Chapter 16: The Unexpected Return
Izzie's eyes widened as Thane's words sunk in. Face her greatest fear? What darkness lay within her? She wasn't sure she was ready.
But before she could respond, the Heart of the Realm began to shake, the crystals pulsating with an intense energy. The air was filled with a blinding light, and Izzie felt herself being pulled away.
"What's happening?" she shouted, but her voice was drowned out by the roar of the realm.
The next thing she knew, she was standing in the middle of the Maxwell mansion's garden, the sunlight warm on her skin. She stumbled, disoriented, and fell to her knees.
Sophia's voice was the first thing she heard. "Izzie, what's wrong? You just disappeared!"
Izzie looked up, her eyes squinting against the sunlight. Sophia was standing over her, her face etched with concern.
Izzie shook her head, trying to clear it. "I...I don't know. I was just in the Heart of the Realm, and then..."
Sophia's expression changed, her eyes narrowing. "You've been gone for days, Izzie. We thought you were dead."
Izzie's mind was reeling. Days? She'd been gone for days?
As she stood up, she saw the others. Kieran and Lyra were standing by the mansion's door, their eyes fixed on her. Adrian was there too, his face pale and drawn.
But Izzie's attention was on Sophia. There was something in her eyes, a glimmer of distrust.
"Sophia, what's wrong?" Izzie asked, her voice soft.
Sophia's smile was forced. "Nothing, Izzie. I'm just glad you're back."
But Izzie knew better. Sophia didn't trust her. And as they walked back to the mansion, Izzie could feel the tension between them, a crack in their friendship.
They entered the mansion, and Izzie was bombarded with questions. "Where have you been?" "What happened to you?" "Why did you disappear?"
Izzie tried to explain, but it was hard to put into words. She didn't understand it herself.
Sophia intervened, her voice calm. "Let's give Izzie some space, okay? She needs time to rest."
The others nodded, but Izzie could see the suspicion in their eyes. They didn't trust her.
As the group dispersed, Izzie turned to Sophia. "What's going on, Sophia? You're not telling me something."
Sophia's eyes dropped, and for a moment, Izzie saw a flash of fear. "It's just...we thought we'd lost you, Izzie. And then you just show up, with no explanation..."
Izzie's heart ached. She knew Sophia was hiding something.
"Sophia, I'm back now. And I'm not going anywhere. We need to talk, okay?"
Sophia nodded, but Izzie could see the doubt in her eyes.
As they walked to Sophia's room, Izzie knew she had to get things out in the open. She couldn't let Sophia's trust issues come between them.
But little did she know, something was brewing in the shadows. Something that would change everything.
😏 To be continued!