Carly, The Eye S04E10
Millie stood impatiently, watching Sam as she prepared to open a door into Sandra’s cell. A sudden tug on her foot startled her. Looking down, she was shocked to see Gardon, the mischievous goblin, perched smugly. Somehow, he’d managed to hitch a ride through her portal.
“Cranzoo!” she exclaimed, her voice a mix of fear and disbelief. “How did you get here?”
Who’s here? the Eye demanded, its voice reverberating in her mind. A shiver rippled through Millie's body, leaving her uncertain if it stemmed from the Eye's fear or surprise.
Why would the Eye fear Gardon? Millie wondered. Didn’t it tell me he was in the cave for a reason? Could it have put him there? Is the Eye actually… her?
Gardon’s stubby finger pointed towards Sam, and Millie noticed her pressing an index finger against the wall of Sandra’s invisible cell.
“Now, witch,” Gardon urged, his tone sharp. “If you want to save your sister, you must hurry.”
What? No, the Eye protested fiercely. He’s a trickster. He lies.
Despite the warning, Millie decided to trust Gardon’s urgency. She moved quickly to stand beside Sam.
“Listen to her mind, witch,” Gardon urged. “Catch the spell with your own.”
The Eye continued its objections, but Millie focused on Sam’s thoughts.
“In open chasms, chilled remains,” Sam intoned, her voice low and deliberate. “Release the lock and bind the chains. A request I make with power borrowed true: open the door and let me through.”
As Sam finished speaking, the air shimmered and rippled, forming an opening into Sandra’s cell. Without hesitation, Millie darted through. Sam lingered in the doorway, her hands reaching into the air as though feeling for something unseen.
“Can she sense me?” Millie whispered.
No, the Eye replied quickly, but Gardon had his own opinion.
“With magic like hers? It’s possible,” he said, sniffing the air around Sam. “That’s no ordinary spell. That’s stolen magic from a—” sniff “—hobgoblin. No, wait—” another sniff “—a daemon.”
What utter nonsense! the Eye hissed. He has no idea what he’s saying… and he shouldn’t even be here!
Seemingly satisfied she was alone, Sam stepped fully into the cell, letting the door seal behind her. Sandra’s eyes widened in fear as Sam approached a pile of bones. She crouched, touching one delicately, and chanted another spell.
“Crafted bones of gods long dead. Hear my curse upon your heads. Gift to me your wisdom and strength. Fortify these walls and guard the child in my stead.”
Her words hung ominously in the air as she turned her gaze to Sandra. The girl shrank further into herself, knees drawn tightly to her chest.
“It’s only a matter of time now, Sandra,” Sam growled. “Your mum’s about ready to crack.” Then, almost to herself, she muttered, “I just know it.”
From her hidden vantage point, Millie peered into Sam’s thoughts. She’s got to be close. How much longer can she hold out? I need her power! Sam’s mind was frantic with desperation.
Millie’s chest tightened as she saw Sandra flinch. Her first instinct was to lash out with magic, but Gardon’s firm grip on her arm stopped her.
“Don’t act, witch,” he whispered. “You don’t want her to know you’re here.”
Millie’s hands trembled, but she relented. “You’re right… but poor Sandra.” Her voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes. What if Sam reads Sandra’s mind and discovers I’m here?
No need to worry, young maiden, the Eye reassured her. I’ve shielded her mind.
Still uneasy, Millie reached into her pocket, her fingers curling around the stone. Relief washed over her—it was still there.
“You don’t want to lose that,” Gardon remarked, his grin both playful and knowing.
Millie shot him a wary glance. “No,” she said firmly, her suspicion clear.
Her unease grew as questions swirled. Why was Gardon in that cave? Who is he, really? she wondered.
We can discuss that later, the Eye deflected smoothly. For now, focus on saving your sister.
Convenient, Millie thought bitterly. She suspected the Eye was avoiding the truth.
Sam released her grip on Sandra’s hair and shoved her roughly against the cell wall. Millie clenched her fists, her anger bubbling as she watched Sam stride back towards the doorway.
“Listen to her mind, witch,” Gardon urged. “Do you want to end up trapped in this cell as well?”
