"There are two souls occupying this body," Belgemine said.

"How is that possible," replied a male voice. "No mind can contain two souls and live."

"Yes, it would kill a lesser human in hours, the strongest would last maybe a week at most."

Chloe the Paladin stirred as she gained control of the body. Her arms were tied behind her back and her lungs burnt.

She looked around and saw a man dressed in peasants clothes. He was standing next to a woman whose face she knew well.

The witch nudged Chloe with the end of a long stick.

“What is your name?” she asked.

The Paladin opened her mouth to speak and instead began to cough uncontrollably.

“Your name?” repeated the witch.

“Chloe Porter,” she said, her voice sounding harsh in her own ears. “I'm a Paladin of the First Order.” She coughed again. “I know who you are, Belgemine, Wax Witch of Glenhollow’s Coven.”

The witch inhaled sharply, “So I am speaking to the second soul.” She tapped the ground with her long stick. "How is it that you know so much about me? My name is known by many, but only a handful, know about Glenhollow’s Coven."

The Paladin strained against her bonds, and gave up when she realized they were too tight.

“We met during the second siege on Astraeus.”

"The second?" asked the witch. "But there hasn't been a first."

"Not yet," said the Paladin. "Garrick of the Fifth Order was your apprentice."

"Hmm, so you know little Garrick. How is he?"

"Dead."

Belgemine eyes widened, "That is disturbing news. Were you the one that killed him?"

"No. It was Malice."

The witch let out a start. "Malice?" she whispered. She shook her head. "Why should I believe a word you say?"

Chloe shifted in her seat, trying to get comfortable, "In my timeline, Garrick's apprentice Talasin brought you in to help during the coming war. The spirit of your husband and of your five sons aided us in gathering vital intel on the demon army."

Belgemine's hands clenched into fists, "You know about the spirits of my family."

Chloe's eyes narrowed. "I am of the Order, your conjurations are an abomination to me and everything the Order stands for, but I am not here to judge you."

"Why are you here, Order child?"

“I was sent back in time to warn of Malice's return.”

"If what you say is true, then how is that possible? The Prime Evils were imprisoned by the goddess herself, no mortal could free them."

Chloe nodded, "It took the Order three years after the first attack to discover what really happened. Belladeon imprisoned her three children in a world with no magic, rendering their powers all but useless. She then placed a ward on each of them so that their true nature would be sealed away forever."

"What other world? You speak in riddles, child."

"You have the evil eye," said Chloe. "Gaze into my past and see for yourself."

The witch frowned and looked at the farmer.

The man reached out his hand to grasp the witches, but his hand slipped right through hers.

He smiled sadly, "Do what you must, my dear wife. If this woman speaks the truth, then we are not safe, not in this life or the next."

Belgemine nodded at her husband, "Very well. My sight will prove your story one way or the other, but even if you speak the truth, you will not be allowed to leave. Your mere existence is a threat to the living…"

She pointed a bony finger directly between Chloe's eyes, "I will not lie, this is going to hurt."

Chloe felt power flow into her as she closed her eyes and turned her head away from the witch.

And then she felt the world shift.

----------------------------------------

A scream tore through the air and filled Chloe's ears. She opened her eyes and gasped, the witch was gone, and she was standing in the ruins of Bevale castle surrounded by five corpses. Around her waist was a cord of black energy connecting her to the witch.

Chloe knelt down, touching the forehead of each of her companions. Talasin Ward, Evelyn Mews, Theomar the Giant, Sylvia Gremlock and lastly Uriz Dominus.

They had given their lives to send her back in time to save the world, and she had failed them all. She'd saved Hope instead of Cassadin, and that moment of selfishness had cost them everything.

Chloe took a deep breath to steady herself and forced her eyes closed again.

There was nothing but darkness.

And then she heard a voice, "This can't be!"

Something jerked on the cord around her waist and Chloe reappeared in the chair with the witch standing next to her with a look of concern on her wrinkled face.

"You stood at the end of the world," said the witch. "How is this possible?"

The Paladin forced back tears and said with a shaky voice, "The crown of the dead king granted me passage to change a single mistake. One that could set right the course of Ivalice."

"Did you succeed?"

Chloe shook her head, "I…” Her voice faltered. “I failed. My actions only made things worse.”

The witch sank back into a chair and stared at the ground. Silent minutes passed before the witch looked up again, and said, “I am old, my life almost spent, but I am not dead yet. If there is a chance at victory, even if only for the generations to come, then I will fight.”

