“The only mistake here is you!” Rachel yelled, looking behind her as she ran with lighting speed.

She couldn’t understand why this hallway was so long. It hadn’t looked that long to her before, but now with each step she took, it seemed to get longer and longer and Emily kept getting further and further away.

“Keep running!” Violet laughed. “It will get you somewhere!”

She heard the sarcasm in her voice and knew that Violet was behind this. She was running quickly to nowhere and decided to stop. She knew she was outnumbered.

The second her feet stopped running; Violet launched at her and pinned her down to the ground.

“Don’t you wish you’d never met me?” Violet said sternly. “Don’t answer. It doesn’t matter.”

Violet strapped her legs and arms to the ground with big metal bolts so she wouldn’t try and run again. Then she took out her fingernail and drug it down her arms, scratching her so badly she began to bleed. Violet bent down and smelled her blood and then sat up with a smile on her face as if to prolong the pain.

“Just what I’ve always wanted!” Violet said as she touched the blood with her pointer and put it to her mouth for a small taste.

“You’re going to be a real asset to our coven,” Violet said.

Then, a voice boomed down the hall, running at lightning speed towards her.

“VIOLET STOP!” Hunter yelled.

“Hunter?” Violet said, turning around and standing up. “What are you doing here?” she asked, as she fixed her hair.

“Do not lay another finger on her. Do you hear me?” Hunter yelled with Penelope following not far behind him.

“How did you escape?” Violet grunted. “You’re supposed to be locked up.”

Hunter ran past Violet, knocking her to the ground with one elbow jab, and over to Rachel, to unlock her from the ground. Penelope blocked Violet’s evil subjects from approaching with her shield power, which radiated a burning red light that kept them at bay. If they came close, it would melt and kill them instantly.

“HURRY RACHEL! You have to get out of her! Quickly. Go!” Hunter said as he unbolted the final leg cuff.

“Where? Where should I go?” Rachel asked quickly.

“You have to go to Benji. You have to save him before it’s too late,” Hunter yelled.

Rachel jumped to her feet and flew down the hall, using her summoned strength and adrenaline.

“But what about Emily? I have to save her,” Rachel said, turning back around towards her friend.

“NO! I will do it. You must leave. NOW!” Hunter yelled. “HURRY!”

“But what about you? You can’t stay here along with them? You’re outnumbered,” Rachel yelled back over her shoulder.

“I’ll be fine. I’ll take care of this. You go on to Benji. Keep him safe,” Hunter yelled.

“But—” Rachel said.

“No buts,” Hunter said. “Go! Save yourself!”

With that, Rachel took off, out of the Halloween Ball, and flew up in to the air, her sights set on finding Benji and saving the Vladdicus Coven.

Chapter Sixteen

As Rachel arrived back to the ramparts she had left just days before, she felt a total shift in the air. It had grown much colder and the wind had picked up quite a bit. She could feel a nip in the air as if it were about to snow, but she knew it was rare for it to snow in late October. She wondered if this chill she felt was the temperature, or the fact that she knew something bad was about to happen.

She stood there, remembering her last conversation with Benji, wishing that she’d never left him. That she’d never even left the castle. She felt a sense of calm come over her as she stood there, a sense that this was her home, and that this is where she belonged. She then got upset with herself for leaving and ran inside to find Benji, and to make it right again.

She flung open the door to the staircase and ran down two flights until she got to her dormitory floor. She ran down the smelly hallway, which now didn’t seem to bother her as much as it had before, and into her small room. It was quiet, with only the few things she had left behind, still in their places as if nobody realized she’d been gone. She sat down on her bed and caught her breath. She knew she didn’t have much time, so she popped up and ran down the hallway towards Georgia’s room.

The door was shut and she stood there, knocking loudly. Nobody answered. Then, moments later, Georgia came to the door, her hair wet from the shower and wrapped in a towel.

“Rachel! You’re back!” Georgia said, as she came in close to hug her.

“Yes! I’m back! For good now, I promise,” Rachel said, smiling and out of breath.

“What’s wrong? Why are you out of breath?” Georgia asked.

“Long story. I just got back. I need to find Benji. Have you seen him?” Rachel asked hopefully.

“I haven’t seen him in days actually. I know he came back but then I think he left again. I’m not sure though. Sorry,” Georgia said, trying to be helpful.

