Episode 15: The Curse Awakens
1175 Words
Lucian Vareth’s POV
I knew the curse was returning before anyone else noticed.
For centuries, I learned its signs.
The sudden cold that entered my bones.
The burning pain beneath my skin.
The darkness whispering inside my mind.
The hunger of the beast trying to consume the man.
I have survived it countless times.
I had fought it alone.
But this time was different.
Because this time...
I had something to lose.
Her.
The first sign came at midnight.
I woke up with my claws buried into the stone wall beside my bed.
The entire room was covered in cracks.
My breathing was heavy.
My wolf was restless.
"She is in danger."
I closed my eyes.
"Not everything is a threat."
"You know that is not true."
My wolf was right.
Ever since Aria entered my life, the curse has changed.
Before, it only wanted destruction.
Now...
It wanted something else.
It wanted her.
I stood before the mirror.
My eyes were no longer completely my own.
A darkness moved beneath them.
The curse was stronger.
Stronger than it had ever been.
The prophecy was becoming reality.
The closer I became to Aria...
The more powerful the darkness became.
Because the curse knew.
It knew she was the only person who could destroy it.
And darkness always fears its own end.
Aria Valen’s POV
I felt it immediately.
Something was wrong.
Healing has taught me to recognize pain.
Not only physical pain.
Emotional pain.
Spiritual pain.
And Lucian was suffering.
I found him in the training grounds before sunrise.
The strongest warrior in the supernatural world was standing alone.
His hands were bleeding.
The ground beneath him was destroyed.
"Lucian."
He turned quickly.
For a moment...
I saw it.
The monster everyone feared.
Then it disappeared.
And the man I knew returned.
"Go back inside."
His voice was cold.
I walked closer.
"No."
His expression hardened.
"Aria."
"Don't."
I stopped in front of him.
"Don't tell me to leave when you are hurting."
Lucian’s POV
She should have been afraid.
Anyone else would have run.
But Aria stood there.
Looking at me like I was not a monster.
Like I was still human.
That terrified me.
Because she was the only person who could reach me.
And that meant she was the only person who could destroy me.
"You do not understand."
My voice was lower.
"The curse is getting stronger."
She looked at me.
"Then we find a way to stop it."
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
Her eyebrows lowered.
"No?"
I looked away.
"If the curse consumes me..."
I forced myself to say the words.
"You must kill me."
Silence.
Aria’s POV
The words hurt more than I expected.
Kill him?
The man who protected me.
The man who gave me safety when I had nothing.
The man who saw my worth when I couldn't see it myself.
"No."
His eyes moved toward me.
"You don't understand."
"I understand enough."
I stepped closer.
"You are afraid."
His expression changed.
"I am not afraid of dying."
I looked at him.
"Yes, you are."
A pause.
"You are afraid of hurting someone you care about."
For the first time...
He had no answer.
Lucian’s POV
She knew.
Somehow, she always knew.
"Why?"
The question escaped my mouth.
She looked confused.
"Why what?"
"Why do you still see good in me?"
The silence between us was heavy.
"Everyone else sees a monster."
Her expression softened.
"But you..."
I looked away.
"Why?"
Aria’s POV
I thought about his question.
Because the answer mattered.
Because for years, I searched for someone who could see me.
And now...
I realized Lucian needed the same thing.
"Because I know what it feels like."
He looked at me.
"To be judged before someone knows you."
A pause.
"To be called weak when you are simply different."
I touched my chest.
"I spent years proving I was not worthless."
My voice became softer.
"And you spent centuries proving you were not a monster."
Something changed in his eyes.
Pain.
Recognition.
Understanding.
The Hidden Chamber
Lucian took me beneath the Black Moon Citadel.
A place I had never seen.
A place hidden from everyone.
The Cursed Chamber.
The walls were covered in ancient symbols.
The air felt heavy.
"This is where I fight the curse."
I looked around.
"You come here alone?"
He nodded.
"Always."
I felt sadness.
"Lucian..."
He looked at me.
"You have fought this alone for centuries."
A pause.
"Why?"
His answer was quiet.
"Because I was afraid someone would see how broken I was."
I walked toward the ancient markings.
The moment my hand touched the wall...
The entire chamber awakened.
A bright silver light filled the room.
Lucian stepped back.
"What is happening?"
I looked at the symbols.
They were changing.
New words appeared.
Words only I could read.
The Blessed Luna shall heal the king.
Then another line appeared.
My blood turned cold.
But healing the curse requires a sacrifice.
"Lucian."
He came closer.
"What does it say?"
I hesitated.
I didn't want to tell him.
Because I already understood.
"The curse cannot be destroyed without a bond."
He watched me.
"What kind of bond?"
I looked at the final words.
My voice shook.
"A bond of life."
Silence.
Lucian’s POV
No.
Immediately, I knew.
I knew what that meant.
The Moon Goddess would not give anything freely.
The curse could be broken.
But the price...
was her.
"Absolutely not."
Aria looked at me.
"Lucian—"
"No."
My voice echoed.
"I will not allow you to sacrifice yourself for me."
Aria’s POV
I stared at him.
"You think I would?"
He became silent.
"You think I would willingly disappear?"
His expression softened.
"Then why are you willing to die?"
He had no answer.
And that was the truth.
Lucian would sacrifice himself without hesitation.
But he would never allow anyone else to do the same.
Before we could continue...
The alarm bells rang throughout the castle.
Darius appeared.
"My king!"
Lucian turned.
"What happened?"
His expression changed.
"The Shadow Realm has attacked the southern border."
A pause.
"And they are not attacking the kingdom."
Everyone became silent.
"They are coming here."
My heart sank.
"Why?"
Darius looked at me.
"Because they want the Blessed Luna."
Lucian’s POV
The darkness outside the citadel grew.
My enemies were coming.
They wanted Aria.
They wanted her power.
They wanted the key to my curse.
But they made one mistake.
They believed Aria was something they could take.
They did not understand.
She was not a treasure.
Not a weapon.
Not a prophecy.
She was Aria.
And I would destroy anyone who tried to hurt her.
Aria’s POV
I stood beside Lucian as the gates of the Black Moon Citadel shook.
For the first time in my life...
I was not running away.
I was not hiding.
I was not waiting for someone to save me.
I was standing.
The forgotten Luna.
The healer.
The woman who survived.
The Blessed Luna.
And whatever came next...
I would face it.
- Writer
