CHAPTER 12: The Beast Within
1322 Words
(Part 1)
Kael's blue eyes slowly turned crimson.
A terrifying wave of energy exploded from his body, shaking the entire chamber.
The walls cracked.
The floor trembled.
Every torch in the room flickered violently before going out.
Darkness swallowed everything except the crimson glow pouring from Kael's eyes.
Aria's heart nearly stopped.
"Kael..."
He didn't answer.
His breathing became heavy, almost animalistic.
His wolf was fighting for control.
Malachar smiled with satisfaction.
"Excellent."
"The curse is finally waking."
Rowan burst into the chamber with a squad of Blackthorn warriors.
"My Alpha!"
The moment he saw Kael's glowing eyes, his face drained of color.
"No..."
"It can't be."
One of the older warriors whispered in fear.
"The Blood Moon has begun affecting him."
Malachar laughed.
"You fools."
"You believed the curse only reached its peak during the Blood Moon."
"It begins long before."
He slowly walked toward Kael.
"Every step he takes toward saving her..."
"...only strengthens my curse."
Kael gritted his teeth.
His hands trembled as black veins spread across his arms.
His wolf growled furiously inside his mind.
Kill him...
Kill everyone...
Kael roared.
"No!"
The chamber shook under the force of his voice.
Aria struggled against the chains binding her.
"Kael!"
"Don't listen to him!"
For a brief moment, Kael looked at her.
His crimson eyes softened.
The chains around Aria loosened slightly.
Malachar frowned.
"So..."
"You still have some control."
He raised his hand.
Dark energy surged into Kael's body.
Kael screamed in agony as shadows wrapped around him.
His bones cracked.
His claws grew longer.
His fangs emerged.
He was transforming...
But not into an ordinary wolf.
Rowan drew his sword.
"Protect the Alpha!"
The Blackthorn warriors charged.
Malachar barely moved.
With a flick of his wrist, a wall of black fire erupted from the ground, throwing every warrior backward.
Rowan crashed into a pillar.
Blood trickled from his forehead.
"This monster..."
"He's too powerful."
Malachar smiled.
"I've had centuries to become this powerful."
Aria closed her eyes.
She remembered her mother's words.
Your power is the only thing that can stop the curse.
"But how?" she whispered.
Suddenly...
The silver mark on her wrist began to glow.
A warm voice echoed inside her mind.
Do not fear the light...
It was Queen Lyra.
Trust your heart.
Aria took a deep breath.
The silver light spread from her wrist across her entire body.
The black chains began to crack.
Malachar's smile disappeared.
"What?"
With one brilliant flash—
CRACK!
The chains shattered into pieces.
The force knocked everyone backward.
Kael looked toward Aria.
For the first time since the curse awakened...
The crimson faded slightly from his eyes.
He whispered her name.
"...Aria."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"I knew you were still in there."
Malachar's expression twisted with rage.
"No!"
"This isn't how the prophecy goes!"
He slammed both hands onto the floor.
The fortress rumbled violently.
Massive cracks spread across the chamber.
The ceiling began to collapse.
Stone blocks crashed around them.
Rowan looked up in horror.
"The fortress is falling!"
Kael immediately grabbed Aria's hand.
"Stay close to me."
She nodded.
But before they could move...
A hidden stone door slowly opened behind Malachar.
A staircase descended deep beneath the fortress.
Ancient silver light poured from below.
Queen Lyra gasped.
"The Moon Shrine..."
"It still exists."
Malachar smiled once more.
"Exactly."
"And that's where this story truly begins."
(Part 2)
The hidden stone door groaned as it slowly opened.
A staircase descended into the darkness below the fortress, illuminated by an eerie silver glow.
Everyone stood frozen.
Queen Lyra's eyes widened with disbelief.
"The Moon Shrine..."
"I thought it had been destroyed centuries ago."
Malachar smiled triumphantly.
"It cannot be destroyed."
"It can only be hidden."
He stepped toward the staircase.
"For generations, this shrine has waited for the Moon Heir."
"And tonight..."
"It shall witness the end of the Blackthorn bloodline."
Kael tightened his grip on his sword.
"You won't take another step."
