Chapter 10 When Truth Begins to Bleed Through
1048 Words
Something stepped forward.
Not fully into the light.
But enough.
The shape was wrong.
Too tall.
Too still.
And the sound—
That soft, uneven shifting—like something adjusting bones that didn’t quite fit.
Amara’s breath caught.
“It’s… not right,” she whispered.
Lucian didn’t answer.
His body had already changed—not visible, not in a way others would notice.
But Amara felt it.
The stillness in him sharpened.
Focused.
“Stay behind me,” he said quietly.
Amara frowned.
“I don’t need—“
“It’s not a suggestion.”
The words were calm.
But final.
And for the first time—
She listened.
The thing moved again.
Closer now.
And the shadows—
They didn’t fall away from it.
They leaned toward it.
Lucian stepped forward.
Just one step.
But it was enough.
“Leave,” he said.
Silence.
Then—
The thing tilted its head.
Too slowly.
Too deliberately.
And then it moved.
Fast.
Not running.
Not lunging.
Just—
Suddenly there.
Amara barely had time to react.
Lucian did.
He moved in a way she had never seen before.
Too fast.
Too precise.
He caught the creature mid-motion—his grip locking around something that should not have been solid.
The air snapped.
The creature let out a sound—
Not a scream.
Something lower.
Almost amused.
Lucian’s expression darkened.
“Wrong place,” he said.
And then—
He threw it.
Not like a man would.
Not even close.
The creature hit the trees hard enough to c***k wood.
Amara stared.
That wasn’t possible.
Lucian stood still again.
But not the same.
“What are you—” she started.
“Later,” he said sharply.
The creature rose.
Slowly.
Unbothered.
Its head turned toward Amara.
And for the first time—
She felt it clearly.
Not just watching.
Recognizing.
Her breath hitched.
“No,” Lucian said.
But it was already moving.
Toward her.
Something inside Amara snapped.
Not fear.
Not panic.
Instinct.
The world bent.
Just for a second.
The air shifted—
like heat rippling across unseen lines.
The creature paused.
Confused.
Because suddenly—
There were two of her.
Then three.
Then none.
Illusion.
But not simple.
Lucian turned.
Shock flickering his face—
not at the creature.
At her.
Amara’s breathing quickened.
She hadn’t meant to—
The creature snarled—
low, distorted—
and lashed out again.
Lucian moved first.
Again.
But this time—
He didn’t hold back.
Something darker moved through him.
Controlled.
But close to breaking free.
He struck the creature down again—
harder.
Final.
It didn’t rise this time.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
The forest stilled.
Amara stood frozen.
Lucian turned slowly.
Their eyes met.
And everything changed.
“You…” he said quietly.
Not a question.
A realisation beginning.
Amara’s chest tightened.
“I didn’t mean to—”
“What are you?”
There it was.
Not soft.
Not gentle.
Real.
Amara swallowed.
The truth sat on her tongue.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
“I’m not—”
Voices.
From the village.
People approaching.
Lucian’s expression shifted instantly.
The moment snapped shut.
“Go,” he said.
Amara hesitated.
“Now.”
She didn’t argue.
By the time the villagers arrived—
The creature was gone.
Or what remained of it.
And Lucian—
Looked like nothing had happened.
Nothing… human, at least.
🌿
The days after were not quiet.
Word spread.
Not clearly.
Not accurately.
But enough.
“They saw something in the forest.”
“Lucian was there.”
“She was there too.”
Amara felt it again.
That tightening circle.
But now—
Something else had changed.
Lucian.
He didn’t avoid her.
But he didn’t look at her the same either.
Not distant.
But searching.
Like he was trying to understand something he hadn’t prepared for.
And that—
That hurt more than distance would have.
🌿
One afternoon—
The tension snapped in a different way.
Amara turned a corner—
And stopped.
Lucian stood near the well.
Lira stood close to him.
Too close.
Laughing.
Her hand rested lightly on his arm.
Familiar.
Comfortable.
Amara’s chest tightened.
Something sharp—unexpected—cut through her.
Jealousy.
She didn’t recognize it at first.
Only the way her breath shifted.
The way her steps slowed.
Lira said something—
soft, close to his ear.
Lucian didn’t move away.
That was enough.
Amara turned before they could see her.
But the feeling didn’t leave.
It followed her.
🌿
Later—
Mireya found her sitting alone.
“You look like you swallowed something bitter,” she said.
Amara didn’t respond immediately.
Then—
“He doesn’t belong to me,” she said quietly.
Mireya raised an eyebrow.
“That’s not what I asked.”
Amara exhaled.
“I don’t like seeing her near him.”
There it was.
Mireya smiled slightly.
“So now you understand.”
Amara frowned.
“Understand what?”
Mireya’s voice softened.
“That it’s not just curiosity anymore.”
Amara looked away.
No.
It wasn’t.
🌿
That night—
Lucian found her again.
Of course he did.
“You didn’t answer me,” he said.
Amara’s chest tightened.
“I know.”
Silence.
Then—
He stepped closer.
“What are you?” he asked again.
Not angry.
But he wasn’t letting it go.
Not this time.
Amara looked at him.
At the way he was standing.
Not afraid.
Not backing away.
Still here.
Even after everything.
Her voice dropped.
“If I tell you…”
A pause.
“Nothing stays the same.”
Lucian didn’t hesitate.
“Then let it change.”
That—
That was it.
The line.
Amara took a breath.
And began—
“I’m—”
“Lucian.”
The voice cut through the moment.
Liraya.
She stepped forward from the shadows.
And this time—
There was no softness in her gaze.
“You’ve delayed long enough,” she said.
Lucian frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
Liraya’s eyes shifted briefly to Amara.
Then back.
“They’re coming.”
Silence.
Lucian’s expression hardened.
“Who?”
Liraya held his gaze.
“The court.”
Amara’s breath caught.
And Lucian—
For the first time—
Looked like something had finally caught up to him.
- Writer
