Evelyn POV
Her heart rumbled with hatred for the man who had shattered so many lives. She knew why he was here, and he was here for Willow, but she won't let him have her. They have made a deal with him a long time ago. But things have been changing, and the deal was of, and she won't let him take her daughter away from her.
The silver gates of the Vila Kingdom stood open, flanked by armed guards. And there he was.
The man she despised.
He stood tall, dark hair falling past his shoulders, half-pulled back in a pointed tail. The tattoo etched on the side of his hand all the way up to his upper arm, though cracks now ran through it, like a curse fracturing his skin. His features were as sharp as ever, his yellow-brown eyes burning with cold amusement as they locked onto hers.
His thin lips curled into a sneer. His presence alone darkened the air.
"This is not the time to be here Lord Lorcand" Evelyn said coldly, coming to a halt. "You have promise me when she was at age and Willow is still young only 18 years old and barely has magic"
Her voice echoed as she stood tall, trying not to flinch as she noticed the monstrous beings behind him—giants and ogres with broad, scarred bodies and crude, horned wooden clubs in hand.
She silently prayed her brother would arrive soon. She would need him. Facing the Dark Lord Locrand alone, especially now that her magic was weak, was she more vulnerable and she could not fail her people.
But Locrand only chuckled, the sound thick with cruelty. "Ah, Evelyn," he mocked. "We had an deal and if your daughter is much of an age to get married to a foolish Elf then she are proper age to know the truth where she truly came from"
Fury surged through her. Her nails dug into her palms, hard enough to draw blood. Just then, Willow stepped up beside her, fists clenched and eyes burning.
"I am not some object Lord Lorcand " Willow snapped. " I am old enough to make my own decision and I am staying right here"
Locrand's gaze drifted to her daughter. A slow, wicked smile curved his lips. "How beautiful you've grown."
Evelyn start to panic. She have wishes that Willow stayed in the castle . Her eyes widen and cold sweat run down her spine as she watch The Lord Lorcand carefully.
He took a step forward, but the guards blocked his path. Behind him, the ogres growled and shifted, shaking the earth. Locrand raised a single hand to calm them.
Panic rose in Evelyn's chest. She stepped in front of Willow protectively, shielding her from the evil man's stare. Even if she was weak she would protect her daughter matter what. Thank full her brother has arrived. Relief washed over her. His presence grounding her.
King Clyde's expression darkened as he drew his sword out from his back and stood beside her.
"Whatever sick planning you came here to do is over," Clyde said coldly. "You have no right to show your face in this kingdom. Leave now, while you still can."
Locrand's eyes glowed brighter, nearly yellow with black streaks. He scoffed. "Are you joking?" His laughter rang out, cruel and sharp. "Do you really think I take orders from you? If it wasn't for me your precious Willow won't be here today"
Evelyn stepped forward, shielding Willow further. Her daughter's presence was like a flickering candle behind her, precious and vulnerable.
"I've come for something, and you knew that this day would come " Locrand said, locking eyes with them.
Evelyn's rage boiled over. "The deal is off " she shouted. They should never make that deal with him, and if her husband were still here, he would also agree with her that the deal is off. "You'll never have my daughter. Even with my last breath—I will fight you!"
She shoved Willow behind her with one arm, standing as tall as she could. But Locrand did not like what she said and got angry. His whole face turned red of how angry he was .
" Your fool " He shouted, " After everything I have done for you and your Kingdom"
At his signal, the ogres surged forward. The ground trembled beneath their steps.
"I would not being held as a fool and you should regret of your words," Locrand called out as he raised his hand, "Willow shall be mine even if I tear this whole kingdom down to get what I want."
The moment his words fell, chaos erupted.
Fairy warriors leapt into action as the ogres charged the gates. Evelyn spun around, gripping Willow's shoulders.
"Hide!" she commanded. "Get as far from here as you can. Don't look back."
Willow's hazel-green eyes widened in fear, but she nodded. Without a word, she turned and ran.
Evelyn turned back to the battlefield, her heart pounding.
The war had begun.
