"You thought you have chosen him over yourself. But you have chosen the peace of the world over your peace. You have chosen the right choice, Ari. You can now have your pass and then return. Stretch your hand, Ari and take the pass" Stella said to her.
Ari stretched her hand and she felt something touch her hand and a key sign appeared on her palm
"You can now return Ari, and await the rest"
Ariana was so happy she cried. She could not believe she had gotten the pass. She stared at her palm which glows.
"Take a step backward, Ari. The door will be open. Follow through the waterfall, back to the beginning"
Ariana did what Stella had told her and she returned to the same spot where she had entered the waterfall.
**
JASMINE
Entering the waterfall, she had expected to see more water with no end but what she saw were spells written on the surface of the water. The water had separated itself so she could walk through it. As she walked through the water, she assimilated the spells and as she does, they disappeared.
More spells kept appearing to her. Her hair had changed from white to gold. As she learn the spells which had different colors, each color appear in her hair.
And the more spells she takes in, the longer her hair and fingers become. She could tell the spells were becoming too much for her but she could not control which spells she takes in and which she shouldn't.
Her eyes were changing colors as everywhere became dimmer. She was losing herself slowly to the spells and she could hear voices too. The more voices she heard the more confused she becomes.
What if she loses herself completely? What if she doesn't succeed in the tasks? What if she can't leave the waterfall?
Fear was taking over her spirit and she was losing herself too. She fell to the ground as the voices Increases and so are the spells. The more she shouts the louder the voices in her head.
They were saying the different spells she has learned. "Stop!!" She screamed.
Why can't she stop them from speaking? Why do they keep saying so many words in her head?
Her fingers were so long and she was beginning to hurt herself as she tries to stop the voices in her head. She raised her head to see images. Different spirits and creatures had surrounded her, as they tried to lay their hands on her.
"You belong to me," each one of them says. "You are just like me!!! Come to me, Jasmine. Be my habitat. I will give you everything you want. I will make Ryan yours forever"
All the spirits and creatures were tormenting her. They knew her heart's desire and were using that against her. She stood up and began to run. The more she ran, the more the spells that appears and the louder the voices she hears.
She kept running hoping she would find solace somewhere. She hoped to see a place that will be quiet so she could think. A place that is not filled with the voices she has been hearing. She wondered if such a place exists here.
After running endlessly, she realized she had been running in circles. She kept coming back to the start point. To the same place, she was before. She bend down and cried.
Why is she been tormented? Could this be her task? But what is she supposed to do? Learn how to control her powers? Or defeat the voices looming in her head?.
"You can't run away from your future, Jasmine. You belong to us. You will end up like us. You are a demon that is not supposed to be born. You should die. Die Jasmine. Your people will leave you when you need them the most. Join us and be the ruler over us or stay away from us and die" She heard the voices so clear. They spoke in one accord.
The voices were loud. She knew she needed to defeat the tormenting demons. But how?
"Jasmine?" She heard a soothing voice. The voice was familiar. She raised her head to see Ryan staring at her.
"R-Ryan?" She stuttered slightly and he smiled. Her heart melted and she forgot all her problems for the time being. He stretched his hand towards her.
"Come, I can help you. I can help you control your power and tame the beast in you. I will stay with you forever" he said to her.
His words were soothing to her ears. Those were the words she wanted to hear. Words that would calm her down.
As she stretched her hand to take his hand. She heard another voice.
"Jasmine?". The voice sounded just like Kelvin's own.
She furrowed her brows. Could Kelvin be here too? "Kelvin?" She called looking around for him. She sighted him a distance away, arms folded.
He looks relaxed and less bothered about her situation. She wondered why he had a nonchalant attitude even in a bad situation like this.
"Why are you on the floor? Shouldn't you be trying to tame the beast in you?. Why are you looking for someone who will help you fight your demons?" He asked.
Jasmine was furious. His words were provoking and yet she could sense some sense in it.
"Jasmine, I can help you. We will fight the demons together. Just hold my hand" Ryan said.
She stared at one then at the other, wondering what she was supposed to do. She was in a state of confusion and even though she could still hear the voices, she was more concerned about Kelvin and Ryan than the voices in her head.
"Jasmine?" She heard someone call her name and she could tell from the voice that it was Stella. The voices stopped and so are the appearance of the spells. There was total silence too. She looked around for Stella.
"Where are you?" She asked.
"I am not there with you, so listen. The spells will keep appearing, faster than they were before. The voices will be louder than they were before. Look at the two of them. Ryan and Kelvin. One of them will help you gain control over yourself again. You need the blood of one of them to tame the demons and overcome them"
"What are you saying?" Jasmine asked furrowing her brows. She did not understand what Stella is saying and needed clarity.
