Chapter 9 Into the Heart of Darkness

The early first distill of light barely touched the forest floor as Alec, Kade, Jax, and Luna packed the last of their supplies. There was tension and buildup for the impending journey ahead. They had laid out the map that Seraphina had given them on a makeshift table, its odd symbols and characters, looming darkly over them whilst they packed.

Alec rolled the map up and locked it up in a waterproof tube. “We should head now,” Alec stated confidently. “The sooner we start, the sooner we can get it done with.”

Kade echoed in as he nodded, crossing his arms. “If we've got food, water, and maybe some basic gear... we can only hope that it is good enough.” 

Jax was penning in the rest of his items; his movements were deserving and pristine. “We just need to be careful. Seraphina was not out of her mind about the dangers.” 

Luna had secured her pack on her shoulder, took a deep gentle breathing process, re-entering a deep level of breathing. She knew this journey was going to be another challenge into what she had learned; of course, she knew she couldn't turn back now. The Nightborne were getting closer, they needed to find the relic before it was too late.

“Everyone set?” Alec asked, looking from person to person.

“Set,” Luna replied, her statements firm—despite the butterflies that ate in her abdomen.

“Let’s go,” Alec stated. 

They proceeded into the forest and the trees began to close in on them as they followed the trail on the map. The path this deep into the foliage could be considered slow going; still they continued, chlorophyll enraged, daring the branches to become obstacles.

Hours later they slowly wandered deeper into the woods, the canopy thickening and the light dimming. The flow of the air turned colder and an uneasy silence surrounded them; even the birds did not dare speak, a specter of foreboding creeping among the branches.

Alec held the map before him, studiously inspecting it. “I think we’re getting close. It should be up ahead.”

Suddenly, Kade paused, raising a hand. “Wait. Something's not right.”

Luna whipped her head around, senses on high alert. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know,” Kade said, scanning the area dispassionately, “but I feel like someone’s watching us.”

Jax put on a serious look. “Stay alert. We’re not alone.”

They moved even more carefully this time, both eying and hearing details they'd been comfortably ignoring just a moment before. The deepening afternoon increased the shadows of the trees thickening around them, and Luna’s heart about to jump out of her rib cage formed ice water that she might vomit onto already trembling nerves.

Without warning, they rounded a bend in the trail; rather, they found themselves unexpectedly drawn out from the thickness nearby where trees parted near their whetted feet, revealing a very large clearing. Among those trees was the ruins of a large stone structure that was partially grown over with vine and moss. The nearness of this dried temple, walls crumbled somewhere on many pillars, softened them all in both frozen unease and unexpected awe.

"There it is," Alec declared, his tone uncertain yet relieved. "The temple."

Drawing nearer to the door, which was a massive archway covered in delicate engravings, they spotted the vines blocking entry. Even the air seemed to wiggle with the low undertones of power.

As Luna crept a little closer, she caught her breath, almost magnetized as the feeling washed over her. "It feels ... alive."

"It's the wards Seraphina was referring to," stated Kade. "They are keeping the temple safe."

Alec approached, scrutinizing the engravings carved into the archway. "We need to gain entry. The map should indicate how."

Nodding once again, Jax pulled out the map and traced it with his thumb like a child playing tic-tac-toe on soot-covered parchment. "There's a series of patterns that match what is here," he remarked with surprise. "We have to manipulate these in order to disable the wards."

Luna watched Alec and Jax work together in silence and confusion as they qualified the carvings and methodically engaged the moveable parts embedded in the archway. It was slow work but after an eternity passed, a nice little click, the wards began to disperse.

The entrance of the temple slowly cracked open behind a specter of dark shadow. A major shiver raced through Luna’s body as she skipped inside, anxiously chilled and drearily breathing in that freshly womb-like everything became.

There was a complicated windy turn of corridors and chambers built of age-rock. The shadows illuminated by torchlight penetrated the situations enveloping her, as the once neglected epoch was incomplete, with the drop of drips resounding chorally.

After Jax was through berating his ignorance from the magic-infused markings, they resumed case wheels ordered by the map that the now-emptied and opening temple led to. They felt enclaved again, under the unbelievably negative otherness and thus.... 

Alec kept his voice low. "Stay close. We still do not know what we are walking into."

