Chapter 63: The Awakening Curse

Freya's POV

A searing, excruciating pain pierced my skull. The world twisted around me, drawing me into something terrible and beyond my control, even as I clamped my eyes shut.

Then I was in another place.

A densely shadowed forest. Like whispering voices, the wind howled through the woods. I wasn't alone myself.

In front of me was a woman. Her eyes glowed with the same cold blue fire that I had seen in my mirror, and her long silver hair whirled around her face. My throat tightened with each breath. Mom.

She was desperate, aggressive, and younger. Her hands were stained with blood.

Her voice cracked as she said, "Run!" "They're on their way! I won't let them take you!"

My heart was racing. I made an effort to get up and grab her, but I wasn't there.

Dark beings with soulless, vacant eyes arose from the fog behind her. Below them, the ground shook.