The grand throne room of the witch palace was empty.
Moonlight poured through the tall stained-glass windows, bathing the marble floor in pale silver. Ancient pillars stretched toward the ceiling, and the silence felt heavier than stone itself.
Ellis sat on the floor beneath the throne, her spell book lying open before her. Dark circles rested beneath her eyes, and her usually elegant silver hair fell loosely around her shoulders.
She closed her eyes, resting her forehead against the cold marble.
*Ellis! Ellis, can you hear me?*
Ellis's fingers twitched.
She lifted her head slowly.
*Harper!*
The connection between them was faint, but it was there.
Harper's voice sounded distant, as though it were traveling through countless realms before reaching her.
*I remember everything.*
Ellis closed her eyes briefly, relief washing over her so suddenly that it almost hurt.
*Everything?*
*Yes.*
Harper took a slow breath.
*I remember you. I remember that ...you.....you're my mother. I remember Zareth, and everything that happened before Kael erased my memories.*
Ellis remained silent, listening.
*Mother….Natalie has been captured.*
Her voice trembled slightly.
*Kael and his mother took her.*
Ellis's grip tightened around the edge of the spell book.
*I know.*
A heavy silence settled between them.
*I've been trying to find a way to reach you.*
Harper looked down.
*I wanted to save her, but I couldn't.
I'm not strong enough yet.*
Ellis frowned.
*What do you mean?*
*Ravenna spoke to me.
She said I can't use my full power until I combine her powers with Seraphina's.*
Ellis's eyes darkened.
*Ravenna's sister?*
*Yes.*
Harper hesitated before continuing.
*Mother… I don't know how much time Natalie has left. I can feel that something terrible is happening to her.*
Ellis slowly stood up.
The sadness in her eyes disappeared, replaced by a calm determination that only appeared when she had made a decision.
She closed the spell book and turned toward the entrance of the throne room.
"Vaelthor."
Vaelthor's expression was unreadable.
Ellis looked directly at him.
"Harper has regained her memories."
Vaelthor nodded once.
"She also knows what happened to Natalie."
Ellis's voice became firm.
"We've waited long enough." Vaelthor said.
Ellis stepped down from the throne platform.
We're going to the demon realm."
Vaelthor's gaze sharpened.
"This time…"
Ellis looked toward the moonlight pouring through the windows.
"We're not hiding."
"We're saving Natalie."
Vaelthor gave a single nod.
"Then let's begin."
The magic in the throne room stirred.
Ancient runes lit up beneath Ellis's feet as she reached for her spell book.
The witch queen was finally going to war.
******Harper's POV
I was alone again.
The room was quiet except for the sound of my own breathing.
I sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at the dark hairpin resting on the bed beside me.
The moment I closed my eyes, the world disappeared.
The sounds outside faded into silence, and I found myself standing in the endless space within my consciousness. Darkness stretched infinitely in every direction, calm and still, like a sky without stars.
I didn't waste time.
"Seraphina."
Golden light bloomed before me, illuminating the darkness with a warm radiance. The light condensed into a familiar figure, and Seraphina stepped forward gracefully, her long golden hair flowing behind her like sunlight.
She looked at me with a teasing smile.
"You called?"
I met her gaze.
"It's time."
Her smile widened.
"For what?"
"For you to help me."
She let out a soft chuckle.
"And what if I don't want to help?"
I didn't hesitate.
"You don't have a choice."
Her brows lifted slightly.
"Oh?"
"You're bound to me."
The amusement in her eyes deepened.
"You've become quite commanding."
"I've become desperate."
For a brief moment, she simply looked at me.
Then I raised my hand.
Magic gathered at my fingertips, weaving together in intricate silver patterns.
"Manifest."
The spell activated instantly.
A brilliant circle of runes expanded beneath my feet, and ancient power surged through the space.
My spell book appeared before me.
It floated in the air, its black cover shimmering with silver inscriptions that glowed faintly in the darkness.
I reached out and opened it.
The pages turned rapidly on their own.
One.
Two.
Ten.
Fifty.
The pages continued flipping until they stopped at a page marked with crimson runes unlike any other.
I placed my hand on it.
"Ravenna."
Darkness rippled violently.
The temperature dropped.
The shadows behind me twisted and gathered into a single point before exploding outward.
