Dominic’s grip on my hand tightened as if anchoring me to the present. I leaned into his warmth, drawing strength from his steady presence, even as my thoughts spiraled into the unknown."Is there a way to defeat him?" I asked, my voice trembling. "To stop this shadow from taking control of me?"Celeste regarded me with a mixture of sympathy and something colder—determination. "Defeating the shadow isn’t as simple as wielding power against it. This force thrives on your fear, your doubts. To overcome it, you must confront what you fear most… and accept every part of who you are. The light, the dark, and everything in between."The words made my stomach twist. Confronting the darkness inside me? Facing the parts of myself I’d buried and avoided? I wasn’t sure if I was ready—or if I ever would be.Dominic spoke up, his voice firm. "She’s not doing this alone." His gaze burned into Celeste. "Whatever she has to face, I’ll be there."Celeste raised an eyebrow, an almost amused smile tuggi
Celeste glanced at me, her lips pressed into a thin line. "The shadow isn’t working alone. It has allies—beasts born from magic long forgotten. That howl came from one of them, a tracker sent to find Elise. They’re relentless and will stop at nothing to bring her to the shadow."I swallowed hard, my heart racing. "So how do we stop it?""You don’t," Celeste said bluntly. "Not yet. These creatures are bound to the shadow's will. Killing them is nearly impossible unless you sever the connection at its source.""Then what do we do?" Dominic demanded, his voice sharp."We run," Celeste said simply. "For now."Dominic didn’t look pleased, but he didn’t argue. He grabbed my hand, his touch steadying me even as panic threatened to take over."Let’s move," he said, his tone leaving no room for debate.We plunged into the forest, the faint glow from the pursuing beast growing brighter behind us. The sound of branches snapping and heavy footsteps echoed, each noise closer than the last. My ches
As we crossed the threshold into the chasm, a bone-deep chill seeped into my body. The air was thick and oppressive, carrying whispers that I couldn’t quite decipher. Each step forward felt heavier, as if the darkness itself was trying to hold us back.Dominic kept my hand firmly in his, his warmth a stark contrast to the cold that surrounded us. Celeste walked ahead, her staff glowing faintly with a protective light that pushed back the encroaching shadows.“This place is alive,” she murmured, her voice tense. “The shadow’s essence is everywhere. Stay close, and whatever you do, don’t listen to the whispers.”I glanced at Dominic, who gave me a reassuring nod. His grip tightened, silently promising that he wouldn’t let anything happen to me.The ground beneath us shifted, and the faint light from Celeste’s staff illuminated jagged rocks and veins of an eerie, pulsating red substance. The whispers grew louder, more insistent, like a thousand voices speaking at once. My head throbbed a
Dominic instinctively stepped in front of me, his sword raised. The doppelgänger let out a low chuckle, her red eyes gleaming with a mix of mockery and malice.“Oh, Dominic,” she said, her voice eerily identical to mine but laced with venom. “Always so protective. But tell me—how will you protect her from herself?”I stared at her, my heart pounding. “Who are you?”She tilted her head, her gaze piercing. “I’m you, Elise. Or rather, the part of you you’ve been so desperate to deny.”“That’s not possible,” I whispered, though the crackling energy in the air told me otherwise.“Possible?” she sneered. “You’re standing in a realm where time bends, shadows walk, and your power defies reality—and you question what’s possible?”Dominic’s grip on his sword tightened. “Whatever game this is, it ends now.”The doppelgänger’s smile widened. “You’re welcome to try, knight.” She lifted a hand, and the air around us thickened. Shadows coalesced into twisted forms, circling us like predators closing
The shadows closed in around me, suffocating and endless. My pulse thundered in my ears as the figure disappeared, leaving me in the void. My heart ached with the sudden absence of Dominic, the strength of his presence now replaced with a cold emptiness.“Dominic,” I whispered, my voice trembling.Just as panic threatened to consume me, the darkness gave way to a faint glow. It was dim at first, like a flicker of a candle, but it grew steadily brighter until I could make out my surroundings.I stood in a meadow bathed in soft, golden light. The air smelled of wildflowers, the breeze warm and comforting. And there, just a few steps away, stood Dominic.“Dominic!” I cried, rushing toward him.He turned at the sound of my voice, and relief washed over his face. Before I could reach him, he closed the distance between us, pulling me into his arms.“Elise,” he murmured, his voice raw with emotion. “You’re safe.”I clung to him, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. “I thought I
The chamber trembled as the scenes began to take on a life of their own, flickering like a projection on unstable film. Dominic gripped my hand tighter, his knuckles white."Don't let go," he murmured, his voice steady despite the chaos around us.The image of Dominic in old-world attire shifted, and I realized the figure beside him—beside the other me—was a man I didn’t recognize. He was tall, dark, and imposing, his presence radiating an ominous energy.“Who is he?” I asked, unable to tear my eyes away.Dominic’s jaw clenched. “I don’t know,” he said, though his tone betrayed uncertainty.The mocking man stepped closer, his smirk widening. “Ah, but he does,” he said, his voice dripping with malice. “Don’t you, Dominic?”“I don’t play your games,” Dominic growled, his tone deadly.The figure chuckled, the sound echoing unnaturally. “Oh, but this isn’t a game. This is the truth you sought.”The scene shifted again, faster this time, flashes of moments I couldn’t place. A roaring fire.
