It's the middle of the night when I sense that there's something wrong. The air is stagnant with magic and it's seeping through my skin. I sit up and I realize that I am on the bed. And as expected, Gavin is sleeping beside me with his huge frame dwarfing mine, both his arms and legs heavy against mine.
I hear small chants and the crackle of thunder from outside. I look around the room and discover that there is magic enveloping the walls and ceiling. The only opening is the door in front of the bed. I raise my palm to create a ball of water, but my magic doesn't answer my call. I sit up and try all types of magic but nothing is happening.
I pale. Is my magic being nullified? I never heard or read that magic can be nullified! What is happening?!
As if an answer to my question, the door opens and my human ex-slaves come in. They lock the door behind them and look at me. They seem surprised but try to ignore it. They are all butt-naked, their manhood freely hanging on their crotch. They are also holding lighted candles, and they are drenched by something. Is it some scented oil?
I reach to my side and shake Gavin. He's not waking up. What did they do to him?! I feel fear gripping me. With the absence of magic, I feel vulnerable. Then I see tears in their eyes. They look at me as if they are about to do something horrendous and they are guilty of it.
Then the floor around us lights up—white, blinding light until it simmers into a dim light.
"Your warlock will not wake up. The complete lack of magic in this small area is affecting him," Gener says.
Lack of magic? So I am right, they nullified the magic here! However, if they do, it should affect all of us!
"We are the ones who activated this taboo spell, so we can still move," Eric informs.
"We don't know why you are awake, though," Peter adds.
"But for the first time, we see the real you. You are just an ordinary woman gifted with magic," Raulo comments.
"Still, all your crimes against us will be remembered forever," Chris pronounces.
"And we want to take our revenge," Gener declares.
No one should have made them like this, and taking revenge is something that I can understand. However, I am NOT the one who did all those terrible things to them! But the more pressing matter is, what kind of spell they used? I need to know and understand so I can escape from this!
"What is this taboo spell you are talking about?" I press on. "Nullifying magic in a contained area is something that can't be done! All books mention that it cannot be done!"
"It cannot be done… If we are not willing to sacrifice ourselves. And books won't talk about that."
Then, I notice the knives on the floor. They take it and unsheathe each of them. There is a red gem embedded on its hilt. The blade is black, and the handle is green. I know this. I've seen the same knife in Lyrica's stash! It's a godslayer knife! It can't kill the gods, but it can cut off magic.
I try to stand up, but something keeps me rooted on the bed. It's as if gravity is pushing me down. The five human ex-slaves place lit candles in front of them. Then they raise their blade. They start to hum something and I become apprehensive about what they are about to do. Are they really planning to take their life? They can't do that! Otherwise, all my efforts will be for naught!
"Don't do it…" I plead with them, struggling against the bed that's keeping me from doing anything. "Don't waste your life. I beg of you. Don't do this! Things will get better, I promise!"
But they just stare at me and pierce their chests with it. Blood drips from the knife and from the corner of their mouths. They start to chant as they stare at me. No more fear, just plain hatred.
"Lyrica Dunnett. We will kill and trap your soul."
"We will suppress you until you are nothing but a speck of dirt."
"A kind of suffering that feels like an eternity."
"And in this sole purpose, we offer our lives."
"Oh dear god, that governs this world."
"Please heed our call. Ravage the soul of that person who subjected us to pain and suffering."
Gavin stirs in his sleep. He is frowning and is having difficulty breathing and yet, he's not waking up. Why? He doesn't have magic, so lack of magic should be nothing new to him and he should be able to move his body. Does this mean that his goddess did not really abandon him? Is he just not allowed to use and channel the warlock goddess' magic?
So why am I still awake but glued to this bed? Is it because I am not really Lyrica Dunnett but I inhabit her body in this world? I don't understand anymore! Nothing makes sense!
My heart thumps and as my five ex-human slaves drop on the floor, my pulse quickens. Then a searing pain hits my head. I clutch my head and groan on the sheets. My body trembles in agony. My body burns and spasms and there is a cramping sensation in my muscles.
Ah! It hurts. Calais, I need you.
Then, as quickly as the headache arrives, it also disappears as fast. I open my eyes, but I am no longer on my bed. There is no Gavin beside me and no dead human ex-slaves on the floor at the foot of my bed.
Rather, I am back at my condominium unit in the city, in my original world. My back is to the front door, and I am facing the hallway towards the living room—a place where I will usually find my sister playing console games on the couch.