Stella's POV

 I woke up as I heard a screech fill the air. Franticly I looked around the room to see the Umbra Mortine looking out the window. There was an odd sense of peace when I saw it looking. For now, the Umbra Mortine meant safety from Graywick.

"They are here to fight our war," it said as it turned to face me. "They came."

"Have the Darklings started their attack?" I asked, as another cry echoed through the room. They sounded close.

It nodded. "I just called them in. Now it is our turn. We need to lead them. Put me in control. This will be quick and painless. I can stop Graywick."

As much as I hated him, I was more scared of the Umbra Mortine taking control. It took Graywick to break its hold over me. If Graywick wasn't around, then who would break the hold?

I couldn't let that happen.

"Stella, don't give me that face."

"I don't want to let you in again."

"But don't you like the power I gave you? Finally, you aren't weak. You could take on Graywick if you actually tried. I just need to take the lead on that attack."

"And after Graywick is dead, what about you?"

It smirked. "I think you know the answer to that."

I nodded at it. Yeah, I knew the answer. Once Graywick was gone, nothing would be around to stop it. It would have everything it wanted. I couldn't let that happen. Silently, with my free hand, I took the powdered root bag and stone from my pocket.

The stone shined in the light, as if encouraging me to continue. I knew the steps with this spell. Time couldn't be wasted. I couldn't wait. The Umbra Mortine would be stopped, and I would stop it now.

"Don't," it threatened.

"Or what will you do?"

"You know that will kill you too," the Umbra Mortine said as it walked closer to me.

The image of all those dead bodies from my dream popped back into my mind. I couldn't let that happen. No matter what the cost, I needed to stop it. "Maybe that is what we need to stop you."

"You are making a mistake."

The pain in my chest from yesterday still burnt slightly. No, waiting any longer would be the mistake. It had already grown too strong. I needed this to end.

Without thinking about it any further, I emptied the bag of powdered root into my mouth. The white chalky powder caused me to gag as it coated my mouth. It was bitter to the taste, but I choked it down, telling myself it wasn't as bad as it actually tasted.

"Say goodbye to this life," the Umbra Mortine said as it leaned against the wall. But its normally confident eyes were full of fear. It knew what could happen. We both knew what was at stake. Without saying another word, the Umbra Mortine faded into the shadows of the room.

I closed my eyes and wrapped my hands around the stone. Already I felt clammy and sick to my stomach. The root was already being observed in my body. I knew it. Quietly, I said the words that I read in the book associated with the stone.

I dry heaved as my eyelids became heavy. Already I could feel the root pulling me under. Fear consumed me as I realized what I did. What if this really did kill me? No one was here to help if this all went south. I tried my best to tell myself that there was no time to take it back, however it did little to help. The root was already eaten and now I just hoped that I could fight off the Umbra Mortine. However, I didn't know what I would face after sleep pulled me under.

With a deep breath, I said the words again. The stone burnt my hand, but I refused to let it go. Instead, I curled my fingers around it tighter. This was it. I took one last breath until I left myself slip into darkness.

When I opened my eyes, I saw I was back in the woods. The body of the murdered man lay in front of me. My heart raced as I looked at my hands to see them bloodied.

My breath hitched as a backed up into a tree. I wiped the blood onto my pants, although it did nothing to get it off. I didn't know why I was here. One minute I was in the castle and now I was here. I thought chanting the spell while using the stone and root would be enough. I didn't understand why I was here.

For a second, I feared that the Umbra Mortine took over again, and this was another man. But I quickly dismissed that idea. No, this man was the same from a few nights ago. This image was a memory, one that was burnt into my mind.

"Your first kill should be memorable," the Umbra Mortine said as it came out of the shadows of the woods. "I thought you would be proud of what we did together."

"We didn't do this. You did," I accused as I pointed to it.

"Ouch, Stella. I thought you would at least take some credit. After all, you gave the final blow after I stepped out of control."

"You are lying."

"Am I though? You are just as power hungry as I am."

I shook my head at it. I couldn't hear these lies any more. "Stop! Get out of my head!" I shouted at it as it walked closer to me.

It glared at me as the shadowy figure transformed into my reflection. "You don't understand what you are giving up. What we have is a gift that anyone would die for."

"I don't care," I responded as the gemstone appeared in the Umbra Mortine blackened hand.

