The Moon Mirror
856 Words
The crimson eyes blinked once.
Then vanished.
Ronan slowly pulled Seraphina behind him despite the pain from the enchanted arrow lodged in his side.
“I thought you were injured,” she whispered.
“I am.”
“Then don’t be stupid.”
“I’ve always been stupid.”
Despite the danger, the corner of Seraphina’s mouth almost lifted into a smile.
Almost.
The underground chamber fell silent again.
Only the ripples on the glowing lake disturbed the stillness.
Ronan slowly removed the arrow.
The wound refused to heal.
Dark veins spread across his ribs.
Seraphina knelt beside him.
“Let me see.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re bleeding.”
“I’ve bled before.”
She looked directly into his golden eyes.
“And one day you won’t get up again.”
For the first time…
He didn’t argue.
She carefully tore a strip from the sleeve of her cloak.
Ronan watched her in surprise.
“That’s expensive.”
“So?”
“You just ruined it.”
“It was only cloth.”
She wrapped the bandage around his wound with surprising gentleness.
Her fingers brushed against his skin.
For a brief second…
Neither of them moved.
Ronan felt his heartbeat quicken.
He couldn’t remember the last time someone had touched him without violence.
Seraphina finished tying the bandage and quickly looked away.
“We should keep moving.”
Ronan nodded.
Neither mentioned the moment they had just shared.
Beyond the chamber stood a pair of enormous stone doors.
Unlike everything else in the cave…
These doors looked untouched by time.
A silver wolf was carved into one side.
A crimson bat into the other.
Between them…
A crescent moon.
Seraphina reached toward the carvings.
The moment her fingers touched the stone…
Nothing happened.
Ronan tried.
Still nothing.
Then they both noticed the inscription beneath the door.
Only together.
Ronan sighed.
“I don’t like this.”
“Neither do I.”
Slowly…
They placed their hands upon the symbols at the same time.
The mountain trembled.
Ancient gears groaned deep within the walls.
The massive doors slowly opened.
Cold air rushed past them.
Waiting beyond…
Was an underground temple.
The temple was breathtaking.
Moonlight poured through a crack high above the ceiling.
Crystal pillars shimmered with ancient magic.
At the center stood a mirror nearly fifteen feet tall.
Its frame was forged from silver and black stone.
Runes circled its surface endlessly.
The Moon Mirror.
“It actually exists…” Seraphina whispered.
Ronan stepped closer.
The mirror reflected neither of them.
Instead…
Its surface rippled like water.
Then images began to appear.
The wedding.
Prince Cassian.
Princess Lyssandra.
Exactly as the legends described.
“No…” Ronan whispered.
“This is impossible.”
The vision changed.
Both of them watched in stunned silence.
Cassian wasn’t attacked by vampires.
Lyssandra wasn’t attacked by werewolves.
A third figure stepped from the shadows.
Their face hidden beneath a black hood.
Magic exploded from their hands.
Cassian fell first.
Moments later…
Lyssandra collapsed.
The hooded figure carefully carved fake bite marks into Cassian’s neck.
Then slashed Lyssandra’s chest with enchanted claws.
Seraphina’s knees nearly gave out.
“The stories…”
“Were lies.”
The mirror continued.
The mysterious killer smiled.
Then turned…
As though looking directly through time.
Directly at Ronan and Seraphina.
The hood slipped slightly.
Only part of the face became visible.
A silver tattoo.
A crescent moon surrounded by thorns.
Ronan’s expression changed instantly.
“I’ve seen that symbol before.”
“Where?”
He looked at her.
“On the map that betrayed my mission.”
A slow clap echoed through the temple.
“You learn quickly.”
The voice came from behind them.
Both spun around.
Standing inside the entrance…
Was Lord Lucien Vale.
Dozens of vampire soldiers surrounded him.
At his side stood Adrian Voss.
And beside Adrian…
A young werewolf wearing Iron Fang armor.
Ronan froze.
He knew him.
“Kieran…”
Kieran lowered his eyes.
“I’m sorry, Alpha.”
The truth hit like a blade.
The traitor…
Had been one of his own captains.
Lucien smiled calmly.
“Surprised?”
Ronan’s claws extended.
“You sold us.”
Kieran swallowed hard.
“I had no choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
Lucien took a step forward.
“No.”
“He really didn’t.”
The vampire lord’s crimson eyes shifted toward Seraphina.
“My daughter.”
“Come home.”
Seraphina stood beside Ronan instead.
“I’m not leaving.”
The soldiers exchanged nervous glances.
Lucien’s expression remained unreadable.
“You would choose a werewolf over your own family?”
“I choose the truth.”
Silence.
For the first time…
A flicker of genuine anger crossed Lucien’s face.
He raised one hand.
“Kill the Alpha.”
The vampire soldiers charged.
At the same instant…
The Moon Mirror began to glow blinding white.
A voice echoed throughout the temple.
“The first trial has begun.”
The floor beneath everyone shattered.
Ronan reached for Seraphina.
She reached for him.
Before their hands could meet…
The ground collapsed.
Both disappeared into the darkness.
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