Chapter 7 - Secrets aren't safe when power spirals out of control

Nyra’s POV

Red eyes pierced into mine as I heard Vaela running to catch up from behind. I can't afford to let her see me, but I was too weak to fight with magic.

In my frustration, I screamed at the dark, ugly being that held me hostage, "Let go of me!" 

To my greatest surprise, the beast let go and stepped back. I didn't even have the time to process what had just happened. I turned around and ran as fast as my legs could carry me. 

I didn't stop until I found the door of the room I'd woken in. I slammed the door behind me with a loud bang, panting furiously. 

My heart was pounding furiously in my ears. I wrapped my arms around my trembling body and pressed my spine against the door, trying to process all I had seen, heard, and witnessed. 

I pinched myself one more time to be sure I wasn't dreaming. 

Vaela, Cruella was working with the wraithborn. How? For how long?

The stench of her treachery made me sick. To think that Kade trusts her and even considers her 'family'. My stomach twisted in a knot of loathing and rage. That's why I have always hated wolves. Disloyal creatures. 

Mogra needs to hear this. If Cruella is plotting with the wraithborn to get rid of me, things might get out of hand and escalate into a full-blown war.

She's the only one who can calm the storm brewing inside of me and make sense of this catastrophe, and most importantly, interpret the morbid dreams I have been having.

"Mogra. Are you there?" I muttered aloud. 

My fingers were still trembling, barely recovering from the shock, but I held them up, muttering a few spells under my breath. My throat was dry, my voice cracked, but I gave it my undivided attention.

Then I saw it. A tiny little spark. My chest loosened, releasing a breath I didn't realise I was holding. I felt lighter, like every part of me had been waiting for this miracle. 

And then in a split second, the light dimmed, but I wasn't discouraged. I tried again and again tirelessly until my mouth clenched in frustration. 

My body was still weak, the same as my magic. The only option now was to channel my inner reserve - magic linked to my body and blood. It was dangerous. 

One little mistake and I'll be gone. Mogra had warned against using it unless it was absolutely necessary. Right now, it is absolutely necessary.

The earlier I reach Mogra, the better. "Ï need you", I whispered quietly, eyes closed. 

I tapped into the stream that had always flowed deep inside me. At first, I couldn't feel anything. 

Then suddenly, everywhere went still, quiet, and then the air around me changed. My heart started to race as the atmosphere began to shift slowly. Goosebumps crawled across my skin. 

I was unsure of what to expect. I noticed shadows moving slowly across the room as if they were alive. They began to race around the room's corners as the intensity increased.

The magic was flowing around me; I could feel it. I spread my fingers and enjoyed the light tingle as it danced. There was a pool of heat. 

I wouldn't call it fire. It was a more delicate and quivering pulse of heat. I liked what I was feeling; I was making progress. 

I continued, pushing harder until things went out of my control. A fierce wind blasted the room, rattling the window shutters, and I gritted my teeth and shuddered all over.

The lights flickered, the windows shivered, and the room was boiling hot as beads of sweat rolled down my spine. I channeled all the energy I had pulled out into finding Mogra in my head. 

She felt so close yet so far. My throat was like a desert land begging for water, but I couldn't afford the distraction.

"Mogra", I whispered mentally. 

No response. My knees buckled, my fists clenched, and I wanted to keep going, but my body went loose. Without warning, a wall appeared shielding me from my mind, and I collapsed on the bed.

I was totally spent, but I wouldn't give up so easily. I need to talk to Mogra. 

Channeling with blood is still foreign, but I needed to get used to it. Starting with little tasks.

Still lying on the bed, I turned my head to the side and swayed the stool by the bed to the side, left, right, and then up. 

Even though the effort hurt my head, I forced myself to concentrate, whispering the old words Mogra had taught me years ago. The wooden legs slowly rose. 

First an inch, then two. After hovering shakily mid-air, it crashed down suddenly with a hollow thud. A sour smile pinched my lips—awkward or not, progress was progress.

I closed my eyes to distract myself from the beads of sweat on my face. My pulse pounded beat after beat like a battle drum, begging me to stop. But I couldn't afford such a luxury.

I steadied my breath, deciding to focus on something smaller, the candle on the desk. The wax looked dry, and its wick unlit.  

I muttered a single word beneath my breath, and my fingers twitched.  Nothing happened for a long time. Then it shook and moved across the wood by an inch.  

"Again. One more time. Just this one," I encouraged myself.  The windows were sealed, but the curtains danced as the candle staggered forward again.  

I felt a rush, the current I'd pulled bubbled down my spine - untamed and impatient.  I stretched my hand asking for more until it exploded! 

The stool was flung against the wall, the candle fell and whirled all over the desk, and parchment fluttered around like scared birds as an overwhelming surge tore through the room. 

My hair whipped across my face as power surged out of me in an uncontrollable torrent, and the walls moaned as though my magic was causing the room to bend.

I swore momentarily that I could feel her presence, faint and elusive but discernible.  The room around me spun faster and faster until the furniture became smudged patches of color. 

I staggered trying to find my balance as the darkness threatened to engulf me.

Then I heard my name, urgent and loud, "Nyra", as a pair of strong arms grabbed me before I could fall. 

My lashes fluttered with exhaustion; everything was blurry, but his furrowed brow filled my vision just before I blanked out.

Kade.

My heart pounded. "How long had he been there?" 

"How much had he seen?"

Morgra's warning came to mind, "Secrets aren't safe when power spirals out of control."

I was totally screwed!