"What is this? Looks like the stone is mine." It held it up in the air, then dropped it to the ground. Before I had time to react, it stepped on the stone, causing it to shatter.

"No!" I screamed as I ran to the broken remains of the stone.

The stone was part of stopping the Umbra Mortine. Without that, I wasn't sure how I could stop it. To be honest, I thought as soon as I ate the root, it would stop it. I didn't expect to be here in a dream with it. It just showed that it was still alive within me. It warned me of this. Maybe it was right, it was too powerful to stop it with roots, stones and a chant.

"You are pathetic. How can you stand up to the monsters of Churchwell without me? You are weak without me."

Through my shaking hands, I held the stone fragments. It was speaking lies. I could stand up for myself. I have done it in the past so I could do it again. The Umbra Mortine didn't make me strong, it made me dangerous. Dangerous and powerful were two different things, and that is what the Umbra Mortine did not understand.

There used to be a fire of bravery within me, but I hadn't felt that in months. It was ever since I came back from Churchwell that things had changed. If I needed to stop the Umbra Mortine, I needed that fire again.

"You could have been great," it said as it pulled me up from the ground, then pushed me against a tree.

I gasped as I fought against the grip. I clawed at its fingers around my neck, but I was not successful at breaking free. "Please. Stop," I begged as it wrapped its black hands tighter around my throat.

My reflection smiled back at me. Its black eyes glittered with excitement. It believed it had the upper hand and, in this moment, I believed it too. "I don't think so. I told you the root wouldn't stop me, and I will prove that."

I wiggled under its grip, however I felt my strength fade. It felt as if it was sucking the energy out of me. If I let it, it could finish me right now. But I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't give up too easily. I was a fighter.

"You think that root and stupid Forest Witch stone will stop me? I warned you it wouldn't. The thing is, I'm strong enough to take you on fully. I'm going to take you as my prize. The old Stella will be no more. I think I deserve that after living in your sad little shadow for months."

I tried to push it off me, but was unsuccessful.

It laughed. "Oh Stella, you will enjoy being in the back of my mind. You will get to see us grow into the most powerful being in Churchwell. We will make Churchwell into exactly what we want."

Tears ran down my face as I shook my head. "No." My heart beat faster as I tried to find the strength within me. No one would come to my aid. I need to finish this myself.

What the Umbra Mortine forgot was that this was my mind. I was in control as much as it wanted me to believe otherwise. I couldn't let this be the end. My attention turned back to the Umbra Mortine. If this was as my mind, I should have the upper hand.

For months I let it take control of my dreams, of my thoughts. I let the fear of this thing consume me. Enough was enough. It was my turn to take the lead. It would not push me around any longer. As I exhaled, I shook my head. I wasn't weak and I would show it how strong I could be.

"Don't think you can survive in the world without me," the Umbra Mortine said as worry came over its face.

As I took another breath, I pushed the Umbra Mortine off me. It stumbled backwards, allowing me to push it against a different tree. I was not sure how I would stop it but would not give up this easily.

"I think I'll take my chances," I said as I pushed it against the tree with as much strength as I could muster.

"But Stella, think about this. Do you really want to do this?" It begged.

With my free hand, I pushed it into the Umbra Mortines chest. It cried out in pain as my fingers pushed deeper into its chest. It tried to push me away, but I just pushed back harder. "I should have done this long ago," I said as the Umbra Mortine cracked in front of me.

It screamed as purplish light shined through the cracks in its body. It gave one more attempt to free itself until it suddenly burst into smoke, filling the forested with a blackness.

As the smoke lifted into the air, the clouds above me dispersed. Sun shined above me and as I looked towards the body, it was no longer there. A smile fell on my lips as I looked around one more time to make sure I was all alone. I was. The Umbra Mortine was no more. I could feel it in my bones. I was free.

"Stella, breathe. Open your eyes. Come on!" I heard Gray's voice ring out.

I wiped my head around the forest to find Gray, however, I couldn't see him. There was such emotion in his voice. I wasn't sure how I would get to him, but I needed to find a way.

"Stella, please," Gray cried out.

As he said this, the surrounding forest cracked open like shattered glass. Through the cracks, light shone with brightness. I covered my eyes to shield them from the light.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Gray, staring at me, holding me.