Phantasia

“But,” she said, her voice a dry whisper, “She’s right, even if she’s not really Astrid. I’m just a freak who doesn’t belong in this world, and I’m going to die soon anyway…”

“What the hell is that sort of talk?” said Theseus, letting Shelley back to her feet now she was no longer trying to attack him. She looked so small and frail compared to the proud, leather-jacketed boy, whose arm she clung to for support, and his presence made it difficult for the darkness to weave its way back into her heart.

“You’re not a freak,” said Phantasia, “I know what it’s like to be different to everyone else. It makes you wonder who you really are and if you really belong in this world. Sometimes… Sometimes I’ve even wondered if I’m a demon myself!”

Theseus had his arm around Shelley’s shoulders and was guiding her away, while the leansídhe strained to maintain its grip.

“Well maybe I am a demon,” Phantasia continued, “Maybe I don’t belong in this world. Maybe…is just maybe! I’m me! Who cares about what anyone else thinks?”

Shelley frowned. “You, you’re stronger than me…”

“No! You’re strong too, I know you are! You can’t give up hope!”

“I-I want to be…like you…”

The leansídhe’s grip faltered and is tendrils slithered back into its web. The humans were beyond its control now and the shadow began to ooze down towards them. Phantasia made sure to put herself between it and her friends.

“You need to get out of here,” she said as the leansídhe began to take shape behind her, invisible to her human companions, “I’ll deal with the rest.”

“Ms Celeste, a-are you sure?” asked Phoenie.

“Dude, it’s dangerous!” said Joel, who looked like he would jump back down and help her if Kaori wasn’t holding him back.

“Phantasia can do it,” she said, “She’s special, remember? Even in the darkest night, there’s always a light. That’s what she told us, remember? I believe that-” she smiled down at Phantasia, “I believe you’re that light.”

Joel cheered, as did Phoenie and Katrina. Theseus rubbed the back of his neck, a look of bemusement on his face. Shelley reached out towards Phantasia with her small hand, as if they could somehow touch over the distance between them.

“I believe in you!”

Phantasia held her head high and waved a salute at her friends, then turned to face the darkness. It had gathered together all its tendrils and webbing into a single, monstrous form, a humanoid shadow that oozed with translucent corruption, a cancerous strain of mana that would grow even more powerful if left unchecked.

I have to believe in myself. My friends believe in me.

But, as Phantasia was about to focus herself to face the demon, its body distorted and a dark shape slipped out of the black slime. As the darkness began to recede, she recognised the waterfall hair and royal armour, and her focus broke. Aura cracked with corruption, eyes dark with power, Prince Dionysus stood before her once again.

“It’s been a while, Princess,” he said with a wide smile, “To think you really believed me dead.”

~ Could it be Prince Dionysus has really returned? What is Phantasia’s fear? ~
~ Next: The allure of Darkness! ~

Chapter 11
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