Water's Reflection or Hero's Guilt

Chapter Fifty-Three

          The Wolf Queen was defeated. She lay motionless on the floor of Mage Whitesands' study. Her eyes open, she could not but see the two men around her. Terrance was near, whispering to her. And that treacherous Adam Clay walked away, now that his job was done. He disappeared from her view, and she heard how he exited the room.

          Something stirred inside of her, and she felt how she slowly drifted away. As if diving into the water, her consciousness went down, deeper and deeper. Weightless, floating inside her mind.

          But she would not let go! No, she wouldn't. They may have tricked her, but she refused to be undone!

          That was when she noticed it. It was thin. Frail. Slithering past her, hoping to go by unseen. But she would not let that happen! She clung onto it with all her might.

          “Maldafa!” the spirit gasped. It resisted, but it was not strong enough. Weakened by its time without control, it could not overpower her.

          “I am June Bailey,” said the demonic being, wrapping herself around the soul. She weighed it down as it tried to travel upwards. It struggled, but it could not break free. And as the bloodmagic kept calling the soul towards the body, she felt how she slowly moved up as well. Coming closer to her body. Closer to restoring the Wolf Queen.

          “No!” it cried in protest, but she would not let go. It tried to push her away, but she made sure to hold on tight, clinging at anything she could get a hold of. It was too weak, and she would not lose to such a petty little soul. She would not lose her body!

          As they came closer, she could feel it; she could sense the control coming back to both of them. Rising into consciousness together, bound together as one single entity. Her left hand trembled, she moved it ever so slightly. Just a little further...!

          Then suddenly, overcome with strength, the soul tore loose. She clawed at it, but it took her and ripped her apart. That filthy girl shredded her entirely, the pain was devastating. Again unable to do anything, she plummeted, and felt how all her pieces sank down. The soul watched how the scraps and slivers of demon disappeared into the depths, then continued upwards. They were calling her. The sign gave her strength to reach for them. And Terrance... Terrance...

          June stirred and air filled her lungs; she violently spasmed and nearly choked. Something grabbed her arms, forcing her to sit upright. She tried to fight it, but couldn't find the strength. The air around her, the floor—everything she felt was so powerful. The sounds and the smells; after watching from a distance, from a place far away from the real world, she could not comprehend this... Only slowly did she become accustomed to the sensations.

          Her hands clenched into Terrance's clothes and she pulled him closer with all her strength. The familiar smell, his soft and comforting whispers, they came crashing over her and calmed her down. “June,” he said into her ears. “Oh June, I missed you so...”

          “I-I'm sorry... I a-am so s-sorry!” she sobbed into his shirt. He shushed her, saying it was alright, but she did not listen. “I didn't w-want to, but she... s-she made me! I-I... Oh, all those people! I murdered them!”