Phantasia can do it. She’s special, remember? Even in the darkest night, there’s always a light, that’s what she told us, remember? I believe that… I believe that she’s that light.

“I’m not a demon!”

She felt it inside her, the force she’d felt before, and without thinking about it, she allowed that power to flow through her body. The fake Dionysus staggered backwards and struggled against an invisible wind, then crumbled away, leaving only the diminished form of the leansídhe behind. Its illusion was over, as was its attempt to destroy Phantasia. Once again, it was afraid.

“I won’t let you escape,” she said, “Thanks to you, I understand,”

The leansídhe, which moments ago had her at its mercy, was now slivering away but before the demon could move further, she dived towards it, fingers outstretched. The moment they brushed against the dark shadow, the leansídhe froze.

“You’re just a shadow,” she said.

In one last, desperate attempt to escape, the leansídhe’s body exploded into a mass of electrifying tendrils that surrounded Phantasia like a cocoon and tried to crush her under their power. But Phantasia understood now. She knew how to shield herself from the darkness. If only Dionysus were there to see her shine.

Was it always so obvious?

She swept her hand through the dark shell, recalling her happy memories of her ‘brother’, and of the belief her friends had in her. She could feel them now, encouraging her, and imagined the looks on their faces when Katrina developed the auragraphs. When she saw the leansídhe’s expression screaming out in front of her, she almost felt sympathy for it.

But you’re just an amalgam of other people’s fear. You don’t even have a heart. I won’t let them suffer in this shadow any more.

She felt her power radiate from every inch of her body, purifying the darkness like a light illuminating a dark room. The leansídhe tried one last time to hurt her by taking the form of a demonic Dionysus before it was washed away in the streams of newly-purified mana.

I’m not a demon! I have a power! Faye, Queen Thetis, Dionysus, everybody – I finally understand!

She was brought out of her thoughts by Kaori’s echoing voice. “Phantasia? Phantasia, are you okay?”

Her friends had lowered themselves down into the pit and were running over. Above Mr Payne stood watching with several other teachers and adults.

“I-I’m fine,” she said, “It’s gone now,”

“You exorcised the ghost!” cried Phoenie, “This is amazing, absolutely amazing! And to think we have auragraphic evidence as well! This is going to be the biggest scoop ever!”

“Well, whatever these freaks are saying about the whole ghosts and goblins crap, you sure helped these girls,” said Theseus, “Gotta give you respect for that at least,”

“You-you’re amazing,” said Shelley.

Phantasia felt that warmness rise up inside of her again, only now she understood what it was. The positive feelings of her friends, their compassion, their happiness, their love. After all these years, she finally understood what it was like for a faerie to bathe in her element.

***

Chapter 12
Previous / Continue
(page 1; 2; 3; 4)