The Crimson Awakening
707 Words
The blood-red moon cast an eerie glow over the Moonborn Kingdom.
A cold wind swept through the ancient palace ruins.
Deep beneath the crumbling throne room, hidden behind layers of enchanted stone, the pair of crimson eyes slowly opened.
A raspy voice echoed through the darkness.
“So… the Moonborn heir lives.”
Chains forged from silver and ancient magic rattled violently.
For centuries, the figure had slept beneath the kingdom, waiting for the prophecy to awaken.
Now…
The wait was over.
Nysera jolted awake.
Her heart pounded violently against her chest.
She pressed a trembling hand against her forehead.
Another dream.
No…
It felt too real to be a dream.
She had seen a woman dressed in silver robes standing before an enormous white wolf.
The woman had only spoken one sentence.
“The throne remembers its queen.”
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
“My Lady?”
It was Lyria, one of the palace attendants.
“The Lycan King requests your presence.”
Nysera quickly dressed before making her way to the royal council chamber.
Inside, Draven stood before a large map spread across the table.
His generals surrounded him.
Everyone looked tense.
“The Black Fang Legion has crossed the northern border,” one general reported.
“They’ve already destroyed three smaller packs.”
Nysera’s stomach tightened.
“Innocent people…”
Draven looked at her.
“They aren’t attacking for territory.”
“They’re searching.”
“For me,” Nysera whispered.
The room fell silent.
Draven nodded.
“They know the prophecy cannot be fulfilled unless you’re dead.”
Another general stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, should we move Lady Nysera to the eastern fortress?”
“No.”
Draven’s answer came without hesitation.
“She stays where I can protect her.”
The generals exchanged surprised glances.
Everyone knew what that meant.
The Lycan King was placing Nysera above military strategy.
Hours later…
Nysera wandered into the palace library.
Towering shelves stretched toward the ceiling, filled with scrolls older than the kingdom itself.
An elderly librarian smiled warmly.
“You’ve come searching for answers.”
Nysera nodded.
“I keep seeing visions.”
The old man led her to a dusty bookshelf.
“There is only one book that speaks of the Moonborn Queens.”
He carefully placed an ancient leather-bound journal before her.
As soon as Nysera touched its cover…
The pages flipped by themselves.
Silver light burst from the book.
Words began appearing that hadn’t been visible before.
“Only the Queen may read these pages.”
Nysera gasped.
The first page revealed a painted portrait.
A woman.
Silver hair.
Blue eyes.
She looked exactly like Nysera.
Beneath the portrait were the words:
Queen Selene Moonborn
The First Moon Queen
As Nysera turned the page, a folded letter slipped onto the table.
Her hands shook as she unfolded it.
The handwriting was elegant.
To my daughter…
Nysera froze.
“Daughter?”
Her eyes raced across the page.
If you are reading this, then I have already fallen. Trust no one who seeks the throne. The darkness we sealed centuries ago is awakening. Only the Moon Queen and her true mate can stop it. Remember this… the enemy does not wear the face you expect.
A chill ran down Nysera’s spine.
Someone entered the library.
She quickly hid the letter.
Draven approached.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Before Nysera could answer…
A palace guard burst through the doors.
“Your Majesty!”
“What is it?”
The guard dropped to one knee.
“Alpha Kael has arrived.”
“He refuses to leave.”
“And he says…”
The guard swallowed nervously.
“…he’s here to claim his mate.”
The room fell deathly silent.
Draven’s golden eyes darkened with barely restrained fury.
Nysera’s grip tightened around the hidden letter.
Outside the palace gates…
Kael stood beside hundreds of armed warriors.
His gaze was fixed on the palace entrance.
“I made a mistake once,” he muttered.
“I won’t lose her again.”
Just as the palace gates began to open…
A deafening roar echoed across the kingdom.
From the northern mountains, thousands of black wolves charged toward the capital.
The war had begun.
- Writer
