Shadow Rider (Vampire Academy Fanfic)

Chapter 55 - Thanatia

I expected to pass out, but in reality, something far more terrifying had happened. I lay completely immobilised - I couldn't move at all. I couldn't see anything. I couldn't hear, smell, or feel anything either. I had completely lost my senses. I would have felt trapped, if it weren't for the fact that my consciousness somehow still was here - it was simply bound to the ghosts. Through them I traveled from Strigoi to Strigoi, seeking, feeling the full, undefined extent of their despair and misery. These restless spirits, stuck in our world, imprisoned in this shadow of life, watching wretchedly as their murderers continue to slaughter the innocent.

And here I was, strung along with the ghosts. To them, I was not much different than a Strigoi. Evil magic was what kept the Strigoi on the Earth - good magic was what kept me here. And the price was heavy to pay. Now I was practically no different than a ghost myself.

Waves of their despair and wrath intermingled and raced through my soul. It was as if I could feel each and every one of them - I was a part of their pain. The cost of my existence was to be their medium, their slave, labouring to liberate them from the shackles that held them here. And with every Strigoi death, more and more of them left, sated with their vengeance, content at delivering their justice. And I realised, more than ever before, that I could only ever live on through killing. I could only lead a sane life if I kept being their slave.

Master the darkness, or it masters you. What would it be?

I kept seeking; seeking the next victim. With every Strigoi death, one ghost was liberated. I felt as trapped as the ghosts were. There was no path back to life, no path back to my body. Maybe if I killed enough of them, I would finally wake up. So I kept on seeking. Seeking...

That's when I saw them.

Andrey and his pup albino.

They were retreating.

And no part of me, none at all, could survive allowing that to happen. To let those scum keep roaming this earth. I tried to possess the albino with the ghosts, but predictably it didn't work. He was far too strong to be manipulated. Doubtlessly it was centuries upon centuries of consuming spirit blood. I could see it all now. I understood everything. The spirit users were so near extinction because they had been actively preyed upon by the Strigoi. Death constantly sought them, even through themselves.

But I would not allow another soul to suffer at the hands of the undead. Never again.

I knew what to do.

I snapped back into my body with a jolt of tumultuous pain and weariness. Dizziness nearly overwhelmed me, but I blinked harshly to put the world into focus. Shakily I got to my feet. So focused was I on my task that I completely ignored Ash and Casimir, along with everybody else. I shoved them aside and tore away from what remained of the fight in pursuit of the fleeing culprits.

As if in chorus, I heard both Casimir's and Ash's voices join to yell my name. But I didn't care. I wasn't just doing this for them. I was doing this for all of us. For myself.

Eventually, I caught up to them, launching myself at the albino, not bothering with defensive tactics. I knew I couldn't survive taking on both of them.

Apparently, Casimir and Ash had drawn that same conclusion, because soon they were by my side. But Casimir's appearance was a grave mistake - crazed by his spirit blood, the albino broke away from me and hastened towards Casimir, who only had time to widen his eyes in alarm before the albino was upon him.

But leaving my back completely defenseless was an equally gigantic mistake. I heard a gun click behind me, and then the bang of a shot undoubtedly aimed at my back. But it never came. Instead, the sounds of a crumpling body reached my petrified form. I spun around.