5th December 2019

ISAAC

It was a black horizon.

So dark that I couldn't see much, from hints of purplish clouds, to vague silhouettes of obsidian mountains that blended into the sky. I'd never felt the absence of stars more acutely, nor the soft moonlight that night brought along with her.

This was a place mankind still hadn't tapped into.

The edge of the Before Realm. The first place that had sprung into existence.

Some astrophysicists would give anything in their life to know what this place was, would sell their very beings into cracking the greatest code in history.

Which is why, even I didn't know where exactly I was. I could guess that I was inside the bowels of a black hole, but I wasn't too sure anyway.

If only I had the full potential of my Enlightened power!

I clenched my fists, as her face swam before me. Shay was back at the Astrascends, cuddling with Violet as they watched a movie. I scoffed at how her power radiated around her, how her plain green eyes now had a powerful stare locked in them. How her unruly hair shined in the dark room, her locks so smooth and silky with the magic of the Enlightened.

She was... Breathtaking. It was as if my power had given her a makeover.

I watched her for a few moments as Violet's fingers wrapped around Shay's, before she faked a yawn. Leaning her head upon Shay's shoulder, Violet pretended to fall asleep, only to be in a close proximity with her.

I couldn't believe that Shay would let random human scum get close to her. Didn't she know better, that unregistered Spirits weren't to be messed around with?

If only I could march into the Astrascends and yank my power off her hands! As stupid as Shay was, she'd been surprisingly smart this time, proofing the Astrascends from me and hiding the secret entrance. I'd spent a week trying to get through, before giving up and working on other pressing matters.

Like saving the Astrascends from their doom.

Doom which Shay had believed that I'd concocted from the pure evil in my heart.

"Isaac!" Came a happy voice from behind me.

I opened my eyes in horror, wondering who in this universe of madness would find me here.

Then Melody Davies hopped into my view, her amber eyes round with delight as she smiled at me.

"Isaac! There you are! I was worried that I was going to lose you!" She laughed, instantly bringing back that scowl on my face.

"How did you find me again, Melody?" I asked, exasperated.

I'd run into her a few days ago, where she'd begged me to find Noah and unite her with her love. The spell had completely taken over her, her eyes glazed with pink as she went on and on about a guy she barely knew.

Obviously, I'd refused to help her. Neither was I Cupid, uniting couples since eternity and nor was she Juliet, with a real love story.

So I'd denied, telling her that the Enlightened required my service, and that I had to leave immediately.

Little did I know that it wasn't the last of Melody Davies.

"I've been following you for the past one week," Melody blurted out. "Please Isaac, you're the only one who can help me."

I sighed.

Why did I have to deal with problems like this?

"Melody," I faced her, realising that breaking the truth to her was the only way she'd get out of this situation. "You're under a spell."

She merely blinked.

"Lord Augustus cast a love spell onto you and Noah. Whatever you're feeling right now, it's all an infatuation. Nothing is real."

Melody blinked again. Then she laughed.

"Isaac, I'd forgotten how good your jokes were. Me and Noah under a spell? That's the craziest thing I've ever heard!" She clutched her stomach as she broke into a laugh.

"Are you stupid?" I frowned at her. "It's not a joke. I'm telling you the truth."

"Okay," She smiled. "But that poker face you said it with? It was so real, I almost believed you!"

This girl was unbelievably dense. No wonder Augustus could manipulate her easily.

"Melody, go away," I told her wearily. "I don't have the time to entertain your sob stories."

"You say you don't have the time, but you stare at the Astrascends for long hours," She pointed out.

"That's none of your business," I snapped.

"I don't get it," She ignored my statement. "Why would you watch the Astrascends, when you can simply walk in? The entrance was right there."

"What entrance?" I asked quickly.

Could she really see the very thing I'd been searching for all this time?

"The entrance to the Astrascends, duh!" She laughed. "It had a big yellow board, saying 'Welcome to the land of your dreams!' There was also a picture of this cute guy... But nothing on my Noah!" She corrected hastily.

I straightened.

Could I use this fool to invade the place Shay had proofed against me?

It was worth a try.

"Melody, there's something you need to know," I started, giving her a warm smile.

"Don't tell me another one of your poker-faced jokes," She chuckled.

"I've been staring at the Astrascends, because Noah is in there," I lied smoothly. "He's been hiding there all this while, since it's heavily protected against the ISA."

Melody blinked stupidly.

I wondered if she did it to show off her long lashes.

"Why didn't Noah come and see me?" Melody started.

