Chapter 3

T he next few days fall into a dull routine. Although, it's difficult to keep track of time when there's no sunrise or sunset. I hadn't realised how much I'd miss something like that, or how much I would miss seeing the stars at night or the feel of the morning sun on my skin. I sometimes find that I get confused here. I forget who I am, and the only thing that helps me remember and stops me from going mad are my visits to the real world. I still have no control over them, but it breaks up the monotonous nothing of the Shadow Realm.

I'm back in my room at the Moon River compound, leaning against the wall as I watch Garett gaze down at my body. Killian is also still in the room. It seems he never leaves my side. Even though I'm glad to see them, I still don't know why I keep being called back here. I suspect it has something to do with the true mated pair bond between Killian and me, but I don't understand the timings of it. So far, the only connection I can make is Killian's presence.

"Any change?" Garett asks from his position at my side. His hand is twined with mine, and I find myself looking down at my shadowy form, wishing I could feel his touch.

"No. She's getting weaker, and the wound is spreading," Killian replies. He's actually sitting next to my shadow form, not that he knows it. He gravitated over here one day, and now whenever I arrive, I find him sitting here.

"Tell me about it." I join in the conversation, not that they can hear me, but it helps keep me sane. I glance down at my arm, which is now a mess of black veins running up and down my arm. I'm getting weaker by the day, and my visits are getting shorter. I've only been here for a few minutes, and I can already feel the shadows calling me back.

"Have you heard anything from Tori?" Killian's question grabs my attention. What does he mean by that? Garett shakes his head, and I feel a knot in my stomach.

"No. There's been no word from her. I even reached out to the witch community, but no one will speak to me." The frustration in Garett's voice is easy to hear.

Wait. What's happening with Tori? Why is Garett trying to talk to the witch council? I step away from the wall, feeling the shadows tighten their grip on me, becoming suffocating. I try to fight against the shadows, knowing it's futile but having to try anyway.

"You would've thought that the witch community would be concerned that one of their own is missing."

My world comes to a standstill at Killian's words, my shock causing me to stop fighting the shadows, and I'm abruptly pulled back into the Shadow Realm.

Tori is missing . The words keep running through my head. This news only fuels my anger and determination. I need to get out of the Shadow Realm. I pace through the empty field, restless after the revelation of my last visit. Closing my eyes, I try to focus, attempting to narrow down the place where my Shadowborn powers come from. I feel nothing, not even a stirring from my wolf, which is worrying me. I try again, digging deep, but I can only feel shadows, and every time I try to grasp them, they slip out of my grip. I scream in frustration .

"I have to get out of here!" I shout, knowing no one is going to answer me.

"Well, it's about time." A dry, drawling voice has me spinning around, only to be greeted by a man made of light.

I squint and bring my hand up to shield my eyes as I try to see the person before me. He dims enough so I can make out his frowning features, and I drop my hand, confusion running through me. Who is this? And wasn't I just trying to do something? I look around me for answers, my fuzzy head is making it difficult for me to think. My gaze is brought back to the man, and I frown again.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"We met before, don't you remember?" he asks, and I frown, shaking my head. You would think I would remember a man made of light.

"What is your name?" the stranger of light asks, taking pity on me.

I open my mouth to reply, only to find that I don't know the answer. I frown again, feeling panic rising through me. I look at the stranger desperately.

"Why don't I know that?" I demand.

"You've been here too long. I'm surprised you have lasted this long here. When I first met you, I thought that you had control over your powers, you were so strong. You survived the creatures in the forest! You couldn't have done that if you weren't strong," he says, his voice fading off with his thoughts, although I'm not sure if he's talking to me or himself.

I tilt my head at his words, confusion obvious in my expression.

"We've met before?" My voice is uncertain, and inside, I'm still reeling that I can't remember my name. I should know this, how could I forget who I am?

"Yes. Do you remember being attacked in the forest? Do you remember the light?" he questions patiently, like he's talking to a child. I frown, a vague memory of a pulsing light forms in my mind, and a stinging on my arm brings back the memory. I glance at my arm, the wound throbbing as if to remind me of what happened.

"The light." The stranger nods at my answer. I squint up at him, trying to make out his features, but the light is too bright for my eyes. "Who are you?" I ask again, needing some answers.

"I'm a friend, and I'm here to help," he tells me. I know he's avoiding answering my question, but I'm too caught up on his last words.

"How can you help me?"

"You're trapped here. I'm going to help you get back to the real world, and then I'm going to train you. Having someone with your strength untrained is just a waste. Besides, you're going to get someone killed. I'm surprised you haven't already," he continues, then mutters under his breath about irresponsible mentors.

Pushing to stand on shaky feet, I step towards him, my hope beginning to grow.

"How?" I challenge, my voice strengthening, my posture becoming stronger as I realise that I might be able to get my old life back. The man before me makes a face, as if annoyed at my demanding tone, but just shrugs.

"Close your eyes." I do as he says, which surprises me since I'm not usually so quick to trust strangers, but I know I'm not in a position to argue. "Look inside yourself for your shadow powers." Again, I do as he says, flinching as I feel his hand on my shoulder. My eyes shoot open, and I see that his eyes are also closed and he's frowning as a consciousness joins mine. "Concentrate," he commands, and I quickly shut my eyes again.

