The Earth whirled as I fell into the abyss. Frosty wind rushed against my face, my hands reaching out for something to hold. My wolf instincts howled, yet all I felt was the sensation of freefall. A sudden jolt halted my fall. Agony surged through my shoulder as I hung from a stony ledge. Above, Dahlia's laughter resonated like a storm. "Wait a moment, Daisy!" Lucian’s voice echoed from a higher location. "I'm not leaving," I yelled in response, even though my hold was weakening. Kai's face emerged from the edge, his hand extended. "Grab it!" I extended, exerting all my strength. His fingers brushed against mine, but an abrupt roar trembled the cliffside. The stone split underneath me, and I fell deeper into the void. I struck the ground with a jolting thump. I was engulfed by darkness. My body ached, yet nothing seemed fractured. With a groan, I turned over and attempted to get my bearings. "Daisy?" Lucian’s voice sounded, weak and far away. "I'm still here!" I yelled in repl
The cave hummed with suspense as Dahlia's shape appeared from the darkness. The massive wolf towered behind her, ominous and threatening, its golden eyes glimmering with malicious intent. I tightened my fists, the lingering energy from the ordeal still pulsating in my veins. "Didn’t think you’d run into me this quickly?" Dahlia’s voice resonated, sleek and scornful. She approached nearer, her movements intentional. "You cleared your small exam." "I'm nearly impressed." “What brings you here?” I insisted, moving ahead. My voice remained calm, yet my heart raced loudly. Dahlia angled her head, grinning. "To help you remember your position." Do you believe that a spark of power alters your identity, Daisy? You remain the Omega. "Yet the less strong twin." Kai laughed dismissively, moving next to me. “Is this the moment when you bore us to death with a monologue?” “Since we have destinations to reach.” Dahlia's wolf growled, and the cave appeared to tremble with its snarl. Kai recoil
The darkness surrounding me seemed vibrant. They slithered up my legs, icy and relentless, as if they were driven by their own will. My heart raced as Dahlia moved nearer, her wolf following her, its amber eyes shining in the faint, heavy light of this dark realm. "Well, Daisy," she started, her tone silky and teasing. “Are you sensing it?” "That small spark of energy I’ve granted you?" I fought against the darkness, staring at her fiercely. "You didn't provide me with anything." "What have you done to me?" She inclined her head, pretending to be innocent. "Come on now." "Don't say you haven't seen how they react to you." She pointed to the twisting shadows beneath me. “They recognize their master.” "They don't belong to me!" I spit, wrenching my legs loose. I staggered back, yet the mark on my arm throbbed, and the shadows trailed, wrapping around me like a second layer. Dahlia chuckled, the noise reverberating oddly. "Refuse to acknowledge it as much as you like, but the eviden
The world returned in pieces, noises, followed by brightness, and then the chill. My body hurt as if I had been tossed in a tempest. My hands struck wet, irregular terrain while I gasped for air, shadows still winding around my wrists like serpentine chains. “Daisy!” Lucian’s voice was far away yet piercing enough to cut through the fog. I raised my head. The shadows encircling me twisted as though perceiving my motion. I trembled, attempting to rid myself of them. They remained unmoved. I listened as heavy footsteps rushed toward me, accompanied by a recognizable voice shouting, “Take her out of there!” Kai. Before I had a chance to respond, Lucian’s hand seized my shoulder. His face came into sharp focus, the marks of concern carved deeply. “Daisy, are you able to stand?” "I believe so," I whispered. I wobbled while attempting to rise. The shadows initially fought back but then… moved. It felt as though they supported my ability to stand. Kai came to a halt beside us, a combi
