Witchling Academy Semester Eight - Avery Song Page 0,43

of light. My eyes widened as they saw the immaculate glow of white, the illumination falling upon the woman standing there.

Beautiful strands of orange with multiple gold and white highlights on the head of a woman of power, who wore a far too familiar uniform, like mine. It only took me a second to recognize her as she slowly turned around as if she'd now noticed my presence, and one look gave me a sense of hope as her flowing emotions of admiration and love crushed through my overflowing anxieties.

"Brianne," I whispered into the darkness, my voice barely piercing through. I'm sure she couldn't hear me from the distance, but her smile was everything as those white teeth and glimmering magic eyes softened.

The sharp sound that followed made my heart stop in its tracks as a stray bullet went right through her head. Drops of blood flew slowly with the bullet that went cleanly through as the sparkling light in her magical eyes shifted to a dull void, their glowing magic fading away. Those spheres returned to a dull brown as her knees buckled.

She fell forward and I couldn't even run, as it seemed like I was shackled by something. I screamed and reached out to try and save her, but she crashed into the ground as blood began to pool beneath.

The laughter grew louder as I fought hard to get to Brianne. She was fading away. I knew from the way the striking emotions of pain and sadness began to drift into a sense of absolute desolation that time was running out. All I needed to do was get to her.

My hands fought to reach her, to feel her body in my grasp so I could save her.

She didn't deserve an end like this. This man didn't know her. Didn't see the pure kindness and joy she carried in her heart and soul. I loved her. She was my world and kept me and the others together no matter what comes to try to tear us apart.

If I lost her, it wouldn't be the end. Only the beginning of utter chaos.

The balcony began to crack. The stone platform that should have been solid was crumbling like an earthquake had arrived and rocked everything to its core.

Watching the balcony begin to crumble was enough to make me scream as my hands burned with magic - just as Brianne's body began to fall to a dark doom.

"Brianne!" I screamed with all my might, and then I watched everything begin to move in reverse. The crumbled stones that were so far below paused in their descent, just like Bri's body that looked lifeless from this distance. Everything began to go right back to how it was until Brianne was standing like I'd seen her with the light overhead.

She smiled before her body turned around, and I moved backward as her whole image faded away before I was lifted upward to where I'd begun.

I looked at my hands once more, just as the loud voice declared the same words.

"You think you can run away from me, boy?"

My senses faded everything else out as I observed my hands and watched the bright symbols and particularly clock symbols that had the clock turning swiftly.

"W-What?"

"Time is of the essence, Zephyr."

My eyes lifted to see the little boy - his short silver hair and onyx eyes a reflection of mine. He wore a black outfit and a cape upon his shoulders.

"You..." I whispered at the striking image of me.

This...is me as a child. How is this possible?

"Time is ticking. Be wary. Only you remain, Connor. Find what is destined to be yours before it's too late," he declared with confidence. "Or else you'll lose your Goddess of Time."

He outstretched his hands then, sending me flying back.

* * *

My body surged into a sitting position, my rushing breath and the beads of sweat running down my face the first recognition I needed to confirm I was awake. My eyes quickly scanned the dark room, and I stilled at the two other individuals snuggled up in the king-size bed.

Immediately staring at Brianne, I looked to see her peaceful face as she was still fast asleep. Her front side faced me as she slept on her right side, while Jax's arm was hooked around her as he was pressed right against her back while a good chunk of his face was covered in Brianne's orange locks.

At least I could see enough to confirm he was breathing away, his slow inhales