"Because, Shay is holding him captive," I told her, my imagination running wild. "I've been plotting a rescue plan, but I couldn't enter the Astrascends. Think about it, Melody. We're the only ones who can rescue him."

Melody Davies was slow, but when the enormity of my story sunk in, she beamed as if she were the sun.

"Really?" She squeaked. "Isaac, why didn't you tell me this before? Let's go and rescue Noah right away!"

I watched her, a slow smile spreading across my face.

Some people were so easy to manipulate.

*****

"Have you ever been invited to join the Astrascends?" I asked Melody as we walked towards the invisible entrance.

Only those who'd been personally invited could see the entrance to the Astrascends. We'd been careful enough to not invite any official from the ISA, unless they seemed disloyal.

"Shay invited me back in August," She answered. "I'd never joined, because I didn't think I was ready for Enlightenment."

I nodded, knowing that fools like Melody would never make it past the seventh Realm.

After five minutes of walking, Melody stood right in front of a large slab of rock, and pointed at it.

"We're here," She said.

"Already?" I asked, my voice that of uncertainty.

She grasped my hand, and led me right through the slab of rock. I followed her, trying to sense for a shift in the energies.

Nothing.

I smiled. I'd proofed this place against the ISA, and I'd done an excellent job about it. I just didn't realise that I would be shunned out of my own empire.

I glowered at the icy floor.

Shay would pay for everything she'd done.

As we walked through the cavern, Melody tried to fill the silence by asking nosy questions.

"Weren't you and Shay soulmates?"

I wasn't in the mood to answer. But I had to turn Melody against Shay, it would be an added advantage.

"We were," I told her, feigning worry. "But, she never loved me, Melody. She broke up with me a few weeks ago."

I threw in a painful look, scrunching up my face and wiping at my eyes. Melody looked at me with sympathy, clicking her tongue in a reassuring way as she gave me a hug.

"I'm so sorry, Isaac," She said, her head buried in my chest. "I didn't expect Shay to be like this. She was so sweet to me when she invited me to the Astrascends."

"She would've been. She's only nice to you till she gets what she wants. And then, she throws you away like trash."

"Trash?" Melody looked outraged.

"Trash," I nodded, sniffing slightly.

She didn't say anything, but her grip on my wrist grew stronger as we reached the end of the tunnel. I could see Kyle, my Spirit Guide friend, guarding the entrance and only letting the real recruits through.

Right. It was time to use the Shield now.

Placing a finger on my lips, I pulled Melody behind a rocky outgrowth, trying to hide from Kyle. I fed her more lies about why I had to stay hidden, and Melody lapped it all up like the fool she was.

"Don't worry, Isaac," She gave me a determined smile. "I'll get you through safely."

True to her word, Melody used a combination of her sweet voice and extra-long lashes to captivate Kyle. He hadn't even bothered to scan her, nor me, since I was invisible. And even as we left, he was staring at her, completely lovestruck.

Finally Kyle had found something other than cats to obsess about.

"Where to next? Noah?" Melody muttered under her breath.

"Find Shay," I whispered into her ear.

She nodded, now chatting up with random Spirits to extract info. Meanwhile, I used my powers, trying to see if Shay was still wrapped around Violet.

She wasn't.

She was now in a corridor not too far from where we were standing. I slipped away silently, leaving Melody to flirt away with strangers.

I had to deal with Shay on my own. Melody's fragile heart wouldn't stand it.

Upon reaching the corridor, I grasped the doorknob open, and pushed through, as Shay turned around. Her hair was loose, tumbling over her shoulders, before she flipped it behind. To my surprise, she looked as calm as ever, almost as if she'd been expecting my arrival.

I tried not to look too surprised at her reaction. I had to show her that I had the upper hand here.

"Is the movie over?" I asked coolly, referring to the movie she and Violet were cuddling over.

"So, you still spy on me," Shay pinched her lips together. "Surprising for someone who wanted nothing to do with me."

"Well, you know what they say," I shrugged. "You've got to keep your enemies closer."

"We're enemies now?" Shay nearly laughed.

"We wouldn't have been, if you didn't steal what was mine," I spat out, trembling slightly in suppressed anger.

"I'm not a thief, Isaac," She sounded brave. "You brought fragility onto yourself. Your powers left because you hurt me."

I stared at her in disbelief.

Where was the meek and submissive girlfriend I'd created all these years? Did she not realise it was me she was talking to?

That I could break her if I wanted to?

"Powers just don't leave," I scowled at her. "Your excuses are just as pathetic as you, Shay."

"Not as pathetic as someone who doesn't realise he's in love," Shay retorted, without missing a beat.

