Throne of Shadows

Serena stood at the kitchen counter, her back to the door, as the familiar ache of another long day weighed on her shoulders. Elias had just fallen asleep, his restless energy finally tamed by fatigue. Ignoring the nagging anxiety in her chest, she used a dish towel to clean her hands. In the five years that she had been by herself, she had never once anticipated his return. The soft creak of the front door broke her thoughts, and she froze. A shadow cast across the hallway, a heavy presence she knew all too well. "Serena," came a deep voice—rich, familiar, and edged with a rawness she couldn’t ignore. She didn’t turn around. Kael.Five years of solitude, unanswered prayers, and resentment that grew inside her like a storm. Her son deserved more than her love, and the man who had abandoned her had only left her with a wounded heart. She was unsure of whether to break his neck immediately, yell, or cry. Her voice was tight and controlled as she whispered, "I didn't think you'd come back." Kael stepped forward, the tension in his body as evident as the darkness. "I didn't want to go.You must trust me. I had no choice.” She sneered, her eyes sparkling with tears she couldn't bring herself to cry in front of him. “You had no choice? You left us, Kael. You left me. You rejected your own son.” “I was trying to protect you both,” he said, his tone softer, laced with guilt, but there was something deeper behind it, something unspoken. “Elias... his powers are... spiraling out of control. I need your help.” Serena stiffened, her body taut with a mix of anger and fear. “My help?” she repeated, turning slowly to face him. Her eyes burned with accusation, but they also held something else, something weaker—concern. “After all this time, you show up asking for help?” He moved closer and whispered, "I know it's selfish." "But unless I had no other option, I wouldn't have come." Staring at him, she crossed her arms. “No other choice but to come crawling back. I didn't think you'd be brave enough.” Kael’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, he seemed to shrink under the weight of her fury. “Serena, I—” “You left,” she interrupted, her voice rising. “You broke us. You were my everything, Kael. You were the one who promised... promised to be there, to never leave.” Her voice cracked as the bitterness spilled out. “You didn’t just leave me. You left your son. And now that you've come here with your guilt, you expect me to put everything aside and assist you?” After a brief period of silence, he stepped forward and spoke more softly. “I was forced to leave. The prophecy... it bound me to a curse. I didn’t want to. You have to understand. If I stayed... you and Elias—both of you would’ve been in danger.” Serena’s eyes narrowed, disbelief twisting inside her. “A prophecy? What are you talking about, Kael?” His words was hardly audible above a whisper as he took another step closer. "Some things are unknown to you. Things I couldn't share with you. But I didn’t come back for me. I came back for Elias. His powers... they’re getting out of control.” Elias's name made Serena's heart skip a beat. She stepped forward, her dread piercing her rage, and yelled, "What do you mean, out of control?". Kael looked away, his voice strained. “I don’t know everything. But he’s starting to hear... voices. They’re calling to him. I'm not sure what that means. I need your help, Serena. The only person who can assist him is you.” Breathing became difficult for her. What Elias had been experiencing—the voices, the nightmares—had been more than just weird dreams. She had hoped it was a passing phase, a sign of adolescence. But this? This sounded different. And if Kael was back, if he was this desperate... "I'm not sure if I can," she murmured softly, her voice shaking in spite of herself. "I'm not sure what you anticipate from me. As it is, I can hardly contain myself for Elias. I don’t know what to do about his powers.” Kael reached out, his hand barely grazing her arm. “You can do this. You always were strong, Serena. More powerful than anyone I've ever encountered. Do you not recall? You’re more than you think you are.” Her heart was pounding as she recoiled from his grasp. "You dare not speak to me as though you know me. You abandoned me, Kael. You abandoned us.” "I apologize," he replied quietly, his voice cracking.“I am. However, I promise that I was attempting to keep you safe. There was nothing more I could do. I had no idea what would occur if I stayed. The curse... It’s too dangerous.” With her heart racing in her chest, Serena shook her head. "I'm not interested in your apologies. I want the truth.” Kael met her eyes, his gaze deep and full of the pain she hadn’t been able to forget. “The truth is... Elias is a part of something much bigger than any of us. The curse is linked to your lineage, Serena, but he holds the key to lifting it. I had no idea what to do... I still don’t. But I can’t lose him. I can’t lose you, too.” Her mind reeled, the words too much to absorb. “What are you talking about? My bloodline?” Kael’s eyes darkened. “You have no idea what you’re tied to, Serena. There’s more to you, to Elias, than I ever let you know. And now, I need you to believe me. We’re running out of time.” Burdened by the past and the future, a dense, burning silence fell between them. Taking a deep breath, Serena fought the urge to lose her composure in the face of an emotional tempest that threatened to overwhelm her. After a protracted pause, she finally answered, "I'll help you."However, Elias is the sole reason. Only because I will do whatever it takes to protect my son.” Kael nodded, relief flashing in his eyes. “Thank you.” But even as she spoke, Serena knew it wasn’t just her son she was agreeing to protect. It was herself, too—against the part of her that still longed for Kael, the man she had once loved with every fiber of her being. “You’ll regret this,” she warned, her voice cold. “You don’t get to just walk back into my life, Kael. Not without consequences.” “I know,” he replied softly, his gaze never leaving hers. “And I’ll accept whatever you decide. But we don’t have time, Serena. Neither of us is prepared for what is about to happen, and Elias is growing stronger. Serena felt a chill go down her spine as the impact of his words set in. She had a strong sense that everything she believed to be true about her family and herself will change. Serena turned just in time to see Elias standing there, his huge blue eyes brimming with anxiety, as the door groaned behind her. "Mom... Kael... something’s wrong. The voices... they're getting louder. I can't make them stop."