She met Chloe’s eyes. “Your body will not sustain two souls much longer. I must exorcize your past self. So you can gain control of this body."

Chloe shook her head, “No. My time is over. Please save my past self if you can. This is her life, and I would not take what little she has left from her.”

"That would be foolish,” said the witch, her voice harsh. “Her mind is more monster than human.”

A thin smile appeared on the Paladins pale lips. "I have watched her from the shadows and seen her struggles and her pain. She has become strong. I can't kill her now, not after all she has done."

"You would sacrifice your mind for hers? I cannot let you do that. The information you contain could be the difference between winning or losing this war."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Owen cleared his voice and the two women’s eyes fixed on him.

He smiled sheepishly. “I am no magic wielder or holy man,” he said. “But is there not a way you could merge the two souls?”

Belgemine looked at her husband, who just shrugged.

She frowned, "That seems…unwise. We could lose them both."

“I'm dying anyway,” Chloe said, “What have we got to lose?”

Belgemine stood up and shook her head at her husband, who was pretending to study a butterfly that had landed on a nearby flower.

“It has been many years since you were right, dear husband of mine,” she smiled as she said this. “I think you might be due. I will need to confirm with my sisters, though. A ritual of this magnitude would take the full coven.”

----------------------------------------

Chloe's bonds fell away, and she stretched and flexed her newly freed muscles, "Thank you," she muttered.

Belgemine led her inside of her hut. It was larger inside than she had expected. There were tables and chairs, a large bed and several shelves stacked high with books, jars of alchemical reagents and candles. There was also a small kitchen area with cured meats and garlands of dried herbs hanging from hooks.

On the mantle above the fireplace were six red candles wrapped in human hair, one of which was lit.

"Sit down," said Belgemine. "I will send a crow to my sisters, but it could be a day before I get a response."

Chloe the Paladin slumped onto a chair. She was tired and bruised. She was not used to being in control of her body anymore, and she found it exhausting.

“Rest child, the demon’s bane I used to subdue you will wear out soon and your old self will reclaim your body. It will need to feed soon. I will send Owen to hunt for you."

----------------------------------------

When Chloe the zombie awoke, she was tied to a bed in an unfamiliar room. It was dark outside and the room was cool and quiet.

She tried to sit up, but found her arms bound behind her back. She struggled against the ropes.

There was nobody in the room, and the only sound she could hear was a slow drip of water dripping somewhere in the distance.

She could tell that she had eaten recently.

[Hunger 53%]

Who did I eat?

She racked her memories, trying to piece together what had happened. The last thing she remembered was an old woman and green flames. Had she killed the woman and eaten her? She hoped not, she still had questions for the witch.

She strained against her bonds again, trying to loosen them enough to reach her amulet. But her arms were too tight.

She sat still, trying to think. She was tied to a bed, but she was untouched. She had been burnt, but there were no wounds on her arms.

I'm a prisoner, but they don't want me dead.

She looked around the room. It was a simple stone room. There was a small window with a curtain pulled shut.

She heard voices coming from outside. Voices talking and laughing.

"Help me!" she shouted.

The voices fell silent and she heard footsteps approaching.

The door creaked open and a ray of moon light shone on someone standing in the doorway.

"Quiet, child. You're safe," said a soft voice.

The door opened further and Belgemine entered wearing a robe of black lace. "Be brave, child, the ritual is about to begin."

----------------------------------------

In the darkness of the night, Belgemine carried a lantern down a narrow path. By its dim glow, Chloe saw that she was walking through a forest.

Her arms were still bound, and her strength was gone. It took everything she had just to keep walking. She asked Belgemine what was happening, but the witch said not a word.

Chloe gave up questioning the old woman, instead she walked in silence, her eyes darting around looking for a chance to escape. She had a sickening feeling that she wasn't going to like whatever came next.

Chloe crouched low as they passed under a tree whose branches bent towards each other, forming a tight tunnel. Hundreds of crows called out as the pair walked beneath the ancient trees.

It wasn't long before they reached a clearing. At the center stood a circle of women dressed in green robes. A large pole was erected in the center of the ring of women.

Chloe’s eyes moved over the statuesque forms, but none would meet her eyes, each of them stared straight ahead, unmoving.

"Who comes to us this night?" Belgemine's husky voice rang out.

One by one, the women raised their hands and started chanting. "One who seeks the truth of the heart; one who seeks to know her place in the world."

Belgemine fastened Chloe to a pole in the center of the circle and gave her a tight-lipped smile before stepping back.

"Whose face shall we see when the veil is lifted from the soul?" said Belgemine. "Whose name shall rise up to greet the morning sun? Whose countenance shall be revealed?"

