Chapter 21: A Shattered ReflectionLuna's shriek echoed across the stillness of the forest as the twisted reflection of herself—this shadowy version—loomed close by with that haunting, cruel smile. It said nothing. It filled all crevices of Luna's mind. Dark Luna stretched her hand toward her, fingers straightened-and all of a sudden she was feeling a tug somewhere within her, yanking her closer to it. Alec and Jax were screaming her name, their voices frantic yet muffled as if miles away, even though they were standing beside her.“This is the time I really needed Kade’s understanding” Alec turned to Jax with a pitiful face. Kade had gone back to seek more knowledge on the Relic.“I know the knowledge he seek will be helpful when he gets back” Jax added.You belong to me.The dark Luna had stopped whispering; it had become a command. Luna's body acted of its own accord, stumbling forth towards the dark figure. She wanted to fight back, but nothing could alter her path, like a strong
Luna felt a perception of floating in the sea of darkness. Air was thick; it felt suffocating, but there was nothing to indicate any motion. Nothing could be seen. She was hanging on to the gentle, slow, rhythmic thud of her pulse - a sound that was strangely compatible with the pulverized night and the darkness coiling around in tandem with her very breath.A weak and distant thought flashed through her mind. Am I dead? But that thought seemed to twinkle and vanish away into the distance, as she felt something - a soft and pulsing heat in the middle of her chest.The relic.Heaviness remained on her chest, a vase burning her from the inside, heavy and extremely hot. That was the only thing that tethered her and kept her from vanishing into the void entirely.A voice-escalating calm and soothing pierced through the suffocating silence."Luna, wake up."It was not dark Luna in this case. It appeared neither to be Alec nor Jax. It felt familiar, yet so distant."Luna," that voice comman
The dogs will be named: Silence and Eternity. The blink will be unending: thus the effigy of hopes and dreams incised into the Tern, lingering for an eternity there-in. Luna's heart raced as she looked back at the clearing, arriving at the crater of a life-shattering decision. In her mind, she replayed Kael's offer over and over while feeling the chill of his gaze, cold and expectant.Embrace or fight darkness.Alec and Jax stood close, the tension between the three a charge in the air. Kade was standing in the shadows, inscrutable, the gold of his eyes betraying an intensity wrought strictly for her.Luna closed her fists, the relic's warmth pulsating against her chest like a warning. Uncertainties fluttered through her mind, torn between the seduction of darkness and her fear of being consumed by it.But she had no chance to respond; a hush of silence permeated the air through Alec’s low, deadly voice: “You can’t actually be considering this?” He had clenched his jaw, and his eyes w
The shadows swallowed them, cold and suffocating: Luna could see absolutely nothing, not even her hands in front of her face. She could sense Alec, Jax, Kade all around her, all of them tense as if a prelude to static which was a little breathtakingly delayed; Before she could resist even that the darkness further in a codified way just grimly closeted in.The pulse thudded in her ears. She forced herself to breathe and some calm within her, remnants of the laughter of the woman-"When you will embrace the darkness with your arms, the world shall bow before you"-threatened to clutch at her within a vise."Luna!" A sharp voice came through the void, streaked with urgency. "Stay with us!""I'm here," Luna called back, her voice shaking more than she wished. She reached out her hand, fumbling in the darkness, until she could feel his. "I'm here."Without warning, the oppressive shadows pulled back; it felt like they were shedding the layers of skin. Luna blinked as her vision cleared, rea
The stillness in the temple was filled with charged air ripe with the scent of old magic and inevitable uncertainty. Standing at the center, Luna paused, her heart swaying a Racing match, bound in-between the flow of power settling in her chest and the neediness of her pack all around her. The relic thumped against her skin, matching a thud for a thud with her heartbeat, urging her to plunge herself into acceptance of the power it wanted to confer on her.Alec was having a very hard time against the coils of shadow holding him. "Luna! Don't listen to them! It's possible to break free!"Jax has managed to rise with difficulty, heart pounding. "They want you under their control; you can hold your own!"But locked with her eyes on Kael's mother, that sharp and frigid woman standing before her, sparkling with her promise of power, she never asked for this, wished for none of it. Deep within her very soul, however, the allure was clear: the darkness swirling in her veins, something she sh
All went silent with some creepy, obscure sound reigning the place of the temple as such frightful and trembling words emanated from Luna while making an equally frightful choice."I choose... neither."Silence followed, punctuated only by Lambert's scintillating hold. Even the shadows willed themselves not to come on. Kael's mother blinked her disbelief, narrowing her cold stare slowly. Elara, Guardian of Light, stepped forward at the surprising conviction of her silver eyes. "Neither? Kael's mother hissed, spitting fire with the venom of the same. "You may not refuse both. This is your fate!”Though her legs were still trembling, Luna stood firm and unwavering now. Her voice was hearty, strong-hearted. "I dare not accept for darkness to flow deep in my veins. Not even the radiant light. I shall choose my own path and find another way."Alec exhaled, relieved, beside her, his gaze softened with admiration. "Oh, Luna..."Kade nodded, and a little smile curled at the corner of his lip
