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Her entire body was beginning to feel the effects of the rising sun.
Before the magic had kept her safe from it, but now, she felt a huge pressure on her limbs, like she couldn't move.
Chapter Twenty Four
Silhouetted in a shimmering light, surrounded by the shadows of the corridor beneath the ranch house, a young woman stood, arms extended.
Light swirled around her lithe tanned limbs as an intangible mist of white and blue shades.
Her eyes were closed, dark lashes lay like fans on her tanned cheeks.
Her lips were curled into a serene smile.
Throughout the ranch the light traveled, it killed as easily as it healed.
Broken glass, split into minuscule fragments, lifted from the marble tiled floor before being replaced back into the window pane.
The magic and light weaved its way around withered black hearts, filled with evil, slipping inside and stopping the unnatural beat before incinerating the entire body.
Fire rushed through veins until there was nothing left of her enemies.
Traps and safeguards were flawlessly unraveled, without knowledge of the languages and complexity involved.
Yet, still the power within the ranch continued to build, filling each room with power. Cream walls hummed in answer, as the air seemed to crackle as the intensity increased.
Light poured out of the windows, illuminating the entire ranch. Even the sunlight at its strongest couldn't rival the rays of shimmering magic.
With each small act, the magic seemed to absorb more and more energy. Its reach increasing. Light mist began to slip beneath the large oak door, seeping though the key hole, before spreading out over the soil. The soil was cleansed of any imperfections, making the soil cleaner and fresher.
Traveling over the distance of the ranch, it filtered down through the soil, finding a Carpathian woman beneath the surface, red hair stark against the dark soil. Her blood red tears still streaming down her face even though she slept.
The magic wrapped itself around the woman taking away her fears for her lifemate, removing the tears from her lashes, before increasing the healing properties in the soil. Slipping into the woman's mind, she was whispered to, a promise that everything would be OK, soon she would be back with her love.
Back in the underground corridor, the blond woman stood immobile. Her hair was whipping around her head, a swirling mass of blond curls. A slight frown was showing, small beads of sweat emerged on her forehead, her previously serene lips, trembled slightly with the effort.
A voice was loud in her mind. Shouting a name. Over and over again, a name was being called.
A woman's name.
Her name?
Her hands became fists as she tried to focus on the voice in her mind. It was beginning to drown out her power, taking her thoughts away from the purity of discovering such power.
She was angry and confused.
She wanted the voice to go away.
She wanted it to stop shouting over the magic. She needed the magic to stay. She was drowning in pure light.
She felt whole again. Safe. Nothing could stop her. No one could harm her.
She could control her environment and control her destiny.
She was free…
"Nya!"
Shaking her head, she snarled silently at the voice. She wouldn't listen! Not now…
And yet her mind kept tuning into the voice.
Almost as if part of herself was desperate for the voice to keep calling to her. Desperate for the voice to wake her from the magic induced trance she had managed to place herself in.
"Nya! Please, baby. Hear me!"
Her head was pounding. Pain pierced her temples. She cried out as she dropped one of her arms, to hold her head. Such pain…
Leave me!
She wanted the voice to stop. It was hurting her!
Never!
She growled and flashed open her eyes at that word. The voice wasn't going to leave. It was going to keep on distracting her. Hurting her. She wanted it to go! It was drowning out her magic!
The minute her eyes opened, light filled the corridor, so bright, it was impossible to see clearly. It blinded everything with its purity.
Listen to me Nya. You must control the magic!
I can control it!
She hated the voice. She was the magic. It belonged to her, she was in control!
Nicholas lay terrified beneath the healing soil.
At first he had been incredibly proud and shocked by Nya's power. He had always known she was powerful but the extent of her abilities were truly a surprise to him.
He had been a shadow in her mind when she had killed Razvan and Joseph.
He had felt the magic weaving its way around the withered black hearts of their enemies, felt the fire rushing through their veins as they died.
He had watched as she unraveled the traps flawlessly, it had come so naturally.
He had been proud of her, so proud.
She had gone against her own nature to rid their family of evil and death.
Cleansing the ranch of impurities and even comforting Colby in the soil.
But even as he had watched the power she welded, he had kept his mind fully focused on her mind.
At first she had concentrated on what she wanted to happen, but after a while she had focused on nothing but the magic.
She didn't build an image anymore, she built the magic.
Building its intensity, giving it a life of its own.
She was no longer in control, she didn't program it. It did as it pleased.
Killing and cleansing in equal measures.
He felt the toll the magic took on her body.
She was starving. Hungry for blood. The magic draining her of strength whilst forever gaining her more and more power.
He feared for her now. Truly feared for her.
She was allowing the magic to take over, she hardly knew her own name anymore.
Nicholas trembled beneath the soil, cursing his useless body. He had no way of getting to her. He had no choice but to keep shouting into her mind.
He sighed, he couldn't get through to her!
Remind her of what she has done. It wont be pleasant for her. But it may be the only way.
Nicholas listened intently to Zacarias's words.
He didn't want to upset her, he had been proud of her fighting her father and Joseph, even though he had feared so much for her safety. But he knew she would be upset when she heard about it. Perhaps Zacarias was right, perhaps it could break her out of the trance….
How is Rafael? Nicholas inquired.
A few burns. He is desperate to get to Colby, even though he knows she is safe beneath the ground, he fears their separation.
