I heard hushed voices as I started to wake up. As soon as I made the slightest movement, a sharp pain shot through my leg. Still dazed, I kept my eyes closed. A jumble of thoughts and moments flashed through my brain. I remembered everything down to the slightest detail. I open my eyes to bright lights and the smell of bleach. I struggle for a few minutes to sit without causing too much pain to my injury.
I shook my head gently, trying to erase my drowsiness. I looked around the room. I was indeed staying in a hospital-like room. I must still be on the estate. I had the urge to get up and leave when I remembered my injury. Ugh, why me, world?!
Carefully, I made the tiniest effort to move my leg. I was shocked to learn that it didn't hurt at all. Wait, wasn't it hurting just a couple seconds ago?! I audibly gulped. Gingerly, I swung my feet out and placed them on the floor. Taking a deep breath, I stood up. I felt all the blood rushing from my head and nearly fell over. After steadying myself, I exited the strange room and out into the corridor.
'I swear, these hallways will be the death of me.' I set off and rounded a couple corners until I encountered a room with the light on. Relief flooded through me. I knocked on the door, waiting for someone to appear. I heard rustling and a couple of thumps and some grumbling before the door was opened. A very flushed looking Wren opened the door. Immediately, she let out a surprised yelp.
"Ah! It's a ghost!" she cried.
I looked down at myself and realized why she had said that. My skin had somehow changed tones and it was now so pale that it was almost white. I gently touched my hair and almost shrieked when I saw that my hair was now a ghostly white.
It glowed even more in the moonlight. I also realized that I was wearing a plain white dress, tying my appearance of a ghost all together. Suddenly, a little plan emerged in my mind. I felt myself smiling at the thought. Immediately, I straightened my back and I sharply glared at the deeply frightened Wren. Her ears flattened to her head and her tail was tucked closely to her body. She paled even further and let out a blood-curdling scream.
Through the open door, I saw everyone else rushing out to see what the matter was. My smile widened. I quickly composed myself, preparing to play my part. Wren turned and ran out of the doorway. Astrid and Kalina saw me next and they both screamed, nearly fainting. 'How scary do I look?'
Gram and the boys all paled in fright, especially Theo. Poor Theo ran and hid behind Talia, hugging her tightly. The only one who seemed unfazed by the whole situation was Talia. She stood staring at me with an arched eyebrow and arms crossed.
"You guys are all wimps." she said. Next thing she did surprised all of us. She walked up to me and frowned. "How are you able to walk?"
I didn't answer. "I don't know if you know this, but your hair is white and your eyes are an electric turquoise," she said.
My eyes widened and I unconsciously touched my eyes. Talia still continued her examination in the midst of my confusion. "Seriously, how are you able to walk? The guy shot you in the leg."
"I am just as confused as you." I croaked. My voice was hoarse from lack of water. Now, everyone's eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
"You're Amara?!" Wren cried. She had come back in full battle armor, holding a very sharp sword. She looked at me and at the sword. Immediately, she blushed, clearly embarrassed that she was even holding a sword. She hid behind her back and smiled guiltily. I almost burst out laughing at her embarrassed face.
"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry for screaming in your ear!" she said. Talia came over and gave me a glass of water. I gulped it down gratefully. Next, she handed me a mirror. What I saw nearly made me drop the mirror. A young girl stared back at me. She had slightly wavy white hair that seemed to glow and skin as pale as her hair. She had electric turquoise eyes that gazed into your soul and red-pink lips that stood out even more on her snow white skin.
"What happened to me?!" I screamed. "Is this permanent?!"
Talia scanned me with her eyes narrowed and eyebrows scrunched together. "I am not sure. Although, it seems like you have awakened a part of your other half."
"My what?" I said, slightly dazed. Talia sighed. "Your other half, you know, like, your half human and half whatever."
"Oh yeah," I said, my voice growing quieter. "I forgot about that."
Talia continued. "Anyways, it seems like you have gained a part of power from your other half. You are half human and you look like a human and act like one, but you still have another half. For example, Kalina is half harpy which is why she has wings. She has extremely good eyesight and hearing. This comes from her other half."
"What are you?" I blurted. I just had to know. I'm a curious soul, ok! She blew out a breath, clearly annoyed that I had interrupted her.
"I'm half fairy." she said solemnly. "Please do not interrupt me again."
My eyes widened in surprise which earned me a sharp glare. "Now, we still don't know exactly what other half you are, but it must be powerful to be able to heal you and alter your entire appearance. Hm, this is interesting!" Her eyes shined with an unknown passion. "I love a good mystery! Don't worry Amara. I'm going to find out your other half! But, do you have anything that I can start with?"
I thought for a moment. Surely there was something. Suddenly, it hit me like a brick in the face. "The voice! There was a voice!" I exclaimed.
