Chapter 23- Magic Unchecked - chapter 24- An Unhinged Prefect
All of the sudden playing cards began flying around and the vines disappeared “Nngh?! What just—” Riddle looked around “huh? I’m still alive? What’s with all these playing cards?” Ace looked around, slightly grabbing onto my arm.
“All the rose trees turned into cards?” Deuce looked stunned.
I turned my attention to Trey as he stepped forward “Riddle, stop this right now!” he shouted, Cater stepped next to me with shock on his pace “wait, is that Trey’s “Paint the Roses”?! But…how?!” Cater whispered in terror at what was unfolding before us.
“All the magic-sealin’ collars are gone!” Grim looked around carefully, slightly leaning forward in my arms.
“What did I tell you? My magic can overwrite characteristics for a short time. So I used it to make “Riddle’s magic” into “my magic”.” Trey reached up and grabbed the tip of his hat, turning to us and speaking, was it odd to say he was attractive right now?
“You can do that? That’s some kinda loophole!” Cater smiled brightly with curiosity “N-no… Off with their heads! I SAID, off with their heads!” Riddle was screaming.
“Riddle, stop. Can’t you see how you look right now?” Trey reached out for Riddle.
“He…he was really gonna do it!”
“He is completely out of control.”
“He’s like some kinda monster!”
Students spoke among themselves as I gestured at them to shut up, something bad was about to happen I could feel it, something horrible was in creation, terror filled my body, not a word should be spoken by idiots until I figure out what it is.
“what? Was my magic overwritten by yours? Does that mean your signature spell is stronger than mine?!” Riddle turned his whole body towards Trey “of course it doesn’t. Riddle, take a deep breath and listen to us.” Trey attempted to calm Riddle.
“Are YOU going to tell me that I’m wrong too? After all I’ve done to protect the rule of law?! Do you know how much I’ve suffered for this?! I…I refuse to believe this!” Riddle began crying tears of rage, as his face twisted with nothing but hatred.
“Cease immediately, Mr.Rosehearts! Any further attempt to use magic will leave your magestone completely tainted with blot!” Crowley shouted, oh shit that’s what's happening, an overblot was unfolding before us.
“But…I’m right! I’M the one who’s right! There is NO! POSSIBLE! ALTERNATIVE!” Riddle's face was completely red, nothing but disgust and hatred could be seen on it. “Riddle, stop!” Trey screamed as loud as he could, pleading with Riddle once more.
My head spun and I saw it happen, the small puddle of inky black took over my vision then I saw a pen with a red magestone turn black, shit so that’s what it meant, when my vision came back I look up and see Riddle, his whole body changed a viel covers one of his eyes, his body covered in inky thorn vines, his clothing covered in cuts and rips, his whole outfit had changed.
A being that looked like the queen of hearts was behind him, the head looked like a bottle of blot, it was holding a rose bush.
“Did his whole body just change?!” I took a step back, gripping onto Grim as he clung to me out of fear, Ace and Deuce moving with me.
Riddle began laughing “heh heh heh… AH HA HA HA! You are fools to defy me! You are not welcome in my world. In my world, I am the law. I am the order made manifest! The only response I will accept from you is “Yes, Housewarden Riddle.” all who defy me will lose their heads! Ah ha ha ha ha!” Riddle grimaced at everyone.
“Dear me, what have I done? I’ve allowed a student to overblot in my presence!” Crowley whined “oh boo hoo, let’s all ignore the overblot Riddle and go and comfort the poor victim of a Headmage who wouldn’t shut the fuck up or do anything to stop it!” I mocked Crowley.
“Overblot”? What does that mean?!” Grim looked at Crowley for answers “overblot is a dangerous condition that mages must avoid at costs. At the moment, he is overcome by negative energy, and has lost control of his magic and emotions.” Crowley shook his head.
“Okay, sure….but what does that mean?” Grim looked terrified “please explain!” Deuce hurried Crowley to answer.
“To put it in layman’s terms, he’s in evil berserker mode!” Cater put it simply “if he keeps releasing magical energy, we could be looking at a loss of life here — his included.” Trey sighed.
