Chapter 23

They soared above the trees and high into the sky, headed toward the Magical Forest, confirming Raine's fears. Immediately, her chest clenched at the thought of the horrors that the Dragon Queen may intend to impose upon her people. As they soared into the sky, the sun appeared to be so close that she could touch it. As it sank into the hills, Kirlin seemed to follow it as streaks of orange, red, and pink shot across the sky. Soon, his feet touched down safely upon the ground and he trotted to a stop. Kirlin bowed down on one knee, allowing her to dismount.

Raine looked around. They were in a different part of the forest than her castle. She hoped that her father's castle was still cloaked and Virtra hadn't found it yet. Raine walked through the darkening woods when a bright glow suddenly appeared in the forest before her, not far from the meadow where she and Bryce used to meet.

A shiver ran down Raine's spine when Virtra appeared, holding the urn, giving her face a sinister glow among the trees through the ancient mosses. Eying Raine, she stopped and smirked. The urn glowed brighter than before. "What, pray tell, are you doing here?"

Raine squared her shoulders. "To stop you. Give me back the urn."

Virtra laughed until tears came to her eyes. "And what do you intend to do with it?"

Raine took a step forward. "Keep it from the likes of you, or anyone who would use it to do harm to others."

Virtra laughed. "If I give it to you, you would soon rule all of Cambria." She shook her head. "No. I have a better plan."

She raised the urn before her in one hand. When she raised her other hand, a bolt of bright white light shot out from her hand. Raine gasped as the light hit her forcefully on the chest, throwing her twenty feet back against a tree. Virtra raised her hand again and another bright white bolt of light came from her hand, but this time, Raine raised her hands and concentrated. The light hit an invisible force field just beforeher hand, and then bounced back and hit Virtra, knocking her backward.

Virtra hurried to her feet. "Why, you insolent little witch! How dare you use your magic against me?"

"Give me the urn while you still can!" Raine ordered, summoning all of her courage. It was then that she realized that in order to rule a kingdom, you must be willing to give all for it ... including your life.

Virtra laughed as she brushed back a strand of her long, black hair. "You dare to threaten me, the Dragon Queen?" She took a step forward. "You dare to threaten me while I possess the urn? Do you really think that your magic is stronger than mine? Stronger than the Locks of Samson?" She raised the urn before her, and it began to glow. "Foolish girl! Just for that, I shall take away your human form! Let us see how your precious knight feels about you when he sees you in your true form again!"

"No!" Raine shouted. "The spell! I have three more days!"

Virtra's evil laugh resonated throughout the forest. "I am the maker of that spell, and I am the only one who can alter it! Say goodbye, little fairy!" Virtra raised her hand out to Raine and her body began to shake, morphing beck into her true form.

Pain shot through her body as her body began to shrink. "Aaahhh!!!" Raine screamed as her wings sprouted once more from her back as she grew smaller and smaller until she was in her true form, no bigger than a butterfly. But Raine summoned all of her courage. "Size matters not! I am Raine, Princess of the Magical Forest, and I will protect my people!" Raine raised her hands toward the urn, and it began to glow.

"Ow!" Virtra yelled, and let the urn go, but it did not fall, staying suspended in midair. "Why, you insolent little..." But before she could finish, Raine held the urn up with one hand raised, and pushed hard with the other hand, sending Virtra flying backward.

"Get out!" Raine yelled, still holding the glowing urn suspended in midair. "Go back to the Dark Forest, or I will cut you down like a dog!"

Virtra's eyes began to glow a bright red. "You dare to threaten me?" She swiftly raised her hand and swept it in front of her, as if swatting away a bug.

Immediately, Raine felt the force, but held her arms up to shield her from the blow, and then pushed. The force struck a nearby tree, which groaned and fell to the ground. "You will not leave with this urn! I will protect my people ... and all of Cambria!" Raine lifted her arms, and wild vines sprang forth from the ground, growing up Virtra's legs, and then wrapped tightly around her, holding her in place. Vines also sprang from the trees and wrapped around her wrists and arms. Then, Raine held up her hand and concentrated.

Immediately, Virtra started to age. "What are you doing to me?" Virtra cried out.

"Sending you back to your true form," Raine said as a smile lifted the corners of her lips. "It appears that you have been using your magic to stay youthful." Raine pulled at the air, and Virtra groaned again. She knew that she wouldn't be able to hold up the urn and draw out Virtra's power for long. "I suggest that you go back to the Dark Forest. That is, if you want to keep any of your youth at all."

Gray streaks coursed through Virtra's black hair, and her skin began to wither as she hunched over. "This isn't over, little fairy! I promise you!" And a moment later, Virtra closed her eyes and vanished, causing the dark green vines to fall limp to the ground.

Exhausted, Raine lowered her hand, setting the urn gently on the ground as it glowed brightly. She fell to the ground beside the urn as everything turned black.