Page 52 of A Soul’s Awakening

“Of course.” I didn’t even ponder her question or the fact she was only giving me half answers. A soothing feeling stirred inside me, encouraging me to say yes, without even knowing what I was getting myself into. Mandy held out her hand, and we sat down at an empty table in the middle of the crowded cafeteria.

I scanned the space around me. A man with salt-and-pepper hair stirred his soup while chatting with a woman who laughed like she had no care in the world. Both of them were wearing rift warden vests. Another pair shared a sandwich, elbows brushing comfortably. Everything screamed safety, friendliness, routine.

And yet, my skin crawled. Every movement, every glance, felt too controlled. Too precise. What was I missing?

Mandy’s eyes met mine, calm and inviting. “See? Nothing to fear here. You’re safe … for now.”

There it was again. For now. My magic stirred inside me, as if responding to my unease … a warning, but I didn’t know why.

A young girl with braided pigtails approached with two bowls of soup. She couldn’t have been more than sixteen.

“Thanks, Annabelle.”

The freckled teen smiled at Mandy and slipped away.

“You said you needed something from me?” I met Mandy’s gaze as I slurped the steaming bowl of soup. It was surprisingly tasty, the broth light and the chicken tender. My empty stomach happily devoured it.

“Right. Well, you see, your magic is extremely unique,” Mandy said, leaning slightly closer, her voice soft but precise. “It’s powerful … but it’s also volatile. Dangerous when left unchecked. That’s why we brought you here.”

I froze mid-sip, the warmth of the soup suddenly bitter in my mouth. Why did that sound familiar?

“Unchecked?” I asked, my voice low. “What the hell are you talking about? There’s nothing wrong with my magic. How do you even know about my magic, anyway?”

“You practically ‌blew up Salem with your magic. It was hard to ignore.” She tilted her head, expression sympathetic. “Don’t worry. It was covered up as a gas leak. But think about what went wrong. I know your magic protects, yes, but it can also cause significant harm and the second you slip up, the world will turn against you. You can feel it, right? That constant push and pull of your magic wanting to break free? That’s why this sanctuary exists. To guide it. To study it. To help you control it so no one else gets hurt.”

I wanted to protest, to argue, but the words stuck in my throat. Every nerve in my body prickled. Something about her tone, the effortless calm in her eyes, made the idea of listening to her feel … inevitable. My magic thrummed in response, restless, aware.

“People like us,” she continued, sweeping a hand toward the cafeteria, where everyone was eating and chatting in that unnervingly perfect rhythm. “We’ve all … been chosen. Taught. Shaped. It’s not a punishment. It’s preparation. And now, you can be a part of our mission too.”

Why did it sound like I had stumbled into some kind of cult?

“I knew you’d come, Theo. I knew you’d help us.” Mandy reached out again. Not threatening. Not dramatic. Just a light, reassuring touch—two fingers brushing my wrist as she spoke. The instant her skin made contact, my magic spiked, but not in pain, in recognition.

“I knew you looked familiar.” I pulled my hand away, finally coming to my senses.

A memory resurfaced. There was a different hallway with flickering lights. A woman was shaking, her grocery bag spilled across the stairs as she cowered before the Boston Stangler. She looked up at me with pleading eyes and told me those same words. I knew you’d come.

“You tricked me. You acted like you were a victim being attacked by the Boston Stangler. But I never told you my name or anything about my magic, and you said those same words to me back then when I asked if you were okay. You’re Syndicate, aren’t you? You’re all Syndicate. You lured me into your trap to set off that array.”

She leaned back in her chair, her easy personality vanishing with an eye roll. “Well, I guess you’re more than just a pretty face. I knew you’d figure it out sooner or later, but I was hoping the ruse would at least last until tomorrow morning.”

Pain blossomed behind my eyes, a deep, pulsing throb that made my vision swim and my thoughts fracture. “What the fuck did you do to me?”

Mandy shrugged. “Fight it all you want, but mind control is mind control. I planted the spell on you that day you met me in the stairwell, and it’s been slowly growing stronger inside you since. It’s easier if you aren’t aware of it, but even if you are, I can still force you to bend to my will, no matter what kind of weird magic you have. I wasn’t lying, Theo. We do need you. And if you don’t comply, the Syndicate won’t hesitate to go after your friends and the entire city. So why not just do the right thing and agree?”

I rubbed my forehead. “Is that why you’re constantly pinning the city against me? To force me into helping you? If you haven’t noticed, it hasn’t been working.”

“Theo, you are destined for greatness. Why do you waste your talents on those who don’t appreciate them? You could be so much more than you are now if you joined us. Let us help guide you and show you what you’re capable of.”

I suddenly remembered something Caspian once told me. As we were about to head into that club to meet with Leon, he’d said that there were too many people out there who had lost hope. I needed to be their beacon, a leader to those who had no one else to follow.

Ren had warned me that the Syndicate would make my life a living hell, that they’d hit me where it hurt most and drag me to the very bottom until I had no other choice but to crawl to them and beg for their help.

Caspian wanted me to rise into the clouds. The Syndicate wanted to bury me in a grave. I was a threat to them, and I couldn’t be allowed to run free unless I was controlled. They feared me, but not just because of my magical power, but because they knew if things progressed the way they were going, I’d have an army of demons, ghosts, and countless others pledging their support to me. The Syndicate might have been a powerful organization, but they operated in the shadows. They didn’t have that undeniable trust and loyalty of the public to make a difference. Instead, they did it through manipulation, through controlling people like me.

I wouldn’t let things go that far. I jumped to my feet but froze in place.

“I wouldn’t try anything stupid.” Mandy’s gaze drifted across the room. “You’re surrounded by a dozen Syndicate members in this room alone. Not to mention, this place is heavily warded. You’d never make it out alive, and we really do need you alive. What a pity it would be to have someone pluck your magic from your freshly made corpse, especially since we don’t know if anyone else can even wield it. Now sit down.”