Chapter 7: Power and Price
796words
I close my eyes, feeling the energy flowing within me. Three weeks have passed, and I've been training under Derek's guidance every day, learning to control my abilities. Sweat slides from my temple, the silver light in my palms flickering.
"I can't do it," I grit my teeth, "it's too... unstable."
"That's because you're resisting it," Derek walks closer to me, "Shadow Heart power comes from balance, not control. Accept its presence, like accepting your own heartbeat."
I take a deep breath, trying to relax my body. I remember what my mother told me when teaching me archery: "Don't aim at the target, become part of the target."
Suddenly, everything becomes clear. The silver energy is no longer a foreign object within me, but a part of me, like blood and breath. I open my eyes, the light in my palms steadily flickering.
"Good," Derek nods, rarely showing a slight smile, "now, try to guide it."
I focus my attention on the water bottle at the other end of the room. Energy flows from my hand, extending like silver threads, gently wrapping around the bottle. When I pull back my hand, the bottle slides toward me with my movement.
"I did it!" I say in surprise, then stagger slightly from sudden fatigue.
Derek quickly supports me, "That's the price. Each use of your ability consumes your strength."
I lean on his arm, feeling the warmth and strength of his body. Over these weeks, Derek has changed from a grim mentor to... I'm not sure how to define our relationship. He's still strict, but the coldness in his eyes has been replaced by something more complex.
"Thank you," I say softly, standing up from his support, "for everything."
Derek's expression softens, "You learn quickly. Faster than I expected."
"Maybe I have a good teacher," I smile.
An awkward silence.
"How's Scott?" Derek changes the subject, "Has he adapted to your... new identity?"
I sigh, "He's protective, almost to the point of suffocation. Every time I go out, he wants to know where I'm going, who I'm with."
"He's worried about you," Derek says, "especially after the thing with Ethan."
Mentioning Ethan's name causes a sting. Since that night's encounter in the forest, Ethan has disappeared. The Alpha pack is still in town, but they're keeping a low profile, making everyone uneasy.
"Have you heard from him?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
Derek's expression becomes serious, "No. But that's not a good sign. Deucalion isn't one to give up easily."
After training, I decide to walk home, needing time to sort my thoughts. The sunset turns Beacon Hills golden, people on the streets moving leisurely, completely unaware of the supernatural world hidden beneath the surface.
My phone vibrates. It's a text from Scott: "Where are you? Deaton has new findings."
I change direction, walking toward the veterinary clinic. When I arrive, Scott, Stiles, and Deaton are already waiting.
"What happened?" I ask, noticing their serious expressions.
Deaton gestures for me to sit down, "I found more information about Shadow Hearts." He opens an ancient book, the text unrecognizable to me, "According to these records, Shadow Heart abilities aren't just sensing and influencing werewolves."
"What else?" Scott asks.
"They can briefly 'borrow' the abilities of supernatural creatures they've touched," Deaton explains, "not a complete transformation, but... a kind of resonance."
I recall that night in the forest, the acute senses and extraordinary speed I felt. "So I can... use werewolf abilities?"
"Theoretically, yes," Deaton nods, "but there are limitations and risks. Each 'borrowing' establishes a connection between you and the power source, this connection might... complicate things."
"What does 'complicate' mean?" Stiles asks the question in my mind.
Deaton's expression becomes more serious, "Emotional bonds, thought sharing, even in extreme cases, exchange of life force."
The room falls silent. I recall the warmth I felt when touching Ethan, the strange connection during training with Derek. This isn't just ordinary emotion, but a deeper connection.
"One more thing," Deaton continues, "I found an ancient prophecy mentioning 'when the blood moon rises, the Shadow Heart will face a choice, either to become the guardian of balance, or the catalyst of chaos.'"
"Blood moon?" Scott frowns, "When?"
"Three months from now," Deaton answers, "coincidentally a full moon."
I feel a chill, "Is this prophecy about me?"
"I'm not sure," Deaton answers honestly, "but the timing is too coincidental. Your abilities awakening, the Alpha pack's arrival, the upcoming blood moon..."
Just then, the clinic's doorbell rings. Everyone turns to the door, surprised to see Ethan standing there, his face marked with injuries, his clothes torn.
"Help me," he gasps, then collapses to the floor.
