Bond Of My Ancient Powers And Controls

chapter5: the chase begins

The days passed in a whirl of training and exploring what it was to be powerful. Lucian, Darian, and Elara were tough on me, pushing me further than I ever thought possible but somehow finding the combination of intensity and care as they guided me to hold and channel the power that was just my own and so firmly embedded in my being. In the liberties made for myself, I spent the mornings with Lucian who would teach me to channel my magic through simple incantations, controlling what it felt like to have magic ease weightlessly flow through me while the afternoons were strictly physical. I would learn feed control for my body, build reflexes, increase me exploratory physical stamina - all the reasons while I was tired each night as I jumped into bed was exposing myself to something new, each piece adding to an exhilarating sense of learning.

But as draining as trading was, there was something else at play or some embarrassment I was naive enough to believe Lucian, Darian and Elara were truly focused on me as some enamoring focus for all of us. Lucian spoke of hardship concerning the Shadow Clan and had a damning authority every time I saw him training me or standing with the eyes of others - and more than 1 time I could see measures of burning, waiting the moment the time came - and knew in the almost silence, distance of just being alone, I could not shake the feeling we were being watched.

On one of those late nights that followed an exhausting training session, I finally chose to approach Lucian. He was beside the river, resting on a little bridge that spanned the water. The moonlight shimmering off the surface created an otherworldly light reflection that lit everything in sight.

“Lucian,” I said when I reached him, my voice a mere whisper.

He turned to look at me, but his face was impossible to read. “Couldn’t sleep?”

I shook my head and moved closer. “No, I’ve just been thinking about what you said about the Shadow Clan. I see that you are trying to protect me, but there are inconsistencies in what you said, and there is a part of me that feels like there are things you are not saying.”

Lucian’s jaw clenched, and he looked away, focusing his gaze over the water. “You are right. I’m not telling you everything.”

“Then tell me,” I demanded. A knot tightened in my stomach. “Then please tell me what I’m dealing with.”

Lucian sighed and rubbed his hand through his hair, as he often did when he was stressed. I noted the air of his seriousness all of a sudden. “The Shadow Clan is not just a ragtag group of rogue magic users. They are ancient, powerful, and have access to resources we cannot even fathom in this age. For centuries they have been trying to devise ways to tap into what we call the old magic–the type of magic that flows through you. They believe it is the key to unleashing boundless power and will do whatever it takes to become its power.”

I felt a shiver course through my body, despite the warmth of the night temperatures. “But why me? Why is finding me so important?”

Lucian’s expression softened when he looked back at me. “Lana, you are the last of a line of powerful witches. Your bloodline is the purest of the old magic. The world lost it centuries ago. “If the Shadow Clan ever got a hold of you, they could wield your power to alter the very fabric of reality.”

My heart raced in my chest as the enormity of his words began to set in. “So I’m not just a target—I’m the linchpin to everything.”

Lucian nodded with grave assurance. “Yes. That is why we have to be careful; they are closer than we'd like to admit and we are doing everything we can to keep them from finding you. But it's only a matter of time before they make their move.”

Fear coursed through me, and I clutched tightly to the railing of the bridge as if it would ground me. “What if I am not strong enough? What if I am not able to protect myself—or anyone else?”

“You will be,” Lucian's voice was firm and sounded resolute, as he put hand on my shoulder and I found his eyes—there was a small flicker of something there—was it hope? “You are much stronger than you give yourself credit for, Lana. I have seen it. You just have to trust in yourself, and in us. We will not let you go through this alone.”

The truth in his words made me feel better—but anxiety rushed back in. What if I was not the person they believed me to be? What if I let them down?

Before I had the chance to respond to my nagging thoughts—there were footsteps coming closer and moving fast behind us. We quickly turned to see Darian and Elara rushing for us. They looked fraught and alert.

“Lana, Lucian,” Elara breathed out, her silver hair glowed in light from a nearby lamp. “We have to go. Like right now.”

“What is happening?” I said, my pulse quickened.

With a grim expression, Darian stepped closer. "The wards we set up around the perimeter— they've been breached. The Shadow Clan is here."

That chilled my blood. "Here? Now?"

Lucian's eyes narrowed as he took stock of the situation. "How many?"

"Too many," Darian said. "We can't take that on, not without everything."

Elara touched my arm and gripped it firmly, but gently. "We have to get you out of here, Lana. They're looking for you, and if they see you..."

"They won't," Lucian said, firm and unyielding. "We're not letting that happen. But we need to move fast."