The tremors grew stronger, the rumbling sound deepening into a deafening roar. Dominic’s hand found mine, his grip firm and steady, but his face betrayed the turmoil beneath his calm exterior.“Elise, stay close to me,” he commanded, his voice sharp, cutting through the chaos. “No matter what happens, don’t let go.”Before I could respond, the ground beneath us cracked, a jagged fissure snaking its way toward us with unnatural speed. A gust of cold wind erupted from the rupture, carrying with it an eerie, otherworldly chill that made the hairs on my arms stand on end.Out of the shadows, figures began to emerge—tall, cloaked beings with glowing eyes that seemed to pierce straight through me. They moved silently, their presence heavy and suffocating, as though the air itself recoiled from their existence.“Dominic...” My voice was barely above a whisper, my chest tight with fear.“I see them,” he replied, his tone grim. He stepped in front of me, shielding me with his body. “This is wh
The air hung thick with tension, the portal’s residual energy crackling like static around us. Dominic’s chest rose and fell in rapid breaths, his blade still glowing faintly as he scanned the shadows for any sign of further danger.“Who was that?” I whispered, my voice trembling.He turned to me, his jaw clenched, and hesitated before responding. “A harbinger. They’re messengers of the order, and their appearance means we’re out of time.”“Out of time for what?” I pressed, the weight of his words settling uncomfortably in my chest. “You need to stop keeping things from me, Dominic. I need to know what’s happening.”Dominic sheathed his blade with a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his hair, his usual calm facade cracking. “There’s a prophecy,” he admitted reluctantly. “One that speaks of a being with the power to tear down the veil between worlds—or strengthen it forever. That being... is you.”The world seemed to tilt beneath my feet. “Me?” I echoed, my voice barely audible. “
He stopped abruptly, turning to face me. The dim light of his flashlight illuminated the sharp angles of his face, his expression fierce and unyielding. “This is not your fault, Elise. Whatever happened to Caleb, whatever choices he made, they’re his responsibility. Don’t let him make you think otherwise.”I swallowed hard, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill over. “But I—”“No,” Dominic interrupted, stepping closer. His free hand cupped my face, his thumb brushing away the tear that escaped. “You are not to blame for this. Do you hear me?”I nodded, unable to speak, and he leaned in, his forehead resting against mine. For a brief moment, the chaos around us seemed to fade, leaving only the sound of our breaths mingling in the confined space.“You’re not alone in this,” Dominic murmured, his voice softer now. “We’ll get through it together. I promise.”The moment lingered, his words settling over me like a warm blanket against the cold fear gnawing at my insides. But th
The air in the cave grew impossibly heavy, every breath I took scraping like sandpaper against my lungs. The voice, low and chilling, reverberated in my ears. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the stranger who had stepped from the shadows.It was Caleb.He was supposed to be dead.Dominic’s flashlight beam fixed on him, the light reflecting off his pale, angular features. His once-kind eyes now glinted with something cruel and unfathomable. He wasn’t just alive—he was thriving in the darkness, as though the years had forged him into something colder, harder.“Caleb?” I whispered, barely able to believe it. “How—?”His lips curved into a thin smile. “Surprised to see me, Elise? I’d imagine you would be, considering you left me for dead.”“That’s not true!” I shot back, my voice breaking with shock and confusion. “We thought you were gone. We searched for you—”“Save your lies,” Caleb interrupted, his tone dripping with disdain. “You moved on. Just like that. And now, here you are, wrap
The respite didn’t last long. The faint light of dawn began to filter through the canopy of trees, and with it came the weight of what lay ahead. Dominic and I stood side by side, our gazes fixed on the horizon where the enemy's stronghold awaited.He adjusted the bandage on his arm, wincing slightly. “We need to move before they regroup. If they track us here, we’ll lose our advantage.”I nodded, though my mind lingered on the fleeting tenderness we had just shared. It felt fragile, like something that might shatter under the weight of our mission. Still, the memory of his kiss was a flame I carried with me, warming the cold edges of my resolve.As we made our way through the dense forest, the silence between us was heavy but not uncomfortable. Dominic’s presence beside m
The air hung thick with tension, the portal’s residual energy crackling like static around us. Dominic’s chest rose and fell in rapid breaths, his blade still glowing faintly as he scanned the shadows for any sign of further danger.“Who was that?” I whispered, my voice trembling.He turned to me, his jaw clenched, and hesitated before responding. “A harbinger. They’re messengers of the order, and their appearance means we’re out of time.”“Out of time for what?” I pressed, the weight of his words settling uncomfortably in my chest. “You need to stop keeping things from me, Dominic. I need to know what’s happening.”Dominic sheathed his blade with a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his hair, his usual calm facade cracking. “There’s a prophecy,” he admitted reluctantly. “One that speaks of a being with the power to tear down the veil between worlds—or strengthen it forever. That being... is you.”The world seemed to tilt beneath my feet. “Me?” I echoed, my voice barely audible. “