“Uh, WHAT?!” Grim shouted, “the well-being of my students is my top priority. Therefore, I must evacuate them immediately. As for Mr.Rosehearts, we must restore his consciousness before his magical energy runs dry. For as bad as losing him would be, there are scenarios that are far worse… listen well: I need all of you to seek help from the other housewardens and members of the faculty.” Crowley panicked.
“Hiiiiyah! Take that!” Ace threw a blast of wind at Riddle “I summon thee, cauldron!” Deuce summoned a cauldron to throw at Riddle as everyone shouted in terror “Myah?!” Grim jumped out my arms and let out a large burst of his blue flame, Ace’s wind mixed the cauldron and fire and made a giant blue fire ball, almost crashing into Riddle.
“What do you fools think you’re doing?” Riddle growled “um, hello?! 911? We’ve got an idiot emergency!” Cater shouted, Grim snapped around “you DID hear that part about how reeeeal bad things are happenin’ with him, right?!” Grim hissed.
“That’s why we need to stop him now! I don’t want that on my conscience!” Deuce huffed “and I’m not givin’ up till I hear him say “I was wrong and I’m sorry.”.” Ace snapped.
Trey let out a sigh “all right, let’s do this. I can overwrite his magic for a little longer. In the meantime, do what you can! Headmage, please evacuate the other students!” Trey shouted. “Wait! This is dangerous!” Crowley shouted back.
“Are you S-R-S, Trey? You can’t beat Riddle!” Cater pleaded.
“So what, you’re not even gonna fight unless you KNOW you can win?” Ace shook his head
“Yeah, he’s right. That’s weak.” Grim crossed his paws.
“This is the only way we can think of to snap him out of this!” Deuce stated.
“Yeah… I don’t want to lose him. There’s too many things I’ve left unsaid.” Trey's eyes glossed over, he crossed his arms and looked in Riddle’s direction.
“We just have to do this, whatever it takes!” I shouted “we can’t just let him die!” I turned to Cater, my eyes pleading with him to help.
“Ugh, I do NOT like or subscribe to this, but fine!” Cater groaned and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Ngh… I’ll be back as soon as I’ve gotten the students to safety. Stand firm until then!” Crowley said. He probably wasn’t going to come back until after the fight.
“Such defiance, from every last one of you! I shall take all of your heads!” Riddle shouted, his eyes still full with disgust and hatred for every last one of us.
“Riddle’s body can’t take much more of this. We need to stop him before it’s too late!” Trey rushed us into battle.
“Sleight of hand!” Trey yelled, more cards appeared heading towards Riddle “Confound it all! Still you oppose me, Trey?!” Riddle’s voice was full of hate.
“All right! We’ve locked down Riddle’s collaring attack!” Grim shouted “but not for long. We’re still in kind of a tight spot here.” Cater shook his head.
“Yeah. get this done quick, while I keep Off With Your Head sealed away!” Trey hurried everyone there to fight.
“YEEEEAAAAARGH!” Riddle screamed and hit the ground with the rose tree causing the ground to shake, his body turning the brightest red possible.
With every hit of the rose tree his direction changed, everyone was running around, I was trying to see who was doing what, but I couldn’t tell.
“Gah! Shouldn’t he be outta magic by now?!” Ace groaned out.
“I am absolutely, positively right—beyond any possible shadow of a doubt! I have to be! Otherwise, what was any of it for….?!” Riddle screamed out.
“Riddle…” Trey whispered out his name, sadness filling his face. “Trey, focus! Any distraction now will be giving him an extra advantage!” Cater snapped Trey out of it. “Ah, sorry!” Trey apologized.
“HEY, OVER HERE!” I ran behind Riddle, picking up a rock and throwing it at the back of his head and began swinging my arms around, Riddle turned around and barely missed me with the rose tree “SHUT UP!” he screamed at me and kept bashing the rose tree, trying to hit me.
Suddenly a giant blue flame ball hit him from behind causing him to turn back around, everything was a blur after that. I remember running around and pushing people out of the way, helping people get out, stopping my friends from getting hit, and I remember Riddle attempting to strike me down multiple times. At one point it all stopped and Riddle went into pure despair.
“I…was wrong?! But that’s….impossible… Isn’t it…Mother?” Riddle whispered out.
All of the sudden things started spinning and everything went black, I didn’t get hit did I? What’s happening?
I’m scared.