Page 52 of Shapeshifter's Vengeance

“Don’t lie to me,” I hiss. “I saw the body. I know you’re the only one who can perform such magic. You were there when the dagger was created.”

She clenches her fists, her body tensing. “You don’t know anything.”

“Enough with the games,” I say, my voice rising. “Tell me where she is, or so help me, I’ll—”

Before I can finish, Keyanna lunges at me. We collide, and the force of her attack sends us crashing into the table. Herbs scatter across the floor as we grapple, exchanging blows. She’s strong, stronger than I remember.

We fight fiercely, years of anger and betrayal fueling our every move. Finally, she manages to knock me to the ground. I struggle to get up, but she’s faster. She grabs a cursed dagger from the table and plunges it into my side. Pain explodes through my body, and I collapse, unable to move.

Keyanna picks me up effortlessly and ties me to a chair, leaving the dagger in place. I can feel its dark magic sapping my strength, rendering me helpless. She steps back, breathing heavily, and looks at me with a mixture of pity and disdain.

“If you really mean business, then kill me,” I say through gritted teeth, the pain nearly unbearable.

She chuckles, a bitter sound. “Oh, Karla. You always were so dramatic.”

She turns back to her herbs, tending to them as if nothing happened. The casualness of her actions infuriates me, butthere’s nothing I can do. I’m trapped, helpless, and in so much pain.

“You’re a coward,” I spit out. “Always hiding behind your magic. Always running away.”

Keyanna doesn’t respond. She continues working, her silence infuriating. I can feel my consciousness slipping as the darkness creeps in.I have to stay awake. I have to find a way out of this.

“Why, Keyanna?” I ask, my voice weak. “Why are you helping her?”

She pauses, glancing over her shoulder at me. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me,” I say, struggling to open my eyes.

She sighs, turning to face me. “It’s not about helping Cassandra. It’s about revenge. Against the coven, against you, against everyone who betrayed me.”

“You betrayed us first,” I retort. “You chose dark magic. You chose to walk away.”

“And you chose to let them cast me out,” she counters, her voice filled with bitterness. “You chose to forget me.”

“I never forgot you,” I say, the pain in my voice evident. “I’ve always regretted what happened. But you made your choice, and I had to live with it.”

She turns away again, her shoulders tense. “It’s too late for regrets, Karla. The past is done. This is about the future.”

“And what future do you see?” I ask, desperate to keep her talking. “One where you’re consumed by darkness? One where you’re alone?”

She doesn’t answer, and the silence stretches between us, heavy and suffocating. I can feel the life draining from me, the cursed dagger doing its work. If I don’t do something soon, it will be too late.

“Keyanna,” I say, my voice barely more than a whisper. “Please. Don’t do this. Don’t let the darkness take you.”

She glances at me, her expression unreadable. For a moment, I see a flicker of something in her eyes—regret, perhaps, or sorrow. But then it’s gone, replaced by cold determination.

“Goodbye, Karla,” she says, returning to her herbs.

As she works, I feel myself slipping away, the pain and darkness overwhelming me. My last thought is of the bond we once shared, the love that turned to hate. And I wonder, in my final moments, if there is any way back from this abyss.

When I open my eyes again, the world is a haze of pain and shadows. I try to move, but the cursed dagger lodged in my side anchors me in place. My vision clears, and I see Keyanna standing before me, her expression a mix of contempt and amusement.

"You’re a fool, Karla," she says, her voice dripping with scorn. "How did you ever become the leader of the coven when you’re always so foolish?"

Confusion and agony twist through me. "Keyanna...what are you talking about?"

She laughs, a sound devoid of humor. "You really don’t get it, do you?"

As I struggle to process her words, a horrible transformation begins. Keyanna’s form shimmers and shifts, and within moments, I’m staring at Cassandra. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. I’ve walked straight into the enemy’s trap.

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