Dania opened her eyes, her neck stiff and protesting. A stifled yawn escaped her as she looked out the window. How long had she been asleep? The sunrise answered her question, and she shook her head.

  She reached for the book, her fingers brushing over the leather. Here it was, still intact, the title, Prophecy, still etched in the cover. Was it all a dream?

  She cautiously opened the book; the ink began to swirl on the page, the letters rapidly rearranging themselves. She pinched her cheek hard enough to wince—yep, she was awake.

  Ha! Pinch yourself again—you deserve it. The book wrote, I really need to be more selective with my owners; I keep forgetting to include basic respect as one of the criteria.

  Dania grinned. "Oh, sorry. Did I hurt your feelings?" She hugged the book to her chest, but the sweet moment of affection ended in a split second. "Wait! Didn’t you say that Yaoliteans can have their own individual powers?"

  Aww, I was enjoying that hug. Yes, but it takes time, dedication, meditation—and did I mention time?

  Dania’s eyes twinkled with excitement as an idea began to form in her mind. If the book knew everything, it could be her teacher.

  Me? I suppose I am the most knowledgeable on the subject. The book gloated, First, close your eyes… Wait, if you do that, you won’t be able to read me. Well, there’s only one solution, but the choice is yours.

  The ink danced, it’s letters slightly darker than before, If you put a drop of blood on one of my pages, it will allow both of us to communicate directly through our minds. However, I understand if you don’t want me in your mind—but you can always learn to block me out with enough mental strength.

  Dania looked at the book, its letters swirling across the page. She’d be letting this book into her mind, where all her darkest fears and secrets hid. Where her precious memories with Nana were kept. She shook her head, she couldn’t overthink this. If she wanted to ever escape here, she couldn’t be picky.

  She quickly opened one of her drawers and took out a small sewing needle. The cold metal pricked her finger, a hot rush of blood coming out her finger. She moved her finger towards the page, allowing a drop of blood to slide off. The drop splattered onto the page and the crimson slowly seeping, leaving no mark in the white fibers of the page.

  She held her breath in apprehension. The room fell into a heavy, expectant silence. Then, she felt the connection, a vibration humming in her very soul.

  No one has ever let me into their mind without hesitation, Prophecy murmured, his voice now a clear, amused resonance in her skull.

  Dania jumped up, startled by the clarity, but a slow grin spread across her face. It worked.

  Of course it did, Now, close your eyes. Prophecy commanded, his voice rippling through her mind, Good. Now, find the center of your soul, where the world meets the self.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  Dania closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath. Darkness, pitch black darkness, it was all she could see. She sank deep into the onyx darkness of her inner mind.

  Keep breathing, Prophecy murmured.

  Her chest rose and slowly sunk down. She inhaled, she exhaled. The darkness began to shift. She felt as if she wasn’t in her room anymore. She felt free, suspended in time and space, no floor, no ceiling. Simply in a vacuum that seemed to swirl all around her.

  "I can’t find it, it’s too-." she whispered quietly.

  You’re looking with your eyes, look with your hunger, your drive.

  She gritted her teeth and forced her consciousness deeper into the spiraling void. Then, she saw it. It started with one, a tiny flicker of light, a pearl of the darkness. She reached out- trying to reach it, but it kept moving, dancing just out of her reach. She bit her lip in frustration, she felt like she was trying to catch a falling star while her body was waist deep in water. The weight of the void seemed to crush her consciousness and she gasped, “I can’t, I’ve tried.”

  You’re trying to catch them, Prophecy chided, Stop. You aren’t a hunter, Dania. You are the void.

  Dania breathed out again, the words echoing in her mind. A void? She began to focus herself on the hollow ache in her chest, if anything that was a void. A void full of pain and hurt from all the years of being a ghost in her own home, the sting of being unwanted. That was her void.

  The light isn’t made in darkness, Prophecy whispered, his voice gentle, It’s already there. It’s found by the ones who are strong enough to claim it. Look around you. The world, it’s breathing. Harvest it.

  She nodded her head and swallowed, shifting her focus outward. Suddenly, the pitch-black vacuum in her mind began to shimmer. It wasn't just internal specks now, she could sense the world beyond her. Through the walls of her room, she could feel the pulse of the royal gardens below. She felt the ancient energy in the roots, the power drifting with petals. The strength in the very air she breathed.

  Rather than reaching this time, she imagined herself as a magnet, the lights pulling towards her rather than her reaching towards them. The lights began to bend, spiraling toward her, entering her very soul. She gritted her teeth, the sensation was far from pleasant, the power rushing into her veins, like cold mercury.

  That’s it, Prophecy said, his voice filled with pride, Let the world surrender to you, so that you may burn.

  Sweat was pouring down Dania’s face. The light was vibrating within her, as if trying to burst free. She forced it down, anchoring it into her very marrow.

  Enough, your vessel is full, Dania. Anymore, and you will shatter.

  She nodded her head and went to open her eyes, but the world was shifting. The walls of her room were replaced by a kaleidoscope of colors and shadows. Everything was spinning. The only sound of the room was her short, jagged breaths. Her muscles felt weak and she fell to the ground, limp and sweaty. She brought up her trembling hand towards the edge of her bed, but her fingers were useless, twitching with no strength in them.

  Suddenly, she felt her body waver, and she fell to the floor, too tired to even cry out.

  Trust me, this will be easier next time, Prophecy whispered as her consciousness faded.

  Darkness swirled around her and she fell into the deep oblivion of sleep.