Page 37 of Midnight Reign
I meet the eyes of my companions, I see the same emotions that I feel. Wary, excitement, dread. Whatever we’ve stumbled upon here, hidden deep beneath MistHallow, is going to change everything. The only question is: are we ready for what comes next?
The weight of the book in my hands feels like a responsibility I’m not sure I’m prepared for.
The secret archive stretches out around us, filled with untold knowledge and hidden dangers. But this small, unassuming book might hold the key to understanding my true nature and the ancient presence that shares my mind.
As we huddle closer, preparing to delve into the book’s contents, I know that we’re standing on the precipice of something monumental. The air seems charged with possibility,and the shadows of the archive seem to lean in, eager to witness what happens next.
“It’s in Latin,” I mutter.
“Here, let me,” Corvus says, reaching for the book.
I growl, jerking it back out of his way. “Mine.”
He holds his hands up, his look of caution deepening. “Okay, I can read and translate Latin. Can you?”
“I can now,” I mutter, and I begin to read aloud, my voice clear and confident. “In the shadows between worlds, there exists a power beyond imagining—a convergence of magick and blood, of life and death. The Vesperidae are but a shadow of this power, a pale reflection of what once was and what could be again.”
My voice falters as the words resonate through me. The others lean in closer, eager to hear more.
“Go on,” Zephyr urges softly.
I nod and continue, “To unlock the full potential of this power requires a sacrifice. A merging of souls, ancient and new. The vessel must be willing, must embrace the darkness within. Only then can the boundaries between realms be shattered, and true power be unleashed.”
My hands shake as I turn the page. The next passage makes my blood run cold. “Beware the one who seeks to claim this power for themselves. For in doing so, they risk unmaking reality itself. The balance must be maintained, lest all worlds fall to chaos.”
“So we think the entity in your head is trying to unleash chaos?” Corvus asks.
“No. Or at least not necessarily. Obviously, the merging of souls, ancient and new is me and her. The vessel, me, must be willing. I wasn’t, so whatever Randall, the one trying to unleash chaos, did, didn’t work properly. The portal opened, but that’s it.Whatever lies on the other side of this world through that portal is…”
We stare at each other.
“Entropy,” Zephyr murmurs.
“Pretty much.”
“So what doesshehave to do with this?” Corvus asks, frustrated and running his hand through his hair. “We still don’t know, which is our more immediate threat.”
I nod and look back at the book. I take a deep breath and continue reading, my voice growing stronger as I delve deeper into the ancient text. “The one who seeks to merge, to reclaim what was lost, walks a dangerous path. She is both saviour and destroyer, the key to unlocking untold power and the potential harbinger of doom. The Progenitor. The first of her kind, born in the crucible of magick and blood. She who walks between worlds, keeper of the balance. Her power is unmatched, her knowledge vast. But with great power comes great sacrifice.”
I look up at the others, my mind racing. “This has to be her. The voice in my head.”
Zephyr leans in. “What else does it say about her?”
I turn the page, eager for more information. The next passage makes my breath catch in my throat. “The Progenitor’s essence can be passed down through the ages, lying dormant until it finds a suitable vessel. One with the potential to wield her power and continue her work. But beware, for the merging of souls is not without risk. The vessel may be consumed, their identity lost to the ancient consciousness within.”
A chill runs down my spine as the implications of these words sink in. It’s not like I hadn’t already thought of it, but seeing it confirmed is a whole other ball game. “Crimson Shadow.”
“Huh?” Ignatius asks into the chilling silence.
“Her name is Crimson Shadow. That matches with what she said to me. Crimson Sha—” I mumble, not really telling them that but needing to say it out loud.
Little bitch gets it. Finally.
“Why didn’t you just tell me all of this,” I hiss, startling the guys into stepping back slightly.
Not the way it works. Did you not read the part about being willing? That includes you finding this all out on your little old lonesome. Okay, well, with these hot studs. Fuck, they know how to please us, don’t they?
“DO NOT EVER SAY THAT AGAIN!” I bellow, forcing the guys to duck for cover as a shower of fire rains down from the ceiling in my rage that I pulled from Ignatius unconsciously. “They are not yours. They are mine.”