The air outside the temple was rife with dust and havoc. Luna and her company staggered out into the night as the earth continued to quiver underneath their feet, the crumbling remains of the temple throwing wreaths of debris into the air behind them. The once-majestic temple, a trophy of ancient power, was being devoured by itself. A sign of olden times flagging down - and maybe about her future as well, thought Luna. Alec held her arm firmly, yet his eyes reflected concern. "Luna, are you alright? What was that thing back there?" Luna was out of breath and wiping the dirt from her face, "I don't know... I didn't mean for any of this to happen." Jax scrutinized the horizon, his body tense. "Whatever it was, it felt like it was pulling on us, a mix of light and dark. It's unnatural." Kade stepped forward and fixated his gaze on the smoking ruins behind them. "It said the balance has been destroyed. That we should build again. But what does that mean?"Luna shook her head, attempti
With its glowing eyes trained on Luna, the figure of Balance stood before them motionless; it emanated power, both dark and light. The very ground beneath their feet quaked with every step it took. The rest of them shifted nervously, glancing between balancing force and Luna, their hopes hinging on the side of the earth. "You have until the next full moon," the figure said, its voice a deep, sonorous blend of male and female tones which reverberated in Luna's chest. "After that, the balance will tip. You must decide before then, or the world will be torn apart by the forces you have unleashed."Luna felt her heartbeat speeding up and understood the weight of those words. Her throat tightened, but she made herself say: "What if I don't choose?"The Balance narrowed its glowing eyes. "The world shall fracture beyond repair. The light and dark will consume all before them, and you, Luna, will be the incendiary which ignites this horror. Nobody, in fact, will remain standing, not even th
"Then how do we pass it?" Kade asked, his voice tight with barely suppressed anger."We face it," Luna said, stepping forward despite Alec’s protest. Her voice steadied as she spoke to the figures. "If you’re here to test us, then let us prove ourselves. No more games."The figures all seemed to tilt their heads slightly, as if pondering her words. At last, one spoke. "Very well, Moonbearer, but know this: truth is a two-edged sword."The shadows receded a bit, but not enough to feel safe. The room changed again. This time, it was an oval arena with walls lined with mirrors. Each reflected a distorted version of their faces: anguish, rage, and despair."Choose," the voices said. "Look into the mirror that calls to you, and face what you fear most."Luna hesitated, her heart racing. The others were throwing worried looks around the group."This is insane," Jax said softly, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides."No," Luna whispered, matching his gaze. "This is our way forwa
Jax’s voice was softer now but still laced with uncertainty. “For what it's worth, I’m not going anywhere either.”Kade nodded silently and his presence a steady anchor.Even Morgana gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. “For now.”Luna looked at each of them as her heart ached with gratitude and fear. "Thank you. All of you."Before anyone could respond, the ground beneath them trembled a bit and there was a faint sound of a distant drum.“Now what?” Jax muttered, drawing his weapon.The mist in front parted to reveal a huge stone door covered with delicate symbols that appeared to glow faintly.“The Veil’s core,” Morgana whispered, her expression uncharacteristically serious.Luna stepped forward, her heart pounding. “What’s behind it?”She caught Morgana’s gaze, and this time there was a sincere note in her voice that was unexpected. “The truth.”Her hand reached out to the door, without laying on it a voice as if it from nowhere pierced her heart.“Luna…” That was her mother's
“I already made my choice,” Luna said firmly.“Have you?” the figure asked, almost mournfully. “Your heart is divided. It carries the weight of loyalty, love, and trust. Yet beware—hearts that are divided cannot survive under the burden of the Veil.”Alec stepped forward, jaw set. “Leave her alone. She doesn’t need your cryptic warnings from some ghost.”The figure turned its glowing gaze toward Alec. "And you, Protector, what will you do when the Moonbearer's light burns too bright for you to stand beside her?"Alec’s expression darkened, but before he could retort, the figure turned its gaze to Jax. “And you, Guardian of the Spirit. For how long will you mask your insecurities with wit?”Jax flinched, his mask of confidence faltering.“And Kade,” the figure said, turning to the silent warrior. “Do you ever intend to release the shackles of guilt, or will it drag you down into the darkness?”“Enough!” Luna shouted, her voice slicing through the tension. “You don’t know us. You don’t