Malachar laughed.
"You still don't understand, do you?"
He pointed toward Kael's chest.
"The curse inside you is already consuming your soul."
Kael looked down.
The black veins had spread farther across his arms.
Each heartbeat made them grow darker.
His wolf growled in pain.
I'm losing control...
Aria noticed the fear hidden behind Kael's determined expression.
She gently reached for his hand.
The moment their fingers touched, a warm silver light spread through his body.
The black veins stopped growing.
Kael stared at her in surprise.
"The pain..."
"It's gone."
Queen Lyra smiled faintly.
"The Moon Heir's power calms the curse."
Malachar's expression darkened.
"So that's how it is."
"No wonder fate brought you together."
His crimson eyes gleamed.
"Then I'll simply separate you."
With a wave of his hand, dozens of Blood Fang warriors poured into the chamber from hidden passages.
They surrounded Kael, Rowan, and the Blackthorn warriors.
Rowan lifted his sword.
"My Alpha..."
"We're surrounded."
Kael stepped in front of Aria.
"Stay behind me."
She shook her head.
"No."
"I'm done hiding."
Before Kael could stop her, Aria walked forward.
Her silver mark blazed with brilliant light.
The Moon Shrine answered.
Ancient symbols along the walls awakened one after another.
The entire chamber trembled.
Every Blood Fang warrior looked around in confusion.
Malachar frowned.
"What are you doing?"
"I don't know," Aria admitted.
"But whatever this place is..."
"It's calling to me."
She slowly descended the first step toward the shrine.
The silver light grew brighter.
A gentle voice echoed through the chamber.
"Welcome home... Child of the Moon."
The shrine burst to life.
Moonlight poured through cracks in the ceiling, surrounding Aria in a pillar of silver radiance.
Her clothes fluttered in the wind.
Her eyes glowed like polished silver.
Every ancient symbol in the chamber ignited at once.
The Blood Fang warriors cried out in pain, shielding their eyes.
Malachar's smile vanished.
"No..."
"This power shouldn't exist anymore!"
Queen Lyra dropped to one knee.
"The Moon Goddess..."
"She's chosen her."
Aria slowly opened her eyes.
Everything felt different.
She could hear every heartbeat in the room.
Every breath.
Every whisper.
Then...
She saw something no one else could.
Behind Malachar stood a shadow.
Not a person.
A creature.
Its body was made entirely of darkness, with glowing crimson eyes and enormous black wings.
It whispered into Malachar's ear.
Aria gasped.
"You're not alone..."
Malachar froze.
His smile slowly returned.
"So..."
"You can finally see him."
Kael looked around.
"See who?"
Aria pointed toward the dark figure.
"That thing behind him."
Rowan frowned.
"There isn't anything there."
Only Malachar laughed.
"After centuries..."
"You are the first to see the true master."
The shadow creature slowly lifted its head.
Its glowing eyes locked onto Aria.
A deep voice echoed through the chamber.
"Moon Heir..."
"Your soul belongs to me."
A violent wave of dark energy exploded from the creature.
Kael immediately pulled Aria behind him as the force slammed into the walls, shattering pillars and sending warriors flying.
The fortress began collapsing.
Huge stones crashed from the ceiling.
"Everyone out!" Rowan shouted.
The Blackthorn warriors rushed toward the exit.
Queen Lyra remained inside her cell.
"Aria!" she cried.
"You must leave!"
"I'll find you again!"
Aria shouted back, tears filling her eyes.
Kael grabbed her hand.
"We have to go!"
They sprinted toward the exit as the fortress crumbled around them.
Just as they reached the doorway, Malachar's voice thundered through the collapsing shrine.
"Run while you can!"
"The Blood Moon rises in four nights!"
"When it reaches its peak..."
"The Cursed Alpha will either become the world's greatest protector..."
"...or its greatest monster!"
The ceiling collapsed between them.
The fortress disappeared beneath a cloud of dust.
Standing outside on the mountainside, Kael wrapped an arm protectively around Aria as they watched the Fortress of Shadows crumble.
Neither of them noticed...
High above the ruins...
The crimson-eyed shadow was still watching.
And it was smiling.
- Writer
