Episode 11 — The First
1216 Words
The creature climbed out of the darkness.
Its enormous body filled the chamber.
It had the shape of a wolf, but it was far too large to be one. Two curved horns rose from its skull, and its silver eyes burned through the darkness.
Clara stepped backward.
“What is that?”
Father Matthias could barely speak.
“The First.”
Silas stood motionless.
The Black Wolf remained beside him, its body tense.
Viktor stared at the creature.
For the first time, he looked genuinely terrified.
“You said it would remain asleep,” Matthias whispered.
Viktor shook his head.
“I didn't know the seal was this weak.”
The creature opened its mouth.
Its voice did not come from its throat.
It came from the walls.
From the floor.
From inside their minds.
“THE BLOOD HAS RETURNED.”
Silas felt the words inside his chest.
He stepped forward.
“What do you want?”
The creature turned its enormous head toward him.
“YOU.”
Silas clenched his fists.
“Why?”
“YOUR BLOOD CARRIES THE FIRST OATH.”
Clara looked at him.
“What oath?”
Silas didn't answer.
He couldn't.
Something was happening inside him.
His heartbeat became slower.
His breathing steadied.
And memories began returning.
He saw his father standing beside the altar.
He saw his mother holding him as a child.
He saw seven men kneeling around the stone.
And he saw his grandfather.
The old man held a silver blade.
Behind him stood the enormous creature.
The First.
A voice echoed through Silas's memory.
“Every generation must choose.”
Then the memory changed.
His grandfather was older.
His father was a young man.
The Black Wolf stood between them.
His grandfather said:
“The oath must never be broken.”
His father answered:
“Then I will end it.”
The memory disappeared.
Silas opened his eyes.
“My father tried to destroy the pact.”
Matthias nodded.
“Yes.”
“And my grandfather wanted to protect it.”
“Yes.”
Silas looked at the creature.
“Why?”
Matthias swallowed.
“Because the pact protected Blackpine from something beyond the mountain.”
Silas stared at him.
“What?”
Before Matthias could answer, Viktor spoke.
“Enough.”
Silas turned.
Viktor had picked up his pistol.
“You've heard enough.”
Silas laughed bitterly.
“You're still pretending you're in control.”
Viktor aimed the weapon.
“I know more about this place than you ever will.”
He pulled the trigger.
The gunshot echoed.
The Black Wolf moved.
It jumped between Silas and the bullet.
The shot struck its shoulder.
The creature staggered.
Silas froze.
“Mama.”
The wolf looked at him.
Silas's face changed.
He turned toward Viktor.
“You shot her.”
Viktor fired again.
Silas moved before the bullet left the barrel.
He struck Viktor's hand.
The pistol flew across the chamber.
Viktor stumbled backward.
Silas grabbed him by the throat.
“You've had twenty years.”
He slammed Viktor against the wall.
“Twenty years to run.”
Another impact.
“Twenty years to hide.”
Silas lifted him again.
“And twenty years to think I'd forgotten.”
Viktor struggled.
“You don't understand.”
Silas tightened his grip.
“Then explain.”
Viktor gasped.
“The First isn't the enemy.”
Silas stopped.
Viktor pointed toward the creature.
“Your mother wasn't protecting you from it.”
Silas stared at him.
“She was protecting it from you.”
Silence.
Clara looked at Matthias.
“Is that true?”
The priest slowly nodded.
“The Vane bloodline was never meant to control the First.”
Silas released Viktor.
“What was it meant to do?”
Matthias looked toward the ancient creature.
“To keep it asleep.”
Silas looked at the Black Wolf.
“And my mother?”
“She became its guardian.”
Silas's eyes filled with tears.
“She chose this?”
Matthias shook his head.
“She sacrificed herself.”
Silas closed his eyes.
The Black Wolf slowly approached him.
Its wounded shoulder was bleeding.
Silas placed his hand against its fur.
The moment he touched it, another memory appeared.
His mother.
Alive.
Standing in the forest.
She looked directly at him.
Her eyes were already silver.
She smiled.
Then she whispered:
“Run, Elias.”
Silas opened his eyes.
“Mama.”
The wolf pressed its head against his chest.
Clara watched silently.
Then she noticed something.
The wound on the wolf's shoulder was closing.
Slowly.
The bullet pushed itself out.
It fell to the ground.
Silas stared.
“It can heal.”
Matthias nodded.
“As long as the bloodline lives.”
Suddenly, the First roared.
The entire chamber shook.
Stone fell from the ceiling.
Clara screamed.
Silas grabbed her hand.
“Move!”
They ran toward the stairs.
Matthias followed.
Viktor remained behind.
Silas stopped.
“Viktor!”
The magistrate looked up.
“You're coming.”
Viktor smiled.
“No.”
Silas frowned.
“You'll die.”
“I know.”
“Then why stay?”
Viktor looked at the First.
“Because I've spent my entire life waiting to meet it.”
The creature lowered its head.
Viktor stepped toward it.
“I want what your ancestors promised me.”
The First stared at him.
Then it spoke.
“YOU WERE NEVER PROMISED ANYTHING.”
Viktor's smile disappeared.
The creature raised one enormous paw.
Viktor was thrown across the chamber.
He crashed into the altar.
Silas watched in silence.
Then Matthias pulled him away.
“Come!”
They climbed the stairs.
Clara followed.
The church shook violently behind them.
They burst through the altar and ran into the main sanctuary.
The windows shattered.
Candles fell.
The church bell began ringing by itself.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then every bell in Blackpine began ringing.
Clara looked through the window.
People were running through the streets.
“What is happening?”
Silas stared toward the northern mountain.
Black smoke was rising into the sky.
Then came the howling.
Not one wolf.
Not ten.
Hundreds.
Matthias whispered:
“The seal is broken.”
Silas turned.
“Can it be repaired?”
The priest looked at him.
“Only by the Vane blood.”
Silas's expression hardened.
“Mine.”
Matthias nodded.
“But there's a problem.”
“What?”
Matthias looked toward the church doors.
“The blood seal wasn't the only thing holding the First beneath the mountain.”
Silas waited.
“What else was there?”
Matthias whispered:
“Your father.”
Silas froze.
“What?”
“Your father is still alive.”
Clara stepped closer.
“Where?”
Matthias pointed toward the northern mountain.
“Beneath Blackpine.”
Silas stared int
o the distance.
Then a howl echoed from the mountain.
This time, the voice sounded almost human.
Silas recognized it.
His father's voice.
“Elias.”
Silas's eyes widened.
Clara grabbed his arm.
“Silas?”
He looked toward the mountain.
“My father is calling me.”
Then another voice answered from beneath the earth.
The First.
And this time, it spoke Silas's name.
“ELIAS VANE.”
The church fell silent.
Silas slowly picked up his knife.
“I'm going home.”
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