Chapter 12 – The Whisperer
357 Words
The forest was quiet now, too quiet. Every rustle of leaves felt like a warning. Kayden’s grip on Amara’s hand was firm as he led her deeper into the shadows.
“Where are we going?” she asked, her voice still unsteady.
“To someone who can help,” he replied without looking back. “But you have to promise me… whatever happens, you don’t run.”
Amara frowned but nodded. “I’m not afraid.”
Liar, a voice in her head whispered.
They moved quickly until the trees parted, revealing an old stone cottage hidden under a curtain of vines. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and something older, stranger — like starlight trapped in a bottle.
Inside, the flicker of candlelight danced across shelves stacked with jars, ancient books, and glowing stones.
An old woman sat by the hearth, stirring something in a blackened pot. Her silver hair shimmered under the firelight, and when she looked up, her eyes — pale, almost white — locked on Amara.
“So… you’ve finally found her,” the woman said to Kayden, her voice like wind over ice.
“Found who?” Amara asked.
The woman’s lips curved into the smallest smile. “The last Moonborn.”
The word sent a shiver through Amara’s spine. “What does that mean?”
The woman set down her spoon, rising with surprising grace. “It means, child, that the power in your blood is older than this world. It means the shadows you saw tonight will keep coming. And it means…”
The woman set down her spoon, rising with surprising grace. “It means, child, that the power in your blood is older than this world. It means the shadows you saw tonight will keep coming. And it means…”
She reached out, placing a cool hand on Amara’s cheek. “You were never meant to live an ordinary life.”
Kayden stepped closer, tension in his voice. “Tell her the rest.”
The woman’s smile faded. “The Moonborn were hunted, long ago. And if they’ve found you, Amara… it’s already begun again.”
- Writer
