We heard the girl's scream up front.
A loud, piercing wail that shook the very trees.
What type of agony could cause such a scream?
I didn't wait to find out and bolted in the opposite direction of the shriek.
I wasn't going back to that camp. No, I'm going to find a way to survive with Lyra in these woods.
I ran as fast as I could, not looking back to see if something was following me.
The screams suddenly multiplied and grew louder. They were all coming from behind me
My legs were ready to give out, but I kept running, not stopping for a second.
All at once, the screaming stopped. Everywhere went eerily quiet.
It was that type of unsettling quiet like back at the camp. I think whatever this thing was, it got to the soldiers as well.
But there was no screaming at the camp, so it must have drawn them out.
I spotted a small hole and quickly jumped inside, not stopping to think about what could be in there. It had to be safer than whatever was chasing us.
"Lyra, are you okay?" I checked on my sister, worried when she didn't make a sound.
"I'm scared, Sera." She replied, her voice trembling.
"I won't let anything happen to you, Lyra. I promise." I reassured her.
We stayed hidden in the hole until the forest seemed normal again.
I stepped out of the hole and continued running. There should be a pack nearby. I just had to keep going.
As I ran, I noticed the trees thinning out, and more wildlife appearing.
We had to be nearing a pack.
I stopped running as I noticed everywhere was dead quiet.
"No, no ,no," I muttered anxiously.
"Are you okay, Sera?"
"I'm fine, Ly. Just keep calm and shut your eyes tight, okay?" I reassured her, though my own fear was rising.
I searched frantically for a hiding spot but found none in sight.
Coming to a sudden stop, I notice a looming shadow as tall as a tree. It resembled a tree but darker and slimmer.
I ran towards it, hoping I could hide there, but froze at the sight of its glowing eyes.
"A Vesperis," I uttered, trembling with fear.
Vesperis are shape-shifting creatures that feed on fear and despair. They could sense the guilt and pain in one's heart, inducing vivid nightmares of their deepest fear, a method they used to claim lives.
This was what emptied the camp.
These creatures were often used to instill discipline in us when we were young. I never thought they were real.
"Lyra, no matter what happens, close your eyes and don't not be afraid, do you hear me?" I instructed urgently, securing Lyra tightly to my back, getting ready to flee from this menace.
Despite the fear threatening to overwhelm me, I resisted, I wouldn't give this creature something to feed on.
I sprinted away as fast as I could, not daring to glance back and confirm its pursuit.
I ran as fast as I could but I wasn't fast enough to outrun a creature that floats.
It appeared in front of me, and I stood paralyzed, consumed by dread and panic as it drew near.
Its eyes glowed brighter from sensing my fear.
I was stuck there, scared stiff until I heard a scream from behind me.
"Lyra!" Her scream snapped me out of it.
"Lyra! What's wrong?!" I asked, panicking as I untied her.
"Lyra!" A surge of genuine fear coursed through me as I saw my sister's eyes bleeding black.
"Oh gods! Lyra!" I cried out her name repeatedly, feeling helpless.
"Take me!" I screamed at the creature. "Take me instead and let her live! Please, I beg you!" I kept screaming and pleading as tears streamed down my face.
"Please, I beg you! She is just a child! Please take me and spare her!" I pleaded.
Why was nothing happening to me? I was the one feeling all pain and guilt, not Lyra. So why was nothing happening to me?
I kept pleading with the creature but it fell on deaf ears.
Suddenly, Lyra stopped screaming,and her body went limp.
"No, no, no," I repeated, shaking my sister, but she remained lifeless.
"No! No! Lyra, no!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs holding onto her lifeless body.
"Please, I beg you, take me instead! Spare her, please! I beg you!" I kept shouting, my voice echoing through the empty woods as the creature had vanished.
"Lyra, no! Please don't leave me! I would take you anywhere you want to go! I would take you somewhere where you could see the sun again! Please just don't leave me!" I cried out, hoping against hope for a miracle. But my sister remained dead.
"Ahhhhh!!" A primal scream escaped my lips, resonating through the forest.
Lyra was gone, and I was left all alone in this world. The gods, they are so cruel. How could they take everyone I love away from me?
I sat there, tears streaming down my face, holding onto my sister one last time.
Standing up, I sought for a suitable spot and began digging with my bare hands to lay my sister to rest.
I couldn't bury my father, or mother, or brother, but at least I could bury my sister.
I gently placed her in the hole, holding onto her tightly as tears flowed uncontrollably.
"May the moon goddess's light illuminate your path to the underworld, where shadows dance in eternal embrace." I whispered softly.
"May the god of the underworld welcome your soul. In the realm of darkness, may your spirit find peace, fragmented yet whole in the cosmic tapestry. As the night whispers your name, may your essence linger in the starlit void, a fragment of eternity's embrace. "
"I love you so much, Ly." I kissed her forehead as my voice shook. "I will love you to the moon and back. " With a heavy heart, I let her be and covered her.
Sitting by her grave, tears flowing freely, a distant howl pierced the silence.
Driven by fear, I ran. I ran and ran, until my legs couldn't carry me anymore.
Reaching a lake, my racing thoughts slowed.
Why was I running? Why was I trying so hard to survive when everything has been taken away from me? I had no way to go, and no one to go to. So what's the point of living?
Alone and lost, I stepped into the water, it's cold touch a sharp contrast to my numb emotions.
I walked to the deepest part of the lake and just stood there and wept silently.
Drowned in sadness, memories of laughter and love with my family rushed in.
We were the perfect family. We weren't rich, but we were happy.
