Greetings from a Myrde

Below is an excerpt from Chapter 80 of The Witch's Cursed Daughter:

It’s hot. Evianna found herself in an invisible blackness stretching out, emptying her body, cutting off her emotions and sensations. She didn’t know how long she waited there, suspended in nothingness. The comforting feeling of oblivion over-writing the pain she could no longer feel, the sadness, anger, and every other emotion that had abandoned her was a relief.

Evianna knew that the pain wasn’t gone; despite the apathetic stance in her mind, she could sense that her muscles, bones, and organs had become little more than a toy. Recently, she had felt something peculiar, a rise and fall in power, a tingling sensation like tall grass tickling her entire frame, which would suddenly disappear as if it were sucked away.

Blinking steadily without vision, Evianna was abruptly blinded by a pure white eminence that exploded before her eyes. Her features creasing to allow her to catch a glimpse of the source of the light, Evianna strained pitifully against the flooding brightness. Slowly the light reduced, retracting in brilliant star-like patterns before revealing a bird-like creature, hovering magnificently in the dark.

Evianna stared at the bird; its heliotrope-shaded eyes stared back. After a moment of contemplation, the creature's image contorted, the feathers lengthened, and its head grew, arms and legs spouted, and facial features appeared. The emotionless girl trembled at the sight of two metallic silver eyes piercing through the walls she had erected to protect herself. The figure stepped closer; the familiar frame of the Julian she had known however long ago grinned cheekily as if they had only parted the day before.

“Do you know what I am?” he asked, his voice resonating with Evianna’s memories.

Evianna nodded slowly, unsure if the words would sound. Her mouth opened, yet her thoughts resounded in place of her voice, “The Myrde.”

“’A’ Myrde,” Julian corrected. “You are also a Myrde, though your power is engulfed in darkness.”

“What should I do?” Evianna asked, her mind still extending her thoughts in place of her mouth.

The young Julian extended his hand and placed it tenderly against her cheek. The warmth of his touch seemed to drive away the burning heat she had been feeling in the blackness. “This power was a gift, but it was not meant for you.”

Unable to understand the Myrde's meaning, Evianna watched Julian silently as she drank in his appearance. Realising the intention her actions, Julian stood back to display his complete form.

After what seemed like an infinite amount of time had passed, the Myrde began to glow. As Julian’s form melted away, he encouraged, “You will understand when you see him.”

“Who?” Evianna yelled as he disappeared, leaving her alone once again.

The emptiness again encroached on Evianna; her body felt freer in the space, yet she still couldn’t move. However, a distinct sensation within her felt different to before; the power that swirled uncontrollably felt more assertive, more reliable, more reassuring. This new feeling, along with her reunion with Julian’s facade, sparked a heartbeat that boomed loudly from within Evianna’s chest.

A heart that had remained frozen to defend her had begun to throb like a war-drum.

The Witch's Cursed Daughter