"No."
Sofia's voice trembled.
"There has to be another way."
Our mother stared at her.
"There may be."
Those words should have comforted me.
They didn't.
Because Seraya was looking at me like she already knew the ending.
I stood in the center of the chamber, staring at my hands.
Silver light moved beneath my skin.
Beautiful.
Powerful.
Terrifying.
"How do I surrender it?" I asked.
Sofia turned toward me.
"Rohgah, don't."
I looked at her.
"If this power is what the Hollow wants, then maybe giving it up is the only way."
"You don't know what surrendering it means."
"Neither does anyone else."
Seraya stepped forward.
"It means giving up more than magic."
I looked at her.
"What else?"
She hesitated.
"Everything connected to it."
The room became silent.
"Your abilities. Your supernatural strength. Your connection to the magical world."
I swallowed.
"My memories?"
Seraya's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know."
"My position?"
"Perhaps."
"My identity?"
She didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Sofia shook her head.
"No. We just found each other. I'm not going to watch you lose everything."
I walked toward her.
"You won't lose me."
"But what if you become human?"
"I'll still be your brother."
"What if you forget?"
"I won't."
"You don't know that!"
Her voice broke.
I had no answer.
Sofia turned away, wiping her tears.
"I spent eighteen years not knowing you existed."
She looked back at me.
"I won't spend another eighteen years wondering if you remember me."
I felt something break inside me.
I stepped closer.
"I promise."
She shook her head.
"Promises didn't protect us before."
Seraya lowered her eyes.
Sofia looked at her.
"You promised to protect us too."
Our mother flinched.
"I know."
"You promised we would be together."
"I know."
"You promised you would come back."
Seraya's tears finally fell.
"I tried."
Sofia's anger softened.
"Why didn't you?"
Seraya looked toward the ceiling.
"Because Vaelor wasn't the only person hunting us."
I froze.
"What?"
She looked at me.
"There were others."
"Who?"
"The Council."
I stared at her.
"Why would the Council hunt us?"
"Because they were afraid of the prophecy."
She walked toward an ancient table.
"They believed the only way to prevent the Hollow from awakening was to separate you."
Sofia's face hardened.
"So they helped Machir."
Seraya nodded.
"Some of them."
I clenched my fists.
"Who?"
Seraya shook her head.
"You are not ready."
"I've had enough of people telling me what I'm not ready for."
She looked at me sadly.
"You have every right to be angry."
"I am."
I looked around the chamber.
"My memories were stolen. My family was taken from me. My mother was imprisoned. And now I'm being told I have to sacrifice everything to fix a prophecy I never chose."
Seraya stepped closer.
"You are right."
I looked at her.
"But?"
"There is something you must understand."
She touched my chest.
"You were never cursed with power."
Her hand glowed faintly.
"You were trusted with it."
I frowned.
"Trusted?"
"The Hollow is ancient. It is not evil in the way you understand evil."
"Then what is it?"
"An accumulation of magic."
I stared at her.
"Magic?"
"Yes. Magic stolen from kingdoms, witches, creatures, and ancient beings over thousands of years."
Seraya's voice lowered.
"Vaelor believes he can control it."
"But he can't."
"No."
"Then why is he trying?"
"Because whoever controls the Hollow controls the supernatural world."
I understood.
A single ruler.
One power.
Every kingdom beneath him.
Vaelor didn't want destruction.
He wanted dominion.
Suddenly, a loud explosion shook the chamber.
Sofia grabbed my arm.
"What was that?"
Seraya's face changed.
"They found us."
"Who?"
She looked toward the door.
"The Council."
The door exploded inward.
Smoke filled the chamber.
Then figures entered.
Six masked warriors.
Behind them stood a tall woman wearing a silver crown.
I recognized her.
Queen Seraphine.
The Queen of Ravenshade's vampire empire.
But she wasn't alone.
Three supernatural rulers stood behind her.
The Mermaid Queen.
The Babylonian King.
And the High Wizard of the Council.
Sofia stepped forward.
"You came for us."
The High Wizard looked at her.
"We came to prevent the prophecy."
I laughed bitterly.
"By attacking us?"
"You don't understand the danger."
"I understand perfectly."
My silver magic rose.
The High Wizard raised his hand.
"Rohgah, don't."
"Why?"
"Because every time you use that power, the Hollow grows stronger."
I froze.
"What?"
Seraya looked at him.
"He's telling the truth."
I stared at my hand.
The silver light suddenly looked darker.
The High Wizard continued.
"Your magic is connected to the Hollow. Every spell you cast feeds it."
Sofia stepped closer.
"Then why didn't Machir tell us?"
The High Wizard's expression hardened.
"Because Machir made a mistake."
"What mistake?"
"He believed he could seal Rohgah's power permanently."
I looked at Seraya.
She nodded.
"He couldn't."
I clenched my jaw.
"Then what am I supposed to do?"
The High Wizard looked at me.
"Die."
Sofia screamed.
"No!"
My heart stopped.
The High Wizard continued calmly.
"Your death would sever the connection."
Seraya stepped forward.
"No."
"You know this is true."
"It isn't the only way."
"Then tell us the other way."
Seraya looked at me.
Silence.
The High Wizard understood.
"You already know."
Seraya nodded.
"The power must be surrendered willingly."
The Mermaid Queen frowned.
"And what happens to him afterward?"
Seraya answered quietly.
"He becomes powerless."
The Babylonian King scoffed.
"Then let him do it."
Sofia turned toward him.
"You speak as if he's nothing."
"He carries the power that could destroy our kingdom."
"And he is still my brother."
The king looked at her.
"You would protect him over your kingdom?"
Sofia didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
I looked at her.
She didn't even blink.
The vampire queen stepped forward.
"And you, Princess Nicole?"
Nicole's expression changed.
Everyone turned toward her.
She looked at me.
Then at Sofia.
Then at the Queen.
"I choose my friends."
Ashbel stepped beside her.
"So do I."
Bella raised her sword.
"And I do too."
The rulers stared at the three girls.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then the High Wizard whispered,
"Then you have all chosen your fate."
Suddenly, the ground cracked.
Black smoke burst from beneath us.
The Hollow.
It rose between us and the Council.
Everyone stepped backward.
Its enormous shape towered over the chamber.
Its white eyes opened.
And this time…
it didn't speak to me.
It spoke to Sofia.
KEY.
Sofia froze.
The Hollow reached toward her.
I stepped in front of her.
"No."
Its hand stopped inches from my chest.
SON.
I raised my hand.
Silver energy surrounded me.
The Hollow whispered,
SURRENDER.
I stared at it.
"You want my power?"
The creature nodded.
I took a deep breath.
"Then take it."
Everyone screamed.
"ROHGAH!"
I closed my eyes.
Silver light exploded from my body.
I felt something ripping away from me.
My strength.
My magic.
My connection.
Everything.
The Hollow screamed.
The chamber shook.
Sofia grabbed me.
"Stop!"
I couldn't.
The light became blinding.
Then I heard a voice.
Not the Hollow.
Vaelor.
"You fool."
I opened my eyes.
He stood at the entrance.
His face was filled with rage.
"Do you know what happens if you surrender your power?"
I looked at him.
"Yes."
"You lose everything."
I smiled weakly.
"Maybe."
The Hollow began absorbing the silver light.
Vaelor's eyes widened.
"No."
For the first time…
he looked afraid.
"STOP!"
I released the last of my power.
The chamber exploded.
And darkness swallowed us all.