The Shadress (MCD x Reader)

Ch. 25- Through Sickness

I stand at the forest edge as everyone passes, back pressed against the bark of a dark oak tree. Strangely, the feeling almost burns. Although I was leading the group through the forced maze of the trees, I let them leave before me for fear of someone getting stuck inside.

While we were walking, the feeling from before grew 10 times worse. I didn't tell anyone, afraid of freaking them out while we were still inside, but it feels more present now that I'm at the edge. Perhaps it's the way the breeze brushes against my face.

I thanked the fairy and watched as she flew away before I turned around and joined the others. When I stepped out of the trees, I looked up to the moon. She was still rising, about halfway from the horizon and midnight. I blink, quickly pray under my breath, and turn to the group. "We need to go."

They all stop the various stretching movements and look at me bewildered. "What?" Aphmau asks, concerned, the ears on her head slowly lowering.

Garroth and Katelyn looked at me with a degree of concern I did not expect to see across their faces. Laurence... was more perplexing; an expression I cannot quite decipher etching into the contours of his face.

"Something's wrong," I mutter, though I wasn't trying to be quiet and everyone hears.

Jace gently, almost like he's afraid I'll shatter, grabs my left hand, drawing my attention to look at him. He looks to be close to perfectly fine, the only thing off being his decidedly messed-up hair. "Nothing's wrong. We're all right here – Lady Aphmau is right here."

His reassurances don't help.

My silence doesn't either.

"What's wrong?" Aphmau begs. "You always seem to know when something is going to happen. What's wrong?" Her words are frantic, ears pinned back completely.

I take a deep breath. "I don't know. And I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Aphmau and Jace ask at the same time.

"Sorry for what?" Laurence asks after. He has an eyebrow raised and looks skeptical.

My magic drips from my open palm, and I cast the spell before anyone can blink.

When my eyes refocus, we're within the outer walls of Phoenix Drop. The others all have their arms thrown out but are recentering as they gather their bearings.

"What the hell?!" I hear Jace yell as I drop, face-first into the ground. I barely catch the feeling of him trying to start an energy transfer before I completely lose awareness, blacking out as I feel his grip on my arm tightens to a painful extreme.

– – – – –

"War is not our only option."

"Do you think I want it to come to this? Do you think I want to hurt the beings I call friends?"

"..."

"You... [sigh]. You are- are awful. [sniffle]."

"[unintelligible], you are the greatest joy in my life. Do you really not see the issue with falling into war as a way to win?"

"If I was your greatest joy, you would trust me."

"..."

"... [the sniffles stop]."

"Trust is hard to give. And even harder to earn."

– – – – –

Consciousness slams into me like a meteor on the Earth's surface. It's violent and mildly painful.