Page 11 of Cursed Evermore
Anythingto stop me from falling deeper. But there was nothing. No escape. No way out.
Memories crashed over me like black waves. Of how badly the spell had gone. And what I'd done.
I'd summoned a wraith.
The thought of its phantom talons winding around me and that icy touch fracturing my mind, sent terror shooting through my core.
The darkness shifted, and suddenly it was there.
The wraith’s eyes were oblivion. Nothing but swirling voids. A gaping mouth stretched wide like a bottomless chasm, then it spoke as it had before.
"Little thief."Smoky talons reached for me, threading through my body."You're coming with me now."The voice pierced the darkness, then pierced through me.
"Elariya! Wake up!"Another voice called. A voice I recognized."Elariya! Wake up! Come on."Emabelle. ThatwasEmabelle. My cousin.
The wraith suddenly slammed into me, then that haunting mouth opened wider and sucked me in.
I screamed from the depths of my core, splintering the darkness, then bolted upright, straight into hands that seized my shoulders so hard fingernails dug into my skin. Air rushed into my lungs as if I'd been drowning, and I looked around wildly.
My bedroom swam into focus, solid and real, with its cream walls, shelves lined with books, and the tapestry Mother made hanging by the window. The faint scent of lavender from my bedsheets anchored me to reality.
Cold sweat clung to my skin, my limbs trembling like withering autumn leaves before the first killing frost. Then I saw Emabelle's terrified face. Her porcelain skin had paled to the color of fresh snow, contrasting with the long waves of raven hair framing her oval face.
But she was truly here. Sitting in front of me. Holding me with warmhumanhands, a stark contrast to the wraith's icy grasp.
And I was home. Not in the forest. Not in the darkness. Not being devoured by the wraith.
I’d had a dreadful nightmare. But I knew not all of what I saw was inside my head. I still performed the spell. And Istillsummoned the wraith.
Gods, what happened to it?
What happened tome?
“Elariya, are you okay?” Emabelle searched my eyes, her brows pinched with worry.
“I…” I was breathing so hard I couldn’t speak. It took me a moment to think of the words to say. “How am I home?”
Her features tightened. “You did the spell, didn’t you?”
A lump swelled in my throat. Gods, she knew. She was looking at me as if she already knew the answer to her question but just wanted me to confirm it. I didn’t think I could lie to her, even if I wanted to. “I had to try.”
“Oh gods, Elariya. That was a reckless and dangerous thing to do. Grandmother said?—”
“I know what she said, but I had to try. I thought I could find my father and break the curse.”
“And did you?” she snapped back. “Did the spell work?”
“No. I failed.” A rough sigh fell from my lips. “How did I get back here?”
Emabelle stared at me for a few moments before answering. “You portaled into the dining hall.”
The air cut from my lungs. “What? What do you mean?”
“You portaled.”
“I…I can’t portal.”
“Well, you did. I saw it for myself. That night, I was in the dining hall with Grandmother when a big, black hole appeared in the middle of the room. You came out of it,unconscious. You scared us half to death.”
