POV: THELMA

"It means centuries of accumulated dark magic will flood into you. Every curse she's ever cast, every life she's stolen, every bit of demon essence she's touched. You'll feel all of it, bear the weight of all of it. And there's a very real chance it will corrupt you, turn you into the monster everyone already fears you are."

I stood on shaking legs. "And if I don't?"

"You stay as you are. Safe, numb, useless. Morgana completes her ritual, opens the demon portal, and destroys everything you claim to care about." The Oracle smiled that terrible smile. "But at least you won't feel bad about it."

The...