Willow POV
War was breaking out before her eyes. Willow looked at her mother and gave a firm nod. With one powerful clap of her wings, she shot into the air, turning in the opposite direction to flee and hide. But just as she began her escape, a blazing fireball struck her wing.
She fell hard to the ground, pain shooting through her body.
Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to move. When she glanced over her shoulder, she saw her wing was burned and broken. Someone had targeted her. Whoever it was, she couldn't afford to stop now.
Staggering to her feet, cold sweat ran down her spine. Then she froze—her blood ran cold. Standing before her, with that same wicked smile curling his lips, was the Dark Lord Locrand.
"Just the one I was looking for," he said, his voice dark and smooth.
She may not be able to fly, but she still had her magic. As the Vila Princess, she had enough power to defend herself. Clenching her fists, she stood tall and lifted her hand, summoning a shimmering, invisible shield of protection.
"That's far enough," she warned, her voice steady despite the fear gripping her chest. "Take one more step, and you'll regret it."
Locrand studied her with interest, circling slowly. She moved with him, keeping her shield between them.
"What a fierce little Vila princess you are," he sneered.
Her eyes didn't leave his. "What do you want?" she demanded. "Haven't you done enough damage to my family—our people?"
His smile widened at her defiance. "What do I want?" he echoed, mockingly tapping his chin. "Is that I knew that my blood run through your veins and that we need our Queen."
Willow's jaw clenched. She loathed him. This was the man who stole her father and brought death to her people.
"You're sick," she spat. "You should be ashamed of yourself."
Green sparks of nature magic began to glow in her hand as she readied herself for a fight.
"Sweetheart I am not the bad guy here," Locrand replied. "You don't even know the full story. You think you do, but you're just a child pointing fingers."
"I do know," Willow snapped. "You started the fire. You killed thousands. All that blood is on your hands!"
His expression darkened. " They make you forget about that day what truly happen If you knew the truth you would see things differently."
Her stomach turned. She was confused and scared all at once.
Without another word, he conjured a black ball of dark energy and hurled it at her. Her shield held—thankfully. Willow retaliated, throwing her own magic, striking his upper arm. He recoiled, but it wasn't over. Another blast came, faster—hitting her leg.
Agony exploded through her. The dark magic burned like acid. Willow collapsed to the ground with a cry, clutching her leg.
Locrand advanced.
Panic surged through her. And she quickly rise from the ground and turned and bolted into the forest, ignoring the pain radiating from her leg and wing. Behind her, his voice echoed through the trees.
"You can run, sweetheart—but you can't hide!"
Willow ran as fast as she could until she found a thick tree and crouched behind it. Her breaths came hard and uneven. She pressed her hand over her mouth, trying to muffle the sound.
"Come out, Willow, I don't want to hurt you " Locrand called, moving closer. "I know you're out here. I will find you. You cannot hide forever from me"
She closed her eyes, willing herself to think. She had to contact Everest. They needed the Elven people—now.
Taking a shaky breath, she knelt and pressed both hands into the dirt. This would give away her location, but she had no choice. It was now or never.
She let her fingers sink into the soil, connecting with the forest's deep roots. Warmth spread through her, and tears ran down her cheeks as she summoned her magic.
A cry for help—a fairy's echo—traveled through the earth, carried by nature's pulse, reaching out to Everrest and his people.
She prayed it would be enough.
She could feel all the energy left her body as she send and eco out but as she looked up she saw the one man she was hidden from .A wicked smile cross his lips as he looked at her " You are coming with me " said the Lord Locrand and juts as she send the last cried out for help she felt weakness left her body as darkness full her and she felt her body collapse on to the ground and everything around her began dark.
Everest POV
As the leaves cracked beneath their feet on the path back to the Elven Kingdom, something made Everest freeze in his tracks. The air shifted. A strange tension swept over the forest, and the ground beneath him trembled faintly—as if the earth itself were warning them. He turned his head sharply, eyes locking with Violet's. She too had stopped walking, her expression mirroring his concern.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Everest asked, his voice low and urgent.
Violet nodded silently.
