Chapter Eleven – The Breaking Light
549 Words
Arin’s breath came in sharp, broken gasps as the Queen’s hand moved closer to her chest.
The shadows wrapped around her body like chains made of living darkness. They tightened around her arms and legs, freezing her skin, stealing her strength. Her moonlight flickered weakly, struggling to stay alive.
“Stop…” Arin whispered. “Please… stop…”
The Queen only smiled.
Her fingers glowed with deep black power, reaching for the silver light inside Arin’s heart.
“You don’t belong to yourself,” the Queen said softly. “You never did. That power was born from me.”
Arin shook her head, tears rolling down her face. “You’re lying. I can feel it. It’s part of me.”
The Queen’s hand moved closer.
Something inside Arin cracked.
Her chest burned as if fire and ice were tearing her apart. The moonlight fought back, flashing wildly, but the Queen’s power was stronger here. The throne room was filled with darkness, and it fed the Queen.
Arin cried out as she felt the light being pulled from her.
Then—
“GET AWAY FROM HER!”
A sharp sound cut through the hall.
Steel flashed.
The shadow chains exploded as Kael burst into the room. His blade shone bright with silver runes as he slashed through the darkness holding Arin.
She fell forward.
Kael caught her before she hit the floor.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered, holding her tightly. “I won’t let her take you.”
Arin clung to him, shaking. “Kael…”
The Queen laughed slowly. “How sweet. You followed her all this way… just to die.”
She lifted her hand.
A blast of dark energy struck Kael.
He flew across the hall, hitting the stone wall with a sickening sound.
“KAEL!” Arin screamed.
Fear became rage.
Pain became fire.
Her heart shattered open.
The moonlight inside her exploded.
Silver light flooded the hall like a rising sun. The shadows screamed as they burned away. The Queen stumbled back, shielding her eyes.
Arin rose slowly.
Her hair lifted in glowing wind. Her eyes shone with pure moonlight.
“You will not touch him,” Arin said, her voice calm—but deadly.
The Queen stared at her, shocked.
“So… this is what you are becoming.”
Arin lifted her hands, and wings of silver light formed behind her.
“I don’t know who I am yet,” Arin said. “But I know what I’m not.”
She thrust her hands forward.
A massive wave of moonlight slammed into the Queen, throwing her back into her dark throne. Cracks spread through the hall. Shadows screamed.
The Queen stood slowly, wiping blood from her lips.
“Interesting,” she said. “Very interesting.”
The ground began to shake.
Kael struggled to stand. “Arin… the portal!”
Behind the throne, dark energy twisted and opened again. A portal roared to life, pulling everything toward it.
The Queen smiled.
“If I cannot claim you here… then I will take you somewhere you cannot escape.”
The wind grew stronger.
Arin reached for Kael.
Kael reached for her.
The portal dragged them closer.
Their fingers brushed—
And the Queen stepped into the portal, pulling them both toward the darkness.
- Writer
