Chapter 82 : Soul's Eclipse

Karenina

She tried not to fidget when Benjamin looked at her, trying not to show her nervousness. She wanted to know what the strange mark on her side meant, but she was also afraid to find out. Whatever it showed, she doubted it was a good one.

"A mark, you say?" he asked.

She nodded and whispered, "Yes."

"I want to see the mark. If I may, little girl?"

She could not help it. She blushed with embarrassment. "Uh... well, it's on my left..."

Had she been wearing her school uniform or her casual clothes, she would have easily lifted her shirt to reveal the gray mark. But she was not wearing them. No, she was wearing an expensive silk dress, one of the many she had previously been told belonged to her - not that she intended to keep it. It was too fancy and she didn't need it in the outer areas of Xavier's house. Besides, it didn't seem appropriate to receive such an expensive gift from the Alpha Lord. After she left, although the thought of leaving him upset her, she would not take the items with her.

Seeing her uneasiness, Benjamin smiled kindly. "I know it is inappropriate to show so much skin in this place, out in the open and in front of strangers, but to answer your question properly, I had to see it. Please forgive my overly open manner, little girl. I meant no offense."

" No offense taken," she immediately reassured the old man, waving her hand in front of him.

"May I make a suggestion, Karenina?" Xavier suggested.

She looked up at him curiously.

"Take off your outer robe - Benjamin can hold it - and I will cut off the layer of your second dress that bears the mark."

"But that will ruin it," she protested, shocked at the thought of tearing off such expensive clothing.

"I'll replace it," he replied nonchalantly.

"That's not the point," she muttered, well aware of his wealth, but still hating the thought of ripping off such expensive clothes.

"Do you have a better idea?" he asked, not unkindly.

She thought for a moment before answering, "No, I don't think so." She sighed. "Alright, let's do it."

Without being asked, Xavier stepped behind her and gave a few gentle tugs to release the straps. As the long cloth fell from his waist, one of Benjamin's hands moved closer and silently let Xavier pull the colorful cloth over him.

She took over undressing herself, unfolded her dress, and let it fall from her shoulders, then placed it on Benjamin's hand that was reaching for her. Xavier placed his hands on her shoulders - careful with her still sore left shoulder - and gently turned her to face him.

Their eyes met, amber gold locked on chocolate brown. A heavy moment seemed to pass between them, a physical realization and something more.

Her breath came in short gasps, her heart racing.

The moment was interrupted when he broke eye contact, lowering his gaze and his hand to her left side. The silk was no match for his nails, ripping effortlessly from her chest to her hips, leaving a gaping hole exposing her skin and marks.

"Come here, little girl. Sit on my chair so I can get a better look at that mysterious mark," Benjamin ordered as he lowered his hand behind her.

Again, Xavier helped without being asked. He moved in front of her, put his arms around her waist, and gently lifted her up until her bum rested on the wooden chair. She thanked Xavier before he stepped back and positioned himself at her side as he brought her closer to Benjamin's youthful face.

She clenched her hands into tight fists, her nails digging painfully into her palms as she nervously watched the old man examine her exposed skin.

"Hmm..." Benjamin rumbled, his eyes fixed on the gray body part.

"What do you think it is, Benjamin?" she asked in a low voice, not wanting to break the concentration of Benjamin who was still thinking and considering different possibilities.

"Although I am not an expert on the Sacred Moonstone or the strange phenomenon of hybrids possessing both the spiritual aura and the energy of a wolf aura, I believe that the mark indicates that the wolf aura that emerged from the moonstone gem is corrupting your body, little girl."

She gasped, her worst fears confirmed. But there were still many things she didn't understand. Her body going numb with shock, she asked, "What do you mean, corrupted?"

Benjamin stared at her before pulling himself back to his original position, where Xavier helped her to her feet and continued to help her dress. Almost on autopilot, she went through the motions of tucking her hands into the sleeves and positioning the folds of the dress correctly on her body while Xavier moved behind her to smooth and tie the ribbon straps for her.

As she put the dress on, Benjamin explained.

"The darkness within you has risen and is trying to transform you."

"But how is that possible? I'm a hybrid, only half-human!" she cried.

"It is not impossible for a hybrid to gain the power of a wolf's aura, especially since you still have your father's wolf blood, even turning into a full wolf, or rather. Nathaniel is a perfect example, he is a hybrid with the blood of a dark witch," he reminded her.

She remained silent, knowing that he was right. Nathan was not the only hybrid she had met over the years who had become a full wolf. Even Ivy, the sick and dying hybrid who had fallen in love with Xavier a few years ago, was another example.

Karen shook her head violently as Xavier tied the ribbon. "But I have a spiritual aura, my mother was a Priestess of Light. That can't happen to me." Then a terrible thought crept into her mind. "But it would probably turn me into a dark hybrid like Nathaniel. Is that what will happen?"

Benjamin looked at her sympathetically. "I'm afraid that is not what happened in this case. You are right in assuming that a Priestess of Light would not be able to turn into a full-blooded wolf because of her spiritual energy - especially with your power, which seems to neutralize the aura of a beast. However, you are standing before me now without your spiritual attack hitting the wolf aura within you."

"Well, no, but my powers have been at war before!" she retorted.

"I assume you tried to use the growing wolf aura then?"

She nodded, barely noticing as Xavier finished fastening her ribbon and moved back to her left.

"Only when you use the energy of the wolf aura does your spiritual energy become aware of the animal's presence and attempt to neutralize it. When not actively used, the wolf aura becomes undetectable to your spiritual being. It can be assumed that the moonstone energy has merged with your body and has been a part of you since birth. You cannot neutralize this part of yourself, little girl."

******

Xavier

So far, Xavier had remained silent, letting Karen question Benjamin, content to play the role of observer for the time being. Although he knew that this news was not what she wanted to hear, on the other hand, he felt happy. In his heart, he admitted that he sometimes worried that the spiritual energy she possessed would eventually destroy the wolf aura within her. If that happened, she would be lost to him. When he was told that this would not happen, his heart was relieved.

"Then what should I do? What's going to happen to me?" she whispered, fear gripping her heart with a strong, devilish grip.

"I see the mark moving up, not down or to either side," Benjamin whispered.

Karen did not answer, could not, as she stared at the old man blankly.

He continued, "The mark indicates that your wolf aura is moving toward your heart. There, I assume, it will take firm root and the battle for your soul will begin."

Xavier frowned, not wanting to hear Benjamin's frightening words. "What does that mean?"