Chapter Twenty-One

The completion of the spell�

The three girls stood within their designated positions surrounding the alter in a triangular formation. Each girl was anxious and for a good reason. Star and Tygra wished for this to be all over having dealt with enough drama for a lifetime in their short trip to save the worlds; their home. Just a little longer and they would be able to finally return home, return to normalcy, and live the rest of their lives in peace with Jade; their unknown heroine, at their side.
Jade had her own reasons as well. Her journey was almost at an end. Her life journey...her life. This has been her life obligation for nearly seventeen years. She felt as though she had waited an eternity for this day to come. However, compared to her complete life span, it didn’t even reach a quarter, not even close. Now that this day has come she’s become moderately agitated, an uneasy feeling welding up within her. The feeling of something coming so close to an end was beginning to become an unbearable feeling.
Something is going to happen… she looked apprehensively over her shoulder. Just something…
“How much time do we have left?”
Jade switched her gaze back to the two girls finding they were watching her intently. She rubbed a hand lightly over her forehead. “Uh, less then twenty minutes.”
Tygra narrowed her eyes watching her carefully. “Are you alright Jade?”
She nodded, lowering her hand to her side. “Yes, of course.” Just this feeling… She glanced between the two. “So, are you ready to finish this?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Tygra said confidently.
“Ditto.” Star chipped in.
“Great, but there is one thing I need to say to you first.” She looked to them, making direct eye contact, switching her gaze between the two as she spoke. “While you read this spell, you must keep your mind clear of everything but these words. You get this chance and this chance only. If you screw this up, we will not get another one.”
“Way to build pressure.” Star commented taking in a deep breath.
Jade smiled slightly, removing the scroll from her belt and unraveling the fine parchment, holding it out before her, one hand grasping the top of the scroll, the other holding the bottom, so the two could see the writing perfectly on its flat, smooth surface. “I’m sure you will do fine.” She stated faithfully. “You two are my saviors. Together, we shall save the worlds.”
Both Tygra and Star smiled at this comment. Saviors of the worlds…it sounded nice. Even if no one else would know what the three had accomplished this night, it was still a satisfying feeling to know that they were the ones who protected their way of life.
“Ready?”
The two looked to Jade, nodding confidently. “Yes.”
“Of course.”
“Good. Whenever you’re ready.”
Star and Tygra both took in a deep breath, giving each other a quick glance before looking to the spell, each clearing their minds of everything, but the writing on the parchment held out before them.

“For this world we live in,
And the world the humans live in.
This spell we will now begin,
Is to protect both worlds from all sin.

Never to let the evil see the light of day.
Forever trapped down here.
Goddess Lecriema protect both worlds from being destroyed.
We vow to protect and guard both worlds from evil for the rest of our lives.
This is what we vow and promise.
So mote it be.”

The eyes of the statues began to glow once the last words were spoken. A slight opening formed behind the alter, a few feet from Jade. This opening seemed to rip through the air itself, growing in width as it covered the view of the two dragons. The two girls were terrified as their gaze locked onto this tear, this portal, as it cracked and twirled, and unknown wind blowing from within. Jade remained watching the portal, a peculiar expression crossing her features.
“Uh, Jade? Is this supposed to happen?” Tygra questioned, gaping wide-eyed at the portal before their small group. However, she didn't answer her concerned comrade, merely walking with her long, determined strides out towards the portal. “Jade,” She began, switching her gaze to her friend now only a few feet from the crackling tear. "What are you doing?"
“Remember how I told you that you had no idea what my true intensions were?” Jade queried, staring into the portal.
“Yes, but-” Tygra said began then remembered what Drake had told her. The spell needs a blood sacrifice…
Tygra now knew what Jade was planning to do. What she had planned to do all along. “No! Jade, don’t!” She rushed over to her seizing her arm firmly within her grasp.
“Don’t worry about it, Tygra. It’ll be alright.” Jade said in a soothing tone of voice.
“You can’t!” Star exclaimed now at Jade's other side, understanding what was to take place in its entirety.
“Listen, the two of you," Jade began switching her gaze from the one to the other, "I told you this once before. What’s more important? My life or the lives of every single being on this planet?” She questioned backing away from them.
“It’s just not fair!" Star wailed, wiping her eyes clean of newly formed tears. "You risked your life and everything for us! And not only for us; the whole entire world!”
“Quiet Star, she knows that. She knew the whole time.” Tygra stated sympathetically. "We have to let her do what she was set out to do."
Jade smiled. "Thank you, Tygra."
Tygra smiled as she and her sister watched Jade walk towards the portal. There was now eight minutes left to complete the spell with the sacrifice. “You two better take care of yourselves, alright?” Their devoted companion said with a smile. Except this smile was different. It was genuine. Their friend was genuinely happy.
“You bet Jade.” they said, seemingly together, each returning her smile.
Jade turned toward the portal, ready for the end of her journey…the end of her life. “Now my obligation to the Goddess will be complete and I may finally rest...”
"Too bad that will never happen."
Jade's body went ridged at the sound of the voice echoing throughout the room. “Drake, you’re too late! It’s over! My journey is finally over!” She shrieked almost desperately into the air, her eyes searching the surrounding area thoroughly.
“Without those powers, you’re having a hard time sensing me, aren’t you?" Drake questioned in a malign tone.
“You...you are nothing but a conniving coward! Show yourself!” Jade yelled, keeping a close eye on the two sisters, edging her way closer to the portal.
A presence was then felt behind her. “Well, that wasn’t very nice.” he whispered, inches from her right ear. Jade's eyes grew wide as she whirled around, though only to suffer the blow of a dagger as its blade was buried deep within her stomach. She cried out, her hands reaching for the blade.
"You didn't think I'd let you finish this, did you?" he questioned, placing a firm hand to her shoulder as if to hold her upright from falling.
"Jade!" The girls cried rushing towards them.
“Don’t you dare!” Jade demanded, looking to them with a foreboding gaze. They stopped in their tracks. Her face was filled with agony but there was also something else as a smile began to curl at the corners of her mouth. Triumph.
Jade clutched Drake's left shoulder with one hand knocking his grasp of her shoulder as she dug her fingers into his skin. With her other hand she grabbed his right hand, the one which held the handle of the blade within her gut. “I…didn’t forget. I…knew you’d come…once I…I lost my…my powers.” She said then smiled. Blood dripped slowly from her lips. “You are so…very… predictable.” she laughed a low laugh. “But…What makes you think I lost my powers…With that spell?”
Jade gripped his shoulder tighter as he attempted to back away, incomprehension held within his gaze. “But, I was told-”
“You were lied to!” Jade shouted then smiled. “Oh Drake. Poor Drake. You…have know…clue.” Her smile widened, revealing her sharp fangs dauntingly as she stood upright, holding his hand and the dagger tighter against her. His face grew pale though his features were blank of any expressions. "Tell me, Drake dear." She said in a sing-song tone. "Why didn't you use silver?" He remained silent as he set his jaw, not once avoiding her hellish gaze. She laughed. "It no longer matters, I assume. But, I will tell you one thing, Drake." Her gaze hardened. "For all the things you put me through, I look forward to taking you to hell along with me!”
She then pulled him with all her might, into the portal with her. With a crackle and a few thunderous booms, the portal shined vibrantly as it engulfed the two souls, before disappearing all together.