Without another word, Everest knelt down and pressed his hand flat against the earth. As soon as his skin touched the soil, a cry echoed in his soul—a raw, anguished sound that rang through the very bones of the land. A Fairy's cry for help.
His heart clenched. He knew that voice.
"Willow..." he whispered, the name escaping like a prayer. Pain surged through his chest as the full weight of her distress hit him. She was in danger.
Tears stung his eyes, but he had no time to fall apart. He stood up swiftly, determination hardening his features as he turned to Violet.
"Go to my father," he said, voice sharp with urgency. "Summon all available warriors. The Vila fairies are under attack—and I fear something has happened to Willow."
Violet didn't hesitate. She gave a firm nod and turned, racing off through the trees like a streak of silver light.
Everest spun around and sprinted in the opposite direction, his thoughts consumed by a single hope:
Please let me reach her in time.
He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, racing back toward the Vila Kingdom. His heart pounded wildly in his chest, and all he could think about was Willow. Was she safe? Was she still alive? He couldn't lose her—not now, not when their life together had only just begun.
When he arrived, his breath caught in his throat.
The once-beautiful walls of the Vila Kingdom had been reduced to rubble. All around him, chaos raged—ogres battled fiercely against the fairies, and the ground was littered with the corpses of fallen Vila soldiers. It looked like something out of a nightmare.
But amidst the carnage, there was no sign of Willow.
Only the desperate clash of battle.
Everest's eyes fell on a fallen soldier, and without hesitation, he grabbed the sword from the lifeless hand and plunged into the fray. The ground trembled beneath him as the massive ogres lumbered across the battlefield. As he weaved through the chaos, he spotted King Clyde locked in combat with one of the towering giants.
Without a second thought, Everest rushed to the king's side.
Together, they fought the ogre, slashing and striking until Everest drove his sword deep into its skull. The giant roared and toppled over, crashing to the ground with a thunderous rumble that shook the earth. Green blood splattered everywhere as Everest yanked the blade free.
"Thank you," King Clyde gasped, out of breath.
Their eyes met. The king looked exhausted—his face smeared with dirt and blood—but he was still standing, still fighting.
"I need to find Willow," Everest said urgently. "Have you seen her?"
The king nodded grimly. "She went to the far side of the forest—to hide."
"Thank you," Everest said quickly, wasting no more time.
He took off at once, dodging between the warring giants, determined to reach her. He had to find her before it was too late.
As he ran, his gaze fell on the Vila Castle. Once a place of beauty and elegance, it now lay in ruins, reduced to ashes. The sight made his chest ache and his blood boil with fury.
He entered the forest, sword raised, eyes scanning every shadow between the trees.
"Willow…" he whispered under his breath, pushing forward, deeper into the woods.
Everest's eyes darted from side to side as he searched desperately for her. Then he froze.
There—just ahead—stood a tall man with dark hair, an ink-black tattoo curling along the side of his face. In his arms was Willow, limp and lifeless.
Everest 's heart stopped.
"Let go of her!" he growled, his voice cracking with fury as he stepped forward, teeth clenched tight.
The man slowly turned his head, and cold yellow-brown eyes locked onto Everest's. Then, a wicked smile spread across his face.
"You think a pathetic elf like you can make me let her go?" the man sneered.
Everest 's blood surged with fury. He clasped his hands together, channeling his elven magic. In a flash of light, he cast a reflection spell, duplicating himself. One version of him remained standing before the man—an illusion—while the real Everan appeared silently behind him.
With speed and precision, Everest grabbed the man by the throat, yanked him backward, and pressed the tip of his sword to his neck.
"Still think it's funny?" Everest hissed, his voice trembling with rage. "Say one more word, and I'll slit your throat."
The man only laughed, even as blood trickled from the sharp blade biting into his neck.
"You really think you frighten me, foolish elf?" the man snarled. "I came here for Willow. And I won't leave without her."
Everest pressed the sword harder, drawing more blood—but before he could strike, a flurry of footsteps erupted behind him.
He turned just slightly—his father, Lord Tyron, had arrived, flanked by a group of Eleven warriors. They quickly surrounded them, weapons raised.