Episode 16: The Hidden Daughter
711 Words
The forest became completely still.
The woman's finger remained pointed at the Shadow King.
And every person present waited for him to deny it.
To laugh.
To prove her wrong.
But he didn't.
The silence was louder than any answer.
Zara stared at him.
"No."
Her voice shook.
"No, that is not true."
The Shadow King looked at her.
His eyes held something she had never seen before.
Regret.
"Zara..."
"Tell me she is lying."
The command came from her.
Not a request.
A desperate demand.
The Shadow King lowered his gaze.
And that broke something inside her.
Because monsters did not look guilty.
Fathers did.
The silver flames around Zara's sword flickered.
"Tell me."
Her voice became louder.
"Tell me she is lying!"
The Shadow King closed his eyes.
"I made a mistake."
The words hit harder than a scream.
Caden immediately moved beside Zara.
Ready.
Not to fight.
To catch her if she fell.
The silver haired woman smiled.
"Finally."
Her voice was filled with bitterness.
"The great Shadow King admits the truth."
Zara looked at her.
"Who are you?"
The woman looked back.
For a moment...
Her anger faded.
"You really don't remember me."
Zara said nothing.
The woman stepped closer.
"I am Selene."
The name meant nothing.
But the moment she said it...
The necklace around Zara's neck glowed.
A memory appeared.
Two little girls.
Running through a garden.
Laughing.
One with silver eyes.
One with dark eyes.
A woman watching them.
Their mother.
Zara covered her mouth.
"No..."
Selene's expression softened.
"Yes."
Tears filled Zara's eyes.
"You are my sister."
Selene nodded.
"Your older sister."
The memory disappeared.
Leaving only confusion.
"But why don't I remember you?"
Selene looked at their father.
"Ask him."
The Shadow King remained silent.
Zara turned.
"Father."
The word felt strange.
New.
Painful.
"Why?"
The Shadow King looked at his daughters.
"I was trying to protect the realm."
Selene laughed.
A cold, broken laugh.
"Always the same excuse."
Her power grew.
"You sacrificed us for your kingdom."
The Shadow King looked at her.
"I was trying to save you."
"No."
Selene's eyes darkened.
"You were trying to save your crown."
The air became heavy.
Zara looked between them.
A family broken by secrets.
A war built on lies.
Then the Crimson Reaper stepped out of the shadows.
Everyone turned.
He was injured.
But alive.
Selene looked at him.
"You took long enough."
Zara froze.
"You work with her?"
The Crimson Reaper smiled.
"I work with whoever wins."
Caden's wolf growled.
"You betrayed your king."
The Reaper looked at the Shadow King.
"Kings fall."
A pause.
"Especially when their children turn against them."
The Shadow King raised his hand.
Dark energy filled the forest.
But Selene moved faster.
She attacked.
The force of their powers collided.
The ground split.
The warriors were thrown backward.
Zara watched in shock.
Two impossible powers fighting.
Father and daughter.
Darkness against darkness.
But something was wrong.
She felt it.
The bond.
A warning.
"Caden."
He looked at her.
"What?"
She looked around.
The hunters.
The wolves.
Everyone fighting.
Then she noticed.
The Crimson Reaper was not watching the battle.
He was watching her.
"He is not here for them."
Caden followed her eyes.
"He is here for you."
The Reaper smiled.
"Smart Luna."
The moment he said the title...
Zara's power reacted.
The Reaper moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
He appeared directly in front of her.
Caden attacked immediately.
But the Reaper blocked him.
"You always were predictable, Alpha."
Caden's eyes flashed.
"Touch her and die."
The Reaper laughed.
"That is the problem with bonds."
He looked at Zara.
"They make people weak."
Dark energy surrounded his hand.
But before he could touch her...
The silver sword moved on its own.
It flew from Zara's hand.
And pierced through the darkness.
The Reaper stepped back.
Shocked.
The sword floated beside Zara.
Protecting her.
The voice from the blade whispered.
Not Zara's mother.
Not the First Moon.
Something older.
Something powerful.
"Chosen."
Everyone froze.
The sword was speaking.
The voice continued.
"The daughter of the Moon has awakened."
The ground began shaking.
And deep beneath the earth...
Something ancient opened its eyes.
Not the Shadow King.
Not the hunters.
Something older.
Something that even the Shadow King feared.
- Writer
