*I don't know any real chants, but I hope they make sense with the story. Sorry for the cringe*
Jim eyes remained glued glaring at Theo intensely unsure if he should expose this traitor's secret or not and reveal what those mysterious cloaked people were saying was actually true. Theo gulped knowing that if Jim opened his mouth he was completely fucked and if Douxie found out he too would be extremely fucked knowing how close he was to her. Pray to God he wasn't able to hear him threatening Jim on prevent Esmeralda's return.
"Are you two done? *silence* Good" Douxie seriously asked before realising that the conflict between them has finally come to an end walking off turning his back to them giving Theo the perfect opportunity to flee, but he didn't.
"If you say a single word about this. I will personally trap you in a place not even Claire can even find you" Theo quietly threatened Jim who was holding back his anger not wanting to result to violence just yet so he pushed Theo aside and followed Douxie for safety.
"What am I supposed to do? If I tell Douxie the truth my life would be swept away from me again.. I need to come up with something so I'm not the one to blame" Jim thought to himself glancing back at Theo who kept a close eye on him making sure that whatever he had planned does go well.
"Can you still smell him, Theo?" Douxie asked suddenly stopping as they came to another dead end mainly the far back shelves of the library let alone the darkest area. Theo softly exhaled knowing exactly where that kid could've gone as his scent was nowhere to be traced.
"Have you tried to find any secret contraptions. Ya'know to open a secret passageway or something? He didn't go far so that's probably the only option he had and hid in a place we can't see" Theo replied pointing out a obvious clue making Douxie instantly begin to feel around the bookshelf urging the others to do the same just to make things easier for them.
"Esmeralda said something in her letter about a secret passageway so keep looking and surely we'll find it" Douxie said exposing something secret shocking Theo as he soon became slightly angered purposely grabbing on the correct book causing all three to be pushed inside by the spinning bookshelf pushing them deeper into the academy's walls, Jim was about to fall down the stairway because of the push, but Theo prevented it from happening yanking him back aggressively giving the poor lad a little burn on the side of his neck.
"Be a bit more gentle with the tugging.. not every human being is as perfect as you" Douxie was concerned for Jim's safety and actually told Theo off for being too rough, but he only got a set or eyes rolling not caring about his actions becoming increasingly complacent and headed down the stairwell. "That's new.." he added not used to seeing Theo this cocky let alone aggressively to his own friends.
"What did I tell you? He's completely lost the plot! I swear he's going to end up killing me one of these days" Jim yelled complaining to himself and Douxie while making their way down deeper into the hidden parts of the academy, but the feeling however was different more dark and sinister as the presence of Theo made things far worser than they needed to be.
"Talking about killing, why did Theo pin you so aggressively against the bookshelf?" Douxie curiously asked as Jim became anxious unsure if he should open his mouth of change the subject, but it wasn't long when Douxie grew suspicious on how his own friend was reacting when talking about Theo. "What did say to you? If it was threat I will deal with it" getting more serious wanting to show that bastard to not mess with his friends.
"No, no, no. Just let it slide just this once time as we are just here to get the pendant and to get your friend back, that's the most important thing right now. I'll be fine" Jim reassured Douxie that nothing bad was happening allowing the wizard to calm down bringing relief to the boy's chest thanking god that things haven't escalated yet.
When arriving to the beast dungeon Douxie was mind blown seeing that her letter was actually true about this place it was in fact a weird dungeon in a shape and form of a temple due to the beams that kept it from crumbling down all these years. It was old and vines were seen wrapped completely around every beam perfectly making it look ancient, old and historic. Upon looking down Theo wasn't really in the best predicament as he was seen holding the kid by the scuff of his wolf cub neck tugging the necklace that remained stuck in his mouth winning refusing to let the pendant go.
"Let go already your stupid runt!" Theo growled growing increasingly impatient with the kid not aware that Douxie and Jim were rushing up towards them when he threw the kid aside as he yelped releasing the pendant in the process seeing it laying there 20 feet away from him catching his attention when seeing Douxie running at full speed straight for the pendant forcing Theo to quickly go in grabbing it before him kicking him down as a result getting poor Douxie in the stomach.
"What are you doing, Theo?!" Douxie exclaimed stumbling up with a hand placed over his stomach looking at Theo seeing him serious expression while holding the pendant in his hand.
