Chapter 24: "The Safest Place"

Rose had teleported William and Zeph back to the village deep in the mountains of the Central Kingdom, they appeared in the midst of the village, Beatrice felt their arrival she knew something bad had happened so she made her way to them.

Only Zeph was conscious but badly beaten, Rose and William were out cold, Joy, Evan, and the other village members saw the flash of light and made their way to where it originated from, what Joy and Evan came upon had them in shock.

"William, Rose, Zeph what happened?" asked Joy as she shook William and Rose, trying to wake them up but neither of them was responding, "William? My brother, wake up," said Evan.

"This is all my fault," said Zeph, "if I had just waited on them like William had asked maybe things wouldn't have turned out like this," said Zeph, Beatrice arrived and said, "let me see the Prince," she could feel the presence of evil, she saw the curse seal, "who did this young man?" Asked Beatrice.

"It was one of the Dark-Hunters, they called her Hex, she flew in on a staff like a witch and touched William," said Zeph he then passed out, and Beatrice then said, "take them to my tent," Joy was devastated she knelt there in tears, "why did I let him leave, I have failed you, Queen Margo and King Cresswell," she thought to herself, Beatrice then said, "Joy, kneeling there won't help them so come along."

In Beatrice's tent she tended to Zeph's wounds they weren't normal, "it's as if he was poisoned by Dark Energy," said Beatrice as she applied some medicine to them.

"This will help him get it out of his system Purge Magic: Poison Expeller, he just needs to rest now," said Beatrice, "Rose's body seems to have been drained of some of her life force, she is barely hanging on, Tree of Life: Recovery," said Beatrice, "you poor girl," said Joy, "she will be ok, she should have died but she is very strong so she won't go so easily, you see, her life force is being restored, she'll be up in a few days," said Beatrice.

William was sweating and he had a high fever, "what's wrong with him," asked Evan, "a curse was placed on him by a very strong mage but the only person I know who dabbles in dark magic of this magnitude is dead," said Beatrice.

"A curse! why would someone do such a thing?" asked Joy, "someone with Dark Intentions, I have seen magic like this but it's old and forbidden, she must have had a student," Beatrice thought to herself, "it won't be so easy to break but I will try, Purge Magic: Curse Seal Breaker," said Beatrice.

"Nothing happened," said Evan, "Dark Magic like this requires very strong Light Magic to break it," said Beatrice, "Light Magic, Who do you know with such magic?" asked Joy, "her, Rose she can use light magic but it's not as strong but if she trains it can be strong enough to break this spell," said Beatrice.

"I hope you wake up soon enough, William really needs your help Rose," said Joy, "William hang in there help is coming to you my son," said Joy as she dries the sweat off his face, "whoever did this will pay for hurting them," said Evan he then left the tent furious, the members of the village were outside waiting to hear if they would be ok.

Joy then came out of the tent and said, "William and the others will be ok they just need some rest," they were all relief and went back to their normal duties, Joy then went back inside the tent, she was barely holding it together she broke down crying, "why did this have to happen, I shouldn't have let them leave," she said crying.

"They will pull through just give them some time to recuperate, William would want you to be strong right now," said Beatrice," you're right I have to try and be strong for them," said Joy, In his unconscious state William was in a gloomy place.

"Where am I?" he said while looking around, Zeph. Rose? his voice echoed back, what did that girl do to me?" asked William, he then felt strange dark energy drawing closer to him, "who's there?" asked William, a black figure came up to him with its head slightly turned to the right, it was just staring at him and then it attacked him, William defended himself, The fight for his mind, body, and soul had begun.