Page 86 of Crowned

“You don’t understand anything. You’ve twisted Summer into something she wasn’t meant to be. You’ve broken her to get to me, and now you think I’ll just walk into your hands without a fight?”

Summer’s father steps forward, his voice low, cold. “We did what was necessary. Summer couldn’t be trusted. You, on the other hand...” He pauses, his eyes narrowing with something darker now. “You will see reason. And when you do, you’ll understand.”

I step even closer, not giving an inch. “Reason? You’re talking about manipulation, about breaking people for your own gain. Your daughter is nothing but a tool to you, isn’t she? You used her to get to me. And now you expect me to just roll over and let you destroy everything I’ve fought for.”

Her mother’s expression hardens, no hint of remorse, just a cold calculation in her eyes. “Don’t mistake our actions for weakness. We’ve done what’s needed for the survival of this world. And you—” She gestures toward me, her eyes cold as ice. “You will submit. For your own good.”

I can feel the anger bubbling up, thick and hot, but I choke it down for just a moment longer, holding their gaze. “I’m not your pawn. And you’re going to regret what you did to Summer. She’s stronger than you think. And she’s not the only one who’s been manipulated here.”

I take a deep breath, standing taller, the power inside me rising with the words I can no longer hold back. “I’m walking into your trap, yes. But not because I’m afraid. Not because I’m weak. But because if I don’t, there’s nothing left to save.”

The air around me is thick with the crackle of dark magic, pulsing and twisting in every direction. Summer’s parents stand before me like the embodiment of every shadow, their power radiating from them in waves – cold, malevolent, suffocating. I can feel it in my very bones, their magic trying to tear me apart.

“You think you can stop us?” Summer’s mother sneers, her voice like nails scraping against stone. “You are nothing but a flicker in the dark. You have no idea what you’re up against.”

I stand my ground, feeling the wind begin to stir, the first whispers of my magic responding. I’m not afraid. Not anymore. I’ve faced worse, and Iwilldefeat them.

I call upon the power within me – the divine energy that courses through my veins, the ancient magic that binds me to Aerwyna, to Yemaya. The earth beneath my feet hums with life as I reach for it, for the energy that connects everything. But then – Summer’s father raises his hand, and the ground shatters with a deafening crack. Dark magic shoots toward me like a blackened spear.

I barely manage to throw up my hands in defense, but the blast slams into me, knocking me back, my body crumpling to the ground. Pain floods through my chest, searing, the darkness wrapping around me like chains.

“You’re weak,” Summer’s mother spits, stepping forward, her presence overwhelming. “You can’t even begin to fathom the power we command.”

I struggle to rise, my limbs heavy, my vision blurring. They are strong – too strong. But I’m not going to give up. Not now.

In the haze of the pain, I feel it – something deeper than just the earth beneath me. A whisper, soft and powerful, like a song sung on the wind.

Malia...

The voice – Yemaya’s voice – calls to me from the depths of my soul. I close my eyes, feeling the pull of her presence, warm and unwavering.

“You are not alone, my daughter. You carry more than yourself. You carry the future of this world. The strength is within you, Malia. Always has been.”

The world around me begins to blur, the darkness pressing in on all sides. But in the distance, I see her – Yemaya. She stands like a beacon of light amidst the storm, her presence so overwhelming it nearly knocks the breath from my lungs.

“You are more than this, Malia. You are the daughter of the sea, the heir to the throne of Aerwyna. Your strength lies not just in the magic you command, but in your heart, in the love you hold for those you protect. You are not weak. You are a goddess.”

The words settle deep within me, grounding me. And as I open my eyes, I feel the power surge through me, no longer just a trickle, but aflood. My connection to Yemaya deepens, like the vast oceans crashing through me. I stand, my body glowing with light, my soul alight with purpose.

And then I see them – Summer’s parents. They’re not just shadows anymore; they are an obstacle I have to overcome, a threat to everything I hold dear.

“Iwillstop you,” I say, my voice stronger now, unwavering. “And you will pay for what you’ve done to your daughter.”

In that moment, my power rises, surging outward. The earth trembles, the wind howls in response. It’s not just magic – it’s divinity, it’s Yemaya, it’sme.

I raise my hands, and the ground beneath us cracks open, massive tendrils of energy bursting forth, twisting toward Summer’s parents. The wind roars around me, a storm unleashed. Dark magic meets light, and the two collide in a violent explosion of power.

Summer’s father tries to retaliate, his magic flaring violently. But it’s nothing compared to mine. I channel the power within me, my hands weaving the energy into threads of light. The battle rages between us, dark against light, and I feel it – the push and pull, the fierce struggle – but I won’t back down. I can’t.

The winds whip into a frenzy, the sky darkening with the sheer intensity of our fight. Summer’s mother sneers, her eyes flashing with fury. “You think this is over?” she spits. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”

But even as she speaks, I can feel it – the shift. The darkness is weakening. Their magic is faltering. My magic is too powerful now, too connected to the very essence of Aerwyna itself. My body is vibrating with it, my soul alive with the strength Yemaya has bestowed upon me. Thisismy moment. I am not just fighting for Aerwyna. I am fighting for everyone I love. I’m fighting for my future – and theirs.

The weight of the battle feels lighter now, and for the first time, I feel the tides turning in my favor. My energy swells with a force so pure, so overwhelming, it pushes the dark magic back with each pulse. Their spells flicker and fail, their movements becoming sluggish as my light pierces through the shadows.

I can do this, I think, my resolve strengthening with each breath.I’m not alone.

But as I stand there, feeling the tide shift, a sudden, sharpflashcuts through the air.

---