Page 158 of The Blood Rites

Atheron’s eyes narrow. “Misguided,” he tuts. “I’ll show you real fear.”

He steps back, letting the spectacle linger. All eyes are on Marissa.

Kael grabs my ankle, and I look down. “You have to help her,” he groans.

I shake my head, tears and sweat and snot all mixing on my face. “I can’t. I—”

“You can,” he says, voice hoarse but urgent.

But I am so afraid. Not of death—never of that—but of losing control. Of becoming a monster.

Atheron lifts both hands. The flames rise, forming a double helix that wraps around Marissa. She braces, bringing her hands together in front of her chest, as if praying.

The light comes. Brighter than ever.

It bursts from within her—a shimmering dome that grows to cover her whole body. It’s perfect: complete, strong, beautiful. The helices morph into a swirling tornado of flame, slamming into the shield.

It cracks, fractures racing across its surface like glass struck with a hammer.

But she doesn't break. She closes her eyes, every muscle in her body tensing.

Atheron steps in, his silhouette warped by heat. “I’m almost impressed.”

I look at the Overseers. They are perfectly still now, faces turned to me. Their hum grows louder, and something in my skull clicks into alignment—like a gear locking into place.

For a moment, I see myself from above: a broken boy standing in a burning world, everyone he cares about in agony because of him. Because of his shame. Because of his inaction.

I make my choice and plunge into my core, dragging every fibre of Mana I have from the depths. Every secret. Every hurt. Every buried moment.

Atheron glances at me—and smiles. “You’re too late,” he taunts.

Marissa’s shield cracks.

The fractures race. Converge. Shatter.

Light warps, and fire tears across her body. She screams, falling to her knees as flame engulfs her.

It’s him or her.

And I already know who I’m choosing.

Time is up.

The light builds in my chest, a crushing crescendo behind my ribs.

For a fraction of a second—

I falter.

Because I know what this will make me.

Because I know I won’t come back from it.

Atheron smiles. Marissa screams.

And I choose.

I erupt.