Media: Cadence

Music: This isn't real, The Last Witch Hunter soundtrack [ I highly recommend you play it when you reach the middle of the chapter huehue ]

The pain seared every part of her. She cried out for her brother, her father, and the mother she never knew. Someone clutched her hand, she clutched back, begging the person to stop the pain inside her.

Put it out. End it, end it!

Her eyes flew open to find her brother asleep beside her bed, his head buried in his arms.

Cadence's eyes still hurt. Carefully, she cracked them open.

The infirmary was empty, cold, dark, except for the sliver of sunlight that sauntered through the crack in the curtain, shining directly on the vase opposite her bed.

She remembered her fight with Khazaria, she remembered everything with outstanding clarity, but had she really summoned the swords?

Cadence tried to remember what the explosion of shadows felt. It did not hurt her, but rather a part of her, something she never knew she had, break free. She closed her eyes again, allowing her mind to sink back like how she would float in water.

There! She felt them. The shadows were silent now, but still reacted to her when she tried to touch them. Cadence opened her eyes to see wisps of darkness roll off her hands and vanish.

Euphoria washed over Cadence. She brought her hands to face level, staring at their long, slender shape as well as the callouses and burn marks.

Cadence never even thought she would have a single drop of Varya blood inside her. She had tried so hard, prayed so hard, anything that might make her Varya. Now, she was one.

"You're awake." Kashimi walked out of the shadows, a lamp in his hand. "I was worried you might not wake up at all."

"What happened to me?" Cadence's throat felt like sandpaper, and her face felt like a balloon that had been inflated far beyond its capacity.

"You're Varya," Kashimi said. "And that's that."

"You felt my energy before. I wasn't Varya, even Derek-" She broke off, not wanting to think of the man who discovered her identity in the tavern.

"Indeed I have. You weren't then, but you're now."

"There must be some kind of explanation," Cadence pleaded. "I know I should be thrilled to be Varya, but this is bewildering."

"Varya blood is passed from generation to generation." Kashimi gestured at Cole. "Your brother is one, and I have no doubt that you took after the parent whose powers were passed down. Affinities need to be Awakened before it can manifest itself. I believe your encounter with Khazaria forced your body to enter a protective mode and bring up all its defenses."

Her brother stirred. At first, he looked confused, then clarity came back into his eyes.

"Sweet Orishas." He stood up and threw his arms around Cadence. "I was so scared. Are you alright? I'm sorry I didn't see Khazaria hit you. I should have done something. I-"

Cadence shushed him. "It's fine."

"It's not fine!" Her brother yelled. "She turned you into a punching bag!"

"I do think Cadence has more pressing matters than physical injury now," Kashimi interrupted. "Her Affinity just exploded from her Core, her Energy is unstable, and her body vulnerable. She needs to lie still and be monitored carefully."

Cole cupped Cadence's face, his thumb tracing the bandages on her face. "You're Varya."

Cadence laughed weakly, then regretted it at once. Her lungs felt like someone was pounding on it with a hammer. "Surprise."

"If Papa is still here, he'll be so proud to have two Warriors in the family." Cole was smiling, but Cadence felt someone puncture her little ball of happiness. She glanced at Kashimi. The Healer had his head angled slightly, giving her a wavering look.

"Surprise indeed." Ales walked into the infirmary an shook his head when he saw a banged up and bloodied Cadence. "Can you fix her?" he asked Kashimi. "She looks dreadful."

"I tried to when she was unconscious, but the older human is adamant on not letting me touch Cadence," Kashimi said.

"Hey, I was just trying to protect her," Cole defended himself.

"Check her Energy, Kashimi. It should be safe to Heal her by now."

"How long was I out?" Cadence asked.

"Three days," Kashimi said, now sliding back Cadence's left sleeve. "It could have been worse. Someone people don't wake up after an Awakening even after a week."

"That's the bright side," Ales said. "The downside is that you look like a pillow a donkey farted on."

"Thanks," Cadence said. "I'm flattered."

"Since her sarcasm has returned, can you Heal her now?" Ales asked.

"Don't shout at me," Kashimi grumbled. "You need to keep en eye on her, Ales. She's been in the infirmary twice in less than twenty-four hours. I don't know whether I should be exasperated or surprised. Take your pick."

