Chapter 11: The Frost Peaks
511 Words
The Hall of Echoes trembled as the Dark Sovereign’s laughter faded into silence. The map in Kael’s hands stopped burning, but its edges had turned black, leaving only one glowing path visible.
“The Frost Peaks,” Kael said quietly. “The Crystal Heart is waiting for us there.”
Without wasting another moment, Evelyn and Kael left the temple. The Moonstone Crown hovered above Evelyn’s head for a brief instant before shrinking into a silver pendant that rested around her neck.
“It changed,” Evelyn whispered.
“The relic has accepted you as its bearer,” Kael replied. “It will reveal its true power only when you need it.”
For three days they journeyed across forests, rivers, and forgotten villages. As the air grew colder, the trees became covered in frost, and snowflakes drifted from a sky the color of steel.
At sunset on the third day, the Frost Peaks rose before them. Towering mountains pierced the clouds, their icy cliffs sparkling beneath the fading light.
“It’s beautiful,” Evelyn said.
“It’s deadly,” Kael answered.
As they climbed the frozen trail, Evelyn slipped on the ice. Before she could fall, Kael caught her hand and pulled her close.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
Their eyes met.
“Thank you,” Evelyn said softly.
Kael smiled, though it was almost hidden beneath his usual calm expression.
“I promised to protect you.”
A warm feeling spread through Evelyn’s heart, surprising her. She quickly looked away and continued walking, hoping he hadn’t noticed the blush on her cheeks.
As night fell, they found shelter inside an abandoned stone cabin buried beneath the snow. A fireplace still stood in one corner.
Kael lit a small fire.
The warmth slowly filled the room as snow battered the windows outside.
Evelyn removed her damp gloves and held her hands toward the flames.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something,” she said.
“What is it?”
“Before all of this… before the prophecy… did you ever have a normal life?”
Kael stared into the fire for a long time.
“I was once human.”
Evelyn looked at him in surprise.
“My family lived in a small village hundreds of years ago,” he continued. “When the Great War reached our home, everyone I loved was killed. I accepted the vampire’s gift because I wanted the strength to protect others.”
“I’m sorry,” Evelyn whispered.
Kael gave a faint smile.
“For centuries, I believed I had nothing left to lose.”
He looked directly at her.
“Then I met you.”
Before Evelyn could answer, a deafening roar echoed from outside.
The cabin shook violently.
Heavy footsteps crunched through the snow.
Kael extinguished the fire with a wave of his hand.
“They’ve found us.”
A massive shadow passed across the window.
Then two enormous icy blue eyes appeared in the darkness, staring straight at them.
The guardian of the Frost Peaks had arrived.
- Writer