I struck the ground with such force that the breath was expelled from my lungs. The shadows ejected us as if we were just worthless refuse. I turned onto my back, struggling for breath, my body hurting everywhere. “Daisy?” Lucian’s voice pierced the haze in my mind. "Still alive," I rasped. Kai emitted a groan from somewhere on my left. "Can anyone clarify why plummeting into darkness must feel like being pushed off a mountain?" "Twice?" I compelled myself to sit upright. My hands shook while I dusted off my clothing. The air around us seemed cleaner and lighter, yet the tension in my chest wouldn't subside. We had left the Shadow Veil, yet I sensed this was merely the start. Lucian’s keen eyes surveyed the open area. "We have returned." "Back to where?" I whispered. "Pack area," he said, his jaw tense. "Close to the council premises." Kai's eyes grew large. "Ah, wonderful." “Since we certainly required a family gathering at this moment.” Lucian cast him a fierce look. "It is
I was unable to move. Dahlia’s voice resonated in my mind like a rhythmic thump, sending chills down my spine. “I’m coming for you, sister.” Lucian seized my shoulders, his tone pointed. "Hi Daisy!" What did you listen to?” I looked at him, struggling to push the words out. "She is near, Lucian." Dahlia has arrived. Kai, who had been anxiously walking behind us, came to a stop mid-step. “Hold on, this place?” "Is she like observing us from the trees, honing her wicked villain knife?" A deep growl emanated from Lucian's throat. "We have run out of time." "We have to alert the others." I tripped ahead as Lucian urged me to move, my legs acting on their own while my thoughts whirled. My sister, my twin, was arriving. And with her arrived something much more dreadful than any warning howl or council threat. Kai ran next to me, panting heavily. "Daisy, do you sense her, like an eerie twin telepathy thing?" "Yes," I murmured, my heart constricting. “It feels as though she’s tugging a
Like a storm, the shadows closed in. My vision was blurry. I was having trouble breathing. "Daisy!" The roar of Lucian's voice came from a distance. In an attempt to navigate the dense, whirling blackness, I turned to face him. However, it was useless. The shadows of Dahlia had a life of their own and wound themselves about my feet like snakes. Suffocatingly cold, they pulled at me. Her voice then broke through the commotion. Easy. managed. "Sister, why resist it? This is our power. To you. There was something old and shaky in me that her words tugged at. I gave a headshake. "You're not correct!" A glimmer of light broke through the darkness. When Lucian approached me, his voice was fierce and his claws tore at the darkness. "Daisy, stay with me!" The shadows hissed and backed away as I took hold of his hand, his warmth securing me. Dahlia, however, continued. "Oh, how lovely." The blackness swirled about her like a living entity as she took a step closer. "Lucian is a
The earth was dark. I was drifting in emptiness, a burden resting on my chest. My arms couldn't shift. My legs felt numb. I wasn’t even certain I was inhaling. “It’s finished, sister.” Dahlia’s voice resonated in my thoughts like an eerie tune. She was all around, her voice, her influence, her strength. And I? I was caught. Once more. “Daisy!” Lucian's voice hit me like a punch, slicing through the fog. All at once, brightness pierced the obscurity. My lungs surged to life, and I gasped for a quick, stinging breath. I gasped as I opened my eyes. "At last!" Kai's face loomed above me, reddened and agitated. “You are living.” "I believed we had lost you." I sat up, moaning as the ache in my body overwhelmed me. My arms felt as heavy as metal. My head ached. All around, the camp was a frenzy, flames roaring, fighters yelling, the atmosphere heavy with the iron odor of blood. "What occurred?" My voice was raspy. Lucian showed up, his face marked with grime and lines of red. “Dahl
