The Prisoner Of Shadows
553 Words
The council chamber fell into stunned silence.
Even the sounds of war outside seemed distant for one terrifying moment.
Kael stepped toward the wounded warrior slowly.
“Say that again.”
The guard trembled violently.
“The prisoner escaped during the attack…”
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
“He killed the prison guards.”
Fear spread across the chamber instantly.
Several council members looked pale now.
Ava frowned in confusion.
“Who was imprisoned?”
Nobody answered immediately.
That silence alone made her uneasy.
Then Darius spoke quietly:
“So he’s finally free.”
Kael’s silver eyes snapped toward him sharply.
“You knew this would happen.”
Darius smirked faintly.
“I hoped.”
The atmosphere turned colder instantly.
Ava looked between them nervously.
“Who is he?”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“A monster.”
The answer only made Ava more unsettled.
Selene crossed her arms slowly.
“He was once the strongest warrior in the northern kingdoms.”
Another council member spoke darkly:
“Until he slaughtered an entire pack.”
Ava’s chest tightened.
“Why?”
Nobody looked comfortable answering.
Finally, Kael spoke.
“Because the Blood Moon corrupted him.”
The words slammed into Ava painfully.
Her mark burned sharply beneath her sleeve.
The whisper inside her head laughed softly.
You’re next.
Ava stepped backward instinctively.
“No…”
Kael noticed immediately.
His expression softened slightly as he moved closer.
“You are not him.”
But the certainty in his voice wasn’t as strong as before.
The wounded warrior suddenly grabbed Kael’s arm weakly.
“My king…”
Kael looked down.
“The prisoner left a message.”
The chamber became silent again.
Kael’s expression darkened.
“What message?”
The warrior swallowed hard.
“He said…”
Fear filled his eyes.
“...the Blood Moon Queen belongs to death.”
A violent chill swept through the chamber.
Ava’s stomach twisted painfully.
Then suddenly—
The castle lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then darkness swallowed the room again.
Screams erupted instantly.
Ava’s breathing quickened.
Not again.
The whispers inside her mind became louder.
He’s here.
A cold wind moved through the chamber.
Kael grabbed Ava immediately, pulling her against him protectively.
“Stay close.”
Silver flames ignited along the walls again.
The room slowly brightened.
But this time—
Someone new stood near the shattered windows.
Tall.
Motionless.
Terrifying.
Dark chains hung from his wrists while blood stained part of his black clothing.
His silver eyes glowed unnaturally bright.
And the moment Ava looked at him—
The Blood Moon mark beneath her skin exploded with pain.
She gasped sharply.
The stranger tilted his head slowly while staring directly at her.
Like he already knew her.
Like he had been waiting for her.
Kael instantly stepped in front of Ava.
The dangerous protectiveness in his posture filled the room immediately.
“You should have stayed buried.”
The man smiled faintly.
But there was nothing human in the expression.
“I tried.”
His voice sounded broken.
Ancient.
Wrong.
Fear crawled through Ava’s chest.
Even Darius looked cautious now.
That terrified her most of all.
The stranger’s glowing eyes slowly returned to Ava.
Then he whispered the words that froze her blood completely:
“The Blood Moon has finally chosen its queen.”
- Writer
