Emily sat by the table in her room in the castle, her hand gently tracing a small antique statue of Hecate—a gift from Eldrin after the recent ball events. The table was covered with various other antiques, each as old as the Hecate statue, which Eldrin had carefully preserved.
She smiled at the statue in her hand, admiring the intricate detail of the goddess's long, wavy hair flowing down to her bare feet. Emily had hesitated to accept such a precious artifact, knowing Hecate's importance to the people of Magic.
'I mean, I'm blessed with her gift too,' she mused.
Her gaze shifted to the large window by her luxurious bed. Though still seated, her thoughts wandered to the magic users inhabiting these islands—people who had endured years of pain and suffering.
'I've lived this long without truly knowing my people existed,' she thought, her brow furrowing slightly. She turned her attention back to the statue in her hand, her fingers brushing its smooth surface.
"Does Mom know about magic? Or Hecate?" she murmured aloud, wondering if her mother had known about Eric's and her own abilities but had chosen to keep it hidden from them.
Too lost in her thoughts, Emily failed to notice the soft knock at her door. The door creaked open, revealing Trevon, who raised an eyebrow at her pensive expression.
He stepped closer, yet Emily remained oblivious to his presence in the room. His gaze swept over the table, noting the gifts from Eldrin, before settling on an open map spread across the surface.
Sighing at her carelessness, he picked up the map and rolled it closed before tapping her gently on the shoulder to get her attention.
Startled, Emily turned her head to see the unexpected guest.
"You should really hide this map better," Trevon said calmly, waving it lightly in her face. "It wouldn't end well if someone else saw this lying here."
Emily let out a nervous laugh, taking the map from his hand. She had been studying it, searching for a way to leave the castle and meet with the others.
As her gaze lingered on him, a new thought surfaced, her expression shifting to one of quiet curiosity.
Noticing her look, Trevon seemed momentarily flustered but quickly raised an eyebrow in return. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes," Emily said simply, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. "You knew I snuck into the private quarters. You knew I had the map."
Her tone softened, but her eyes remained sharp. "And yet, you don't seem to care—or feel the need to report me to Ronan. Why?"
Trevon sighed at her words, his gaze avoiding Emily's. "Ronan's punishment would be too extreme... and, honestly, I don't think you could leave the castle. The security is formidable," he admitted bluntly.
"I can bypass the security just fine," Emily snapped, her tone sharp as she deliberately ignored the mention of Ronan's punishment.
"Sure," Trevon replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Emily's shoulders slumped, and she sighed, her expression turning somber. "Then help me leave."
Trevon's eyes widened, shock and bewilderment flashing across his face at her bold suggestion. "That's not possible," he stated bluntly.
"Please, Trevon, I can't stay here anymore." Emily's voice wavered, her wide eyes pleading. "I'm scared."
"Scared of what?" Trevon asked softly, his tone cautious.
"Ronan and his plans," Emily exclaimed, her voice trembling with fear. "I think something terrible will happen to me if I try to communicate with Hecate!"
Trevon's brows furrowed slightly. "Your aura is strong. I don't think anything will go wrong," he said, attempting to reassure her.
Emily abruptly stood from her seat, her frustration boiling over. "And where's the evidence that I'll go unharmed? Everyone in the past who tried to communicate with her has died!" she snapped, her voice filled with anger and desperation.
"How can you be sure the same won't happen to me?" Emily blurted out, her eyes brimming with angry tears. "I might never return... or worse, I might not come back the same."
Trevon stood frozen at her words, his gaze fixed on her tearful, frustrated face. Her aura was strong—she shouldn't be harmed. That thought lingered in his mind, but doubt began to creep in as his memory drifted to Ronan's darkened arm—a chilling consequence of his own immense power. Guilt flashed across Trevon's face as he silently scolded himself. Neither Emily nor Ronan were invincible, no matter how much Ronan believed otherwise.
Wanting to reassure her, Trevon stepped closer and gently placed his hands on her shoulders, his touch firm yet calming. "Okay, Emily. Just stay calm," he said softly, his voice steady and soothing.
Emily inhaled sharply, her gaze fixed on the ground as she worked to steady her breathing. Trevon watched as her tense frame relaxed slightly, and he exhaled in relief. Gently, he guided her back into the chair, his movements deliberate and careful.
"Let's assume you do manage to escape," Trevon began, his tone serious. "What happens then? Ronan could easily track you down—and your family too."
"We're leaving the islands," Emily replied, her voice soft but resolute. "We're heading North."
"And how exactly do you plan to escape?" Trevon pressed, his brow furrowing as he tried to gauge her preparation.
"I don't know," Emily admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Lucas and Eric have already made the plans. They're waiting for me now."
Trevon's expression darkened at the mention of Lucas. "You're putting your trust in Lucas? A regular person?" he asked skeptically, his tone edged with doubt. "How could someone like him possibly navigate the island's security?"
Emily paused, choosing her next words carefully. She decided against revealing Lucas's true role as a trained head guard, one more than capable of handling such tasks. Instead, she met Trevon's gaze with quiet determination.
"I trust him," she said simply, her words firm and unwavering.
Trevon sighed at her unwavering trust in Lucas. "Love is blind," he muttered under his breath, though just loud enough for Emily to hear.
"I still don't trust Lucas," he stated blankly, his tone sharp.
"Fine," Trevon sighed again, this time with resignation. "I'll help you escape the castle—and make sure you and your family get off the islands safely."
Emily's face lit up with gratitude, her smile genuine and warm. "Thank you," she said earnestly. Then, after a brief hesitation, she added, "Will you come with us?"
Trevon frowned, clearly taken aback by her suggestion. "Why would I do that? I have a role here," he replied curtly. "And Lucas is already with you. I'd rather avoid any interaction with him."
Emily hesitated, carefully choosing her words. She couldn't tell him everything just yet, but she knew he would be valuable to their plans—especially with his knowledge and influence. If they were to meet with Diana and work toward ending the war, Trevon's involvement could tip the scales in their favour.
"I just…" she began softly, her voice almost a whisper. "I just know you'll be able to help a lot. More than you think."
Trevon studied her intently, his gaze steady and searching. The weight of her words lingered between them, but he didn't press further. Instead, he sighed and relented. "We'll talk about it later," he said, his voice softer now. "For now, we need to head to the dining hall before."
Emily nodded, her resolve unwavering. Even if Trevon wasn't ready to join them yet, she would find a way to convince him. After all, the stakes were too high to leave anything—or anyone—behind.