SWNOVELS Chapter 25: Defiant
Amelia stood her ground, her heart torn between the love she held for Jace and the unspeakable darkness her sister Alicia was willing to embrace. She couldn't fathom the consequences of such a malevolent act.
"I won't do it," Amelia declared firmly, her voice trembling with emotion. "I won't sacrifice my heart for power. Do you even understand the evil and chaos that could unleash upon the world?"
Cade's patience wore thin, and his temper flared as he shouted at Amelia, his voice laced with venom. "Listen, girl, if you're not as foolish as your mother, you would think about the outcome. After all, you will die, but at least John and Jace will get to live. John did die once, remember? Killing him again won't mean much." He looked intensely at John, his words hanging heavy in the air.
Amelia turned her gaze toward Alicia, her eyes pleading. "There's still hope," she implored, her voice filled with desperation. "Please, Alicia, don't do this. It isn't you."
Alicia's face contorted with anger and bitterness as she lashed out at her sister. "Silence! What do you know about me, huh?" she snapped, her voice dripping with jealousy and resentment. "Mother never even told you about me until now, because she was so scared of me bringing darkness. She didn't even fight for me the way she did for you."
Alicia's threat hung in the air, a chilling reminder of the peril they all faced. "You will give me your heart, whether you like it or not," she declared, her eyes gleaming with malevolence, "or everyone you have ever loved, including Jace, will die."
Cade, wearing a sinister smile, turned his attention back to Amelia and John. He gave a signal, and guards brought Jace forward, pushing him to the forest floor. Amelia's heart sank as she saw Jace's weakened state, a stark contrast to the vibrant man she had known.
Amelia couldn't believe her eyes; it didn't even look like Jace. Panic coursed through her veins. "Jace!" she cried out, taking a step toward him.
John shouted Jace's name and rushed forward to reach him, but before he could get close, Cade, with a flick of his finger, unleashed his powers and sent John crashing into a tree. Pain contorted John's face as he struggled to regain his composure.
Jace, lying on the forest floor, coughed up blood and looked up weakly. "Father," he rasped, his voice barely audible.
Alicia, her anger unabated, looked down at Jace and kicked him harshly. "Don't say another word," she hissed.
Jace's gaze locked onto Amelia's, his eyes filled with pain but also a plea. "Don't give her your heart," he whispered hoarsely.
Amelia's heart ached as she watched Jace, battered and broken, struggling to protect her. She knew that she couldn't allow her sister to carry out this dark ritual. With her determination steeled, she looked at Alicia, her voice filled with defiance. "I won't let you do this," she declared, her resolve unwavering.
As the forest echoed with the cries of despair and the clash of emotions, a sinister darkness loomed overhead, threatening to consume them all. The battle for Amelia's heart, for Jace's life, and for the very essence of their souls had only just begun.