SPELLBOUND

A while ago, just after Gavrael and King Belial left the palace, Evie did not waste a moment longer before she turned around to speak with her mother-in-law. However, before Evie could bring up the topic about mating bonds, the ancient dark fae, Claudius, arrived with a knock at their door. 

The dark fae was apparently asked by Queen Beatrice to bring something over to her. 

"Did you bring it? Claudius?" the queen asked eagerly. 

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Claudius then used magic and something that was wrapped with white silk suddenly seemed to just appear in his hands. He laid it down carefully on the table that was between them. Evie was curious as to what was this item that even had Claudius handling it so carefully.

"I've been really wanting to show you this, my dear." Beatrice told Evie excitedly, "I don't know why, but I kept thinking about this ever since I met you back in Yryzia. It felt as though I needed to let see it." 

Beatrice then moved to uncover it. Her every movement though enthusiastic, was careful and full of caution. Evie felt her heartbeat quicken with anticipation. What was it that Beatrice wanted to show her? What was it that was so important to this extent?

The moment it was uncovered, Evie blinked. It was a bow. A golden and beautifully arched bow with intricate designs of two snake-like dragons were carved into the body of that bow. Evie instinctively felt that it was not a normal bow as she could feel a sense of resonance with it.

It was strange but Evie began to get that feeling again. She remembered that she had felt something like this happening as well when she first saw her necklace, back in Dacria. It was like just the sight of it was enough to be able to evoke something to resonate within her and she could not bear to take her eyes of it. 

"This bow is actually found by Gavrael when he was younger." Beatrice informed her, causing Evie to look at her with intrigue. 

A small smile curved on Beatrice's lips. "I remember him coming to me and telling me that he had found a strange but beautiful treasure." But then, her smile faded. "That boy didn't tell me one thing at that time though. He conveniently forgot to mention to me that he had found this bow in the abyss." 

"In the abyss?!" Evie echoed out in shock, her eyes now widening. 

"Yes. I only found out that he discovered it in the abyss later on when he let his tongue slip that one time when he was complaining that he couldn't find any arrows that should go along with it." the queen shook her head exasperatedly as she thought back on how her son was so mischievous in his younger years. "I couldn't believe that he had secretly gone to that risky place looking for arrows next." Queen Beatrice huffed and rolled her eyes.

"Why? Why was he looking for it?" Evie asked, curiosity flashing in her eyes.

"I asked him that too, but he couldn't answer. He had that funny face like he didn't know exactly why he was looking for that as well. Eventually, I think he'd given up looking for the matching arrows and until now, no one had managed to find any golden arrows in there. This bow certainly doesn't belong to any dark fae, as you can clearly see. And I feel like this bow is obviously forged with light magic instead of dark magic. You can feel it right? Evie?" At this, Queen Beatrice raised her sparkling eyes to Evie. 

Evie just nodded as she returned her gaze to the bow again. Her mother-in-law was right, one glance and she could unmistakably feel how this bow does not belong to this land of dark magics. It belongs to the light faes and somehow, she had a feeling that it does not belong to just any light fae as well. 

"Why is it there? I mean… in the abyss, of all places? How did it even end up there?" Evie questioned. 

"That's my question too. According to historical records, light faes hadn't been allowed to enter into the Under Lands for such a long time, much less to reach the Abyss. The most intriguing thing was that this bow seemed to be already in the abyss for an immeasurable amount of time."

The intrigue kept rising as Evie stared at the mysterious golden bow. Who originally owned this? One of the previous light fae queen in the ancient times, perhaps? But… is that all there was to this? That this bow was just probably a relic left behind by an ancient light fae queen? 

Slowly, Evie started approaching it. Her heartbeat raced as she reached her hand out to touch the bow. 

Suddenly feeling like her heart was hanging in her throat, Evie pulled her hand away and took a few deep breaths to steady herself. 

"Are you okay?" Beatrice worriedly asked as she touched her shoulder. "If you feel something dangerous, please don't touch it yet. Sometimes, harmful dark magic that can't be detected might be in it." 

"No, it's… I don't feel any danger," Evie explained, forcing a smile. "I think I'm just feeling suddenly nervous for no particular reason." 

Beatrice creased her brows. "I hope it's not the bad kind of nervousness. If it is, don't touch it. I can't let you get harmed."

"It's okay, mother. I don't feel any danger coming from it and I can feel it's not harmful. I might just be thrilled…" she said, omitting the continuation of her thoughts which was 'or this thing has something to do with me like the necklace Gav bought for me'. 

"Are you certain?" 

"Yes, mother." Evie smiled more relaxedly this time and she reached out again. There was no way she could stop herself from touching it or it will just continue to haunt her thoughts until she finally did. 

And the moment her fingertips touched the bow, it started to glow. And it was the exact same amber glow of her magic. 

Claudius and Queen Beatrice looked on with awe while Evie suddenly felt something warm seeping into her body. To her, the feeling was comfortable and welcoming. 

But the instant she wrapped her hands around it and picked it up, Evie's head throbbed, and she staggered back, dropping the bow on the floor in her shock. 

Beatrice panicked a little as she rushed forward to catch her. "Evie!"