Chapter 82
Anthony sat tensely on the worn couch, his hands clenched in his lap, eyes fixed on Raine across the room. The air was heavy with a sense of urgency as Raine knelt beside Kathy, summoning every ounce of strength and power she possessed. Her lips moved rapidly, barely audible, as she sought to bridge the divide between the spirit world and the living, desperate to keep Kathy’s soul tethered to her body.
Kathy lay sprawled on the rug, her skin pale, her breathing shallow. A cold sweat drenched her forehead and matting her hair, evidence of the intense supernatural battle raging within her. Raine’s hands hovered over her, glowing faintly as she whispered words of power. Each utterance seemed to drain Raine further, but she refused to stop, her focus unwavering.
Finally, Raine’s voice faltered, her shoulders slumping as the glow around her hands faded. She looked up at Anthony, her eyes hollow with fatigue. “That’s all I can do,” she said, her voice trembling. “It’s up to Kathy now to fight off Maria’s soul herself. If I give any more, I’ll be using my own life force. I’ve told her what she needs to do.”
Anthony’s jaw tightened. “Is she strong enough?”
Raine shook her head, uncertainty flickering across her face. “She has to be. I’ve given her every bit of guidance I can. The rest is her battle.”
A tense silence settled over the room, broken only by Kathy’s ragged breaths. Anthony leaned forward, his knuckles white. “What happens if she can’t do it?”
Raine closed her eyes, gathering the last reserves of her strength. “Then Maria wins. Kathy’s soul will be lost.”
Anthony swallowed hard, the weight of Raine’s words pressing down on him. He glanced at Kathy, willing her to fight, to hold on. Raine reached out, placing a gentle hand on Kathy’s arm, her touch both comforting and desperate.
“Come on, Kathy,” Raine whispered, her voice barely audible. “You’re stronger than you think.”
The room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for a sign a twitch, a gasp, anything to show that Kathy was still fighting. Anthony and Raine watched, hope and fear mingling in their eyes, as the battle for Kathy’s soul raged on in silence.
Inside Kathy’s mind, chaos reigned. Shadows twisted and writhed, pressing in from all sides, suffocating her sense of self. She keeps fighting Maria’s cold, relentless force trying to push her out of her own body, whispering venomous words that threatened to unravel her will. Kathy clung desperately to fragments of memory: the warmth of Anthony’s smile, Raine’s reassuring voice, the laughter she once shared with friends. Each recollection was a lifeline, anchoring her to the world she was in danger of losing. But Maria’s soul was powerful, her anger and desperation a tidal wave that battered Kathy’s defenses.
She focused on these, drawing strength from the love and hope they represented. Maria’s voice grew louder, echoing with promises and threats, but Kathy refused to listen. She summoned every ounce of courage, remembering Raine’s instructions: Fight. Hold on. Do not let go.
Pain lanced through her, sharp and unyielding, as Maria tried to seize control. Kathy screamed not aloud, but in the depths of her mind, forcing herself to stand firmly. She imagined a barrier, a wall of light, separating her soul from Maria’s. With trembling resolve, she pushed back, channeling her fear into determination. The struggle felt endless. Time lost all meaning as Kathy battled for every breath, every heartbeat. She sensed Raine’s fading energy, a gentle warmth urging her onward. You’re stronger than you think, Raine had said. Kathy repeated the words like a mantra, forging them into armor.
Slowly, the shadows began to recede. Maria’s grip loosened, as she felt herself losing power and her hair is turning grey. Kathy’s own light grew brighter, fueled by love, hope, and the fierce will to survive. She was fighting her way back to consciousness, determined not to let Maria win.
Maria surged through the darkness, her presence cold and unyielding. She could feel Kathy’s resistance a flickering light in the void, stubborn and infuriating. Every time Maria pressed forward, seeking to drown that light, Kathy pushed back with memories and hope, refusing to surrender.
Maria’s anger burned. She had waited so long, endured so much, and now, with the threshold between worlds so thin, she would not be denied. This body should be mine; she hissed still fighting Kathy her voice echoing in the chasm of Kathy’s mind. She sent waves of despair and fear, trying to erode Kathy’s will, whispering promises of relief if only Kathy would let go.
But Kathy clung to her memories, and Maria felt them like thorns—Anthony’s love, she wants to see her children grow up, for them to have their own children. She wants to go old with Anthony. Raine’s guidance, laughter and warmth. Each one stung, a reminder of everything Maria had lost. Bitterness welled up inside her, fueling her determination. She lashed out, her essence swirling around Kathy’s, seeking cracks in her defenses.
Yet, as the struggle wore on, Maria sensed her grip slipping. Kathy’s light grew stronger, bolstered by love and the faint warmth of Raine’s magic. Maria’s desperation mounted. She screamed in fury, her voice a storm of rage and longing, but the shadows began to thin. The world she wanted slipped further from her grasp.
No, Maria thought, I will not be cast out again. But Kathy’s resolve was unbreakable, and Maria felt herself being pushed back, her voice fading into a distant echo as Kathy’s soul reclaimed its place. Maria's soul goes into the necklace. Kathy opens her eyes and looks around to see her mate looking at her with tears in his eyes as she wipes them away.
“Welcome back, you did it,” said Anthony
“Yes, I did. Maria's soul is in the necklace, I saw her lose all her power and her hair turn white,”
“Um…yes, you see here Maria and her power can’t be transfer into the necklace it’s will overpower therefore Kathy is a vessel of Maria’s power until the time being,” said Raine
“So that why her eyes are purple,” said Anthony
“Let me see…. ah yes I can see the power flowing through her body nice,” said Raine
Kathy shivered, suddenly aware that her clothes were still damp and clinging uncomfortably to her skin. Glancing down, she frowned, brushing a lock of wet hair from her face before her eyes darted anxiously around the room, searching for any sign of her children. She tried to push herself up from the floor, determined to check on them, but as she did, her legs wobbled and gave way beneath her.
Before she could fall, Anthony moved quickly, scooping her gently into his arms. “Easy,” he murmured, holding her close. Kathy leaned into him, relief and exhaustion mingling in her expression as she looked toward the door, still anxious for her family’s safety.
“How are the babies?” asked Kathy
“Our parents are watching them, the sense when their mother is in danger,” said Anthony
As Kathy settled into Anthony’s arms, Raine knelt down and carefully picked up the necklace from the ground. She inspected it with a solemn expression, understanding the gravity of what it now contained. “I’ll take this back to my realm,” Raine said quietly, slipping the necklace into a pouch. “I’ll make sure it’s hidden where no one can ever release Maria again.” She glanced at Kathy and Anthony, her voice steady with reassurance. “You have my word—it will be safe.”
“Thank you again, Raine,” said Kathy
“It’s my pleasure. I hope I will get an invitation of the coronation soon,” said Raine.
“Yes, you will, we still some mess to clean up,” said Kathy
Raine open the portal to her world with her fellow witch right behind her as it closed Kathy and Anthony look at each other which they can finally breath of the freedom that was almost taking from us.