Page 30 of Sophie's Ruin
16
Just a mindless beast… Something Celeste had said the other night floated up from the recesses of my mind.
When the White Witches began turning dark, their black magic bled into the woods, poisoning the land and trees, morphing forest creatures into monsters.
Had the wolf always been this thing of nightmares? Or had it turned into a monster when the Dark Witches’ magic had poisoned these woods? I didn’t know the answer to that, and I suddenly felt conflicted, the human side of me peeking through.
What if you and the beast are more alike than you realize? What if the creature also has to constantly fight the darkness within?my human side whispered.
Slowly, I retracted my claws and lowered my hand. Lifting my gaze from the wolf, I looked around, noticing the oily black scales and disjointed limbs of the forest creatures slithering through the trees. Hundreds of glowing eyes watched me from deep within the shadows, waiting to see what I would do next. I could feel their anticipation and hunger for blood. The air was thick with it, just like it was thick with the smell of rot and decay. What a putrid, miserable place…
I looked down at the wolf again. Even if I spared its life, the forest creatures would tear it apart the moment I’d left its side. It was injured, and the Forest preyed on the weak. Would killing it be more of an act of mercy than letting it live? Once again, I felt conflicted. The wolf moved by my feet, startling me. I took a step back as it rose off the ground, standing on four legs that trembled but didn’t give out. Blood dripped from its mouth as the red glow in its eyes intensified. I expected it to come at me, but it turned toward the woods instead and let out a menacing growl. I supposed that was its way of showing me it still stood a chance against the creatures of the Forest.
My mind made up, I turned away from the wolf and assumed a pre-sprint position.
“Good luck,” I threw over my shoulder at the beast before I began running, flying through the woods.
I wasn’t sure where I was going. I couldn’t go back to my spot by the creek because Celeste knew about it now. So I ran until I came across a clearing. The Forest creatures swarmed again when I stopped in the middle of it, but I wasn’t afraid of them. I’d fought a giant wolf and prevailed, and I doubted there was anything bigger or more vicious than it in these woods. Except me. I wondered if, no matter how powerful one became, there was always a more superior creature, a bigger predator, or in my case, a group of them, like the clans.
No.I scowled, rolling my neck and shaking out my arms, preparing for another fight.
I would become the biggest, baddest predator there was. Never again would anyone be able to take something that was mine away from me. My magic surged to life at the thought, sparks flying from my fingertips. I inhaled deeply as the power swelled, filling me until I was brimming with it. Ducking my chin, I looked around the clearing at the creatures scuttling closer. As if sensing my power, they stopped their approach andbacked away, retreating deeper into the impenetrable darkness of the forest.
I cocked my head, my forehead creasing. Was my power that terrifying to them? ShouldIbe terrified of it? I quickly dismissed the thought. It wasmypower. I was its master, not the other way around. I would not cower before it. And if others bowed down before it—good. I wanted them to be terrified of me.
Still, disappointment washed over me that the forest creatures had retreated—I’d been looking forward to practicing my magic on them. Now, I would need to find a different target. I looked around the clearing, my gaze searching until it snagged on a small boulder several feet away. I concentrated on the gray stone, imagining it was the head of one of the clan leaders. Thrusting my hand toward it, I threw my magic out, and it crackled through the clearing like lighting, blasting into the boulder. My jaw clenched as I channeled my powers, applying great pressure onto the stone. Seconds ticked by with the boulder just lying there, seemingly unaffected by my magic. Frustration rose, but before I could give in to it, the stone groaned, and a crack appeared in the rough gray surface. Excitement replaced the feeling of frustration as I increased the pressure on the stone until it exploded with a loud boom that echoed through the clearing. My lips turned up in a triumphant smile, because I would crush the clan leader’s skull just like I’d just crushed that boulder. The outpour of power had made me feel drained, but my veins still buzzed with restless energy as if my magic urged me to do more—to push myself further.
I took another sweeping look around the clearing, searching for the next challenge. When my gaze landed on some gnarled tree roots protruding from the ground, I narrowed my eyes and cast my power out. Drawing on the magic in my chest, I willed the roots to move, to lift from the soil. For several long minutes, they didn’t budge. I gritted my teeth, concentrating harder untilsweat beaded on my forehead. The roots creaked, aglow with the blue-black flames of my magic, and the ground shook as I pushed with all my might.
“Come on,” I bit out, tugging on the roots with my powers.
It felt impossible, as if the earth itself was hanging on to them, until it suddenly gave way. With a grunt, I ripped the roots from the ground and launched them toward the dark woods. Damien ducked out of the way, barely avoiding the projectile, when he separated from the tree line.
“Still channeling that frustration, I see,” the young man chuckled as he came closer.
He had no idea, I thought, wiping the sweat from my brow.
“What happened to you?” Damien asked, stopping before me.
His dark gaze flicked over me, and his eyes widened before they returned to my face. Only then did I realize that I was covered in blood, mine and the wolf’s. I looked down at myself, at the cuts and bruises peeking through my tattered clothes. They were not healing as quickly as I would have liked. I would need to feed soon. With the realization, came a feeling of discontent. I could drink animal blood, and while it would sustain me for a short while, that was not the blood I needed. I needed human blood. My stomach knotted with unease. I’d never fed from a human before, only resorting to drinking the blood stored in the cellar at the Duval Estate or tasting Henry’s blood when we would… I closed my eyes and took a breath.
“A giant wolf attacked me,” I explained, opening my eyes again.
“What? I thought you had a hex bag. The forest creatures are supposed to stay away?—”
“I didn’t bring it,” I interjected. “I didn’t want to make it easier for Celeste to track me. How did you find me?”
“Well, I knew I shouldn’t go back to our usual meeting spot, so I wandered around the forest for a while, listening to the world around me. Eventually, the threads led me to you.”
“I’m glad they did,” I told him. “I want to ask you something. Glimmering. How does it work?”
Damien’s lips pressed into a thin line at my question.
“Uh, listen, Sophie. I know you’re doing remarkably well with your magic, but glimmering is quite advanced. It usually takes years of practice. I’m a quick learner myself, but it even took me a while before I mastered it.”
“Are you telling me to take it slow?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“No, no.” Damien lifted his hands in defense. “I’m just saying you should know your limits.”
