The sun began its slow ascent, draping the world in golden light that filtered through the towering pines. Lila stood at the edge of a secluded glade, where the mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks dusted with snow as if adorned with delicate lace. The air was crisp and fragrant, filled with the earthy scent of damp moss and the sweet perfume of wildflowers just beginning to bloom in patches around her. A gentle breeze whispered through the trees, carrying with it the soft rustle of leaves like nature’s own lullaby.
In this hidden sanctuary, a sense of magic enveloped her, an almost electric thrill that tingled beneath her skin, igniting her senses. She was nervous yet eager to confront her mother in person after she had been taken away from her and reshaped to serve Tabitha’s evil designs. A lot depended on that reunion, and any false step could destroy everything they had been working for. Whatever happened, she couldn’t fail.  
She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with purity and calm as she scanned her surroundings. A carpet of rich green grass sprawled beneath her feet, dotted with clusters of vibrant violets and pale daisies, their delicate petals swaying in rhythm with the wind. Nearby, a clear stream sparkled like diamonds as it wove its way through smooth stones, the water singing an ancient song as it danced around each obstacle. For a moment, she believed Nature was trying to tell her something: that good would always triumph over evil. She could only hope that was true. 
Alondra and a group of the finest witches and warlocks the Resistance had to offer were hiding nearby. Having secured all vantage points, they had cloaked themselves with illusionary spells, blending with the environment in a way that was almost impossible to detect. Of course, they weren’t up against mere humans but other practitioners of the arts, fueled by rage, hatred, and an obsessive devotion to their dark Mistress. They were confident but not in excess. Empires had risen and fallen over hubris and misguided arrogance. If they weren’t careful, they could be in for a bloodbath. 
Lila cleared her head and stared into the distance. They had chosen this place well. Here, surrounded by nature’s embrace, she could ground herself amidst all the chaos that loomed ahead. In this sacred space far removed from civilization’s prying eyes, anything was possible, and she could almost taste the freedom lingering in the air. When the madness was over, she would love to return there and enjoy herself, unperturbed by the insanity of her world. 
Above her head, birds flitted between branches, their calls echoing in harmony, a distant symphony accompanied by the distant thunderous roar of water cascading down rocky cliffs. The sound reverberated in her chest, a drumbeat of nature that matched the quickening of her heart.  
Just then, a rustle broke through Lila’s reverie, drawing her attention to the path that wound like a serpent through the underbrush. Shadows stretched and shifted as if mirroring Lila’s anxious thoughts. She leaned forward, straining to catch even the faintest hint of movement. And then she saw her - a figure breaking through the trees with what looked like determination painted across her face. 
As Sarah stepped into the clearing, Lila signaled her companions. Her mother appeared disheveled, clothes tattered and frayed as though she had battled through a tempest. Her hair was wild and unkempt, tendrils escaping from whatever half-hearted braid she had attempted earlier in the day. Dark smudges marred her cheeks; dirt streaked her once pristine attire. An impressive charade, Lila thought, fighting back an amused smile at such a dramatic entrance. 
“Lila!” Sarah screamed, feigning breathlessness as she stumbled into the clearing, arms thrown wide as if embracing the entire world. “I’m so glad to see you. You need to help me. They’re right on my trail.” 
“Who’s ‘they’, mother?” Lila rolled her eyes. 
“Magdalene, the Inquisitor, and a bunch of Tabitha’s minions. Please! If they catch me again…” 
“You can stop pretending right now,” the young witch declared. “I know you’ve been corrupted. The real you would never try to reach out to me the way you did, knowing how much is at stake. How about you cut to the chase and tell me what you want?” 
“Is that any way to talk to your mother, dear?” Sarah smirked. 
“You’re not my mother. Not anymore. You’re a witch’s puppet.” 
A low growl rumbled from Sarah’s throat, the tension in her body shifting and rippling like a dark tide. Her facade of vulnerability shattered, revealing the menacing predator lurking beneath the surface. The serene sounds of nature quieted as if they sensed the disturbance, leaving only the echo of rushing water and the wind whispering through the trees. Shadows deepened around them, thickening into dark shapes that fluttered at the edges of Lila’s vision. 
“I am still your mother,” Sarah hissed, her eyes narrowing into fierce slits that gleamed with an unnatural light. “Show me the respect I deserve, insolent child!” 
“No.” Lila spat, her hands beginning to glow.  
The air grew heavy, charged with a palpable energy that crackled like static electricity. Lila sensed it seeping through her skin, threatening to infiltrate her very essence. Yet she stood firm and resolute. The clearing transformed around them; sunlight fought against encroaching clouds, shafts of golden light splitting through bursts of gray to sprinkle upon the mossy ground like shards of hope. 
“You are a bug, Lila,” Sarah growled, channeling all of Tabitha’s malice through her lips. “And bugs exist to be crushed. You think you’re strong now, but you’re still deluded. “Let me show you what true power can achieve.” 
“Power?” Lila retorted. “True power doesn’t bind - it liberates! The sign of evil is slavery, nothing more.”
