Chapter Nine: The Shadow King's Awakening
1286 Words
The roar beneath the kingdom shook the ground so violently that Lyra nearly fell.
Kael caught her around the waist.
“Stay behind me.”
She looked at him.
His eyes were still silver.
Not the warm silver of Lunar Magic.
This was different.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Almost frightening.
“Kael?”
He didn't answer.
His attention was fixed on the darkness spreading across the crystal sky.
Selene stepped backward.
“We have to leave.”
Lyra looked at her.
“You said the prison was breaking. What exactly is inside it?”
Selene's face tightened.
“The first darkness.”
“That doesn't tell me anything.”
“It is older than Elarion. Older than the Moonborn. Older than the Shadowborn.”
Another tremor shook the city.
Selene continued.
“It was called the Hollow King.”
Kael finally spoke.
“The Hollow King was a myth.”
“No,” Selene whispered. “It was a warning.”
The ground split.
Black smoke poured through the cracks.
Lyra felt the darkness calling to her again.
Come closer.
She covered her ears.
“Make it stop.”
Kael immediately moved toward her.
“What is it saying?”
“It wants me.”
Selene's eyes widened.
“Then it knows you're here.”
A shadow suddenly moved across the distant rooftops.
Then another.
Then dozens.
Figures appeared on the bridges surrounding them.
Soldiers.
But their armor was black.
Their eyes glowed faintly red.
Kael raised his sword.
“Royal guards?”
Selene shook her head.
“Those aren't royal soldiers.”
One of the figures stepped forward.
His face was hidden beneath a black helmet.
“The Moonborn has returned.”
Another voice answered.
“And the Shadow King has awakened.”
Kael's grip tightened around his sword.
“Who sent you?”
The soldiers drew their weapons.
A voice echoed from somewhere behind them.
“My king.”
Lyra's heart dropped.
Aldric.
He stepped from the shadows wearing a black cloak over his royal armor.
He looked completely calm.
Kael's face hardened.
“Uncle.”
Aldric smiled.
“It's been a long time, Kael.”
“You knew she was alive.”
Aldric's eyes moved toward Lyra.
“I always knew.”
Lyra stepped forward.
“You killed my family.”
Aldric's expression remained cold.
“I didn't kill your mother.”
“You hunted her.”
“I tried to protect the kingdom.”
“By killing my grandmother?”
“She chose her fate.”
Lyra's silver magic began gathering around her fingers.
Kael moved beside her.
“Don't.”
She looked at him.
“He knows what happened.”
“I know.”
“Then he needs to answer for it.”
Aldric laughed softly.
“You have your grandmother's temper.”
“And you have her blood on your hands.”
For the first time, his smile disappeared.
“You have no idea what your grandmother did.”
“Then tell me.”
“She opened the door.”
Selene stepped forward.
“Liar.”
Aldric looked at her.
“Still alive?”
“I have lived longer than you expected.”
“And still protecting a dead kingdom.”
Selene raised her hand.
Silver light formed around her.
Aldric's soldiers attacked.
Everything happened at once.
Kael moved first.
His sword collided with the first soldier's blade.
Lyra raised both hands.
A wave of Lunar Magic exploded across the bridge, throwing three soldiers backward.
Selene summoned silver chains that wrapped around another.
But more kept coming.
“They're too many!” Lyra shouted.
Kael fought beside her.
“I know.”
A soldier lunged at Lyra.
Kael blocked the attack.
Another came from behind.
Lyra turned.
Silver fire burst from her palm.
The soldier flew backward.
Kael glanced at her.
“You could have warned me.”
“You were busy.”
He smiled.
“Fair.”
They fought back-to-back.
Their magic seemed to move together naturally.
Whenever Kael struck with Shadowborn power, Lyra's Lunar Magic followed.
Whenever Lyra released a wave of silver energy, Kael's darkness curved around it, strengthening the attack.
Aldric watched them from the other side of the bridge.
His expression darkened.
“No.”
He raised his hand.
The black soldiers suddenly stopped fighting.
Every one of them turned toward Kael.
Then they bowed.
Kael froze.
Aldric smiled.
“You see it now.”
Kael's sword lowered slightly.
“What have you done?”
“Nothing.”
Aldric's eyes gleamed.
“The blood remembers.”
Kael's breathing became uneven.
Black veins appeared again beneath his skin.
Lyra grabbed his hand.
“Kael.”
He looked at her.
His silver eyes flickered.
“I can hear him.”
“Who?”
“The Hollow King.”
Selene's face went pale.
“Don't listen.”
Kael doubled over.
A voice seemed to echo from inside him.
You were never meant to serve them.
Kael gripped his chest.
Lyra held his face between her hands.
“Look at me.”
His eyes met hers.
“Not him. Me.”
His breathing slowed.
The black veins faded.
Aldric stared in disbelief.
“You can control it.”
Kael straightened.
“I can control myself.”
Aldric's expression changed.
“No.”
Kael raised his sword.
“But you can't control me.”
Darkness erupted from his body.
The soldiers stumbled backward.
Even Aldric took a step back.
Lyra felt the power surge through the ground.
It was enormous.
But it didn't feel evil.
It felt like Kael.
Protective.
Fierce.
Untamed.
Selene whispered:
“The Shadow King has chosen his queen.”
Lyra looked at her.
“What?”
Selene's gaze shifted between Lyra and Kael.
“The prophecy isn't simply about Moon and Shadow uniting.”
“What is it about?”
“It's about the two heirs ruling together.”
Aldric laughed.
“You're too late.”
Everyone turned.
Aldric held up a small black crystal.
The ground beneath them began glowing red.
“The seal has already broken.”
A crack appeared beneath the ancient altar.
Something moved beneath it.
Lyra felt her stomach twist.
A massive black hand slowly emerged from the darkness.
Selene screamed.
“Run!”
The soldiers fled.
Aldric stepped backward, smiling.
“You cannot stop what is coming.”
Kael raised his sword.
“We'll see.”
Aldric disappeared into the shadows.
The hand pushed farther through the crack.
The entire underground city shook.
Lyra looked at Kael.
“What do we do?”
He looked at her.
“For once?”
“Yes?”
“I don't know.”
She almost laughed despite everything.
“That's reassuring.”
Kael reached for her.
Their fingers intertwined.
The moment they touched, their magic erupted.
Silver and black light spiraled around them.
The ancient kingdom responded.
Every statue opened its eyes.
Every silver flower bloomed.
The rivers began glowing brighter.
And somewhere deep beneath the city, an ancient voice whispered:
At last.
Lyra's mark burned.
A crown of silver light appeared above her head.
At the same time, a black crown formed above Kael.
The two crowns slowly moved toward each other.
Selene fell to her knees.
“The prophecy.”
Lyra looked at her.
“What does it say?”
Selene stared at the crowns.
“When Moon and Shadow unite, the kingdom will rise.”
The crowns touched.
The entire kingdom exploded with light.
For one beautiful second, everything became silent.
Then the Hollow King's voice thundered through the cavern.
“Then let the kingdom rise with you.”
The ground shattered.
A massive eye opened beneath the city.
Red.
Ancient.
Awake.
Lyra stared into it.
And the creature beneath the kingdom smiled.
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