---
Chapter 9: A Vision of Doom
The cave's fire crackled softly, casting dancing shadows on the jagged walls. Amelia sat across from Syra, her heart heavy with the weight of her mission. She had come too far to turn back now. The Spider Weed plant was her only hope—her only chance to achieve the power she needed for revenge.
She cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "I need your help," she said hesitantly, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil.
Syra's piercing gaze turned to her, sharp and probing. The older woman's expression was unreadable, her wrinkled face bathed in the flickering firelight. "Help with what, child?" she asked, her voice calm but curious.
Amelia hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I'm searching for the Spider Weed plant," she admitted. "I need it to… to make myself stronger. To turn into something more than human." Her voice grew firmer as she continued. "I need it to take revenge on Valerius and everyone connected to him."
Syra leaned back, her eyes narrowing slightly as though she had anticipated this answer. "The Spider Weed," she murmured, her tone laced with intrigue and caution. "You do understand what you're asking for, don't you?"
Amelia nodded. "I understand that it will give me the power I need to destroy those who have wronged me," she said, her determination unwavering.
Syra regarded her carefully, her lips pressing into a thin line. She turned away, reaching for a small vial on the shelf beside her. "And what do you know of this plant? Of what it does to the body and the soul?"
"I know it will turn me into a demon," Amelia replied, her voice steady. "I know it will make me immortal, give me supernatural abilities, and allow me to transform at will. That's all I need to know."
Syra chuckled, a low, humorless sound that sent a shiver down Amelia's spine. "Oh, child," she said, shaking her head slowly. "You see only the surface of the storm, not the chaos beneath it."
"What do you mean?" Amelia asked, frowning.
Syra set the vial down and turned back to her, her expression serious. "Revenge," she said slowly, "has its own set of rules. It demands more than blood—it demands your soul. The Spider Weed may grant you power, but it will also bind you to its will. Once you use it, there is no turning back. You will become something… unrecognizable."
Amelia's jaw tightened, her resolve unshaken. "I don't care," she said firmly. "I'll pay any price to see Valerius and his house destroyed."
Syra sighed deeply, her shoulders sagging as if the weight of Amelia's words had settled on her own chest. Without warning, she reached for a small pouch on the shelf and sprinkled its contents into the cauldron. The liquid hissed and bubbled, releasing a thick plume of smoke that quickly filled the cave.
"What are you doing?" Amelia asked, her voice tinged with both fear and curiosity.
Syra didn't answer. Her eyes fluttered closed, her lips moving in a silent incantation. The firelight dimmed, and the cave seemed to shift and warp around them. Amelia felt a strange pressure in the air, as though the walls themselves were alive, pulsing with an ancient energy.
Suddenly, Syra's eyes snapped open, glowing with an eerie light. Her body stiffened, and she let out a gasp, as though she had been struck by some unseen force. Amelia recoiled, her heart pounding. "What's happening?" she demanded, panic creeping into her voice.
Syra didn't respond. She remained frozen, her glowing eyes fixed on something Amelia couldn't see. The tension in the air grew unbearable, and just as suddenly as it had begun, the energy dissipated. Syra collapsed forward, her breathing heavy and labored.
Amelia rushed to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?" she asked, her concern genuine despite her lingering fear.
Syra waved her off weakly, sitting up with a groan. "I'm fine," she said, though her voice was shaky.
"What was that?" Amelia asked, her brow furrowed.
Syra met her gaze, her expression inscrutable. "A vision," she said simply.
"A vision of what?"
Syra didn't answer immediately. She rose to her feet, brushing off her robes, and turned back to the cauldron. "I cannot say," she said at last, her tone cryptic.
"What do you mean you can't say?" Amelia demanded, frustration bubbling to the surface. "If you saw something, you have to tell me!"
Syra shook her head, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips. "Some truths are not meant to be spoken," she said. "But I will tell you this: the path you seek is fraught with danger. The revenge you crave will not bring you the satisfaction you think it will. It will demand more than you are prepared to give."
Amelia's frustration boiled over. "Stop speaking in riddles!" she snapped. "If you know something, just tell me!"
Syra turned to face her fully, her expression somber. "I will not tell you what I saw," she said firmly. "But I will tell you this: the Spider Weed is not a gift. It is a curse. If you choose to walk this path, you must be prepared to face the consequences. And trust me, child, they will be dire."
Amelia clenched her fists, her resolve hardening. "I don't care about the consequences," she said through gritted teeth. "Just tell me where to find it."
Syra studied her for a long moment, as though weighing the weight of her words. Finally, she sighed and nodded. "Very well," she said. "I know the route to the Spider Weed. But heed my warning, Amelia: once you take that step, there is no turning back."
"I understand," Amelia said, her voice unwavering.
Syra gave her a long, searching look before turning back to her shelves. "You'll need supplies," she said. "The journey is long and treacherous. The plant grows in the Heart of Shadows, a place where even the bravest souls fear to tread. It will test you, child, in ways you cannot imagine."
Amelia nodded, determination blazing in her eyes. She would face whatever trials lay ahead. She would find the Spider Weed and claim the power she needed. And when she did, she would make Valerius and his household pay for everything they had done.
As she watched Syra gather the supplies, Amelia couldn't help but replay the witch's words in her mind. "The revenge you crave will demand more than you are prepared to give."
Syra, however, remained silent about the full extent of her vision. She had seen Amelia wielding unimaginable power but at a devastating cost. The image of Amelia standing amidst the ruins of her own life—alone and broken—lingered in Syra's mind.
For now, she chose to speak in riddles, hoping that Amelia would reconsider before it was too late.
---