We were happy, until this war came and ruined everything.
I dunked my head in the water and stayed like that. The water rushed into my lungs, but I didn't pull out.
I remembered my mother's beautiful smile whenever my father got her the tiniest of gifts. I thought of how happy I was when Lyra blurted out her first word. I thought about how proud my father always was of me for the littlest things. I thought about how I always had a smile plastered on my face when my brother carried me around on his shoulders.
A faint smile played on my lips as the water filled my lungs and fogged my mind.
"I will see you again, Lyra." I thought to myself.
As darkness enveloped me, I held onto that thought.
SELANARA POV It pains me deeply to watch my oracle go on with her life without me, but oh the joy it fills me with. She was happy, dare I say happier, than she had been when she served me. There was no goddess to burden her life with her problems and needs, her sadness and rage, her love and hate. She was free from that burden in this life, and I wanted it to remain that way. Mortals would do well without the gods mingling in their lives. That was a future I hope to bring about. A future where mortals would have no connections to the gods, where there would be no oracle and envoy. That was what I should have done centuries ago but I was selfish. Now, I had seen that it was the right thing to do. Some gods and goddesses would resist, that was expected, but they would be forced to obey. The immortals liked having a link to the mortal world, a tool to carry out their works, some dirty works included. Why have I not done this sooner? The immortals have polluted the mortal realm eno
SERAPHINA POV I was confused when I blinked open my eyes to see familiar walls surrounding me. Was I still dreaming? Had my dreams been diverted from the past and now to the present?The familiar scent of my room wrapped around me, enveloping me in a warm hug as if telling me welcome.I was back in the palace, but how? How long have I been asleep?I searched my mate bonds for my mates and it seems they were nearby because it responded immediately. Not long after there was a knock on my door and my men entered inside."The sleepy beauty finally awakes," Aric said as he leaned in to kiss my forehead. I smiled up at him. "Hi." He smiled back.Kaelan and Rion took their turn kissing me before they sat, waiting. "How am I in the palace?""Well, we carried you on a horse and rode here," Rion said, with a smirk on his face. "Fast, if I may add."I rolled my eyes at him and turned to Kaelen, knowing he'll give me the answers I needed. "You've been asleep for two weeks," Kaelan said, his voi
NYMERIA POV (Two centuries ago)"You look brighter than the sun in that dress, my pretty," Varrik teases, a small smile on his face.I giggled. "Oh stop being silly, you." The dress I was wearing was the exact opposite of bright. I was dressed in a gown as black as the night. It flowed to my feet and pooled at the ground, a long slit that shows my leg when I move at the left side. My black hair was tied up and swept away from my face, showing my neck."Nah. I would say she looks as serene and captivating as the moon," Lysandor added, his arms crossed as he leaned against the pillar. I shot him a look but my smile was wide."It would seem I'm the only one not in a poetic mood today," Myrran said as he stepped into the room and placed a kiss on my forehead."And bless the gods for that small mercy," I said as I turned to face my mates. They were also dressed beautifully, each in their different, unique colors and styles. There wasn't a special occasion today. It was just one of those
RION POV Selanara was strong, stronger than any goddess recorded in history but Malakar seems to be her match. Malakar turned shadows into spears and they went flying towards Selanara.I wasn't going into a panic mood yet because I knew any harm that came to Seraphina's body would be healed when Selanara left her. But still, panic was at the top of my chest as I watched the shadows tore through the air with unholy speed, the jagged tips aimed straight for Selanara’s chest, her heart—her very soul. She couldn’t move fast enough.No! I screamed in my mind.But Selanara’s power surged one last time. With a defiant scream, she thrust her hands forward, and the temple exploded in a torrent of light. The ground shuddered and cracked, sending stone and dust flying into the air as the cosmic force she unleashed sent the shadow spears flying off course.For a moment, I could only watch in awe as Malakar was consumed by the explosion, his figure disappearing into the swirling void of light.
KAELAN POV I stared, stupefied, as Seraphina, no, Selanara, floated off her feet, so she was staring eye to eye with Malakar.My Seraphina was still in there but the goddess was in full control. I knew this wasn't hurting Seraphina in any way—her goddess loved her the way we did, so she wouldn't bring any harm to her.Malakar tried to keep his expression blank but a flicker of something flashed in the god's face, there and gone the next."And how do you intend to end me, my love," Malakar said, his tone flat. "We've had this dance before. It resulted in you losing your name, your legacy, and me being imprisoned. And you losing your name meant no one has been praying to you. You're weak, my sweet."A god grows weak when no one prays to them or offers offerings to them. Selanara being forgotten for centuries meant no one has been praying to her. How she was even standing here was a wonder. It has been recorded in history that three gods have vanished to the void after being forgotten
SERAPHINA POV A ball of darkness formed on Malakar's palm, moving like snakes, darker than the night. He was in front of me before I could blink, slamming his palm onto my chest with so much force, I went flying back.The crash of my fall wasn't what made me scream, nor the crack of my bones that made my eyes water. It was the agonizing pain that ate at me from the insides. The pain was beyond anything I’d ever known—like something was eating me alive from the inside, consuming my flesh and bone. My organs twisted, each breath a fire of searing agony, as though my very soul was being ripped apart. I fell to my knees, gasping, screaming, my body shaking uncontrollably. The darkness burrowed deeper, turning everything inside me to dust. I screamed—raw, desperate—and tears streamed down my face as the torment tore through me with brutal force.Joining this brutal pain, I felt the mate bonds in my chest, their own agony adding to my pain. My mates… My mates…I couldn't bring my head