Hearts at War
662 Words
Chapter 7: Hearts at War
The sky darkened beneath wings of shadow.
Hundreds of creatures circled above the rooftop, their bodies made of smoke and bone, eyes burning like coals. Their cries tore through the storm like knives.
Elias pushed himself upright, wincing.
“I really miss when my biggest problem was rent.”
Lena almost smiled.
Almost.
Selene stood at the roof’s edge, white dress moving in the wind.
“Kneel,” she said to Adrian. “Return to your place beside me, and I may spare the city.”
Adrian’s face remained cold.
“I would burn every throne before standing beside you.”
Selene’s eyes hardened.
“So be it.”
She lifted one hand.
The creatures dove.
“Down!” Lena shouted.
The first wave struck like falling blades.
Adrian’s shadows rose into a black shield, tearing several creatures apart. Lena sent arcs of silver light through the swarm, each strike exploding into sparks across the rain.
Elias ducked behind a vent.
“I am deeply underqualified for this!”
A creature lunged for him.
Before it reached him, Lena spun and blasted it from the air.
“Stay low!”
“Excellent advice! Wish I’d heard it sooner!”
More creatures landed on the roof, claws scraping concrete.
Adrian moved like darkness given form, cutting through them with brutal grace. Every gesture sent shadows spearing through enemies.
Lena watched him for one dangerous second.
He had always been terrifying.
He had also once made her feel safe.
Selene noticed.
“Still staring at him?” she called. “How nostalgic.”
Lena’s anger flared. She hurled a blast of light straight at Selene.
Selene caught it in one palm.
Then crushed it.
The shockwave threw Lena backward.
Elias ran to her side. “You okay?”
“I hate her,” Lena said breathlessly.
“Great. We agree.”
Another scream came from below.
Lena looked over the roof’s edge.
Creatures were descending into the streets now, smashing windows, chasing crowds, flooding the city.
Her heart sank.
“We’re losing time.”
Adrian landed beside them, coat torn, shadows flickering weakly around him.
“The seal weakens faster than expected.”
Selene approached through rain and ash.
“Choose now,” she said to Lena. “Rebind with Adrian and restore his throne—or refuse, and watch this city drown in night.”
Elias looked at Lena.
“What happens if you choose him?”
Adrian answered quietly.
“She would be bound to my world forever.”
“And if she chooses me?” Elias asked.
Selene laughed.
“You would die in the ritual.”
Silence struck harder than thunder.
Lena turned sharply to Adrian. “You said nothing about that.”
“I was trying to find another way.”
“There is no other way,” Selene said. “There never was.”
Elias went pale but held Lena’s gaze.
“If it saves everyone—”
“No.” Lena’s voice cut like steel.
She stepped between both men.
“I am done being traded by courts, seals, bargains, and love.”
The rooftop lights exploded around them.
Wind spiraled upward.
Silver power poured from Lena’s body in waves, brighter than anything she had shown before.
Adrian stared. “Lena…”
“You both keep asking me to choose,” she said, eyes blazing. “So hear my answer.”
The creatures overhead shrieked and scattered.
Selene’s smile finally faded.
Lena lifted her hands to the sky.
“I choose myself.”
The cracked pendant, still in her pocket, flew into the air above them.
Its black stone shattered into a thousand pieces.
A column of silver fire erupted from the roof and shot into the storm clouds.
The whole city shook.
Elias shielded his face.
Adrian reached for Lena.
Selene screamed.
And something ancient beneath the streets began to wake.
End of Chapter 7
Say Chapter 8 when you're ready.
- Writer
