CHAPTER 11: Into The Enemy’s Liar
1363 Words
(Part 1)
Kael stood motionless in the middle of his destroyed study.
The black portal had vanished.
So had Aria.
Only the shattered windows and scorched floor remained as proof that Malachar had been there.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Then Kael's wolf let out a furious roar inside his mind.
Find her.
Bring her back.
Kael's blue eyes slowly turned golden before returning to normal.
His rage was barely under control.
Rowan burst into the room, followed by several warriors.
"My Alpha!"
He looked around in horror.
"Where's Aria?"
Kael answered without looking at him.
"Malachar took her."
The room fell silent.
One of the warriors whispered, "The Lord of Curses..."
"I thought he was only a legend."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"So did I."
Miles away...
Aria slowly opened her eyes.
A dull ache spread through her head.
Cold chains wrapped around her wrists.
She looked around.
She was inside a massive stone chamber illuminated by crimson flames.
Ancient symbols covered the walls, glowing faintly like living creatures.
The air smelled of ash and blood.
"You're awake."
Aria looked up.
Malachar stood at the foot of a black staircase, his crimson cloak flowing behind him.
His red eyes studied her with unsettling amusement.
"You've grown so much."
Aria frowned.
"You know me?"
"I knew you..."
"...before you were even born."
Her heart skipped.
"What are you talking about?"
Instead of answering, Malachar waved his hand.
The chains around her wrists disappeared.
"You don't need those."
"You're not leaving."
Aria rubbed her wrists.
"Why am I here?"
Malachar slowly walked toward a giant stained-glass window.
Outside stretched an endless valley covered in black mist.
"This..."
"...is the Fortress of Shadows."
"It has waited centuries for its true queen."
Aria's eyes widened.
"I'm not your queen."
Malachar smiled.
"Not yet."
Back at Blackthorn Castle...
Kael stood before the ancient map in the war room.
Several red markings covered the mountains surrounding the kingdom.
Rowan pointed toward the northern border.
"Our scouts found traces of dark magic here."
"The trail ends at the Dead Mountains."
Kael nodded.
"The Fortress of Shadows."
An elder gasped.
"No one has entered that place and returned alive."
Kael picked up his sword.
"Then I'll be the first."
"My Alpha," Rowan said firmly, "you're not going alone."
One by one, Blackthorn's strongest warriors stepped forward.
"We ride with you."
Kael looked at the men who had sworn their lives to him.
A faint smile appeared.
"Prepare for war."
Meanwhile...
Aria wandered through the fortress under the watchful eyes of silent guards.
Every hallway was carved from black stone.
Every torch burned with crimson fire.
Something about the place felt...
Wrong.
As she turned a corner, she heard soft crying.
She followed the sound to a small iron cell.
Inside sat an elderly woman with silver hair.
Her clothes were torn, but her posture remained regal.
The woman's eyes widened the moment she saw Aria.
"No..."
"It can't be..."
Aria stepped closer.
"Do you know me?"
The woman slowly reached through the bars.
Tears filled her eyes.
"I prayed every day..."
"...that you survived."
Aria's heart pounded.
"Who are you?"
The woman's lips trembled.
"My name..."
"...is Lyra."
Everything around Aria seemed to stop.
The name echoed in her mind.
Queen Lyra.
The woman from the portrait.
The woman from her dreams.
"My..."
"My mother?"
The woman nodded as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"My daughter..."
Before Aria could move, heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Malachar appeared.
His smile vanished when he saw them together.
"I see you've found each other."
He snapped his fingers.
The cell door slammed shut with a deafening crash.
Aria turned toward him, fury blazing in her eyes.
"You lied!"
"You told me she was dead!"
Malachar laughed.
"I never said she was dead."
"I merely said..."
"...she belonged to me."
He looked at Queen Lyra.
"You've had eighteen years to tell her the truth."
"But now..."
"You'll both witness the beginning of the Blood Moon."
Far above the fortress...
The moon slowly began changing color.
The first crimson light spread across its surface.