"I'm sorry.. but I can't let you have this. I refuse to fail my duties and keep this evil sealed away" Theo replied not even acting sympathetic and yet still apologised for his actions and betrayal in all of this. "If there was another way then surely it wouldn't have to result to this.. you need to leave Phoenix before you get trapped inside here too" threatening to put him and the others away as Albus came down the stairwell with Claire and Zoe wrapped in magical wire making it impossible for them to break free putting Douxie in a very tough situation.
"Good job, Theodore. Now make your master proud and get rid of him!" Albus ordered shocking all with this mind blowing news not laying attention by the fact that the pendant was dimly glowing feeling it's old friend's presence.
"Wait, Albus is your master?!" Douxie exclaimed completely having enough of this crap not knowing that Theo didn't have a choice in anything.
"I'm sorry that you had to find out like this, man. I had no other choice.. just don't take this personal" Theo replied not wanting all of this to ruin their friendship despite having to choose between his own friends or the pendant.
"Personal? PERSONAL?! Do you even have any idea what you've done?! The entire world is in danger because of your selfish desire to follow a toxic wizards orders, let alone continue to be loyal to him like some lost puppy!" Douxie almost lost letting Theo hear almost every honest word he has to say distracting him while Jim went around, but it was too easy as Theo used his other hand activating his magic while remaining locked onto Douxie while now all of his friend's lives are depending on his next decision. "Fudge buckets" he mumbled to himself knowing that the plan he had had completely back fired.
"Are you done talking?" Theo wondered as uninvited background guests snuck in using their own magic to retrieve the real pendant as the leader clicked her fingers getting rid of the chant she had made on the phoney hand made pendant as the disguise dissolved in his very hands feeling it liquify into his very fingertips. "What is this? A fake?!" Theo exclaimed as Albus' disguise too was fake releasing Claire and Zoe from their restraints as everyone rushed in surrounding Theo catching him off guard.
"You didn't think we weren't aware of your little alliance with, Albus did you? All of this was staged from the very beginning! You gotta admit my acting was pretty legit, right? You actually fell for it, but the truth is out and the pendant is now ours.. what are you doing to do now that you're surrounded?" Douxie questioned putting Theo on the spot as he did get it even though he was there when they made the plan, was this all a test? A test to reveal his true identity or was it something much deeper?
"You tricked me? Why and how? I was there when you made the plan!" Theo panicked as Jim was removed from his magical grasp seeing the mysterious cloaked people and their leader feeling their smug expression surround him knowing that they have the upper hand.
"You were dragged out of the building remember. It was all put together thanks to this genius leader of theres she deserves the credit. We only filled in the gaps just like the kid you so selfishly harmed" Douxie replied reminding Theo of this selfish acts as he frantically looked around in fear of what they would do to him.
"Alright! Just don't hurt me.. I can tell you what's really inside the pendant if you just don't tell Albus" Theo begged clearly terrified of how hugely out numbered he was, but the leader refused to let him speak using her magic to tie and shut him up as all with be revealed when the beast is finally freed from her illegal imprisonment.
"Everyone! Get in formation!" She yelled putting Theo aside as she and 4 others came around forming a completely circle spaced out every few feet around the huge circle where Esmeralda was once chimed up in the middle of. "Stay back and let us do our part" she looked at Douxie and Zoe keeping her promise to bring back what they once lost while beginning to do the chant they spent so long on practicing.
However nothing was working the pendant remained in the centre dead silent which then the leader remembered something a very important detail she had missed out calling over Douxie and Zoe who replaced two of the cloaked members before seeing the pendant coming glow in responded.
"Alright! Everyone together and keep your mind clear of any negativity or this will never work" the leader yelled making it pretty clear the bad thoughts will led to dire consequences as doing the chant for a second time.
"To the sky, to the moon and stars. The seal that was once holding this sad soul shall be broken. So followers as I call upon thee to chant this spell with me. ႵfႹქჹiქ ꓄꒯꒦꒤꒻ სოაყჁა!" The spell by the end of her sentence was being chanted by very powerful wizards who used to be students as the pendant began to brightly glow, slowly levitating before starting to crack and break as whatever was inside is urgent to be free once again. "Everyone back away!" The leader wanted as the floor below them began to tremble before violently shaking as an enormous flash of light filled the room while a human like light silhouette could be seen as the floor crumbled below it revealing what one could remember as wine red hair came into view while the light dimmed away as soon as Albus rushed down with Duncan seeing what has been done while Theo was tied down.. Esmeralda was finally free.
