Helena is the first place winner of my November-December 2022 pinterest story competition, and this is the winning story! Enjoy!

Word of warning from the author:

“There are some disturbing scenes in this story so please don’t read if you are not ok with blood!”

“I can’t do it.”

“It’s not that you can’t do it. You don’t want to do it.” A masculine voice growled. “Adalira, you must do it for me. It is our only choice.”

“I won’t do it.” Adalira’s last words were as she stormed away, her hair swishing at the same beat as her pace.

◇

Adalira runs through the forest as fast as she possibly can in her thick long dress and stops just in time right before the creek. She sits on a large stone, just In front of the water. The tide rushes along quickly and Adalira’s mind wanders around until a twig snaps to break the silence. Her head spins around to see… “Jayden!?”

He smiles. “That’s me. Your father-“

“Please, don’t. I’ve had enough of him today and I don’t need to know that he has spoken to you.”

“What’s wrong with Michael talking to me?” Jayden grinned.

“Shut up, you already know.”

“I’m guessing he still wants you to read that warlocks mind?”

“Oh my gosh! How did you know? Let me guess, there is a whole conspiracy that I can read minds now?” Adalira sarcastically announces.

Jayden sits beside Adalira silently, and looks at her.

“You need to do it, Adi-“

“Why? Why do i need to do it?”

“Because if you don’t do it that warlock will escape somehow, and we don’t know if he is the one who killed Isaac. Adi please…” Jayden pleaded “If you don’t do it for your father, do it for me.”

“Stop! Just stop, please! Stop with the begging and pleading. And for the love of-“

“Adi-“

“No! Don’t call me that!” Adalira stands up in a furry. “You think because I am a young girl you can control me. I know what you’re thinking and don’t say I dont because you know I can read your mind if I want too.”

“You can if you want, but you may be surprised when you find out that I think-“

“I DONT CARE WHAT YOU THINK JAYDEN! I don’t!” Adalira’s eyes start to water but she ignores it. “You don’t know what it’s like to be in someone’s mind. It’s dangerous Jayden, dangerous and terrifying.”

Adalira wipes away the tears on her cheek that have fallen, and Jayden stands up in front of her. Slowly wrapping his arms around her he murmurs into her ear “It’s going to be okay.”

Ignoring the fact that she knew Jayden was lying, his presence was comforting and safe.

◇

Adalira walks into the room and finds it very peculiar. Never minding that her eyes lay straight onto the warlock sitting in a bright colored chair. With Jayden by her side, she had gained more confidence, wondering how she would feel without him but also horrored by it. She sat down on the couch opposite the warlock, and he smiled.

His teeth were pointy like a vampire’s but
as blunt as a fork she was told. Adalira sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes. She scrambled through her thoughts and was able to find one of the warlock’s face, she pushed her way into the visual to get into his mind.
“Well, hello there.” He said. Her hand scrambled around the couch to find Jayden’s hand and once she found it held it tight.

“Did you or did you not kill my brother?”

“I’d prefer you stay out of my head little miss, because it is rude to your elderly fellows.”

“DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT!’ Her voice in her head got firm.

“This is dangerous Adalira. You know I told you not to. unless perhaps you want another precious boy to die. Does Jayden sound good to you?” the warlock laughed.

“No-no-no-no..” Jayden’s grip on her hand
loosened.

“Your’e playing with a dangerous person Adalira” the warlock said and then his presence was gone.

“Nol No! No!” Adalira screamed. Her eyes flew open, and right before her she saw Jayden, blood poured from his wrists as his hands we cut off, and his eyes were wide open. His throat was slit open, and he looked like he had been bleeding for a while now. He was dead, and the warlock was gone. there is nothing she can do now. Adalira sobbed and that turned into weeping and that turned into the biggest mourning of her life.
Her life was being controlled by an evil warlock and there was absolutely nothing she could do. Nothing. What is her father going to say when he finds her? Is he going to think she murdered him? She feared the future so much. So now, Adalira decided that she will give the warlock what he most desired.

Herself.

Note: Please do not steal this work as it means a lot to the author, and she wishes to publish it one day. If you would like to read the revised version, please check out the author’s blog at @duskwriter.art.blog