Kashimi held his hands over Cadence. She felt the familiar warmth seep from the Healer's hands into her body, fading the color of her bruises and reducing the swelling in her eye and face. Her vision widened, and the throbbing of her stomach and chest vanished. Although she was physically sound, she still felt nauseous.

Once Cadence was Healed, Kashimi withdrew his hands.

"How do you feel?" Kashimi asked.

"My body is fine," Cadence replied. "But my head feels like someone ran it over with a wagon. Can you Heal headaches?"

"Healing is not magic. I simply accelerated the rate your cells multiplication. It's not recommended for the long run. Healing may help you now, but it actually shortens your life span. Nothing in the world comes free. If you push, you'll get a pull reaction, just like how night and day take turns to rule the skies. Next time you end up here, you're going to have to recover the good, old-fashioned way. As for your headache, it is a residue of your powers erupting. Nothing I can do will take it away."

Cadence gulped. She had always assumed Healing was some form of magic that stitched torn skin and melds broken bones back together, and that had raised the question of immortality. If a Healer was able to stop their bodies from ailing, wouldn't that make them immortal? With the myth debunked, Cadence decided she would never be Healed again if she could help it.

"You sure you're alright?" Cole undid the bandages on Cadence's hands, unconvinced that they were Healed.

"Yeah." She gave him the reassuring smile which relaxed Cole. She knew how to react to Cole's concerns and mood swings. Give him the lopsided smile when he was angry, he would not be able to resist laughing at how quirky Cadence looked. Give him the tight-lipped smile if he told a horrible joke, give him a light smile to brighten his spirits, and a hug whenever he needed it, or she needed it.

However, this time Cole didn't look convinced.

"We should leave her to rest," Ales said. "Come, Cole. She needs solitude."

"Ales is right," Kashimi said. "A girl needs her rest."

"I'll see you soon." Cole kissed her on the forehead and left reluctantly. "Take care."

The doors of the infirmary clicked behind them. Kashimi drew up Cadence's blanket and tucked her hands underneath the soft material. "Sleep well, you need it."

Cadence closed her eyes. Kashimi was right about her body being vulnerable. Although Kashimi had Healed her wounds, she still felt bruised and fatigued.

The infirmary was empty except for her and a girl at the end of the room. In the dimly lit infirmary, she couldn't see much, Kashimi had blown out most of the candles and kept the curtains drawn so tight, not even a mosquito could squeeze through. She tried to use the quiescence in the infirmary to get the optimum amount of rest, she had already forgotten what it felt like not to have a throbbing head.

Cadence.

She jerked awake.

Cadensssssse.

The room seemed dreary, as if someone had hung a screen before her. Cadence rubbed her eyes, blinked hard, and stared around the infirmary again. The haze did not clear.

Cadenssssssse.

She jumped. No, it couldn't be. The Polong had fulfilled its part of the bargain. Why would it seek her now?

Cadensssssssse.

The deep, scratchy voice of the Polong seemed to come from every direction—under the beds, behind the curtains, above the rafters and even next to Cadence.

Her mind froze, she couldn't move, rooted to the spot at the mercy of the Polong.

"My, aren't you a little surprise."

Something rustled beside her, the sound a mouse would make when dashing through pots and pans.

Cadence gasped to find the most hideous-looking creature staring at her out of its bulbous, yellow eyes. It had the body of a human child, but its flesh was so shrunken, it was a skeleton wearing a loose piece of skin. It was completely bald, as shiny as a polished mirror, its stick-thin hands and legs jutting out as it squatted on the bed opposite Cadence's. The creature wasn't wearing anything, its genitals flapping loosely in between its legs.

"Did you like my gift?" The Polong grinned, revealing a set of sharp, pointed teeth.

"You killed my father."

Clink, clink, rattle. The Polong moved like lightning. One second in was on the bed, the next it was on the metal railing.

"I did what was bargained. I promised to liberate him of his pain. In fact, I gave you so much more. So much more..."

"I'm going to kill you." Cadence churned out the words. There was anger, so much anger, as well as hate and pain. Tears flowed down her cheeks. She was so angry, both at herself and the Polong, she didn't know how to react.

"You can't." The Polong's grin stretched so wide, it almost split its face. "We're a part of each other. I'll forever be a part of you, my liberator. I'll always be here, your cozy little roommate, constantly reminding you of your bargain. You'll slowly go insane. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but the day is certain."

