I stood in front of Ann after all that she has told me earlier this day, it was hard. I've had so many loss in my life I'll just count this as another one.

"It's time," Margaret said.

The place overlooked to a mountain and the turf was thick under my feet. The wind was making a slight melody in my ears and the scent was of sandalwood which I got used to by now. Something unusual I noted was that Ann seemed rough. She carelessly pulled her hair and tapped her feet. I was not feeling like talking to her so I pretended I didn't see her mannerisms.

"Now both of you come here," Margaret told us. We walked and stood opposite to each other. Ann was looking at me, sharp and strong gaze. She looked strong and careless.

"Move further apart from each other," she said.

I took four steps backwards while she did the same.

"Now Ann. I want you to recreate what you did yesterday."

"Okay. "

She closed her eyes and raised her arms in the air. She screamed as she tried to unleash her power.

"I can't," she said.

"Try once more."

She raised her hands and the veins in her hands seem to pop out in strain. Her arms turned red and so did her face but turned pale as soon as she stopped trying.

"Harder," Margaret shouted.

"I can't."

"We are not here to enjoy. Do you understand?. You've to try harder."

"Austin, fire."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Don't use the whole power, we don't know the consequences yet, it might be bad."

I raise my hand. My hands became warm and I felt my eyes burning. Ann was standing in front of me and her eyes were burning like hell. Every memory of her and me was sprouting fire inside me. My heart was like ember and the fire, my experiences, had made me strong. My fingertips were covered with fire. I flashed it at her one after the other. I was not able to stop until all I could see was a huge layer of something stopping my fire bolts. I stopped. My heart beats became normal. I step forward to see what happened. Margaret was far enough to keep her away from the fire.

The layer was in front of Ann. It protected her. Her legs bent to the ground and she supported her body with her palms. Her eyes were closed. As soon as I touched the layer, it vanished. I ran to Ann and helped her stand up. Her eyes were no more sapphire, it was red, fire red.

"Stay away from her," Margaret told, pushing me away from her.

"This is not a power of Ybris. Who are you?"

"What? Margaret, what are you talking about?" I asked.

"How dare you hurt me you bitch," the words that came out of Ann's mouth was not what I was expecting. She had something that was unusual.

She lunched a blow at Margaret. She fell down.

"Heyyy. What's going on?" I yelled and helped Margaret get up.

"Stand out of my way you coward," she said.

"What is it, Anastasia? What the hell is going on?" I turned to Margaret and asked, "What is it?"

"She is...she is...not..."

Before she completed it Anastasia shot an ice ball at Margaret and it exploded and pierced through her chest sinking the whole body in blood. I was paralysed. I was numb. I felt the emotions and adrenaline rush through me like the fire bolts. Before I knew it I turned back and flashed my fire bolts at Anastasia. She was struck by it and was thrown way far me.

I bend down and held Margaret in my hands. Tears were filling up my eyes but it was burning with rage.

"Tell me. What's... what's going on," I asked wiping the tears.

"Wake up, wake up. It's okay. You're gonna be fine."

"Aus... Austin..."

"Yes... Yes, Margaret. It's fine. It's okay. What should I do? "

She gulped for air.

"It's too late. Go. You're alone now."

"What...what...nooo...no...we can do this..."

Tears rolled down my cheeks. Her blood spread to my hands and my lap. She opened her mouth wide for air. She rose up and down on my arms. I felt her life getting separated from her body. Her hands gripped on mine harder and harder.

"You...you can't gain anything if you don't lose something. Go..."

She spit blood, choked, took her last breath, a pale colour spread on her face. She died in my arms. She died in front of me. I let my friend's mother die in front of my eyes. I stood up and tried to attain the whole strength that I could possibly attain.

"Loser." I turn to see Anastasia. She had the devil in her eyes and the evil smile.

"Finally. Now let's see how you can save that damn place."

"What? Anastasia. What has gotten into you?"

"Not Anastasia, Cruella, that's my name. And I am the villain of your story. Do you think I'm here to save that place? No! That place belongs to our god, Oen, and you can never save that place. We will kill the kings of rebellious kingdoms to please our god."

"You bitch. You betrayed us. You said you loved Dex. What about your baby?" I asked.

"You think I love him? I used him to get here so that I can trap you in this place and you don't even know how to return. The people with Ybris's power are the only one who could save the kingdom, now that one is dead and the other one is gonna be strangled in a place forever, my job is almost done. Now all I've to do is kill the king. But for that, I'll have to play a good girl for a couple more days. You understand lil boy."

"You... You're are gonna pay for this Anastasia." I flashed fire at her but it vanished through a layer around me which I noticed only now.

"Oh. You are hopeless. I'm sure that even if I set you free, you're not gonna save even a rabbit. Good luck getting out of this cage honey."

"And about the baby. I faked it. That's my weapon for getting an emotional connection with Dex so that dumbass would believe me. Ah true love. Nonsense."

"You are not getting away with this, Anastasia," I said kicking the layer that surrounded me.

"Oh, believe me, I am honey. Now bye. I've got to get on my good girl outfit and fool some idiots in Berade."

"And for the last time. My name is not Anastasia. It's Cruella."

She vanished in front of me.

        
                    To be continued...

Dedicated to Riya_dragneel puneet_sekhon