Nicholas understood Rafael's feelings. He wished he could be by Nya's side also.
He took a deep breath, hating that he was going to have to upset Nya.
The blond woman threw her head back, cascading her wildly curling hair down her back, as she sighed in relief.
The voice had stopped.
It was just her and the magic. No one else.
She could no longer feel what the magic was doing, she could only focus on the feeling of completeness.
She was finally who she had been born to be. Whole.
She removed her hand from her temple and lifted it up, the swirling mist curled around her finger tips, changing colour slightly with the contact.
She watched the mist intently, loving the way it seemed to crave her touch, turning from a white, or pale blue to a warm pink whenever it was near her touch. She smiled, it was cool against her skin too, soothing her.
Pain laced through her mind, and she winced unexpectedly.
Like watching a video playback, she saw her actions.
Using her power to throw her father against the wall, then strangle him, then… she stared straight at the door, her eyes intent as if she could see through the thick metal.
She had killed him, and then Joseph.
She had killed two people.
As she watched her actions back, she felt the strain the magic was having on her body.
Her head ached, her temples pounding.
The corridor was filled with so much power, she could hardly breath, the pressure of the magic pushing down on her body.
She began to struggle, the full extent of her actions crushing down upon her.
Tears began to build behind her green eyes, a red sheen across them.
She felt like she was suffocating.
The power was too much.
She had been blinded by it.
Collapsing to the floor, Nya coughed and grabbed her throat. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on breathing.
Nya, listen to me, the magic belongs to you. You created it. You can control it. Make it stop.
Nya was panting on the floor. The voice… The voice was Nicholas?
She tilted her head back and leaned against the stone wall. Nicholas had been there with her all along.
Desperately trying to concentrate she stared at the ceiling as she tried to concentrate, but every time she closed her eyes all she could see was her father… dead… because of her.
You were forced to make a choice, Nya. And you chose the right one. You saved many people. I couldn't have been prouder of you, my love. Concentrate. Concentrate for me. Please.
The tears were fully falling now. Nya clutched her throat as she tried to control her breathing and her panic.
That speech was supposed to give you courage, baby. Not make you cry more. I am not being a very good life mate.
Nya could hear the amusement and concern in Nicholas words and they warmed her heart. She grinned through her tears, and shook her head at his words. Taking deeper breaths, she remembered the choice she had been forced to make.
Her decision had been life, not just for her, but for Nicholas as well.
Nya could now see Violet sleeping peacefully in the corner, the little puppy curled in her lap.
She had done the right thing.
Now she just had to stop it.
Nya took a deep breath, closed her eyes and focused.
She could feel Nicholas's touch, soothing her shoulders and his small kisses down her cheeks.
His lips. Kissing away her tears.
His hand seemed to span her throat as his thumb rubbed a soothing caress. Slowly Nya began to feel like she could breath again.
She swallowed her fears, and used her mind to reach out for the magic. Homing in on its location.
She concentrated, built her control, slowly reining in the magic. She felt it stream back through the oak door, slithering over the marble lobby floor, before filing under the metal door of the basement.
The magic was no longer cool, it was freezing, its touch on her skin painful and harsh. She sucked in a breath as the magic returned to her.
The icy mist, swirled back into the basement, straight back to her.
Hunger was beating at her, her stomach ached. Her throat felt too dry.
Her concentration was breaking...
Her hunger and need for Nicholas overriding her mind.
She felt her weakness now, the toll the magic had had upon her. She was trembling from her hunger and effort. Her entire body was beginning to feel the effects of the rising sun. Before the magic had kept her safe from it, but now, she felt a huge pressure on her limbs, like she couldn't move. Her lungs were labouring.
Nya, sleep now. I will be there when you wake. Sleep, my love. And I will come for you...
Nicholas and his brothers burst from the rich soil simultaneously. Soil flew out from their resting place, as their bodies rose from their healing slumber.
Becoming mist instantly they crossed the remaining miles to their home, their bodies healed, but their hearts in turmoil.
Nicholas was the first to arrive at the ranch, in his haste to return his clothes had traces of soil clinging to the fabric and specks of dirt and leaves lay in disarray in his dark hair.
Running through the lobby to the basement, Nicholas couldnt believe it had happened again. His family, his lifemate, had been in danger.
His heart almost refused to beat at the knowledge that he had neglected to protect his lifemate. His Nya.
Every beat was an effort. Every breath a chore, as he slammed open the basements metal door and found his Nya upon the floor.
His heart soared at the sight of her, falling to his knees he dragged her pliant body into his lap. Burying his face in her hair, he rocked her gently in the darkness.
Nicholas couldnt help inhaling her scent, as he kissed every inch of her face. Clutching her close he lifted her to his neck, and allowed her sleeping form to feed.
Her sweet pulls at his neck, as he breathed in her scent was euphoric.
Tears threatened to spill from his eyes as he clutched her tighter and tighter. Being beneath the soil had been agony for him and his brothers.
His hand caressed her back through his white shirt she wore, and he swore to himself he would make her happy. He would keep her safe. He would make her complete without the magic getting out of control.
A thought occurred to him, he knew a way he could do this.
And he knew just who he had to see...
You may all kill me... I know this was inexcusably late! Uni deadlines have been hectic recently so have had no time to write... but I am now on Christmas holidays so have three weeks of writing bliss!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter... :)
Please let me know what you thought...
Take care
xemmalisax