"Is that.." Douxie thought seeing her there right before his eyes not wanting to believe that she was trapped inside that necklace for all these years and he didn't know anything about it. The floor caved in beneath her as she dropped falling to what could be seen as her doom. "ESMERALDA!!" He exclaimed rushing over there without thinking and jumped down after her as she remained unconscious and unaware of the idiotic decision he had made reaching out for her hand as the two quickly descended closer and closer to the solid ground floor. "I refuse to let you slip out of my reach, not again!" Thinking to himself extending his arm further before quickly using his charm bracelet using a rope to wrap around and pull her into him as he squeeze tightly refusing to let her go.
Seeing the ground below he was aware of what could happen if he didn't do anything soon using his charm bracelet again he made force fields to give them a uncomfortable and yet safe landing when hitting the floor Douxie used his body to prevent Esmeralda from hurting herself from the fall collecting himself while looking up at Phoenix as it was... falling from the sky.
"Oh fudge buckets" he panicked seeing that it was glowing closer and closer towards them as he groaned pushing himself up back onto his two feet and Esmeralda cradled safely in his arms before beginning to run as far as he can from the collision sight when out of nowhere a shadow portal was formed pulling him inside just in time as he landed butt first on someone's sofa. "Oh are we at, Jade's?" He casually asked with Esmeralda still in his arms refusing to release her under any circumstances.
"So that's the Esmeralda you talked to us about. She really is as beautiful as you said she was, but the clothes however could really do with some changes" Claire responded admiring his friend's appearance despite the clothes of course as a girl that cute needed better clothing.
"So what are you dropping by for this time?" Jade questioned seeing Esmeralda and walked over immediately knowing what to do. "Take her upstairs to the spare room on the right, I'll see to any injured once she's changed into something more comfortable and clean" giving him a straight forward request as Esmeralda for all they know could be seriously injured and need immediate medical attention, but luckily for them Jade was still studying on becoming a doctor one day despite only being 20 and yet her appearance made her look 17. A blonde with blue and yellow eyes. Perfect heterchromia.
Douxie did just as she said and took Esmeralda upstairs, but left the changing to Zoe as no one else was close enough to her to do such a personal thing. Jade was done with the assessment correcting that Esmeralda was completely fine despite being badly malnourished due to being neglected and poorly fed.
"I won't forgive Theo for hiding this from me, he has no idea what he's done to her" Douxie said say on the edge of the bed Esmeralda was laid in covered by blankets to warm her up and hoping for the best that she wakes up. Zoe put a hand on his back knowing exactly how he felt as she too was upset to see the one friend in such bad conditions.
"We can't go find him, the pendant is completely shattered and can't be put together without Esmeralda, I don't think she would want you to seek him out just yet" Zoe replied not wanting him to chance after him as she knew personally how protective Douxie is over her as he knew not that long before they first met in Camelot.
"I know, but if I see him again I'll teach him one to lay a finger on her and make sure he wouldn't dare to do it ever again" Douxie promised himself never wanting anything like this to go unpunished as Esmeralda was one of the nicest people he knew until she vanished.
"You know Albus is apart of this too, right? He tricked us on believing she had ran away, but really he and Theo were the ones who did this to her" Zoe replied knowing that Theo wasn't the only one behind this and leaving them unpunished for now is the better option as getting Esmeralda back to good health was the better option as her help was desperately needed.
"Fine.. I'm only doing this so she can see that we haven't given up on her, she deserves to walk alongside us and should've stayed with us in Camelot.. if I knew about Albus then she wouldn't be like this!" Douxie blames himself even though he had no action in any of his plans and either did Merlin as he believed that his friend was an innocent and kind man, clearly he was wrong.
Esmeralda remained at Jade's safely out of harm's reach as a forcefield was created to let only pure heart and non threat like Jade inside to see to Esmeralda's needs until she decides to wake up and maybe tell them the entire story on how she became trapped inside her own pendant. A story that would put Albus and Theo to shame.