Chapter 13 The First Breakthrough
Amanda woke with her birthmark throbbing. The pain had started in her dreams and followed her into consciousness. She pressed her fingers against it. Heat radiated through her skin.
Today was the day. They were going to attempt the first breakthrough.
She dressed quickly and made her way to Derek's study. The morning sun hadn't fully risen yet. The hallways were quiet except for the sound of her footsteps against the stone floor.
Derek was already there when she arrived. He stood by the window. His posture was tense. He turned when she entered.
"You're sure about this?"
Amanda set her journal on the desk. "Are you?"
"Raze is dying. I don't have a choice."
"You always have a choice."
Derek's jaw tightened. "Then I choose to fight."
Amanda nodded. She moved to the desk and began arranging the candles. Her hands were steady despite the nervous energy coursing through her veins. They had prepared for this. Studied Nora's notes. Mapped every thread of the curse.
But theory and practice were different things.
"Riley brought supplies earlier." Derek gestured to a cloth bundle on the chair. "Herbs. Something about amplifying your connection."
Amanda unwrapped the bundle. Inside were dried lavender, sage, and something else she didn't recognize. A handwritten note from Riley lay on top.
For clarity and protection. Be careful.
"She's worried," Amanda said.
"She should be. We both should be."
Amanda looked up at him. "If you want to wait..."
"No." Derek removed his shirt and tossed it aside. "We do this now."
The scars on his chest seemed more prominent in the early morning light. Amanda approached him slowly. She could feel the curse already. It pulled at her awareness like a living thing.
"This is going to hurt," she said.
"I know."
She placed her palms against his chest. The connection snapped into place instantly. Stronger than before. The curse writhed beneath her touch. It was aware of her intentions.
Amanda closed her eyes and pushed deeper.
The three bindings appeared in her mind's eye. Spirit, mind, heart. All tangled together in a web of dark magic. She focused on the outermost layer. The one around Raze's spirit. It was the oldest and potentially the weakest.
"I'm going in," she whispered.
Derek's breathing grew heavy. His muscles tensed beneath her hands.
Amanda found the weak point she had identified days ago. A small fracture in the binding where the magic had worn thin. She gathered her power and struck.
The curse recoiled. Pain shot through her skull. She gasped but held on.
"Amanda." Derek's voice was strained.
"I'm fine. Stay still."
She struck again. And again. Each blow sent shockwaves through her body. Her birthmark burned like fire. Sweat dripped down her back.
The binding began to crack.
Derek's body went rigid. A sound tore from his throat. Part gasp, part growl. Something ancient and wild.
"Keep going." He managed to speak through the pain. "Don't stop."
Amanda poured everything she had into one final strike. The binding shattered.
Power exploded outward. Derek cried out. His eyes flashed gold. Real gold, not the dull color they'd been before.
Amanda stumbled backward. Her vision blurred.
Derek fell to his knees. His chest heaved. Tears streamed down his face.
"I can feel him." His voice broke. "God, I can feel him."
Raze surged forward inside Derek. Not enough to shift. Not enough to take control. But present. Truly present for the first time in three years.
Derek looked up at Amanda. The raw emotion in his eyes made her chest tighten. Joy and pain and relief all mixed together.
"He never left you," Amanda said softly.
Derek rose unsteadily to his feet. He reached for her. His hand lifted toward her face. For a moment, she thought he would touch her. That he would close the distance between them.
Then his expression changed. The walls slammed back into place. His hand dropped.
"Thank you." His voice was controlled again. Distant.
Amanda wanted to say something. To break through those walls the same way she'd broken through the curse. But before she could speak, warmth flooded her upper lip.
She touched her face. Her fingers came away red.
Derek's eyes widened. "You're bleeding."
"It's nothing." Amanda grabbed a cloth from the desk and pressed it to her nose.
"Nothing?" Derek stepped closer. "You're hurting yourself for this."
"It's worth it."
"No." His voice was sharp. "Not if it damages you."
"I can handle it."
"Can you?" Derek took the cloth from her and tilted her head back. His touch was surprisingly gentle. "How much did that take out of you?"
Amanda didn't answer. The truth was she felt like she'd been hit by a cart. Every muscle ached. Her head throbbed. The birthmark on her neck felt like it was being branded all over again.
"That's what I thought." Derek's voice was quiet.
They stood there for a moment. His hand under her chin. Her blood on the cloth. The air between them felt thick and charged.
A knock shattered the moment.
Derek stepped back immediately. Amanda turned away to compose herself.
"Who is it?" Derek called.
"It's me." Silas's voice came through the door.
Derek glanced at Amanda. She nodded and moved to the far side of the room. Derek opened the door.
Silas walked in with his usual confident stride. His eyes swept the room. He took in the candles, the scattered supplies, Amanda's presence. He focused on Derek.
"You seem different." His tone was casual but his eyes were sharp. "Has something changed?"
Derek's expression remained neutral. "I'm fine."
"Fine." Silas repeated the word like he was testing it. "You look more alive than you have in months. What's going on?"
"Amanda's been helping me with some meditation techniques. For managing the curse."
It wasn't exactly a lie. But it wasn't the full truth either.
Silas's gaze shifted to Amanda. She met his eyes steadily. After a moment, he looked back at Derek.
"Meditation. Right." Silas crossed his arms. "I just wanted to check on you."
"I'll be fine."
Silas lingered in the doorway. His eyes moved between them again. Something calculating flickered across his face.
"Don't push yourself too hard, brother." His voice carried a warning. "We wouldn't want you to get your hopes up for nothing."
He left without waiting for a response.