Sydney’s POV:
“ I’m out of my head, out of my mind, oh, I
If you let me, I’ll be
Out of my dress and into your arms tonight
Yeah, I’m lost without it
Feels like I’m always waitin’
I need you to come get me
Out of my head, and into your arms tonight
Tonight
Yeah “
-Ava Max.
This is the song that’s going in my head the moment I kissed Jacen. I feel so alive. There’s finally a meaning for my life. He kissed me passionately like he never did before. I don’t want this moment to end at all. I know Iam still in hell and none of my problems is solved. But still, everything seems alright.
“I missed you,” we both said at the same moment. Jacen ran his hands across my cheek. That’s when I realized that I started crying.
“I was so afraid that I will die without seeing you one last time. I should have not broken-up with you for a reason for which you are not responsible. Iam sorry, Jacen,” I sobbed.
“Iam sorry too, baby. This is not the last time. I was waiting for the moment when we get reunited again. I should have protected you. I failed in it,” Jacen blamed himself and hugged me tighter to hide his tears. I never saw him cry. This is the situation that gave me the best and worst moments in life.
“I won’t let you go alone. I will never do that in my life again,” he promised me. I know all the eyes in the hall are watching us but we don’t care about that. All that I imagine is there’s only me and Jacen in the hall.
“You better,” I replied and someone broke our moment through their irritating voice.
“Cut this act. I hate it when people get emotional. I don’t know what’s in it. Are you going to fight the Queen or not? Get it over with. Come on. Do it now,” Dorothy shouted, taking a step towards us.
“She’s not fighting you. She was unaware of your power, Queen. Please forgive her,” Lydia begged the Queen.
“Iam sorry to say that I can’t do it, Darling. A deal is a deal,” Lilith confirmed.
“Iam fine with that, Aunt. Don’t stop me. Or else we all should stay in prison forever.” I talked with her for a long time. The last time I saw her die in my hands.
“You can’t die, Sydney. Staying in prison is much better than fighting the Queen. We will find a way to escape even if we got locked up in prison. But what will you do if you die? You are not doing that.” Jacen told me with a serious expression on his face.
“You are not an immortal, Sydney. You can’t risk it,” Lydia warned me. All I can hear is a pessimist talk. I made a deal. I can’t step back now. Iam not stepping back.
“Stop talking to me like that. I have made a deal. Now no one could stop it,” I told both of them.
“Right. She needs to fight.” I heard someone supporting me. Who’s that?
“Do you wish for her to die, Kassidy? How can you talk to her like this? Do you think I have reached here to watch her die in front of my eyes?” Jacen yelled at Kassidy.
“You never understood me. I trust her. She can do that. If you can’t support her, how can she win? We all need to be on her side,” Kassidy yells back.
“You know what? The whole problem has emerged because you trusted her enough to send her to hell. I guess you are the one we all need to blame?” Noah walked forward and accused her.
“Shut up. I don’t know who she is. But stop targeting her. I need to talk with Sydney,” Lydia silenced everyone. She got hold of my hands and spoke silently.
“Why did you come here, Sydney? I deserve to die. I hid you from your parents. I should have chosen some other decisions. Now I can’t change...”
“Okay. I know it. But I want you back, Aunt. I still can’t get that moment you died in my hands. You died before I can say “I forgave you’’. Now Iam saying, I forgave you. I want you back. Iam still not giving up. You don’t deserve to die at all. If there’s some other witch in your place, I would have died. You saved my life. I never regretted it. Please let me fight the Queen. She wants my power to let us out of hell. My heart will turn darker like Dorothy if I agreed to it. I want to stay pure and fight her.” I explained to her. Lydia frowned. But she looked determined the very next moment.
She left my hand and walked towards the Queen.
“What she’s going to do, baby?” Jacen pulled me closer and asked.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged and looked at my aunt. She bowed to the Queen and opened her mouth to speak.
“I have one last request, Queen. We want two days for the dual. Till then, we want to stay here in the castle.”
“This is stupid. We need to get over this now. Let’s have the dual today. She’s going to lose even after two days. What’s the use in it?” Dorothy tried to change the Queen’s decision.
“Oh goddamn, can’t she accept it?” Jacen pleaded under his breath. He didn’t let me move a single inch. I can feel how he’s afraid to stay one foot away from me.
“What’s going to happen in two days? Iam still going to fight her,” I muttered.
“Many things can change in two days. We will find a way to escape from hell,” Jacen said.
“Iam not ready to step back, Jacen. Escaping is not a solution.” I angrily told him.
“I won’t let you die, baby. Don’t make me say it again and again,” he stubbornly said. Before I could continue the argument, the Queen gave her answer.
“I will fulfil your request. Let’s have the dual after two days. Till then, you can stay here for free and go anywhere you want to. But don’t foolishly think you can escape. There’s no way for it. Leave the hall now.”