Dark obsession: chapter eight
933 Words
Blood and Betrayal
The clash of steel echoed through Moonhaven.
The peaceful sanctuary that had stood untouched for centuries had become a battlefield in a matter of moments. White marble pillars cracked under the force of explosions, while frightened wolves howled in the distance.
Cassian, leader of the Ravens, walked calmly through the chaos as though he were taking a leisurely stroll. His icy blue eyes remained fixed on Lyra.
"You're coming with me," he said, his voice almost gentle.
Lyra stood her ground despite the fear pounding in her chest.
"I don't even know who hired you."
Cassian smiled faintly.
"You don't need to."
He suddenly disappeared.
Lyra gasped.
"So fast..."
Before she could react, Cassian appeared behind her, one of his twin blades aimed at her shoulder.
Clang!
Lucien intercepted the strike just in time, his silver sword sparking against Cassian's blade.
"You'll have to get through me first," Lucien growled.
Cassian chuckled.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
The two warriors launched into a fierce duel, their blades moving so quickly they became flashes of silver and black.
Nearby, Moonhaven's guardians fought desperately to hold back the Ravens. Though they were skilled warriors, the assassins were disciplined and relentless, attacking with frightening coordination.
Lyra wanted to help, but Seraphina grabbed her arm.
"Not yet."
"But they're losing!"
"They are buying you time."
Lyra looked around and saw several guardians fall to the Ravens' blades. Her heart tightened.
"I can't keep hiding while everyone fights for me."
Seraphina looked into her eyes.
"Then stop thinking of yourself as someone who must be protected."
She handed Lyra a beautifully crafted silver staff decorated with a crescent moon.
"This belonged to your mother."
Lyra stared at it in disbelief.
"My mother used this?"
Seraphina nodded.
"She defended Moonhaven with it."
As Lyra wrapped her fingers around the staff, the Shadow Mark on her shoulder glowed warmly instead of painfully.
The weapon recognized her.
Far from Moonhaven, Kael and Damon raced through the mountain forests with twenty elite Blackthorn warriors.
Snow flew beneath their boots as they climbed the steep trails.
"We're almost there," Damon said.
Kael suddenly stopped.
"What is it?" Damon asked.
Kael knelt beside a fresh footprint in the snow.
"It's Raven."
He picked up a black feather lying beside it.
"They're only minutes ahead of us."
He rose immediately.
"We run."
No one questioned the order.
Back in Moonhaven, the battle grew more desperate.
Lucien and Cassian remained evenly matched.
"You've improved," Cassian admitted after blocking another strike.
Lucien frowned.
"You know me?"
"We trained together."
Lucien's eyes widened.
"You..."
Cassian lowered his voice.
"You left the Order."
Lucien tightened his grip.
"And you chose to become a killer."
"I chose survival."
Their swords collided again.
Meanwhile, Lyra stepped into the center of the battlefield.
Several Ravens immediately surrounded her.
"There she is!"
"Take her alive!"
The first assassin lunged.
Instinct took over.
Lyra spun the silver staff, blocking the attack before sweeping the assassin's legs out from under him.
He crashed to the ground.
Another attacked from behind.
The Shadow Mark flashed.
Without thinking, Lyra turned and struck the attacker's blade with her staff.
A burst of silver energy exploded outward, sending three assassins flying across the courtyard.
Everyone froze.
The guardians stared in amazement.
"She used Shadow Light..."
Seraphina smiled.
"She's learning."
Cassian glanced toward Lyra.
His calm expression finally cracked.
"So the legends were true."
He pushed Lucien backward and sprinted toward Lyra.
"No!" Lucien shouted.
Cassian was too fast.
Within seconds he stood directly in front of her.
He raised his blade—
Then stopped.
His eyes widened.
A faint silver symbol glowed on the pendant hanging around Lyra's neck.
"The Moon Crest..." he whispered.
"You have it."
Lyra frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Cassian lowered his weapon slightly.
Before he could answer, a loud howl echoed across the valley.
Every werewolf looked toward the shattered gates.
A massive black wolf burst through the smoke.
Alpha Kael.
Without slowing down, he slammed into two Ravens, sending them crashing into a stone wall.
The remaining assassins immediately formed defensive positions.
Kael shifted into human form, his golden eyes blazing with fury.
He walked straight toward Lyra.
"Are you hurt?"
Before she could answer, Cassian laughed.
"So..."
"The Alpha finally arrived."
Kael faced him.
"If you're wise, you'll leave now."
Cassian smiled.
"I wasn't paid to fight you."
His eyes shifted toward Lyra.
"I was paid to test her."
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Lyra frowned.
"Test me?"
Cassian nodded.
"And now I have my answer."
He raised two fingers.
Every Raven instantly stopped fighting.
"We're leaving."
The assassins vanished into the forest as quickly as they had appeared.
The battle was over.
Moonhaven had survived.
But victory felt incomplete.
Kael turned toward Lyra.
"I came because I felt the mate bond."
Lyra looked at him for a long moment.
Then she quietly replied,
"You don't get to reject me one day... and expect me to trust you the next."
Her words struck Kael harder than any blade.
Before anyone could speak again, Seraphina stepped forward, holding an ancient scroll she had retrieved from the palace.
Her face had gone pale.
"There has been another prophecy..."
Everyone looked at her.
She slowly unrolled the scroll.
"The Shadow Queen cannot defeat the darkness alone."
She looked directly at Kael.
"The Moon Goddess has chosen a second guardian."
Kael frowned.
"Who?"
Seraphina lifted her eyes.
"You."
A heavy silence settled over Moonhaven.
Neither Lyra nor Kael had expected fate to bind them together once again.
End of Chapter Eight
- Writer
