Chapter-51

~ELYSIA~

I stared into the crystal ball with a mix of fascination and horror. The images swirled and shifted  within its depths as Madame Okta held her hands near the ball. Inside I could see a world that was beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

'You must face the darkness within,' Madam Okta had said. Her words now resonated within my mind. 'You must be willing to let go of what you fear most.' 

What was it I feared the most? Was I afraid of losing Alex? Afraid of becoming what he wanted me to be?

As I glanced at Lila, her eyes reflected the same emotions as mine, and as we stared at the ball, its interior grew clearer and clearer. Inside, a woman suddenly emerged, dressed in flowing robes─her eyes burning with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

"This one can help you break the bond," Madame Okta whispered, the hushed tone only adding to the already creepy atmosphere.

Eyes glued to the crystal, I watched as the robed woman raised a hand, and suddely the temperature in the room plunged. "You must beware, though," Madam Okta continued, "the price you must pay is high."

I swallowed uncomfortably. "What price?"

Madame Okta looked at me, her eyes seeming to swirl with a supernatural light. "You must give her something of great value. Something that represents your connection to Alex."

At her words, the bond flared, a silent protest. I had to do it though. I had to be free of the connection between me and Alex.

With a slow nod, I pulled out the card he had given me from the pocket of my jeans. It was the most tangible symbol of our connection.

With trembling fingers, I placed it in the crystal ball. WIth disbelief, I watched as the shadowy figure took it into her own hands.

"It is done," Madame Okta said, her voice resonating through the room. "The ritual will begin at midnight. Prepare yourself."

With her words, the crystal went dark. Lila's grip on my hand tightened. "What the hell just happened and what happens now?" she asked.

"We wait," Madame Okta replied. "We wait for midnight, and we hope that this woman can save her."

~ALEX~

The city streets were a blur as I raced through the night. I had to find her. I had to explain.

I could feel the bond fading, the connection we shared slipping through my fingers like sand. Panic set in, a cold grip around my heart.

As I reached where she worked, I could see the lights were still on inside, and I shoved the door open. Remy emerged from his office, his eyes narrowing at the sight of me.

"What do you want?" he growled.

My voice low and dangerous, I demanded, "Where is she?"

~ELYSIA~

The hours ticked by like molasses, each minute feeling like an eternity. The bond was a constant reminder of Alex, a pulse in my veins that I couldn't ignore. But I had to be strong, had to hold on.

Lila and I talked, her words of encouragement and friendship a balm to my soul. She had seen the darkness that lurked in the supernatural world. If anyone knew what I was going through, it was her.

As the clock struck midnight, I took a deep breath. This was it. This was the moment that would change everything.

Madame Okta began to chant, the ancient words rolling off her tongue with ease. The air grew thick with power, and the hair on my arms stood on end. I could feel the bond straining, fighting against the forces that sought to break it.

"Give me the card," she ordered.

With trembling hands, I did as she asked, watching as she placed the card in an ashtray and set it on fire. The chant grew louder, the air in the room crackling with energy. And then, with a searing pain through my heart, the bond snapped.

The pain was unbearable, a white-hot agony that shot through my body. I fell to my knees, my vision swimming. But as the world grew dark, I felt a strange sense of relief, a feeling that I had finally claimed my freedom.

~ALEX~

Remy answered just as I was preparing to tear him from limb to limb. "She's at the Madame Okta's," Remy declared, his voice tight.

I didn't bother asking questions, didn't bother to thank him. I just ran, the bond screaming in my head like a banshee.

The door to Madame Okta's loomed before me. I could feel the power in the air, the ancient magic that threatened to rip the bond apart.

My heart pounded in my chest, the beat matching the rhythm of the chant that grew louder as I approached.

I had to stop her.

But as I burst through the door, the bond snapped, and with it, a part of me died.