Panic flooded me, but I tried to calm myself, refocusing on what I was doing: "What do I do?"

"You stay with us," Lucian said, the tone in his voice offered no argument. "We'll get you to a safe location, one they can't find you."

Darian added, "We don't have long." He glanced over his shoulder, as if he was expecting movement from the Shadow Clan, any second now, "We need to leave now."

With no more words, we began to move to the cover of the forest. The trees were tall around us, shadowy outlines against the night sky, as the branches cast an eerie shadows on the ground. I stayed close to Lucian, heart-thump-thumping in my chest as we sifted through the undergrowth that became denser by each claimed step

The sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs filled the air, I couldn't tell if it was just us? Or someone? Or *something*? Every shadow seemed threatening, every sound a signal of danger. The fear that I had been trying to suppress was now bubbling to the surface, It took every fiber of my being not to allow this experience to win.

After what must have been a million years of running, Lucian finally turned into a small, hidden clearing. “This way,” he said quietly, gesturing toward a narrow path hidden by a group of bushes. “It leads to an underground tunnel. We’ll be out of their reach.”

We zipped down the path, darkness closing in all around us. The entrance to the tunnel was hidden behind a thick mat of vines and moss, and Lucian removed it easily as the cold damp air rushed out at us.

“Quickly,” Elara yelled as she gently pushed me toward the entrance. “Once we are in, we’ll be safe.”

I hesitated momentarily, peering into the solid black wherein lay who knows what, but I had to get out from under the weight of their urgings. I ducked into the tunnel, the damp cool stone brushing my skin as I forced my body through the small opening. The air was damp and revolting, I could barely stifle the rise of vomit as we moved deeper into the dark.

Lucian followed close behind, his presence a comfort in the thick weight of the darkness. “Stay close,” he whispered. “We’ll be out of here soon.”

We moved forward into the tunnel. As we descended, the sounds of the forest faded away behind us, only the steady dripping of water echoed on the stone walls. My own breathing sounded loud in my ears and my heart rate was most likely so fast that I wouldn’t be able to think straight.

All of a sudden, the sound of a loud crash came from behind us followed by the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps smashing away at the stone floor. We had been found by the Shadow Clan!

“THEY’RE HERE!” I gasped in a whirl of panic.

“Keep going!” Lucian ordered, clearly desperate to escape the oncoming threat. "We're nearly there!"

I sped up, practically crawling now that the walls of the tunnel felt like they were moving in around me, footfalls echoing louder, closer. Every bit of terror I had almost locked down was bursting out through the tears blurring my peering eyes.

When I thought I couldn't go any further, the tunnel opened up into a cavern, the ceiling much taller than I was used to. I saw the dull light from an exit across the way. We were almost out.

We tore across the cavern, but a figure suddenly appeared in front of us—suddenly I slammed to a stop and my heart crawled into my throat because I realized who it was.

A member of the Shadow Clan.

He towered above me, and his thick black robes drank every dappled light, leaving only shadows on his face. When I looked at his eyes, piercing blue and cold, they locked on me and I knew I couldn't hide behind Lucian.

“There you are," he said smoothly, his voice cold, but curled in pleasure to meet me, as though he had smelled blood. "You have led us on quite the adventure. But it ends here.”

“Not if we have something to say about it,” Lucian growled, stepping in front of my body, which was tinged with panic, his body rigid.

The Shadow Clan member smirked and laughed softly, his enjoyment cleaved a little with panic. "You think you can protect her? You are in no position to stop me, friend. Give up, now, and we might even let you live."

"Over my dead body," Lucian spat defiantly.

It was a snap of the fingers and Darian and Elara were on either side of Lucian, faces like death. Even they stood tall with impressive stances. The air thrummed with tension, and I knew we were not going to win this standoff. We were overwhelmed. We couldn’t fight them.

“Lana, run!” Lucian shouted, and it snapped me out of my dark, helpless daze.

“Get to the exit!”

“But—”

“Go!” Darian shouted, eyes wide and frantically darting.

I only hesitated for a second, abruptly making up my mind to turn and run for the exit. My heart raced in my chest. I could hear the sounds of battle erupting behind me, the crackling magic and my friend's shouts to hold back the Shadow Clan.

But, I couldn’t look back. I couldn’t think about whether they would all be killed. I could only run. Run as fast and as far as I could to hopefully stay alive. If I could at least escape then maybe there was hope.

I got to the exit and burst through the door into the chilling night air. I realized this was the door, I was on the run now and there was no turning back.