| RED'S POV|

Inside her mind

Everywhere was enveloped in an eerie silence, a stark contrast to the excruciating pain that had consumed me when the creature feasted on my blood. In this moment of stillness, I found solace. The absence of noise, the absence of Gwen, and the absence of the relentless pursuit by those who sought to end my life-it was a rare moment of respite. The desire to surrender to the tranquility and indulge in blissful slumber tugged at my weary mind. Yet, amidst the calm, one name echoed relentlessly within me.

Nicholas.

He was out there, locked in a fierce battle against the very same creature that had tormented me. And here I was, confined to this place of serenity, detached from the struggle. It felt wrong. I longed to be by his side, to lend him my support, but I felt utterly powerless. I couldn't even control my own abilities, save for the moments they surged forth uncontrollably in response to imminent danger or a sudden surge of emotion. But now, in this tranquil atmosphere, nothing stirred within me. My body melded with the serene surroundings, my life force slowly draining away.

I had to wake up.

With painstaking effort, I forced my eyelids open, gradually bringing the world into focus. To my surprise, I found myself standing amidst an expanse of nothingness. I glanced down at my form, realizing that here, in this subconscious state, I was unencumbered and unscathed. Perhaps that was why the shards of glass that had pierced me left no trace of their presence. Tentatively, I began to move, searching for any sign of existence in this void. But all I encountered was darkness-a vast, impenetrable void that swallowed everything in its wake. Whispers, faint and haunting, called out my name, tinged with a hint of familiarity. It was different from the malicious voices of the past, which had harbored nothing but a thirst for my demise. Instead, there was a strange allure to these whispers, evoking a peculiar mix of emotions within me. Fear, although present, failed to consume me as it once had. I had grown accustomed to the torments that plagued this realm.

As I pressed on, determined to uncover the source of these whispers, I caught sight of a weathered, brown door materializing out of the darkness. It stood there, unassuming yet intriguing. Curiosity piqued, I approached it cautiously, my fingers grazing the worn knob. Uncertainty gnawed at me, questioning the wisdom of my decision. But the darkness that surrounded me was suffocating, and I harbored an intense aversion to its oppressive grip.

In a trance-like state, I gingerly turned the doorknob, allowing the door to swing open with a barely audible creak. As the door yielded to my touch, a blinding radiance burst forth from within, searing my vision. Overwhelmed by the brilliance, I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut, shielding them from the intensity of the light. After a moment, I summoned the courage to open my eyes once more, and a breathtaking sight greeted me.

I stood upon a seemingly endless expanse of water, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly luminescence. It was impossible to discern whether this vast body of water was the mighty ocean or some ethereal manifestation of the subconscious realm. Strangely, I felt no sensation of drowning or the familiar touch of moisture upon my skin. It was as though the laws of nature had been suspended in this enigmatic place.

The surroundings were shrouded in a gentle mist, veiling the world in an ethereal haze. Though my vision was obscured, I could discern faint shapes and shadows dancing in the distance. With cautious anticipation, I dipped my toes into the water, expecting to feel the cool embrace of liquid. Instead, only ripples cascaded outward from the point of contact, the water parting effortlessly beneath my weightless step.

"This is crazy," I murmured, my voice swallowed by the vast expanse. The sound of my own words reverberated through the air, echoing with an intensity that startled me. It was as if the very fabric of this realm absorbed and amplified the vibrations of sound, distorting them into a haunting chorus. Determined to make sense of my surroundings, I forged ahead, my feet gliding across the aqueous surface. I sought an anchor amidst the nebulousness, a path to guide me through this realm of mystique, but every step proved as elusive as the last.

Then, in the distance, a curious sight caught my attention-a solitary book, its pages fluttering gently in the ethereal breeze. It floated, suspended in mid-air, defying the laws of gravity. Whispers, familiar and insistent, emanated from its direction, luring me closer. The urgency in their tone grew, as if the origins of this enigmatic realm were bound within the pages of that book. My pace quickened, and with each stride, the sound of water splashing accompanied the rhythm of my steps. Yet, paradoxically, I remained untouched by the aqueous element, defying logic and reason in this surreal realm where sensations clashed with reality.

