Full Circle (Avalon: Web of Magic #12) (13 page)

“H
OW DOES IT
feel to complete your quest?” The sorceress’s voice was as sharp as her heels echoing off the broken tiles. Her robe gleamed with ornate symbols. “Your key to enter the Gates of Avalon was truly inspired.” In the eerie half light, mist pulsed around her like shifting phantoms.

Emily caught flashes of red eyes, only they didn’t belong to the sorceress. Hideous teeth burst from the mist, snapping at her before vanishing back to smoke. Dozens of other shadow creatures swarmed close to their mistress.

The Dark Sorceress smiled. “My
bondeds
are eager to meet yours.”

Lyra crouched by Kara, hackles raised, lips pulled back in a fierce snarl. The blazing star’s bright aura was so twisted, Emily feared she might never bring her friend back.

The sorceress’s emerald eyes settled on the blond girl’s shaking, huddled body. “I thought the blazing star would become a dark mage first. It’s in her blood. But it doesn’t matter now.” She gazed into the distance. “And the warrior…”

“Where is she?” Emily demanded.

Perfect white teeth glinted between ruby lips. “Shadow magic runs wild in her.”

Deep purple swirled into Emily’s jewel as she caught a dark reflection through the trees, like a shadow.

“Even with your skills, you will
all
succumb to Avalon’s power.” The sorceress trailed a hand through the air, gathering ripples of glinting green in her palm.

“You can’t control me!” Emily cried defiantly.

But the words of the ancient mermaids swam in the healer’s mind.
You bring darkness upon us. You will kill us all!
She felt dizzy, saw colors bending around her in shimmering waves.

“She’s not alone anymore!” The brave ferret tried to stare down the sorceress, anger sparking in his brown eyes.

She merely sneered at Ozzie. “You’d think the Fairimentals would have selected a more suitable form for you, elf. Alive or dead, there is no escaping the true meaning of the prophecy. Only dark mages can rule Avalon.”

“No.” Emily refused to believe that. But there was so much dark power here, she could barely comprehend its depth.

“Take a good look. This is what you have fought for.” The sorceress gestured at the devastated landscape. “A city of broken dreams, lost hopes, stolen secrets. The only magic here is dark magic created by dark mages.” The sorceress moved closer to them. “With the magic of Avalon, a dynasty of dark mages will rule the web forever.”

“Join us, healer,” a second voice crackled. “Finish what we started.”

Emily whirled. Suspended between crystal shards, the Spider Witch’s bulky form sat in a green web. Eight legs twitching, she spun Avalon’s magic into a large, green cocoon upon the plaza floor. Coils of energy whipped around the cocoon and whatever lay inside it.

“Avalon was cut off from the web when the gates were closed,” the witch rasped. “But now, our new web will flow with magic once again.”

Emily’s vision allowed her to pierce through the outer layer of the cocoon. Instantly, she recognized the ancient stone well inside the witch’s weaving. Glowing strands stretched from the well through the very floor of the city, connecting to the magic web. Not so long ago, Emily herself had woven the Otherworlds to the Spider Witch’s web. This weaving was identical.

All at once, the healer understood what must have happened, why Avalon had been missing for so long. Just like the Otherworlds, it had been severed from the web. Once upon a time, pure, good magic had flowed from Avalon, reaching all worlds. But something terrible had happened. The city had been destroyed, its magic twisted. The whole web would have been poisoned if the crystal city had remained attached. Whoever cut Avalon off from the web had done so to keep the dark, destructive power sealed inside.

Emily, Adriane, and Kara had believed finding the legendary home of magic would be enough to heal the web and help their animal friends. But opening the gates had unleashed an ancient evil that was never supposed to have been set free.

The prophecy had not been meant as a call to action.

It was a warning.

Emily’s knees felt weak. She and her friends had made it possible for the Dark Sorceress to enter Avalon. And after thousands of years, the Spider Witch had just reconnected Avalon to the web.

But the malevolent forces needed more.

“You will give me magic.” The sorceress turned icy green eyes to Emily. “Just as I taught you.”

“You’re crazy if you think we’ll help you!” Ozzie moved toward the sorceress, but Emily held her friend back.

The sorceress snarled at Emily. “Take the magic of your bondeds and complete your transformation, healer.”

