Page 80 of Midnight Reign
Left alone with Ignatius and Zaiah, I feel a wave of exhaustion wash over me. The nightmare has left me drained, both physically and emotionally.
“You should try to get some more rest,” Zaiah says gently. “We’ll keep watch.”
I want to protest, to say that I’m fine, but I know he’s right. We need to be at full strength for whatever comes next.
“Wake me if anything happens,” I say as I lay back down.
They nod, settling down on either side of me on the bed. As I close my eyes, I wonder what other horrors await us. The image of that dark, merged world Crimson showed me lingers in my mind, a grim reminder of what’s at stake.
The darkness claims me again,but this time, it’s not Crimson who greets me in the dream world. Instead, I find myself in a place of swirling light and shadow, perfectly balanced.
A figure approaches, and for a moment, I tense, ready for another confrontation. But as it draws nearer, I realise it’s not Crimson. It’s me. Or rather, a version of me I’ve never seen before.
This Adelaide is radiant, her skin glowing with an inner light. But shadows dance around her too, not threatening, but complementary. She smiles at me, and I feel a sense of peace wash over me.
“Who are you?” I ask, though I think I already know the answer.
“I’m you,” she says, her voice echoing with power and wisdom. “The you that could be, if you learn to balance the light and dark within yourself. The side your mother seeks to give you.”
I look down at my hands, seeing the faint glow of celestial light warring with the shadows of my vampiric nature. “How? How do I achieve this balance?”
The radiant Adelaide steps closer, placing her hands on my shoulders. “By accepting all parts of yourself, Adelaide. The light from your mother, the darkness from your father, and everything in between. Crimson is a part of you, but she doesn’t define you. You define yourself.”
The constant battle between light and dark that I’ve been feeling since I arrived at MistHallow begins to calm.
“But what about the merging?” I ask. “How do we stop it?”
She shakes her head, a sad smile on her face. “The merging cannot be stopped, Adelaide. But what you do next, will decide the course it takes.”
I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of this responsibility settle on my shoulders. “But how? How do I decide what I’m supposed to do? How do I know?”
The radiant Adelaide’s smile turns, knowing. “You will by realising that Crimson is not your enemy, but a part of you that needs to be understood and integrated. She represents the raw power of the NetherRealm, yes, but also the strength and determination you’ll need to face what’s coming.”
I nod, feeling a new sense of purpose filling me. “What do I need to do?”
“When you wake,” she says, her form starting to fade, “don’t fight Crimson. Talk to her. Understand her. And then, when the time comes, use that understanding to guide the merging towards balance.”
As the dream begins to dissolve around me, I reach out, not wanting to lose this vision of what I could be. “Wait! Will I see you again?”
Her laughter echoes as she fades away. “I’m always with you, Adelaide. I am you. Remember that, and you’ll find the strength you need.”
I awake again,but this time, there’s no panic, no gasping for air. Instead, I feel a sense of calm purpose. It has suddenly all become clear.
Don’t even think about it, little bitch.
Ignoring her, I blurt out, “I know what I have to do.”
34
ADELAIDE
Corvus and Zephyrenter the room, looking pissed off as all hell.
“What?” I ask.
“They’ve gone,” Corvus states.
“Gone?”
