|34|
--
Hi my lovelies!?
First of all HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I hope the start to the new year has been amazing for every single one of you lovely people and I hope that with the new year comes a new start filled with lots of love, success and happiness!?
Secondly... What do you think of the new cover? Like it? Hate it? Prefer the other one? Please let me know what you think.?
Thirdly, I really hope you enjoy this chapter. I have had new inspiration for this book and its just titled everything upside down. I hope this chapter makes sense and please comment below what you think.?
Lots of love,?
Rose x
Recap of what happened last chapter:?
Basically the hunters attacked and Zac is really injured and so Eve begins to use her magic to heal him.
The words that I was chanting were from another realm of my conscience. I had no idea what they meant, or even what they were supposed to do. They were words I had never been taught or read about, but they fell from my lips like a familiar lullaby.
And it became clear as my eyes flickered open and a surge of golden energy burst from my body, that this magic was strong, powerful... and dangerous. Very dangerous.
But I had no other choice, I needed to save Zac.
The prospect of losing him was incomprehensible and despite the sense of danger that filled me, urging me to stop, I continued with my chanting, practically screaming the words at the top of my lungs.
There was no other noise in the room as the golden force that left my body wrapped around Zac'. He was deadly pale now, bleeding out over the sheets, his eyes were closed, his lips parted slightly. The sound of his heartbeat was still getting slower and quieter and in my desperation I held out my hands and fisted them tightly, forcing more of the golden energy out of me.
I could feel my own body beginning to shrivel up. It was as if the golden energy was actually my life source and through this chanting I was actually using my own life to save Zacs. This sudden realisation should have frightened me, however it didn't, in fact it only urged me on.
Somewhere within myself I had realised something much more pressing, and much more important.
I, Eve Kronex, had fallen in love with Zachary Stone.
How, when or where this had happened I wasn't sure, but somewhere along this unpredictable journey of soulmates and newly discovered identities I had fallen for this man, and I had fallen badly.
It was a shame that I had only figured it out now, when that same man, the love of life, was bleeding out, unconscious before me.
I couldn't let him go. I wouldn't.
Not when I haven't even had the chance to tell him how I felt.
Suddenly an arm wrapped around me, "LUNA!!" The familiar voice called out, trying their hardest to pull me away from Zac, trying to stop my magic.
Demarcus was desperate, his eyes wide as his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling at me.
"You need to stop!" He shouted but I could hardly hear him over my chanting. "LUNA STOP!" He demanded, but I didn't.
Tendrils of the golden force began to spread out, some making their way in through Zac's parted lips, entering his body.
"LUNA YOU NEED TO STOP!!" Demarcus tried but failed once again to pull me away, his voice sounded like a whisper in my ears, yet when I dared to look at him I could tell he was shouting as loudly as he could.
His eyes were fixed on me in utter despair and I knew he felt he had no other option, when he too raised his hands and expelled magic which thrust my body away, smashing me against the wall.
I groaned in pain and as I tried to get my bearings again and I stopped my chanting. My whole body was in pain from the force in which I had smashed against the wall, but only a second later my eyes traced back to the lifeless body of my mate and I began again to say those ancient magical words.
"LUNA THIS IS DANGEROUS!!" Demarcus approached me with his hands held up. His eyes warned me that if I didn't stop, he would have to force me using his own magic.
"YOU WILL KILL YOURSELF." He shouted, though his warning fell on deaf ears. I was only paying attention to how my golden life force was seeping into Zac's body. A flutter of relief rejoiced in my body when I noticed some colour return to Zac's skin. He looked slightly more like himself, slightly more alive.
"EVE YOU ARE GOING TO KILL HIM!"
As Demarcus' last words of warning registered in my head, my eyes shot over to Demarcus who had his hands outstretched with two clear balls of magic floating above his palms.
He realised he now had my attention, so spoke out as clearly as he could.
"If you don't stop now, not only will you kill yourself, but you will also kill Alpha Stone. His body is not suited to receive the amount of energy you're giving him. He WILL die if you don't stop!"
