Chapter Seven: The Shadow In The Blood
1782 Words
The first thing Lyra felt was cold.
Not the ordinary cold of winter or rain.
This cold came from somewhere deeper.
It crawled beneath her skin and settled inside her bones.
She opened her eyes.
The ceiling above her was unfamiliar.
Dark stone.
Silver carvings.
A single crystal chandelier hanging overhead.
She tried to sit up.
Pain shot through her head.
“Easy.”
Lyra turned sharply.
Kael was sitting beside the bed.
His shirt was torn at the shoulder, and a thin line of blood ran down his temple.
She stared at him.
“What happened?”
“You were unconscious.”
“For how long?”
“Nearly six hours.”
Lyra pushed herself upright.
“The throne room.”
Kael's expression darkened.
“It's gone.”
Her heart sank.
“What do you mean?”
“Half of it collapsed.”
Lyra remembered the explosion.
The silver throne.
Varian.
The darkness beneath the palace.
She looked around.
“Where are we?”
“My chambers.”
Again.
She glanced at him.
“You brought me here?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Kael gave her a look.
“Because you were unconscious in a collapsing palace.”
“Oh.”
She looked down at herself.
Her dress was torn at the sleeve, and faint silver lines still shimmered across her skin.
“Why is this happening to me?”
Kael didn't answer.
Lyra looked at him.
“You keep doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Looking at me like you know something.”
He stood.
“I don't know everything.”
“But you know something.”
Kael walked toward the window.
Outside, darkness covered Elarion.
“No one is allowed outside tonight.”
“Why?”
“Because the palace is under lockdown.”
Lyra got out of bed.
“Why?”
Kael turned.
“Three royal guards disappeared.”
Her stomach tightened.
“Because of Varian?”
“Probably.”
“And Queen Elara?”
“She's meeting with the council.”
“Does she know I'm awake?”
“She does.”
Lyra walked toward the window.
“Does she know what happened in the throne room?”
“Yes.”
“And what did she say?”
Kael hesitated.
“She wants you imprisoned.”
Lyra turned.
“What?”
“She believes you're responsible for the awakening.”
Lyra laughed bitterly.
“Of course she does.”
Kael stepped closer.
“I won't let her.”
“You can't protect me forever.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
His eyes held hers.
“Find the truth before she gets the chance to destroy you.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
The silence between them felt different now.
He was standing close.
Too close.
Lyra could feel the warmth coming from his body.
“You're hurt,” she whispered.
Kael touched his temple.
“It's nothing.”
“Sit.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“That sounded like an order.”
“Maybe it was.”
A small smile touched his lips.
“You're becoming bossy.”
“And you're becoming annoying.”
“I've always been annoying.”
Lyra smiled.
“Sit down.”
Kael obeyed.
She found a clean cloth and carefully wiped the blood from his temple.
His eyes followed her.
“You don't have to do this.”
“I know.”
Her fingers brushed his skin.
Kael went still.
Lyra noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're staring again.”
“I know.”
Her heart skipped.
“Why?”
His gaze dropped to her lips.
“I'm trying to figure out why I can't stop.”
The cloth slipped from Lyra's fingers.
Neither of them moved.
The distance between them seemed to disappear.
Kael reached up and gently touched her cheek.
Lyra's breath caught.
Then—
A violent knock struck the door.
They immediately stepped apart.
Kael stood.
“Who is it?”
“Your Highness!”
The voice belonged to one of his guards.
Kael opened the door.
The guard entered, breathing heavily.
“There's been another attack.”
“Where?”
“The western tower.”
Kael's expression hardened.
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
The guard looked at Lyra.
“But they left a message.”
He handed Kael a piece of black parchment.
Kael opened it.
His eyes changed.
Lyra stepped closer.
“What does it say?”
Kael didn't answer.
She took the parchment from his hand.
Three words were written across it in dark red ink.
SHE REMEMBERS EVERYTHING.
Lyra stared.
“I don't understand.”
Kael looked at her.
“I think I do.”
“What?”
“You're starting to remember.”
The words sent a chill through her.
“Remember what?”
“Your childhood.”
“I remember my childhood.”
“No.”
Kael shook his head.
“You remember what you were told.”
Lyra's heart began racing.
“What are you saying?”
“Your memories were altered.”
She stepped backward.
“No.”
“Lyra—”
“No.”
She pressed her hands against her head.
Images flashed through her mind.
A palace corridor.
Her mother's frightened face.
A silver crown.
A man holding a sword.
A little boy standing beside her.
She gasped.
The boy.
