Moonlight's Deception (Eclipse of Hiestora, Book 1)

Chapter 09 | Castle of the Golden Fire

With just a single turn of the page then she'd be off to her own world. But for some unknown reason, a cold wriggled in every fiber of her body, making her teeth chatter. Sitting by the window side, she witnessed the strong black atmosphere cocooning the palace. Clouds gathered, a silver fade, from soft whites to the strongest of gray. The wind blew so strong it could rip even the largest and tallest tree down to its roots.

Clara was about to close the window when a loud slam of the door resounded throughout the whole library. Her heart almost leaped out of her throat.

Like the lost child she was, Clara stared at the small thing floating her way. It hovered and every table it passed would be tossed in the far corner. Some were reduced to splinters.

She stayed rooted to her spot, afraid it might harm her if she moved. Clara only watched it slowly approach. Its form resembled a cloud with a head, two arms, a wispy tail, and a faceless feature.

"I knew it!" Clara flinched at the unknown creature's shrill and childlike voice. "Anneliese will never drown herself in books. That is scandalous!"

"I-Is that a bad thing?" Clara asked in a shaky voice.

"Answer me, you witch, because I will only ask you once. And I'm warning you. Don't ever think of lying. Where is Anneliese? Where is my master?" She dropped every word with emphasis, ending it with a hiss.

Goosebumps multiplied, tightening her skin in other places. Beads of sweat gathered on her forehead. Even Clara's palms were clammy with perspiration despite the surrounding cool air.

"W-What are you talking about? I'm here standing before you. Or perhaps, you need your visions checked, uh... my servant?" Clara winced at her last remark, seeing that the creature didn't need her eyes checked when she didn't have one.

"Wrong choice of word, witch. I told you not to lie, but you're just simply asking for it."

Cold air gathered around the cloud-like creature until a tornado formed, reaching the high ceilings of the five-floor library. The strong force of the current picked up tables and shelves like they were nothing, disintegrating them in the air. It unhinged the windowpanes and oak double doors like they were toys easy to rip apart. Around them was a huge swathe of destruction. It was no different from setting off bombs in a long line, the devastation was just the same. There was nothing salvageable from all the furniture that used to be there.

If it wasn't for the concrete foundation she'd been holding for dear life, Clara would be sucked in and reduced to pieces as well.

"Where did you take the princess? Bring her back!"

It was a relief that the Zephyrian council entered the scene at just the right time. If Willow hadn't been stopped, a part of the castle would have collapsed. It confused Clara enough that the council didn't question Willow's violent action as if it was a normal sight to see.

The moment they were alone, they talked. Much calmer this time. Clara managed to be in one room with Willow even though she was close to suffocation.

She couldn't give the Familiar the reason why she ended up in Anneliese's body, not even the way to get out.

Five months. That was the deadline Clara was given. In that period, she had to find a way even if she had to excavate buried ancient tomes to seek a certain spell.

"You'll give me five months?" Even if Willow's body was made entirely of air, Clara could feel her eyebrows raise in that faceless feature. "I mean, I'm not telling you not to trust me but how is it easy for you to give me five months? You were so close to killing me in the library."