Coco let her head fall down on the soft, feathery pillow. The wounds around her neck were painful. Every breath she took only made it worse. The fabric of her shirt irritated the cuts when she moved.

She was inside a tent huddled beneath three thick blankets; her hands still bound together. She fought against sleepiness.

It was a wonder she was allowed such accommodations considering the circumstances.

Earlier in their trip, they passed through some kind of unusual door which caused Coco to feel like the ground was falling out from under her. She didn’t know how, but her energy was drained. On top of that, it was late October. The leaves that should have been brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow were still a vibrant splash of green as they fell to the ground. And the weather was unnaturally cold for this time of year. She was scared she wasn’t in her world anymore.

When she opened her eyes, she found Evil’s face inches from her own. She recoiled at once. 

“I hope you’re comfortable enough,” he grinned. “Sleep. You will be safe for tonight.” Evil stood and blew out the remaining candle.

“Why go to the trouble at all?”

“Amazing. You really have no idea who you are, Coco Teal. No matter. The person to blame for your predicament is Pulser. Had he kept his oath, you would be safe inside the human realm, not here with me.” He left the tent without a backwards glance. 

Coco scowled after him, not knowing what to think. What oath did Pulser break? She had no idea what was going on and she worried for her brother’s safety. He was probably freaking out by now. She feared he would become the next target. And the bakery was bound to notice her absence if she didn’t return. 

A chill crept down her back when she realized nothing was ever going to be the same. Hope dissipated. The future terrified her.

The events following Pulser’s explanation about sorcerers solidified everything in her mind. She couldn’t account for the odd things Ray did. Or even the odd things she did as a child.

She knew for certain it was biologically impossible to have eyes the color of a dew-kissed rose petal. The only explanation she could accept was Pulser’s. And if she was taking him at his word, it meant there was magic inside her waiting to be set free.

She didn’t want it. All she wanted was to return home and get back to her brother. They finally had a safe place to call home. Not even a full year had passed since they moved in.

It wasn’t fair.

They suffered enough at the orphanage. She wanted to keep Ray safe so he could just be a child. He didn’t need to understand the suffering of adults. He was only ten. He deserved better.

She would do anything for him.

Shortly after, she drifted into an uneasy sleep. Her faint thoughts leading to Pulser. 

~~~

Deep in the rubble, a man stirred. While the sky turned from noon to dusk, he rested to regain his strength. Fighting dark magic drained him. Giant blocks of wood and shingles groaned as he got to his feet. He was weak. Anger built inside him. His handsome eyes were dark with rage.

Pulser glared toward the east at the spot the councilman disappeared. 

“He should know better than to trifle with me!” Hatred boiling within, he jumped off the second story floor and landed on the soft, squishy ground, revenge set deep in his eyes. 

How far had they travelled before he became conscious? He had no choice but to go to him. To James. The one sorcerer he wished never existed, yet highly revered all the same.

James was a terrifying and interesting case among sorcerers. He never aged. However, it was rumored death could still claim him as its own. He was wise and powerful and everything a sophisticated sorcerer ought to be.

Pulser’s eyes raked the sky, looking for traces of magical evidence. When he saw none, he cursed under his breath. He pulled out an old looking map. Roughly drawn lines spread across the page. He flicked his right hand once and the map came to life. 

There was a compass in the center. The lines moved towards his destination, almost like someone was drawing them out right before his eyes. A human would have only seen a blank sheet of paper.

Pulser turned a little to his left. Muttering, he folded the map and put it back in his pocket. 

He knew with his current skills it would be impossible to track Coco. Tracking required a very specific set of spells that took years to master. As much as he despised James, going to him was the only solution he could think of. The map would direct him towards the nearest portal. He couldn’t risk using the one in his basement.

The councilman showing up completely ruined his plans. Did it really matter if he told the truth? The future was bleak anyways. By the time Coco discovered and mastered her magic, it would be too late.

The era of the realms was ending. A new era was beginning.

Pulser was confident James would succeed. His only conflict regarding the sorcerer’s plans was that James wanted Coco dead. And that didn’t sit well with him.

He could stomach the end of the realms.

He couldn’t stomach her death.

~~~

With a sudden jolt, Coco was wide awake. Someone was standing in the tent doorway, their back to her. 

