Chapter 3: The Awakening

“Focus,” the rogue’s voice was calm but firm, cutting through the storm of thoughts in my mind. "You have to learn to control it."

Control. Control over the power that surged through me like fire in my veins. Every breath felt like an inferno, and every thought was consumed by the overwhelming force that was awakening. My mother’s power—no, my power—was too much for me to grasp, too much for my fragile mind to handle.

I closed my eyes and concentrated. The rogue’s instructions echoed in my ears: channel your anger, but don’t let it control you.

But it was impossible. The anger, the grief, the fear—it all came crashing down on me. The images of my mother, murdered in cold blood by my stepmother, the countless nights spent in silence, the hours of punishment from Lucien—they were all part of the storm inside me.

A crackling sound filled the air. My hands began to tremble as dark tendrils of magic spiraled from my fingertips, swirling around my body in a chaotic dance.

"Focus, Cassia!" the rogue snapped, his voice breaking through the madness. "Don’t let it consume you."

I grit my teeth, but the power didn’t listen. It pulsed, darker and more volatile, feeding off the rage inside me. My vision blurred, and I could feel the edges of myself slipping away, replaced by something far more dangerous.

"You have to control it, or you’ll lose yourself," he warned, his tone tightening with fear.

“Control it?” I whispered bitterly, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. “How do I control something that has controlled me my entire life?”

The rogue stepped closer, his eyes flashing with a warning. "This power is yours. Don’t let the past own you. You’re not your mother, Cassia. You’re not a victim."

The words hit me like a slap. Not a victim. Was that what I was? Could I ever truly escape the curse of my lineage?

My heart pounded in my chest as the power inside me surged again. It was like a flood, drowning me, filling every part of me with its dark energy. And just when I thought I couldn’t take it any longer, the rogue’s voice broke through again, softer now.

“Let it go. Let it flow through you, but don’t be consumed by it. Don’t become it.”

But it was already too late.

With a sharp cry, I released all the power I had been holding back. It burst from my hands in a violent wave, tearing through the air, snapping branches from trees, and sending a shockwave through the clearing. The rogue stumbled back, eyes wide with alarm.

And then there was silence. The aftermath of the explosion left the air thick with tension, but there was no satisfaction in the release. The energy still hummed within me, restless, dangerous.

I stood there, breathing heavily, my body trembling from the exertion. And then I heard it.

A voice. Low, menacing, and far too familiar.

“I didn’t think you’d be foolish enough to provoke this kind of power.”

I froze. My blood turned to ice as I turned toward the source of the voice.

Lucien.

He stepped out of the shadows, his eyes dark with barely contained fury. His usual coldness was gone, replaced by something far more terrifying—a raw intensity, like a predator cornering its prey.

I tried to move, to step back, but the rogue’s hand gripped my arm, holding me steady. “Cassia, don’t.”

I glanced at him, but my gaze was drawn back to Lucien, who was now only a few feet away, his gaze locked on me with an almost predatory hunger.

"You thought you could run?" Lucien's voice was a low growl, his expression unreadable. "You thought you could hide from me?"

My heart raced, and the air around us crackled with tension. I could feel the power inside me, still burning, still untamed. But I was no longer afraid. Not of him, not of the power, not of the future.

"What do you want from me, Lucien?" I demanded, my voice trembling, but filled with a fire I hadn’t known I possessed. “What is it you’re really after?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he took a step closer, his eyes narrowing on my face. “I wanted you to be mine,” he said softly, the words almost gentle. “But it seems you’ve become something far more dangerous than I ever anticipated.”

The rogue’s grip on my arm tightened, and I could feel his unease. But Lucien wasn’t finished. He stepped closer again, his body blocking the path to escape.

"You’re playing a dangerous game, Cassia," Lucien continued, his gaze never leaving mine. "This power you’re so eager to wield—it’s not just your mother’s gift. It’s something more. Something that’s tied to your family’s past. You’ve just scratched the surface. But what you don’t understand is that this power, this magic—it comes with a price."

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Was he threatening me? Or was there more to this than I realized?

"And what exactly do you think you can do with that power, hmm?" Lucien's lips curled into a twisted smile. "Do you honestly believe you can defeat me? Control me?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but the rogue stepped in front of me, his stance protective. “You’ve underestimated her for too long, Lucien. She’s not the weak, frightened girl you thought she was.”

Lucien’s eyes flicked to the rogue, narrowing with suspicion. “And who are you to speak for her?” His tone was cold, calculating.

The rogue didn’t flinch. “I’m someone who’s been watching, waiting for the right moment. And now that moment’s here.”

For a long moment, there was silence. The tension in the air was suffocating, and every muscle in my body was taut, ready for whatever was coming next.

Lucien’s gaze flicked back to me, and for the first time, I saw something like doubt flicker in his eyes.

“I don’t know what game you’re playing at, Cassia," Lucien said, his voice softer now. "But you can’t win. Not against me.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but then the air shifted again—this time, not with power, but with something far more sinister.

A howl echoed in the distance. Low, mournful, and full of rage.

Lucien’s eyes flickered toward the sound, and his expression darkened. He looked back at me, his jaw clenched tightly.

“This is far from over,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “You’ve awakened something that you can’t control. And now, you’ll pay the price.”

Before I could react, he turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving me standing there, feeling more uncertain than ever.

I looked at the rogue, my heart pounding in my chest. “What did he mean by that? What have I unleashed?”

The rogue didn’t answer right away. Instead, he gave me a somber look, his face filled with unease.

“I don’t know,” he said quietly. “But we need to get out of here. Now.”

And just as I turned to leave, the sound of footsteps reached my ears—slow, deliberate, and unmistakably close.

“Cassia…” Lucien’s voice echoed from behind me, cold and terrifying. “You can’t escape this time.”