Enchanted High Book I

James’s feet moved him towards the tree, placed onto the wheeled table behind Hubert.

June twisted against the metal. ‘James, no!’

Hubert leaned down on her, ‘He can’t hear you.’

James began speaking, but his voice wasn’t his. It echoed, several voices together, across the room, terrifying June as he said the words to trigger the power of the tree. ′I wish ...′

’James! You’re under a spell – stop!′

′I wish,′ the voices of James said in unison, ’... for King Xavier to return to the day ...′

The room burst into sparks of dark blue. Strong gushes of wind exploded across everything. June had to shut her eyes from the light, the wind. She could hear Hubert’s laugh, carrying with the tornado. But in the middle of everything, James’s voices rang the loudest.

‘... he first met Linasia ...’

Something large was tossed across the room; June barely ducked and saved herself from the wheeled table.

‘... in her hometown ...’ his voices boomed. ‘... three thousand years ago ...’

Golden sparks surged out from the leaves of the tree like a firecracker; bursting towards the roof, some stray sparks shot towards June’s skin, prickling her skin with stinging sensations.

The sparks weaved together, curling over each other like the leaves of Robbie’s bowl. They formed a solid structure after every section was complete – June realized that it was a door; a door to the past. The wind became stronger as if there was a hurricane happening on the other side. Even Hubert was having difficulties to remain on his feet.

But no matter what, James’s concentration remained fixated on the tree, on his wish; on his commands.

Hubert smiled down at June. ‘Come with me, Linasia’ he told her. ‘You can be my queen. We can rule the magical world.’

June frowned at him. ‘I am not Linasia.’ She snapped.

He laughed, and stroked her hair. ’You are her. You’re her re-incarnation. You are Linasia.′

June’s blood ran cold. A part of her knew he was right – the red hair, the images in the mirror – she had even seen Hubert’s face flicker into Xavier, didn’t she? Several times ... she saw the lightning.

Hubert looked at her curiously. ‘Don’t try denying it. You have only me, now. The rest of your family is dead. Your only purpose is to return home with me. You know it.’

The wind roared. The door was forming, and Hubert stood before it.

June shook Hubert’s words away. Her life was not meant for this only – she had Aunt Audrey, she had Alexia, she had Nicole, and Dominic, and James. Linasia didn’t. June was not Linasia.

At that moment, June decided that this was not how she was going to let it end.

She had to get free; she couldn’t summon any water, there wasn’t even a drop anywhere nearby. There was only heat and fire ...

Fire.

‘DOMINIC! Burn it!’

He was struggling too, fighting with the metal shackles. He looked at her, the golden sparks shining in his eyes, and he seemed to realize the instruction. His hand burst into a bonfire; he directed all the heat towards the shackles, finding the melting point of metal ...

The metal poured to the ground, liquid, and Dominic rushed out of his place to free June and Nicole.

Hubert was standing in front of the golden door, still forming only halfway more. His eyes were closed, imagining the city of Canzas, where he had first laid eyes on the woman, her red hair was braided with pearls like a goddess in heaven ... ′It’s almost complete ...′

James was standing paces away from Hubert; eyes glassy and unknowing. She ran to him, shaking him out of his daze.

Salvatore grabbed her hair. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’

His hand was yanking her head backwards; she screamed and swung her balled fists into his face. He let go; the punch had landed hard on his nose. She shoved him onto the floor, and ran to James.

His eyes were all black, emotionless. His hair and shirt was damp. She clutched his face, unsure of how to snap him out. ‘James, James, you’re under a spell, you need to snap out of it –’

Salvatore slammed his hands onto her back; she kicked him in the gut and he spat blood onto the floor. Dominic grabbed him by his shirt, and held him back.

‘You handle James, jog his memory or something,’ he told her.

She turned back to James. ’Remember that walk we took in school gardens? You – you showed me all the beautiful flowers. I will never forget them. James.′

His lips parted as if he wanted to say something. He spoke in his voices. ′... I am bad luck ... I am accident-prone ... I offer no help to anyone ...′

She smoothed down his hair, shaking her head vigorously. And the words flew out before she could even think about it. ‘No, James, no, you’re not, you’re the one who found the riddle in desert – you’re the one who was wandering around on the first night there and found the invisible buildings ... you’re not accident-prone. You’re good luck, James.’

It didn’t seem to be working. June looked towards Hubert; the door was three-quarter way complete and she had no idea how to reverse the wish.

Behind her, Dominic was keeping Salvatore busy by hurling fireballs at him, singeing his hair, parts of skin, without really injuring him. But Salvatore didn’t seem to care whether he was injured or not; all there was left for him to do was fulfill his master’s biddings.

′The door is complete!′

Well, these author notes are only gonna get more horrible. I can’t handle being under pressure.

--THUG.