Seth pulled back the dagger and tossed it away from him.
The knife sailed through the air before clattering to the obsidian floor, the sharp iron echoing through the chamber.
“Gloria!” Seth panted. “The necklace!” Gloria reached her shaking hands to the cord and slipped it off her neck.
The Lady screamed at him and clawed at Seth like a raging animal. Seth gripped the threshold of the curtain, trying to hold on with the meager strength he had left. Come on, Gloria!
He watched his hands twitch and reach for Gloria’s throat. He gritted his teeth and tried to pull them back. “Hurry!” he cried—his grip was slipping.
“I’m trying!” Gloria cried, a few tears trailing down her face. Her shaking hands lifted the cord towards Seth’s head.
The Lady jerked his head back, and Gloria dropped the necklace on the floor next to her. She frantically patted around her for the necklace.
“Your left!” Seth shouted, his voice cracking. “It’s to your left!”
You’re mine! The Lady screeched behind him. Mine, you hear me! Mine! With a violent yank, Seth lost his grip on the iron curtain and was tossed into the hall.
The Lady laughed maniacally. Now to deal with that troublesome little mudsprite! she cackled.
Seth looked up in terror; he’d failed her! Gloria was going to––!
But just as The Lady reached out his hands towards Gloria’s throat, Gloria slipped the talisman over his head.
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Elias threw himself against the wall again. He panted and growled. It’s no use! He hit the ice wall with his fist. It won’t budge!
He wiped sweat from his brow and peered through the ice wall again. He saw the glint of a dagger and saw Master Seth’s body prick Gloria’s throat.
Gloria’s muffled scream came through the wall and pierced Elias’s heart. “Gloria!” he cried desperately. I need to get to her! I need to get to them!
Before he could make another move, The Lady’s voice roared in his mind. Alright novice! she snapped. I hope you’re ready to die!
Elias heard that same creak he heard earlier behind him. He whipped back and saw the room moving.
No! He realized in terror—Shrinking!
Elias slammed on the ice wall. “Gloria!” he cried. “Master Seth! Help!” In the blue glow of the walls, he caught something metallic sailing through the air before clanging to the floor in the dark.
The Lady burst into a fit of crazed laughter that echoed in the boy’s mind, filling him with dread. Mother! Mother! she sang. We want jam!
The walls closed in on Elias, trapping his legs in place, slowly numbing them. I can’t move! Elias panicked and wriggled his arms up to his chest, trying to push against the wall in front of him. Too close! It’s too close!
Pluck the fruit and squish it in your hand!
Droplets of water began to trickle down the wall from where Elias’s panicked breaths formed condensation; they soaked into his habit as they pinned his head in place, and for a moment, he was sure his ribs were going to crack. Father Verdas is going to be upset when I don’t come home…
Stir it, stir it till it’s sweet and red!
Tears began to roll down Elias’s cheeks, and he sniffled. Master Seth… Gloria… He let out a helpless sob. “Crim! I don’t wanna die…”
The Lady’s manic singing suddenly stopped, and a flash of white-blue light burst throughout the temple, blinding Elias. The walls paused their torment, and a hideous scream tore through the temple air. Elias squeezed his eyes shut, but the majestic light pierced through his eyelids.
There was a loud crack, and the crushing walls receded, flooding fresh air into Elias’s lungs. He gasped and blinked his eyes open to see the wall in front of him webbed with hundreds of thin cracks. Now was his chance! He could escape!
Elias held his aching side, and with a grunt, he rammed his shoulder into the wall, crashing through to the obsidian floor, ice scattering like shards of glass.
He groaned and tried to pick himself up when he heard Gloria scream. “Seth! Oh Crim, save us!”
Elias looked up and saw Gloria pulling her ankles from a pair of shattered ice shackles. He followed her gaze and recoiled in horror when he saw Master Seth’s body convulsing on the floor, foam spilling from his mouth.
“Master!” Elias cried, pulling himself upright. Then he saw it—around Master Seth’s neck was a glowing pendant.
The talisman! Hope rose in Elias’s heart. It’s working!
Suddenly a feral howl burst from Master Seth’s body, and a glowing crack formed in the talisman. Elias’s face fell, and panic replaced hope—the talisman was breaking; it wouldn’t be able to hold her for long!
“Elias!”
Elias’s eyes snapped back to Gloria, who scrambled over to Master Seth’s side. She looked up at him and pointed across the room. “Get the heart!” Then she started writing golden sigils in the air.
That’s right! Elias followed Gloria’s point to a pedestal with a black pulsing mound of flesh. There! Her heart!
He jumped to his feet, then fell to his knees as sharp pins and needles shot through his legs and his ribs ached. No! I need to get there! Elias pulled himself to his feet and painfully stumbled across the room before collapsing on the pedestal.
The hideous frost-glazed heart quivered as the boy leaned on the table. He gritted his teeth and put out his right hand. “You’ve tormented my friends long enough!” he cried, then grabbed the hideous heart.
As soon as he touched it, Elias felt as though he’d sprung a trap. A dark cloud burst out of the heart and engulfed his hand. Elias cried out in agony as The Lady’s feral shrieks filled his ears. Fire and ice sliced through his hand to the bone, scorching it from the inside out.
A wave of nausea crashed over him, and Elias watched in horror as skin peeled away, revealing a blackened hand underneath.
Put it back! His body screamed at him. Elias’s grip on the heart wavered—torn between holding on or letting go. They were so close! So close to ridding Dunnamel of her evil and freeing Master Seth.
“Seth!” Gloria cried. “Fight her! Please!”
Elias painfully lifted his eyes and saw Gloria trying to calm Master Seth’s twitching body.
Elias gritted his teeth. I’m not going to falter now! I can’t! He gripped the heart tight and fought to raise his arm high.
“Crim, give me strength!” As soon as the prayer left his lips, Elias hurled the heart to the floor with all his might. “Go back to the abyss, you wretched witch, and leave my friends alone!”
For a fraction of a second, there was complete silence as the frozen heart raced to the ground. Then, the only sound that could be heard was shattering glass as The Lady’s heart splintered into a million pieces on the obsidian floor.