Chapter Four - B
1188 Words
CHAPTER 4 – B: THE BEAST AND THE BETRAYAL
The sea screamed.
Waves crashed like thunder.
The cliffs shook.
Selena stumbled back.
Luciano pulled her close.
A dark shadow rose from the water.
It was massive.
Old.
Alive.
The waves exploded around it.
Its eyes glowed red.
Its scales looked like black glass under the storm.
Selena gasped.
“What is that?”
Luciano’s voice was low.
“Something that should have stayed dead.”
The creature lifted its head.
It had long fangs.
Long claws.
And the smell of death rolled off it.
Hunters screamed.
Some ran.
Some fired.
The bullets did nothing.
The monster kept coming.
Eldric didn’t move.
He stood by the truck, smiling like the storm belonged to him.
He raised his hand.
The creature stopped.
Selena froze.
He was controlling it.
Luciano growled.
“Blood magic. Forbidden.”
Selena’s heart raced.
“Then we stop him.”
Lightning split the sky.
The sand glowed white.
Luciano grabbed her hand.
“Stay behind me,” he said.
She shook her head.
“I’m not hiding.”
Their eyes met.
Anger. Love. Pain.
But no time to talk.
Eldric shouted,
“Bring me the Luna alive! Kill the Alpha!”
Dozens of hunters moved at once.
Guns ready.
Blades flashing in the rain.
Luciano stepped forward.
His golden eyes blazed.
He looked like the true Alpha King.
The first hunter attacked.
Luciano caught his wrist and snapped it.
Another came.
Luciano dodged, hit him hard in the ribs.
Selena moved beside him.
Her hands glowed silver.
She pushed out her power.
The ground cracked.
Two hunters flew backward.
They hit the rocks and didn’t get up.
The sea beast roared again.
Its tail slammed into the cliff.
Stones rained down.
Selena’s light flickered.
She was getting tired.
Luciano saw it.
“Don’t stop!” he shouted.
“I can’t hold it!”
“You must! For them!”
She turned to the truck.
Her boys were there.
Matteo’s hands pressed against the window.
Luca’s eyes were wide with fear.
Her heart broke.
Selena screamed.
Silver light burst from her chest.
It hit the hunters like a storm.
They fell to the ground.
Luciano stared at her.
His voice shook.
“Selena—your power—it’s changing.”
“I don’t care!” she cried.
Tears mixed with rain.
“They took our children!”
Her power grew brighter, hotter.
The air burned.
The beast roared in pain.
Even Eldric stumbled back.
But power that strong always had a cost.
The ground split under her feet.
Dark mist rose from the cracks.
The smell of old magic filled the air.
Luciano grabbed her arm.
“Stop! You’ll burn out!”
She fell to her knees.
“I have to save them!”
Eldric’s voice cut through the storm.
“Enough!”
He slammed his silver staff into the ground.
Black fire exploded from it.
It threw Luciano and Selena apart.
Luciano hit a rock.
Pain shot through his chest.
He forced himself up.
Selena lay still in the sand.
“Selena!” he shouted.
Eldric stepped between them.
He held a glowing crystal.
Inside it—a spark of silver light.
Luciano froze.
Her power.
Eldric smiled.
“Such beauty,” he said. “And such waste. You never deserved the Moonborn gift.”
Luciano’s eyes turned gold.
“Let her go.”
Eldric laughed.
“Oh, I will. After she’s drained dry.”
He raised his hand.
“Take her.”
The sea beast moved again.
Its claws dug into the beach as it crawled toward her.
Luciano roared.
He ran straight for Eldric.
Bullets whizzed past him.
He didn’t care.
He slammed into Eldric, knocking the staff away.
They fell into the mud, fighting like wild animals.
Eldric’s eyes flashed red.
He moved fast—too fast.
Luciano blocked one strike but missed the next.
A silver blade cut across his shoulder.
He didn’t stop.
He grabbed Eldric’s throat and slammed him into the ground.
“You’ll never touch her again!”
Eldric grinned through the blood.
“You can’t kill me, DeLuca. Not even the Moon Goddess can kill what she cursed.”
Luciano hesitated.
Just a second.
Eldric stabbed him.
The dagger went deep into his side.
Luciano groaned, blood soaking his shirt.
He stumbled back.
Selena woke with a cry.
She saw him fall.
“No!”
She crawled, weak and shaking.
The beast was almost on her.
Its red eyes burned like fire.
She looked at Luciano.
Then at her sons.
Then at the monster.
Something inside her broke open.
She screamed to the sky.
“Moon Goddess, hear me!”
Lightning struck beside her.
The air shook.
Her silver light burst free again—brighter than ever.
Eldric screamed.
His control shattered.
The beast turned wild, out of control.
It swung its tail, smashing the truck.
Metal twisted.
Glass shattered.
The boys screamed.
“Matteo! Luca!”
Luciano moved.
Every step hurt.
But he didn’t stop.
He reached the truck.
He tore the door open.
The boys clung to him.
“Papa!”
He pulled them close.
“I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”
Selena stumbled toward them, crying.
Her power glowed all around her.
The storm hummed with her heartbeat.
Then she saw it.
The crystal.
It rolled from Eldric’s hand.
Still glowing.
Still alive—with her.
Without it, she’d fade.
With it, she could fight.
She ran for it.
Eldric saw her.
He swung his blade.
Too slow.
She grabbed the crystal.
It pulsed once.
Silver light raced through her veins.
Her eyes glowed bright.
“Eldric!” she shouted.
“You wanted my power? Take it!”
She threw her hand forward.
The crystal shattered.
Light exploded everywhere.
Eldric screamed.
His body burned, then turned to ash.
The beast roared one last time.
Then it fell into the sea and vanished.
Silence.
Rain.
Wind.
Selena fell to her knees.
Luciano caught her before she hit the ground.
“It’s over,” he said softly.
She shook her head.
“No. It’s not.”
He frowned.
“What do you mean?”
She looked toward the cliffs.
Shapes moved through the mist.
Dozens of them.
Silver cloaks.
Cold eyes glowing pale blue.
Luciano tensed.
“The Moonborn Council.”
Selena’s breath caught.
Her heart sank.
They were the Goddess’s chosen.
The highest law.
And they were coming for her.
“They saw everything,” she whispered.
Lightning flashed.
The storm rose again.
A cold voice called from the cliffs.
“Selena Rayne of the fallen Moonborn line,” it said.
“You have broken the sacred law.”
Luciano stood in front of her.
His eyes burned gold.
“Then you’ll have to go through me.”
The wind howled.
The sea turned black.
The Goddess’s trial had begun.
HOOK / CLIFFHANGER:
The Council’s leader lifted her hand.
Silver fire spiraled down from the clouds.
Luciano grabbed Selena and held her tight.
The light struck.
Everything went white.
Everything disappeared.
→ NEXT CHAPTER: “The Judgment.”
End of Chapter Four - B
- Writer
