Chapter 4: The Blood Queen's Awakening
827 Words
The silver light faded as suddenly as it had appeared.
Lyra collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath. Her entire body trembled, and the strange crescent-shaped mark on her chest slowly dimmed until it disappeared beneath her skin.
Silence consumed the ruined tower.
Kael was the first to move.
He rushed to her side, ignoring the cuts bleeding across his arms. Kneeling beside her, he gently cupped her face.
"Lyra."
His voice, usually calm and commanding, carried unmistakable concern.
"Can you hear me?"
She blinked slowly.
"I... I think so."
The room spun around her.
Fragments of unfamiliar memories flashed through her mind—a silver-haired queen holding a newborn child, a kingdom burning beneath a crimson moon, and a monstrous creature chained beneath an ancient temple.
None of them belonged to her.
"What... what was that?"
Kael's expression darkened.
"Memories."
"They weren't mine."
"No."
Before he could explain further, laughter echoed through the tower.
Selene slowly rose from the rubble, brushing dust from her crimson robes.
"Magnificent."
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, yet she smiled as though she had already won.
"The Blood Queen has truly awakened."
Kael stood, placing himself between Selene and Lyra.
"You planned this from the beginning."
"Of course."
She folded her hands behind her back.
"I needed the last descendant of the Moon Queen."
Lyra looked up sharply.
"Descendant?"
Selene nodded.
"Your mother was Queen Elara's only daughter."
The words struck Lyra like lightning.
"No..."
"My parents died when I was a baby."
"They did."
Selene's smile widened.
"Because I killed them."
Kael growled.
A dangerous sound that echoed through the broken tower.
"You murdered the royal bloodline."
"I nearly did."
Selene looked directly at Lyra.
"But one child escaped."
Lyra's chest tightened.
"My foster parents..."
"They found you before my soldiers did."
Everything she had ever believed about her life shattered.
She wasn't an ordinary village girl.
She had been hiding from a war she never knew existed.
Tears blurred her vision.
"They lied to me."
"They protected you," Kael answered quietly.
"They hoped your bloodline would remain hidden forever."
Selene laughed.
"And yet destiny always finds its prey."
She raised both hands.
Dark clouds gathered above the castle.
A crimson circle appeared beneath her feet.
"I've waited three centuries for this moment."
The tower shook violently.
Deep beneath the castle, something roared.
Not a wolf.
Not a human.
Something ancient.
Something imprisoned.
Far below the castle...
Massive chains trembled.
An enormous stone gate cracked open.
Golden eyes appeared within the darkness.
A voice, deep enough to shake the earth itself, whispered,
"My Queen..."
The chains rattled again.
One snapped.
Kael's face lost all color.
"No."
Lyra stared at him.
"What is it?"
"The prison."
"What prison?"
"The beast beneath this castle."
Selene clapped slowly.
"Excellent."
She turned toward Lyra.
"Did he never tell you?"
Kael remained silent.
Her smile grew crueler.
"The Devil everyone fears..."
She pointed toward the trembling ground.
"...isn't him."
Lyra's heartbeat stopped.
"What?"
"The real Devil has slept beneath this castle for a thousand years."
Another chain snapped.
The roar became louder.
Every wolf outside howled in terror.
Kael closed his eyes briefly.
"I wanted you to have more time."
"Time for what?"
"To choose."
"Choose what?"
His golden eyes met hers.
"Whether to run."
Before Lyra could answer, the tower floor exploded.
A gigantic claw burst through the stone.
Black scales shimmered beneath crimson flames.
The air filled with unbearable heat.
The creature wasn't fully free.
But it was waking.
Selene laughed hysterically.
"The Blood Queen has opened the seal!"
The claw reached toward Lyra.
Without thinking, Kael threw himself in front of her.
The enormous talons slashed across his back.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
"Kael!"
He collapsed onto one knee.
His breathing became ragged.
Lyra caught him before he fell.
His blood stained her hands.
"You i***t," she whispered through tears.
"You protected me."
He forced a weak smile.
"I made a promise."
"What promise?"
"To your mother."
"You knew her?"
He nodded faintly.
"When we were children..."
His voice faltered.
"...she saved my life."
Before Lyra could ask another question, Selene unleashed another wave of dark magic.
Shadow chains shot toward them.
Kael tried to stand.
His injured body refused.
The chains wrapped around both of them.
Selene approached slowly.
"The Alpha King is wounded."
"The Blood Queen is powerless."
"Everything is finally as it should be."
She reached for Lyra.
"I only need your blood..."
"...and the Devil will belong to me."
Suddenly, every wolf outside the castle let out a deafening howl.
A blinding silver light erupted from Lyra's body.
The Moon Seal reappeared, brighter than ever.
The shadow chains shattered into dust.
An invisible force blasted Selene across the tower, sending her crashing through a stone pillar.
Kael stared at Lyra in astonishment.
Silver energy swirled around her like moonlight brought to life.
For the first time in centuries...
The Blood Queen was fighting back.
- Writer
