Page 68 of Of Shadow and Moon

To slip into the void and escape the pain.

But something inside me resists. A smoldering spark, refusing to be snuffed out. Gritting my teeth, I fight against the pull of unconsciousness, the siren call of surrender.

Not until I understand. Not until I learn why I was brought back, why they fear me, why the prophecy weighs like a curse upon my shoulders.

A figure looms over me, faceless in the darkness, but I feel his intent. I struggle, but my limbs are slow, uncooperative.

The world dims further, but in the depths of my mind, a defiant spark ignites.

I am Selestina de la Cruz.

I am the Shadow Reaper.

The most feared assassin in Tonalli.

I will not be taken down like this.

The realization anchors me, dragging me back from the abyss. With a last, desperate surge of energy, I push up,breaking free of the weight pressing me down. My vision swims, my body protesting, but I force myself to move. My hand clamps onto my blade, though I can barely lift it. I am slowing, faltering. My body betrays me even as my will remains unbroken.

Laughter echoes around me, mocking me. The attackers step back, their movements fluid, practiced. They don’t finish me. They don’t need to. They know I won’t last long.

This was a hit. A message.

My breaths are labored, each one a struggle against the pain clawing through me. The world tilts wildly as I drop to my knees, unable to stop my descent. Blood soaks through my leathers, sticky and hot against the cold night air.

Digging my fingers into the dirt, I force myself to move. Pain flares through me, sharp and merciless, but I push up and forward, one trembling movement at a time. The night air is razor sharp against my skin, the scent of damp earth lingers as I stagger forward.

The world blurs. My mind is slipping, fevered, delirious, but I don’t stop.

Then suddenly, the ground changes beneath my boots—loose dirt giving way to smooth cobblestone. A jolt of recognition pierces through the haze. The academy. I made it. But something is wrong. The journey should have taken hours, not minutes. A shiver crawls down my spine. Had time… bent for me? Or am I already lost in the feverish haze, hallucinating the path home?

Next thing I know, the corridors stretch before me. Each step is a battle, my legs screaming, my vision narrowing. My fingers brush against cold stone, keeping me tethered to the present. I push on, my body trembling with exhaustion.

Finally, I reach my dorm. The door looms before me, distant and surreal. My fingers fumblewith the handle, weak and shaking, and I push it open, my room’s magic sensing that it’s me stumbling inside.

Warmth washes over me. The scent of familiarity hits like a wave.

Nasarea is there.

She stands frozen by her bed, her eyes locking onto me, wide with shock. For a moment, silence stretches between us. Then her gaze sharpens, taking in the mask, the blood, the torn leathers clinging to my body.

Recognition flares behind her eyes. Understanding.

And with it, something cold. Unforgiving.

I’ve made a mistake thinking Nasarea can save me.

And I can already feel its weight pressing down on me.

My hand shakes as I reach up, fingers brushing against the edge of the mask.

The world around me blurs…again, all color fading except for her furious gaze locked on mine, her anger burning brighter and brighter.

I peel the mask away, knowing there is no turning back. My face, once hidden, is now laid bare before her; a confession in itself.

She has spent a year waiting for this moment, every ounce of rage held tight, coiled within her, ready to strike. And here I am, the Shadow Reaper, stripped of my defenses, wounded and vulnerable at her feet.

Her expression hardens, her lips pressing into a thin line as she takes in the sight of me. There is no mercy in her eyes, only a cold, simmering fury that feels as sharp as any blade. I can almost feel the weight of her hatred, the resentment she’s carried since that day, and I know that for her, this moment is everything she’s waited for. The Shadow Reaper has come to her, broken, and her revenge is only a breath away.

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