“He’s definitely going to kill you, trial or not, tough life, huh?”

Of course, he’s here too, “do you live in the walls?”

“something like that.”

“how is that even possible?”

“ancient spells, an artefact and an equally crazy bitch hellbent on making my life miserable.”

Stunned to silence since I wasn’t expecting him to answer him, I try turning towards the source of his voice, but the ties slam me back.

I so did not like magical stuff anymore.

“you really have to get out of here while they are in session, this is your only chance.”

“What is the use? I’ll just end up in bigger shit, I’d rather just wait it out.

“ah, you are awaiting your knight in shining armour, I didn’t peg you for that type of girl, you seemed stronger.”

That irks me and I almost jump out of the chair in ire, “you take that back Casper, I am not weak.”

“there it is, the fire, now use that to save yourself.”

“how am I supposed to do that? These ties are magical, are you blind too?”

“so are you, so get out of them, it’s a simple spell, they teach it in Magic 101.”

“I can’t do magic, I don’t know any Magic 101 crap, magic is how I landed in this mess in the first place!”

“calm down little one, don’t feel self-conscious. We are lacking in some way. It is not a crime to be, you know… slow.”

Oh, the nerve of this man, “I…” I go to retort when the weight of the ties lifts suddenly and my limbs spring free.

“There, easy peasy, now go.”

“what about you, let’s leave together, I can’t live you here?”

“why not?”

The genuine curiosity and confusion in his tone almost breaks my heart, but I hold out.

“It's a human thing to do, you saved my life so I’m indebted to you.”

As soon as those words leave my lips, a sudden weight settles on my chest.

“you idiot, you really didn’t listen in school, did you?”

“What was that? What do you mean? And don’t call me that.”

“mage survival guide 101, never make a deal with a fae and don’t tie yourself to one.”

“what does that mean?”

“it means, I can feel the frustration in him and it chaffs, “you are tied to me till faerie deems the debt repaid.”

“oh, that’s it,” he made it seem like it was something more.

“you…”

“finish that, call me that one more time. I dare you.”

“think of it as a sort of soul tie, if I get harmed so do you, and vice versa, do you get it now, we are literally tied together.”

“so, what, we just need to get out of here together, boom debt paid, bye-bye irritating ghost.”

I ignore the pang in my chest as I utter those words, I sort of didn’t want to say goodbye.

“the only issue with your ‘foolproof’ plan is that I have been anchored to this place using an ancient artefact, so I can’t leave.”

By now I’m already creeping out of the room, confident he’s going to follow.

“ok point me in the artefact's direction so that we can get the hell out of here.”

“This is a fool’s errand. You can’t take it, if it were that simple I wouldn’t have been stuck here for a century.”

“say what?” century?????

“how old are you? ...You know what don’t answer that, and we won’t know until we try, I can’t just give up with no effort.”

“says the girl who was ready to sit and wait for death.”

“what do you call what you are doing?”

“Touché, fine let’s go, hurry, I hope the dragon doesn’t trigger the wards.”

I ignore the words following the sudden urge to head in specific directions, must be his doing, I hate it but it’s better than bickering out loud.

We reach an ornate brass door that could fit a ten-foot being walking through it upright.

“8 feet, you are just short.”

Again, I ignore him as we get into the room; I expect to see an array of rare objects spread around, but it was empty bar the small pool of glowing water in the middle.

Curious, I edge closer, peering inside the pool, it was clean and sparkly. I just wanted to kneel and gulp down to my fill, but I resisted my attention pulled to the intricately decorated sword drawn at the bottom of the pool; black with gold and glittery adornments, I assumed to be diamonds, it was a work of art.

I straighten up aware we didn’t have the time to ogle, “well, I spoke to the ‘empty room’ “where is the artefact?”

“you were looking at it.”

I let out a screech since I wasn’t expecting to get the answer from a suddenly corporeal man; he looked fuller, more man, less ghost.

“Woah! You look…”

“It's the sword, it sort of… helps.”

“ok… but that looks like a drawing."

“that’s how it’s supposed to be unless you pick it up.”

Ok, heading closer to the pool I kneel and attempt to reach for the ‘not drawing’ but before my hand gets to it, he slaps my hand away.

“ouch! Why did you do that?”

“that’s not normal water,”

“yeah no shit sherlock.”

“no, it will harm you, you reckless thing, don’t just shove your hand in there if you don’t want to lose it!

“Speaking from experience?”

Well, look at that. I didn’t think it was possible for him to turn any paler.

“It's sort of calling to me, it feels like something familiar. I don’t think it would harm me,” I say with conviction staring down at the pool, having stood up after he slapped my hands away.

I kneel again and this time he doesn’t stop me though he doesn’t look convinced. Holding my breath, I skim my fingers and when nothing happens I dip them farther, despite the tingly feeling travelling up my arm, I make a grasp for the sword and I’m appropriately shocked when it feels solid.

I retrieve my hand sword firmly grasped expecting something huge to happen, and it could just be my shit luck but something does happen.

One second everything was fine and the next I’m writhing on the floor my body engulfed in intense pain as the blasted sword glows still in my hand.

“shit, let it go Mahina, drop it or it will kill you.”

“What is happening?”

“It's feeding, why didn’t I think of that, it’s been submerged starved of magic for centuries, it is going to drain you.”

As soon as those words leave his lips, the pain dissipates as fast as it appeared.

I look up at the completely baffled man, but before he says anything, a loud siren wails through the room, shit they probably heard it in faerie.

“we’ve been made.”

Scrambling to my feet I hurtle after him just making it out the door before it shuts with a resolute thud.

The black sword in my hands had grown to almost my height, which was terrifying.

“Here you go.” I say handing it to him as we creep towards the door, “before I disembowel myself.”

I’m met with silence, and turning to my companion I realise why; he was fading, again.

“you know you have a bad habit of disappearing when shit hits the fan.”

“it’s not my fault, I can’t help it, I’m still not fully healed from the fight earlier.”

Gratitude and guilt have me swallowing my words as I finally make it to the door.

“This was too easy, where are they?” I ask opening the door to leave the cursed building.

Nothing could have prepared me for the sight outside.

“There they are.”

"oh shit."