Sarah’s lips curled into a cruel smile as she stepped forward with predatory grace; every inch of her exuded menace now, moving as though she had woven herself into shadows that bent to her will. “You don’t understand yet, dear daughter,” she purred, each word dripping with malicious intent. “Embracing darkness is the only freedom we have.” 
As she spoke, tendrils of shadow began to swirl around Sarah’s feet. Leaves began to swirl as if caught in an unseen storm, and the distant roar of water ceased, replaced by a haunting stillness that wrapped around Lila like a suffocating shroud. “You’ll never be able to hide from me,” Sarah growled. 
Suddenly, with a flicker of light and energy, shadows erupted from the forest’s depths. Lila’s heart raced as a cacophony of movement surged through the underbrush. From behind ancient oaks and gnarled roots, her companions emerged like specters called forth by her fierce will. 
“We’re here, Lila,” Alondra soared into view first. 
Before Lila could respond, Sarah’s shadows coiled tighter, hissing and writhing as if alive. The ground trembled beneath them as if the earth wanted to split open and drag everyone to the depths of hell. A handful of witches and warlocks appeared behind her, unleashing waves of magic that lashed forward like serpents seeking their prey. They twisted through the air toward Lila and her friends with blinding speed, crackling with malevolent energy. Lila raised her hands higher, summoning the golden light that danced around her fingertips. 
“Now!” she commanded. A tumultuous blast erupted forth from her palms, a radiant beam that splintered the shadows into wisps of nothingness. The two forces collided in a dazzling explosion of light and dark that illuminated the clearing like a starburst and set the top of the surrounding trees on fire. 
Alondra swooped in, accompanied by her battalion, and mowed down the first group of assailants. Despite her age, the old hag had lost none of her potency and remained a deadly force especially at close distances. Two witches were sent flying into the mountains, their twisted bodies cracking as they hit the jagged rocks. A third servant was thrown into the air, a spear of light piercing one side of her skull before coming out of the other.  
Tabitha’s thralls responded in force, conjuring magical nets that squeezed the life out of anyone caught in them. One of Alondra’s lieutenants was the first to be captured, every muscle in her body withering until she was nothing more than a sunken carcass contorting on the ground. Alondra herself barely escaped the second wave as it dragged three more soldiers to their untimely demise. 
Meanwhile, Sarah remained focused on bringing her daughter down so she could be enslaved and join the cause. Her eyes glimmered with a furious spark. With a swift motion, Sarah thrust her arm forward and drew deep from Tabitha’s powers, unleashing a spectral wave that swept across the clearing, leaving a trail of frost and decay in its wake. 
“Nice try!” She shouted, summoning every ounce of strength within her. The shield widened, enveloping her companions. 
The two forces collided; shadows were met with blinding luminescence in a cataclysmic clash that sent shockwaves through the clearing. The ground buckled under the strain as the tendrils of black smoke hissed and shrieked against the purity of Lila’s light. Sparks flew like fireflies caught in an eternal dance, illuminating the faces of those caught in this battle.
Lila felt the energy surging within her, a vibrant pulse that responded to the rhythm of her breathing. The golden light swirled in intricate patterns around her as if it were a living entity, responding to her desperation and determination. The clearing was awash with chaos as the clash of magic erupted into an impossible cacophony.
“Push through! We must resist!” Lila shouted, her voice breaking through the howling maelstrom as she focused all her will on harnessing her mutation. Tentacles of darkness still coiled around her feet, seeking to bind her to despair, but in that moment of clarity, the ancient power of purification rose grew stronger, a flame of hope igniting in response to the overwhelming shadows.
Around her, Alondra’s warriors fought against the oppressive forces, their incantations mingling with the rustling leaves and snapping branches, each spell a desperate plea for survival.
“You can do it, Lila!” she shouted amidst the madness. “Hit her with all you’ve got now.”
The weight of Alondra’s words settled deep within her, a balm against the raging storm that encircled them. With every heartbeat, she drew strength not only from her resolve but from the very essence of the earth beneath her, a tapestry woven with centuries of magic and memory, yearning to be set free. She closed her eyes for a moment, the chaos around her fading just enough to hear the whispers of ancient spirits guiding her.
With a primal scream, Lila relinquished her earthly bonds, letting the currents of ancient energy lift her off the ground. She floated higher and higher, becoming a shimmering beacon against the encroaching darkness. The shadows writhed beneath her like angry serpents, desperate to claw their way back into her world. Lila could feel their icy tendrils attempting to grasp at her feet, but she remained resolute, channeling every ounce of light she could muster. It streamed from her fingertips in radiant beams that carved through the gloom like knives through flesh.
“Impossible!” The voice rang out from Sarah as if it were an echo of the void itself. The dark presence behind her mother’s eyes glared up at Lila, seething. “No one has that kind of power!”
“Nothing is impossible!” Lila declared, her voice ringing with an otherworldly resonance that echoed through the clearing and sent shivers along the spines of those who bore witness. With a swift motion of her arms, she summoned all the light trapped within her soul - the pureness of love, hope, and unyielding spirit - expanding it outward in a resplendent explosion of rainbow color that washed over the battleground.
