Chapter 26 His Confession

Chapter 26 His Confession
Lena’s POV

“Are you sure?”
Professor Hawthorne's voice was quieter this time.

The question lingered in the air, heavy and final. I didn’t hesitate.
“I’m sure.”

He studied me like he was trying to see past my words, like he wanted to measure how much I truly understood. Maybe he was hoping I would change my mind.
I didn’t.

“You’re offering hybrid energy for a binding curse,” he said slowly. “Do you understand what that means?”

“It means Zara gets her powers back,” I replied.

“It also means,” he continued, his tone sharpening slightly, “you could get seriously hurt in the process.”

“I know.”

“Lina…”

“I know,” I repeated, firmer this time.

There was no space for doubt in me anymore. Not after everything Zara had told me. Not after seeing the way she shrank into herself like she was something less than what she was meant to be.

I couldn’t allow that. Not when there was a way to fix it.
“I’ve made up my mind,” I said. “I’m doing this.”

A soft, shaky breath came from behind me.
“Lena… please.” Zara pleaded.

I turned to face her, and the look in her eyes almost made my resolve crack.
Almost.

“You don’t have to do this,” she said, stepping closer. “I’m fine. I’ve always been fine without it.”

“No, you’re not.”

The words came out before I could soften them. Zara flinched.

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair.
“That’s not what I meant,” I said quickly. “I just… you’re not supposed to live like this.”

“Why not?” she asked quietly. “Maybe this is just who I am.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s not.”

Her brows furrowed, confusion and hurt flickering across her face.

“You’re a witch, Zara,” I continued. “That’s who you are. That’s who you’ve always been.”

“But I don’t have powers…”

“Because something is stopping you,” I cut in. “Not because you don’t have them.”

She went silent.
“You can’t accept this as your normal,” I added more gently. “You deserve to be whole.”

Her lips trembled slightly.
“And I’m going to help you get there.”

Zara blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears.
“This isn’t fair,” she whispered. “You’re risking yourself for me.”

“That’s what friends do.”

She shook her head. “Not like this.”

I stepped closer and took her hands.
“Yes,” I said softly. “Exactly like this.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Professor Hawthorne cleared his throat.

“If we are done with the emotional declarations,” he said, “we should begin. The longer we wait, the more unstable the energies become.”

I turned back to him, nodding.
“Tell me what to do.”

The room felt different now. Colder. Darker. Professor Hawthorne had moved several objects around, clearing space in the center of the room. 

Strange symbols had been drawn on the floor, circles within circles, lines intersecting in patterns I didn’t fully understand.

It all looked ancient and powerful.
A faint glow pulsed from them.
“Stand here,” he instructed, pointing to one side of the circle.

I obeyed.
“Zara, opposite her.”

Zara hesitated for a second before stepping into place across from me.
Our eyes met.

I gave her a small, reassuring smile. She didn’t return it.
Professor Hawthorne opened the spell book again, his fingers brushing over the pages.

“This ritual will channel Lena’s hybrid energy into the binding curse,” he explained. “If successful, it will shatter the seal placed on Zara’s magic.”

“And if it’s not successful?” Zara asked quietly.

He didn’t answer immediately. That was answer enough.
“Focus,” he said instead. “Both of you.”

I inhaled deeply, trying to steady myself.
“Lena,” he continued, his gaze locking onto mine. “You will feel your energy being drawn out. Do not resist it.”

“Okay.”

“Zara, you must accept the energy. Do not fight it, no matter how overwhelming it feels.”

Zara nodded nervously. Professor Hawthorne stepped back slightly and began to chant.

At first, nothing happened. Then… a sharp pull. I gasped as something inside me shifted.

It felt like invisible hands were reaching into my chest, grasping at something deep within me and pulling it outward. My energy.

“Don’t resist,” Professor Hawthorne reminded.
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay still.

The glow from the symbols intensified, spreading outward like ripples of light.
Zara’s body tensed.

“I feel it,” she whispered. “I feel something…”

“Let it in,” he instructed.

The pull grew stronger. Pain flickered through me, sharp and sudden. I sucked in a breath.

It felt like I was being stretched, like parts of me were being torn away and sent somewhere else.

To her. To Zara. The air crackled with energy. Then suddenly, everything stopped. Just like that. The glow vanished. The pressure disappeared. The silence that followed was deafening.

For a moment, no one moved. No one spoke. Then Zara gasped. I lifted my head weakly, my vision slightly blurred.
“Zara?” I croaked.

She was staring at her hands. And they were glowing. Not faintly. Bright.
“Oh my God…” she whispered.

A small spark flickered at her fingertips. Then another. Then a soft burst of energy danced across her palm. Tears streamed down her face.

“I can feel it,” she said, her voice breaking. “I can actually feel it…”

A laugh escaped her, half disbelief, half joy.
“It’s… it’s there. My magic… it’s there!”

Relief flooded through me. It worked. It actually worked. I tried to smile, but something felt… wrong.

My legs trembled beneath me.
“Lena?” Zara’s voice cut through the haze.
I took a step forward and stumbled.
The room tilted dangerously.

“Whoa…” I tried to steady myself, but my body didn’t respond the way I wanted it to.
Everything felt drained.

“Lena!” Zara rushed toward me. But she didn’t reach me in time. My knees gave out.

Then the door suddenly burst open.
A loud bang echoed through the room.
“Lena!”

Adrian?!

Through my fading vision, I saw him rush in, his eyes wide with panic. He reached me just before I fully hit the ground, catching me in his arms.

“What happened?” he demanded, his voice sharp with anger as he looked up at Professor Hawthorne. “What did you do to her?!”

I winced slightly at the volume.
“It was a controlled ritual,” Professor Hawthorne replied calmly. “She knew the risks…”

“She looks like she’s dying!” Adrian snapped.

“I’m not…” I tried to speak, but my voice came out weak.

Adrian tightened his hold on me, his expression shifting as he looked down at my face.

“Hey… hey, stay with me,” he said urgently. “Lena, look at me.”

“I’m fine,” I murmured.

“You’re not fine.”

His jaw clenched as he looked back at Professor Hawthorne.

“If anything happens to her…”

“Adrian,” I said, a little stronger this time.
He stopped.
“Don’t,” I added softly. “Don’t talk to him like that.”

He frowned. “Lena…”

“It’s not his fault,” I said. “I chose this.”

Silence fell. Adrian’s expression darkened, but not at me.
“I don’t care,” he said. “I’ll speak to anyone however I like.”

My heart skipped at that.
“You shouldn’t…”

“I care about you!” he cut in, his voice low but intense.