Only five nights remained.
PART 2(Into The Enemy’s Liar)
The crimson glow of the Blood Moon spilled through the narrow windows of the Fortress of Shadows, bathing the cold stone walls in an eerie red light.
Aria stood frozen before the iron cell.
Her mother was alive.
After years of believing she had no family left, after wondering why she had been abandoned, the truth stood only a few feet away.
Tears welled in her eyes.
"You... you're really my mother?" she whispered.
Queen Lyra reached through the iron bars and gently cupped Aria's face.
"My beautiful daughter," she said softly. "I've dreamed of this moment every single day."
Aria couldn't hold back any longer. She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.
"Why?" she cried. "Why didn't you come for me? Why did you leave me?"
Pain filled Lyra's silver eyes.
"I never abandoned you."
"I was imprisoned the night you were born."
"I begged them to let me see you, but Malachar made sure I never could."
Malachar folded his arms and watched them with a cruel smile.
"How touching."
"But you're wasting precious time."
Aria stood and faced him.
"You destroyed my family!"
"I protected my kingdom," Malachar replied calmly.
"You were born with a power that could erase everything I built."
Queen Lyra shook her head.
"Don't believe a word he says."
"He fears you."
Malachar laughed.
"I fear no one."
He slowly walked toward Aria.
"The Blood Moon is almost here."
"When it rises completely, your true power will awaken."
"And when it does..."
"You'll willingly stand beside me."
"Never."
Aria's voice was firm.
"I'd rather die."
Malachar's smile faded.
"We'll see."
Just then, a loud explosion shook the fortress.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
The guards stumbled.
Another explosion followed, louder than the first.
A frightened soldier rushed into the corridor.
"My Lord!"
"The outer gate has fallen!"
Malachar's eyes narrowed.
"So..."
"He actually came."
Aria's heart leaped.
"Kael..."
She rushed to the narrow window.
Far below, flames lit up the battlefield.
Blackthorn warriors stormed through the broken gates, fighting fiercely against the Blood Fang soldiers.
At their front stood Kael.
His sword flashed through the darkness as enemy after enemy fell before him.
He fought like a man with nothing left to lose.
Rowan battled beside him, shouting orders as the Blackthorn warriors pushed deeper into the fortress.
"They're coming," Aria whispered.
"They came for me."
Queen Lyra smiled through her tears.
"I knew he wouldn't abandon you."
Malachar watched the battle below without concern.
"Let him come."
"I've been waiting for the Cursed Alpha."
He turned toward Aria.
"Do you know why?"
She said nothing.
"Because the curse inside him belongs to me."
Aria's eyes widened.
"What?"
"I created it centuries ago."
"I cursed the Blackthorn bloodline so every Alpha would suffer."
"Their pain strengthened my power."
Queen Lyra stepped forward angrily.
"You're lying!"
Malachar smirked.
"Am I?"
He looked directly at Aria.
"If Kael loses control during the Blood Moon..."
"He won't recognize friend from enemy."
"He'll kill everyone."
"And the first person he'll destroy..."
Malachar pointed at Aria.
"...will be you."
Before Aria could answer, another explosion rocked the fortress.
This one came from just outside the chamber.
The massive wooden doors burst open.
Smoke filled the room.
A familiar voice echoed through the darkness.
"Aria!"
Kael.
He stepped through the smoke, sword in hand, his blue eyes blazing with determination.
Relief washed over Aria.
"You came..."
Kael looked at her and gave a small nod.
"I told you before."
"You don't have to face this alone."
Before Aria could run to him, black chains erupted from the floor and wrapped around her waist and wrists.
She cried out in pain.
Malachar laughed.
"One step closer, Alpha..."
"...and she'll die."
Kael froze.
His grip tightened around his sword.
The room fell deathly silent.
Then Malachar raised his hand.
The crimson moon outside suddenly glowed brighter than ever before.
Kael's wolf let out a terrifying roar.
His blue eyes slowly began to change...
Turning a deep, glowing crimson.
- Writer
