Page 51 of Prince of Blaze and Embers
As Bella stepped forward, he materialized into view. His head extended from his shell, revealing the wise, old eyes that seemed to see right through me every time we spoke. In the light of the full moon his body glistened with a faint yet staggering aura.
Bella gasped.
I suppressed a grin—that was nothing compared to what I felt the first time I saw him.
“Easy there,” Cornelius spoke, his wise old eyes looking Bella over. “You’re with the Gold-Marked, and that’s good enough for me. But you should know, she’s about to take us into great danger. Are you ready for what may come?”
Bella swallowed hard, but nodded. “I am.” A resolute expression coated her face, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d think she was about to charge into battle.
Her bravery made me feel all the more nervous, but with Cornelius and two of us, I thought we could manage. I hoped we could.
“Good. Then let’s begin,” he said, turning away from us and starting off into the night.
Bella and I followed, and as we ventured deeper into the thick of the Faewood, the only sounds that filled the air were our footsteps, the distant hooting of an owl, and the creaking of old trees that rose tall into the starry sky. I glanced over at Bella. She looked so determined. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail and beneath the light of a thousand stars, her skin glistened. I wished I looked half as courageous as she did at the moment.
We walked for what felt like hours in complete silence besides the crunching of leaves, and the slight muffle our footsteps made in the bleak night. I worried; worried that Cade would find out and be even more angry than before. When it came to him, my insides quivered with uncertainty, but as the thought of him left my mind, it was replaced with the feeling of powering through this journey—the drive to learn, and butterflies of excitement—that was all I needed.
“This way,” Cornelius said, veering off the path and into a thick area of the forest where moonlight couldn’t puncture through the canopy above.
The deciding factor to keep going was seeing a sparklingcreek ahead, winding like a silver serpent through the trees. The surface shimmered with the soft reflection of the moon and stars.
Cornelius stopped beside the creek and turned to face us. “The water will help you greatly. Take off your shoes.”
Bella and I sat on the bank and complied, wincing as the cool water seeped between our toes.
“Now, listen closely. The Gilded Radiance has been unlocked inside of you, and it’s long been dormant. To summon it, you must first feel for Eden within you. Feel that connection, that bond that I told you about. She will help you. And when you’re ready, picture an orb of golden light in the center of your chest.”
I closed my eyes, taking a breath as the cool water lapped against my ankles, and I felt for the sister I never had, this magical being that was me, but also not me.
She was there again—that rich, warm streak of golden light pulsing inside of me. I smiled to myself.
“I feel her,” I whispered.
“Excellent,” Cornelius said. “Now, when you’re ready, summon her. Imagine that orb blooming, getting bigger, brighter, until you feel its heat radiating throughout your body. When you’re overcome with it, release it.”
I nodded, and closed my eyes. I took several deep breaths as the cool creek water lapped higher onto my calves. My insides churned with excitement and nerves. This was it. The moment of truth. I felt for Eden, that stable streak, and imagined a glowing flower opening inside my sternum. A warmth grew from deep within me, making me feel powerful, and charged with electric potential. The golden orb expanded, and with each breath, it grew bigger, heavier, nobly bright. I clasped my hands over it, feeling like a maiden about to give birth to a powerful future queen.
“Now, release it,” Cornelius whispered.
I opened my eyes and screamed, thrusting my hands outward, palms facing the thick black forest in front of us.
A brilliant pulse of golden magic erupted from me, exploding into the night. The force of it knocked me backward, sending me falling into the creek with a splash. The magic ripped through the air, cutting into the blackness and puncturing the silence of the forest.
As the golden light dissipated, I felt a rush of power coursing through me. I gasped, sputtering as I stood up in the waist-high water. The cool liquid soothed my burning skin, and I felt incredibly alive, energized in a way I never had before.
“Ash!” Bella shouted, her eyes wide with a mix of excitement and concern as she rushed to the water’s edge.
“I’m okay,” I assured her, stepping carefully toward her. “I’m fine.”
Cornelius moved beside me, his eyes glowing in the moonlight. “You did well, Ash. Your magic is strong, but remember, it comes with a cost. You pushed it too far, too fast.”
I nodded, feeling a mix of elation and exhaustion wash over me. “I know. I just got caught up in the moment.”
“You must be careful,” Cornelius warned. “Too much and you'll be left vulnerable, just like what has happened the last few times. Use only as much as you need, and leave some in the reserves.”
Something tingled at the back of my brain; an eerie, troubling notion. Like a scratch I couldn't itch. Even past my exhaustion, it was as if something was pulling me deeper into the forest, beckoning for me to come, and it was overpowering.
"What?" Bella asked with both eyebrows raised. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