She knew him.
She had played with him.
She had called him—
“Kael.”
He froze.
“What?”
“The boy.”
“What boy?”
“In my memories.”
She looked at him.
“It was you.”
Kael went completely still.
Lyra's voice trembled.
“We knew each other.”
He stared at her.
“Yes.”
Her eyes widened.
“You remember?”
“I remember you.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I wasn't sure.”
“What happened?”
Kael looked away.
“You were six.”
Lyra waited.
“I was eight.”
He swallowed.
“You used to sneak into the gardens.”
A faint smile appeared.
“You hated royal lessons.”
Lyra stared.
“That sounds like me.”
“You would climb the old apple tree and refuse to come down.”
She laughed softly.
“You remember that?”
“I remember everything.”
The smile disappeared from his face.
“Until the night they took you away.”
Lyra's heart ached.
“What happened?”
Kael looked at her.
“You were hiding in the garden.”
“From who?”
“From your guards.”
“Why?”
“You didn't want to attend the Moon Ceremony.”
Lyra frowned.
“What Moon Ceremony?”
“The ceremony where you were supposed to be recognized as the next Moon Queen.”
Her mouth fell open.
“I was going to be queen?”
“You already were.”
Silence.
Kael continued.
“Your grandmother had planned to announce your inheritance that night.”
“But the attack happened.”
“Yes.”
“Who attacked?”
Kael's eyes darkened.
“Varian.”
Lyra shook her head.
“But you said he was your father's adviser.”
“He was.”
“Then why would he attack the palace?”
“Because he wanted the throne.”
Lyra looked toward the window.
“And my mother?”
“She took you and escaped.”
“Where did she go?”
“I don't know.”
“She never told me.”
“She couldn't.”
“Why?”
Kael looked at her.
“Because someone was listening.”
A sound came from the corner of the room.
Both turned.
The curtains moved.
Kael drew his sword.
“Who's there?”
Nothing.
Then a black figure stepped from behind the curtain.
Lyra's breath caught.
The figure moved quickly.
Kael attacked.
Steel collided with dark magic.
The intruder jumped backward.
Lyra's silver magic exploded instinctively.
The figure disappeared.
Kael rushed to the window.
Nothing.
Only the dark palace grounds.
He turned.
“Are you all right?”
Lyra nodded.
Then she noticed something on the floor.
A small silver pendant.
She picked it up.
The moment her fingers touched it, her vision changed.
She saw a little girl.
Herself.
Standing in the palace garden.
Beside her was young Kael.
They were holding hands.
A woman stood before them.
Queen Seraphine.
She placed a silver pendant around Lyra's neck.
Then she whispered:
“When the time comes, trust the Shadowborn.”
The vision vanished.
Lyra dropped the pendant.
Kael caught it.
“What did you see?”
She looked at him.
“My grandmother told me to trust the Shadowborn.”
Kael stared at the pendant.
Then his face changed.
“That's impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because the pendant was destroyed seventeen years ago.”
Lyra frowned.
“But it's here.”
Kael turned it over.
A symbol was engraved on the back.
The same symbol that had appeared when their magic connected.
Moon and Shadow.
Together.
His fingers tightened around it.
“This wasn't destroyed.”
“What?”
“It was hidden.”
“By who?”
Kael looked at her.
“My father.”
Lyra's pulse quickened.
“Why would he hide it?”
Kael's expression became grim.
“Because he knew the prophecy wasn't about one person.”
“What was it about?”
He looked into her eyes.
“Us.”
Before Lyra could respond, the palace bells began ringing.
Not once.
Not twice.
But thirteen times.
Kael's face went pale.
“The eclipse.”
Lyra looked toward the window.
The moon was changing.
A dark shadow slowly moved across its surface.
Kael grabbed his sword.
“We need to leave.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere the palace can't reach us.”
A loud voice echoed through the corridors.
“By order of Queen Elara, seal every entrance!”
Guards began running toward them.
Kael looked at Lyra.
“There isn't enough time.”
“What are we going to do?”
He reached for her hand.
“Trust me.”
Lyra stared at their joined hands.
Then she nodded.
“I do.”
The wall behind them suddenly opened.
A secret passage appeared.
Kael pulled her inside.
The moment the stone door closed, Lyra heard the guards enter his chambers.
They had missed them.
For now.
They descended into darkness.
Neither of them noticed the black mark slowly appearing on Lyra's palm.
Or the whisper coming from beneath the palace.
“Welcome home, little Moonborn.”
And somewhere deep beneath Elarion, something opened its eyes.
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