“Oh no! Where did he go?” asked Rachel.

“I don’t know. It’s been pretty crazy around here lately. Everyone’s talking about the war,” Georgia answered.

“No, don’t say that. Please don’t tell me he’s gone to war!” Rachel cried, looking around, hoping to spot Benji.

“I’m afraid, it’s possible. But you should check with the others, I don’t know anything else,” Georgia said.

“Well, thanks anyway. It’s good to see you! I’ll be back later. I have to go find him now,” Rachel said, as she ran off down the hallway and towards the family quarters of the castle. She knew if anyone would know where Benji was, it would be his Uncle Drew.

Each step felt like a lifetime as she weaved her way down the ancient hallways and spiral staircases towards the family quarters. She was surprised how well she remembered her way around, since she’d only been there a few days. The lanterns on the wall flickered as the cool breezes came through the cracked stained glass windows. An eerie feeling came over her. A feeling that she didn’t want to believe. She knew something was happening to Benji, she could feel it in her bones. She knew she had to save him. She loved him.

Tears started to fill her eyes and blur her vision as she traveled through the long corridors of the castle. She could feel that she was too late, and she hated herself for it. She knew Benji would never allow anything bad to happen to her, yet when the tables were turned, she let him leave for war and enter into danger alone and scared. If anything had happened to him, she would never be able to forgive herself. She could hardly control herself as she burst into tears.

She could hardly see where she was walking because she was so upset. Then, as if by miracle, she arrived in the larger foyer where she had met Uncle Drew just days before. She knew he would be around here somewhere. She ran through the foyer and toward his library, where she figured he might be.

As she arrived, the door was open just a crack and she could him sitting there, quietly in the dark room. He was sitting with his back towards her, and didn’t see her peeking in. She cleared her throat and hoped that he would turn and see her. She didn’t want to interrupt him from his studies, but knew she had no choice. She cleared her throat again, this time louder, and Uncle Drew turned quickly in his chair.

“Yes, who’s there?” Uncle Drew asked.

“It’s me, Rachel,” she said, as she creaked open the door.

“Why didn’t you say so sooner, come in Dear,” Uncle Drew remarked.

“Uncle Drew, you have to help me,” Rachel said, wiping off her tears. “I need to see Benji, please.”

“Why are you crying, darling?” he asked.

“I’m fine, I just want to see him. Please tell me he’s here,” Rachel begged.

He looked at Rachel and shook his head from left to right. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid he’s already gone.”

“Gone! What do you mean gone?” Rachel asked.

“Please don’t tell me, he’s…” Rachel paused.

Rachel heard a noise and turned around quickly. She was surprised to see Matilda standing there, with her arms folded in front of her. She wasn’t smiling and didn’t seem happy to see her. A pang of guilt flooded her as she stood there in between Uncle Drew and Matilda, not knowing what would happen next.

“So you’re back I see?” Matilda said.

“Yes, I’m back. I regret leaving so much. I know I shouldn’t have,” Rachel said in sorrow.

“Please tell me your brother is OK, please!” Rachel begged, looking at Matilda.

“I wish I knew,” Matilda said. “It’s brutal out there.”

“Oh no! I never should have left,” Rachel said.

“You broke his heart,” Matilda said. “He was devastated last I saw him. He wasn’t acting himself.”

“I have to save him!” Rachel said. “I love him!”

“It’s too late,” Matilda, warned. “It’s not safe for you out there. We warned you not to leave. Now, you don’t have the training to survive in battle. You will die if you go out there.”

“I’ll be fine. I need to go!” Rachel said naively.

“Benji needed you, Rachel and you left him. All you cared about was yourself. How can we ever trust you again?” Matilda asked.

Rachel looked back at Uncle Drew who was looking at her with upset eyes. She never meant to upset the family, especially since they were her family now. She truly felt that this is where she belonged and these were her real family. She hadn’t realized it until that moment, but now that she had, she couldn’t resist the feeling.

“Please, Matilda and Uncle Drew. I said I was sorry. I realize you guys are my family now. I have accepted that,” Rachel said. “I learned a lot over the past few days. I have no regrets now. Please accept me back.”

Matilda looked at Uncle Drew who was nodding his head in acceptance. “Fine, we accept you back, but it still doesn’t change the fact that Benji is gone and you may never see him again,” Matilda said.