The tremors grew stronger, the rumbling sound deepening into a deafening roar. Dominic’s hand found mine, his grip firm and steady, but his face betrayed the turmoil beneath his calm exterior.“Elise, stay close to me,” he commanded, his voice sharp, cutting through the chaos. “No matter what happens, don’t let go.”Before I could respond, the ground beneath us cracked, a jagged fissure snaking its way toward us with unnatural speed. A gust of cold wind erupted from the rupture, carrying with it an eerie, otherworldly chill that made the hairs on my arms stand on end.Out of the shadows, figures began to emerge—tall, cloaked beings with glowing eyes that seemed to pierce straight through me. They moved silently, their presence heavy and suffocating, as though the air itself recoiled from their existence.“Dominic...” My voice was barely above a whisper, my chest tight with fear.“I see them,” he replied, his tone grim. He stepped in front of me, shielding me with his body. “This is wh
The chamber trembled as the scenes began to take on a life of their own, flickering like a projection on unstable film. Dominic gripped my hand tighter, his knuckles white."Don't let go," he murmured, his voice steady despite the chaos around us.The image of Dominic in old-world attire shifted, and I realized the figure beside him—beside the other me—was a man I didn’t recognize. He was tall, dark, and imposing, his presence radiating an ominous energy.“Who is he?” I asked, unable to tear my eyes away.Dominic’s jaw clenched. “I don’t know,” he said, though his tone betrayed uncertainty.The mocking man stepped closer, his smirk widening. “Ah, but he does,” he said, his voice dripping with malice. “Don’t you, Dominic?”“I don’t play your games,” Dominic growled, his tone deadly.The figure chuckled, the sound echoing unnaturally. “Oh, but this isn’t a game. This is the truth you sought.”The scene shifted again, faster this time, flashes of moments I couldn’t place. A roaring fire.
The shadows closed in around me, suffocating and endless. My pulse thundered in my ears as the figure disappeared, leaving me in the void. My heart ached with the sudden absence of Dominic, the strength of his presence now replaced with a cold emptiness.“Dominic,” I whispered, my voice trembling.Just as panic threatened to consume me, the darkness gave way to a faint glow. It was dim at first, like a flicker of a candle, but it grew steadily brighter until I could make out my surroundings.I stood in a meadow bathed in soft, golden light. The air smelled of wildflowers, the breeze warm and comforting. And there, just a few steps away, stood Dominic.“Dominic!” I cried, rushing toward him.He turned at the sound of my voice, and relief washed over his face. Before I could reach him, he closed the distance between us, pulling me into his arms.“Elise,” he murmured, his voice raw with emotion. “You’re safe.”I clung to him, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. “I thought I
Dominic instinctively stepped in front of me, his sword raised. The doppelgänger let out a low chuckle, her red eyes gleaming with a mix of mockery and malice.“Oh, Dominic,” she said, her voice eerily identical to mine but laced with venom. “Always so protective. But tell me—how will you protect her from herself?”I stared at her, my heart pounding. “Who are you?”She tilted her head, her gaze piercing. “I’m you, Elise. Or rather, the part of you you’ve been so desperate to deny.”“That’s not possible,” I whispered, though the crackling energy in the air told me otherwise.“Possible?” she sneered. “You’re standing in a realm where time bends, shadows walk, and your power defies reality—and you question what’s possible?”Dominic’s grip on his sword tightened. “Whatever game this is, it ends now.”The doppelgänger’s smile widened. “You’re welcome to try, knight.” She lifted a hand, and the air around us thickened. Shadows coalesced into twisted forms, circling us like predators closing
As we crossed the threshold into the chasm, a bone-deep chill seeped into my body. The air was thick and oppressive, carrying whispers that I couldn’t quite decipher. Each step forward felt heavier, as if the darkness itself was trying to hold us back.Dominic kept my hand firmly in his, his warmth a stark contrast to the cold that surrounded us. Celeste walked ahead, her staff glowing faintly with a protective light that pushed back the encroaching shadows.“This place is alive,” she murmured, her voice tense. “The shadow’s essence is everywhere. Stay close, and whatever you do, don’t listen to the whispers.”I glanced at Dominic, who gave me a reassuring nod. His grip tightened, silently promising that he wouldn’t let anything happen to me.The ground beneath us shifted, and the faint light from Celeste’s staff illuminated jagged rocks and veins of an eerie, pulsating red substance. The whispers grew louder, more insistent, like a thousand voices speaking at once. My head throbbed a