Chapter 71 You have no idea how powerful you are
Hazel clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms, yet she felt nothing.
No pain, no sting, just the echo of Zariel’s voice ringing in her head, smug and unbothered.
“How slow are you again”?
The words were meant to taunt her, and they succeeded.
“If you say that one more time, I swear I’ll find a way to rip you out of me myself”.
Hazel said through gritted teeth, staring at her own reflection but Zariel puffed before she began laughing so hard she had to hold her tummy in pain.
“Oh the heavens, you need to see your face”.
She said but Hazel wasn't finding it funny. After laughing to her satisfaction, she cleared her throat and went back to her nonchalant state.
“Oh, please Hazel, empty threats don’t suit you. Especially not when you're the reason why I'm free. Learn to take responsibilities”.
“Ugh”!
Hazel exclaimed as her head fell back.
She was tired of the back and forth and just wanted her body back.
“Responsibility for what? I didn't ask for this”!
She fired.
Zariel tilted her head, examining their shared face in the mirror as if admiring a piece of art.
“You don’t remember everything from last night, do you”?
Hazel swallowed.
She actually couldn't remembered everything. She remembered fragments the cold night air, the box, the key, the glow, and most especially, the voice. But they were in bits and pieces, like memories stolen from someone else.
“I remember enough, enough to know you manipulated me.”
Zariel scoffed.
“Manipulated? No. I called…”
She pointed at herself.
“and you answered”.
She pointed at Hazel.
“Big difference”.
She concluded, opening her hands wide like she was calling for a hug.
Hazel slammed her hand against the dresser reflecting in the mirror, the sound echoing through the room.
“I was vulnerable! You took advantage of that”.
“And whose fault is that”?
Zariel asked calmly causing Hazel's eyes to flicker in confusion.
“You’re carrying fear, and power far greater than you understand. I didn’t put those in you, Hazel. You invited me in the moment you spoke to the key. All I did was answer”.
Hazel closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Losing control now would only make things worse.
“Explain the key, explain the box. Scratch that, explain everything”.
Zariel’s expression shifted. Not mocking this time, but serious.
“The key, was forged to unlock what was never meant to remain sealed forever but only one person in a lifetime can unlock it. Vulnerio isn’t just a word, it’s a command.
And who ever speaks that word to the box, commands the box”.
Hazel went silent for a while before looking back at Zariel.
“You said the box is a command, a command for what"?
She asked, trying to figure out if there was more to it than just unlocking a mysterious being to control.
“For beings like me, guardians who fell when the first betrayal happened”.
Hazel looked down as she nodded in understanding.
After a while of silence, Hazel looked back at Zariel and spoke.
“You keep saying you’re here to help, yet everything about you screams danger”.
Zariel gave her a smirk.
“That’s because help doesn’t always look gentle. Sometimes, it looks like destruction. I'm not a generous helper Hazel, but I am under the command to help you fulfill the prophecy and I can not be free unless I do just that.
Bringing destruction to your enemies…”
She paused and looked at Hazel seriously.
“It is what you want, and it is what I'm here to deliver”.
Hazel knew the being wasn't lying, at least no completely but she had other things bothering her.
She turned away from the mirror and began pacing the room.
“Fine, let's say I believe and agree with everything you've said. Still, my son is in danger, my enemy keeps baiting us, my body is being hijacked by some… being who lured me into a location and made me unlock it. Forgive me if I don't trust your intentions”.
Zariel sighed, almost like she was getting exhausted from all the explaining.
“Lucian is stronger than you think”.
Hazel looked at her seriously.
“You don’t get to say that so casually”.
She snapped, spinning back around.
“You don’t know that”.
“Trust me, I do. Rave is desperate, her strategy and patience is beginning to lose its volume. And desperation makes people predictable”.
Hazel stood silent for a long time, just looking back at herself.
“So you want me to help you become whole again”.
“Yes, and in doing so, I can help you bring her down”.
Hazel let out a scoff.
“Well that’s very convenient now, isn't it”?
She said and Zariel looked at her seriously, ignoring her sarcastic tone.
“You’re a siren, born of land and sea. You can hear and see what others cannot… feel what others drown in”.
“Are you teasing me? I can’t even control my own body right now”!
Hazel snapped.
“You just do not understand how strong you are. Once a fallen enters any being, they literally become useless, helpless but here you are, still arguing, still thinking, still fighting me. That alone tells me you’re stronger than you believe.
Believe me Hazel. If anyone can get my body, it is only you”.
Hazel stopped pacing and looked at her, serious yet nervous.
“What happens if I refuse”?
She asked quietly and Zariel’s smile faded.
“Then eventually, one of us disappears”.
Hazel’s chest tightened.
“You mean me”.
“I mean the weaker soul”.
Zariel corrected.
Hazel stared at her, rage and fear moving together inside her.
She thought of Lucian, of Kael, of the life she’d fought so hard to protect and get back.
“I won’t let you take my body”.
Hazel said firmly and Zariel nodded.
“I don’t want to, you have to trust me”.
Hazel finally nodded.
“Fine, let's get this body of yours and then, maybe you'd just go ahead and kill her for me”.
Zariel shook her head.
“That's impossible Hazel. I can only help you, I can't kill her for you. The only one who can bring an end to this is you.
You… are the golden orb”.