"This is your task. To choose the right person that will help you. You have to think carefully and pick rightly. If you choose the wrong person, you will be trapped here forever. And you have just a short time to pick"
"How long do I have?"
"Half an hour. You must pick before the time elapse. If you don't choose any of them before the last sound of the clock. You will remain here with the demons tormenting you for the rest of your life"
Jasmine sighed. The task was more difficult than she thought. If she will keep hearing the voices and her mind will keep reading and taking in the spells. It will be difficult for her to concentrate and choose rightly. But she knew she needed to do it. And Stella can't offer her any help. She has to do it herself.
"Stella?" She called. "Is there anything more I need to know?"
"You know yourself more than any other person. Follow your heart, Jasmine, and choose who best suits you. Don't let your personal feelings cloud your mind Goodbye. Your time starts now"
After Stella's voice faded. The voices returned. This time, they were louder. The spells appeared so quickly and her mind was distracted. She could hear the voices of Kelvin and Ryan amidst other voices.
Each of them was telling her what to do. Ryan gave reasons why she should come with him and how he would help her fight the demons. He was so convincing that she was tempted to choose him.
Unlike, Ryan whose voice was calm and soothing, Kelvin's voice was harsh. He kept telling her to fight for herself and not depend on anyone.
"Can't you do this. Can't you do something for yourself? Why are you so weak?. Fight your demons yourself and stop dragging people down with you". Those were Kelvin's words to her.
She tried to take her mind away from all the voices so she could make the choice she want. She needed to think fast cause her time was running.
Ryan's voice was calm and soothing, just like it was in the real world. He has always been there to help her which she appreciates. But that is not what she wants. She doesn't want to keep relying on someone. She needed to be able to do something for herself.
To be able to fight for herself. She needed to fight the demons herself. Just as Kelvin has said to her, she would fight her demons herself. She knew the two of them are not real. They are only a representation of the choices she has to make.
She stared at Kelvin who is a distance away from her and then at Ryan who stood so close to her. She sighed.
If she wants help from others, she won't have to do a thing, help is so close to her. But what will that do to her?. It will only make her lose her confidence. She will become weaker and also become prey to others.
If she wants to help herself she would need to pass through some tribulation. She would need to build herself and that will build up her confidence and make her stronger.
She smiled. She will be choosing Kelvin over Ryan here. Though that won't stop her from loving Ryan. She crawled slowly, amidst the voices as she find her way to Kelvin.
She kept telling herself that she can do it. Soon, she was right in front of Kelvin. He stretched his hand to her and she held it.
She heard numerous laughter.
"You chose the wrong choice, Jasmine. You rejected us. Those who claim to love you will reject you. You can still make a change of mind"
Jasmine closed her eyes. She is not going to change her mind. She was sure she had made the right choice. "This will hunt you for the rest of your life" she heard the scream and everything began to disappear including Kelvin and Ryan.
She opened her eyes to see herself amid the waterfall. Everything was calm and she couldn't help but wondered if she had made the right choice or not. She was sure she did.
"Jasmine" Stella called.
"Stella?"
"Congratulations dear. You have made the right choice. Stretch forth your hand for the pass"
Jasmine stretched her hand and a key appeared on her palm. She furrowed her brows.
"Is this the pass we are here for?"
"Yes. You will be returned to the spot we were all standing before"
"What about the curse? The one the demons made?"
"It was to make you change your mind which you did not. It will not affect you, Jasmine. Now step backward. Follow the door when it opens and go through the waterfall back to the beginning"
Jasmine did what Stella had told her and she found herself right at the spot they were before entering the waterfalls.
Ariana was standing and tapping her feet on the ground.
"Ariana?" Jasmine called and she turned. They ran into each other arms.
"We did it" Ariana cooed.
"Yes we did" Jasmine replied. They released themselves from the hug.
"How long have you been standing?"
"About ten minutes"
"Let's go sit over there while as wait for others"
"Do you think they would pass the test?"
"Trust me, they will"
**
JABAL
He walked through the waterfall until he gets to a plain land, which suddenly became a thick forest. Wolves began to appear, one after the other. Wolves of different colors.
They had different signs which indicate they were from different packs. They gathered themselves according to their packs, awaiting their alpha.
About a hundred wolves gathered behind him too. From their strips, he could tell they are members of the Silvermoon pack.
Would the Silvermoon pack resurrect again or was this just an imagination?
Soon, the alphas of the rest of the packs appeared and there was a battle. He could not say how long the battle lasted but in the end, the alpha bowed to him.
"Hail the alpha of all alphas!!!" They yelled and his eyes widened in shock.