Blessed By The Moon

Chapter 53

The world broke apart like glass underfoot.

The whiteness collapsed into veins of silver that swallowed themselves until nothing was left, dragging Storm and me down, down, until my lungs seized and my eyes flew open to the sound of screaming.

We were back.

The forest was alive with noise again, the crackle of fires still smoldering from battle, no I'll call it what it is, from my massacre, the rustle of leaves, the distant sound of Jenny calling out our names.

I was lying in the dirt. My chest heaved like I'd been underwater for hours. The copper taste of blood coated my tongue, but it wasn't mine. I turned my head and saw them, Kaiden, Uriah, Gemma, Jenny, staring at us, faces tight with panic.

Kaiden's sword was half-raised, but his eyes were wide. "What the hell just happened? You two...you-"

Jenny stepped forward, pale and shaking. "You were... floating," she said. "Silver everywhere, like the moon had dropped straight into your veins. Then nothing. No glow. Just... nothing."

I pushed myself upright. My hands shook, dirt streaking my palms. I reached for my power, for the familiar hum under my skin, but there was only silence. No silver warmth. No whisper of healing waiting to be called.

Nothing.

"May?" Kaiden's voice was careful. "What's wrong?"

I didn't answer, my chest caved as I stared at my hands, willing them to spark, to glow, to do anything, but they stayed dark.

Storm's ragged breathing filled the space beside me. He sat hunched forward, fists digging into the soil. I looked at him, and my stomach twisted. His eyes were still silver, yes, but flat, empty, no power thrumming behind them.

He met my gaze, he didn't need to say it, we both knew.

We royally screwed up.

Jenny's brows furrowed. "You're different, both of you. I can't... I can't see anything. No threads of light. It's like..." Her voice broke off.

"Like we're hollow," Storm finished, his tone harsh, but quiet.

The silence stretched, broken only by Uriah's pained groan. He was leaning against a tree, his side bound by Storm's half-healing from before.

I lurched toward him, instinct taking over. My hands pressed to his wound, my voice urgent. "It's okay, I'll take away the pain, I'll-"

Nothing.

His torso was warm against my palms, but there was no glow, no surge. I pushed harder, desperate, and my voice cracked. "Come on, please, work."

Uriah caught my wrist weakly "Keep doing that and you'll end up actually hurting me", his voice was hoarse but steady. "May... it's not coming back."

I froze.

My throat closed, and I shook my head before I even realized it. "I can't. I can't heal you. I can't heal anyone."

Gemma swore under her breath and pressed a hand to her face. "Shit."

Jenny's voice trembled. "What happened to you two? What did the Moon say?"

Storm barked a bitter laugh, though there was no humor in it. "That we're mistakes. That we never should've been made."

Kaiden's jaw clenched. "That's bullshit."

"It's not," I whispered. My chest ached as I tried to breathe. "She took it all, our powers, everything, and.." My voice faltered. I couldn't bring myself to say it.