The Man Behind the Crown
1876 Words
Episode 13: The Man Behind the Crown
The entire kingdom fell silent.
The silver light above the Blood Moon became brighter.
Elena couldn't move.
The words still echoed through her mind.
“Lucian died seventeen years ago.”
She slowly turned toward the man standing before her.
The Blood Moon King.
Or whoever he really was.
His face began to change.
The skin around his eyes darkened.
His jaw shifted.
His silver hair turned black.
And within seconds, the familiar face of Lucian disappeared.
A stranger stood before them.
Elena's heart pounded.
“Who are you?”
The stranger smiled.
“You finally see me.”
Lyra stepped backward.
“No…”
Kael looked terrified.
“I know that face.”
Elena turned toward him.
“Who is he?”
Kael's lips trembled.
“He was the King's first commander.”
The stranger laughed.
“Not just his commander.”
He removed the black crown from his head.
“I was his brother.”
Elena froze.
“My uncle?”
The man smiled.
“Your father's younger brother.”
Lyra stared at him.
“You told us Lucian was alive.”
“I needed you to believe that.”
“Why?”
“Because the real Lucian was never my enemy.”
His eyes moved toward Elena.
“His daughter was.”
Elena's silver eyes began glowing.
“You murdered my father.”
“No.”
The stranger shook his head.
“I murdered the man who stood between me and the throne.”
Elena felt her blood run cold.
“Then my father is really dead?”
The man smiled.
“He has been dead for seventeen years.”
Her mother suddenly screamed from inside the palace.
“ELENA!”
Elena turned.
Her mother was standing behind the broken doorway.
Her face was filled with terror.
“Don't listen to him!”
The stranger looked at her.
“Still alive.”
Elena ran toward her.
“Mom!”
Her mother grabbed her hands.
“I tried to warn you.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I thought the truth would destroy you.”
Elena looked toward the stranger.
“Tell me everything.”
Her mother hesitated.
Then she whispered,
“His name is Malric.”
Malric smiled.
“It's time she learned.”
---
The sky suddenly darkened.
Thunder rolled across the kingdom.
Malric lifted his hand.
A massive black barrier appeared around the palace.
Kael immediately drew his weapon.
“We're trapped.”
Malric laughed.
“No one leaves.”
Elena looked at him.
“You wanted me here.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you are the key.”
“To what?”
Malric pointed toward the mountains.
“Your father's throne.”
Elena frowned.
“My father's throne?”
“Lucian left behind something more powerful than his crown.”
He looked at her forehead.
“The Blood Moon Heart.”
Elena's mother went pale.
“No.”
Malric smiled.
“Your mother knows exactly what I'm talking about.”
Elena turned toward her.
“Mom?”
Her mother closed her eyes.
“The Blood Moon Heart is an ancient source of power.”
“Where is it?”
Her mother looked toward Elena.
“Inside the Moon Temple.”
Kael stepped forward.
“But the temple was destroyed.”
Malric laughed.
“That is what everyone believed.”
He raised his hand.
The ground beneath them began shaking.
Far away, the mountain split open.
A massive silver temple slowly rose from beneath the earth.
Elena stared.
“The Moon Temple…”
Malric looked at her.
“Your father hid the Heart there.”
“Why?”
“Because he knew I would come for it.”
Elena's mother stepped forward.
“And he knew Elena would be the only one capable of protecting it.”
Malric's smile disappeared.
“Exactly.”
He looked at Elena.
“Give me the Heart.”
“No.”
“Then I will take it.”
Elena raised her hand.
Silver energy surrounded her.
Lyra moved beside her.
“And you'll have to get through both of us.”
Malric smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
He snapped his fingers.
The ground behind Elena cracked open.
A black chain shot out and wrapped around Lyra.
“Lyra!”
Elena rushed toward her.
Malric pulled the chain.
Lyra screamed.
“Don't!”
Elena stopped.
Malric looked at her.
“Your sister is connected to your power.”
“What are you doing?”
“Testing how much you're willing to sacrifice.”
He tightened the chain.
Lyra fell to her knees.
Elena's eyes filled with fury.
“Let her go.”
“Give me the Heart.”
“I don't have it.”
“Not yet.”
Malric smiled.
“But you will.”
Suddenly, Adrian appeared behind Malric.
His eyes were still dark.
He raised his hand.
Malric turned.
“Ah.”
He smiled.
“The vessel.”
Adrian attacked.
Malric blocked him.
Their powers collided.
Adrian was thrown backward.
Elena ran toward him.
“Adrian!”
He slowly stood.
His eyes flickered silver.
“Elena…”
She held his hand.
“Fight him.”
“I am trying.”
Malric watched them.
“Interesting.”
He looked at Elena.
“Your bond survived.”
Kael stared.
“That's impossible.”
Malric laughed.
“Nothing is impossible when the Moonborn are involved.”
He raised his hand.
Adrian suddenly dropped to his knees.
Black energy spread across his chest.
Elena grabbed him.
“No!”
Malric whispered,
“Remember, Adrian…”
The darkness grew.
“…you still belong to me.”
Adrian screamed.
Elena's silver power exploded.
“NO!”
