The Raven's Chronicles. Rage of the Wraith

Chapter 36. The Battle of Minds

'No!' he tried to shriek, but no sound escaped his mouth. The invisible force pulled his hand down to his belt, then clenched his fist on the knife's handle.

He was cold and stiff. Melissa's consciousness pressed on his mind too hard to resist. His heart pounded and pumped the frozen blood through his veins. It spread from his chest to his limbs like a poison.

The magical circle burnt just behind him, the Ackers' children standing in it, casting a greenish glow on the walls.

A gleam rose around the bend. Ravin was the first to emerge from the darkness. He carried a torch and the light cast deep shadows on his face. The Lord and the Captain followed him closely.

"Jules!?" the hunter frowned at his apprentice. "What are you doing here!?"

The boy's hand pulled the knife out of its sheath and lifted it to be seen. The three men exchanged quick, confused glances. The Lord's eyes were fixed on his son. He extended his arms toward the little boy and stepped forward, but Ravin caught his elbow to stop him.

Jules' lips twisted in a mocking, cruel smile - the expression he'd never assumed before. His own face appeared strange to him as if it was only a mask.

"I told you to stay away from me," he said, but although his lips moved, it wasn't his voice that came out from between them, "You haven't listened. Now you'll pay for it."

"Melissa," Ravin clenched his fists. His knuckles cracked, and he slowly shook his head, "Give up. You're trapped. You cannot win."

The woman in Jules' body burst into laughter. The sound was sharp, unpleasant. It was something beast-like about it when it echoed between the tunnel's walls. But under the bravado, the boy sensed a hint of panic she tried to hide from his mind. And then he understood.

She was trapped, and she knew it. But not inside the cave, but inside his body. Her spirit was weakened and her soul partially destroyed after she had come back to her dead body. She couldn't exist on her own. She was like a parasite, she needed a carrier from whose magic she could derive. And his mind was the weakest around.

He felt a twinge of her irritation when she understood he knew the truth.

"It won't help you," she spoke in his head, "I barely exist, but you're still too weak to resist me. I'll get stronger, and you'll do whenever I want."

At first, he didn't understand what she meant, but then he realized the coldness spreading through his body wasn't caused only by her presence. She was feeding on him, on his magic and strength. The stronger she got, the weaker it would leave him.

"This is a game without winners," she spoke aloud, while he tried desperately to prevent the words coming out of his mouth. His lips and tongue didn't belong to him anymore. "It's only your choice who will remain alive when the sun rises today, hunter. Break the circle and I'll spare your pupil."

Ravin eyes burned like two lumps of coal. His face was a mask of cold rage. Rage mingled with helplessness - Jules realized. A wave of pure terror washed over him, and Melissa laughed inside his mind.

"For all gods' mercy, do something!" the Lord's voice shook and his eyes never left the child in Jules' arms, "Make him let go of Michael!"

"I can't," Ravin hissed through his teeth, "You've freed the ghost. She has possessed him."

"So kill him!" Lord Kedmon gave him a murderous glare. He turned to Captain Rogre. "You kill the boy! That's an order!"

"My Lord..." The Captain clenched his fist on his sword, but he didn't raise it.