Corvin's smirk evapor, and for the first time, his face turned solemn. "The Moonbearer’s power is not a blessing, but a curse. To wield it is to become well beyond the norm, half the world more than likely would not recognize. It means sacrifices."“What sacrifices?” Luna demanded.He pointed to her friends. “The connections you’ve built. The life you’ve lived. The love you’ve discovered. It all could be lost.”Alec stepped forward, his voice resolute. "Luna, you need to listen to me. We're going to take on whatever we do together. Don't let him frighten you into the wrong choice."Corvin’s gaze flicked to Alec, and his silver eyes narrowed. “You say that now, but wait until she turns into something you can’t protect anymore. Something you can’t even begin to understand?”“I’ll take that risk,” Alec said without hesitation.Luna’s world turned to mud as she looked at the people who had shaped her world. Alec, Jax, Kade, even Morgana with her sick twist had been part of her story. And
Luna turned to Alec, her voice shaking. "What is he talking about?"Alec’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t answer.Jax stepped in, his voice calm but thick with guilt. "It's true. We swore to protect you, but... part of that oath was to keep certain things from you. Things about your parents and their connection to the prophecy. Luna, it's the same prophecy and truth that all these people are always referring to".Luna felt as if her heart was sinking. “You knew it? This whole time you knew it and said nothing. That is my pain”.“We didn’t want you to be burdened with it,–” Alec began with a pleading voice. “You already had so much trouble, Luna. We thought it was the correct decision to make.”“Right for who?” she snapped, her eyes blazing with anger. “For me or for yourselves?”Kade stepped forward. "Luna, they were trying to protect you. We all were. That doesn't make it right, but their intentions were good.""I don't care about intentions!" she yelled, her voice cracking. "I care abo
“Who the hell are you?” Kade demanded, stepping forward, his blade raised:The figure laughed, a sound laced with bitter sarcasm. "You may call me Corvin. I've been waiting a long time for this moment to arrive."Luna’s blood ran cold. “Waiting for what?”"Then the truth shall come out," said Corvin as his hood fell back revealing a jagged angular face and piercing silver eyes. "And then you'll find out who your friends actually are."“What are you talking about?” Alec growled, his body tense.Corvin's eyes zeroed in on Alec and Jax, his grin spreading. “Oh, don’t pretend you don’t know. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”Luna’s heart pounded. “What is he saying?”Alec felt Luna's pain and shook his head. "Luna, don't listen to him. He's just trying to play with your mind."“Am I?” Corvin said, feigning ignorance. “Or am I simply revealing the truth they’ve been hiding from you all along?”Jax stepped forward, his jaw tight. "You don't know anything about us."Corvin raised a
But Luna couldn't look away. "But it looks like her. It sounds like her...""The Moonbearer has great potential," the figure—her mother’s apparition—said, her eyes glowing with an unnatural light. "But potential means nothing if you cannot control it. You are not yet worthy of the power you seek."Luna shook her head. Her heart was pounding in her chest. “No. I… I am worthy. I can control it.”"You're mistaken," the figure said, her voice rich with a profound resonance. "Luna, you pose a threat to this world. You are its very foundation to ruin."“Stop!” Alec shouted, pulling Luna backwards from the apparition that was getting closer to them. “This isn’t actually happening, Luna. It’s only a test. The Veil is testing you. Don’t believe in it.”But Luna couldn’t look away from the shape of her mother. Those words pierced her heart. Key to its destruction. The exact words that had haunted her since learning about the prophecy.“I don’t want this,” Luna whispered, the tears rising in he
Morgana clasped her hands, her sound making a sharp contrast in the tense silence. “Oh no the drama of every thing...Just like a story book family. That's so sweet.”"Why are you here, Morgana?" Jax snapped. "What do you want?"“I want what I’ve always wanted,” she said, her smile fading. “To see the Moonbearer fulfill her destiny. And to stop those who betrayed us from doing any more harm.”Her gaze settled on Alec and Jax, her features hardening. "They are not whom you think they are, Luna. They are more than your allies. They are your soulmates. Bound to you by destiny, true: but also by their individual choices. And those choices of theirs have not always been virtuous."Luna’s head spun with the weight of Morgana’s words crashing down upon her. “What does that mean?”“It means,” Morgana said, her tone dripping with venom, “that they’re as much your guardians as they are your possible downfall.”Before anyone could make an objection the earth shook as if it would fall to pieces a
She paused and turned to him. “But it seems you have lied to me. Every single one of you. How am I supposed to trust any of you if you continue keeping secrets from me?”Kade stepped forward, his face a mixture of emotions. "Luna, we were just trying to protect you—"“Don’t say that again!” she screamed, her voice wandering amidst the trees. “I am not a child, Kade! I expect the truth however ugly or even painful it is. Perhaps you have never felt completely clueless about your destiny?”The group fell silent, it was so obvious that her words carried great weight.Alec mentioned in a low voice, “I didn't want to lose you,” his eyes gleamed.“You already have,” she whispered, her voice breaking.The wolf’s growl echoed through the forest, drawing their attention.“We should keep moving,” Mira said, her tone uncharacteristically subdued.Luna wiped her eyes and looked away from Alec, following the wolf. The others followed in silence, a sign of the fractures beginning to form in their r