Key To A Goblin's Heart

Victoria's POV

We were sitting in my house as Genia poured us hot cups of Coffee. It had started raining as soon as the Queen left, casting a dark dreary atmosphere to compliment our already gloomy moods. No one spoke a word and we all drank the Coffee soundlessly. The sound of rain, pattering against the window pane of my house was the only tangible noise that could be heard.

I still couldn't believe what had happened. Did I really confront The Queen, one of the most feared woman in the world? Surprisingly, I felt no unease at my heart, I knew that it was the right thing to do and given another chance, I would still do it the same way. The only drawback of the whole situation was that Maland refused to talk to me now. He stood at the furthest corner, refusing to meet anyone's gaze and he had even stopped talking to poor Genia, who was really upset by all this.

I finished my cup and beckoned Genia to refill it. Bless her! What would we have done without this little girl, who took so much pain to attend to all our needs while keeping her utmost curiousity at bay. I know she had a lot of questions but she refrained from asking any. Rather, she brought a tray full of donuts and laid it before all of us, but despite being ravenous, I had no desire to eat anything right now.

It was Mike who finally broke the silence, "Can anyone please explain what the hell is going on?" He said frustrated, "We have been sitting here for two hours now, and none of you have spoken a word! You are not even looking at each other! For God's sake, what happened?"

"Michael, sit down." Cassadrei answered tiredly, "None of us are really in a mood to talk right now."

"I can see that! But, you have to tell us what has happened. Why were you so weird with the Queen earlier? What has she done? See, Jake and I are mere humans, we had no clue what you all were talking about. But we could atleast understand that the matter was really serious... please just tell us what it actually is." Mike pleaded.

Sofosys took a deep breath and opened his eyes. The wrinkles around his face suddenly looked very prominent. He cleared his throat and spoke, "It's an ancient curse. One of the most dreaded Dark Magic that had ever existed. The ruby that the Queen had, it's not an ordinary one….it is the forerunner of powerful and dangerous magic.

The Ruby can capture any person inside it and store him in there for eternity, however his existence will be strangled one, stuck between life and death. The soul captured within the Ruby will experience great torture, unimaginable to normal mind and it is said that the one who utilises the Ruby's powers must have sold their souls to the devil, for no ordinary man can perform an act so vile."

"Can't anything be done...to rescue the one who is captured?" I whispered.

"And why would you want to rescue Magnus?" Maland spat at me, "Why are you suddenly so fond of him, huh? Is it his great looks and his charming manners that has swept your heart away? I beg you, Victoria, don't commit the same mistake that Cassadrei once did! Let him stay that way, it's for the best of everyone."

"I am not so naive as to fall for him!" I said fiercely, "It's about justice! You can't just perform Dark Magic to dispose off the people that you don't approve. Can't you see what a dangerous precedent that is? It's unlawful and the Queen had absolutely no right to do it without consulting anyone!"

"Unfortunately, I agree with her." Sofosys nodded, "I too wanted to see Magnus punished, but not in this way. It's wrong…. I tried to tell the Queen but she simply wouldn't listen! It's all my fault!"

"So, what do we do now? Sit here and lament?" Cassadrei said, "There must be some way to revert the spells and undo the wrong. Sofosys, you are the most brilliant magi I know of, please tell us there's something we can do!"

Maland looked at Cassadrei with astonishment, unable to believe that she of all people should volunteer to help Magnus. It was as if the tables had completely toppled off. I managed a smile at Cassie, acknowledging her support.

"There's actually something." Sofosys mused, "it has never been tried before, so I can't guarantee results. But, we can try, although it will require a really powerful magician. But, to do all these, we have to return to Mafhaelore."

"I will try it." I quickly said, "Tell me what to do, and I promise I will do it. My powers are strong enough and I feel confident."

Sofosys smiled at me curiously.

"This is no simple magic, Victoria." He said, "Reverting back a Dark Magic is no cakewalk. Even the most advanced magicians find difficulty in performing such feats. But, you are special, you have the power of elements within you, so you might succeed. I can't say anything yet, I need to consult all my books before I can be sure of it."

"But I can always try, right? I want to do this!" I protested.

"You may try." Sofosys answered calmly, "but let me warn you, it won't be easy. Performing a powerful magic such as this demands something greater than the skill itself. It demands your own soul because this kind of Magic thrives on it. Just like the Queen had bargained her soul to perform the Dark Magic, you shall also need to do the same. You may never be the same again, so beware."

I paused for a bit, considering all this in my head.

"I want to go through those books that you mentioned, and learn more about it." I complied, "then I will do it."

"That means, are you all going to Mafhaelore?" Jake said skeptically.

"Sofosys and I should go, since he is the one who knows about these reverting stuff and I will perform it. But, Cassie should remain…. I don't want her to be put in danger." I said as an afterthought.

Sofosys shook his head, "I think Cassadrei should come with us." He said, "Despite everything the Queen did, she is still her mother. And, she is very sick. Cassadrei, your mother needs you the most right now, and even though we may have our differences, I can't deny the fact that you are necessary for the Kingdom right now."

Cassadrei didn't look too convinced.

"I don't think I want to go back to her." She said softly, "I don't know if I can face her after all that she did."

"She is your mother, Cassadrei!" Sofosys said firmly, "You can't hold a grudge against her forever. She is your family and you should always forgive your family no matter what. Afterall, she forgave you for all your grave mistakes, so why can't you do the same for her? We all have flaws dear, we all do mistakes, but what would have happened if our families would have abandoned us for it?"

"Could you forgive so easily?" Cassie challenged.

"Oh trust me, I would have done anything to keep my family intact." Sofosys smiled, "At the end of the day, they are all we have left. I don't want you to realize this after it has been too late. You can still mend your relationship with your Mother, and I urge you to do so."

Cassadrei pursed her lips, as if she has been put into a great dilemma. She played with her hair for a while and stared at the floor. The rain continued to patter steadily against the window.

I took Cassie's hands and squeezed it hard, "Hey! You don't have to go if you don't want to. I mean, it's okay….it should be your decision. No one will force you." I managed a smile.

Cassie wasn't so sure, but she nodded at me.

"I think she should go." Mike suddenly said, "Sofosys is right, she must not give up on her mother. Cassie, trust me you are lucky that atleast you have two loving parents, people who care for you and can do anything for you. Not all of us can boast of that, right?"

Cassie met his gaze and they had some kind of telepathic eye-to-eye conversation. She looked convinced now. Had the circumstances been different, I would have teased Mike mercilessly about it. But today, I wasn't in the mood at all. Even though I agreed with my brother, something about Cassie leaving this island unsettled me.

"So the decision is made. Victoria, Cassadrei and I must leave immediately, if we are to catch up with the Queen." Sofosys said decidedly. We nodded and immediately started preparing to leave. Before Cassadrei went off to fetch her things from her hurt, she mumbled something to Mike. And, I swear that I saw her mouth the word "I love you" to him.