Bound To The Goddess

The Dark Whisper

Chapter 7: The Dark Whisper

Lithia woke up, but she couldn't move.

Her eyes were open. Staring at the ceiling under the stairs.

But her body... her body was heavy. Like someone was sitting on her chest.

She tried to scream. No sound came out.

Tried to lift her hand. Nothing.

Panic clawed up her throat.

What is happening?

Then the room went dark.

Not night dark. Wrong dark.

Like the light itself was being swallowed.

A voice whispered in her ear. Cold. Ancient.

"Kill."

Lithia's heart stopped.

"Kill them," the voice said again. Softer this time. Like a lover. "Kill the girl who hit you. Kill the woman who starved you. Kill them all, Goddess."

Lithia wanted to shake her head. She didn't want to.

But the voice was inside her head now. Crawling.

"Yes," it purred. "Let the gold turn red. Let life become death. That's what you are, isn't it? Death and Life. Two sides."

Tears ran down her face. She couldn't even blink.

"Who... are you?" she managed to think.

The darkness laughed. "Someone who knows what you are. Even if you don't."

Black tendrils appeared at the edge of her vision. Like smoke. Like chains.

They wrapped around her wrists. Her ankles. Her throat.

"Together," the voice whispered. "We can burn this kingdom down."

Lithia fought. In her mind she screamed NO.

Gold light flickered in her chest. Weak. Trapped.

The chains tightened.

"Kill," the voice hissed. "Or I will kill you first."

Then the window shattered.

Cold air. And him.

Drayk crashed through the glass like a shadow with teeth.

The dark tendrils shrieked and recoiled.

"GET OFF HER," Drayk roared.

He moved so fast Lithia couldn't see.

Black and gold light clashed in the tiny room.

The voice screamed. "Vampire King! You’re too late!"

Drayk grabbed the air and the invisible thing holding Lithia down flew back and hit the wall.

Dust and wood splintered.

Lithia gasped. Air rushed back into her lungs.

She was free.

Drayk was at her side in a second. Hands on her face. "Lithia. Look at me. Breathe."

His hands were shaking.

"I— I couldn't move," she choked out. "It told me to kill—"

"I know," Drayk said. Jaw tight. Furious. "I know."

From the broken wall, the darkness was reforming.

A man stepped out of the shadows.

Tall. Thin. Pale skin. Black robes.

And his eyes... they were completely black. No whites.

He smiled at them. "Hello, brother."

Drayk stood. Put himself between Lithia and the man.

"Veyron," he said. Name like a curse. "What are you doing here?"

The man — Veyron — tilted his head. Looked past Drayk. Right at Lithia.

"Found her," he said. Voice sweet. "The Goddess of Life. The one the prophecy spoke of."

He licked his lips. "Do you know what her blood does, Drayk? It can resurrect the dead. Or kill a god."

Lithia shrank back. "Who are you?"

Veyron smiled wider. "Your worst nightmare, little light."

He looked at Drayk. "You were supposed to bring her to me. Instead you're teaching her? How sentimental."

"She's not yours," Drayk said. Low. Dangerous. "Leave. Now."

Veyron laughed. "Or what? You'll kill me? Again?"

He took one step forward.

Drayk moved. Fast.

There was a blur, a sound like thunder, and Veyron was slammed into the wall.

But he was laughing. Even as blood ran from his mouth.

"You can't protect her forever," he whispered. "The others are coming too. They all want her."

He looked at Lithia. "Run while you can, Goddess. Next time I won't ask nicely."

Then he was gone. Smoke. Vanished through the broken wall.

Silence.

Lithia was shaking. Drayk turned to her immediately.

"Are you hurt?" He was checking her arms, her neck. "Did he touch you? Did it—"

"I'm okay," Lithia lied. Her whole body was trembling. "Who was that?"

Drayk's face was stone. "My brother."

"Brother?"

"Half-brother," he corrected. Bitter. "Veyron Volther. He serves the Dark Court."

He ran a hand through his hair. "He knows what you are now. Which means everyone will know soon."

Lithia pulled her knees up. "He said... he said to kill. That I could—"

"Don't listen to him," Drayk cut her off. Sharp. Then softer: "He lies. That's all he does."

He crouched in front of her. "Lithia. Look at me."

She did.

"You're not a killer," he said. Firm. "No matter what he said. No matter what that darkness told you. You are life. Remember that."

Lithia nodded. Tears were falling again.

Drayk reached out. This time he didn't hesitate. He brushed her hair back from her face. His hand was cold but gentle.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I was too late."

"You came," Lithia said. "You came for me."

Drayk didn't answer. He just looked at her. Like she was the only thing in the world.

From outside, the first birds started singing. Dawn.

"I have to go," Drayk said. He stood. "Before sunrise. But I’ll be back tonight."

"Veyron—"

"I'll deal with him," Drayk said. Final. "You just stay alive. Can you do that for me?"

Lithia nodded.

Drayk looked at the broken window, the ruined wall.

"And Lithia?"

"Yes?"

"Don't open the door to anyone. Not until I come back."

Then he was gone.

Lithia sat in the wreckage of her room, heart still pounding.

In her head, the whisper was gone.

But she could still hear it.

"Kill."

To be continued...