Chapter 9:What Lies Beyond The Door
1399 Words
The door opened another inch.
Lyra instinctively stepped back.
Kael tightened his grip around her hand.
“Don't move.”
“I wasn't planning to.”
The silver light beneath them flickered.
Then the door stopped.
Nothing happened.
Lyra stared at it.
“Is that it?”
Kael didn't answer.
He was watching the darkness beyond the opening.
Maya stood a few steps behind them, breathing unevenly.
“Don't go in.”
Lyra looked at her.
“You knew this was here.”
Maya shook her head.
“I knew there was a door. I didn't know where it was.”
“And my mother did?”
“She knew more than I did.”
“Then why didn't she tell me?”
Maya's eyes softened.
“Because she wanted you to have a normal life.”
Lyra gave a quiet, bitter laugh.
“Does this look like a normal life to you?”
“No.”
Maya looked down.
“But she tried.”
A cold breeze came through the opening.
It carried a faint scent of lavender.
Lyra's chest tightened.
Her mother's scent.
She took a step forward.
Kael stopped her.
“Wait.”
“Do you smell that?”
He nodded.
“Lavender.”
Lyra looked at him.
“So you smell it too?”
“Yes.”
She stared at the doorway.
“Then she's been here.”
“Maybe.”
Lyra pulled her hand from his.
“I have to go in.”
Kael caught her wrist.
“You don't know what's inside.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because for the first time in my life, I might finally get an answer about my mother.”
Kael's grip loosened.
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
His voice was quiet.
“My father died before I got the chance to ask him what he was hiding.”
Lyra looked at him.
“I don't want that to happen to me.”
Kael held her gaze for a moment.
“Then I'm coming with you.”
Maya stepped forward.
“So am I.”
Lyra looked at her.
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
Maya gave her a small smile.
“But I'm not letting you go in there alone.”
They entered together.
The moment Lyra crossed the doorway, the cold disappeared.
The forest was gone.
They stood inside a narrow stone passage.
There were no torches, yet the walls gave off a faint blue light.
Lyra ran her fingers over the stone.
“This place is old.”
Kael looked around.
“Very.”
Maya remained close to Lyra.
“Your mother brought you here once.”
Lyra turned.
“You said she came to you before she disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“Did she bring me here?”
Maya hesitated.
“I don't know.”
Lyra frowned.
“You're doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Keeping things from me.”
Maya sighed.
“I remember seeing you in her arms. That's all.”
“How old was I?”
“Very young.”
“Was I a baby?”
Maya nodded.
Lyra looked ahead.
“Then why can't I remember this place?”
“You weren't supposed to.”
A voice came from the darkness ahead.
All three of them froze.
Kael stepped in front of Lyra.
“Who's there?”
No answer.
Then footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
A woman appeared at the end of the passage.
Lyra stopped breathing.
She looked exactly like the woman from her vision.
Dark hair.
Pale skin.
The same eyes.
The same small scar above her eyebrow.
Lyra's knees nearly gave way.
“Mom?”
The woman stared at her.
Tears filled her eyes.
“My little girl.”
Lyra couldn't move.
For years, she'd imagined this moment.
She'd imagined what she'd say.
What she'd ask.
But now that it was happening, she couldn't find a single word.
“You're alive.”
Her mother smiled sadly.
“For now.”
Lyra's eyes filled with tears.
“Why did you leave me?”
The woman's expression broke.
“I didn't leave you.”
“You did.”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
“You could have come back.”
“I tried.”
Lyra shook her head.
“You never came.”
“I couldn't.”
“Why?”
Her mother looked toward Kael.
Then Maya.
Finally, her eyes returned to Lyra.
“Because they were looking for you.”
“Who?”
“The ones outside.”
Lyra stepped closer.
“Why do they want me?”
Her mother swallowed.
“Because you're the last Moonborn.”
Lyra had heard the words before.
But hearing them from her mother made them real.
“What does that mean?”
Her mother took a shaky breath.
“It means you can open things that were never meant to be opened.”
Lyra glanced at the doorway behind them.
“The door?”
Her mother nodded.
“That is only the beginning.”
Kael stepped forward.
“What is behind it?”
Lyra's mother looked at him.
Her expression changed.
“You're Kael.”
He stiffened.
“You know me?”
“I knew your father.”
Kael's face became guarded.
“What happened to him?”
Her mother looked away.
“He tried to protect you.”
“From what?”
“From the truth.”
Kael's voice hardened.
“I've spent years trying to find that truth.”
“I know.”
“You knew?”
“I watched you from a distance.”
Lyra looked at her mother.
“You watched him?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Her mother looked between them.
“Because I knew the bond would eventually bring you together.”
Lyra's heart skipped.
“You knew we were mates?”
“I knew the Moon Goddess had chosen you.”
Kael stepped closer.
“Then why did you let Lyra grow up believing she was alone?”
Her mother's eyes filled with tears.
“Because sometimes being alone is safer than being found.”
Lyra shook her head.
“I don't understand.”
“You will.”
Her mother reached toward her.
Lyra hesitated before taking her hand.
The moment their fingers touched, a sharp warmth moved through Lyra's body.
Her mother's eyes widened.
“It's happening already.”
“What?”
“The awakening.”
Lyra pulled back.
“What awakening?”
Her mother looked frightened.
“Your wolf.”
A low growl came from deep inside Lyra.
Her mother's expression changed.
“You have to leave.”
Lyra frowned.
“You just found me.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you sending me away?”
“Because they know you're here now.”
A loud sound echoed through the passage.
Something struck the stone door behind them.
Once.
Twice.
Kael turned.
“Someone's coming.”
Her mother looked at him.
“Take her.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere but here.”
Another strike shook the walls.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Maya grabbed Lyra's arm.
“We have to go.”
Lyra looked at her mother.
“No.”
Her mother stepped closer.
“Lyra, listen to me.”
“I've waited my whole life for this.”
“I know.”
“I'm not leaving you again.”
Her mother cupped her face.
“You aren't.”
Lyra's tears fell.
“What does that mean?”
Her mother smiled through her own tears.
“It means I was never waiting for you to find me.”
She looked toward the door.
“I was waiting for you to become strong enough to survive what comes next.”
The stone door behind them cracked.
Kael drew his weapon.
“Lyra, now.”
Her mother pushed something into Lyra's hand.
A small silver key.
Lyra looked down.
“What is this?”
“The key to the second door.”
A terrible crash shook the passage.
Her mother stepped backward.
“Go.”
“Mom—”
“Go!”
Kael grabbed Lyra's hand and pulled her toward the passage.
Lyra looked back one last time.
Her mother was standing alone in the blue light.
And behind her...
A shadow was rising from the floor.
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