The Shadress (MCD x Reader)

Ch. 22- All Good Things

Solitude by: M83 (TikTok version)

There's a dull ache in the back of my head as I wake up, and I briefly wonder if it's caused by lying on my braid. Beyond that, I can tell there is something inherently wrong with where I am. All of my senses are flaring up, and my heart feels like it fell out of my chest.

I sit up slowly, opening my eyes at the same speed. It's dark in the room, with only three small candles giving off the barely there light of a flame. There are no windows, which is odd, so I would assume this is a specially-created, entirely indoor room. The only way in or out of the room is a single door, which appears to be made of some sort of metal.

My eyes snap to the top of the room as I look around, and I note a complex string of runes around the entire space. As I read them, my mind races with shock and a little bit of fear. Hesitantly, I test my powers. No reaction... I can't believe he'd go to this length.

Quickly, but without making a sound, I stand up and walk over to a nearby dresser. I try to pull it from the wall, but my arms feel like I've been swimming for hours. Despite this, I push beyond the pain and keep trying. They shake with the effort before I realize the dresser has been nailed to the wall. Can't block the door. I look down at the blackened dark oak floor, pondering what my new plan should be.

With renewed haste, I hop up onto the dresser, balancing myself with a hand on the wall. Reaching up, I run my hand over the runes and release a shaky breath as I realize they're carved into the walls. There isn't a way to get rid of them, as I cannot see any sharp objects that can be used to scratch them out. And while the flame might work, I cannot allow myself to be trapped in a windowless wood room where a fire was started.

Slowly, I lower myself to sit cross-legged on the top of the dresser. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I need a clear head in order to truly recount what has occurred, so I take slow deep breaths and calm my racing heart.

The last thing I remember before being here is my garden. I was tending to the wolfsbane; it had fallen a little ill. It was dark, but the sun had not fallen quite yet. There were clouds overhead, but I remember thinking that it did not look like it was going to rain. Despite that, I do recall I was frustrated the wolfsbane picked this time of the month to behave this way.

Oh. Fuck.

I looked up at the runes again and reread them with wide eyes, backward this time. They're not for my magic... They're for my body.

The shakiness in all of my muscles is due to the magic permeating the wooden beams that make up the sides of this gods-forsaken box. Unfortunately, the loss of my abilities is due to the new moon — and the fact that I hadn't prayed recently enough to store any reserves.

Zane has unfortunately thought this out to extreme detail.

Stars above — Helena, Namid, Elio: forgive me for my indiscretions, and lend me enough strength for a spell. Under their guidance, I bare my soul for judgment of the past and honor their holiness Namid of the stars.

If I can get enough energy for a simple spell, I can summon my staff, which can be used in a variety of ways.

I drop my eyes to the ground and think about this situation some more. Jace had just arrived when this occurred, having been around for little more than a week. That does not discount that he could be behind what is happening.

Based on our conversations, I highly doubt it. Of the small amount of information that he has shared, he spoke of how the position has only become corrupt in recent years and that he has long since lost interest in his job. I wonder if he is gathering people to come and get me. How long will that take?