Four Pillars (2)

"But now," Rachel said softly, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes, "we need a proper explanation." Her gentle tone couldn't mask the steel beneath. "What happened in Vryndall? What took over you? Why did you disappear for nearly a year?" Her voice cracked slightly. "Please... tell us everything."

The room fell silent. Four pairs of eyes fixed on me, waiting for answers to questions they'd likely been asking themselves for eleven agonizing months.

I drew a deep breath, organizing my thoughts. There was no easy way to explain something I barely understood myself.

"There's another soul inside my body," I said finally.

The words hung in the air for a moment. Rose's eyes widened, her usual composure momentarily shattered. Seraphina grew completely still, her jade eyes narrowing in concentration. Rachel's hand tightened around mine, while Cecilia's expression darkened dangerously.