Chapter 69: _Follow Your Path
Celeste’s POV
*****
Maybe I was hearing things. Maybe it was the bond acting up and sending me echoes of Silas or Luther’s wolves.
Right?
Those felt like more plausible explanations as the howl lingered at the back of my mind.
"You’ve always been so naive," My reflection spoke again, her voice mocking this time. I raised my head with gritted teeth, fingers shaking on my knees. And there was her cruel smirk. "You don’t realise the sea of potential we hold."
Rage burned in my chest, momentarily making me ignore the pain. "You’re... Nothing but an illusion, a mere projection of my magic. My witch roots."
"Of course." She chuckled darkly. "Ignore me, as you’ve subconsciously ignored what stirs inside you. What you’ve kept hidden for most of your life."
Did I know what she was talking about? Fuck no. Did it somehow still resonate with me in a way I couldn’t understand? Yes.
Terror gripped me like clawed hands as I spun my neck to Caelum. He was still standing, head lowered and hand resting on the side of his mirror. Claws sprang out of his fingers, glistening and sharper than nails.
His reflection—was haunting. It looked like him except it was shirtless and had wolf fangs and bloodshot eyes completely void and empty of reason.
"These mirrors," my reflection started again, "force each hybrid to the side of you that dominates. It shows what part of you would win if you happen to lose control."
My brows furrowed.
Minutes ago my body released a crazy burst of magic. I didn’t understand what that meant yet but... But what if it triggered something?
And that wolf howl—
"Argh!" Caelum staggered, growling at his reflection. "Fuck this!" His head spun to me. "Celeste? We need to keep moving."
"That’s right," my reflection purred. "Run along, little hybrid. Deflect and evade like you’ve always done."
I so wanted to stay back and ask the damn thing more questions. Caelum didn’t let me, grabbing my shoulders and helping me up gently.
Instantly, the twisted reflection vanished, shifting back to normal. I gawked at the cracks on the mirror’s surface, heaving as if I’d just taken a dip too long in the ocean.
That couldn’t be it. I still needed to—
"Celeste?" Caelum shook me, wrapping an arm over my shoulders. "Gods, you’re heating up. Come on."
He helped me walk, my legs dragging as if they were made of jelly. It sure felt like it right now. Once we made it out of the shimmering veil and past the tree, a weight left my chest.
I pushed back strands of my hair while Caelum panted: "I... I never want to experience whatever the heck that was again."
No response.
How could I speak after all that? How could I go on about the rest of the trial after hearing something I’ve lacked all my life?
The howl of a wolf in my head. A signal of my wolf blood not being "diluted" or stunted or whatever words I’ve heard pack elders use growing up.
The wind still blew treacherously around us, making breathing a chore.
I couldn’t focus enough to create another force bubble.
"That... That magic surge," Caelum withdrew his arm from my shoulder, voice hesitant. "I felt it while facing my reflection. I’ve never—"
"It must’ve been the dimension destabilising my witch side." I cut him off before he could dive any deeper. "I mean... You seemed like you were about to shift into your wolf any second."
"Yes, but—"
"Let’s just keep moving, Caelum." I placed a hand over my eyes as the wind grew harsher. "Goddess knows if Whiteflame’s students faced the same thing. And if they’ve passed it already."
This destabilisation shit would naturally weigh harder on us. Being the children of an Alpha King and all.
Without any question, we continued walking. Occasional lightning bolts still cracked above us, remnants of my magic burst that I refused to acknowledge.
Illusion or not—my reflection’s words still stuck with me like a bad dream. All of it.
Could the "awakening" she talked about actually be my wolf side? Why couldn’t I hear the howl again?
Curious and perhaps a bit desperate, I mentally reached out. ’Wolf. Are you there?’
Silence.
The same thing that has welcomed me for nineteen years.
Sighing, I pushed the idea to the back of my mind. Maybe it really was just an illusion.
After one hell of a walk, Caelum and I finally got to what seemed like our next obstacle.
"Gods, what now?" My brother mumbled and I couldn’t help feeling like he was underreacting.
Stretched before us were two winding paths. The ground on one glowed with a silver-violet light that instantly reminded me of magic. Witchcraft.
The other one was crimson like blood, animal skulls littering across it. Distant howls resounded from far within, making it clear what both paths signified.
"Wolf," Caelum pointed at the crimson path first. "And witch?" His fingers waved to the silver-violet path. "I guess everything here is hybrid themed."
No shit.
I curled my fists, taking a bold step away from him. The storm lessened around this point, making it easier to see ahead and walk.
When I stepped into the silver-violet path, I glanced over my shoulder. "This looks safer."
Caelum’s silver eyes lighted with uncertainty at first. But when I kept advancing, he trailed close behind. "Don’t just rush when we don’t—" he hadn’t finished scolding when the ground rumbled beneath our feet.
My eyes widened, shivers rippling through me. "Nope!"
I jumped back, bumping into Caelum and almost falling in an effort to get the heck out of that path. Once we were out, tension bled out alongside my breath.
"Don’t tell me we’ve got to solve some riddle now." I ground out, pivoting to Caelum. "It was perfectly fine when I walked in. Maybe—"
"That’s because we aren’t supposed to walk the same paths," he stiffened, making me blink-squint. "We’re meant to follow different paths. Alone."
Unease coiled in my gut.
Now this shouldn’t be good.
"You can’t be seriously suggesting we split up." I shook my head. "Anything could happen. It never ends well and what if—"
"Do you have a better idea?" He flung his arms in defeat. "This seems like the only way, Cel. Probably because it is. Or..." Raising a finger, he moved, entering the crimson path. "Let’s test it."
He stepped into the path, spreading out his arms. Nothing happened.
I swallowed, still hesitant. "We’re supposed to do this as a team."
"No," he mumbled. "It’s like the Dean said. The hybrid trial is all about identity. And we can’t figure that out by sticking together, sis."
Hell, I hated how he was right. I knew he was.
Holding my breath, I crept onto the silver-violet path. One step. Two. Three...
By the time I’d strode a certain distance, I realised this was indeed our reality. Different paths. Alone.
"I have a feeling we’ll see each other at the end!" Caelum yelled, a wry smile stretching his lips. "We can do this, sis. You can do this."
... I can do this.
Nodding, I raised my chin, watching as he kept marching. "See you on the other side!"
I couldn’t say anything in return but my resolve strengthened. Confidence grew.
"Follow your path," I murmured to myself, pressing forward into the silver-violet road.
And as Caelum and I grew further apart, realisation hit me, sharp and real:
Celeste Bloodoak was alone right now.
