Ashes cocked her head suspiciously.

‘Why?’

‘Are you done wasting my time?’

The left side of the witch’s lips quirked upward, amused.

‘Let’s make a deal.’

The words sounded wicked rolling off her tongue. ‘I’ll lead you to the barrier if you show me that power you speak so highly of.’

‘And how am I supposed to do that?’

‘I have a feeling you’ll figure something out.’ A shadow brushed against her cheek.

The two stared at each other, unblinking, and Sapphire felt dread pool in her stomach. She knew better. She knew better than to say yes, to make another deal with this wicked soul.

But she needed to see the barrier.

‘Fine. You have a deal.’

The witch reached for her hand, grasping it in her own – and they were both hidden by her shadows. Sapphire couldn’t tear her eyes away from their intertwined fingers. Something about it felt so familiar.

‘Then let us begin,’ the witch hissed, pulling her through the forest. Sapphire struggled to keep pace with her. They moved too quickly, and where Ashes’ turns were fluid, Sapphire’s were jarring. Finally, they stopped in a clearing. The night sky was alive above them, like the stars and Gods were watching.

‘Well, princess. Show me how you’d be my undoing.’

Sapphire suddenly felt … nervous. The witch watched her closely, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. She leaned against a large tree, crossing her arms like she was awaiting a show. Sapphire looked to her hands, entirely unsure of how to proceed.

She took a timid step forward. ‘And how am I expected to prove myself?’

‘And here I’d thought, as this all-powerful being, you’d have the answer yourself.’

Sapphire sneered before focusing on the open ground before her. When she had summoned her powers previously, she had been angry, a bit lost, and the voice was present. She had no idea how to call upon it in this scenario.

She heard Ashes yawn dramatically.

‘Tick-tock, little lamb. My patience and kindness are waning.’

‘Would it kill you to hold your tongue for just a few minutes?’

Ashes sniggered, throwing her hands up in mock defence.

Sapphire took a deep breath and tried to clear her mind, calling up the magic she needed. Raising her hands to the sky, she closed her eyes tightly, summoning whatever power coursed through her veins. And then, she waited. Waited and pleaded for the thrum of power at her fingertips.

It did not come.

Sapphire was not sure how much time passed before the sound of clapping filled the silence.

‘My, my, how impressive you are. How does one contain such power in such a delicate frame?’