CHAPTER 17
722 Words
THE SECRET UNDER THE STONE
We found the hidden chamber beneath the archive.
There was no door.
Only a staircase carved into the floor.
It descended into darkness.
Riven lit a torch.
Darian stopped him.
"No fire."
"Why?"
"Look."
He pointed toward the walls.
Thousands of tiny symbols covered them.
I recognized some.
Moon markings.
Blood seals.
Ancient protective runes.
"This place was built to contain something," Darian said.
I stared at him.
"Something dangerous?"
"Something powerful."
Riven looked at me.
"Same thing."
We descended.
The air became colder.
At the bottom stood a circular chamber.
In the center was a stone basin filled with black water.
My pendant began vibrating.
I approached.
Darian grabbed my wrist.
"Don't."
I looked at him.
"Why?"
"We don't know what it is."
"I think I do."
I stepped closer.
The water began moving.
Images appeared across its surface.
My mother.
My father.
A younger Cassian.
And someone else.
Councilman Varis.
I froze.
The image showed Varis standing before my father.
My father was on his knees.
Blood covered his face.
Varis held a document.
"You have one choice," he said.
My father shook his head.
"I won't give you her."
"Then you die."
"She's a child."
"She's the heir."
My breath caught.
The image changed.
My mother appeared.
She was holding me as a baby.
She was crying.
My father stood beside her.
"We have to hide her."
"Where?"
"The Draven territory."
My mother's face hardened.
"His father?"
"He owes us."
"No Alpha owes the Nocturne anything."
My father looked toward me.
"She needs time."
The memory faded.
I stumbled backward.
Darian caught me.
"They knew."
My voice shook.
"They knew who I was."
Riven nodded.
"They've always known."
I looked at him.
"Then why did they let me live?"
"Because they thought the bloodline was dormant."
My fingers curled.
"And Cassian?"
Darian went silent.
I turned toward him.
"What about him?"
"He was probably never told everything."
"Probably?"
Darian sighed.
"The Alpha Council doesn't tell Alphas everything."
The room seemed to shrink.
I looked back at the basin.
A final image appeared.
My mother.
Older.
Weak.
Locked behind silver bars.
She looked directly toward the memory.
Toward me.
And whispered:
"If you survived..."
The image flickered.
"...don't trust the first man who tells you he loves you."
The water went black.
I stepped backward.
Riven's voice was quiet.
"Your mother knew this day would come."
I stared at him.
"She knew I'd be rejected."
"Maybe."
My eyes hardened.
"Stop saying maybe."
He smiled faintly.
"You're becoming difficult."
"Good."
Darian looked at me.
Something like pride crossed his face.
Then—
a horn sounded above us.
The Council had found us.
Darian drew his weapon.
Riven transformed.
I felt the shadows gather beneath my feet.
This time, I wasn't afraid.
I smiled.
"Let them come."
---
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD