Chapter 7 Two Halves

Camilla's POV

I was still stuck. I was mute. I was frozen just watching this lady who mirrored me.

Elin dashed to me, clutching my legs, but I barely knew. My brain was torn apart, trying to grasp something strange. There was just one me. Only one Camilla. There can't be two.

"I feel your deep confusion," the other me spoke, inching closer. "I'll explain now. When flames ate you up five years past, your spirit snapped apart. One bit clung to your shell and passed through fire. That bit grew deep hate. That bit turned to curse, keen for payback."

"And who are you now?" I questioned, my voice breaking.

"I'm you, the part that pardoned ere you felt wrath," she spoke soft. "I'm the bit who knew Lucien suffered also. I'm the piece who went to the Realm Beyond, spending five years to mend not sting."

Elin pulled my hand. "Mama, are you fine? You're frightening me."

I stared at my child, and tears flowed down my face fast. She lived. She was near. She was mine true. But all felt strange now.

"Why?" I then asked the other me. "Why did my spirit snap that way?"

"Because the vision knew you'd get angry," she spoke slow. "The vision knew that rage would use you if you held not else tight. So it made twin roads. The wrath road and the fix road. You got the pick to tread either one. You picked payback."

"I picked zero," I spoke, mad vibes growing inside me. "I just woke up inside some hole, mind empty, body gone. I did only what kept me alive."

"I get it," other me replied. She seemed calm, no sadness showed. Just like she understood me. "I'm not mad at your choices. Now we're standing at two roads. Keep on your revenge plan. Head back and fight those council folks. Make them feel same hurt they gave. Or pick some different path."

"So, what's that path?" I then asked.

"Path of being one," she then spoke. "Path where you and I join back as one soul. We mix up anger with letting go. We turn whole as one again. After this, real strength of what's coming will wake up inside."

Sage stood near the clearing's edge now, eyes locked on us. She stayed silent, but eyes showed she knew it all. Like she knew this would happen too.

"If we join as one, what's next?" I then asked. "Who do I turn into?"

"You'll just become what you should be," other me spoke. "Someone who watches over balance. Not just our wolf pack, but every bit of magic near. Your power is not just anger or letting go. It's knowing which one's needed now."

Elin grabbed my hand so tight. "I'm so scared, Mama. Promise you won't go."

I got down and hugged my sweet girl. She seemed tiny and weak, and she smelled so fresh now. Like she fit in magic land better than world with wolves and us.

"I'm stuck with you forever," I murmured into her hair. "I swear. Not ever again."

"So let me assist you," my other self spoke up. She edged nearer, I noticed she was also sobbing a bit. "Let me get back to you. Let us be one as before."

I glanced at Sage, trying to figure out if this was truly real or if I was going bonkers. "Is this really now taking place?"

"Yes," Sage replied. She moved ahead and touched my shoulder gently. "This is among the best gifts the prophecy can grant. Most folks don't ever get to fix their own soul. You're getting that chance now. Grab it tightly."

I shut my eyes tightly and considered everything that took place. The burning heat. The wicked curse. The payback I had arranged very carefully. And deep down, I thought of Lucien's stare when he knew it was me. I recalled him holding his dying mom. I thought of how he chose to keep me safe even though he didn't get what I fully was.

I then opened my eyes slowly and stared at my other self.

"Okay," I spoke out. "Let's just be one again."

My other self beamed, and she began to shine with even more radiant light. She edged toward me, and when she got closer by, I felt something switch deep inside me. It felt like two jigsaw pieces at last clicking into place.

She opened her arms wide, and I got up, while holding Elin's hand still. My other self wrapped her arms all around us, and the golden light grew bright so much I had to shut my eyes suddenly.

I sensed odd shifts coming. Two of myself were merging now. Fury and calm mixed as one thing. Vengeance and help turned as one. It felt like falling, but soaring, too. Like ending, but also like new birth.

As light dimmed, I saw Elin with me. The other self had vanished now. Yet I felt her deep inside my soul, part of my thoughts and heart. Both rage and calm felt so balanced.

"Mom?" Elin spoke, staring up, scared.

"I'm right here," I spoke. I truly meant those words now. I was right here, from my death's return. I felt very whole suddenly.

Then Sage made a funny sound. Not quite a scream, but so close. I turned and saw her face pale, eyes fixed to skies up above.

"What now?" I wondered then.

"Look now," she spoke, and pointed high.

Up high, the sky was not the same. Gold and purple became a dark haze, like smoke that seemed quite alive. It took one shape, a thinking form.

It ripped through all that was in place.

"What is that?" I breathed soft.

Sage's voice trembled, feeling fear. "It's the council, they now can pass. Dark spells made them break on through into the world. They bring a big army."

The dark haze came faster, close now. I sensed old powers start to rise. Like they knew a foe from old times.

"We must flee," Sage spoke to me.

"Nope," I mentioned, as shadows crept nearby like curious cats. "If they've smelled their way to us, legs won't save us. We must scrap. Plus, I kinda know our next play."

I glanced at Elin, who shimmered with that odd gold like me. A smile bloomed, like worries skipped her mind. Like secrets danced behind her gaze.

"Mom," she chirped. "This feels like my jam, you know, my whole life's jam."