I cautiously approached the ancient tome, the allure of its whispers growing louder and more enticing with each step. It exuded an aura of antiquity, its weathered exterior bearing the marks of countless years. Dominating its front was a massive keyhole, a gateway to untold secrets. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of key would be needed to unlock its mysteries. My hand trembled as I reached out, my fingertips almost making contact, But before I could touch it, a force of unimaginable power struck me with such ferocity that I was sent hurtling backward, tumbling unceremoniously to the place where my journey had begun.

"What just happened?" I murmured, my voice barely a whisper in the vastness of this enigmatic realm. Confusion gripped my being as I lay upon the ground, the resounding echoes of splashing water echoing through the air, though I remained untouched by its watery embrace.

A voice, familiar yet tinged with an underlying menace, pierced the air, causing me to bolt upright in panic. "You can't touch something you're not ready for, Red," it spoke, its tone filled with a chilling certainty.

"Who's there?" I demanded, swallowing my fear and mustering what little courage I had left. They couldn't harm me in my own mind.

"You know precisely who I am, Red," the voice responded, drawing nearer with each passing moment. I warily scanned my surroundings, my gaze met only by the endless expanse of water that enveloped me.

"Show yourself! I want to see your face," I commanded, my impatience and frustration seeping into my words. I was tired of the enigma, desperate to return to reality.

"As you wish," the voice yielded, and before my eyes, a figure materialized from the depths of my subconscious. I stood, transfixed and astounded by the sight that unfolded before me. It was me, an exact replica of myself-my features mirrored in her hair, her eyes, and her form.

"You... You are me?" I stammered, my confusion reaching its peak. I needed answers, and I needed them now.

"Is that a question or an affirmation, Red?" she retorted, gazing at me with a piercing intensity, my own emerald eyes staring back at me. Her aura exuded a sense of power and courage that I knew to be absent within myself.

"You cannot be me. I am not... I am not..." I struggled to find the words, my voice trailing off into uncertainty.

"Not what? Not strong?" She interjected, her tone laced with a trace of anger. "I am well aware, Red. You are the reason I am trapped within this confounding realm," she explained, her words resonating with a bitter truth.

"How? I don't understand. How could I have imprisoned myself here when all I want is to go back and fight?" I pleaded, desperately searching for clarity amidst the chaos.

"Fight? You?" she scoffed, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "How can you hope to battle that darkness out there, when you haven't even tapped into your own potential as a witch?" Her words stung, their harshness digging deep into my soul.

"That..." she gestured toward the book behind her, her eyes never leaving mine, "is where you have imprisoned your own powers. It is your own doing that has kept me confined here, allowing me to intervene only when absolutely necessary. Who do you think woke you when Uncle J sought to take you away to other realm? Who do you think screamed in your defense when those ominous crows descended upon you? And now, as we speak, beloved Nicholas teeters on the precipice of death, all because you refuse to acknowledge and embrace your true nature as a witch-a powerful one, at that." She hurled her revelations at me, exposing my hidden doubts and insecurities, leaving me breathless and burdened by the weight of my own self-imposed limitations.

" I'm sorry but it's hard for me too," I said, my voice trembling as I tried to reason with my consciousness.

"What's hard? Not learning that you can bring forth a power that could wipe out the supernatural creatures of this world? Do you have any idea what that monster could do if they succeed in killing you? Time is running out, Red. You need to choose now," she announced, and suddenly the surroundings began to shake violently. The brightness flickered, alternating between darkness and light like a malfunctioning switch.

"Stop!! Stop doing this!!" I shouted at her, or should I say, myself. I could see the water dividing, threatening to consume me, but I managed to run to a safer side.