I looked between my mate and my mentor frantically and decided, now that there was a rosy tint to Zac's face I should probably listen to Demarcus's voice of caution. I pulled my hands away and ended my chanting, believing that the flow of magic would end- but it didn't.
I tried once more, pushing aside Demarcus' anxious voice, but the energy was still leaving me rapidly and I couldn't control it anymore. I tried another chant, hoping that would do the trick, but instead of stopping the golden force it seemed to make it stronger and my legs buckle from underneath me.
I was struggling to breath now as more and more of my life source left my body. My body fitted against the floor, my eyes open and wide in fear and shock, and yet the magic seemed to continue.
Demarcus appeared beside me quickly, stretching his hands over me. His eyes were now shining in pure silver, none of its usual brown shade to be seen. He started to say ancient words and a blue light shone from his hands and surrounded me.
However despite Demarcus's magic the golden energy continued to leave my body and a sudden sense of impending doom surrounded me.
This was it. This was the end.
And then my eyes closed and everything was dark.
★★
Weak and completely drained, is how I would describe myself when I woke up.
I had no idea how long I had been unconscious for, or whether in fact I was even alive. Perhaps this is the after life, I remember thinking as I sat up groaning, feeling like I had been run over by a monster truck around a hundred times.
But then that thought vanished when I realised I was lying in my bed. I looked around feeling completely empty, when I realised that Zac wasn't beside me.
My mind went back to the last memories I had, with Zac bleeding out, my use of unfamiliar magic draining me of my own life, Dermarcus warning me and then finally nothing but darkness.
Where's Zac? Is he alright? Is he alive?
I somehow managed to pull myself out of my bed, before almost fainting again when I caught my reflection in the mirror.
I remember when I was twelve and was still living in the sterile room, Gemma had brought over a movie and we watched it together, with Gemma of course sat outside the glass wall.
It was the day before Halloween and Gemma had thought it fitting to bring a movie called, 'The Nightmare before Christmas."
I still remember how I felt creeped out by the animation, especially the sickly looking rag doll character of 'Sally.'
But right now, looking at my reflection again, I was reminded of that movie and especially of 'Sally.'
My cheeks were sunken, my cheekbones protruding out. My skin was so clear and translucent looking that it almost looked fake. This only made my eyes bug out, giving me an appearance that looked like I was permanently in a state of shock.
I looked like I had just crawled out of my grave, barely alive, if at all.
I quickly turned away from the mirror, disgusted by my reflection and slowly made my way to the door, being careful to hold onto the wall as I felt like my legs would give way any second.
Once I reached the door, I pulled open and stepped out. The corridor was always slightly cooler that the rest of the rooms and normally I wouldn't
have even noticed, but the fact that I was literally a bag of bones made me shiver violently as if I had just walked into the Arctic.
I wrapped my spindly arms around my shaking body and made my way towards the room at the end of the corridor.
I hesitated once I was standing outside, all different dreadful thoughts bombarding my head, but pushing them all side and reassuring myself that Zac was fine I turned the handle and pushed open the door.
The sight in front shocked me again.
If I had thought my reflection was bad, well then the sight of Zac was just plain tragic.
There was nothing about his current appearance that looked the same as before. He was still sickly pale, with his eyes closed and mouth set in a straight line. Even though he had a duvet covering his body I could still make out the very obvious outline of his body and there was denying that he was the same as me- just skin and bones. He looked like a skeleton model in an anatomy class.
I felt my tears drip down my face, my sobs wrecking my body. The only consolation was the sound of his steady heartbeat.
I felt his presence behind me.
"What you did was reckless and dangerous."
I closed my eyes, not bothering to say anything in reply.
"You could have killed yourself and him."
"I was trying to save him." I finally say, looking back at Demarcus, flinching slightly under his furious and cold gaze.
"And if I hadn't recognised the use magic in the house and hadn't got to you in time, what do you think would have happened?"
I look away, feeling like a scolded child.
A moment passed in silence as I continued to watch the steady rise and fall of Zac's chest. Despite how much I wanted to run over to his side and hold his hand in mine, I feared that once again I might lose control of my magic.
"Where did you learn to chant like that?" Demarcus' cold voice brought me back but I refused to look at him.
