Chapter 25: Darkness

Chapter 25: Dark Smoke

Dark smokes are everywhere that still can be seen on a very dim lit grand hall. It was only a minute past when few swords flew at Edward and Valen's direction. Edward tried his best to block each one of them, he made sure not a single sword will passed through and hit Valen, but unfortunately, one sword hit him on the side of his right thigh. Edward was gasping for air as he was panting so hard out of exhaustion. He thought that probably the dark smoke was making it hard for them to breathe.

"Edward, that was marvelous! I thought that there will be more swords that will hit you or Valen, but you were only grazed by one! Truly, you are a master swordsman! Definitely as good as your sword knights, if not better! Perhaps we can do it again! Let us see if you can be able to blocked more of them!" Mia said in a sarcastic way.

Edward thought of Valen, he would definitely never permit anyone hurting her, then he immediately remembered what Mia said earlier: "do not fret Edward, you will not witness her death as you will be the first". Thinking of her safety first, he moved a couple of feet away from her, if there will be swords flying again, there was a big probability that it will flew right at him and not to her.

Dark smokes again moved as a breeze can be felt...and just after a few moment, swords flew right to him, from every direction and their number seemed to be twice than before - and it seemed that the swords have a mind of their own as it passed and dodged Valen moving towards Edward.

Edward was more relaxed and composed as he dodged, ducked and blocked effortlessly as he was more at ease knowing that Valen was safe...though it was only for that moment. Edward must think of a way for the adversity to end.

Few more minutes, exhausted...and in pain with the grazed Edward got a while ago, he was able to finish all the flying swords. At the far end of the grand hall, was Mia, with a daunting and angry look on her face. She was obviously no longer pleased that it seemed it was taking longer.

"Splendid!" Mia said in a noticeably sarcastic way. "You defended yourself pretty well, even with a grazed on your arm. I knew what you were thinking and what you did back then. You really care for her, don't you?" Edward look at Mia fiercely.

"Oh no Edward, do not give me that look. I am giving you my word that you will not see her death...and I know now that flying swords and such would not suffice, and definitely will take too much time to get you down. I am already starting to get more excited...I already wanted this to end fast."

She raised both her arms as wind blew once again. She held her head high as she closed her eyes. Dark smoke started to circle around her. No longer wasting further time, Edward charged at Mia as he held his sword forward. Dark smoke that were encircling Mia moved towards Edward, surrounded him - encircling his wrist, his feet, his whole body...he could no longer move! He seemed to be paralyzed!

"You are supposed to wait for me to finish what I am about to do Edward. Where is the chivalry?!" Mia loudly laugh.

"You do not deserve chivalry!"

Mia touched his chest as if she was hurt by what Edward said, then she smirked, calmed herself and closed her eyes.

"You love animals, especially horses, don't you Edward?"

As Mia said that, the dark smoke swirled then went outside the grand hall and in less than a minute, neighing of horses can be heard across the mansion. Edward realized what Mia had done. Few moments after, one by one, each horses entered the grand hall, lining up as they entered. The last horse entered, a black stallion with white pigment on half of its four legs and tip of its ears.

"Spirit!" Edward called his stallion, but the horse just looked at him with no sign of familiarization with him. Spirit together with the horses he particularly knew - Valiant, Snow and Jumper were present, as well as their other carriage horses - he noticed that they looked the same, specifically, he noticed that their eyes were the same. Their eyes were so black and dark, there were no brown or white parts, the look in their eyes were strange and unsettling.

"Hm...Spirit eh? Perhaps....we can start with him." Mia smirked and raised her arms. Dark smoke moved and spun around Spirit. Other horses started to move and sprang in place uncontrollably.

"Kill him." Mia calmly ordered Spirit. Dark smoke swirled hard as Spirit neighed then looked at Edward.

"Spirit.....Spirit! Do not let yourself be controlled!" Edwared yelled at his horse. He did not know how he would be able to save Spirit and prevent him to attack.

"Spirit...please..." but Spirit did not seem to have any recollection. Spirit placed a foot forward as more of the dark smoke continued to spun around him. The black horse made another step, the horse's eyes turned darker, Edward felt that any further step will be an attack.

"Spirit..." Edward said in a whisper.

Spirit made another step, and another; Edward made a step backwards, he knew he would not be able to slay, not even hurt his best horse. Spirit made another step, eyes turning darker at each step and before his horse could take another step, Valen stepped in front of him.

"Valen, step aside. Spirit would not listen to me...he is being manipulated."

