Crimson Fates

My nightmares

The sunlight filtering through the canopy did little to ease Luna’s nerves. Even with Adrian and Alexander close by, the memory of the hunters lingered like a bruise—aching and unshakable. She could still hear the scuffle, the sharp sounds of fists landing, and the growls of anger. They’d barely escaped, and that meant one thing: whatever was hunting them wasn’t done yet.

She sat at the edge of the clearing, knees pulled to her chest, watching as Adrian checked the perimeter. He moved like he belonged in the wild, every step deliberate, every glance calculated. Alexander leaned against a tree a few feet away, arms crossed, his cold demeanor making it hard to tell what he was thinking.

The silence between them weighed heavy. Luna shifted uncomfortably. “So... Are we going to talk about what happened back there?”

Alexander’s gaze flicked to her, sharp as a blade. “What’s there to talk about? We survived.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Luna muttered, frustration bubbling to the surface. “Those hunters—who are they? Why are they after me?”

Adrian returned from his sweep, sliding his dagger into its sheath. He exchanged a glance with Alexander, as if deciding how much to say.

“They’re part of an old order,” Adrian began, crouching beside her. “They hunt people like us. Or, more specifically, they hunt people like you.”

“People like me?” Luna’s voice wavered. “I’m not like you. I don’t have... powers.”

Alexander’s gaze didn’t waver. “Not yet.”

Luna frowned, hugging her knees tighter. “I don’t understand.”

Adrian sat down beside her, his expression unusually gentle. “There’s a reason you’ve been feeling strange lately. The dreams, the unease—it’s not random. It’s your blood waking up.”

Her stomach churned. “My blood?”

Alexander finally pushed away from the tree and knelt in front of her, his dark eyes piercing. “Your mother was like us. You inherited something from her, something powerful. And that power is starting to show.”

Luna blinked, her heart pounding in her chest. “You knew my mother?”

Alexander’s jaw clenched. “I knew of her. She kept you hidden for a reason. The hunters were after her too.”

Luna felt like the ground beneath her was crumbling. Her mother had never spoken about anything like this—no warnings, no explanations. Just the usual motherly love wrapped in gentle hugs and bedtime stories. And now, it felt like those memories had been nothing more than a veil hiding a much darker truth.

“Why now?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Why is this happening now?”

Adrian exhaled. “Your power has been dormant. Something must’ve triggered it—either a memory, an event, or...”

“Or someone,” Alexander finished. His expression hardened. “The hunters have been waiting for the right time. Now that your power is stirring, they won’t stop.”

Luna shivered, pulling her jacket tighter around her shoulders. “What do they want from me?”

Adrian hesitated, as if the answer was too dangerous to say aloud. But Alexander didn’t flinch.

“They want to control you—or destroy you. To them, you’re either a weapon or a threat.”

Luna’s mind spun, trying to process the enormity of it all. For so long, she’d lived in the shadow of grief, trying to move past her mother’s death and make sense of her life. And now, here she was—on the run, hunted for a power she didn’t even know she had.

“So what happens now?” she asked, her voice sharper than she intended. “Do I just wait for this power to show up and hope I survive?”

Adrian gave her a look of sympathy. “We’ll help you through this, Luna. You’re not alone.”

“Really?” Luna snapped, rising to her feet. “Because it sure feels like I’ve been left in the dark about everything that matters.”

Alexander stood as well, his expression unreadable. “We didn’t have time to explain. You wanted to survive, didn’t you?”

Luna glared at him. “That’s not an excuse.”

The tension between them crackled, thick and heavy. Adrian stepped between them, holding up a hand. “Easy, both of you.” He turned to Luna, his voice softer. “I know it’s a lot, and you have every right to be angry. But we’re on your side, Luna. We’re here to protect you.”

She clenched her fists, the anger swirling with confusion and fear. “Then tell me everything. No more half-truths.”

Alexander gave a curt nod. “Fine. But you’re not going to like it.”

They sat together under the canopy of trees as Adrian began to explain.

“The hunters belong to an ancient group—The Order of Ashen Blood. Their purpose is to find and control those with supernatural abilities, like your mother... and now, you.”

Luna’s heart sank. “Why didn’t she ever tell me any of this?”

“She was protecting you,” Adrian said gently. “She knew that if you stayed hidden, you’d have a chance at a normal life. But hiding only lasts so long.”

“And now they’ve found me,” Luna murmured bitterly.

Alexander’s voice was steady, but cold. “They’ll come again. And they won’t stop.”

Luna looked down at her hands, half-expecting some spark of magic to reveal itself. But there was nothing—just trembling fingers and chipped nail polish. “So, what do I do? How do I fight something I don’t even understand?”

Adrian smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. “We’ll teach you.”

Alexander added, “You’ll need to be ready. You won’t survive otherwise.”

The weight of his words settled heavily on Luna. She had no idea how to fight, let alone tap into some unknown power inside her. But the alternative—being hunted down, captured, or killed—wasn’t an option.

She took a deep breath. “Okay. What’s the first step?”

Alexander exchanged a glance with Adrian, and a silent understanding passed between them.

“We start with the basics,” Adrian said, standing and offering her a hand. “Come on, let’s see if we can trigger that power of yours.”

Luna hesitated for a moment, then took his hand. The warmth of his touch steadied her, and a flicker of determination sparked in her chest.

They moved to an open part of the clearing, where the morning sun now filtered through the trees, casting soft patterns on the ground. Adrian stood in front of her, arms crossed.

“Close your eyes,” he instructed. “Focus on your breathing. Whatever power you have, it’s tied to your emotions. We need to find the right trigger.”

Luna closed her eyes, her breaths slow and deliberate. She tried to focus, but her thoughts were a jumble of fear, doubt, and frustration.

“Think about something that makes you feel... powerful,” Adrian suggested gently.

Her mind drifted back to her mother—her warm embrace, her whispered words of comfort on nights when the world felt too heavy. A sudden wave of grief hit Luna like a punch to the gut.

And then it happened.

A strange warmth bloomed in her chest, spreading through her limbs like wildfire. Her pulse quickened, and a tingling sensation danced along her fingertips.

Alexander’s sharp intake of breath told her everything she needed to know.

“Luna,” he said softly, “open your eyes.”

She did—and gasped.

Her hands were glowing faintly, a soft crimson light pulsing from her skin. It wasn’t overwhelming, but it was unmistakably there—her power, finally stirring awake.

Luna stared at her hands, awe and fear mingling in her chest. “What... what is this?”

Alexander smiled, a rare flicker of approval in his eyes. “It’s the beginning.”

Adrian grinned. “Told you we’d find it.”

Luna exhaled slowly, the glow fading as her emotions settled. But even as the light disappeared, she knew it was still there—waiting, just beneath the surface.

For the first time in days, Luna felt something new.

Hope.

And she knew, without a doubt, that this was only the beginning.