She closed her eyes as her hands bled into the blackness. She felt shadows crawl through her fingers, seeping through every crack and crevice of her skin, responding to her so effortlessly. They had never done that before. These shadows weren’t dim; they possessed fractals of glimmering moonlight.
“...but I’m not you anymore. You can stay here, hiding in the dark, alone and forgotten. I’m going back.”
She opened her eyes, and those glittering shadows erupted in erratic streams, stretching to all corners of the room. Her demonic likeness raised its hands to protect itself, but it was too late. Her shadows forced it back where it came from, until its body rippled into the mirror. It banged on the glass, trapped somehow, clawing at the wall until bloody streaks appeared in vertical tracks.
“You want to give me power, Valhoor? I’ll take it.” The shadows danced and twirled above as she challenged the Death God, wherever he might be. “I’ll make you regret this curse. I’ll make you regretme.” Power surged from her fingertips as she made her vow. If Valhoor was listening, he would know he had made a terrible mistake.
Let him come for me, his nightmare queen, too.
Shadows swirled and intertwined with one another. Dancing victoriously like they had been waiting so patiently for this—for her. They buried themselves in all the walls, all the edges of that dark and desolate box.
“Murderer! Selfish! You will stay! You are a broken burden!” The voice grew erratic, flinging its poison from every direction as it banged on its glass prison, blocked by Helaina’s shadows.
Helaina’s silver irises faded into vacant blackness. “I can’t hear you.”
She raised her arms up, willing the shadows to push and escape, forcing them outward.
“Let me out.” Helaina strained against the immovable walls. Her shadows billowed and thrashed against the room as she flexed every muscle, beckoning them to push and fight, willing them to break free.
“let me out!” Helaina roared.
The sparkling shadows gave a final push to all four corners of the cell. Sweat dripped from her brow as her teeth clenched so hard she thought they might crack.
“You will die if you leave! You will burn!” the voice snarled as the mirror began to crack from the force of Helaina’s power. The cracks deepened, and Helaina’s likeness developed a look of defeat... a look of dread as its shouting finally turned silent.
“Death comes for us all,” Helaina replied.
It was true. Death could come for her tomorrow. She refused to waste another breath hating the life she was given.
In a deafening boom, the walls fell, the mirror shattering into fragments. The weight lifted. The hateful voices fell silent. Her likeness was gone.
The shadows spread across the now-visible night sky, rippling in the open air, then wrapped around her like a warm embrace. The only emotion that burned within her now was a righteous rage her body was yearning to unleash.
She had passed. She was made anew; her mortal life was over. She felt it in her bones and in her veins. She was a demigod—a Divine.
She collapsed to the grass, letting her breath catch up with her.
Now, how was she supposed to get home?
She tilted her head up to find the light of a solitary white candle glowing in the dark of night. She reached out and wrapped her hand around the smooth wax, wondering who had left it here.
Before she could make another move, a hand outstretched and wrapped around hers. The hand was feminine and smooth. The touch was so gentle, a touch she recognized even in the dark.
Helaina’s breath caught in her throat.
An angelic silhouette came forward, allowing the glow of the candle to reveal golden-blond locks and full red lips. She was still beautiful.
Krysta kneeled before Helaina, completely whole. As if nothing had harmed her. The eldest Kelesian princess smiled. Helaina tried to open her mouth to speak. As she did, a second hand reached for the candle, engulfing both their grips, a man’s hand.
It can’t be.
She looked to her right as the candlelight revealed her brother’s face.
Adriel.
They were here, they were both here.
“Hey, kid.”