Focusing, I find the shadow within me, and what I sense shocks me. I usually keep a tight lock on my shadow abilities, and whenever I visualise it within me, it looks like a small, tight pulsing ball. Now it has spread, and shadow is coating everything, including my shifting abilities. No wonder I couldn't feel my wolf, she's being suffocated. I start to feel panicked, overwhelmed, until the presence on the edge of my consciousness chimes in .

"Stay calm. I was right, your powers are incredibly strong, but you've been here too long, it's eroding you and changing your abilities." I can sense his concern, and a sense of urgency fills me. "Imagine the light within you."

"I don't have any light, that has never been my power. I'm Shadowborn," I explain out loud, unsure how to communicate to the presence in my mind. I can almost feel him rolling his eyes at my comment.

"Did your parents teach you nothing?" I can feel his anger and frustration, and I push away the feelings that threaten to overwhelm me at the mention of my parents. He tries to calm himself as images pass through my mind, memories I would rather not relive. "I'm sorry," he replies, realising he's distressing me, and I sense him focusing on the task at hand once more.

"There can be no shadow without light, how do you control your shadow otherwise?" His comment astounds me.

"I try not to use it, and I force it to do what I want," I reply, and his mirth fills my mind.

"You have only gotten away with that for this long because you're so powerful. Imagine a bright light within you, it will be there, a small spark. Kindle that spark, make it grow and push back the shadows."

The presence from my mind disappears, and I open my eyes to see he has stepped back. He holds his hand out to me, and there's something small sitting in his palm. I reach out and accept it, holding the item up to inspect it.

It's a pendant, or to be more precise, it's an old golden coin on a delicate chain. I look back up at him with a raised eyebrow. I don't need to voice my question though.

"You will need training if you wish to stay in the mortal world. Use this coin to call me, and I will meet you here."

"How do I get back home? And how would I get back here?" The questions tumble from my lips in a hurry, since his form is fading and I know I have limited time with him left .

"Your shadow will lead you back here, if you don't control it, then it will control you, remember that. And you know how to get back, focus on that light, you already have a path home. The light is all you need, but your bonds will help you." And with those parting words, he fades into nothing, vanishing from sight.

I look around me dumbly, as if he might appear again. Glancing down at the coin in my hand, I let out a sigh. I guess I have to figure this out by myself then.

Light . It's as simple as that? Imagine a light? I snort and start pacing the empty space, running my hands through my hair in frustration. I take a deep breath and try to focus, eager to get out of here. Closing my eyes, I go to my place of power. When I get there, I'm left reeling from the shadow which is smothering everything within me.

Light . There can be no shadow without light. I fumble and grasp at my power, frustration rising as nothing materialises. I need to get back. The guys need me, Tori needs me. Some distant part of me wonders why I can remember their names and not my own, but I don't have time to dwell on that. I feel a throb within me as I think of the guys waiting for me. Killian keeping vigil at my bedside, Garett visiting and brushing my hair, updating me on what I'm missing, Alex looking after them all, making sure they are taking care of themselves, and Seb, my heart gives a painful throb at the blank look I last saw in his face, the prospect of losing me is causing him physical pain.

Focus , I berate myself, searching for the light within me again, thinking of the reasons why I need to get back. The nurse said that I'm running out of time, that my body is dying, is that why I'm forgetting who I am? Their faces flash through my mind again. A bright burst of light has my focus thrown out of my body, my awareness back in the plains of the Shadow Realm. I did it. Quickly closing my eyes, I concentration again, seeing a small ball of light within the mass of shadows. I try to grasp the light but fall back with a gasp as a burning sensation spreads through my body. Okay, so that didn't work. Anxiety starts to build within me. The words from the nurse running through my head.

Her body is dying. Her body is dying. Dying.

My breath begins to speed up, my chest tight as panic threatens to choke me. Stop. Think.

The light responded when I thought about the guys. I bring their images up in my mind, and the light starts to grow. It's not easy. Several times, I lose my focus and lose the light, having to start all over again. It's irritating, but I push those feelings aside.

Finally, the light within me is so bright, it's blinding and pushing to be released. I don't know what will happen if I let it loose, it feels like it's going to rip me apart, but the stranger of light said to follow it, that I had a path leading home. I don't have many other options. I release the light and tug at the knot within me, hoping it will lead me home.

Light fills my sight, and I know I'm in another vision. I'm beginning to tell the difference now. At first, it was difficult to tell what was real and what wasn't.

Ari stands before me, looking nervous, but a wave of determination and hope reaches me as she closes her eyes. I wait for a while, wondering what's happening as her face screws up in frustration.

Just as I think she's going to give up on whatever it is she's trying to achieve, her body starts to glow, softly at first, and then so brightly, I have to cover my eyes with my hand to protect them. Her shocked gasp has me opening my eyes, only to find her gone, not a trace of her to be found.

My breath is coming in pants as I push up from my crouched position on the floor, where I must have fallen when the vision overtook me. I think over what the vision has shown me before a grin spreads across my lips. I grab my phone and dial the number I've memorised.

"Hello?" the voice on the other end answers.

"She's back," I reply as I walk to the window, looking out at the city below me while I start to plan my next move.