The dark magic called to Emily like a haunting melody. She had used it many times, and the sorceress knew better than anyone how difficult it was to resist its power. Emily could feel the pulse of animals beating through her. Thousands across the web had put their trust in her. She would do anything to keep them safe. She shot a glance at Kara, her friend lost in the darkness.

“Give me the magic, healer!” the sorceress hissed.

Helpless, Emily grasped at precious tendrils of animal magic, letting them drift through her fingers, soft as gossamer threads.

“Emily!” Ozzie’s frantic voice suddenly sounded far away. “You have to resist her. Call your paladin, hurry!”

Emily understood. Her only hope was to summon the one creature bound to help her—even if it meant his own life would be in danger.

“Indi!” Emily whispered.

Fierce light illuminated the courtyard. A creature had materialized, a purple unicorn. Powerful magic streamed from his horn and swirled around Emily, forming a protective shield. Instantly the healer’s jewel shone brighter.

The sorceress was not intimidated. Her scornful laughter echoed over the city. “Oh, this is perfect.”

She waved a hand, summoning her shadow creatures. Dozens of them surged over the glittering shield, tearing away at Indi’s elemental magic.

Then the sorceress locked onto Emily’s rainbow jewel, trying to steal the magic of the animals connected to the healer’s key.

“Hang on, Emily.”
The brave paladin protected his bonded even as his deep blue eyes flashed with pain.

With all their might, Lyra and Ozzie tried to help Indi strengthen his shield.

But the sorceress was too strong. With a tremendous tug, she grabbed for the magic and pulled it inside Avalon.

A sphere of golden light whirled through the haze like a glittering jewel.

“Well done, healer,” the sorceress exulted. Her shadow creatures screeched, snapping at this new source of magic.

But suddenly the glowing ball resisted, forcing the sorceress to lurch forward. Eyes wide, she tried to draw it closer, but something was stopping her. Snarling, she gave a final yank.

An animal sprang from the light, its white hide aglow with blazing magic. A mighty unicorn landed between Emily and the sorceress and rose up on his hind legs, his crystal horn reflecting magic like sparkles of rain.

“You!” the sorceress gasped. “You have been a constant thorn in my side. But you will not escape me this time!”

“It seems you’ve gotten everything you wanted, Miranda.” A clear voice spoke from within the ball of light.

The sorceress stepped back. “What spirit is this?”

“Don’t you recognize me, sister?” The shimmering magic alighted next to the unicorn. A beautiful young woman took form, long golden hair rippling down her back, a flowing white dress glittering along her ghostly figure.

She was an exact double of the sorceress.

“There’s two of them?” Ozzie asked in shock.

“Lucinda!” The sorceress stepped back. “Impossible, you… I—”

“You killed me? In a way you did. But I have been freed from your spell.”

Next to Lucinda and her unicorn paladin, another form shimmered into being, a handsome young man, shining with magic.

“It is over, Miranda,” Henry Gardener said.

“You do surprise me, Henry.” The sorceress narrowed her eyes. “But your tricks cannot help you here.”

“
No!” With a terrible shriek, the Spider Witch leaped free of her web, legs twitching menacingly. Her mandibles clicked as she spoke angrily to the sorceress. “You told me she was dead!”

“She is dead to me,” the sorceress replied, cold as ice.

“You lied to me!” The Spider Witch sprang at the sorceress, eight legs ready to tear her apart.

The sorceress fired bolts of green at the witch, slamming her to the ground. The monstrous creature, once a mage, lay quivering at Lucinda’s feet, a swollen mass of mutated flesh. “Lucinda, forgive me,” the Spider Witch cried.

The Fairy Queen knelt and hugged her lost friend, trying to calm her inconsolable grief.

“You know better than anyone, Miranda.” Lucinda’s gaze shifted from her sister to the weeping form at her feet. “Sure as night turns to day, everything changes in its time.”

A black and silver mistwolf appeared at Gardener’s side, eyes glowing with a fierce light.

“Chain!” The Spider Witch could barely contain the shock of seeing her former paladin. She had bound the ghost wolf to her, but the spirit pack had broken her spell and set him free.

“It is over, Sylvan,”
the mighty spirit packleader spoke. “
You belong with us now.”

