The thing pulses with cold, otherworldly energy as it rests on the ancient pedestal. It's dark light beckons, reminding me of the power that is kept here, of the price that must be paid. I turned to Abigail, still standing at the edge of the clearing, her face gone pale, her eyes wide with dread. The Keeper of Shadows has spoken; its voice still resounding in the air, has left no doubt as to the cost before us.
The relic can indeed bring back the one you seek" the Keeper intones, the shadows around it twisting like smoke. "But to restore life, a soul must be bound to the Shadowlands in her place. Life demands balance. Someone must take her place.
The words land like a blow, square to the chest. A life for a life. I look at Abigail, and the terror in her eyes claws at my heart. Her mom is
