The Hidden Path
952 Words
The horn sounded again.
Closer this time.
Kael's expression hardened.
“We have minutes.”
Evelyn looked toward the mountains.
“Then we should move.”
Kael nodded.
They left the forest path and entered a narrow trail between the rocks. Evelyn followed closely behind him, clutching the silver pendant.
She could hear movement behind them.
Branches snapping.
Footsteps.
The hunters were coming.
“Kael.”
“I know.”
“How are they tracking us?”
“The pendant.”
Evelyn looked down.
“You said it was meant to protect me.”
“It is.”
“Then why is it helping them find us?”
“Because the royal seal doesn't only protect its heir.”
He glanced back at her.
“It announces her.”
Evelyn's stomach tightened.
“So everyone knows I'm alive?”
“Not everyone.”
“Who does?”
“The people who have been waiting for you.”
They reached the base of the mountain.
Kael stopped beside a wall of stone.
Evelyn frowned.
“There is nothing here.”
“Look closer.”
Kael placed his palm against the rock.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then the golden symbol on Evelyn's wrist began to glow.
The stone wall trembled.
A narrow doorway appeared.
Evelyn stared.
“What is this place?”
“The old royal passage.”
“You've been here before?”
“Yes.”
“With my father?”
Kael nodded.
“He brought me here once.”
“Why?”
“To show me where the royal family used to hide during the wars.”
Evelyn stepped toward the entrance.
The moment she crossed the threshold, the pendant became brighter.
Symbols appeared along the walls.
She recognized the symbol from the pendant.
The Moon.
But beneath it was another symbol.
A wolf surrounded by a crown.
“What does that mean?”
Kael's voice was quiet.
“The first Alpha.”
Evelyn turned.
“The first Alpha?”
“The founder of the royal bloodline.”
She looked at the symbol again.
“Why is my mark glowing?”
“Because this place recognizes your blood.”
They continued through the passage.
The deeper they went, the colder the air became.
Then Evelyn heard something.
A whisper.
She stopped.
“Did you hear that?”
Kael turned.
“Hear what?”
“Someone called my name.”
Silence.
Then the whisper came again.
Evelyn.
Her heart pounded.
She followed the sound.
“Wait.”
Kael grabbed her arm.
She pulled away.
“I heard my name.”
“I know.”
“You heard it too?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know?”
“Because this place is testing you.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“What kind of test?”
Kael shook his head.
“I don't know.”
A doorway appeared ahead of them.
Unlike the first entrance, this one had no handle.
Only a golden symbol.
Evelyn stepped forward.
The moment her hand touched it, the door opened.
Kael stared.
“What?”
He looked almost shocked.
“What is it?”
“The throne chamber.”
Evelyn's breath caught.
They entered.
The room was enormous.
Ancient pillars surrounded a raised platform.
At the center stood a throne carved from dark stone.
A silver crown rested on its seat.
Evelyn couldn't explain why, but the sight of it made her chest ache.
She walked toward it.
Kael remained behind her.
“Don't touch it.”
Evelyn stopped.
“Why?”
“Because we don't know what will happen.”
She looked at the crown.
“I need answers.”
“You may not like them.”
“I've stopped expecting answers I like.”
She reached for the crown.
The instant her fingers touched it, the entire chamber shook.
The pendant flew from her hand.
Golden light filled the room.
Then a voice echoed through the chamber.
Blood of Elara.
Evelyn froze.
Daughter of the fallen throne.
Her eyes widened.
Last of the royal line.
Kael stepped forward.
“Evelyn!”
She couldn't move.
The voice continued.
The throne remembers.
Images flashed through her mind.
A palace.
A woman with silver hair.
A man kneeling beside her.
Fire.
Screaming.
A baby being carried through a dark corridor.
Then Evelyn saw her mother.
Princess Elara.
She was holding a newborn child.
Evelyn.
Elara looked terrified.
And someone stood behind her.
Someone Evelyn couldn't see clearly.
The vision ended.
Evelyn collapsed.
Kael caught her before she hit the ground.
“Evelyn.”
She opened her eyes slowly.
“My mother…”
“What did you see?”
“She was running.”
“From whom?”
Evelyn swallowed.
“There was someone behind her.”
Kael's face became tense.
“Did you see their face?”
“No.”
“Anything else?”
Evelyn remembered the final moment.
The shadow had reached toward her mother.
And then Elara had whispered something.
A name.
Evelyn looked at Kael.
“She said your name.”
Kael went completely still.
“My name?”
Evelyn nodded.
“She said…”
Her voice trembled.
“‘Kael, protect my daughter.’”
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Then a loud crash echoed from the passage outside.
Kael immediately stood.
“They're here.”
Evelyn looked toward the entrance.
The King's hunters had found the throne chamber.
Kael drew his weapon.
But Evelyn didn't feel afraid anymore.
The golden mark on her wrist was brighter than ever.
She looked at the ancient throne.
Then she looked at Kael.
“If they came for me…”
Her eyes hardened.
“…they're going to discover I'm not running anymore.”
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD