Curse Broken (Cursed Descent (MistHallow Academy) #3)

23. Matilda

23

MATILDA

The Praxian force flows through our connected circle, showing us exactly where the tears in reality are scattered across the Academy grounds. Each one throbs like a wound in the fabric of our realm, divine energy seeping through where Draven’s spirits ripped it from the Angels.

“There,” I point to the nearest rift, barely visible to the naked eye but blazing like a beacon through our shared power. “We need to seal these tears before anything slips through from wherever they lead to.”

“And what about my spirits?” Draven asks. The enhanced dead still hover anxiously around us. “They’re unstable.”

“One problem at a time,” I say, moving toward the first rift. “But they’re connected. These tears formed because the divine essence doesn’t belong in death. It’s trying to return to its natural state.”

Through our connection, I can feel the Praxian force’s understanding of what needs to be done. It wants to absorb the divine power, just as it did with the Angels, but I need to do it in a controlled way that won’t cause more damage.

“Draven, have your spirits bring the divine essence to each rift as we find them. The Praxian force can absorb it while Vex and Luc help seal the tears behind it.”

“Won’t that just create more holes?” Luc asks.

I shake my head. “Not if we do it right. The Praxian force isn’t ripping it away this time, it’s going to guide it back through the tears, letting it return to where it belongs. Then we can close the rifts properly.”

We gather around the first tear. Up close, I can see the way reality shimmers around it, like looking through cracked glass. Draven’s spirits approach, their stolen divine light wavering.

“Ready?” I ask.

The Praxian force swirls through me as the first spirit draws near. This time, instead of violently absorbing the divine essence, it acts as a conduit. The stolen power flows through me, through the rift, back to wherever it originated. The spirit, freed of its unstable burden, settles back into proper death.

“Now,” I grit out, holding the tear open just long enough for Vex and Luc to act.

Their enhanced powers weave together. Vex’s dark magick creates a framework while Luc’s evolved Hellfire seals it shut. The rift closes with a sound like shattering glass in reverse, reality knitting itself back together.

“One down,” Vex says grimly.

“A lot more to go,” I reply, already moving toward the next tear. “And we need to work fast. These rifts are like beacons to things that shouldn’t be in our realm.”

As if to emphasise my point, an unearthly howl echoes in the distance. We have until sunrise to fix this mess, and we’re not going to waste a second of it. After that, we have a boatload of other problems to deal with, but hopefully, Big B gives us more time to sort those out if this is done.

The second rift glows with a listless light, with divine essence leaking through like golden blood. More of Draven’s spirits gather around it, drawn to the celestial power they shouldn’t possess. I can feel how the stolen divinity strains against death’s hold on them.

“This one’s bigger,” I warn as we position ourselves. “The divine essence is fighting harder to break free.”

Draven winces as his spirits writhe uncomfortably. “They’re in pain. Death and divinity were never meant to mix like this.”

“Then let’s fix it,” Luc says, his enhanced Hellfire already curling around his hands.

I reach out with the Praxian force, creating a controlled channel for the divine power to flow through. It rushes forward eagerly, almost violently, making my teeth rattle with its intensity. The spirits release their burden with visible relief, settling back into their natural state of death as the golden light passes through me.

“Careful,” Vex warns, his dark magick ready. “The tear’s expanding.”

The rift stretches wider as more divine essence pours through it, reality buckling under the strain. I grit my teeth, fighting to maintain control of the flow while keeping the tear from growing larger.

“A little help here,” I manage through clenched teeth.

The guys respond instantly. Vex’s magick circles the rift, containing its edges, while Luc’s Hellfire wraps around my Praxian force, helping to guide the divine essence back where it belongs. Draven’s now-settled spirits hover protectively around us, keeping watch for whatever made that howl earlier.

With one final push, the last of the divine power returns home. Reality snaps back into place as Vex and Luc seal the tear, leaving nothing but empty air where the rift had been.

“That was harder,” Luc says, shaking out his hands where the Hellfire still smoulders darkly.

“And we’ve got at least six more to go,” Vex points out.

I scan the grounds, mapping out the remaining tears. “They’re getting bigger. Whatever’s on the other side is pushing against them, trying to break through.”

Another howl splits the night, closer this time. Something moves in the shadows between the rifts, something that doesn’t belong in our realm .

“We need to move faster,” Draven says, his spirits clustering tighter around us. “Before we have more than just rifts to deal with.”

I nod grimly, already moving toward the next tear.

A shadow flickers between us and our next target, something dark and twisted that makes my skin crawl.

“Don’t let it distract us,” I warn, keeping my focus on the tear ahead. “The faster we close these rifts, the fewer things can slip through.”

This tear is nearly twice the size of the last one, its edges ragged and oozing energy. Draven’s spirits approach cautiously, their stolen divine essence reacting to the rift’s pull.

“I don’t like this,” Draven mutters. “Something feels wrong.”

Feeling it too, I nod. The divine energy feels different here, more volatile. Before I can voice my concerns, one of his spirits drifts too close to the tear. The reaction is immediate and violent.

The rift yanks at the spirit’s stolen power, trying to draw it through. But instead of flowing smoothly like before, the divine essence tears free in chunks, ripping reality wider with each piece.

I throw out my hand, the Praxian force weaving around the spirit like a net. “Vex, contain it! Luc, be ready!”

Vex’s dark magick spreads across the tear’s surface while Luc’s Hellfire circles beneath, ready to seal it. We work together in sync, but this tear fights us every step of the way .

Another howl pierces the night, much closer now. In the corner of my eye, I catch glimpses of shifting shadows, drawing nearer with each passing moment.

“Whatever you’re going to do,” Luc says tensely, “do it fast.”

I grit my teeth and pour more power into the Praxian force. The divine essence responds, but slowly, reluctantly, like trying to pour honey uphill. Each moment we struggle gives those shadows more time to creep closer.

“I can’t hold it much longer,” Vex warns, his magick straining against the tear’s pull.

“Then we do this the hard way,” I decide.

The shadows are almost upon us now. We’re out of time for gentle solutions.

“Now!”

Drawing deep, I let the Praxian force flood through all of us at once. Rainbow light blazes from my skin as Vex’s dark magick and Luc’s Hellfire twist together with my power. Draven guides the spirits swirling around us, creating a barrier between us and the encroaching shadows.

Instead of trying to usher the divine essence back gently, we tear it free all at once. The spirit screams as the celestial power rips away from it. The rift thrashes, trying to spread wider, but Vex’s magick holds firm.

“Push it through!” I shout over the rising wind of power.

The divine essence fights us, but with all our enhanced abilities working together, it can’t resist. Like a cork popping from a bottle, it shoots through the rift. Reality snaps back violently as Luc’s Hellfire seals the tear shut.

The spirit drops like a stone, but Draven catches it with his power. It settles back into proper death, no longer tainted by stolen divinity.

“Three down,” Vex pants.

A growl rumbles behind us. We turn to find a creature of shadow and teeth, its form barely holding together in our realm. Through the tears we haven’t sealed yet, I can see more shapes moving, pressing against the thin barrier between worlds.

“Move!” I shout, already running toward the next rift. The shadow creature lunges, but Draven’s spirits form a wall between us and it, buying us precious seconds.

The fourth tear is twice as large as the last. Divine essence pours from it in golden streams, making the air snap with celestial energy. Three of Draven’s spirits hover near it, their stolen power responding to the rift’s pull.

“This is going to be rough,” Luc warns as we take our positions.

“No choice,” I reply, gathering the Praxian force. “We have to close them all before those things get through.”

“I’m more scared of Big B right now,” Luc remarks.

“Him too,” I grit out.

Behind us, more shadow creatures press against the remaining rifts, their forms distorting reality around them. Draven’s spirit barrier won’t hold them for long.

“On three,” I say, reaching for the spirits’ divine essence. “One...”

A howl cuts through the night, closer than ever.

“Two...”

Vex’s dark magick circles the tear while Luc’s Hellfire ready is to seal.

“Three!”

The power flows through us all at once, but this time, the rift fights back. Divine essence whips around us like golden lightning, trying to tear free of our control. One of Draven’s spirits shrieks as its stolen power rips away, then another, then another.

“Hold it!” I grit out, the Praxian force straining to channel the violent energy back through the tear.

“Something’s wrong,” Vex shouts over the howling wind. “It’s pulling!”

The rift is trying to draw us in. Reality bends around us as celestial power wars with our enhanced abilities. The shadow creatures press closer, drawn by the chaos of power. Draven’s remaining spirits can barely hold them back.

We’re running out of options.

“Together!” I shout, an idea forming. “Stop fighting it separately. Let it pull us but as one!”

Instead of trying to control the rift individually, we let our powers merge completely.

The rift pulls, and we move with it, but on our terms. Like a wave rolling back to sea, we guide the divine essence through the tear. Reality shudders, then snaps back into place as Luc’s Hellfire seals the edges.

We work faster after that, having found our rhythm. Each tear is harder than the last, but we meet them together, letting the Praxian force guide our enhanced abilities into one unified power. The shadow creatures prowl closer, but they can’t match our speed now.

Five rifts sealed.

By the time we reach the final tear, dawn’s first light is touching the horizon. This rift is massive, a gaping wound in reality that beats with angry golden light. The last of Draven’s enhanced spirits cluster around it, their stolen divine essence practically singing with the need to return home.

“One last time,” I say, gathering our remaining strength. “Everything we’ve got.”

We pour all of our power into it. The divine essence fights us every step of the way, but we’re ready for it now. We move as one unit, guiding the celestial power back through the tear while reality tries to tear itself apart around us.

The final rift seals shut with a sound like thunder, rocking the foundations. The shadow creatures fade like morning mist, leaving only the cool pre-dawn air and our exhausted breathing.

“Is that all of them?” Luc asks.

I scan the grounds through our connection but already know the answer. “Yes. Every tear is sealed. Every spirit is back to normal.”

“Thank fuck,” Vex mutters .

Draven’s remaining spirits settle around us, peaceful now that they’re free of divine essence. “They’re all properly dead again,” he confirms. “No more celestial power fighting against their nature.”

I look at my guys, exhausted, drained, but still standing together. Our enhanced powers slowly settle back to their usual levels as the Praxian force calms within me. We did it. We fixed this mess before sunrise.

“Now what?” Luc asks.

“Now,” I say, already dreading it, “we go report to Blackthorn, and hope he gives us more time to fix the real problems around here.”

“Like us?” Luc asks.

“You consider us a problem?” I venture.

“I consider that we are having problems that have yet to be resolved,” he replies just as carefully.

“Now isn’t the time to think about us,” I say slowly. “We need to focus on the bigger picture.”

“But we are the bigger picture,” he argues. “We can’t fix what needs fixing unless we are fixed.”

“We don’t need to be fixed. We had a bump, that’s all.”

“You sure about that?” Vex asks. “You were pretty mad at us.”

“I can be mad at you and still love you,” I point out. “Or did you expect us to break up and never speak to each other again?”

Luc’s eyes narrow as he considers my words. “No, I didn’t expect that or think it. Did you? ”

“Obviously not. Look, why are we even fighting about this? We need to get to Blackthorn.”

“No,” Draven says quietly. “We need to fix this first. Right here, right now.”

“Fine,” I say. “You want to do this now? Let’s do it. I know you all think I’m dangerous. That my power needs to be contained.”

“No,” Vex says. “You know that’s not true.”

I clench my jaw but then let it go. We are wasting time going over something that isn’t even really an issue anymore.

“I’m still me,” I say finally. “The Praxian force is part of me now, but it hasn’t changed who I am. I need you to believe that.”

“We do,” Draven says. “We always did.”

“Then there is nothing left to talk about. Now, can we please go see Blackthorn before he comes looking for us?”

As we walk toward his office, I feel lighter. We still have an uphill struggle with Anu and dealing with the unravelling magick, but we are okay; that’s all that matters right now.