“Sir! If we use the girl, we will be able to gain favor with the Golden One. Coco Teal is a liability. What’s the matter if she dies by another’s hand? It won’t hurt the Council.” The man’s voice was raspy and easily carried through the silence surrounding them.

There came a dark chuckle. “That is where you are wrong. Coco Teal belongs to me now. She is something I cannot afford to lose.” She knew that voice. “Besides, I have taken something more valuable from him. Why should I be so quick to return it? Coco Teal is useful to the Council. Not only is she a bargaining chip with the Golden One, she will be able to halt the entals from declaring war.” Evil finished. He pushed past the sorcerer and into the tent, letting in the chilly air.

Coco shivered and quickly closed her eyes. She was afraid to get caught eavesdropping.

“Good morning, Coco Teal.” Evil greeted. He stroked her hair.

She pulled away from him; disgusted. 

“What are you doing?” She didn’t know what to make of his short conversation outside the tent. Why was she something Evil couldn’t afford to lose? Who was he speaking of when he mentioned the Golden One? How could she stop a war? What were entals?

“Simply enjoying your company. Is that so wrong?” 

“Yes! Why am I with you? I want to go home.”

He quickly grabbed her chin and kissed her cheek. “You are home. Get dressed. We will be arriving at my place in a few hours.” He winked. It was so at odds with his imposing body and his actions from last night.

“Why are you doing this?” She didn’t exactly fear Evil. Something about his actions suggested he needed her alive and well. If she could figure out what his goal was concerning herself, maybe it would give her the chance to escape.

His chilly breath stirred her hair. “You are a minor setback in our plans. An unpredictable factor, if you will. I was tasked with hindering your magic in whatever fashion I deem necessary.”

Coco stared, dumbfounded for a moment. She didn’t know what to make of this. “In what way will you hinder my magic?”

“We are going to marry before the day is out. The ceremony uses powerful binding spells and will completely block any magic that hasn’t materialized. You will belong to me and we will be able to continue as planned. Now, stop asking questions and get dressed.”

He unbound her hands before leaving the tent.

Coco picked up the pile of clothes at the end of her make-shift bed. A sweater, pants, and black boots were all the protection she would get from the cold. Her pink hair pointed in all directions. Using her fingers, she brushed it out. She felt uncomfortable changing into her new clothes. There wasn’t anything wrong with the ones she was wearing.

Coco glared at the tent flap. She didn’t know the capacity of Evil’s magic and she was too weak to put up much of a fight. She knew she wasn’t in her world anymore and that alone was enough to make her hesitate on sneaking away.

She wasn’t meant for this kind of life. She wasn’t a sorceress. This world did not belong to her.

As she pulled open the tent, her hands were bound again. 

Evil dragged her out into the biting cold. 

“Sanlis, load the tent.”

They were alone in the middle of a meadow surrounded by thick forest. The sky was made up of impossible colors Coco had never seen. A rich navy blue blanketed most of the sky and purple, pink, blue, and green galaxy clouds spread across the horizon. She could see a faint outline of three moons. The brilliant sun was cresting the treetops. Already, it was turning the sky a rich, azure blue.

It was breathtaking.

She felt it was something out of a fantasy rather than the reality she was seeing. Galaxies didn’t make up the night sky. If she weren’t in a dangerous situation, Coco could see herself staying up for hours, just staring at the sky and watching it change in mystifying ways.

Evil closed his eyes. When he opened them, hatred swam in his beastly gaze. “Why shouldn’t I just take your powers now? It would be such an easy thing to do. The Council doesn’t need you alive. If you die, it’d only cause a minor setback.”

Coco stared at him, aghast. “I’m not a sorceress!”

“Do not lie to me,” Evil spat. “We’ve all seen the signs. Your brother also displays massive amounts of magic for a boy his age. Perhaps I’ll go find him after I deal with you.”

“You won’t touch a hair on his head!”

“That’s what you think.” Evil grinned. “Get in the carriage.”

“No!” She did not fear him.  

“Get in. Now.” 

She didn’t offer a reply. Instead, she turned and ran. She had no idea where she was going, but she ran for all she was worth. She heard Evil chuckle to himself, like he was enjoying a private joke.

“You can run, Coco Teal. You can hide. But I will always find you.”