The blast threw Malric across the courtyard.
The black chain around Lyra broke.
She fell.
Elena caught her.
“Are you okay?”
Lyra nodded weakly.
“I'm fine.”
Then she looked toward Adrian.
“He isn't.”
Elena turned.
Adrian was standing alone.
His eyes were completely black.
A sword of shadow appeared in his hand.
He pointed it toward Elena.
She froze.
“Adrian?”
He took a step forward.
“Stay away.”
His voice was cold.
Lyra whispered,
“That's not him.”
Adrian charged.
Elena raised a shield.
The sword struck.
The shield cracked.
Again.
The shield broke.
Elena fell backward.
“Adrian!”
He raised the sword.
Then stopped.
His hand trembled.
A single tear rolled down his face.
“Elena…”
His real voice returned.
“Run.”
The darkness immediately swallowed him again.
The sword came down.
Elena closed her eyes.
But the strike never came.
She opened them.
Her mother was standing between them.
The blade had pierced her shoulder.
“Mom!”
Elena screamed.
Her mother looked at her.
“Don't waste this moment.”
She grabbed Adrian's wrist.
“Remember who you are.”
Adrian stared at her.
The darkness around him began shaking.
“You protected her once.”
Her mother whispered.
“Protect her again.”
Adrian's eyes flashed silver.
The Shadow King’s darkness exploded out of him.
He screamed.
Then collapsed.
Elena caught him.
“Adrian!”
He was unconscious.
But alive.
Elena looked at her mother.
Blood was running down her shoulder.
“Mom…”
Her mother smiled.
“I told you…”
She touched Elena's face.
“…I would always protect you.”
Elena began crying.
“I can't lose you again.”
“You won't.”
Her mother looked toward the Moon Temple.
“But you must go.”
“Why?”
“Because Malric is already there.”
Elena's tears stopped.
“What?”
“He doesn't need to defeat you here.”
Her mother whispered,
“He only needs to reach the Heart before you.”
Elena stood.
“Then I'll get there first.”
Lyra stood beside her.
“I'm coming.”
Kael nodded.
“So am I.”
Elena looked down at Adrian.
“What about him?”
Her mother shook her head.
“Leave him.”
Elena stared at her.
“No.”
“If you take him, Malric will use him against you again.”
“I won't leave him.”
Her mother looked into her eyes.
Then smiled.
“Then don't.”
---
The four of them entered the mountains.
Elena.
Lyra.
Kael.
And Adrian.
The Guardian followed silently.
Behind them, the Shadow Kingdom burned.
Above them, the Blood Moon slowly disappeared.
But the Moon Temple grew brighter.
Its enormous doors opened.
Inside stood hundreds of statues.
Every statue looked like a Moonborn warrior.
At the center was a giant circular chamber.
And in the middle of it…
floated a crystal.
Half silver.
Half crimson.
The Blood Moon Heart.
Elena stepped closer.
Her mark began glowing.
Lyra's mark responded.
The crystal moved toward them.
Then—
BOOM!
The temple doors slammed shut.
Malric appeared on the balcony above.
He smiled.
“You came.”
Elena raised her head.
“You won't get the Heart.”
Malric laughed.
“I don't need it.”
“What?”
His eyes moved toward Adrian.
“I already have the key.”
Elena turned.
Adrian was standing behind her.
His eyes were glowing crimson.
A black symbol appeared across his chest.
Kael's face went pale.
“No…”
Malric smiled.
“The Heart doesn't need the Queen.”
He looked at Adrian.
“It needs the vessel.”
Adrian slowly walked toward the crystal.
Elena grabbed his arm.
“Adrian, stop!”
He looked at her.
For one moment, his eyes became silver.
“Elena…”
He whispered,
“Don't let me touch it.”
But his body kept moving.
Malric raised his hand.
Adrian's eyes turned black again.
The crystal began glowing.
Elena realized what was happening.
“If he touches it…”
Kael finished the sentence.
“…the Blood Moon King will be reborn.”
Elena looked at Malric.
“You planned this from the beginning.”
Malric smiled.
“No.”
He pointed toward the crystal.
“Your father planned it.”
Elena froze.
“What?”
Malric's smile became terrifying.
“Lucian knew he would die.”
“He knew I would survive.”
“And he knew…”
Malric's eyes moved toward Elena.
“…that one day, you would bring Adrian to this temple.”
Elena's heart stopped.
“Why would my father want that?”
Malric laughed.
“Because Adrian isn't your protector.”
He paused.
“He is your father's final weapon.”
Adrian suddenly screamed.
The crystal began descending toward him.
Elena ran.
“ADRIAN!”
The crystal touched his chest.
A blinding crimson explosion filled the temple.
And from inside Adrian's body…
a voice whispered.
A voice Elena recognized.
Her father's voice.
“My daughter…”
Elena's eyes widened.
“If you're hearing this, then I am already dead.”
The temple shook.
“And there is only one thing left for you to know…”
The voice paused.
Then came the words that shattered Elena's world.
“Never trust your mother.”
The light disappeared.
Adrian opened his eyes.
They were crimson.
And behind him…
the shadow of a gigantic wolf began to rise.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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