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Cadence seized the pitcher on her bed stand and flung it with all her might at the Polong. It jumped out of harm's way and landed on Cadence's bed.

She screamed. The Polong crawled closer and closer, then sat on Cadence's chest, pinning her down. She tried to fling her off, but he weighed like an enormous boulder, pinning her down.

"Please," she choked. "Please."

"You shouldn't fear me." The Polong's wrinkled, grotesque face was bare inches from her own. She could smell its rotten breath, the same pungent smell that filled the air when the mansion exploded, the heat from its mouth. It suffocated her. "I want to help you."

She spat in its face.

The Polong snarled and wiped away Cadence's saliva with its hand. "Fool!" it screamed. "Fool!"

It traced a fingernail down Cadence's cheeks, carving a red, glistening crescent. "There will come a night when the moon turns to blood, the ground will quake, and the white wolves will howl. A shadow will cover every inch of the earth and trample out every sliver of light. You will be there to witness it all, Cadence. It will be the most beautiful war in the history of Moskava."

"No," she hissed. "This is my head, and I want you to get out of it. You're not real, none of it is."

The Polong only broke into an unnerving smile. "We shall see."

It drew back and thrust its hands into Cadence's chest. Ribs cracked, blood spurted as it closed its fingers around Cadence's heart. Pain, so much pain. She screamed.

And woke up, drenched in cold sweat.

She clutched her head with trembling fingers, eyes and mouth wide open. Saliva drooled down her chin and onto the sheets, but she didn't care. It was too real, far too real. Her lungs forgot how to draw and pump air, leaving her to struggle for breath.

I. Can't. Breathe.

Cadence tried to call out for Kashimi, but her voice wouldn't come. Her lungs burned, her vision started to turn foggy.

"Hey." Someone called out to her. "Are you alright? Talk to me."

Air, she needed air.

Something warm blossomed on her chest, loosening the tension in her body, sending heat surging through her arteries. Her lungs contracted, and she took in a large gasp of sweet air.

Her vision cleared. Elijah Khavarosk's sharp face came to sight.

"Lie down very gently," he ordered. He supported Cadence's neck with one hand, and the other on her stomach, gently leaning her onto the pillow.

"I-" she croaked. "Thank you."

"You're the girl who went against Khazaria Orelik," he said. "Went down a Murka, rose up as a Varya."

Cadence didn't reply. Instead, she locked gaze with the proud-looking young man.

"Elijah," an unfamiliar voice floated out from the back. "Healer Kashimi awaits you in his office."

Elijah cocked his head and strode off as the Healer approached Cadence.

"Nightmare?" she said, feeling for Cadence's pulse.

She nodded.

"I can administer you the milk of moonflowers. It'll give you a dreamless sleep."

"That would be fabulous."

"I'll be right back." The Healer swept to the back of the infirmary, gliding like a ghost.

Cadence inhaled and exhaled, taking in as many deep breaths as possible to pacify the fear within her.

The Polong was so real, it felt real. Cadence's hand went to her cheek and felt a long, scabby line running along it. She gasped, an icy feeling hitting her. Cadence grabbed the silver jug by her bedstand and stared into her own reflection.

There was a red, crescent scar on the exact spot where the Polong had ran a nail down.

She was about to enter another panic attack when the Healer returned with a small vial of purplish-liquid.

"Milk of moonflowers, it'll help you sleep." Cadence snatched it out of the Healer's hands, yanked off the cork and swallowed its contents in one go. It tasted like burnt carrots.

The effects of the liquid kicked in at once. Her eyes grew heavier and heavier, and her thoughts became sluggish. The sharp flames of the candles became blurry circle of lights. She saw Kashimi and Elijah lift the curtain and enter the infirmary, both conversing in low tones. Too drowsy to care, she closed her eyes and slept.

*****

A/N

I'm so close to finishing this story (writing up a storm as I speak) and there's so much happening in the last few chapters it's crazy. I just need to stab two more people and kill three more before I finally reach the climax and then resolution. I'm excited to share it with you guys! Thank you so much for being such amazing and supportive readers. *hugs*

I was unable to slide in more pins than I would love to in the media, so I'm going to drop a few concept pins below:

The Polong

Cadence (don't ask about the hair and the scar, we'll get there!)

Ales

Eli

*scuttles out*