Millie hesitated before moving to Sam’s side. Just as Sam raised her finger to the wall, she paused mid-air, her gaze darting suspiciously around.
“She can sense me,” Millie whispered anxiously.
“She can’t,” Gardon assured her. “We goblins have our ways.”
Millie raised an eyebrow. “And what ways are those?”
“It’s not something I say,” Gardon replied cryptically. “It’s something I do.”
At first, Millie saw nothing. But as she concentrated, a faint purple haze became visible around her and Gardon.
“You didn’t show me this before,” she accused.
“You only see it now because I allowed it,” Gardon said with a smirk. “We goblins value our privacy.”
Before she could retort, Sandra’s soft sobbing broke through their exchange. Millie turned towards her sister, her heart aching.
“Now’s your chance,” Gardon said. “Get into the witch’s mind, or we’re stuck.”
Sam began her incantation again: “In open chasms, chilled remains, release the lock, bind the chains, and open the door. This request I make with power borrowed true—open up, let me through.”
The air shimmered once more, the door opening just wide enough for Sam to slip out. She cast one final, smug glance at Sandra before disappearing into the Ether. The door sealed shut behind her.
“You caught that, didn’t you?” Gardon asked.
“Yes,” Millie said, her determination hardening. She rushed to Sandra’s side, kneeling to embrace her sister as the tension eased.
I could have opened the door for you, the Eye said, its voice laced with indignation.
Maybe you could, Millie thought irritably, but it seems Gardon has all the bright ideas.
She was growing weary of everyone telling her what to do. Wrapping her arms tightly around Sandra, Millie whispered, “It’s all right, sis. I’m here now. Are you hurt?”
Sandra shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. Relief flooded her voice as she said, “No, but… I knew you’d come. I never doubted you.”
Millie’s throat tightened. “Of course I came. I’ll always come for you.” As she helped Sandra to her feet, Sandra asked, “But why couldn’t Sam see you?”
“We’re not actually in the same realm,” Millie explained, brushing dirt off Sandra’s clothes. “I’ll explain more later.”
Sandra’s gaze shifted to Gardon, her expression both curious and cautious. “Who’s that?”
“He’s a…” Millie hesitated, glancing at Gardon, who raised an eyebrow expectantly. “Let’s just call him a friend.”
Friend? the Eye scoffed. You’re far too trusting.
Millie rolled her eyes but didn’t respond to the jab. “All right, Eye,” she said aloud, “do I need to remove both spells?”
Both?
“Yes, the one on the bones and the one on the cell.”
No! the Eye shouted, but Millie was already turning to Gardon.
“What do you think?” she asked him.
Gardon paused, his sharp features thoughtful. “Can you alter spells? Make them your own?”
“I’ve never tried to alter one,” Millie admitted. “But I do write my own spells sometimes.”
“Then you’ll need to take the power from the bones of the dead gods,” Gardon said firmly. “It’s the only way to break her hold.”
You can’t be serious! the Eye protested. Trusting a goblin’s idea? Madness!
The Eye’s irritation grated on Millie’s nerves. There was something disingenuous in its tone, something that set her on edge. “Yes,” she said, defiant. “I’m going to listen to the goblin.”
Gardon’s grin widened triumphantly as the Eye muttered, Just don’t lose that stone.
Sandra looked between them, bewildered. “Who are you talking to?” she asked.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Millie said with a weak smile. “Let’s get you out of here.”
Moving to the bones, Millie recalled Sam’s spell. Her mind raced as she began crafting one of her own, a countermeasure to seize the power locked within.
“Remember, witch,” Gardon cautioned, “you need to take the power for yourself.”
Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded in Millie’s head, as if a nail was being driven into her skull. She cried out, collapsing to her knees. The pain was unbearable, leaving her clutching her head.
“What’s happening?” Sandra asked, panic rising in her voice. She knelt beside Millie, trying in vain to soothe her.
“It’s the imposter in your head,” Gardon said grimly. “It wants the power for itself.”
Millie’s eyes widened. “What?” she gasped.
“The stone, witch. Use the stone. Touch the bones.”
Sandra helped drag Millie closer to the bones. The pain intensified, each step like a dagger twisting deeper into her mind. Desperately, she pulled the smooth grey stone from her pocket.
