“I don’t know.” I whispered.
Looking around I saw the very walls beginning to melt. The ceiling was also dripping and a great pool of water was developing upon the ground. I turned to Jack whose was beginning to burn due to the proximity between us. Horrified, I stepped away and looked down upon his burnt and bloody body. Horrible guilt and anger filled me.
My anger was so great that I was yelling again, screaming in anguish. On the floor in the distance R?ven was stirring. I heaved an internal sigh of relief, thankful that she had only been stunned. Near R?ven, Hawthorne’s thunderous growls had subdued as he looked upon the flames in utter confusion. His coat was still black, and his eyes were still red yet he seemed oddly conflicted as the fire swirled and danced before him.
“Stop it!” Frost was screaming at me, “You are destroying my castle!”
“You have given enough orders.” I said calmly to Frost.
“Have it your way then.” Her eyes flashed angrily as she reached towards Hawthorne. I felt my heart miss a beat as she grasped the chain holding Hawthorne back and it dissolved instantly in her hand.
The fox did not hesitate. Hawthorne sprinted towards me, his sharp teeth bared, his hair standing on end. I could not harm my Hawthorne. I could not defend myself.
“No!” I cried, throwing my hands in front of myself reflexively. Fire expelled from my hands like a small explosion. The black fox skidded to a halt before me and backed up a few paces. I could see him analyzing the situation, trying to work out a way to harm me without harming himself. He paced before me, growling. As quick as lightning, before I even had time to respond the giant fox jumped and swiped at me with his enormous paw. I was sent crashing to the ground yet I was more concerned for Hawthorne. Looking up I saw the fox limping and licking at his singed paw. His fur had been burnt away and the skin behind it was red raw and beginning to bleed. Oh Hawthorne. I was sure he would not attempt to attack me again. The pain was too great. Of course, I was right and the fox retreated to a far corner to tend to his injuries.
All around me the ice was melting and streaming towards me. The water evaporated before it even touched my bare skin, though my nudity was concealed by the wall of fire which engulfed me. Through the blaze which I controlled I saw R?ven get shakily to her feet to observe the scene. She gazed in awe as she looked upon me. Soon her eyes fell upon Jack and she rushed to his side, though Frost did not notice this for she was far too concerned with me.
“This ends now.” She hissed, her face contorted into rage. For who had ever challenged a level nine mage? Only a crazy person would try it. But that’s okay, I thought vaguely to myself, after everything that has happened, I deserve the right to have gone a little mad. I would show Elvira Frost just how mad I was. Mad that she had murdered Jefferson. Mad that she had taken and brainwashed Hawthorne. Mad that she had harmed Jack. As I thought these things it only made me shake with fury. The flames roared angrily for me.
“Attack her!” Frost yelled at Hawthorne, “Rip her to shreds!”
“Hawthorne.” I said, and the fox’s ears twitched in my direction. I couldn’t be sure, but I thought that perhaps his coat was no longer jet black. It was dark grey, nowhere near as dense as before. Fear. The Vulmessian was afraid. I quickly got to my feet and tried to communicate to Hawthorne through my eyes that I really meant him no harm at all. How I wished he would remember.
“Fine.” Frost howled, “I shall take care of you myself.”
My eyes shot to Elvira Frost just in time to see her raise her hands in my direction. A blast of ice came pelting towards me, hitting me in the chest like a thousand pins, and sending me skidding across the floor. I was back on my feet in less than a second, without a scratch upon my body. The wall of fire had lessened the blow. I shuddered at the thought of what would have happened had I not regained my power. I would probably have been shred into ribbons.
“You have done enough damage.” I fumed as more of her precious castle came crashing down. There was now a gaping hole in the ceiling and sunlight was streaming in from outside.
Elvira sneered menacingly and raised her hands once again, though this time I was prepared. As the Ice Mage sent a forceful blast in my direction I threw my hands up defensively. I didn’t even need to think, let alone try to control the blast that exploded from me. It slammed against the ice that was pelting in my direction and the noise that followed made my ears ring.
Elvira and I both let out a cry as were thrown backwards by the force of the explosion. I got to my feet quickly where as Frost looked utterly perplexed.