Page 71 of Detonation
For the first time, anger shroud her face. "Erebus. The dark god assisting Anshar and a few others throughout the realms."
My mouth pops open. "Anshar wasn't lying?”
She shakes her solemnly. "Unfortunately, no. He has chosen a side in a war that we were never meant to be involved in because he saw an opportunity to reap the spoils of victory."
My gaze falls to the floor as I remember how I left our last meeting, a deep sadness consuming me. Why?
Fingers press under my chin, bringing my eyes to meet hers, and I gasp as I see my own shade of teal reflected in hers. "Why do you look like me right now?" I ask breathlessly.
"I can no longer stay neutral in this war with Erebus tilting the balance. It is time I told you the full truth and granted you access to the memories I pulled from your parents, in fear of what would happen if anyone found out and used it against me."
My heart beats erratically, anxiety swirling in my chest. I have never seen her exuding anything but calmness and love but now, her eyes hold sorrow in them. Whatever she has to tell me will change everything.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ash
From the void, Lana's soul calls out to me, passing perilously close to the same in-between where I’m stuck.
She's in danger.
I scream out. "Lana! Don’t give in!"
My fear for her tosses me back into my body in a split second. Desperate to get back to her, I search frantically for a way out past the barrier that keeps me from even speaking to Anshar.
Fuck this. I need to get to her. Now.
I take in our surroundings as we walk through the same forest near the capital city of Serenity’s realm.No. We need to get back to our realm!
We approach the edge of the forest and the colorful city of the witches comes into view.
Anshar mutters to himself as he comes to a halt, "Time to get this over with."
Try something different, Ash. Anything. Do something.
I try to picture a barrier between our minds, a thick brick wall symbolizing the barricade. Picturing his twisted head on the other side of the brick wall, I run towards the wall and throw my shoulder into it, trying to break through.
A crack runs through it.
Yes. Keep going.
As he walks towards the edge of the city, I throw myself at the mental brick wall in a flurry of movement—kicking, punching, and slamming myself into it. The cracks spread but there’s no hole for me to cross through.
Come on, Ash! She needs you. You can't let her down again.
Something clicks and my soul feels like it's on fire, heat radiating through my mind.
Anshar stops in our tracks, a few feet from the barrier of the city, his hand moving to grip our head.
Can he feel this?
I stop trying to fight against the pain and allow this feeling to wash over me, to engulf me. A white mist moves into my mental picture, blowing against the wall.
How is a mist going to hurt a brick wall?A sharp pain flares and I realize that by questioning it, I'm fighting against it.
Anshar screams as the mist eats away at the wall, the bricks disintegrating, burning to the ground.
Holy shit. Do I have powers?