“Put it on the bones, but don’t let go,” Gardon instructed. “No matter what happens, don’t let go.”
With trembling hands, Millie pressed the stone against the ancient bones. The excruciating pain ceased abruptly, replaced by a piercing scream that echoed through the cell, reverberating in her very soul.
“Now say the spell!” Gardon urged. “Say it now!”
Through gritted teeth, Millie forced out the words: “Crafted bones of gods long dead. Hear my plea to release your pain. Gift to me your wisdom and strength to drop these walls and free the child in your stead. Feel my reach; know it to be true. Give me your power, so I can release you.”
The stone in her hand began to rise, hovering above the bones. The screams in her head intensified, a cacophony of agony and power. Gardon’s voice cut through the chaos: “It’s all right, maiden. Let the bones heal you.”
“Maiden?” Millie whispered. Before she could ask more, the stone cracked open. A brilliant ruby light flooded the cell. The dull stone shell fell away, revealing a vibrant gem the size of her palm. A beam of white light shot from the bones to the ruby, then into Millie’s hand.
Her body glowed white, her eyes burning ruby red as the power coursed through her. Sandra and Gardon stepped back, shielding their eyes as Millie’s mouth opened wide. A red portal formed within, expelling the green mist that had invaded her mind. The mist was sucked into the portal, banished to a dark dimension, never to return.
The portal collapsed, leaving the cell quiet apart from Millie’s heavy breathing. Her body still glowed faintly as the bones drained the last of their power into her. The ruby hovered for a moment before falling into her hand and merging with her palm. The glow faded, and Millie collapsed onto the cold, uneven ground.
For several long moments, Millie simply lay there, gasping for breath. When she finally looked up, Gardon was gone. In his place stood a striking woman whose presence filled the room with an undeniable energy.
“I am Carly, the Eye you sought, young maiden,” the woman said, her voice gentle but commanding.
Millie blinked, struggling to sit upright. “But Gardon… the other Eye… what’s going on?”
“Yeah,” Sandra added, clutching Millie’s arm for support. “What is going on?”
Carly’s expression softened as she crouched to meet Millie’s gaze. “Like the ruby, I too had to remain hidden. The hitchhiker—the green mist—jumped your portal with every intention of taking the power for herself. I was Gardon, and barely reached your leg in time to intervene.”
Millie stared at her, questions swirling in her mind. “Why didn’t you just… stop her?”
“I needed you to reach this point,” Carly replied. “You had to be strong enough to channel the power and purge the green mist. Without you, Sandra would still be trapped, and the bones power would have fallen into the wrong hands.”
Ignoring Sandra’s questioning look, Millie leaned forward, her exhaustion temporarily forgotten. “And now? What happens next?”
“The mother will arrive to keep Sandra safe,” Carly said, standing and extending a hand to help Millie to her feet. “You and I, young maiden, have a greater task ahead.”
Sandra’s brow furrowed. “The mother? What’s that supposed to mean?”
Before Carly could respond, a shimmer appeared in the air. Grace stepped through the Ether wall, her presence immediately soothing. Carly’s lips curved into a warm smile as she bowed her head. “Mother,” she greeted reverently. “We meet once more.”
“Oh, Carly,” Grace said, rushing forward to embrace her. “It’s been far too long.”
Millie’s mouth opened and closed as she watched the exchange. “You’ve… met?” she asked weakly.
“Yes,” Carly said, her tone carrying an air of finality. She turned to Grace. “Mother, you will care for the child while the maiden and I continue our journey.”
“Of course,” Grace said, her hand resting lightly on Sandra’s shoulder. “You’re safe now, Sandra.”
“Go,” Carly said, her voice firm. “Go now!”
In the blink of an eye, Grace and Sandra vanished. Millie stood frozen, her confusion and fear for her sister coursing through her mind like a storm.
“Do not fear, maiden,” Carly said, placing a steadying hand on Millie’s shoulder. “Sandra is safe. When Sam returns, she’ll find nothing but empty bones and broken spells. She’ll never hurt your sister again.”
Millie took a deep breath, grounding herself. “So… what now?”
Carly’s eyes glinted with determination. “Now, we save your mum.”