the Eye falling from my grasp. I looked towards that cause to see the witch with a bloody dagger held high in her hand, and blood running down over her chest. She had torn the side of her cloak to one side and exposed the scarred skin over her collar bone. Gods alive, but the girl was covered in healed symbols carved into her skin. Just like the one now, which was from the new symbol that she had just cut deep into her flesh. Her head started shaking, as ancient words spilled from her scarred lips. Her hood fell back, and the haunting face of scarred features started casting another spell. This was when Matthias started to look worried,
“Now, what did I tell you, girl? Get back inside where we cast you into the shadows of your own mind!” I couldn't understand what Matthias was saying.
“I won't let you take the souls! I won't let you kill him!” she shouted, making me realise that now she was talking about Lucius. I didn't understand what was happening, other than the fact that his wife was obviously having a change of heart.
But none of it made sense!
“It is too late, child, it is too late to stop us, now give her back to me!” Matthias shouted.
“NO! Not this time, Matthias, I won't let her take over again!” she shouted, shaking her head and as she raised the dagger closer to her own heart, Matthias reacted by roaring out and shooting power her way before she could do it. This force knocked her backwards and as she hit her head against the stone, it quickly rendered her unconscious. Then, what followed was my mother screaming even louder than before, holding onto her head as she dropped to her knees. Matthias was again forcing his will upon her. Then I watched in horror as one of her arms reached out and grabbed the dropped blade that Dalene had once again tried to use against herself.
I could see my mother struggling against her own will, trying not to let her own arm curl inwards so that the blade may be placed against her own neck.
“NO!” I shouted as soon as it got closer and closer to her skin, now held taut as her she stretched her neck up as if ready for it. She then looked at me and managed to mouth the words,
“I… love… you… Let me… go.”
I cried out for my mother before making the quick decision. Because I knew that I now had no choice, for this was it! So, I quickly grabbed the Eye from the floor and ran over to the sarcophagus. Then before he could say another word, I plunged my hand inside, stabbing my hand and impaling my palm on one of the large thorns, knowing that I needed to make a blood connection, because the power was in my blood, I had known that from the moment that I had created it in my father's vault. I held on as tight as I could as the Eye started to vibrate in my arm, where I had it tucked tight to my chest.
“Gods, aid me.” I whispered this prayer as my whole body shuddered through the immense power that consumed me. A power that started to flow up from the roots, through my hand and to the Eye I held in my grasp. It was a sensation I had never known before. It was as though every single soul was passing through me, one after the other, thousands of them, hundreds of thousands in fact, all within seconds.
I couldn't breathe. It was as though my own body was suspended and frozen in time, my mouth open, my eyes wide and startled, as if I was nothing more than a conduit. I was just a means to an end, for when the time was right, Matthias took hold of me and placed his hand over mine that was touching the Eye. He then sucked in a shuddered breath before roaring up to the ceiling as every single one of those souls connected with his own. Each one carried with it a slither of his power that had been stolen all that time ago.
It was the most incredible feeling I had ever known and with it the most frightening. I didn't know how long it lasted but as soon as Matthias finally released me, I knew that he would have gained from it all that he needed. I yanked