Before I could say anything else, a deep wave of anger hit me. 'Where is this anger coming from?' I dropped the mirror clutching my head. Urgh, the anger hit my brain like tiny needles. A voice cried out to me.
'How dare you! How dare you tell them! They don't deserve to know! They are not worthy of possessing this knowledge!'
I fell to my knees. Gram rushed forward. He moved his mouth, but no sound came out. There was only the rushing hiss of anger. I nearly blacked out on the second wave. The angry voice drove deeper and deeper into my mind. I gritted my teeth. I could feel myself being dragged away, back to the dark cage. Icy resolve filled my mind and one word echoed clearly. No. No! NO!
The words grew gradually louder, resonating through my whole body. 'No! I will not let you take over!' Slowly, the angry voice was drowned out and it eventually subsided. Then, a different voice floated through my mind. This time it was soft and wispy like air.
'Congratulations, Amara. You have passed the test.'
The words blew away and my vision cleared. I was on my knees, my hands covering my face. Gently, I looked up and noticed the change almost immediately. 'I'm back to normal!' My skin had reverted back to it's peachy color. I took a few breaths to even out my beating heart.
"Amara!" It was Talia's voice. "What did it say?"
I let out a groan as I got up from the ground. "Let's say that it was upset, then it tried to kill me, and then it said I had passed some kind of test!" I cried.
My anger rose. This stupid voice was incredibly rude. I let out a frustrated sigh. Gently, I picked up the mirror from the ground and noticed my appearance was back to normal. Never had I been so happy to see myself, tangled chocolate hair and all.
Talia paced back and forth. "So, ok, you have a voice in your head that can physically hurt you. You have an alternate appearance. We do not know what triggers it yet. Hmm, what else?"
She turned me hopefully. I thought for a couple minutes. Before I could respond, Archean burst into the room.
"Amara is missing!" He spotted me almost immediately after. "Nevermind."
"Can we talk to Asher?" Gram asked. My brow furrowed in confusion. "Who is Asher?"
"Oh, he is the one that shot you in the leg." Archean said. He turned to Gram. "Yes, you can. Bring Amara with you."
After the rest of the team got over the initial shock of my scare, they shuffled out of the room after us. We followed Archean down a couple of corridors. It was early in the morning and outside was still dark. My necklace felt like a block of ice as we walked. It rested silently on my chest. As we kept walking, my mind drifted to my necklace. 'Man, I can't remember the last time I realized I was wearing it.' I frowned. My life has gotten increasingly crazy and busy.
Wait, didn't I take it off for training? I'm pretty sure I did. Then, when did I put it back on? I kept thinking. There was no way I could have put it on before I was knocked unconscious. Did Astrid or Gram put it back on? Maybe. But, do they even know about it?
My brow was knitted together from all my pondering. Gram glanced at me and spotted my weird expression.
"Hey, you ok?" he whispered. I nodded. Hesitantly, I glanced at Gram. Should I ask? Oh, what the heck.
"Hey Gram, did I ever tell you about my necklace?" His brows furrowed. "No, I don't think so. Which necklace is that?"
I arched my brow. Really? He is not very observant is he? I sighed, waving my hand as "nevermind". Gram gave me one more look before turning his gaze ahead of him. So, Gram didn't know which means Astrid didn't know which means...that it attached itself?! I mean, it was a crazy conclusion, but who else knew about it?
I was jolted from my thoughts by a large thunk. I looked up to see a giant iron door. I gulped. Why was there a dungeon underneath a beautiful manor?! I spotted Astrid and slid over to her, grabbing hold of her arm. She turned to me and gave me a kind smile. "It's okay," she said.
The dungeon was dark and cold. Distant dripping of water could be heard ringing through the halls. It almost seemed like the dungeon was completely empty with little to no sound. The walls seemed to be carved out from the ground. Archean stopped at a cell that had an intricate iron door.
The door had many carvings in it and when I looked closer at the doors, I noticed that not one of the doors were alike. All of them portrayed stories and battles. The mystery around this manor and it's occupants grew.
I didn't like dark places. Reminded me of too many bad memories. I squeezed my eyes shut and clutched tighter to Astrid's arm. 'I wish that there was a light,' I thought Suddenly, I heard multiple gasps and my eyes shot open. Immediately, I looked for any danger, but found none. That's when I realized my necklace was glowing. Gently pulling it out, It shined even bright in the dark hallway.
Everyone gazed at my necklace, throughly enchanted by it. I gazed into the beautiful gem that was inside the warped silver bars. The inside seemed to pulse ans swirl slowly, like it could hold a whole universe in one tiny jewel. I smiled softly. It really comforted me that there was a light to guide me in the dark.
Archean smiled at me and turned to unlock one of the iron doors. On the door, the number 666 was set into the hard metal. A shiver ran down my spine. Why? Oh, why did it have to be that number?! An audible click could be heard. With a mighty shove, Archean pushed open the heavy door.