Page 13 of Crowned By the Shadow
I took a deep breath and reached for the Mirror again, its surface warm against my skin as if pulsing with energy beneath my fingertips.
As Fenvalur’s movements grew frantic behind us, a soft crackle of energy gathering, I closed my eyes briefly and concentrated on everything I felt: anger at being manipulated; fear for those who had suffered because of him; an overwhelming desire for truth.
The air thickened with tension as Thorn readied himself beside Sebastian, prepared to shield us both if needed.
When I opened my eyes again, they were filled with silvery light reflecting off the Mirror’s surface like moonbeams dancing over water.
“Fenvalur!” I shouted across the room as his shadow loomed larger through swirling magic.
He paused mid-gesture at the sound of my voice, a flicker of confusion darting across his face.
“What are you doing?” His tone dripped with disdain but trembled slightly at the edges.
With all my strength and intention focused on dispelling his illusions, the lies he’d spun around us, I pointed the Mirror toward him. The glass shimmered and swirled as images cascaded forth.
I saw myself as an infant in a cradle while shadows loomed over me, but also glimpses of love; sisterhood with Wyn, Grimsby taking us in, being praised by my superior when I was a soldier. I channeled it all to show him that, despite what he might have thought, I had a good life.
Was it true? Not completely, but there were bright spots if I knew how to look for them, and that was what I showed him.
“No!” Fenvalur shouted, his hands rising defensively before him as though trying to block what could not be stopped, as though just witnessing what I was trying to show him would change his reality. He had wanted me to be miserable, to have suffered, to have craved what he had to offer, but I wouldn’t let that be the truth.
In that moment, something shifted deep within me, a sense of belonging crystallizing among all these revelations swirling around us, and it ignited courage inside my heart.
“This is who I am!” I declared fiercely as more memories poured forth: flashes showing how far I’d come despite pain etched into every experience shaping me now; moments shared with Thorn that highlighted loyalty forged through trials faced together; visions of Wyn standing by my side amid chaos, the friendship that had breathed life into me and given me hope during my darkest hours.
“I am more than your experiment! More than whatever my bloodline is or who my parents are!” The words burst forth like fire from an ember ignited anew by purpose, a rebuke that clashed against Fenvalur’s carefully crafted beliefs.
“Enough!” Fenvalur roared, gathering his magic once more as tendrils of energy whipped around him like storm clouds ready to burst. “I will not allow this!”
My heart raced as I prepared for his counterattack. Thorn shifted beside me, ready to protect us all. But I couldn’t rely on him alone; this was my fight.
With every ounce of strength coursing through me, I focused on the bond between Thorn and me. It surged like a flame igniting my spirit, guiding my intent toward Fenvalur.
The Mirror glowed brighter as I channeled that connection. “You think you know power? You think you can bind us?” My voice rang out defiantly, filled with determination.
In an instant, light erupted from the Mirror, shooting toward Fenvalur like a comet across the night sky. He gasped as it struck him full force, his magic recoiling in response.
Fenvalur fell to his knees, caught between forces he could no longer command. The swirling memories shifted again; they began enveloping him like chains woven from truth.
His face paled as recognition dawned in his eyes, fear flickering behind his mask of arrogance.
“This isn’t over,” he hissed through gritted teeth.
“Yes,” I replied firmly, meeting his gaze head-on. “It is.”
The light from the Mirror blazed like a supernova, and for a moment, I felt invincible. I channeled my determination into that brilliant energy, weaving memories of love and loss together into a tapestry of truth.
“Senara,” Thorn’s voice cut through the chaos, steadying me as I focused on Fenvalur. “Don’t lose yourself in this. Remember why we’re here.”
I nodded at Thorn, but his words weren’t just heard by me. With one last burst of energy, Fenvalur summoned a counterattack, a desperate attempt to reclaim control over the magic flooding through the air. I braced myself against its force as darkness swirled around us like an approaching storm.
Thorn moved closer, grounding me with his presence as I fought to maintain focus. My mark burned fiercely against my skin, a reminder that I was not alone in this battle.
“Together,” he urged quietly, his hand slipping around my own, though he was careful not to touch the mirror itself.
With our bond solidified by trust and determination, we faced Fenvalur as one. The chaotic magic spiraled between us, the forces clashing with ferocity, and yet I felt a sense of calmness wash over me.
“This isn’t how it ends!” He spat defiantly even as panic crept into his eyes.
