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I had to finish this ritual. Ihadto.I coughed as I glanced around, racking my mind for what to do. Delila’s body lay still, and I knew we wouldn’t be able to just teleport out of here. Even though there was a hole in the roof to view the moon at night, the chamber was still filling with smoke and Zyanya’s fire. If nothing else, we’d all choke to death before Fenris regained his powers.
Gathering my energy, I braced myself, waiting for Zyanya to start her next assault before I struck, slamming her backward with a gust of wind. As it cut through the smoke and flame, buying us a few precious seconds, I put one hand on Fenris’s pelt and the other on Lyka’s, using all my strength to use the same teleportation spell I’d used back on Isla Lobo.
Thank goodness I’m covered in dirt from the jungle,I thought, whisking us quickly back to the encampment below the hillside.
As I opened my eyes, I gasped. The world around me seemed to swirl, and for a moment, I could have sworn I’d transported us straight into the vision of my nightmares. The outside of the temple looked just like my dreams, the raging fires casting eerie shadows over the old stone temple. The only difference was the stark lack of a dragon towering over the scenery.
There were still screams and howls of pain all around me, and I shivered. I felt…I felt…I felt good. The realization struckme seconds later, and I doubled over, sick with the realization that, even for the briefest of seconds, I’d enjoyed feeling someone else’s fear, someone else’spain. It wasn’t so different than the visions I’d had of myself torturing Abi when I’d…
No! I just need to survive a few more minutes. Icannotgive in to the dark magic now.
A frustrated scream escaped me as I shook my head to get my thoughts straight, but my vision was still blurred. I could practically hear Zyanya’s command in my head.
Celeste, I order you to kill Fenris, Lunar Lord, before the end of the total solar eclipse, or the mark over your heart shall burn you to ash from the inside out.
“No!” I took a staggering step and clapped my hands down over my ears, but I kept hearing her voice, saying the same thing over and over. “No—”
None of these people would be dying if it weren’t for the Lunar Lord, the voice said, and suddenly, I realized I couldn’t tell if it was Zyanya’s or Sabine’s.But Sabine is dead. You’re dead!I tried to think back, but the harder I thought, the more that fear returned. I could taste it, and it tasted so, so sweet. Refreshing. Like it could wash away all my pain, and I could be made whole again if I just had more.
I could do anything, I just needed a bit more.
My sixth sense felt like it was in the furthest reaches of my mind, blaring away like a five-alarm fire, but it felt muffled. I could ignore it if I really wanted to, and for a moment, I wondered if I should. Nothing felt real.
Celeste, get a grip! Do not lose yourself!
I didn’t know if it was dark magic or Zyanya’s compulsion, but I couldn’t slip into those desires. Not now.
Celeste, I order you to kill Fenris, Lunar Lord, before the end of the total solar eclipse, or the mark over your heart shall burn you to ash from the inside out. You must kill him, Celeste. KillFenris. Kill the Lunar Lord. Kill Fenris. You must kill him. You must kill Fenris. Kill the Lunar Lord. Kill him.
I couldn’t hear my own thoughts as I dropped to my knees. Fenris’s face suddenly appeared in my swimming vision, and I gasped. I realized, all at once, it was notSabinewho was speaking to me.
I was saying those things.
Cold horror ran through me as I gasped, struggling to breathe as Fenris tried to scoop me up in his arms. I screamed, pushing and shoving as I tried to scramble away, terrified I might actually kill him. I couldn’t stop seeing the shine of silver blood on my hands like I’d had in my nightmare.
I pushed him away again, and when I looked down, I realized therewassilver all over me. I gagged at the sight.What have I done?An awful keening escaped me, but I couldn’t stop myself.
“What have I done?”
“Nothing!” Fenris shouted, trying to get closer. “You grabbed Lyka and me. We were both bleeding.” He motioned to himself and his brother. Lyka was still in his wolf form, fighting off a shifter who’d made its way back into the encampment.
I…I grabbed them?I blinked and looked back down.Is this what I saw in my dream?
Before I could form the next thought, Zyanya’s voice echoed through my skull again.Celeste, I order you to kill Fenris, Lunar Lord, before the end of the total solar eclipse.
My body moved itself, pushing me up onto my feet. My eyes widened, and I tried to gasp, but I couldn’t even do that. I felt like I was watching myself as I raised my hands, staring directly at Fenris.
He realized what was happening and lunged forward before tackling me to the ground. I didn’t stop—I didn’t even flinch. His shoulder hit my stomach in the middle of the spell, and, interrupted, the spell exploded between us. He groaned as herolled over, and I could see at once how I’d scorched his side. He did not get up as he gasped, an awful, wheezing noise rattling his body. I whimpered, realizing what I’d done.
The moon was starting to creep away from the sun overhead. My time was running out.
Celeste, I order you to kill Fenris, Lunar Lord, before the end of the total solar eclipse, or the mark over your heart shall burn you to ash from the inside out.
“No!” I screamed, shaking my head.I can’t stay here.Each time I heard Zyanya’s command echo around my skull, it felt stronger. I’d already tried to attack Fenris. I couldn’t trust myself to stay around him any longer.
I turned and ran blindly back into the jungle. I didn’t care where I went if it was away from Fenris and Lyka and anyone else here.
Again, I realized this was just like my dream, but my chest felt even worse now. It felt like my lungs were burning, too, like I’d been standing over a campfire and breathing in all the smoke and blistering air. I had no idea how far I’d gotten, only that it wasn’t far enough, when the edges of my vision darkened again. I tripped, and the forest floor raced up to meet me.
