Page 96 of Midnight Reign
This is a world that’s neither shrouded in darkness nor bathed in blinding light but a complex tapestry of both. I see cities where modern skyscrapers stand alongside ancient temples, where technology and magick coexist in a delicate balance.
In a vast plaza, I watch a group of light mages perform a ritual, their hands weaving intricate patterns of radiant energy. Nearby, shadow wielders practice their craft, theirpowers complementing rather than opposing the light mages’ work.
But this world is not without conflict. In the distance, I see battles raging - light and darkness clashing in spectacular displays of power. Yet even in these conflicts, there’s a sense of purpose. Balance. As if the struggle is what keeps the world in check.
I see myself again, but this version is neither a tyrant nor a false saviour. She stands at the centre of the plaza, mediating a dispute between representatives of light and dark factions. Her eyes hold wisdom and strength, but also weariness. It’s clear that maintaining this balance is a constant struggle, never allowing either side to gain too much power.
“We must find a way to coexist,” this Adelaide says, her voice firm but compassionate. “Our differences make us stronger, but only if we learn to work together.”
It’s a world of balance, but also of constant conflict - never truly at peace, but never falling completely into darkness or light. A world where choice and consequence shape the future, for better or worse.
These visions swirl around me, each one vying for dominance. I feel overwhelmed, lost in the possibilities of what could be. How can I possibly choose? How can I know which path is right? This is what has been hovering at the edges of my consciousness since we started the ritual. What I do next, the next choice I make, will define which world we wake up in.
I roll over, curled up against the pain, as the choice is too immense. I can’t make it because there is a sacrifice in each and every one.
“Adelaide!” Corvus’s voice cuts through the visions. “Stay with us, Dollie!”
I open my eyes and blink, the stone circle of MistHallow comes back into focus. The battle still rages around us, but it seems distant now, less important than the choice I have to make.
“I... I don’t know what to do,” I gasp, looking at Corvus with desperation in my eyes. “I’ve seen... so many possibilities. How do I know which one is right?”
Corvus grips my shoulders, his blue eyes fierce with determination. “You don’t have to decide the fate of the world right now, Addy. We just need to get through this ritual. One step at a time, remember?”
“But—”
“Just do what you need to do,” he says, gripping my hands, a frantic look on his face. “We’ve got you, whichever way, Adelaide. We’ve got you.”
Tears, prick my eyes, real tears this time as I take in the enormity of his support.
I nod, taking a deep breath. “We can’t send Crimson to the NetherRealm - it’ll kill Zaiah. We need another option.”
Those are some great big balls you’ve got there, sis. I’m impressed.
“Will you get the fuck out of my head!” I roar and rise to my feet as if I’m yanked up by a string.
Focusing again, I reach out to the swirling energies of the ritual. I can feel the power pulsing around me, seeking direction. With every ounce of will I possess, I visualise the space right in front of me.
Around us, the battle reaches a fever pitch. I’m vaguely aware of Malachar shouting in rage, of Alec’s desperate attempts to stop us. But they’re too late.
With a sound like reality itself tearing, Crimson’s essence rips free from my body. I scream, the sound raw and feral, as I feel her presence being ripped from my soul.
The backlash of energy sends me sprawling to the ground again. The world spins around me, voices calling my name from what seems like a great distance. I feel drained, empty in a way I’ve never experienced before.
As darkness creeps in at the edges of my vision, I see Zaiah’s form collapse, the book falling to the ground with a heavy thud. The guys rush towards me, their faces blurred and indistinct.
The elders stop fighting and gaze up into the sky.
But before I slip into unconsciousness, I have one last thought: Oh, fucking fuck.
41
ZEPHYR
With a deafening roar,the world is thrown into chaos as Crimson’s essence is violently ripped from Adelaide’s trembling body. A blinding flash of pure, raw power erupts from her, sending a shockwave pulsing through the stone circle and knocking all of us to the ground. Even Dad and Alec, who are usually unshakable, are thrown off their feet by the sheer force of it. The ground beneath us shakes and trembles, ancient stones crying out in protest as they struggle to contain energies beyond their capacity. Massive obsidian pillars burst out of the earth, towering over us like dark guardians. Creatures from the depths of hell rise to the surface, and Crimson lets out a shriek of laughter that makes my ears bleed.
I hit the ground hard, the breath driven from my lungs, my head spinning from the impact as the forest around us is destroyed in favour of this hellish cityscape protruding around us. For a moment, all I can do is lie there, rasping, as the world around me tilts and whirls.
Adelaide.
