ARETHA AND THE DARK LORD #Stary Writing Marathon

Chapter 1 The rain fell heavily across the empty highway leading toward Lumierre City. Thunder rolled across the dark sky while cold wind pushed against the black car speeding through the storm. Water splashed beneath the tires as endless trees blurred past the windows. Inside the car, silence lived between two people. Aretha sat beside the window with her knees pulled close to her chest. Her silver eyes reflected the flashing lights of distant buildings ahead. Long dark curls rested against her shoulders while the storm outside painted shadows across her face. She looked tired. Not from the journey. From grief. Three weeks had passed since her father’s funeral, yet the pain still sat heavily inside her chest like a stone that refused to move. In the driver’s seat, Selene gripped the steering wheel tightly. Too tightly. Her pale fingers trembled slightly. Every few seconds she glanced at the rearview mirror as if expecting someone to appear behind them. Or something. “Mom,” Aretha finally whispered, her voice barely audible beneath the rain. “You still haven’t told me where we’re going.” Selene’s eyes stayed on the road. “We’re almost there.” “That’s not an answer.” A flash of lightning illuminated the inside of the car. For a brief second, strange symbols glowed faintly beneath Selene’s skin before disappearing again. Aretha frowned. She had seen that happen more often lately. Since her father died. Selene inhaled slowly. “There are things about our family you don’t understand yet.” Aretha turned toward her mother. “Then explain them to me.” Silence. Only thunder answered. Far ahead, glowing lights slowly emerged through the rain. A city. Massive silver buildings stretched toward the clouds while bridges glowing with blue light crossed over flowing rivers. Flying trains rushed between towers like streaks of light. Aretha’s eyes widened. “What place is this?” Selene’s expression darkened. “Lumierre City.” The moment those words left her lips, something strange happened. Pain shot through Aretha’s shoulder. She gasped sharply. A burning sensation spread beneath her skin. “Ah—!” She grabbed her shoulder as heat pulsed violently through her body. The birthmark. The strange mark she had possessed since birth suddenly glowed faintly beneath her sweater. Selene noticed immediately. Fear crossed her face. “No…” The storm outside intensified instantly. Wind slammed against the car. The headlights flickered. And somewhere far beyond the city… Something awakened. --- Deep beneath Lumierre City, hidden under ancient roots and stone, a pair of crimson eyes opened slowly in darkness. A young man sat upon a black throne carved from obsidian crystal. He wore dark silver armor beneath a long coat, and shadows curled around his fingers like living creatures. Before him knelt dozens of witches in black robes. No one dared speak. The young man stared ahead coldly. Then suddenly— He felt it. A pulse. Ancient. Powerful. Impossible. The shadows around the throne trembled violently. One of the witches lifted her head nervously. “My lord?” The young man slowly stood. His silver eyes narrowed. “That power…” he murmured. For nineteen years, he had searched for it. For nineteen years, it had remained hidden. Until tonight. A slow smile appeared across his face. “She’s alive.” The room instantly grew colder. The witches lowered their heads in fear. Because the future king of the Dark Lord City almost never smiled. “Allan…” one witch whispered carefully. “Could it truly be her?” Allan Dark walked toward the massive window overlooking his cursed kingdom. Lightning illuminated the black mountains surrounding the city. Far in the distance, ravens exploded into the sky. “Yes,” he said softly. “The child of prophecy has finally returned.” --- The gates of Lumierre City stood nearly thirty feet tall. Silver vines wrapped around glowing crystal pillars while magical symbols floated in the air above the entrance. As Selene’s car approached, guards stepped forward. Not ordinary guards. Fairies. Their metallic wings shimmered beneath the rain like sharpened blades. One of them raised a hand. The gates immediately opened. Aretha stared in amazement. “What… are they?” Selene’s grip tightened again. “Do not stare at anyone for too long once we enter.” “What do you mean?” “You’ll understand soon enough.” The car drove into the city. Everything felt alive. People walked beneath glowing umbrellas while magical signs floated above restaurants and stores. Rivers of blue light ran beside the roads. Some people moved strangely fast while others carried floating objects beside them without touching them. Then Aretha saw something impossible. A man vanished into thin air. Another person suddenly grew glowing wings before flying toward a nearby building. Her heart pounded. “What is happening here?” Selene finally looked at her. And for the first time that night— There was sadness in her eyes. “Welcome home, Aretha.” --- On the other side of the city stood Greenfield Lumierre. Unlike the modern half of the city, nature ruled here completely. Massive trees stretched endlessly toward the sky. Homes were built into living wood. Glowing rivers flowed peacefully beneath hanging bridges made from vines. Animals wandered freely without fear. And at the center of everything stood the Tree of Life. It towered above the entire forest. Ancient. Endless. Beautiful. Golden energy pulsed through its enormous roots like veins beneath the earth. The moment Aretha stepped out of the car… The tree reacted. The wind stopped completely. Every glowing leaf trembled. Birds scattered into the sky. And deep beneath the roots— Ancient magic awakened for the first time in centuries. Aretha stared upward breathlessly. “It’s beautiful…” Then suddenly— Whispers filled her ears. Soft voices. Calling her name. “Aretha…” She froze. Her silver eyes widened. “Did you hear that?” Selene’s face lost all color. The whispers grew louder. “Aretha…” “Find us…” “Save us…” A violent pulse exploded from the Tree of Life. BOOM! Golden energy shot across Greenfield Lumierre like a stormwave. The ground shook violently. People screamed nearby. Lights flickered across the city. And somewhere beneath the giant tree… Something ancient opened its eyes. Selene grabbed Aretha immediately. “We need to leave. Now.” But it was already too late. Because hidden among the branches above them— Someone was watching. A young man with silver hair stood silently on one of the massive tree limbs. Wolf eyes glowing gold in the darkness. Liam Wolfson. Future heir of the Wolf family. And the moment he looked at Aretha… His instincts screamed. Danger. Yet for some reason— He couldn’t look away. And far beyond Lumierre City, within the kingdom of shadows and witches… Allan Dark smiled as the storm above his kingdom intensified. The prophecy had begun.