SPELLBOUND

Fogs of clouds had covered whatever it was that was behind this seemingly other gate they were looking at.
Realizing that Onyx was not going to move anymore, Evie closed her eyes and spoke to the dragon.

”Are we supposed to climb off you now? ” she asked and when the dragon made a purring sound, Evie looked at her men and nodded at them.

​​

Once everyone was on the ground except for Evie, Onyx then crouched down as if to guard or wait for them there.

Evie stared at the foggy path before them and then closed her eyes.
”You ’re not going to come along with us? ” she asked, and the dragon purred again.

”It seems Onyx is not going to accompany us anymore. ” Evie told her men.

”O-onyx? ” Reed tilted his head as he asked, and Evie realized she had not told them about her dragon ’s name yet.

”Yes.
This dragon ’s name is Onyx. ” Evie said with a smile and the men blinked, totally taken aback.
Holy crap! The dragon can talk back to her?! They exclaimed within themselves.

”I don ’t know why but it seems he can ’t come with us. ” Evie added as she looked beyond the large arch.
Then after caressing Onyx ’s spikes fondly, Evie spoke to the dragon through her mind communication that they would return soon.

The dragon purred as it nudged its snout into Evie ’s palm gently.
And its response made Evie ’s heart swell.
Leon then came to her at Zolan ’s order before he helped Evie stand up from atop the dragon ’s back.
He did not bother putting her down, instead he carried her on his back immediately.

Evie just obeyed because she was also trying to be careful about the bandages on her feet.
It would be less of a hassle for her and everyone if she did not walk. 

When everything was ready, Evie nodded at her men and the group then entered the foggy path beyond the largest arch.
She looked back at Onyx one last time and smiled at it until the fog rolled back in, covering her view of her dragon.

Breathing in deeply, Evie turned and looked ahead.
As she looked around, the men started to be alert now.
The dragon was no longer with them anymore so they can no longer relax as they had been doing since it had been around them.
What are they going to see next? This was finally the last leg of their journey, right?

The surrounding had changed significantly.
It was more desolate than as before that last large arch.
They could see more dead trees that were now pretty cramped, making it look even darker and lifeless.
It was also only drizzling at this area now.

They followed the path silently as it climbed higher and higher.
And still, they could not spot a single sign of life.

None of them spoke as they all knew that none of them knew what lies ahead.
All they could do was to look forward in anticipation and thrill all the while staying alert in case trouble was waiting for them up ahead.

Until at long last, the mists were gone, and the dead and cramped trees seem to have ended.
And what they saw next made them stood there frozen for a long while as they looked before them.

A dark, massive castle stood majestically before their eyes.
It was so massive and all of them had never seen such a castle as steep as this one before.
Who would have thought that a castle so large and tall could be sitting at the top of this steep hill and was being hidden behind the clouds?!

Moreover, the castle seemed to be so strangely dark that it could be the darkest building they have ever seen before.
It was as though the whole building were made of the same black stones of the princess ’ necklace.

This part seemed drier, and the drizzle was gone despite the fact that the sky was just as dark.

There was another path connected to the path they had just came from which is now leading to a bridge made of the same dark as night stone.

Below the bridge, they could see the glimmering magical water.
One glance and they knew this was the very source of that magical stream and lake.
Somehow, they were quite shocked after the desolate place they have seen before this.
How could something so bright and magical come from a place so dead and dreary like this?

Furthermore, what was the deal with this castle? Did that light fae the princess talked about was inside this place?

”Please put me down now, Leon. ” Evie requested and Leon immediately put her down.

Evie took a step forward.
Again, her emotions were getting more and more strange.
It was getting overwhelming.
She could no longer wait to know what was waiting for her here.
Why she was called here and where were the answers she was looking for.

”Let ’s go, ” she then said, and they all moved ahead, walking forward and following at the pace the princess was going at.
The moment they crossed the bridge, another gate blocked their way forward. 

The vampires tried to push it open, but the massive dark gate did not budge a single crack.

”Maybe we should leap over the gate? ” Samuel suggested and they all looked up.
The gate was so big, and the ends of the gate was very high as well.

Evie walked past them, and the men cleared the way, letting her stand just right at the gate.
They watched her reached out and the moment her hands touched the gate, just like what happened to her necklace, the part she touched glowed.
The amber glow then slowly started spreading out from where her hand was laid!

Shocked, Evie pulled her hand off, and it turned black again.
But she recovered quick and this time she used both her hands and touched the gate.
It glowed again and Evie did not take her hands off this time until the entire massive gate was glowing.

Then at last, the gate swung open on its own.

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