BLOODLINES OF SHADOWS
916 Words
Kai’s partial transformation.
Elias’s truth.
Avery’s bloodline revealed.
A family confrontation.
A power awakening.
A near impossible escape.
The hallway outside pulsed with torchlight as Avery’s family filled the doorway like an execution squad.
Cloaked figures her own blood their faces stern,
weapons drawn, eyes
avoiding hers as if looking at her was forbidden.
Kai’s shadows tightened around Avery’s wrist,
instinctively protective.
Elias stepped closer to her left side,
even in his wounded state, golden sparks flickering at his fingertips.
Her aunt Eristelle Varyn stepped forward.
Avery, she said, each syllable a command.
You will come with us. Now.
Avery’s voice shook.
Why? Why didn’t any of you ever tell me who I am?
Eristelle didn’t blink.
Because you were never meant to know.
Behind her, one of the men
in the cloaks whispered:
She’s already touched the shadows.
It may be too late.
Kai’s jaw clenched so hard Avery feared it might crack.
Don’t talk about her like she’s a.....
But Elias gripped his shoulder.
Kai. Not now.
Kai nearly shoved him off,
but stopped only because Avery touched his hand,
grounding him.
His shadows eased just a fraction,
but his eyes remained black dangerously black.
More silver streaks had formed in the irises.
A sign he was moments
away from losing the
last pieces of himself.
Her aunt’s gaze flicked to Kai.
We warned you to keep away from the shadow walker.
He is a threat to our entire lineage.
Avery swallowed.
Then why did you send Elias to
manipulate my memories?
The room trembled.
A ripple of guilt crossed Elias’s face.
Eristelle raised her chin.
Because Elias failed to erase Kai the first time.
Avery froze.
The first time…? she whispered.
Kai took a step forward, breathing hard.
They wiped you, Avery. Not me.
Avery’s heart stopped.
Elias’s voice cracked.
It was for your safety.
Kai snarled.
It was to keep her from me.
Avery felt the betrayal stab deeper than any blade.
Her aunt continued coldly,
Your mind rejected the first erasure.
It always does.
That is the curse of your bloodline.
Avery stared at her.
What curse?
Eristelle’s lips thinned.
You are a Varyn. The last pure one.
The bridge between light and shadow.
If you awaken… the Equinox Prophecy begins.
And the world ends.
Avery stumbled back.
Kai caught her waist.
Elias grabbed her hand too.
And for the first time… both of them looked equally terrified.
Kai whispered,
Your blood… your power… it’s why I was drawn to you.
Elias added,
And why they fear you.
Avery felt her chest tighten as memories
she once thought were dreams flickered violently..
A night sky splitting open.
Her younger self crying,
while shadows curled around her feet.
A voice saying,
You must never choose the shadow.
She gasped as the memories hit her like a wave.
Her aunt saw it.
She’s awakening, Eristelle hissed.
Stop her before...
Everything exploded.
Avery felt her knees buckle as
something ripped open inside her
something ancient,
something that had waited her entire life to be freed.
The air around her whirled into a cyclone of light and shadow.
Elias shielded his eyes as a burst of blinding
radiance erupted from her palms.
Kai staggered back
as shadows flared violently from her spine.
Her bloodline had awakened.
And both powers light and shadow
answered to her.
Her aunt screamed,
Contain her NOW!!!
The cloaked family members surged forward
And Avery snapped.
DO NOT TOUCH ME!
Her voice echoed with two overlapping tones,
one heavenly, one abyssal.
A shockwave blasted outward.
Her family slammed into the walls.
Some crumpled.
Some groaned. One collapsed unconscious.
The doorframe cracked. The lights shattered.
Kai rose first.
Not scared.
Not hesitant.
He approached Avery slowly, palms open.
Avery… I’m here. Focus on my voice.
He stepped into her shadows,
letting them wrap around his arms like vines.
He didn’t flinch.
Elias stepped into her light,
letting it scorch his skin, letting it burn him
and still he didn’t step back.
Between them, Avery trembled,
caught between two forces she could barely control.
Kai whispered, You’re not a curse.
Elias added, You’re the one the prophecy feared
because it couldn’t control you.
Avery clutched their hands, shaking.
I don’t know what I’m doing....
Kai cupped her jaw gently,
dark eyes soft despite the storm behind them.
Then let us guide you.
Elias placed a hand on her back,
golden warmth soothing the pain in her spine.
We’re with you.
Her shadows and light slowly calmed…
but the danger had not ended.
Because something deeper
in the house groaned ancient, heavy, waking.
Her aunt, struggling to rise, whispered in horror,
You triggered it.
The Warden of the Varyn Tomb… it’s awake.
A massive stone gate at the end of the corridor cracked open,
dust falling like sand.
A monstrous silhouette crawled forth.
Elias paled.
Kai’s shadows rose like blades.
Avery grabbed their hands.
Run, she whispered.
But Avery,
Kai started.
Her eyes flashed with a burning silver glow.
Run. I’ll follow.
The monster roared as the stone fully split,
and the entire mansion shook.
Kai pulled her with him.
Elias shielded them with a barrier as the ceiling cracked overhead.
But when they reached the final exit
A figure stepped out of the shadows.
A man.
With Avery’s eyes.
Her older brother.
Whom she was told died thirteen years ago.
He blocked the escape.
Smiling.
Avery, he said softly.
Welcome home.
And behind her brother…
Shadows bowed.
Not to Kai.
To him.
- Writer
