After the blinding light faded, Briar scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest like a wild drum. The shrine, which had been alive with the roar of the waterfall and the hum of magic, now lay in an eerie silence. She spun around, her eyes wide with confusion and fear, searching for any sign of her friends. Her breath caught in her throat as she spotted them sprawled far from the sacred circle, their bodies motionless, looking as if they had been tossed aside like rag dolls.

"Leon! Theodore! Knight!" she cried out, her voice echoing in the unnaturally quiet space. But there was no response. They were all unconscious, their chests rising and falling shallowly in the cold air.

She turned back to the sacred circle, her eyes locking onto the orb of light that still hovered in mid-air, crackling with tendrils of electricity. Its glow was both mesmerizing and terrifying, like a beacon of untamed power.

Suddenly, a chilling laugh pierced the silence, making Briar's skin prickle with dread. She whipped around, her eyes scanning the shadows near the statue of the Fairy Queen. From behind the stone figure, a figure emerged, moving with a predatory grace that set Briar's pulse racing.

Briar squinted through the dim light, her heart sinking as the figure came into focus. Her breath hitched. She would recognize that face anywhere—it haunted her nightmares with a relentless persistence.

The Wicked Fairy.

The woman strode towards Briar with a cruel smirk playing on her lips. She wore a long gown of red and black, shimmering as if woven from the very fabric of the night sky, studded with countless stars. Her eyes, glowing embers set against the pale skin, burned with a malevolent glee. Dark, wild hair cascaded around her shoulders, framing a face that was twisted in a sneer. Her lips were as red as freshly spilled blood.

"Hello, Sleeping Beauty," the Wicked Fairy purred in a voice dripping with false sweetness. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

Briar's mind reeled. Was she dreaming? The shrine felt too real, the magical energy buzzing in the air around her too palpable. "You... you...?" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "Wicked Fairy."

The fairy's smile widened. "I'm flattered you remember me," she said with an unpleasant chuckle. "You were just a baby when we last met."

"But you were gone," Briar breathed, her voice shaking with disbelief. "Everyone said you were gone."

"Gone?" the Wicked Fairy repeated, arching an eyebrow in mock surprise. "Did they truly believe that in my absence, I ceased to exist?"

Briar's gaze flicked to her friends, lying still and silent. Panic surged through her veins. "What have you done to them?" she demanded.

The fairy glanced nonchalantly at the unconscious figures. "They're not dead," she said, examining her long, polished nails with feigned disinterest. "Just asleep. I didn't want any interruptions."

"What are you doing here?" Briar asked.

The fairy's smirk widened. "Ah, the burning question."

Briar's heart raced as a horrible thought took root in her mind. What if the Wicked Fairy was here to stop her from breaking the curse? But no, she had already broken it, hadn't she? "You're too late," she said with a burst of confidence. "I've broken the curse. You can't stop me."

The Wicked Fairy threw her head back and laughed, a cold, harsh sound that sent shivers down Briar's spine. "Oh, sweet child, you think it's over?" She gestured towards the glowing orb in the sacred circle. "I assure you, I'm right on time."

Fear coiled around Briar's heart, but she steeled herself, forcing it away. She had to be brave. She couldn't let the fairy see her fear.

"I think you need an explanation," the fairy said, as she began to circle Briar, much like a predator stalking its prey. "I won't hide anything from you, Sleeping Beauty, unlike your dear parents and friends."

Briar's stomach twisted in dread. How did she know so much about her? The knowledge made Briar feel naked and vulnerable under the fairy's piercing gaze.

"Sleeping Beauty," the fairy continued, her voice mocking, "you are not here to break any curse. You are here because I summoned you."

Briar's head spun the words a confusing whirl in her mind. What was she talking about? What game was she playing? She took a deep breath, determined not to let the fairy's words shake her.

"I know you're confused," the fairy said, leaning in closer, her face contorted into a parody of sympathy. "But once I'm done, you'll understand everything." She straightened up, her eyes gleaming with a fanatical light. "I was born to be the queen of Fairyland, born to wield power. But can you believe I lost the trial to become the fairy queen? That foolish Tara won!" The fairy's face twisted with rage, her voice rising with every word. "The elder fairies cheated! They were jealous of me, afraid I would become more powerful than they could ever imagine. Afraid I would shatter their precious rules."