"Chloe, daughter of Amber," said the women.

Chloe tried to move her head but found it stuck fast. A spell held her still. Her chains clanked as she shifted her weight.

A strange tingling sensation washed over her. She felt like invisible hands were rearranging her soul, prodding and pulling it in ways that felt wrong.

Shit, are they going to burn me as a witch?

Belgemine drew a dagger, and the six women all followed her lead, drawing daggers of their own.

She watched the scene unfold from the corner of her eye. Her mind was drifting. She knew something bad was about to happen.

The scent of blood filled the air as the witch sliced open her hand and stepped towards Chloe.

"Blood of my blood," said Belgemine as she pressed two bloodied fingertips to Chloe's eyelids.

She stepped back and placed a lit candle in the sand beneath Chloe's feet.

"Two become one," said the other witches.

A warm sensation filled Chloe's mind. She could feel her memories trickling into her consciousness. Images of a life she had never had flashed through her mind. Her head resting on the warm chest of a naked man. His strong arms wrapped around her as he held her close and kissed her neck.

The vision faded, and a second witch stepped forward and held her bloodied hands over Chloe's ears.

"Bone of my bone" said the witch, and she placed her own candle at Chloe's feet.

Chloe's vision blurred as words melted into each other and the world seemed to tilt and spin. Her nails extended, and the world went red as her monster side fought for control.

The sound of wings flapped overhead and crows cawed. Candlelight flickered all around her and through the haze of smoke and madness she saw the golden eyes of Onyx, her familiar, watching her from the circle's edge.

"Help me," she whispered.

Through her link with the rabbit, a single emotion pulsed and warmth spread through her chest.

It said that everything was going to be alright.

----------------------------------------

Belgemine raised her dagger and cut through a lock of Chloe's hair. She tied the hair with a bunch of dried herbs and held it over the candle flames.

As soon as the hair burst into flames, Chloe felt intense pressure behind her eyes. It felt like they were about to pop out of her skull.

“Let what was lost be found,” said Belgemine.

The witches echoed her words.

“Let what was hidden be revealed.”

“Let what was two become one.”

The candle flames turned blue and rose into the sky.

A loud yawning sound filled the air, and the sky sagged low like a pregnant woman’s belly. Tiny black rifts appeared in the sky all about her, and grotesque arms reached to her through the portals.

"What's happening?" shouted a witch.

The sky ripped open and a pair of bone white hands with skulls on each knuckle emerged through the rift. The hands pulled the rift apart and chaotic energy poured out of it like puss out of a septic wound.

An eye appeared through the rift. It scanned across the assembled faces and then settled on Chloe.

“My vessel is whole,” a feminine voice boomed across the sky.

"Witches of Glenhollow, on me!" Belgemine yelled.

The old woman raised her hand and the full coven assembled behind her, each one laying their hands on their leader’s shoulder.

“By bone broken and blood spilled, by semen sewn and tears shed, by nature’s touch and heaven’s grip, we banish you Queen of Air and Lady of Chaos.”

Cries went up as a witch fell to the ground clutching her chest.

Chloe saw the woman's Scarlet hair turn bright white as the young witch aged before her eyes.

A second witch collapsed, foaming from the mouth and screaming in gut-wrenching agony.

A short, dark skinned witch was lifted off the ground and flung across the yard. She hit the earth hard with a bone crunching thud and rolled several times before coming to a stop.

Her body was twisted and contorted in unnatural ways. She looked like a doll that someone had glued an arm onto the wrong way round.

All around, was chaos and death as witches fought for their lives against something great and terrible.

Chloe screamed in agony as the power of Chaos engulfed her. It felt like she was being pulled into the rift. She tried to scream, but no sound came out.

"Child, don't give in!" Belgemine's voice could be heard over the madness.

An explosion rocked the woods and the sky burned with brilliant light. But Chloe resisted. In her head she heard thousands of voices like tiny flies.

“You are mine,” the voice repeated in a jumbled tangle of madness.

From the corner of Chloe’s eye she saw Belegemine, standing upright, a crooked staff pointed at the sky, her gray hair dancing in the wind. The witches chant mingled with the death screams of her coven.

A shrill whistle rend the sky and the flock of crows took flight as the rifts snapped shut one after another.

The final rift closed, taking with it the unholy spirit of Chaos. The blue flames extinguished.

Chloe staggered to her feet as her bonds were broken.

"We should go," said the old woman. "It looks like this is over... for now."

----------------------------------------