28|| Reborn

The next thing I heard was a sound that belonged in the pits of hell. It was loud and manic laughter that made my whole body shake. Then I heard another snap that sounded like my own spine breaking. My body twisted in ways that weren't normal.

I gasped, choking on air, as I started getting dizzy. My eyes rolled back and I fell to the cold floor, my heart beating so loud I thought it would burst.

That’s when I saw my fingers stretching and my bones cracking as pale fur started pushing out of my skin. When I looked at the broken mirror, I saw a massive white wolf with eyes burning red.

I—Is that me?

No it’s not me. It’s Wonlock!

But heavens, I felt alive! Every sound around me seemed to flood into my ears all at once. The drip of water from the sink, the pounding of my pulse, the faint running of a rat behind the walls. I could smell everything, the thick scent of blood, soap from the bathroom.

I heard a low growl from deep in my chest. I couldn’t feel anything, yet I could feel everything.

Then I heard her voice again.

“Yes… yes! I’m free. I’m finally free!”

She sounded like a feral animal, a beast, a dangerous weapon that has just been unleashed into the world.

“Now that I’m back,” Wonlock hissed, “I’ll finish what I started. I’ll make my enemies pay for what they did to me.”

“No,” I said sharply, cutting her off. “We made a pact. You’re going to help me heal Poppy.”

The laughter that followed made me feel a chill in my spine.

“I don’t care about that little mortal. I care about my power. Now that I’m awake, no one can stop me.”

“Do you really think I’m your wolf?” She growled, her eyes glowing in the mirror. “Ha! No, little girl. You’re my prison. I was sealed inside you long ago, trapped within your bloodline. The only way I could be released was if someone foolish enough called my name three times. I couldn’t tell you, of course—so I tricked you. You found it yourself. You freed me.”

She laughed again. “Did you really think you were special? You’re nothing but a vessel. A shell for me to use and discard. Now that I’ve taken control of your body, I’ll have my revenge.”

I didn’t say anything for a few seconds and she waited, expecting me to beg or scream.

Instead, I laughed.

Her voice shook. “Why… why are you laughing? How dare you?!”

I tilted my head, feeling the Wonlock’s power working through my veins, the wolf’s raw power knocking off all the weight and worry I’ve held on for so long. I felt like I could fly.

“Oh, Wonlock,” I whispered, smiling through the pain. “You should’ve read the fine print of your own curse.”

She hissed, confused. “What are you talking about?”

“You said I freed you when I called your name three times,” I said, “but you didn’t listen carefully, did you? I didn’t just call your name. I bound it. I invoked the ancient contract.”

Her red eyes dimmed for a moment. “No—”

“That means whenever I speak your name three times.” I continued, my voice getting more confident, “I decide who’s in control. You wanted power? Fine. I’ll share it. But you’ll only get what I allow.”

I felt her anger boiling under my skin, but she couldn’t move. Couldn’t take over. I was in control.

“You tricked me,” she whispered.

I smiled faintly, my reflection flickering in the shattered mirror, half me, half the white wolf with red eyes.

“No,” I said softly. “I listened to your advice. You said I had no idea how capable I was. I know now. It’s all thanks to you.”

And with that, I said her name once, then twice each word sounding like a covenant written in the heavens.

“Wonlock!”

I screamed her name the final time and fell on the floor. Everything turned black..

When I opened my eyes again, I was laying on the cold bathroom floor, trembling, covered with blood and water. I was breathing heavily looking around in confusion as my memories came crashing down on me in waves. My reflection in the cracked mirror made me gasp. My eyes were not dull brown anymore. It looked auburn making it look red in the right light.

I pushed myself to stand up. Feeling this energy that felt like electricity coursing through my veins. I stumbled out of the bathroom, out of the clinic, out into the night.

And then—

I ran.

The night wind blew on my face, and before I knew it, my feet had left the ground. I jumped from one rooftop to another. Higher, faster, stronger. I was laughing, half in disbelief, half in pure happiness . The air carried me like I weighed nothing. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t powerless.

I was strong, very strong.

By the time I reached my quarters, my heart was pounding like thunder. I tore off my dirty clothes, stumbling into my bath and scrubbing the blood from my body. When I looked into the mirror again, I froze.

The woman staring back wasn’t the same Dahlia. Her hair was darker, falling down her back like a midnight river. Her eyes glowed faintly red in the light. Her skin was so clear and smooth it looked like magic, and her body was leaner, stronger, beautiful in a way that almost didn’t look human.

Wonlock’s power hadn’t destroyed me. It had remade me.

I smiled slowly, looking at myself as my eyes glowed.

“I’d been reborn.”

I took a deep breath and walked back to my room. I changed into a clean dress, wore my fur coat over my shoulders, and slipped a knife into my hand. Then, with calmness and elegance I didn’t know I had, I walked back to the hospital.

The surgery was over. Poppy was alive, but barely, her chest rising and falling so slowly it was painful to watch. The doctor told me she might not wake up. I only nodded, saying I needed a few minutes alone with her.

Inside the hospital room, I sat beside her. Her face looked pale, her lips almost colorless. My hand trembled as I reached for the knife.

“I’m sorry, Poppy,” I whispered.

I sliced a small line on my palm and let the blood gather. Then, I pressed my bleeding hand to her lips, letting a single drop touch her mouth.

Wonlock’s blood was powerful . It could destroy or it could heal. And since her blood was my blood now, I could make it do either.

Or at least I hoped.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then Poppy’s fingers twitched and her eyes opened.

“Poppy!” I gasped, pulling her into my arms, tears falling down my eyes.

She blinked slowly, confused. “Y…your highness?”

“You’re okay now,” I said, smiling through the tears. “You’re safe. I’m here with you.”

Her trembling hand held mine. “What… what happened?”

I brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. “I know Head Maid Smite is responsible for this, but I want to know who pushed you. Can you tell me, Poppy? Who did this to you?”

She frowned, her eyes unfocused for a moment as she tried to remember. Then, finally she spoke.

“Grace,” she whispered. “Grace pushed me.”

Grace the maid who Concubine Naomi sent to call me, Grace the maid who laughed at me. I thought I taught her a lesson, but it turns out that wasn’t enough. Okay then.

Grace. You’re the first person that I’m going to ruin in the palace. I hope you’re ready.