Thunder rocked overhead as thousands of spirit wolves broke across the skies in a wave of silver light, descending upon the Spider Witch, pulling apart the twisted red magic of her aura.

Emily watched, amazed, as a bright new pattern began to take shape.

The witch’s bulky body seemed to collapse, long spider legs vanishing, bulky thorax melting away, until all that remained was a small figure—a teenage girl. Long red hair framing her delicate face, Sylvan turned damp golden eyes to Lucinda. “I am not worthy of your forgiveness, my queen.”

Lucinda hugged her. “It is time to come home, dear friend.”

“You have always been weak, Sylvan.” The sorceress seethed with anger. “You never accepted yourself as a dark mage until
 I
showed you the way.” Magic flew from her fingers. “You have done what I require.”

Emily stared at the center of the courtyard where a single bright spot erupted in green fire. With a loud crack, the cocoon burst open, revealing what lay hidden.

Gardener’s eyes went wide. “The Well of Tears.”

Glowing strands snaked out of the well and through the very fabric of the city, as if Avalon itself was caught in a spider’s web.

Emily gasped, finally realizing what it was.

“What is that?” Ozzie asked.

“A nexus,” Emily breathed. “This well connects to every portal on the magic web.”

“The center of the web,”
Lyra said.

The sorceress gazed at the glowing well. “At my command, my creatures will harvest all the magic I desire.”

“Our quest is over, Miranda.” Sylvan called, taking her place beside Chain and Gardener.

“The circle has turned, sisters,” the sorceress snapped. “Too bad you won’t be around to see the new web.”

With a flick of her wrist, the Dark Sorceress unleashed her shadow creatures. Howling spirit wolves ripped into the monsters, but the sorceress only laughed. The dark power of Avalon blazed around her as she mocked her former friends. “Give my regards to the spirit world.”

L
UCINDA, SYLVAN, AND
Gardener stood together as the shadow creatures attacked, driven mad with hunger. The white unicorn and Chain swirled a shield to protect their bondeds, pushing the monsters back. The Spirit Pack flowed around them, snarling.

“Emily.”
Lyra’s pained green eyes looked up at the healer.
“We must help Kara.”

“Hurry, Emily.”
Indi strengthened the shield around his friends and stood close to his bonded.

Emily knelt beside Kara. In a few moments, she would be completely gone, her magic twisted beyond recognition.

“Steady, Emily,” Ozzie said, his brown eyes focused and strong. “I’m right here.”

Quickly Emily leaned over her friend and reached for her magical aura. Sheer terror forced her back as an image blasted into her mind.

Kara, alone in the storm-lashed woods, huddled against a stone wall. The Gates of Ravenswood loomed overhead, destroyed like the preserve itself.

Images of betrayal and lies flashed through Emily like lightning.

Kara stealing Lorelei’s unicorn horn.

Kara turning Phel over to the sheriff.

Kara destroying the Ravenswood Preserve in a thunderstorm of fury.

The blazing star screamed at the nightmarish horrors.

“It’s not working!” Emily sank to her knees, hands shaking.

Lyra howled in pain, feeling her bonded’s despair.

“Easy, Lyra.” Ozzie ran his paw over his friend’s neck. Emily noticed Lyra’s aura grow stronger with Ozzie’s touch.

She stared in wonder. Something had changed in Ozzie’s magic, or perhaps Ozzie himself had changed.

“Ozzie, what did you do?”

“I was just trying to help.” The ferret shuffled shyly.

“Well, whatever you’re doing keep doing it,” Emily urged.

“Gah!”

Ozzie leaped back as his magic erupted. Emily saw the dark aura surrounding Kara weaken, a fragment of pink shining through.

Kara clutched at Emily, eyes deep and frightened, glazed with tears. “I’m sorry,” she whimpered.

“No,” Emily whispered to her friend. “Kara, it’s not true.”

With the precision of a surgeon, she reached deep into Kara’s mind. Blue healing magic mixed with orange streamed over Kara. Fingers moving like a master weaver, Emily unraveled the knot of fear, pulling apart the layers of dark dreams.

Wrapped in Ozzie’s magic, Emily searched for the memories they shared. Emily’s jewel brightened to aqua as she infused her healing magic with all the love and laughter and friendship that Kara had given her.

Squeezing Kara’s hand tight, she smiled. “This is who you really are.”

