THE PROPHECY CHILD

CHAPTER 12: The Monster

The sun was a merciless fire in the sky, beating down upon the dry, cracked earth. Each step the children took felt heavier than the last, their boots dragging through dust and thorny weeds that scratched at their legs. The forest around them had thinned, giving way to a desolate stretch of rocky terrain broken only by jagged shrubs and dying trees.

Their shadows stretched long in the harsh light, flickering like ghosts on the ground. Clara’s lips were cracked, her hair clinging to her damp forehead. Eric’s shirt clung to his back with sweat, and Danielle, her face pale and drawn, stumbled slightly, catching herself with a strained grunt.

“We’re not going to make it,” Danielle muttered, her voice barely more than a breath. She dropped to her knees, panting, and pressed her hands into the hot earth. “No water… no food. What do we do now?”

Her voice trembled with defeat. She reached into the pocket of her worn coat and clutched the pearl—the only thing that could take her back. The temptation burned in her eyes.

Clara stood still, swaying slightly. She wanted to say something hopeful, but her throat was too dry. They had been on this path for days. According to the map, the temple was near… but it felt like the land stretched forever.

Then, breaking the stillness, a gentle voice called out behind them.

“Clara.”

Clara’s spine stiffened instantly. Her eyes widened, and her head snapped around. No one had spoken her real name since they left the seer. Her heartbeat raced.

A tall woman emerged from between the trees. Her robe was a soft blend of blues and whites, flowing with the wind like river silk. Her auburn hair framed her face in loose curls, and her green eyes sparkled under the sunlight.

“Don’t be afraid,” the woman said, raising both hands in peace. “I’m Dallia. Queen Andrielle sent me to ensure you complete this mission safely.”

Clara’s face tightened. Her shoulders drew back cautiously. There was something familiar about the woman’s presence, but Clara’s instincts were screaming in conflict.

“If the Queen wanted to help us, why didn’t she come herself?” Clara asked, voice hoarse but steady. “Why now?”

Dallia’s expression softened. She stepped closer, her robes whispering against the grass. “The Queen cannot always reveal herself. Her protection must be hidden. You must keep that part secret.”

Eric stepped forward, one brow raised. “How do we know you’re telling the truth?”

“I’ve been searching for you for days,” Dallia replied calmly. “Anastasia and Diana are on the move. They’re heading to the temple too. If they reach it before you… if they destroy or steal the golden tablet… this entire realm will be at risk.”

Clara’s jaw clenched. “Why do they care so much about my powers? I’m not even the prophecy child.”

“You don’t know that,” Dallia said gently. “Only the temple will reveal the truth.”

Danielle pushed herself upright with effort, brushing dust from her palms. Her expression was hard. “You care so much about this mission. What about us? What about the ones risking their lives?”

Dallia turned to her with solemn eyes. “The enemy waits for the weakest heart. They’ll use division to break you. Hold on, Danielle. Let that weak heart not be yours.”

Silence stretched for a moment. The wind rustled through the sparse trees.

“I’ll get you food and water,” Dallia said. “Rest here. I’ll return shortly.” She turned and disappeared into the brush, her footsteps light and sure.

As soon as she was gone, Eric leaned toward Clara and Danielle.

“Do you trust her?” he whispered.

Danielle crossed her arms and shook her head. “No. Something’s off. And I didn’t like what she said to me.”

“I… I do,” Clara said, her voice almost a whisper. “I know it sounds crazy, but my instincts… they’re not warning me. My mind isn’t rejecting her. I’ve tried.”

Eric groaned and slumped against a tree. “Well, if she poisons us, we’ll die anyway. At least we won’t die starving.”

Clara gave a weak laugh, but it faded quickly. They sat in silence, their eyes scanning the path.

Soon, Dallia returned, her arms filled with wild fruits and a leather flask. “Here, children,” she said gently, laying the food on a cloth. “Eat and drink. You’ll need your strength.”

Clara reached for an apple but stopped inches from it. Her eyes narrowed.

Something was wrong.

The air had shifted. The birds had gone silent. A subtle pressure crawled along her skin. Dallia’s smile seemed just a little too still.

“Won’t you eat?” Dallia asked, her voice kind and steady. “You have a long journey ahead.”

Clara forced a smile back. “Thank you. We were starving. And… I’m sorry. I accused you of caring more about the mission than us. That wasn’t fair.”

“It’s alright,” Dallia replied with a soft smile. “You were just hungry and scared. I understand.”

As Dallia turned to serve Eric, Clara’s smile vanished.

“Don’t eat it,” she said sharply, slapping Danielle’s hand away from the fruit.

Danielle blinked. “What?”

Eric froze. “Why not?”

Clara’s eyes locked onto Dallia. “Because something isn’t right.”

“You’ll be too weak to continue if you don’t eat,” Dallia said, still smiling. But her smile twitched for the first time.

“Why?” Clara tilted her head. “Is there a spell in the apple that gives strength?”

“Yes, dear. I knew you would need it.”

Eric frowned. “We didn’t ask for strength. Just food.”

“Let’s go,” Clara said suddenly, rising.

And then—

Another Dallia stepped out from behind a tree.

The second woman looked identical. Same dress. Same hair. But her eyes held fire.

Danielle blinked and laughed nervously. “Oh no. Not again.”

Clara stepped between the two. Her body was tense. Her hands balled into fists.

One Dallia stepped forward. “Children, move back. This woman is a clone.”

The other narrowed her eyes. “This wasn’t going to be easy.”

Danielle moaned. “I wish the ground would open and swallow me. This mission is too hard.”

Eric rested a hand on her shoulder. “Hold on.”

Clara took a deep breath. She felt it again—that buzz inside her chest. The pull of power. It was rising.

“Maybe it will work this time,” she whispered.

She raised her hand—and light burst forward.

One of the Dallias was hit and thrown backward.

Clara stared at her palm. “It worked.”

The other Dallia—still standing—smiled.

“She’s learning to control it,” she thought aloud.

Then the Dallia on the ground twisted. Her form rippled. She screamed and transformed—into a snarling, sharp-clawed beast with red eyes and tangled black tendrils.

It lunged.

Clara fought back with pure instinct, her hands glowing with power. Dallia joined her, casting protective wards and blasting waves of blue light. The creature snarled, twisted, struck back with venomous tendrils.

Clara felt the heat of her magic rush through her like a tide. She dodged, rolled, cast again.

Eric stood in front of Danielle, shielding her.

Together, Clara and Dallia finally drove the creature back. With one final, searing pulse, Clara struck the creature through the heart. It shrieked and disintegrated into ash.

The forest went still again.

Dallia wiped her brow and turned to Clara. She offered the untouched apple.

No one reached for it.

“Appetite gone,” Eric muttered.

Dallia smiled softly. “How did you know it wasn’t me?”

Clara sipped from the water flask, her expression distant. “Because she agreed when I said she didn’t care about us… but you never would.”

Dallia’s smile widened. Her eyes shone with pride.

“You’re learning to trust your instincts,” she said. “That will save you more than magic.”

They sat in silence, sharing the real food Dallia had retrieved, the weight of what just happened sinking into them like dusk into the soil. The forest exhaled. And their journey continued.