Ravenna emerged from the darkness, her silver eyes calm and unreadable.
She looked at me.
"You summoned me."
I nodded.
"Yes."
Then I looked at both of them.
"I'm going to merge your powers."
Silence.
Seraphina's expression changed immediately.
Ravenna remained composed.
Finally, Seraphina spoke.
"That's dangerous."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
She looked at Ravenna before turning back to me.
"It seems Ravenna didn't tell you that part."
A strange feeling settled in my chest.
"What part?"
Seraphina sighed softly.
"Merging my power with Ravenna's is extremely dangerous."
I stared at her.
"If you fail to control it…"
Her voice became unusually serious.
"…you will lose your mind."
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
"What?"
She stepped closer.
"The power will overwhelm your consciousness."
I remained silent.
"And then," she continued quietly, "your body will begin to reject the fusion."
My throat tightened.
"You will bleed from every opening in your body."
I froze.
"Your eyes."
Her gaze remained fixed on mine.
"Your ears."
My fingers curled into fists.
"Your nose."
The silence became unbearable.
"Your mouth."
She paused.
"Every opening in your body will bleed until you die."
Shock washed over me.
"Why?"
Ravenna rolled her eyes.
"She's making it sound more dramatic than it is."
I turned to her.
"Then explain it."
Ravenna folded her arms.
"Seraphina and I are opposites."
She lifted one hand.
"She is light."
Then the other.
"I am darkness."
Golden light gathered around Seraphina.
Black shadows gathered around Ravenna.
"We are fundamentally incompatible."
She looked directly into my eyes.
"Light and darkness are meant to balance each other."
Her expression remained calm.
"One cannot truly exist without the other."
I frowned.
"Then why is the fusion dangerous?"
Ravenna answered immediately.
"Because our relationship is terrible."
Seraphina scoffed.
"That's putting it politely."
Ravenna ignored her.
"When our powers merge, they naturally reject one another."
I slowly understood.
"The conflict happens inside me."
"Yes."
Ravenna nodded.
"If your mind is not strong enough to force that balance into existence, the backlash will destroy you."
I looked at her.
"You knew all of this."
"I did."
"And you didn't tell me?"
She didn't look guilty.
"I didn't."
"Why?"
"Because I know you can wield it."
Seraphina let out a cold laugh.
"How selfish."
She looked at me.
"She didn't tell you because she wanted this fusion to happen."
Ravenna's silver eyes turned sharp.
"And?"
"She was willing to risk your life."
Ravenna stepped forward.
"She is the only one capable of doing this."
"That doesn't justify hiding the consequences."
Ravenna's voice became colder.
"If I could touch you right now—"
She took another step.
"I would have slit your throat."
Golden light flared around Seraphina.
"I'd like to see you try."
Darkness erupted around Ravenna.
The space shook violently.
Light and darkness collided, and cracks spread across the ground beneath us.
"Enough".
"Stop!"
My voice echoed through the entire space.
The collision froze instantly.
Both of them turned toward me.
I was breathing heavily.
"I'm tired of this."
Neither of them spoke.
"I don't care how much you hate each other."
Silence.
"I don't care how dangerous this is."
My voice trembled.
"My family is in danger."
I looked at both of them.
"And I will save them."
I clenched my fists.
"No matter the outcome."
I took a step forward.
"Even if I lose my mind."
Another step.
"Even if I die."
I met their eyes.
"Nothing will stop me."
The space became completely silent.
Then I spoke again.
"I am your master."
Silver runes appeared around us.
"You are both under my control."
The runes formed ancient chains of contract magic.
"You will do as I command."
For a long moment, neither of them moved.
Then Seraphina lowered her head.
"As you command."
Ravenna bowed as well.
"As you command."
I stepped forward.
I took Seraphina's hand.
Warm.
Gentle.
Then I took Ravenna's hand.
Cold.
Endless.
I closed my eyes.
The spell book rose into the air.
Its pages turned on their own as ancient runes surrounded us in a massive circle.
I began chanting.
The words were older than kingdoms.
Older than witches.
Light and darkness answered my call.
Outside…
My body remained completely still.
To anyone watching, I looked as though I had simply fallen asleep.
My eyes stayed closed.
My breathing remained calm.
But inside my mind—
I began the forbidden fusion.