Constance's Power

Chapter 11. Lyra’s Odd Visit

Constance huddled in the corner of her cell. She had almost gotten used to the cold stone, but her body still trembled. She tightened her tiny blanket around her shoulders,the bitterness gnawing at her went deeper than the evening air. The burden of what she knew, the hushed snippets of conversation she had caught, and the constant fear concealed her.

She could feel a draft coming in through her cell door, which made her tremble. With so many things going through her head, she tried to focus on her breathing, but it did little to calm her.

Out of nowhere, a faint rustling sound, like someone shifting weight outside her cell, shattered the silence. Constance felt a sudden tightness in her chest. She strained her ears, listening carefully. Silence lingered for a moment. But then she heard it again—a faint whisper so soft she almost thought it was in her imagination.

"Constance."

This wasn’t the voice of a guard. The voice seemed too familiar and too urgent.

"Constance, it's me."

After what felt like ages of sitting, she stood up slowly, her muscles stiff and her head spinning. She pushed herself against the chilly iron bars of the door after crossing the little, poorly lit chamber. As her eyes adjusted, she caught a glimpse of a shadow maneuvering the gloomy corners.

"Lyra?" Constance whispered.

She moved closer, finally making out Lyra’s worried face dimly illuminated by the flickering torchlight from down the hall. She seemed anxious, her face pinched with concern.

"What are you doing here??" Constance asked, glancing nervously down the corridor. "It's late. You should be with the others."

Lyra shook her head quickly. "I had to come. I couldn't wait until morning."

Constance's eyebrows went up in surprise. Since her arrival, the guards had kept a tight watch on her. "But how did you get here? The guards..." Suspicion crept uninvited into her thoughts.

Lyra hesitated, her eyes darting away for a few seconds before responding. "I... I slipped past them. They all got drunk and fell asleep. Don't worry about it."

How did you find me? And why hadn’t the guards stopped you?

A strange feeling tugged at her, something unsettling. She shoved it aside for now, but the thought lingered at the edges of her thoughts.

Lyra moved closer, and her voice dropped to a whisper before Constance could ask any more questions. "I've been hearing things. Dangerous things."

Constance battled hard, her gut knot deepening. Trying to keep her voice calm, she asked, "What things?" Lyra's words just made the dense tension in the chamber worse.

Lyra glanced back toward the hallway before speaking up again, this time with a strong voice. "The elders—they're starting to question Aiden's ability to lead. They're saying that if he doesn't choose a Luna soon, the pack might turn against him."

Lyra's words made the danger seem very real to her. She said, "I know. I heard them talking this morning."

Anxiety spread across Lyra's face. "I've heard this today. If the pack loses faith in Aiden, we're both in danger. They'll blame us—blame you."

Lyra's words felt like a nightmare. It was as if she were sinking in quicksand. She knew that the pack didn't trust her, but she didn't think they would turn on her. She had never considered it would reach this.

"But why?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Why haven't they just… gotten rid of me?"

Constance couldn't quite put her finger on what made Lyra's face turn darker and her eyes move. "I don't know," she whispered. "But whatever it is, it's keeping you alive. And if the pack thinks you're part of the reason Aiden won't choose a Luna, they'll turn on you."

Goosebumps rose on her skin. . The pack was already eyeing her with suspicion because she was wolfless. If they thought she had something to do with Aiden's decision not to take a Luna, her situation would get even worse, if that was even possible.

"What am I supposed to do?" Constance asked.

Lyra shook her head, her voice was harsh, but her gaze was kind. "We need to be careful. Keep your head down, and avoid trouble. But there's more—there's talk about you. Some of the older members… they've started looking at you differently."

Constance felt her breath hitch. Her voice was a tiny whisper in the darkness. "What do you mean?" she questioned.

Lyra paused and glanced at the door again before settling on Constance's. She spoke in a lower voice, "I heard two elders last night.They think Aiden's keeping you for a reason—something to do with the prophecy. They didn't share much, but it's clear they're suspicious. If they start believing you're the reason Aiden hasn’t chosen a Luna…”

Constance felt ice flood her veins. The prophecy. She hadn’t realized the danger it posed, or how the pack might see her as a threat because of it. If the elders made that connection, her life could be at stake.

Her chest tightened with fear, and her whole body got down. She had never asked for this, never wanted such a role. "Lyra, what am I to do?" she whispered.

Lyra's eyes softened with pity, but her words had a sharpness that shocked Constance. "You survive," she said, with a steady voice. “You stay out of their way and hope Aiden protects you. Because if the pack turns against him, they'll come for you too. I believe he'll protect you, no matter what."

She was a prisoner in a pack on the brink of rebellion, her very existence tied to the rising unrest.

They heard the footsteps down the hallway, and Lyra tightened up and looked at the door. She said in a whisper, "I have to go. Stay safe, Constance. And be ready. I don't know how much longer things will stay calm. Maybe you should be closer to Aiden."

Constance nodded. Her mind was filled with new doubt as she watched Lyra sneak back out of the cell. Lyra knew precisely where to find her. Also, why did the guards let her get this far without sounding the alarm?

What do you know, Lyra?

She felt as though something didn't quite fit. She trusted Lyra a lot, but nagging questions started to grow.