Emily as she wove her first web. “You are more powerful than the Spider Witch.” Emily had been too much in awe of her new powers to realize she was being tricked into stealing the magic of the animals, betraying a healer’s promise.
The Spider Witch’s tapestry mesmerized her. Vibrant with elemental magic, the vision of a new web, strong and sure, was magnificent. Emily could save all she loved. All she had to do was bring the web to life. “See how the unicorns have come to you.” But the beautiful magic of the unicorns had been twisted by an endless craving and greed. They would run the new web with the magic of Avalon. All they needed was the dark mage to lead them.
One mage had always gone dark. It was the true meaning of the prophecy.
She had had no choice. She’d become the dark mage.
The Gates of Avalon burst open like a dam as the magic crashed into Emily, filling her with power. It rushed through her, taking everything she was, everything she loved.
The vision cut off, leaving her feeling sick and empty.
What happened to me? she thought, shivering. She had lost her connection to the animals, to her friends, to all living things.
Phel’s expression was serene as a sunrise. Compassion glowed in his gentle eyes as he turned her around to face the unicorns. She blanched at the tight red knots binding their true auras.
Only she could fix it. But…
What if she couldn’t heal anymore? The thought terrified her.
With a wave of his furry, purple arms, Phel sent his flowers cascading over the unicorns.
Greens and blues flared from Emily’s jewel, responding to Phel’s gentle power. Feeling the connection to her magic, soft blue light swirled from Emily, raining over the dark spell. The unicorns’ auras instantly began changing, bright crystalline colors rushing to the surface.
Carefully, Emily loosened the complex knots of the Spider Witch’s spell. She could see the weaving unraveling, slipping away. Horns stained blood-red shimmered to glittering crystal, restoring the unicorn’s pure auras. One by the one, snorting and leaping in joy, the unicorns broke free of the spell.
“Kara!” Calliope whinnied as a dozen young unicorns barreled into the blazing star.
“Calliope! Electra! Snowflake!” Kara called their names ecstatically.
“Healer.” Lorelei moved close to Emily, her presence warm and reassuring. Emily blinked, senses awakening. She felt as if she’d been sleepwalking. Looking at the healthy unicorns, she felt no joy. Only the dull, empty ache of a broken heart.
Something awful had happened. Something so horrible, so unthinkable, she could not remember it.
“Are they all okay?” Adriane ran through the excited herd.
“I think everyone is accounted for,” Kara responded. “Great job, Emily!”
The voices of her friends faded away as Emily surveyed the group of magical animals in the glade.
“Emily?” Adriane looked at the healer, uncertain.
The glade had gone eerily silent.
The unicorns watched the healer, along with every quiffle, brimbee, and mistwolf in Ravenswood. A veil of sorrow seemed to permeate everything and everyone.
Emily looked at Phel, but he was already vanishing. Having used his magic to help Emily, he could not stay. Dread flooded through her as she saw the sadness in his fading eyes.
Emily felt weak, her knees buckling.
“Easy. We’ve got you.” Adriane and Kara slung their arms around the healer.
Suddenly, Emily gasped, her chest heaving. Something was missing—it felt like a piece of her was gone. Something that always supported her, gave her strength when she had none left. Panic raced up her spine.
Not something.
Someone.
She scanned the crowd of creatures, animals, and humans for the one friend who had been with her from the beginning. Among the hundreds of unicorns and mistwolves and the animals of Ravenswood, she searched desperately for one familiar furry head. All at once, the colors faded, leaving her alone as the awful truth
The Spider Witch’s tapestry mesmerized her. Vibrant with elemental magic, the vision of a new web, strong and sure, was magnificent. Emily could save all she loved. All she had to do was bring the web to life. “See how the unicorns have come to you.” But the beautiful magic of the unicorns had been twisted by an endless craving and greed. They would run the new web with the magic of Avalon. All they needed was the dark mage to lead them.
One mage had always gone dark. It was the true meaning of the prophecy.
She had had no choice. She’d become the dark mage.
The Gates of Avalon burst open like a dam as the magic crashed into Emily, filling her with power. It rushed through her, taking everything she was, everything she loved.
The vision cut off, leaving her feeling sick and empty.
What happened to me? she thought, shivering. She had lost her connection to the animals, to her friends, to all living things.
Phel’s expression was serene as a sunrise. Compassion glowed in his gentle eyes as he turned her around to face the unicorns. She blanched at the tight red knots binding their true auras.
Only she could fix it. But…
What if she couldn’t heal anymore? The thought terrified her.
With a wave of his furry, purple arms, Phel sent his flowers cascading over the unicorns.
Greens and blues flared from Emily’s jewel, responding to Phel’s gentle power. Feeling the connection to her magic, soft blue light swirled from Emily, raining over the dark spell. The unicorns’ auras instantly began changing, bright crystalline colors rushing to the surface.
Carefully, Emily loosened the complex knots of the Spider Witch’s spell. She could see the weaving unraveling, slipping away. Horns stained blood-red shimmered to glittering crystal, restoring the unicorn’s pure auras. One by the one, snorting and leaping in joy, the unicorns broke free of the spell.
“Kara!” Calliope whinnied as a dozen young unicorns barreled into the blazing star.
“Calliope! Electra! Snowflake!” Kara called their names ecstatically.
“Healer.” Lorelei moved close to Emily, her presence warm and reassuring. Emily blinked, senses awakening. She felt as if she’d been sleepwalking. Looking at the healthy unicorns, she felt no joy. Only the dull, empty ache of a broken heart.
Something awful had happened. Something so horrible, so unthinkable, she could not remember it.
“Are they all okay?” Adriane ran through the excited herd.
“I think everyone is accounted for,” Kara responded. “Great job, Emily!”
The voices of her friends faded away as Emily surveyed the group of magical animals in the glade.
“Emily?” Adriane looked at the healer, uncertain.
The glade had gone eerily silent.
The unicorns watched the healer, along with every quiffle, brimbee, and mistwolf in Ravenswood. A veil of sorrow seemed to permeate everything and everyone.
Emily looked at Phel, but he was already vanishing. Having used his magic to help Emily, he could not stay. Dread flooded through her as she saw the sadness in his fading eyes.
Emily felt weak, her knees buckling.
“Easy. We’ve got you.” Adriane and Kara slung their arms around the healer.
Suddenly, Emily gasped, her chest heaving. Something was missing—it felt like a piece of her was gone. Something that always supported her, gave her strength when she had none left. Panic raced up her spine.
Not something.
Someone.
She scanned the crowd of creatures, animals, and humans for the one friend who had been with her from the beginning. Among the hundreds of unicorns and mistwolves and the animals of Ravenswood, she searched desperately for one familiar furry head. All at once, the colors faded, leaving her alone as the awful truth
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