The earth was dark. I was drifting in emptiness, a burden resting on my chest. My arms couldn't shift. My legs felt numb. I wasn’t even certain I was inhaling. “It’s finished, sister.” Dahlia’s voice resonated in my thoughts like an eerie tune. She was all around, her voice, her influence, her strength. And I? I was caught. Once more. “Daisy!” Lucian's voice hit me like a punch, slicing through the fog. All at once, brightness pierced the obscurity. My lungs surged to life, and I gasped for a quick, stinging breath. I gasped as I opened my eyes. "At last!" Kai's face loomed above me, reddened and agitated. “You are living.” "I believed we had lost you." I sat up, moaning as the ache in my body overwhelmed me. My arms felt as heavy as metal. My head ached. All around, the camp was a frenzy, flames roaring, fighters yelling, the atmosphere heavy with the iron odor of blood. "What occurred?" My voice was raspy. Lucian showed up, his face marked with grime and lines of red. “Dahl
Like a storm, the shadows closed in. My vision was blurry. I was having trouble breathing. "Daisy!" The roar of Lucian's voice came from a distance. In an attempt to navigate the dense, whirling blackness, I turned to face him. However, it was useless. The shadows of Dahlia had a life of their own and wound themselves about my feet like snakes. Suffocatingly cold, they pulled at me. Her voice then broke through the commotion. Easy. managed. "Sister, why resist it? This is our power. To you. There was something old and shaky in me that her words tugged at. I gave a headshake. "You're not correct!" A glimmer of light broke through the darkness. When Lucian approached me, his voice was fierce and his claws tore at the darkness. "Daisy, stay with me!" The shadows hissed and backed away as I took hold of his hand, his warmth securing me. Dahlia, however, continued. "Oh, how lovely." The blackness swirled about her like a living entity as she took a step closer. "Lucian is a
I was unable to move. Dahlia’s voice resonated in my mind like a rhythmic thump, sending chills down my spine. “I’m coming for you, sister.” Lucian seized my shoulders, his tone pointed. "Hi Daisy!" What did you listen to?” I looked at him, struggling to push the words out. "She is near, Lucian." Dahlia has arrived. Kai, who had been anxiously walking behind us, came to a stop mid-step. “Hold on, this place?” "Is she like observing us from the trees, honing her wicked villain knife?" A deep growl emanated from Lucian's throat. "We have run out of time." "We have to alert the others." I tripped ahead as Lucian urged me to move, my legs acting on their own while my thoughts whirled. My sister, my twin, was arriving. And with her arrived something much more dreadful than any warning howl or council threat. Kai ran next to me, panting heavily. "Daisy, do you sense her, like an eerie twin telepathy thing?" "Yes," I murmured, my heart constricting. “It feels as though she’s tugging a
I struck the ground with such force that the breath was expelled from my lungs. The shadows ejected us as if we were just worthless refuse. I turned onto my back, struggling for breath, my body hurting everywhere. “Daisy?” Lucian’s voice pierced the haze in my mind. "Still alive," I rasped. Kai emitted a groan from somewhere on my left. "Can anyone clarify why plummeting into darkness must feel like being pushed off a mountain?" "Twice?" I compelled myself to sit upright. My hands shook while I dusted off my clothing. The air around us seemed cleaner and lighter, yet the tension in my chest wouldn't subside. We had left the Shadow Veil, yet I sensed this was merely the start. Lucian’s keen eyes surveyed the open area. "We have returned." "Back to where?" I whispered. "Pack area," he said, his jaw tense. "Close to the council premises." Kai's eyes grew large. "Ah, wonderful." “Since we certainly required a family gathering at this moment.” Lucian cast him a fierce look. "It is
The world returned in pieces, noises, followed by brightness, and then the chill. My body hurt as if I had been tossed in a tempest. My hands struck wet, irregular terrain while I gasped for air, shadows still winding around my wrists like serpentine chains. “Daisy!” Lucian’s voice was far away yet piercing enough to cut through the fog. I raised my head. The shadows encircling me twisted as though perceiving my motion. I trembled, attempting to rid myself of them. They remained unmoved. I listened as heavy footsteps rushed toward me, accompanied by a recognizable voice shouting, “Take her out of there!” Kai. Before I had a chance to respond, Lucian’s hand seized my shoulder. His face came into sharp focus, the marks of concern carved deeply. “Daisy, are you able to stand?” "I believe so," I whispered. I wobbled while attempting to rise. The shadows initially fought back but then… moved. It felt as though they supported my ability to stand. Kai came to a halt beside us, a combi
