Ruin My Life ↡ Caius Volturi

Chapter Thirteen

It is very easy to say you want something that might be scary when deep down you think it is impossible. Courage comes from actually following through when the opportunity presents itself.
Wendy Owens, Stubborn Love (Stubborn Love, #1)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN©

Leah

As I lay in my bed that night, I found myself once again being drawn into the ancestral realm, the mystical plane of existence that had become a familiar refuge for me.

I could feel the familiar tug, the subtle shift in the energy around me as I began to slip from the physical world and into the ethereal.

It was a sensation I had grown accustomed to, a doorway I had learned to open with increasing ease thanks to the teachings of my imprint Eddie.

Yet, as I felt myself crossing that threshold, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of uncertainty. Something about this particular journey felt different, more charged with anticipation and a sense of the unknown.

I strained to focus, to quiet the chatter of my mind, and open myself fully to the experience. And then, just as I was beginning to wonder if it was even working, I heard a voice - his voice.

"Leah?"

My heart leaped at the sound, and a smile spread across my face as I recognized the familiar cadence, the warmth that radiated from those simple syllables.

"Eddie?" I called out, my voice barely above a whisper, scarcely daring to believe that he was truly there with me.

And there he was, materializing before me with that crooked grin I had come to know and cherish. He moved closer, sitting down on the edge of my bed, his fingers tracing gentle patterns across the soft fabric of my sheets.

"Hello, my Siphon," he murmured, his eyes alight with a mix of affection and something deeper, more profound.

"Hello, my Hellion," I replied, my voice tinged with a hint of wonder.

I had missed this connection, this profound bond that transcended the physical realm.

Being in his presence, even here in the ethereal, filled me with a sense of wholeness, of belonging that I had never quite experienced elsewhere.

"I see you have mastered coming to the ancestral realm, just as I taught you," he observed, his tone approving.

"Of course," I said, a note of pride in my voice. "I couldn't stay away from you."

His expression shifted then, a shadow passing over his features. "Your sister..." he began, his words trailing off.

"She seemed to know who you were," I finished for him, a curious note in my voice.

I had sensed a strange connection between Eddie and my sister Mania, one that I didn't fully understand.

Eddie nodded, his gaze growing distant. "I was here when she first came to the ancestral realm," he revealed. "She has a power, a potential, that I've been watching over."

I felt a surge of hope at his words. "Then she can help me," I said, leaning forward eagerly. "She can help me figure out a way to get you out of here, to bring you back to the physical realm with me."

But the smile that had been playing on Eddie's lips faded, replaced by a look of deep sadness and resignation. "Leah," he said softly, reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair from my face. "Don't waste your energy on me. Focus on learning to be a great Siphon, on harnessing your gifts. I... I'm not meant to leave this place."

I felt my heart sink, the weight of his words settling like a heavy stone in the pit of my stomach. "But why?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of confusion and desperation. "You've been stuck here for years, ever since you failed to overcome your challenges and come to terms with your heritage as a protector and shaman. There has to be a way, Eddie. Mania and I can help you!"

He shook his head, a sad smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "It's not that simple, my love," he murmured. "I've made my peace with my fate, as difficult as that has been. My place is here, in the ancestral realm, guiding and protecting those who walk this path."

I felt the tears welling up in my eyes, a familiar ache blossoming in my chest. "But I need you," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I feel like I'm dealing with Sam all over again, losing someone I love to the demands of this... this destiny."

Eddie reached out, his fingers gently tracing the contours of my face, the warmth of his touch a bittersweet comfort. "Leah, you are so much stronger than you know," he said, his voice low and earnest. "You have the power to shape your destiny, to forge your path. You don't need me to do that."

I opened my mouth to protest, to argue that I did need him, that he was an integral part of who I was. But before I could speak, he pressed a finger to my lips, silencing me.

"Listen to me, my Siphon," he said, his eyes burning with an intensity that left me breathless. "You have a gift, a power that goes beyond anything I could ever teach you. You can harness the very essence of the ancestral realm, channel its energy, and use it to protect those you love. That is your true calling, your destiny."

I shook my head, the tears spilling freely down my cheeks now. "But what about you?" I asked, my voice thick with emotion. "How can I just leave you here, trapped in this... this limbo?"

Eddie's expression softened, and he pulled me into his embrace, holding me close. "I am where I need to be, Leah," he murmured, his breath warm against my hair. "My purpose is to guide and protect, to ensure that the balance of the ancestral realm is maintained. And you, my love, you have a far greater purpose waiting for you in the physical world."

I clung to him, my fingers clutching at the fabric of his shirt as the weight of his words settled over me.

I wanted to argue, to fight against the cruel reality he was laying out before me. But deep down, I knew he was right.

As much as it pained me to admit it, Eddie's place was here, in this ethereal realm, and mine... mine was in the world of the living, where I could use the gifts he had helped me cultivate to make a real difference.

"I don't want to lose you," I whispered, my voice muffled against his chest.

"You won't," he replied, his hand gently stroking my hair. "I will always be with you, Leah. In your heart, in your mind, in the very essence of who you are. I'm a part of you, just as you are a part of me."

I nodded, my tears slowly subsiding as I allowed his words to sink in. I knew he was right, that I needed to let go of the desperate need to keep him tethered to the physical realm.

His purpose, his destiny, lay here, in this ancestral plane. And mine... mine was to honor that, to use the gifts he had given me to make a difference in the world.

With a deep, steadying breath, I pulled back, meeting his gaze with a newfound resolve. "I'll make you proud, Eddie," I said, my voice firm. "I'll become the Siphon you know I can be, and I'll use that power to protect those I love, just as you've always taught me."

Eddie's lips curved into a warm, proud smile, and he leaned in to press a gentle kiss to my forehead. "I know you will, my Siphon," he murmured. "And I'll be watching over you, every step of the way."

And with those words, he began to fade, his form slowly dissolving back into the ethereal mist of the ancestral realm. I watched him go, my heart heavy but my spirit resolute.

I would honor his legacy and his teachings, and I would use the power he had entrusted me with to make a difference in the world, both in the physical realm and in the realms beyond.

As I drifted off to sleep, the scent of him lingering on my sheets, I knew that my journey was just beginning.

With Eddie's guidance, I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, determined to become the Siphon he believed I could be.