Time

The darkness in the cave was near suffocating compared to the bright moonlight that had shone in between the huge grey clouds in the sky outside.

“Delilah! Come light this fire please. My hands are shaking too much to work the matches.” Jennifer called.

“Pff... Like I could do any better...” she muttered under her breath. Shoving her hands in her pockets, she advanced further into the darkness. She stopped for a few seconds, waiting for her eyes to adjust, then carried on forwards, mostly avoiding the huge boulders scattered across the cave floor.

She reached her Mistress’s side and took the matches from her hands, a small pile of wood and flowers littered the floor in front of her. Rolling her eyes at the madness that was Jennifer’s mind, she quickly lit the match and threw it into the small pile. Purple fire blazed upwards, causing her to launch herself backwards, towards a Boulder and consequently, smashing her shoulder into it.

Pain flooded her system as her eyes zoned in and out on the small room. She looked towards the fire to see not purple, but orange flames. I must be really tired, she thought to herself. Her vision continued to blur in and out until finally it cleared, allowing her to see her Mistress sitting in front of the fire, throwing in herbs and petals.

Delilah sighed, yes she needed the money this rich widow was providing, to help her family keep their home, but she was likely to have to use most of the payment for her now aching shoulder.

Out of nowhere, Jennifer began to shout loudly, as winds picked up and the fire blazed purple once more.

“For the war to close its doors,

Five of noble blood born,

Three shall live the life they cherish,

Two forgotten, left to perish,

Uniting the lands as one,

A curse that must be undone,

Time is at there disposal,

One betrayal,

Or it’s all over.”

Jennifer’s eyes blackened considerably as a high pitch shriek escaped her throat. Delilah stared in shock, her mind already logging every word her Mistress said. She reached for her notebook and jotted down the words in sloppy writing. Once finished, she shuffled over to where Jennifer had collapsed, only moments ago.

“My Lady?” She whispered.

Jennifer awoke and looked into her eyes.

“The prophecy will come true, take my life to ensure yours. You must do what I tell you to, fate shall follow you.” She smiled lightly then continued to tell her of the knife in her pocket and why they’d come to such an old cave, a barely standing one at that. Jennifer explained everything.

Delilah walked down the street, her new black dress brushing along the uneven cobblestones. A boy called out for pedestrians to buy his newspapers. She stopped in front of him and saw the headline:

‘Lady Jennifer Frances missing and assumed dead.’

And just underneath:

‘Delilah Evergreen to receive the fortune as stated in Lady Jennifer’s will.’