Kara rushed into her bedroom, amazed to find the large orange cat lounging on her bed. Shyly, Kara accepted her extraordinary new friend. Lyra would always watch over her like a guardian angel.

Kara, wide-eyed, given the gift of the unicorn jewel from the fairy wraiths. She held it in wonder as the magic of the blazing star shone forth to heal Aldenmor.

Each memory made Kara’s aura grow stronger. Nightmares burned away as dazzling images shone through like sunlight.

Goldie bravely standing by Kara’s side, always ready to protect her bonded mage.

Ribbons of flame rushed past Kara as she opened her heart to the great fire stallion, Starfire. He had no one to love him. Now he had Kara.

An explosion erupted as a blazing ball of fire tore through the courtyard. Flames swirled into the shape of a stallion made completely of fire.

Two paladins now stood side by side in front of the mages.

An image of fluffy bunny slippers rushed through Kara’s mind.

Kara stirred, her bright blue eyes searching the faces of her friends. “Emily? Lyra? Starfire?”

“Hello, bonded.”
Starfire leaned over Kara, snuffling the blazing star’s hair.

“I had the worst dream.” Kara brushed tears from her cheeks.

“That was close, even for you.”
Lyra brushed against the blazing star.

Emily helped Kara to her feet. Her eyes went wide at the ferret standing before her.

“Ozzie!”

The ferret crossed his arms. “Just can’t stay out of trouble without me.”

A huge blast of magic rocked the courtyard. The sorceress, oblivious to what had Emily had just done, ripped away at the shield protecting her old friends.

“Lucinda!” Kara exclaimed.

The sorceress spun, surprise flashing across her pale face at the sight of Kara and Starfire.

Lucinda smiled at Kara. “I am glad to see you one last time, Kara.”

“I never forgot you,” Kara exclaimed. “How you and your unicorn helped me.”

“We were there because you needed to find us. You followed the true magic inside you. That is what makes you so powerful.”

“Once
I
followed your magic, sweet sister,” the sorceress snarled. “And
you
made me what I am.”

Lucinda smiled. “You and I are the same, sister.”

“No! We are not!” The sorceress shimmered in rage. “I have mastered transformational powers more than you could ever imagine.”

Throwing back her head, the sorceress let loose a deafening roar. Magic flew from her mouth, her eyes, her ears, shrouding everything in a dank green cloud. Bones twisting, her arms elongated, her fingers morphed into curved claws. Her face contorted in a devilish snarl as leathery wings erupted from her back. Red eyes glowed from a hideous dragon-like face. The beast that was the sorceress towered over them, long teeth gleaming, skin crackling with dark magic.

“I alone have fulfilled the destiny of Avalon.” The monster’s voice scraped like glass. “Now you shall bow before me, Lucinda!”

The monster shot a searing beam of fire at the Fairy Queen. The former mages were pushed back, their golden shield buckling under the attack. Dark magic wrapped around the ghostly bodies of the spirit wolves, slowing their movement to a crawl. Try as they might, they could not free themselves from the monster’s grasp.

Kara raised her jewel and diamond magic sparked down her arms.

Emily stopped her friend. “Kara, help me find Adriane and Dreamer!”

Kara pulled back sharply, suddenly aware the warrior and her bonded weren’t with them.

“Where are they?”

Emily swung her jewel. A blaze of shadowy magic raced across the ground.

The demon rose to its full height, preparing to unleash another barrage of twisted magic.

“You never understood,” Lucinda told her sister sadly. “True magic can only be given.”

The air exploded as two black wolves suddenly leaped from the mist.

Dreamer landed on the monster’s back and sunk his teeth deep into the tough hide. The other wolf ripped at spiked legs, growling in rage.

The demon roared with surprise and swung on the wolves, tearing them away. But it was enough time for Lucinda, Gardener, and Sylvan, backed by the spirit pack, to pin the writhing monster under a blanket of gold.

Two wolves snarled as they turned fierce animal eyes toward the mages.

“Dreamer!” Ozzie yelled, then stopped. “Wait, who’s the other wolf?”

Shadow magic whirled as the wolves shifted in and out of reality.

Emily reached out to the mysterious black wolf—and found a familiar aura.

Kara’s hands flew to her mouth. “Adriane.”