Page 14 of Rising Out of the Darkness
I pressed my palm against my heart and dipped my head in agreement. Tears of shame streamed down my cheeks. I’dalways known these truths but had always let my fear and anxiety fill me with doubt. I’d lived my entire life afraid of the unknown, always assuming the worst outcomes.
The goddess lifted her hand and placed her palm over mine, which was still pressed against my chest. “Elena, it’s time for you to illuminate your inner strength and shine bright with your glorious light. Whether you believe us or not, you are a very powerful woman. We are confident you will use this extraordinary dynamis with compassion and grace.”
Fear curled in circles around my stomach. Though I heard what she said, my mind struggled to grasp why they’d chosen me. Why would they give me a power that was meant to be controlled when I was unable to control my own emotions?
All at once an immense burning feeling seared over my body. When I glanced down, light radiated from my body, pulsing as it rippled underneath my skin. As she continued to pour more dynamis into me, her radiant glow made it difficult to fully see her, but I saw what looked like a faint upturn of her lips. It felt as though the dynamis that was flooding into me was embracing me tightly, wrapping me in the essence of love itself.
When she was finished, she took a few steps back as my vision started to blur and everything around me grew hazy. Panic bristled inside my chest. I still had so many unanswered questions.
“Lena, along with this power, I must also share with you another truth. Your future path will not be easy. Hold on to all you have found here today. Promise me that you will have trust in who you are.”
I hesitantly whispered as I felt my body floating further and further away, “I promise.”
“Remember, Elena, even when faced with darkness, you can always find your way back to the light. Never stop searching.”
As she spoke her final words, her body shimmered away into the abyss. Squeezing my eyes shut, I sent a prayer to the heavens, hoping that I would be able to live up to the fate that I’d just been handed.
“Wake, Elena! Wake!”
A rush of energy flooded my body as I was jolted back into awareness.I opened my eyes, and the air fled out of my lungs in a gasp.
The ground around me had been scorched, the clay pots of flowers shattered to pieces. Stray petals were tossed about the room, the cream candles charred and melted in odd shapes. The only parts of the scene in front of me that didn’t leave me filled with terror were little remnants of glowing light that fluttered around the room.
When I tried to move, every muscle in my body cried out in protest. The shuffling of boots and armor made me aware of the presence of others behind me.
“Oh, gods, Elena! Are you alright?”
Turning, I winced at the pain that radiated through me. My gaze landed on Bri’s flustered face. Then, it traveled to the gaping mouth of one of her assistants, and the deep scowl of the Royal Guard from earlier.
He gripped the hilt of his sword, taking one step towards me. Instinctually, I flinched backwards. He paused, his lips shifting into a thin line.
Bri looked disheveled, her hair falling out of her pristine braid, almost like she had been tugging and pulling at it for hours. All their eyes were wide, faces stricken with terror. All directed towards me.
“Of course I’m alright, Bri.” My raspy voice made me pause. My throat ached.
“Elena, you were screaming!” Bri exclaimed. “You were screaming so loud, it felt like the walls were rattling inside the temple. I’ve never heard you make a sound like that before. It sounded as if someone was trying to hurt you.” Bri fidgeted with her hands as her eyes shifted towards the other guards now gaping at me in the doorway. “The guards saw me running. They followed me in as I opened the door. That’s when … that’s when?—”
“That’s when what, Bri?”
She spoke calmly, like she did when she was trying to ease me out of a panic attack. “That’s when we saw you were—are—glowing.”
My eyes widened and my breathing became erratic. Looking down, I was indeed glowing. Every inch of my body was enveloped in a warm, golden glow.
Alarm bells rang inside my head. I was acutely aware an attack of panic was approaching.
As pressure built inside my chest, a flicker of light on the back of my hand caught my eye. My newly acquired tattoo shimmered with light, as if shouting for my attention. Inside the triangle were millions of stars in all shapes and sizes. A delicate feather floated on top of them.
The space between my brows creased. Etched permanently into my skin was a mark I knew all too well. Only one other had ever borne it, and she had died to give our kingdom a chance for peace.
The Light Phoenix.
Overwhelmed with a combination of shock and fear, my view became hazy. When was the last time I’d taken a breath?
The lack of oxygen finally caught up to me. I caught Bri’s distraught eyes one last time. The ground inched closer as mybody gave into its pull. She lunged forward to catch me as I collapsed.
Chapter 6
Declan