The Wicked Fairy moved towards the statues of the elder fairies, her eyes burning with hatred as she looked at them. "But I didn't give up. I learned dark magic. I gained power. I fought for my rightful place. But Tara, with her legendary wand and the backing of the elders, defeated me again. They declared me a criminal for seeking what is rightfully mine. I was forced to flee, vowing to return stronger than ever. I sought greater power, a power beyond the fairy queen and the elders. And I found it." Her face lit up with a malevolent glee. "The Wand of Elements. The ultimate source of power, controlling the very forces of nature—earth, sky, water, fire, and air. But there was a catch." She turned to Briar, her expression darkening with loathing. "I can't summon it. Only the summoner can, and do you know who that is?" She spat the words, her voice dripping with venom. "You, Princess Briar Rose, are the summoner."

Briar's heart raced, thudding painfully against her ribcage. The Wicked Fairy's words echoed in her mind. She, a simple human girl, had the power to summon a wand capable of controlling all the elements of nature. It was beyond comprehension, a reality that seemed more like a cruel joke than a truth.

"Why?" the Wicked Fairy suddenly screamed, her voice filled with raw fury. "Why should a filthy human, who has no idea what the Wand of Elements can do, be granted the power? Why not me, a powerful fairy, destined for greatness?" Her eyes burned with an intense hatred, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. "It enraged me so much that I crashed your christening and cursed you to die," she continued, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. "But once my anger subsided, I realized it was fine if you were the summoner. You would summon the wand. For me." She leaned in closer, her lips curling into a twisted, malevolent smile. "I devised the perfect plan and waited a hundred years for you to awaken. And when you did, I took the first step by cursing your kingdom."

Briar's blood boiled at the casual way the fairy spoke about cursing her kingdom as if it were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

The Wicked Fairy's eyes locked onto Briar's, a cold, unyielding gaze that seemed to pierce her very soul. "I had to make sure no one knew about my plan," she said, her voice low and menacing. "I couldn't risk the fairy queen ruining everything. So, I killed the soldiers your kingdom sent to meet my mother. I wanted you to come instead. And you did. Your presence forced my mother to open the library and give you the ritual to summon the wand."

"Don't forget I helped you," a familiar voice chimed in.

Briar spun towards the voice, her heart shattering at the sight. A fairy was walking towards the sacred circle, her face illuminated by the eerie glow of the orb. It was Evalina.

"Evalina?" Briar's voice trembled with a mixture of disbelief and betrayal.

Evalina approached with a smirk, her eyes cold and unfeeling. "Our stupid brother almost ruined everything," she said dismissively. "But I saved the day and convinced our mother to give you the ritual."

"You're with her?" Briar's voice wavered, still hoping it was some kind of twisted illusion created by the Wicked Fairy to break her spirit.

"I'm with my sister," Evalina replied coolly.

Briar's mind reeled. Why was Evalina calling the Wicked Fairy her sister? She had always spoken of her with such contempt, blaming her for their banishment from Fairyland. "You can't be with her," Briar insisted, her voice cracking. "You said you hated her."

Evalina's face twisted with disdain. "I never hated my sister," she spat. "Why would I? I hate the fairy queen and the elder fairies. They were too self-righteous, always shoving their rules of kindness and goodwill down our throats. It was suffocating."

Briar's breath caught in her throat. She needed to know the truth. "Are Viviana and Lilliana with you?" she asked.

"The fools," Evalina scoffed, rolling her eyes. "They would have ruined everything. I did it all myself. After mother gave me the key, I went to the library, found the ritual to summon the Wand of Elements, and handed it to you, claiming it was to break the curse. I gave you all the help you needed to collect the magical objects, playing my part perfectly."

Briar's mind raced, recalling how easily Evalina had offered her assistance, how she had played the role of a helpful ally to perfection. She had been nothing more than a pawn in Evalina's twisted game.

The Wicked Fairy let out a harsh, triumphant laugh. "The ritual required you, the summoner, to gather all the magical objects yourself," she said. She lunged forward, grabbing Briar's shoulder with a vice-like grip. "And you did, princess. You did it all on your own. You have the potential. You will bring me so much power in the future. You will be a great servant."

Briar's eyes flicked to the sacred circle. Within the giant orb of light, a long wand hovered, encased in a dazzling display of blue, green, and golden tendrils of energy. It pulsed with a raw, untamed power that sent shivers down her spine.

A crushing sense of defeat washed over Briar. Despite all her efforts, and all her struggles, she had failed to save her kingdom. The Wicked Fairy's plan had succeeded, and Briar had unwittingly played right into her hands.

Briar's mind raced, searching for a way out, a way to turn the tables. But deep down, she knew the truth. She was out of time, out of options. The Wicked Fairy's plan was about to come to fruition, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

_____