"I'm not the one doing this. Your life span is running out, and your blood will soon be offered to the dark lord. Red, you have to accept me, accept us," she pleaded, her voice filled with desperation as she gently reached out her hand, urging me to take it.

I had to make a choice. I couldn't keep running away.

I stared into her eyes and slowly reached out, grasping her hand as she held it gently. Together, we walked towards the book. Suddenly, everything around us plunged into darkness, and the only source of light was the glowing book. She was still beside me, but I could see her fading slowly.

"What's happening to you?" I panicked, unsure of what to do. She flickered as if her body was uncertain whether to stay or disappear.

"Your life force is dying, Red, and so am I. I need you to finish this on your own, but don't worry. I will be here in your mind," she whispered, and I felt tears welling up, but I couldn't afford to show weakness at this moment.

"Wait, does that mean I've been talking to you all this while?" I asked, a mix of surprise and curiosity surfacing within me. I had always assumed it was a male voice.

"No, you haven't. Only a mate does that. And right now, he's not ready. The past clings to him too tightly, and fear is driving him away from us, sadly," she explained, adding another layer of confusion to my already muddled thoughts.

"Mate? I don't remember..." I trailed off, the word triggering a faint memory. My parents had mentioned it in a dream, but the details remained elusive, as if my memories were locked away.

"Red, remember when Amelia wanted to discuss your memories during your first practice in the forest?" she prompted, and I nodded slowly, my confusion deepening at the potential connection.

"The only solution is you. You have to remember on your own. That's how the spell works," she clarified.

"But-"

"I'm sorry, but time is running out," she interrupted, her body suddenly dissolving into thin air. "Overcome this challenge, unlock your memories, and rely on your friends more. Trust me, they are needed on the path you're about to take. Don't you ever forget that," she said, leaving behind a warm smile before vanishing as if she had never existed.

The book glowed even brighter and began to shake. My hands trembled as I reached out to touch it, but then I hesitated. Fear coursed through me, threatening to paralyze my next move. But I couldn't let that fear control me any longer.

I needed to embrace this. There was no turning back now.

With a deep breath, I summoned all my courage and closed my eyes, my fingertips trembling as they made contact with the ancient book. As soon as my skin brushed against its weathered surface, a surge of strange whispers erupted from within its pages, filling the air around me. The hushed voices grew louder, intertwining with the very essence of my being.

A gasp escaped my lips as an overwhelming surge of energy coursed through my veins, electrifying every fiber of my being. It was as if a dormant power had awakened within me, surging forth with an intensity I had never known. The weight of the secrets, spells, and incantations contained within the book pressed against my consciousness, demanding to be acknowledged.

Every language that needed to be spoken, every word that held ancient wisdom, was now within my grasp. I could feel the weight of centuries upon centuries of knowledge flowing through me, their essence seeping into my very soul. It was an exhilarating, almost intoxicating sensation, as if I had become a vessel for the accumulated wisdom of generations.

My body seemed to catch fire, engulfed in a swirling blaze of red and orange hues. The heat radiated from my hands, dancing with an otherworldly intensity. Yet, to my surprise, the flames did not consume me. I marveled at the sight, witnessing the fiery heat flickering across my skin without leaving a single trace of burn or discomfort. It was as if the flames were a reflection of the newfound power coursing through me, a visual representation of the energy that now surged within.

In that moment, I felt truly alive. The world around me blurred as the intensity of the moment consumed me. Time seemed to stand still, and all that mattered was the power coursing through my veins, the fiery aura that enveloped me.

I had unlocked myself.

"Ξυπνά, Red," I whispered, speaking in a language unknown to me. The energy within me intensified, and the flames of power roared to life.

It was time for the real fun to begin, Gwen.

~~~~

Translation:" Ξυπνά" means "Awaken"

Finally her powers are fully activated 🥰 let's see how she goes against Gwen in the next chapter.

To be continued...

| Hope you enjoyed this Chapter|