Page 157 of Her Blood Revenge

And I see…

‘Not possible…’ I breathe, unable to look away.

It shimmers and moves, reflecting the light.

As soon as all the empty space in the arch is filled, a power grips my heart, making it hard to breathe.

Still unable to look away, I see a dark shadow move.

It’s a black mirror. A gateway to the spirit world.

One of blood and bones.

It vibrates as Neve completes her words. Then, she turns to face me. A victorious and dark smile stretches across my mother’s lips.

I seal my eyes shut, detaching myself from its power.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Neve speaks the words. She invokes my trigger, claiming my will for her own.

‘Open your eyes and look at the shadows in the mirror, Ashe Nectan!’ she orders. ‘Do not look away. Do not blink!’

My eyes open, pulled by her words.

I stare. The shadow beyond knows I’m looking. They feel me and are pulled to me. Just as Neve was when she lurked in the beyond. When she peered back at me through the glass. Until the day I looked too long and she broke through into this world. Then, she haunted me as a full spirit and possessed me when I was at my weakest.

The blood ripples as the shadow beyond reaches out, brushing their fingers against its surface. It doesn’t part. Not like liquid blood should.

‘Neve…’ I try. ‘Please stop! Bringing back the blood witches will only cause war.’

‘I like war. I love death. Death and blood are power, daughter.’ She smiles darkly, the corner of her lip curled up in sadistic joy.

I continue staring at the blood, compelled to watch it.

‘You will look,’ she says. ‘You will be seen. My goddess may be free. But she has no form to allow her to return to this realm. If only there were a powerful necromancer with the blood of a god who could survive her possession.’ She giggles. ‘Oh wait. That’s what I made you for.’ She throws back her head and screams. ‘Renatus. Hel… be reborn!’

That symbol glows on the shimmering surface of the blood. And when my arm starts to burn, I see that same mark appear on my flesh.

Blood pools inmy eyes as the power inside me reacts to the mirror. It oozes from me, seeking out a connection.

Bloody tears leak down my cheeks. The agony of not being able to blink adds to the rest of my suffering.

I scream as the shadow pushes hard against the mirror. It feels like they are pushing against me! Against my very soul!

And then, a little red fire pixie flies right up to my face and hovers there. Its little wings beat furiously, and it watches me with an odd curiosity.

Below, there’s a flurry of shouting and movement. Then I hear the most wonderful sound.

A roar.

A wolf.

Mywolf.

Archie slams into the unseelie. I can’t look, but I can hear.

Hear the tearing of flesh. The disembowelling of bellies. The breaking of bones.

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