However, Valen remained in between Edward and Spirit. She looked at Spirit intently, at the back of her mind she did not know if she can calm an animal being controlled by darkness, but she knew she must do it, she definitely must! Valen thought deeply of calming him, make him snap out of darkness.

Valen moved a step forward, never averting her gaze from the black fine horse. She made another step, while thinking deeply, like sending a message to the horse in silence to return to his normal self and fight the darkness inside him. She made another step, and another, she was already a few feet away from the horse. Spirit's gaze remained on Valen, looking at each other eye to eye. Dark smoke started to whirl, moving away from Spirit, moving away from the horses. Spirit started to shake his head, as if confused, but his gaze never left Valen's. Spirit neighed loudly, he shaked, he jumped in place, he was confused. Valen finally reached him and placed a hand on his muzzle, continuously calming him. Then slowly, the horse's eyes changed from gloomy, unusual dark, to his normal bright brown eyes. He stopped, looked at Edward and neighed happily.

Edward could not believe what he was seeing, even Mia could not understand what was happening. All the other horses were also back to normal.

"Good job Spirit." Valen whispered to the brave fine horse Spirit. "You fought the darkness away from you. It seems that the others are also fine now. I know you're all confused but please stay and behave. The fight against darkness is not over yet."

"What did you do?!" Mia shouted angrily. "I could not believe it. I would not believe it! What I did is not a simple skill or something, it was black magic! There was no way any healer can do something against it. I would not accept it! This was the power I gained by selling my soul. You will never defeat me! I will make sure that I will be the last healer alive! The one and only!" Mia raised both her arms. "Darkness! Surround me!"

Dark smoke spun and spun violently, but instead of swirling around Mia...it swirled in the middle of the grand hall. It swirled and swirled then it formed into someone, a dark figure in a cloak!

Edward placed himself in front of Valen. He felt Valen's warmth as she placed a hand on his arms. They both stood in silence as they gazed on the hooded-figured smoke in front of them.

Mia was a bit surprised. She was particularly sure that she thought that smoke should envelop her, giving her the power...but instead, a dark figure stood facing her. The figure was not a person, physically it was not. Mia was sure that it was still a smoke - the hooded-figured smoke was tall, in a human shape which seemed to be wearing a cloak-like smoke, and it was floating in mid-air! It should be, as it was still a smoke! She grinned and thought that this could be an entity that she could be able to control and command.

"You!" Mia shouted pointing her index finger to the hooded-figured dark smoke. Mia was not able to further say anything as more dark smoke appeared as it lurked around the dark hooded-figured smoke. Wind began to blow and dark smoke flew towards Mia's direction. The dark figure followed as it float and flew towards Mia.

Edward had no idea what was happening as Mia seemed to be enveloped by the cloak-like smoke. He did not have an idea how can the darkness be stopped if it will attack them. He moved Valen behind him as dark smoke seemed turning darker and darker as it surround Mia...then suddenly, Mia spoke.

"I ca-can't breathe!" Mia softly spoke and sounded as if she was trying her best to breathe.

"No!" Mia sounded in pain and struggling.

Smoke continued to swirl and swirl around Mia as the figure enveloped her more. It turned darker and darker around Mia, as more and more dark smoke seemed to surround her.

"It i-isn't my time yet." It seemed to be that Mia was speaking to someone other than them. "This isn't what w-we spoke about."

Valen and Edward can no longer see Mia as it turned darker in front of them, it already looked like a big dark hooded-figured smoke and certainly, Mia was still inside that smoke as they can still hear her soft struggling voice.

"No! You cannot t-take me yet! I am n-not done yet!" Mia's voice sounded so distant.

Edward led Valen backwards as they move away further from the smoke. He remembered his parents, he looked at the corner across the grand hall, and was a bit relieved that his parents as well as King James were a bit further away from the dark smoke, still unconscious though.

"Noooooooooooooo..." Mia screamed sounding more and more distant as the dark smoke started to dissipate.

The wind blew gently as the dark smoke continued to fade. As the surroundings became clearer, both Edward and Valen looked at every sides and corner but no Mia can be seen anywhere.

Though unsure of what happened, after the dark smoke disappeared and the grand hall was clear, both Edward and Valen hastily run towards the royal highnesses. Both relieved that they were really just unconscious. Edward picked her mother first to bring her to the nearest guest room.

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A/N: Thanks for the wait guys. Let's cross our fingers and hope I'll be able to finish the story this month which I have mentioned before.

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Surprise Dedication to: rayred2000 (I actually did a draw lots to choose who should get a dedication :p surprise to you!)