"I don't know," I say, "It just came to me."
"That's impossible!" he snaps and the anger in his voice makes me twirl around to face him.
His eyes were dark and he raised a finger to point at me accusingly, "There is only one witch that knows how to cast such powerful black magic and no one has seen her for years."
"Black magic?"
Demarcus grits his teeth, "Don't act coy Luna, tell me who taught you the enchantment of Revival."
I shake head frantically, telling him that I had no idea what he was talking about. I told him that the words were in my head and I just opened my mouth and that was all I had done. No one had taught me anything and I had no idea that it was black magic.
He must have recognised that I was being truthful because he sighed, his face suddenly losing its hard and accusing edge.
"Don't act so recklessly again Luna," he warned, "you have no idea the price you have paid for this enchantment."
I gulped, suddenly feeling afraid.
"W-what price?" I stuttered, my arms tightening around myself.
Demarcus looks up from the ground and flicks his eyes between me and Zac who was still peacefully sleeping.
"You have tied your soul to him." Demarcus state finally, his voice cold yet sounding defeated. I however did not understand exactly why he sounded so resigned.
"My soul has always been tied to Zac's," I reply, "that's why we are soulmates."
The witch shakes his head, "Yes while that is partly true, you're wrong. Your souls weren't tied together, they just recognised each other. You were made for each other, there is no denying that, however, there was always a chance for both of you to live without each other. But now, the moment one of you dies, the other will die at the exact same time."
I look at him with a perplexed expression.
He tries to clarify it further, "If Alpha Stone dies now, then you will die at the same time and there will be no way to save either one of you. This is the price you have paid to use black magic."
I stay speechless for a moment, pondering his words and then I say:
"Good, I wouldn't want to live a second longer without him."
Demarcus shakes his head and sighs, turning around to leave, but I quickly stop him. I still had questions I needed to be answered.
"But he isn't going to die... is he?"
Demarcus pauses and casts an anxious glance to my mate.
"No, for now he is safe. His body is still repairing itself so until he is ready he will sleep like this."
I frowned as I follow Demarcus' gaze to my mate and my heart clenched as I wondered how long it would take before he was ready to wake up.
"You should also rest." I turn back to Demarcus, "you have been through a lot, your body is tired."
I agreed with him, my body was tired. I felt like any second now I could just drop to the floor and sleep for a million years.
But that rest would have to wait, I still needed answers.
"Who is the witch?" I ask and despite the recognition flashing through his eyes, Demarcus feigns ignorance.
"Who do you mean?" He asks with a disinterested tone, yet his body stepped closer to the door as if he was trying to stop this line of conversation and run away.
"The witch you said was the only one able to cast the enchantment of Revival."
"No one you should worry about Luna." he ends and reaches for the door.
"Demarcus-" I growl and he stops in his tracks, "tell me."
The man lets out a deep sigh, but he doesn't turn to face me. His body stiffens as he opens his mouth to speak.
"Demelza-" he starts and I remember how the first time I had met Demarcus he had called me by that name.
"Demelza is her name." I can tell that this is a difficult topic for him by the way his voice wavers as he says her name. "She comes from the bloodline of the original witches from the Coven of Lartsa. They were the most powerful witches in history, but the most powerful of them all was Demelza."
I listen carefully and my eyes trail down to Demarcus' clenched fists.
"She was so powerful and undefeated and yet she was crazy," Demarcus finally turns to me and there is a fire in his eyes as he speaks, "she was so
crazy for power that it turnt her evil. She killed every member of the coven believing this crazy idea that by killing them she would get their magic."
He sighs, "It wasn't true of course. All she ended up doing was killing her family and driving herself to the brink of madness."
There was a pain in my chest from his words. I couldn't help but feel for the woman. In all her power crazy desires she had ended up losing everything.
"What happened to her?" I ask with when I realise Demarcus had stopped talking.
He shrugs his shoulders helplessly.
"I have no idea." he says, "the last I heard of her was through rumors by heresayers. They said she had fallen in love with a werewolf and was living happily somewhere."
"So she turned good?" I couldn't help but ask but the response I got from Demarcus was not what I expected.
