Page 204 of Castings & Curses

Roarke was cut off as a loud roar echoed throughout the room. The wizard turned around to see the glass window behind the throne shatter into a waterfall of reflectors as Fengari’s head burst through the opening. Riding on top of the magnificent creature’s head was Jinx. The dragon snapped his jaw and breathed fire, sending the guards scattering every which way. The moment of distraction caused Roarke’s spell to falter, and Bellatrix was able to free herself from the invisible barrier.

“You imbeciles,” screamed the prince, and he waved his hands to summon a spell to kill Fengari.

“You will do nothing of the sort,” screamed Bellatrix as she ran forward and tackled Roarke with all her might. The spell was deflected upward and sent the chandelier crashing to the ground, spraying broken crystals and candles everywhere.

It was that moment that the room launched into a bitter battle. Eryx and the Queen engaged in sword fight with the guards while Jaiyana and Grün began a war of magic against Roarke’s wizard advisors who had come to his aid. Meanwhile, Bellatrix began a fight of supernatural powers against her former betrothed. Fengari attempted to consume any enemies in a shower of flames. Jinx hopped off the dragon’s head and began to slash at the sentinels’ ankles with his claws.

How long the combat raged, Bellatrix did not know. For every spell that Roarke attempted to fling at her, she shot another back in a fury of rage. She would not let him win.

The throne room filled with bright light as red rays began to stream in through the broken windows. Looking outside, Bellatrix could see that clouds in the night sky had parted to reveal the Blood Hunter Supermoon that was now in a lunar eclipse with the sun.

“Jaiyana! We have to go now!” she screamed. Throwing her hands upward she caused a portion of the ceiling to collapse on Roarke, and then she followed her sister out of the throne room as the chaos of battle continued.

“We have to hurry!” screamed Jaiyana. “The clouds have misled us. The moon has been in total eclipse for quite some time now.”

The twins sprinted down the hallway to the outside balcony where they had their encounter a year ago. They burst outside as the rays of light bore down upon them. Bellatrix shielded her eyes and saw the Blood Hunter Moon had taken up most of the night sky. It shimmered in red elegance and black yellow flames from the sun that participated with the moon to create the eclipse, giving the celestial body a halo appearance.

“Do you have the crystals?” asked Jaiyana as they stepped into the middle of the courtyard. Bellatrix nodded and pulled the three crystals from her pocket. “I know what we have to do,” continued her twin. “Grün gave me the instructions while we were in battle.”

“You care for him, don’t you?” asked Bellatrix.

“I do,” replied Jaiyana, “I really do.” She shook her head, “Place the crystals in a triangular formation and leave a decent amount of space between them. We will stand in the middle.”

Placing the crystals on the ground around them, Bellatrix glanced at the stone dragons on the balcony that appeared to be watching them intently. It was astonishing how a year ago she and her twin had said their last goodbyes before she escaped into a mindless state for the next year. Now they were scrambling to break the curse so each of them could be with their true love.

“Done!” she cried, her chest heaving.

“Take my hands,” commanded Jaiyana. Within the center of the triangular pattern, the twins intertwined their fingers and felt their powers begin to combine. “Now your desire to break the curse and your desire for happiness put forth.” She began to chant. “Tonight under the Blood Hunter Moon, we call on the Power of the Eclipse to right unspeakable wrongs. We take the Evils of the past and combine them with the Goodness of the present…”

As Jaiyana spoke, Bellatrix noticed yellow light begin to form around them, and blinding streaks shot upward from each of the crystals. Red light from the Blood Hunter Moon combined with the white and yellow and swirled around them.

“Using the Crystals of Time, we break the Curse of Lovers and unbind our tongues. For the Blood Hunter Moon rising in Scorpio and kissing the sun, we declare that the magic and love of the Meadowbrooks shall live on forevermore!”

Out of the corner of her eye, Bellatrix noticed a dark shadow coming towards them. In a fast motion she pulled her sister downward as one of the dragon statues narrowly missed their heads.

The twins turned as the colors whirled around them, and, to their horror, Roarke stood in the doorway of the castle. His hands were raised and the wind whipped his cape around his body. “You twins think you can stop me! No! I am the most powerful wizard in all of Maldinia! You will never break my curse.”

He threw forth a spell, and the twins called forth a matching spell of their own. Swirls and whirls of red, yellow, and white light surrounded them. The two spells collided with each other head on and became locked in a tug of war as to who would overcome the other and reign victorious!

Bellatrix looked at Jaiyana, and their twin minds silently communicated to one another what was to come next. Together they cried their words of power to the night sky.

“Blood Hunter Moon we call upon you to destroy the wickedness that has held us captive for too long. For in the battle of love and war, Love will forever right the wrongs and defeat the Evil that walks among us.”

With every fiber of their strength, the twins called forth the Red Moon’s rays and combined them with the light that circled around them. The strength overpowered Roarke’s spell of hatred and control and swallowed him and his villainous ways. In an ear splitting-crack and flashing phase of light, the twins found themselves alone on the balcony. Prince Roarke was gone, as were the crystals. They looked up to see the moon moving out of the lunar eclipse, and the redness faded into the beauty of the star-studded night sky. At long last, the twins felt their souls fly buoyant and free.

“Are you alright,” whispered Bellatrix as a wave of exhaustion washed over her. She leaned against her twin with their hands still intertwined.

“Yes,” replied Jaiyana. “We did it, Sister! she announced as she hugged Bellatrix.

Their tender moment was broken by the sound of footsteps approaching, and their lovers Grün and Eryx rushed onto the balcony. The twins broke their embrace to fall into the arms of the brave men they loved.

“Jaiyana!” cried Grün. “I was so worried about you. I could not bear to think of anything horrible to befall you.” He cleared his throat and seemed unsure of what to say next. “I am fond of you, Princess, and I hope you would consider the idea of courtship between us.”

Smiling, Jaiyana leaned forward and placed a kiss on Grün’s lips. “I love you!” she cried.

Throwing her arms around him, her smile widened as there was proof that the curse was broken.

“I love you, too,” replied Grün, shocked by her bold manner but clearly enjoying it.

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