41. Bram
41
brAM
The shadows around Thornfield sing with new voices now. Whispers that would have concerned me a month ago, but now feel as natural as breathing. I stand at the edge of the forest, letting my enhanced senses spread outward. The darkness isn’t just an absence of light anymore; it’s a living thing, a fundamental force that responds to my will like an eager pet.
I hold out my hand, watching as shadows coalesce into solid form. First a sphere, then a blade, then something more complex. A three-dimensional map of the academy grounds forms in my palm, every building and tree rendered in perfect detail by the interplay of light and dark. The wild magick that once belonged to Morrigan has evolved into something far more primal. It doesn’t just shape reality; it reveals the spaces between realities.
“Show me,” I whisper, and the shadows respond instantly. They spread out like ink in water, highlighting every living being on campus in shades of grey and black. I can see their life forces, their connections to each other, and the way they interact with the fabric of reality itself. In one corner, Tate practises with his ancestral power, each burst of energy leaving ripples in the darkness. Near the main building, Torin’s vampire-mage signature burns like a cold star.
“Impressive,” Morrigan’s voice drifts from the darkness. “You’ve mastered more in days than most would in centuries.”
She materialises like smoke condensing into her human form. Her presence is familiar and strange. Less solid, more ethereal. The power that once made her a goddess has transformed, just as I have.
“I thought you were bound to MistHallow’s grounds now,” I say, letting the shadow map dissolve back into darkness. “I felt it.”
She laughs and shrugs. “You called to me. I’m here. Show me what else you’ve learned.”
I flex my fingers, feeling the shadows respond. This time, I reach deeper, tapping into the essence of darkness itself. The shadows around us thicken, becoming almost solid. Then I step into them—not just moving through them like before—but becoming one with them.
My consciousness expands, spreading through every shadow on campus. I can see everything, feel everything. Every dark corner, every unlit space, becomes an extension of my awareness. It’s intoxicating and terrifying at the same time.
“Very good,” Morrigan murmurs. “But can you maintain control while divided?”
I accept her challenge. While keeping my shadow-sense extended, I begin manipulating the darkness around us. Shapes emerge as wolves made of living shadow, birds that take flight on wings of pure darkness. Each creation moves independently, yet remains connected to my will.
“You knew this would happen,” I say, letting my consciousness snap back to my physical form while maintaining the shadow constructs. “You knew the power would change me.”
“Goddess of fate as well. Did you forget?” She reaches out to touch one of the shadow wolves. It nuzzles her hand before dissolving. “The power was never truly mine to begin with. It isn’t truly yours. You will pass it on one day. That is the circle now.”
I nod, because that makes complete sense to me. I create a sphere of pure darkness between us, watching as it pulses with possibilities. “It’s more than wild magick now. It’s something else entirely.”
She nods in agreement. “You’re evolving into a shadow god, for lack of a better term. A being with the ability to control not just darkness, but also the gaps between different dimensions.”
To demonstrate her point, I reach into those spaces now. The air ripples as I tear a small hole in reality, creating a window that shows us MistHallow’s grounds. Through it, I can see students moving between classes, their forms slightly distorted by the barrier between worlds.
“The old ways are dying,” Morrigan continues, watching as I seal the portal. “The ancient powers are seeking new forms, new purposes. What you carry now is the essence of shadow itself. The space between light and dark, life and death.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this was possible?”
Her smile is both sad and knowing. “Would you have believed me? Would you have accepted it if I had simply handed over the power? No. You needed to claim it yourself, to prove worthy of it.”
A commotion from the main building draws my attention. Through my shadow-sense, I feel Ivy’s presence approaching with Torin. They’re looking for me.
“They’re worried about you,” Morrigan observes. “They can feel the changes in your power.”
“They can feel everything now,” I agree. “We’re all connected in ways I don’t fully understand yet.”
“That’s as it should be.”
I absorb this, feeling the rightness of it settle in my bones. “You’re not angry anymore. About losing the power.”
“How can I be angry about fulfilling my purpose?” She shakes her head. “I know now I was meant to guide this power to you, to help forge something new. The fact that I get to continue teaching at MistHallow, to help shape the next generation of supernatural beings... that’s more than I deserve after my actions.”
“Oh?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.
She giggles and presses her finger to her lips. “It’s a secret, my son. I’ll be the guardian of those sacred grounds, teaching those who come seeking ancient wisdom. It’s a fitting role for a former goddess, don’t you think?”
The shadows around us dance, responding to the truth in her words. This feels right. Complete.
“That makes sense. A reward for those who seek what you can offer.”
“See, you do get it.”
“And what exactly am I supposed to do with all this power?” I ask, creating complex patterns in the darkness almost absently.
“You’ll figure that out as you go. But I suspect it has something to do with maintaining balance in whatever new world order Ivy’s creating.” She pauses, studying me intently. “The ability to move through shadows, to exist in the spaces between realities - these aren’t just parlour tricks. They’re tools for keeping the balance between worlds.”
“That’s why the power chose me. Not just because of what I am, but because of where I need to be. What I need to do.”
“Exactly.” Her form starts to fade. “At MistHallow, you will learn to control what you’ve become. Help Ivy reshape the supernatural world. And when you’re ready, find me. There’s still much I can teach you about the ancient ways, even if I’m no longer their keeper.”
“Thank you,” I say softly, surprising us both.
She smiles, a genuine expression that transforms her face. “Thank you, Bram Sinclair, for showing me that sometimes, letting go of power is the most powerful thing you can do.”
As she fades completely, I feel the last pieces click into place. The shadow essence settles deeper into my being, no longer fighting or changing but simply existing as part of me.
“Bram?” Ivy calls out. “Everything okay?”
I turn to face her, letting them see what I’ve become. Shadows swirl around me like a living cloak, responding to my every thought and emotion. “Yeah,” I say, smiling. “Everything’s perfect.”
“Show off,” Torin mutters, but he’s grinning.
Ivy takes my hand, her power harmonising perfectly with mine. We’re all becoming something new, something necessary for the world Ivy’s creating. A world where ancient powers find new purposes, new vessels, new ways to maintain the balance.