Chapter 133: Reality
The world around her began to fade. Not gently, but violently. As if she was being yanked out of reality. Her breath caught in her throat.
Suddenly, she wasn’t in the room anymore.
She was somewhere else—someplace ancient. A circular room decorated like a shrine, lit by a thousand flickering candles that made shadows dance on blood-streaked walls. The air was thick with the scent of herbs, burnt offerings, and blood. It clung to her tongue and stung her nose.
In the center of the room was a bowl. Bone white. It pulsed with the same dark magic she’d been fighting. Ava took a step forward, drawn against her will.
Ava saw him—the man. His face emerged from the shadows, carved into an expression that was all hunger and hatred.
"I finally found you," he said. "I’m coming for you. You cannot hide anymore."
The words weren’t just threats—they were shackles, and they wrapped around her psyche with the tight grip of magic, dragging her further into the vision. Ava could feel her mind being pulled under, and worse—she couldn’t feel her body anymore. She was floating, lost, detached. Her limbs convulsed violently in the real world, but inside... inside she was drowning in shadows.
Her hand slipped from Zoe’s, and her body arched on the bed like someone had yanked a plug from her soul.
"Ava!" Lucas shouted. He dropped to his knees beside her and scooped her into his arms, cradling her. Her whole frame trembled, spasming in relentless jerks. Her head lolled back, her golden eyes now rolled up, eyelids fluttering.