Page 30 of Soul Bound (Cursed Descent (MistHallow Academy) #2)

30

MATILDA

The dream starts like most of my recent ones with rainbow sparks dancing through darkness. But something’s different. The air feels heavy, charged with malicious intent. Before I can wake myself up, invisible hands grab me, yanking me deeper into the void.

“Mine,” a woman’s voice hisses.

Pain explodes through my body as something tries to force its way in, like acid being poured directly into my veins. I scream, thrashing against the invasion. The Praxian magick rises to meet the attack, clashing violently with the foreign presence.

“Submit!” the voice commands. “Your body belongs to me!”

Images flash through my mind of a woman in white robes, centuries of watching, waiting, gathering power. The First Guardian. She’s trying to possess me in my sleep, to take over my body.

Her invasion feels like talons scraping against my soul, trying to tear me apart from the inside. But as she pushes deeper, something shifts. The Praxian magick doesn’t just resist, it surges up like a tsunami, each rainbow-hued wave crashing against her darkness. Where our powers meet, reality splinters, creating fractal patterns of light and shadow that spiral through my mind.

My consciousness expands, becoming something vast and ancient. I feel every molecule in my body vibrating at a different frequency. The First Guardian’s presence falters as she realises her mistake. She’s not fighting just me anymore, she’s fighting something that existed before time itself had a name, something she thought was hers.

The battle rages in a place beyond physical space. Her darkness tries to smother me, but my rainbow light cuts through it like lightning through storm clouds. Each clash sends shockwaves through the ethereal plane. I taste her fear as the Praxian magick begins to consume her essence, turning her own power against her.

My face feels warm and sticky, and my head pounds like someone hit it from the inside with Thor’s hammer.

Her scream echoes through dimensions as she shatters. The Praxian devours her memories like a starving thing. Centuries of knowledge flood into me in a torrent of images, sounds, and sensations. I see through her eyes: ancient rituals, secret meetings, betrayals, and power games spanning generations. Every memory burns as it integrates into my being, reshaping who and what I am.

When I surface back to consciousness, it’s violent. I hit the ceiling with a thud, making the overhead light swing on its cord. My skin feels too tight, like I’m about to burst out of it as I drop and hit the bed hard, landing half off it with my head dangling over the edge, the rest of me sprawled across the mattress.

“Bronwen,” I croak. “That fucking bitchface was called Bronwen.”

Vex reaches me first, lifting me up gently as Luc hands me a towel.

“You’re bleeding,” he says.

“Where?” I say, putting my hand to my pounding head.

“Everywhere. Eyes, ears, nose, mouth…”

“Oh,” I say, dabbing at my eyes and drawing back to see the cotton covered in blood.

“Is there a significance to that name?” Draven asks, frowning at me.

I stare at the bloody towel in my hands. “Bronwen. It’s my middle name.”

“That’s not a coincidence,” Vex finishes quietly.

“Nope.” I close my eyes, trying to sort through the chaos roaring in my head.

“They marked you with her name,” Vex says, his voice hard. “They knew exactly what they were doing.”

“Yeah.” I laugh, but there’s no humour in it. I look up at Vex and then at Luc and Draven. “Shit just got real.”

“Like it wasn’t before?” Luc asks with that infuriating smirk.

“No, you don’t understand. I haven’t explained. She tried to possess me while I was sleeping. The Praxian burned through her like it did her puppets over the centuries. She is gone but not gone. She is… me. I am her. We are… She got what she wanted but in reverse.”

Draven gulps visibly. “Are you saying she’s…?” He points to my chest.

I nod slowly, feeling the ancient presence settle inside me. “She’s in here. Part of me now. The Praxian magick consumed her, absorbed her knowledge and power. But I’m still me. Just more.”

Vex’s eyes narrow as he studies me intently. “What exactly do you mean by ‘more’?”

I close my eyes, trying to sort through the flood of new information and sensations. “I have her memories. Centuries of knowledge about the Praxian. But it’s not just information. I can feel her power, merged with mine.”

“Is she conscious in there?” Luc asks, his voice tight with concern. “Can she influence you?”

I shake my head. “No, she’s not a separate entity anymore. It’s more like her essence was burned up and absorbed. I’m still me, but with all her knowledge and abilities added on.”

Draven runs a hand through his hair, looking troubled. “This is unprecedented. We have no idea what the long-term effects could be.”

“I know,” I say softly. “But I don’t think we had a choice. She was trying to take over completely. The Praxian defended itself. It defended me. It was this, or the other way around.”

Vex steps back, his expression thoughtful. “We need to tell Blackthorn.”

I nod in agreement. “Definitely. We can’t keep this from him or Morrigan. It could put them in danger if they are blindsided.” A sudden punch to the gut has me doubling over with a soft “Oof.”

“What?” Vex says, taking my arm and straightening me up. “What?”

“Blake Sterling.”

“Who?” Luc asks.

“The guy who disappeared, who burned up in his bed, or whatever it was he did. He was working for Bronwen. He’s here.” My eyes dart around, even though I know he isn’t in my bedroom. “He’s back.”

“Back how?” Vex asks tentatively.

“Not in a good way,” I murmur, eyes on Draven. “This is more your area.”

“Great,” Luc says. “So now we have a mad zombie on the loose in the academy.”

“I’m thinking maybe hiding in Hell isn’t such a bad idea,” I mutter, not really meaning it, but wishing it was an option. Things have taken a sharp swerve, and I’m not sure how much more of this I can take. We haven’t even touched the curse yet and already we are covered in shit from it hitting the fan. How much more of this is left to take before we do what we are supposed to do?