A fight with my so-called reflection

The shattered mirror bled, silver blood thick and glowy, like moonlight melted with thick fire. And then came that jagged reflection, the 2nd vessel staring back at me.

Not calm, not composed. But grinning — with sharp fangs that hadn’t been there before.

“Hello, sister.”

I instinctively stepped back, feeling power flare beneath my skin.

“Elira,” I whispered, tapping the band on my wrist trying to connect to the binder while looking for confirmation. “Are you seeing this?” 

No response, not even a sound.

The breaker reflection shifted — not like a normal mirror echo. No, she turned her head, watching me like I was her prey.

“I thought I’d give you a head start,” she said, her voice echoing from the glass. “To make you feel strong or important.”

She grinned wider. “But the truth is, you’ve always been a mistake, starting from your birth, your rejected bond, and up until now, you’re just the Moon’s favorite mistake

Then the case where the bleeding piece of mirror was, shattered completely out of nowhere and the 2nd vessel's human-like form burst out with intense energy, and with a scream that shook the ground.

She lunged at me with immense speed.

I quickly raised my hands just in time, silver light erupting from my palms and catching her mid-air.

We clashed — power colliding, my Moon-blessed energy meeting something darker, something wilder.

Somehow she was incredibly fast and slammed me to the floor, her claws grazing my shoulder. “I won’t have mercy on you, you’re where I’m supposed to be,” she hissed. “I could’ve let Nyra send someone else, but I wanted to be the one to end you.”

I growled, flipping her off me with a surge of strength, and facing her I pinned her to the ground, regaining my balance. “You’re not ending anything, don’t get ahead of yourself, you're just a mere reflection. My reflection!”

She struggled hard, detangling my hands from hers.

“You don’t get it, do you? I didn’t come to kill you yet,” she said.

“Then what do you want?” I shot back.

“To show you what’s coming.”

She raised her hand.

A pulse of dark energy shot from her fingers, straight into my eyes. It was similar to what Nyra used the other day at the inner temple which left me unconscious. 

This time I controlled my meridians, (just as Aria has always instructed me to take charge of my mind) and it didn’t affect my body, instead, it controlled my sight. I saw a vision.

I saw myself standing alone on a battlefield. The Moonlight shone bright above, the brightest I have ever seen. And as I looked down, I saw blood everywhere.

The 2nd vessel lay dead at my feet, Nyra screaming in the distance.

Even though I seemed victorious, I felt empty. 

It felt like while fighting my powers were gradually being sealed away, and even after I won the battle and was supposed to be joyous, I just felt empty and powerless.

Then a voice whispered through the vision, loud and clear, it wasn’t the 2nd vessel’s voice, nor mine;

“The Bearer must meet with her mated bond and seal her powers to break the shadow victoriously”

I didn’t know what that meant but I know I heard the instructions. 

–––

Suddenly, my eyes opened and the 2nd vessel fell to the floor, her energy flickering.

She looked dazed, like something was wrong.

“How did you… not go un.. unconscious?” She stuttered. 

I moved toward her cautiously, and for just a second, I saw—fear in her eyes.

“Oh, I see,” I sneered. “Is that how Nyra taught you to grip me? Because she almost succeeded then, she thinks it will always be the same?” 

“No matter what you think or do, you can’t defeat me,” she whispered. “I’m your reflection, and I will hunt you all the days of your life until you give up your position as the Moon vessel…”

Then a violent pull yanked her backward through a dark rift in the air. She screamed once and vanished.

Gone! Leaving only the shattered mirror… and the silver blood still dripping from its case.

But with all honesty, I wish to give up this position. I wish I could though, but the more I think about it the more I deeply possess the powers of the moon. 

With great benefits come greater pain. Even though I love how cool I am now; The powers, the respect, and strange mysteries I encounter daily, that I didn’t know I would ever experience in a lifetime, but the restlessness and tension are unmatched. 

–––

I didn’t have a moment to breathe before another knock echoed at the entrance gates.

This time, Aria answered first, and from the window I could sense she wasn’t happy.

“You again?” she said flatly.

I walked down the yard towards the gate, looking worn out, my shoulders still bleeding, and came face-to-face with someone I hadn’t seen for a while, and wasn’t expecting.

Beta Nelson.

“May,” he said smoothly, eyeing my shoulder. “You look… wounded.”

“Spare me the concern,” I snapped. “What do you want?”

He raised both hands.

“An offer. And a warning.”

He stepped closer, just enough for only me to hear.

“Castillo is preparing. He’s not aligned with Nyra, at least not yet. But he will be… if you don’t stop him first.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What does that have to do with me?”

“He still wants you, May. You were his queen before the Moon whispered into your blood.”

I clenched my fists. “I’ll never go back, haven’t I told you this before?”

“I’m not here to force you,” Nelson said. “I’m here to tell you… When the time comes, you’ll need allies. Don’t shut every door before the final battle begins.”

He pulled something from his coat — a piece of obsidian shaped like a wolf’s fang.

“Keep this. If you change your mind… it’ll lead you back to him.”

I stared at it, then took it silently. Not for trust or in agreement, but for leverage.

As Nelson turned to leave, another voice cut through the air.

“Didn’t your mother teach you to stop sniffing around women who aren’t yours?”

I turned and it was Laziel, Arms crossed, jaw set.

Nelson grinned. “And who are you? Her new bodyguard?”

Laziel stepped up, eyes hard. “Her new Beta. Just so you know, if you pull that sneaky stuff again, I won’t be so nice next time.”

I could feel the tension sizzling between them.

“You don’t even know me, I prefer you shut up and don’t just whine with your scratchy mouth.”

I jumped in. “That’s enough Nelson. Laziel, let him go. I’ve got what I need.”

Nelson gave a mocking bow. “Until next time, Vessel, and don’t forget to tame your dogs well just in case”

Laziel charged, I could see rage in his eyes but Nelson just walked away, disappearing into the forest.

---

Later that night, I was alone in the sanctuary, the bracelet on my wrist glowing softly.

Then, Elira’s voice floated through the air.

“The prophecy’s shifting, May. The 2nd vessel is losing herself to the Breaker’s curse. You might be the Bearer… but you’ll need more than just moonlight to face what’s ahead.”

Then she said something that caught me off guard.

“You’ll need a heart that knows darkness… and still yearns for you anyway.”

I frowned, feeling a bit puzzled. “What does that even mean?”

And just then, I noticed a shadow moving behind me— It was Castillo.

“We need to talk.” He said.