Page 67 of Charmed, I'm Sure

So many thoughts and possibilities are racing through my mind when I slide to a stop. A thick black and purple fog stands between me and where I know my mate is. I can feel her, right there in the middle of this.

I hear it, “Take me instead,” and I don’t think, I lurch through the fog. Immediately recognizing it as her own magic as it caresses me, instead of fighting me. But I wasn’t prepared for what I saw on the other side of it, when the fog cleared and all that was left was her.

I wasn’t prepared for her to be on her knees, her power, the living embodiment of her soul pouring out in this thick heavy fog that surrounds us. Or her eyes being solid white as tears streamed down her face. Both her and Elora are wrapped in so much magic that you can taste its acidity along your tongue, feel it, and hear it humming.

But that smile on Elora’s face…that isn’t her. She looks almost maniacal, evil even. Her sinister smile as she almost revels in the power Bellamy is displaying. Is that what’s causing all of this? I don’t have a chance before Bellamy screams, the sound loud and full of pure fear.

“I’ll pay the price!” she roars into the sky. “Take me, curse me, kill me—” What does she mean? Who is she talking to? “Not him. You can’t have him! The world deserves a person like him; he lights up everyone’s world. Don’t take a sweet, beautiful soul because of me. I’m willingly giving myself to you!”

Nobody is taking me, I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. What is she talking about? She doesn’t need to sacrifice herself for me! I know how to break the curse!

The ground begins to tremble under my feet as even more power rushes out of her, spreading across the ground, seeking something or someone. It wraps around my legs, moving slowly up them as if it also needs to know I’m alive.

I watch in equal feelings of horror and fascination as the trees bow to the will of her power. As the barrier shrieks in protest against the pressure as tiny fractures crack alongit.

I have to stop her, even I know this is too much power. Too much is happening. She can’t die on me.

I drag my foot forward, feeling as though it’s weighed down with stone as her magic tries to stop me. I manage three steps, almost within the main circle when Elora’s head snaps in my direction. Like a demon possessing a human, a creepy smile spreads across her face, showing all her teeth. She doesn’t blink. Doesn’t move.

“You know exactly what has to happen wolf,” she says in a voice that is definitely not her own. “Break the curse or doom the Sinclair line to another round of reincarnation.”

She doesn’t say another word, but I know the thing is gone. Elora gasps, blinking her eyes several times as she looks around. But Bellamy? She is still being plagued by whatever she is seeing.

Elora shakes her sister but nothing happens. Bellamy is screaming and thrashing, begging someone to take her.

“Miles, it’s got to be you. Call to her, bring her back.”

“Bellamy!” I shout with all my soul, praying to the Goddess that it will be enough.

My throat burns with the force of it, my chest constricting like I’ve shifted mid-sprint. My voice whips through the fog, and her face snaps to mine, just like her sister’s did, but I can see that she isn’t seeing me. Her magic howls louder, swirling around us as it picks up speed and leaves. I feel as if I’m inside the eye of a hurricane pushing against the entire force of nature as I take another step towards her.

I reach for her, my fingers flicking against her magic as I push my way through. I’m almost there when her magic surges one last time, as if it doesn’t want me to stop her. As if it is determined to destroy the world damning everyone in its wake.

“Bellamy, whatever you’re seeing, it isn’t real. I’m real. Elora is real. Come back to me,” I plead, unsure if she can even hear me.

Sobs rack her body as her white eyes blink at me, her tears a long black streak down her cheeks. “Miles, I’m sorryI couldn’t save you. Can you forgive me?”

My hand caresses her face. My poor, beautiful mate. If there was ever a moment where I was sure she loved me, through all her deflections and snarky comments, it would be right here, right now. I have no idea what she’s seeing, but she’s willing to sacrifice herself in place of me. Someone she’s never even confessed any affection for.

“Bellamy, my love, my soul, please come back to me.” My words whisper across her skin. “I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere.”

She hiccups, her skin splotchy from crying as she blinks a few times.

“There you go, come back to me, Trouble. I need to see those beautiful green eyes as you glare at me.”

She chuckles mid-sob. Blinking a few times rapidly, I see the white begin to fade as I squat down in front of her.

Elora’s sob breaks against my back. “It’s not enough,” she whispers, voice shredded. “You have to tell her, Miles. Tell her what you know. It’s the only way.”

My heart lodges in my throat. Because I know the cost. I’ve known since I read the diary over and over. But it wasn’t until I was sleeping on top of the diary after my tenth time through, that I was given the key to unlock it. Scared the shit out of me, but I knew exactly who it came from.

Her eyes clear and she sucks in a breath as she lurches forward, wrapping her arms around my neck. Her body shakes as she cries into my shoulder. I just hold her, my arms wrapped tightly around her. This is the first time I’ve been gifted this, and even with the situation being less than ideal, I can’t help but revel in the moment.

“They can’t have you Miles. They just can’t. It’s not fair. I’ve always known I would die, but I am unwilling to accept your death.”

I squeeze her a little tighter, my hand rubbing small circles across her back.

“Nobody is taking me, Bellamy. I’m right here. I know what you saw had to be scary, but it wasn’t real.”