He snorted as if what I had said was the funniest thing in the world.
"Demelza is the Devil in disguise, Luna. There is nothing in this world that could turn the Devil good. Nothing." He spat as if the thought of Demelza alone was poison.
My mouth parted at the sound of his disgusted tone.
"You called me Demelza when you met me for the first time." I retort, when I see Demarcus head for the door again, "Why?"
The man stops once more, but his hands tighten around the handle.
"Unfortunately for you my dear Luna," he said with despair in his voice, he turns his head slightly to shoot me a final glance before he left, "you have a striking similarity in appearance to the devil herself."
The door slammed shut behind him as he left.
★★
"How did this happen?" My voice was nothing more than a whisper as I look at Jayden. He too looked worn and tired and a lot weaker now compared to the last time I had seen him in the library.
"Luna," he started, though he paused when he couldn't think of anything to say.
"Did you not see that he was wounded?" I ask, my anger was bubbling beneath my skin and I clenched my fingers into a fist.
"Did you not see your Alpha was bleeding to death?" I growled and he lowered his head in shame.
"I have failed you Luna." he replies, "Alpha Stone had commanded us to return to the pack once we were finished. I was a distance away from him and in the dark I didn't suspect anything."
I looked away, knowing well inside that Jayden was telling the truth. Zac always hid the fact that he was in pain or that he was hurt. He hated to show his weakness to others, so it didn't take a genius to figure out that he had probably hidden the extent of his injury.
"Why are the hunters after us?" I ask next. This was the second time the hunter had attacked and for what I needed to know.
Jayden didn't answer at first, then noticing my hard glare, he sighed, "I think it might be because of you."
My eyes widen significantly, "Because of me?" I inquire.
The Beta nods his head slowly, "For a long time now we have suspected there was a traitor within our pack, who has been providing information to the hunters. That's one of the reasons why Alpha Stone was reluctant at first to accept you as his mate- he was worried that the traitor would inform the hunters who would then try to harm you."
I urge him to speak when he stops.
"The first attack was on the night you were introduced to the pack. I believe this means the hunters are now aware that Alpha Stone has a mate and therefore they will try whatever they can in order to harm or kill you."
"Because by killing me they can take down the pack?" I phrased it as a question but I knew I was correct. As Zac's mate I'm the biggest weakness of the pack.
Jayden nods.
"Then they will attack again and soon." I tell him but I know from the determined look in his eyes Jayden already knew this and was preparing.
"We have doubled security around the borders and reinforced the Great Hall as a safe room for the pack just in case of another attack."
I nod this time. For as long as Zac was in his coma, it was my responsibility now to take over, to lead and protect this pack- my pack.
"Have we found out who the traitor is?" I ask but I can tell from his falling face that the answer isn't good.
"No Luna, we are still searching for the bastard." He growls, his eyes flashing dark.
I close my eyes, someone was walking among us, living in our home, pretending to be on our side but at the same time stabbing us in the back.
"Find them," I order, my voice leaving no space for arguments, "and when you do bring them to me."
★★
I slowly trudge back to Zac's room. I had tried to stay away and let him be, hoping that somehow it would quicken his recovery, but I was tired of forcing us to be seperated.
I gently open the door to his room and stand for a while at the entrance just watching him sleep. It was painful and heartbreaking but somewhere inside me I found peace in the fact he was still with me, still alive, just sleeping.
I took a few steps forward and with each step I thought about our relationship, from the beginning when his mere presence scared the life out of me, to when I actually thought about rejecting him, to the present where I couldn't even imagine my life without him.
Carefully pulling back the duvet, I slipped in, reveling in the fact that he was still warm despite being half dead.
I kept a distance at first, my eyes roaming over his sullen but still strangely beautiful features and then snuggled up closer, wrapping my arm around his body. I could feel his heartbeat through his chest and listening to it, I closed my eyes and said four words in my head, hoping foolishly that somehow, somewhere he could hear it.
I love you Zac.?
There you go... I hope this chapter made sense, if not just comment below and I will try and explain it to you.?
Please vote, comment and share my story! I love all your support x