Chapter 17 The Priestess Awakens
Amara’s POV
The wind screamed through the woods when I woke up.
However, I wasn't certain that I was awake.
Around me, everything was illuminated by silver light. The healer's hut had lost its walls. Rather, I knelt in the middle of a wooded clearing with my eyes hurting from the intense moonlight.
I touched the ground with my palm, but it wasn't firm. It was alive, pulsing beneath me. Inhaling.
"Where am I?" My voice broke. It had an odd echo, as if I were talking in a tunnel.
Above, a chilly wind stirred the branches.
On it, whispers floated.
"Priestess."
I winced. "Who is present?"
"Be awake."
Between the trees, shapes moved; they were dimly lit but mysterious, like ghosts illuminated by the stars.
My legs were shaking too much for me to stand. My wrist was scorched. Ancient runes swirled like fog on my skin, and I looked down to see the mark gleaming silver.
"Take control of your power."
I violently shook my head. "This is not what I want!"
The wind screamed more loudly. I was surrounded by the shapes. Spirits, I could see them well now. Wolves. Tall, majestic, with full-moon-pale eyes.
In dreadful harmony, their voices layered over one another.
"This is what you were meant to do."
"The Moon has chosen you."
"The Priestess comes back."
"No!" I put my hands over my ears. "Stop it! Stop!
The earth underneath me splintered. Jagged lines of silver light erupted and encircled my body.
I let out a yell.
Memories that weren't mine came flooding in, blurring my eyesight.
In front of a horde of shadow beasts, I saw myself-no no, she—clad in flowing white robes, reciting words in a language I didn't understand.
I noticed her feet were soaked with blood.
Her sadness was felt by me.
I was betrayed by him.
He cherished me.
He killed me.
I cried incoherently.
"Please," I said in a whisper. "I'd rather not be her. All I want is to be myself.”
The ghosts circled more closely.
"The Hollow Witch will if you refuse."
"Your soul is waiting to be claimed by her."
"Patroness, make a choice."
My wrist was blazing hot.
I could feel myself slipping.
"Amara!"
It was a genuine voice. It sliced through the screaming spirits and the storm.
I turned my head and gasped.
Kian fell into the open space. He wasn't a ghost. He was strong. Actual. He had horror in his eyes.
"Amara!"
Silver light suffocated me as I attempted to speak.
He grabbed me as he pushed forward. He pressed his fingers into my arms.
"Stop it!" he yelled. "Assist them!"
I gave a headshake. My face started tearing up with tears. "—I am unable to."
"You can, indeed. Look at me!”
I fixed my look on his.
His voice was raspy. "I'm right here." "I won't let you leave."
My entire body trembled. The ghosts screamed in rage.
"He will also fail you."
"He'll turn on you."
I cried. "Don't let me leave."
"Never," swore Kian.
The silvery glow grew dimmer. My wrist's runes began to fade a little. The earth ceased to tremble.
Kian's arms encircled me tightly. He breathed heavily as he buried his face in my hair.
"You're all right," he said. "You're all right."
I wasn't certain that was accurate.
But I did trust him for a second.
I found myself back in the healer's cabin when I eventually opened my eyes.
I had the sensation that my body had been squeezed dry. All the muscles hurt.
With one arm still wrapped across my shoulders, Kian sat next to me. He appeared concerned rather than worn out.
"Hey," he said quietly. "Are you with me?"
I gave a feeble nod.
"Well done."
My look shifted to my wrist. The mark remained. Faintly shimmering still.
"What is causing it to persist?" In a weak whisper, I inquired.
Kian's lips clenched. "Because the Priestess is you."
I closed my eyes tightly.
He put his forehead on mine. "We'll work it out. Together.”
Slowly, the door opened. With her staff tapping the floor, Mira intervened.
Her eyes were piercing, filled with terror and a sort of reverence.
Grimly, she remarked, "I sensed it from halfway across the territory." "You almost tore the veil between worlds with your power."
I shuddered. "I didn't intend to."
Mira's tone grew softer. "Youngster. What you meant is irrelevant. You possess it. You've always had it.”
I gave her a desperate glance. "How can I prevent it?"
She gave a headshake. "You don't. You get better at managing it. Or it will take over you.”
I took a deep breath.
Kian's hold on me became firmer. "She will practice. I will ensure that it does.”
Mira looked from me to him and back again. "All right. Because the Hollow Witch will wear your power like a second skin and pull your soul screaming into her cage if you don't learn quickly.”
I gasped.
I was ill.
Kian let out a low-pitched growl. "That will not occur."
Mira rested her staff against it. "If you don't take this seriously, it will."
I said in a raspy voice, "I am taking it seriously."
She looked at me for a long time.
She let out a final sigh. “Then get some sleep for tonight. We start tomorrow.”
Behind her, Rowan emerged in the doorway.
He fixed his look on my wrist.
His face turned white.
He grabbed my arm softly but firmly as he pushed by Mira.
His voice was hoarse as he screamed, "Where did you get this?"
I pulled my arm away. "That's my mark."
He had large eyes. Horrified.
He gave a headshake.
"No," he said.
He raised a book bound in leather. Old. Broken.
With trembling hands, he opened it to reveal a sheet with the same runes that were on my wrist.
He rasped, "I've seen it before."
All of us looked.
"Where?" Mira inquired sternly.
Rowan's tone cracked.
"In the spellbook of Lilith."