The very air shimmered and crackled, and she exploded in light, outstretched hands reaching out like the fiery fingers of dawn chasing away the remnants of night. The shadows recoiled, hissing like wounded animals, their forms twisting and writhing to escape Lila’s radiant onslaught. The ground beneath her pulsed with energy as if in response to her call, a deep emerald glow radiated from the roots of ancient trees, and ferns unfurled before her in vibrant hues of green and gold. 
The golden light expanded, wrapping itself around Tabitha’s minions like an embrace of warmth, their shrieks morphing into gasps as the purifying energy enveloped them. They stumbled backward, their grotesque forms collapsing to the forest floor, disintegrating into shimmering motes of darkness that flickered out like dying embers.
Sarah watched in horror as the light cascaded over her followers, the sheer brilliance peeling away their masks of malice. With each flash of luminescence, their once-menacing silhouettes twisted and contorted before surrendering to Lila’s unwavering will. The ground beneath them trembled as shadows dissipated like mist in the morning sun, leaving only traces of their sinister presence behind.
But then Sarah howled - a sound so primal it shattered the very fabric of the moment. Her body convulsed almost as if a demon had taken hold of it and was now inhabiting it like a skin suit. 
Lila’s heart raced as the horrifying cry tore through the air, a chilling reminder of the darkness still lurking in their midst. The surge of energy diminished around her, and with it, the once-vibrant colors of her spell began to flicker. Desperation surged within her. She couldn’t let herself falter now.
With one final push, she willed herself back toward the ground, descending like a comet streaking across the night sky. The world rushed by her, a blur of green and brown, light and shadow, as she focused on her mother.
As Lila landed on the forest floor, fear coursed through her veins. Sarah was convulsing, her body writhing out of control. The foam that bubbled from her mouth glistened ominously, each frothy droplet reflecting the shimmering light that still danced around Lila, now fading like the last echoes of a great symphony.
She rushed towards her mother, her soul filled with dread. Panic clawed at her chest as she kneeled beside Sarah, whose eyes rolled back into her head, revealing only the whites. “Alondra! What’s happening to her?” Lila gasped, reaching out a trembling hand to brush against Sarah’s forehead.
“It’s Tabitha!” Alondra exclaimed. “She sensed her imminent defeat and is using the sign of evil to poison your mother from within.”
“She can do that?”
“Dark magic allows for many unnatural things to become possible, especially in the hands of a powerful witch like her. You need to sever the connection right now or Sarah is as good as dead.”
“I’m not sure I can…”
“Lila, you’ve said it yourself that nothing is impossible. After what you did just now, how can you still doubt your power? Cut the cord that connects them. Purge the sign of evil from her skin and her soul.”
“Insolent child!” Tabitha’s cavernous voice echoed through Sarah’s trembling lips. “You’ll never defeat me. Say goodbye to your mother… and your friend, too.”
“Leave Penelope alone, you bitch!” Lila screamed, eyes clouded by untamed fury. “You’re not going to take anything else from me!”
“Won’t I? On the contrary, Lila. I’ll take it all. You may win this battle, but what good will it do if all your companions are dead?”
“Don’t listen to her, Lila.” Alondra held her hand. “Help Sarah, and then we can deal with her. Do it before it’s too late.”
With fierce determination igniting within her, Lila pressed her palm against Sarah’s forehead, feeling the feverish heat radiating from her mother’s skin. She closed her eyes and summoned every ounce of the radiant energy that had flowed through her moments before, envisioning it as a golden tide ready to wash away the darkness threatening to engulf them both.
The world around her blurred again, but this time,e she focused on the connection between Sarah and Tabitha. Lila could almost see it - a strand of black ichor writhing beneath her mother’s skin, pulsating like a heartbeat, tethering Sarah to the malignant essence of Tabitha’s dark magic. It coiled and twisted within her, sinister and seductive, begging for release. Lila felt it resonate like a discordant note in an otherwise harmonious symphony.
“Come on, Mom,” Lila whispered, her voice trembling yet resolute. “Fight it. I’m right here with you!”
“Sarah, listen to your daughter,” Alondra urged. “If there’s a part of your old self still buried there, now is the time to let it out. You need to fight!”
A sudden, deafening shriek erupted from Sarah’s throat, sending a cascade of chills through the forest. It echoed off the gnarled trees, each one a witness to the desperation unfolding beneath their twisted branches. Lila felt the tremors coursing through her mother’s body intensify, as if the very essence of life itself was being pried away by unseen hands.
“Stay with me, Mom!” she cried out, her spirit throbbing in tandem with Sarah’s convulsions. She found the place on her skin where the brand was located and placed her other hand on top of it, adding her life essence to the purifying spell. A whirlwind of memories and emotions swirled within her, defying death and chaos in the name of love.
“Lila,” Sarah whispered, her real voice almost lost amid the maddening chaos. “I… I don’t know how much longer…”
“No! You must hold on!” Lila cried. With each breath she took, she felt threads of her essence intertwining with Sarah’s luminous strands of gold and silver, weaving together like a tapestry spun by celestial hands. The sign of evil stirred, oozing blackness, and began to melt under her touch. “Go to hell, Tabitha!” she screamed, bathing the clearing in white light.

((to be continued))