Reverence (A gothic Romantasy)

Chapter twenty-nine

Josie dragged the struggling figure back to the lake, her grip firm and unyielding. As she reached the water's edge, she saw Jane standing next to the slain beast, now in her human form. Jane's cheek was cut, and blood dripped from the corner of her mouth, but her eyes burned with fierce triumph. Corbyn stood at a safe distance, her expression a mix of concern and relief. Josie dropped the figure in front of Jane, who immediately straightened, ready to confront their adversary.
"Watch it," Josie instructed, her voice steely as she stepped back, and tossed the ancient book at Corbyn. Jane nodded, her gaze never leaving the cloaked figure, whose face was now partially visible. The tension in the air was palpable, a mix of rage and unyielding loyalty.
Josie took a deep breath and dove into the lake, pulling herself through the icy water with powerful strokes. As she swam deeper, a faint light shone from the lakebed, guiding her path. Her lungs began to burn, but she pushed through the pain, determined to reach Creed. At the bottom, she saw him encased in a bubble of light, shadows dancing around it like a protective barrier.

She placed her glowing hands on the bubble, feeling a surge of energy flow through her. Light and shadows intertwined around her, and she heard a soft, melodious voice say, "Josephine." It was a voice like warm honey, soothing and familiar. Then, another voice, deeper and equally comforting, called out, "Josie." Josie's own body began to glow, her power responding to the voices as if she had been welcomed home. She realized these were the voices of Alister and Odessa, the souls of her ancestors.
"You have been brave," Odessa's voice echoed through her, vibrating with a timeless resonance. "This male, we have protected him. He has deep reverence for you, Josephine," Alister's voice added, filling Josie with a sense of purpose and urgency. She felt the water shift as Jane dove in to join her, and Josie channeled her power into her hands, breaking the enchanted bubble encasing Creed.
With the bubble shattered, Josie struggled to free Creed, tearing away the dark vines that held him captive. Jane reached them just in time, and Josie pushed Creed's limp body towards her friend, urgency burning in her chest. "Take him!" she demanded, her voice muffled by the water.
Jane grabbed Creed and swam with all her strength towards the surface, her powerful strokes cutting through the water. Corbyn stood ready at the lake's edge, and together with Jane, she helped pull Creed out of the water and onto the grass. The wrinkled creature bound by Jane's fire sat motionless, staring at them with unblinking eyes.
"We need to get him warm," Corbyn said urgently, wrapping Creed in a dry cloak. Jane nodded,
As they worked to revive Creed, the creature remained silent and still, its gaze fixed on them with an eerie intensity.

                                       ꕥ

Creed coughs up water and gasps for air. He immediately jumps up, his heart racing with adrenaline. As soon as he does, Josie ascends out of the water, a serene yet unsettling aura surrounding her. Corbyn, Josie, and Creed all look at each other, their eyes wide with shock and confusion. Then, as if drawn by an invisible force, their gazes fix on Josie, who is now floating in the air. Her eyes have transformed into onyx, and shadows dance around her like living tendrils.
Josie speaks in a voice that is not hers, softer than hers, older and resonant. "This is my gift, to you," the voice intones. The shadows around Josie continue to swirl, and her veins glow with a magnificent white light, pulsing with an ethereal energy. "I have waited many centuries for you, Josephine," the voice continues. "You have saved the one you love most. You have proven to us that your heart is pure and your loyalty and spirit unyielding." Creed steps closer to the lake, his eyes fixed on Josie with a mix of awe and fear. "It's Odessa," he whispers. As if in response, the sky darkens ominously, and the air grows heavy with an unnatural tension. Noxumbra, the black eclipse, is upon them.

Corbyn, sensing the change, looks up at the skies, his face pale. "Something is wrong, this isn't supposed to happen for another hundred years" she mutters, a chill running down her spine. Josie, or rather the entity within her, lifts her chin defiantly. "Do not be afraid," the voice commands, but the words offer little comfort.
Just as the eclipse aligns, casting a shadow over the land, a surreal phenomenon occurs. Shadows leak from the moon, an eerie sight that causes Jane to fall to her knees, her eyes wide with terror. The shadows descend from the sky like tendrils, wrapping around Josie, merging with her glowing light. "The curse," Creed says, falling to his knees as well, his voice barely above a whisper. "It doesn't exist. She was waiting all this time... for her." He keeps his gaze on Josie, his mind struggling to comprehend the reality unfolding before him.
The shadows, now fully intertwined with Josie's light, pulse and shimmer. Odessa, an ancient and powerful entity, has gifted Josie her powers, blending the essence of darkness and light within her. Josie remains suspended in the air, her form a radiant beacon amidst the encroaching darkness.