The darkness surrounding me seemed vibrant. They slithered up my legs, icy and relentless, as if they were driven by their own will. My heart raced as Dahlia moved nearer, her wolf following her, its amber eyes shining in the faint, heavy light of this dark realm. "Well, Daisy," she started, her tone silky and teasing. “Are you sensing it?” "That small spark of energy I’ve granted you?" I fought against the darkness, staring at her fiercely. "You didn't provide me with anything." "What have you done to me?" She inclined her head, pretending to be innocent. "Come on now." "Don't say you haven't seen how they react to you." She pointed to the twisting shadows beneath me. “They recognize their master.” "They don't belong to me!" I spit, wrenching my legs loose. I staggered back, yet the mark on my arm throbbed, and the shadows trailed, wrapping around me like a second layer. Dahlia chuckled, the noise reverberating oddly. "Refuse to acknowledge it as much as you like, but the eviden
The cave hummed with suspense as Dahlia's shape appeared from the darkness. The massive wolf towered behind her, ominous and threatening, its golden eyes glimmering with malicious intent. I tightened my fists, the lingering energy from the ordeal still pulsating in my veins. "Didn’t think you’d run into me this quickly?" Dahlia’s voice resonated, sleek and scornful. She approached nearer, her movements intentional. "You cleared your small exam." "I'm nearly impressed." “What brings you here?” I insisted, moving ahead. My voice remained calm, yet my heart raced loudly. Dahlia angled her head, grinning. "To help you remember your position." Do you believe that a spark of power alters your identity, Daisy? You remain the Omega. "Yet the less strong twin." Kai laughed dismissively, moving next to me. “Is this the moment when you bore us to death with a monologue?” “Since we have destinations to reach.” Dahlia's wolf growled, and the cave appeared to tremble with its snarl. Kai recoil
The Earth whirled as I fell into the abyss. Frosty wind rushed against my face, my hands reaching out for something to hold. My wolf instincts howled, yet all I felt was the sensation of freefall. A sudden jolt halted my fall. Agony surged through my shoulder as I hung from a stony ledge. Above, Dahlia's laughter resonated like a storm. "Wait a moment, Daisy!" Lucian’s voice echoed from a higher location. "I'm not leaving," I yelled in response, even though my hold was weakening. Kai's face emerged from the edge, his hand extended. "Grab it!" I extended, exerting all my strength. His fingers brushed against mine, but an abrupt roar trembled the cliffside. The stone split underneath me, and I fell deeper into the void. I struck the ground with a jolting thump. I was engulfed by darkness. My body ached, yet nothing seemed fractured. With a groan, I turned over and attempted to get my bearings. "Daisy?" Lucian’s voice sounded, weak and far away. "I'm still here!" I yelled in repl
We emerged from the cave into the soft light of dusk. The woods unfolded ahead, quiet and unsettling. Every noise caused my muscles to tighten. Each shadow appeared to be animated. Lucian kept his sword down, his gaze sweeping over the forest edge. "We're vulnerable here." We have to locate shelter. "Seriously," Kai remarked, tousling his wet hair with a hand. "Could we manage to have five minutes without being pursued, cursed, or lectured on prophecy?" I sighed in exasperation. "Unlikely." "Let's go." The ground under my boots seemed unsteady, as if the earth itself was unsure of what would happen next. The image from the glyph lingered in my thoughts, Dahlia atop a mound of debris, the eclipse engulfing the heavens. “Daisy,” Lucian’s voice brought me back. He was observing me attentively. "Is everything all right?" "Not exactly," I confessed. "However, there's no time for me to break down." Kai laughed without humor. "That's the mindset." "Suppress now, worry later." We vent