Avery's heart pounded in her chest as she gazed at the crystal . She felt it's power calling to her urging her to take it . But Lyra's warning and Ryker's cautionary words echoed in her mind .
Suddenly , Julian's voice cut through the silence . " Avery , take the crystal . Feel it's power coursing through you . "
Avery hesitated , torn between Julian's urging and Lyra's warning . But as she gazed into Julian's eyes , she saw something there that gave her pause . A glimmer of desperation , a hint of fear .
What was Julian afraid of ? And what did he hope to achieve by giving her the crystal ?
As she pondered these questions , Avery felt a strange sensation wash over her . It was as if the crystal was communicating with her , sending her visions and images that made no sense .
She saw a dark forest , lit only by the light of the full moon . She saw a figure running through the trees , pursued by something unseen . And she saw a great castle looming in the distance , its towers reaching towards the sky like skeletal fingers .
The visions faded , leaving Avery feeling shaken and confused . What did they mean ? And what did the crystal want her to know ?
As she looked up at Julian , she saw that his eyes were gleaming with excitement . " You see , Avery , the crystal is trying to show you the secrets of our world . "
Avery felt a surge of unease as she realized that Julian was right . The crystal was trying to show her something . But what ?
And as she gazed into Julian's eyes , she saw something there that made her blood run cold . A glimmer of madness , a hint of obsession .
What had Julian become obsessed with ? And what would he stop at to achieve his goals ?
The air was thick with tension as Avery hesitated , the crystal's power calling to her like a siren's song . What would she do next ?