Not What It Seems
Chapter 20

A few moments later, my Firefly was in a trancelike state while Lady Zaria used her Magic to study her and the effects of the poison. I watched silently, ready to give any information she may need. I hoped, though the chance was small, that she would have the ingredients for the antidote so I wouldn’t have to take Zeriah to Diab.

One thing I knew for certain, is that the antidote didn’t last long in the mortal realm. It would have to be used immediately after creation for it to work. I wouldn’t be able to go to Diab alone and bring it back in time to save her. She had to go with me.

Silence reigned through the home while Lady Zaria worked. She let out a sigh and dropped her hands. But Firefly remained in the trance. I watched as Lady Zaria turned towards me and stared directly into my eyes.

“Tell me, Vudu.” She started. “What is your motive? And do not lie, I will be able to tell.”

I glanced down at the ground. Hesitant, I answered. “I-I want to save her. She doesn’t deserve what is waiting for her. And if I can save her, then that’s what’s important.”

Her eyes didn’t stray from mine. “You mean to take her to Diab because she has a pure soul.”

My eyes widened and I stumbled back a bit. How in Xegon’s wrath did she know? How did she know that Zeriah had a pure soul? And she seemed so certain about it too. I wasn’t fully confident she had a pure soul and yet Lady Zariah acted as if she had known for a long time now.

“At least,” she continued. “That’s what it used to be. Hmm?”

My chest hurt from her words, and I tried to calm the fast beating within it. “How?”

At long last, Lady Zariah’s eyes moved and looked at the young woman asleep. “I have known this little one since her infancy. From the moment I met her, I knew that she would be in danger from demons because of her soul. When you are my age, and have the right type of Magic, you can tell a pure soul. I had hoped my Magic would conceal her from demons, but there is something about you that made it, so you still saw her.”

A sense of guilt filled my chest. “I don’t want to take her to Diab.”

“I know.” She responded. “What I don’t know is how my spell was disrupted. I believe that the difference in you made it so you still could replace her. But what happened between you two that broke my spell?”

“I don’t know.” I responded. “The beginning of our relationship was me in the mirror, her Master was the one to replace what was needed to help me get out. It didn’t work though until Zeriah somehow activated the circle.”

Lady Zeriah’s eyes narrowed. “The spell didn’t work otherwise, is what you’re saying.”

“Yes.”

“I have a feeling that you were put into that mirror for the soul purpose of replaceing a pure soul. Only a pure soul could free you.” She observed. “How long were you trapped?”

I couldn’t give an exact number. “A few hundred years?”

“That makes sense.”

“Why are you talking to me about all of this?” I asked cautiously.

“Because I can’t cure this poison.” She said sadly. “I needed to know that you were going to save her and get her back in any way you could. I needed to know that you cared enough about her.”

“I do care about her.” I stated. “She taught me so much about non-demons that I didn’t know before. I understand now more than ever how precious the lives non-demons live are. And I will do everything within my power to make sure that she comes back.”

A small smile came to her lips. “That is all I needed to know.”

She raised her and snapped her fingers. With the sound, Firefly’s eyes fluttered open and she sat up. I noticed that her eyes changed to a shade of yellow. She was afraid of what Lady Zaria would say. Without waiting for any signal, I walked over and grabbed her hand as I knelt in front of her.

“What did you learn?” Zeriah asked.

“I am sorry, little one.” The old mage said. “But this poison is one that the ingredients are foreign to me. I cannot make an antidote if I don’t know what offsets the poison.”

“The poison is demonic.” I continued the explanation. “I do know that we have the antidote available, and I would go and bring it back if I could, but it doesn’t last in the mortal realm. If we want that antidote. You have to come with me.”

“And if I don’t go,” Firefly said thinking aloud. “I die.”

I let out a depressed sigh. “Yes.”

Silence entered the room for a while, and it was difficult to wait through. Waiting for her decision almost physically hurt.

“Alright,” she finally responded. “Let’s go. How long will it take us to get there?”

I began to breathe again. I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath. “We have to go to the place that is furthest from Romos. That’s where we will replace the entrance to Diab. It will be dangerous. More demons will be along this path and they will do whatever they can to get you. I’ll be sure that doesn’t happen though.”

Her head turned in my direction. “I know, Vudu. I trust you.”