They tread lightly. Their senses were alert to everything. With each step, they pulled closer toward the large chamber. According to the map, the relic was in the next room. The room was significant, its high ceilings framed by tons of old stone. In the center of the room, there was an elaborate pedestal. On the pedestal, a beautiful chest made of wood and inlaid with carving and stone rested. The chest was covered in strange symbols and gems.

"There it is," Alec stated, eyes glued to the chest. "The relic is probably inside."

As they approached closer to the pedestal, things began to chirp inside Luna. The immense power she felt accumulated toward the chest almost made her feel like she was floating. The object emanated a pull, and she felt lightheaded from the power emanating from the chest.

"We have to be careful now," Kade said looking around the room scanning, "There may be traps."

Jax stepped forward, poking his head to inspect the chest even closer. Nothing immediately stood out to him, but he added, "there isn't anything I can immediately see, but let's not push it."

"Alright," Alec said with nervous determination, easing the chest open slowly. Forcing it open, inside was a little object worn and old—and glowing and incandescent with energy—a crystal ball.

"This has to be it," Alec said, lifting the ball slowly and cautiously. "The relic."

Luna moved forward gently away from Kade, trying to evaluate the ball. But as she did so, she felt a rush once again build in the chamber. The walls started to shake violently, and yet another growl, this one deeper, echoed from the room.

"Kade, get back!" Alec exclaimed and shoved Luna far enough away from the pedestal.

All of a sudden, it seemed like the shadows in the room were lurching and shifting, the shadows looked like monsters. Dark twisted shapes crept far into the darker corners of the wall. Unnatural beings made entirely of dark and malice broke from the darkness and approached with menacing speed toward them, staring right back at them—their eyes incandescent.

"We have company," Kade said with strained urgency. "Everyone, fight!" 

Alec and Kade morphed into their wolf forms, growling in the room. Jax, still human, was preparing himself with his staff, which he had brought with him. Luna stayed back, her heart racing as she saw the creatures approaching.

The fight was intense. Alec and Kade fought hard, their powerful forms pushing against the shadows. Jax swung the staff quickly, always moving swiftly and with focus. Luna inwardly felt fear and a little adrenaline but wasn’t able to focus completely on the energy that was deep inside her due to the madness of the fight.

Suddenly, one of the shadow creatures jumped at her with its clawed hand extended. Luna barely had time to react, only to feel a strong force come from her body, shooting an energy wave that pushed the creature back. The energy that she felt before pulsed even more controlled and powerful.

“Luna!” Alec yelled above the noise. “Use that energy! We need your help!”

Luna nodded, and began to focus on  what felt like energy inside herself. She opened her hands to release the energy she felt before. The energy felt bright and intense, and she released it in a wave, knocking the shadow creatures backwards.

The shadow creatures shrieked, falling apart, disappearing completely as the energy continued to vibrate throughout the room. Alec and Kade quickly finished off the last remaining shadow beast with their unstoppable ferocity.

After the last shadow creature dissipated, everything went silent in the chamber. Luna, gasping for air, scanned the room, looking at the destruction. Alec and Kade shift back to human form, showcasing their relief and exhaustion on their faces.

“We did it,” Alec said breathlessly. “They’re gone."

Luna was staring at the remains of the relic—the crystal orb that had been resting on the pedestal. The light was still relatively bright, but dimming down. It continued to share a sensation of power, albeit less intense than before. 

"We need to get out of here," Kade said, his focus desperately scanning the chamber around him. "There could be more dangers."

They scurried to gather their things and picked their way back through the labyrinthine passages that made up the temple. The way out was just as treacherous as the way in, but urgency put wind in their sails as they worked through twists and turns.

When they emerged from the temple and stepped onto the grass of the forest, the light of dawn was beginning to peek through the trees. The stress of the previous night pushed back slightly, but danger was still lingering.

Luna felt weighty, but a sense of accomplishment permeated through it. They had the relic, but they didn’t know what awaited them. The Nightborne were searching for them, and their pursuits would only grow more unrelenting now.

Alec put a hand on her shoulder. "We did it. We have the relic, but now we need to figure out what it means and how to find a way to use it against the Nightborne."

Luna nodded, determination settling in her chest. “We’ll figure it out. We have to."

As they were preparing to leave the forest and continue on prospering in their journey, Luna felt that the real test would come next. The Nightborne were still out there, and while they fought tangentially it felt like it wasn’t over.

But somehow having the relic in their possession, and having her own newfound power growing appropriately stronger, Luna knew one thing for certain: they were ready for it.