"Love? With who... You?" I broke into laughter. "Oh my gosh, your humor is pathetic too."

"And yet you seeth in jealousy every time Violet hangs out with me," She smirked at me.

"I don't seeth in jealousy," I scoffed, trying to ignore my reddened cheeks. "Why would I care?"

"Deny all you want, but it's the truth, Isaac. Only love can transfer power between beings such as us. You'd be a fool not to realise this," Shay announced, her voice growing more powerful as she morphed into her half-Enlightened form.

I gulped. Had I angered her inner beast?

She turned, her eyes rolled back to show pure whites that had light flooding through them. Her hair glowed too, and she floated a feet above the ground, staring down at me.

"The Enlightened have seen the way you've used Melody. They've seen the way you've used me," Shay hollered. "They've seen every crime of yours, Isaac. And you've got to pay the price."

"Empty threats and flashy lights don't work on me," I rolled my eyes. "Go find someone else to scare."

Shay stilled. I could sense someone moving behind me, and I turned around, growing pale at the sight of her.

Lady Teresa of the Enlightened was here, in her light beam form that encased her silhouette.

"Isaac, you've gone too far," Her voice announced. "Your powers grow weaker, while Shay's grow stronger. It is love that caused this, and it is love that can restore your original state."

"I can't love her, Lady Teresa. It would be foolish to have worldly desires," I told her promptly.

"And yet, you lie, cheat and blackmail others. Do know that your powers will desert you if you don't restore the imbalance. Doing good deeds will only propel you further into your goals." Lady Teresa announced.

"I agree, Lady Teresa," I told her obediently. "But  there are other members of the Enlightened that need lecturing. What I have done is barely evil."

I knew that I was stretching it far, but I had no choice. Why couldn't Lady Teresa stop Lord Augustus from wreaking havoc?

Was she too scared of him?

"Contrary to your beliefs, Lord Augustus is barely evil," She gave me a subtle smile. "I do not expect you to understand what is going on with him, when you barely understand yourself and your feelings."

Ouch. Lady Teresa was too cocky for an Enlightened.

"I'm not in love with her," I told Lady Teresa, "I can't love Shay, she's..."

I paused, nearly blinded by the images flashing before my eyes. Shay dancing with Violet, Shay locking her lips with Violet, Shay in a white dress, walking towards Violet-

"NOOOO!!!" I howled. "No, I can't see that! I can't, I just, I can't. I-I'm not jealous I just... I can't..." Tears streamed down my face as I fell to the floor, clawing at my eyes. How do I stop the visions? I blinked and rubbed my eyes and yet they stayed, as bright as daylight.

"I don't need an answer, Isaac. You do," Lady Teresa whispered, fading into the surroundings.

"I... Can't..." I cried out. "Please, I just can't see it-"

"Isaac?" It was Shay, her fingers upon my shoulder, her breath upon my face.

Her emerald eyes were the first things I saw. With hints of gold and mahogany, almost a warm hazel shade I'd never seen on her before. Her eyeliner made them stand out more, and I sucked in a breath, seeing her for the goddess she was.

Terrifying.

"What did Lady Teresa say?" She asked, her voice as gentle as a flower. "You look scared to death."

"I'm not," I told her stiffly, pushing my glasses up my nose. "I need to go."

I couldn't even look at her, even as her captivating gaze latched onto me. I was embarrassed, ashamed, even horrified that I still had feelings for her.

"If I were you, I'd help Melody out," Shay called out as I began to walk away. "You need to take the love spell off her. I think the Arbor Vitae would help-"

"What makes you think that I need your advice?" I blurted out.

"We're not enemies, Isaac," Shay called out. "I don't hate you."

I paused in my tracks. Something about her words lightened my heart. Maybe, we had a chance.

"I just pity you," Shay added, softly.

I knew it.

We never had a chance.

My dark eyes stabbed her green ones, her breath freezing as she swallowed my fury. With a sharp turn, I marched right out, holding my head high, and not caring as a single tear slipped out of her eye.

I hated Shay.

I hated everything about her, from her guts to that superior smile she threw me, as if she was proud of stealing my powers.

Funnily, her advice stayed with me.

Melody had to visit the Arbor Vitae. It was the least I could do for using her.

*****

(A/N : Hey Guys! I'm back. I hope you're all doing great!

I'm really excited, partly because I'm sharing one of my favourite chapters, but also because, it's my second anniversary on Wattpad as a writer!!!

I can't believe that it's been two years already, from hesitating to publish that first draft, to completing two and a half books... It's been an incredible journey.
Thank you all for staying with me throughout!!! Your constant support has been invaluable. 😄❤️)