Chapter 11

Virtra raised her arms and chanted, "Protectorus comandus excit, protectorus comandus excit, protectorus comandus excit." Then, she lowered her hands and placed them on the top of Raine's head. Immediately, a warm sensation rushed through her, strengthening her, making her feel invincible.

"Now," Virtra said with a sly smile as she lowered her hands, "to fulfill your end of the bargain." Then, she turned toward the Great Waterfall emanating sheer power as gallons of water rushed from the top. She raised her arms high and spread them apart. Suddenly, the water parted, showing a dark cave behind it. "There," Virtra said. "It is in there."

"And how am I to get there?" Raine asked, perplexed.

Virtra smiled. "You, my dear, are a magical creature." She shrugged. "Improvise."

"Me? Magical?" Raine asked in disbelief. "I cannot do spells or magic. I never could."

"Well, have you ever tried?" Virtra asked as a sly smile spread across her face.

Raine shook her head.

"How do you think you could fly, after all?" Virtra asked.

"Because of my wings."

Virtra laughed. "Your wings are not strong enough to support you, little one." She took a step closer. "You possess the gift of magic. All fairies do."

Raine laughed. "You jest ..."

"Do not test my patience, little fairy!" Virtra snapped. "I never jest." She quickly calmed herself, and then reached out and placed her hand upon Raine's shoulder. "Just close your eyes and concentrate. Remember: your love awaits."

"My love?" Raine asked, her eyes snapping up. "What do you know of it?"

Virtra shrugged. "Why else would you want to become human? My guess is that you are in love with a human." After Raine didn't reply, Virtra purred, "That is what I thought. Now, go. You only have five days." She shrugged, and her voice suddenly became sing song. "But if you want to waste your days as a human, standing here before the Great Waterfall instead of with your love, then so be it."

Raine nodded. She had to retrieve the urn containing the Locks of Samson before Virtra would let her leave. Raine suddenly wondered what she had gotten herself into. "I'll try," Raine said as she closed her eyes.

She raised her hands, palms up, toward the falls, and concentrated on flying. Without her wings, she knew she couldn't fly, but maybe she could make herself lighter. After all, Virtra had just told her that it wasn't just her wings that made her fly when she was a fairy. She began to feel lighter. She stepped forward toward the water and, to her amazement, she could walk upon the water. Joy filled her chest, but she took no time to revel in her accomplishment, for fear of losing her concentration. The water tingled her feet as she walked across it toward the falls.

"Yes, that's it," Virtra said in encouragement.

Raine felt the spray of the water and the sheer power emanating from the falls as she drew near. Before the falls, she pressed her hands together before her as she concentrated. When she separated her hands, moving them slowly apart, the millions of gallons of water parted, as if she had simply moved a curtain aside.

After the water had parted and it was safe, she stepped inside the dark cavern. As soon as her feet touched the cold, stone surface, the curtain of water behind her closed. In the cavern, it was so dark that Raine could not see. She ran her hands over her dress, slightly damp from the water spray from having stood so close to the powerful falls.

"Well, something must be done about the lighting," Raine said. "I could spend the whole five days within these walls if I am not careful."

She closed her eyes again and concentrated on the urn containing the Locks of Samson. She imagined how it would look, what powers it may have, and then something began to glow. She opened her eyes and at the other end of the cave was a bright light. Raine shielded her eyes and squinted as she walked closer. When she drew near, she saw that the light was emanating from an ornately decorated urn. She looked closer. An image of a man with long hair that stretched halfway down his back was on one side. On the other side of the urn was an image of the same man, but with short hair, standing between two stone pillars, pushing against them. He was blind, and the look on his face showed that he was straining. Images of people cowering at his feet, pleading, were also prominent.

"It's beautiful."

But when she reached out to touch it, a deep, male voice filled the cavern. "Are you worthy?"

Raine jumped back, startled. "What in the world?" She looked around the room, and no one else was there. She looked back at the urn, but saw no sign of where the voice had come from.

"Are you worthy?" the voice repeated, once again filling the room.

Suddenly, it all became clear, and guilt rushed into her chest. She knew that she was supposed to give Virtra the urn, and there was no telling what she would do with it. And now magical forces were asking her if she was worthy; if she would use the power it possessed for good and not evil. Then, the image of Bryce rushed into her mind, and she knew what she had to do. She wanted, more than anything, to spend time with him as a human, but if she didn't give the urn to Virtra, then she wouldn't have the chance.

"Yes. I am worthy," she lied, as another wave of guilt pulsed through her.

The urn lifted from the stone pedestal that it rested upon, suspended in midair before her, still glowing brightly, illuminating every inch of the cave.

Raine reached toward the urn and took a step forward. As soon as she clasped her hands around it, it stopped glowing. But behind her, the faint glow of blue moonlight through the falls was enough for her to find her way out of the cave. She raised her hand toward the falls and moved it to the right, and the water separated once again. Concentrating, she stepped out onto the water and the curtain of water fell behind her again. She walked carefully across the water, holding her concentration, until she stepped safely onto the river bank beside Virtra.

"Well done!" Virtra said, clapping her hands. "You could be of great use to me!"

Raine shook her head. "No. No more. I will meet you here in five days as we agreed. After that, it is over."

Virtra scrunched her eyes, obviously appraising Raine. Then, she raised her chin. "Very well, then. I shall meet you here in five nights. Now, give me the urn."

Raine looked down at the urn and ran a finger lightly over the images prominent on the side, remembering the voice in the cave, asking her if she was worthy. Raine knew that if she handed the urn over to Virtra, she definitely wasn't worthy. But how could she go back on her end of the bargain now? Please, forgive me, she said in her mind as she thrust the urn out to Virtra. "Here. Take it before I change my mind."

"Change your mind?" Virtra asked, as one corner of her lips curled into a sinister sneer. "Having second thoughts, are we?"

"Just take it," Raine repeated, holding the urn out at arms' length.

Virtra narrowed her eyes. "What happened in there? In the cave?"

Raine squared her shoulders and looked directly into the beautiful woman's eyes. "Look: do you want the urn or not? Because I can take it..."

Virtra's eyes flared. "Do not attempt to leave the Dark Forest with that urn. It will be the last thing you ever do. I promise."

Raine raised her chin, determined not to show fear before the woman. "Do not threaten me. Either take the urn or do not. But I am wasting precious time."

Virtra smiled as she snatched the urn out of her hands, and Raine immediately felt its absence. "Yes. Of course," Virtra replied. "I forget myself. Your love awaits." Virtra stepped closer, never taking her eyes from Raine's. "Be here at midnight on the eve of the fifth day. If you do not, then you shall die."

Raine nodded once. "Fear not. I shall be here."

Virtra laughed. "Oh. I have nothing to fear. You shall be the one to die if you do not return."

"Until then," Raine said.

As she walked away, Virtra's evil laugh resonated throughout the Dark Forest behind her.