While Arzaan was still in the Dark Lands unknown to him, the creature which escaped the Under lands made its appearance known to the quiet room where Hazel slept. It crawled up to the bed and up her body staring down at her face. A frown appeared and she moved her head from side to side as if trying to wake from a nightmare.
A little while later Duran appeared beside the bed as well. he walked around it and stopped where her head lay. he stretched his hand and tucked the strands that fell in her face to the side and then smiled when the frown on her face deepened.
"It is her," the creature said in another language. Duran stared at him for a moment before looking back at Hazel. He caressed her cheek and nodded.
"Can she be put to use now?" he asked and the creature made its way to her chest and rested there. It then reached out for her face touching her other cheek.
"I am uncertain," the creature replied.
"You said it is her, then how can you be uncertain?" Duran asked with a frown on his face.
"The darkness is strong, but there is something else which I am unsure of," it replied. Its bright red eyes stared at the face of the sleeping mage who was the key that they needed to finally break the seals. "We will have to test it without waking her,"
"Very well, but hurry, I doubt he would stay away for long," Duran replied looking out the window, he could still see the light from the spell that was being cast by Arzaan and the others, though it was faint, it was enough to tell him that they still had a little time.
"I will send her into a deep slumber, you may begin," he said to the creature. It tilted its head and looked out the window as well, feeling the presence of the woman he didn't want to come across in the Dark Lands.
"She still lives," it whispered. Duran heard all that he said but did not comment.
It then moved from her chest and sat on her stomach waiting for Duran to begin before it started.
A dark smoke appeared on the palm of Duran and he placed it on Hazel's head, the frown on her face eased and her body stopped and relaxed for a second before it started all over again. She shook her head and tried to wake up but could not. The creature waited for all of that to stop before he did anything.
"She is fighting you," it stated and Duran smiled. She could try all she wanted, she could never win against him. At least not yet.
"Be ready,". He said and the creature nodded, placing its hand on her chest. A moment later, Hazel's body stayed still, succumbing to the power of Duran. "Now," he ordered.
Immediately after he said that the hand on Hazel's chest started to fade, making its way into her body. Her heart. Black flames started to form around her, spreading around the mattress that she lay on but nothing was burnt. It continued to grow stronger and increased in size. Small white sparks that looked like lightning could be seen as more if they came out.
Within a short moment, the room was filled with the flame and it was still growing stronger and started destroying the things in the room. Even Duran had to put a protective barrier around himself so he didn't get hurt. Some of it escaped through the open window that allowed the cold air into the room.
"Stop before we are spotted," Duran ordered. If it went any further than this, Celeste who was not so far away would feel it and so would Arzaan, this was his home. They were lucky he hadn't mated her yet otherwise, he would know the very moment they appeared in her private space.
"I can't pull away," the creature replied, sounding alarmed. It had tried to stop but he could not. They already knew she had enough darkness in her to be used so they didn't need to continue anymore.
"Her power has been dormant and untapped, it is going out of control. Pull out now!" Duran ordered. He could already feel them coming. No matter what, he could not be spotted here. If they left before anyone arrived, it could be assumed that she had a nightmare that triggered her powers.
"No!" The creature exclaimed, its eyes widening at what else was happening. The spot where his hand was submerged was turning white. Pure white as bright as the light of the sun. The only difference was that the sun could not hurt him but this one could.
"This can't be," Duran said, stepping away from her for a moment and she stirred, making him return to where he was and placing his on her head once again. But his gaze did not leave her chest. He could not believe that aside from the dark energy inside of her there was also light.
Soon the light started to overshadow the darkness, the once-dark room was illuminated by it and this was nothing but a red flag. Right now it was as if they had turned on the light to the lighthouse giving away themselves.
"Tap into the darkness once again," Duran ordered. It was their only way out. It still had its hand buried inside of her chest, but he could still use that to their advantage.
Looking at its hand which was slowly fading away, and plunged it deeper into her. Its bright red eyes shone even brighter, and vein-like red lines formed on its small face right underneath his eyes. It looked like blood trickling down from its eyes.
After half a minute, the black flame returned but the light didn't go away either. Its hand was forcefully pushed out and he was thrown away from her, falling off the mattress as a result of the clash of opposing energies.
Duran was quick to retract his hand and step away but not faster than the energy that now surrounded the room. He looked out the window and saw the royal guards had arrived but could not get in. They could only stand and watch what was happening inside. Looking at the floor, he picked up the creature that seemed to have lost half its essence. It was still useful as long as it was not erased from existence.
He made his way to the other window and tried to leave but he could not. He was trapped. He couldn't approach her again and he could not leave either and no one was able to come in.
The clashing energies only seemed to grow and each had taken half of the room revolving in a circular motion round about them. He stared at the guards who were still trying to get in, he would have called them foolish for still trying but he was hoping that somehow, it would work and he could use that to escape as well.