CHAPTER TEN: THE CURSED FOREST
1151 Words
Elara's POV
My lungs burned like fire as we ran, branches tearing at my dress, roots trying to trip me with every step, behind us the Shadow Guard howled.
their voices like death itself echoing through the cursed forest.
"Keep moving," Kael said, his hand reaching for mine.
I jerked away from his touch, "Don't," I gasped, "don't pretend you care."
"Elara"
"Save it," I stumbled over a fallen log, caught myself, kept running even though my legs felt like they might give out any second.
We ran until my body couldn't take another step.
I collapsed against a massive tree trunk, sliding down to the ground, my chest heaving.
Kael stopped a few feet away, not coming closer…..he wasn't even breathing hard, centuries of being a wolf king meant he could run forever while I could barely stand.
"We need to keep moving," he said after a moment, "they're still tracking us."
"I can't," I said…. "I need a minute."
"We don't have a minute." Kael said, but he didn't move to pull me up, didn't touch me.
Good, I didn't want him to touch me, and remember how gently he'd held my face in his study, how he'd said he was starting to care…..all lies.
"Why did you do it?" I asked suddenly, looking up at him.
"Why did you bring me to that castle?"
"You know why," Kael said, "the peace treaty, the war"
"That's not what I'm asking," I cut him off.
"I saw you, Kael, in that hidden chamber, kneeling before her portrait, promising to bring her back…..I heard every word."
Kael's expression went carefully neutral.
"You don't understand what you saw."
"Then explain it," I challenged, "explain why you were making promises to a dead woman."
"I can't," Kael said, "not yet."
"Can't or won't?" I took a step toward him, anger burning through the exhaustion, "because from where I'm standing they look the same."
"It's complicated," Kael said.
"Everything with you is complicated
" I said bitterly, "you bound her soul to the castle, you send for brides every century, you let her feed on us, and now you stand there telling me it's complicated?"
"Yes," Kael said, and I saw something flash in his eyes, frustration maybe… pain,
"it is complicated, Elara, more than you can possibly understand."
"Because you're still trying to bring her back," I said, "and I'm just the vessel you need to do it…..admit it."
"That's not" Kael started but a howl cut him off, much closer than before.
We both froze, the Shadow Guard had found us.
Five of them emerged from the mist between the trees, massive spectral wolves with glowing silver eyes, their forms flickering like smoke, made of darkness and moonlight and something that made my skin crawl.
"Get behind me," Kael said, his eyes flashing silver as the Alpha rose.
"I'm not hiding behind you.
Even as terror flooded through me.
"For once just listen," Kael said, moving to stand between me and the wolves, power crackling around his hands.
The largest Shadow Guard lunged without warning, Kael met it with a blast of moonlight magic, silver light erupting from his palms..
Two more attacked from the sides.
Kael fought them off but they were different from normal wolves, they didn't stay dead, every time he destroyed one it just came back stronger.
One broke through his defenses, heading straight for me, its jaws open showing teeth made of pure darkness.
I threw up my hands instinctively, terror and anger and something else surging through me.
Silver fire erupted from my palms.
The Shadow Guard screamed, a sound like tearing metal, and dissolved into nothing.
The flames danced across my fingers in a terrible way.
Everyone froze, even the remaining Shadow Guards stopped attacking, staring at me with something like fear in their glowing eyes.
"What was that?" I gasped….staring at my hands in shock, the fire still flickering there.
Kael turned to look at me, his expression stunned.
"Moonfire, divine power, the marks are awakening it."
I looked down at my arms, the silver patterns covering my skin pulsed with light that matched the flames.
"Make it stop," I said, my voice shaking.
"I can't," Kael said, "you have to control it yourself, focus, will it go out."
I tried, concentrating on the flames until they finally died….the remaining Shadow Guards backed away slowly, then turned and ran, disappearing into the forest like smoke.
The clearing fell silent except for my ragged breathing.
"How did I do that?" I asked.
"The curse," Kael said, "it's not just giving Seraphina your body, it's awakening the power that comes with her soul, moonfire, divine energy."
"I don't want it," I said, wrapping my arms around myself.
"You don't have a choice," Kael said quietly.
"The power is yours now, whether you want it or not."
We stood in silence for a moment, the reality of what just happened settling over us like a weight, finally Kael spoke.
"We should find shelter before they come back."
I nodded, too exhausted to argue anymore, we walked until we found a small cave hidden behind a curtain of vines, dry and protected from the wind.
Kael built a fire while I sat against the far wall, as far from him as I could get.
The silver marks on my skin still burned, spreading further every hour.
"Five days until the full moon," Kael said quietly, breaking the silence.
"That's when Seraphina will be strong enough to take over completely."
"Good," I said bitterly, surprising myself.
"Maybe she deserves this body more than I do, at least then you'll get what you want."
Kael looked at me and something broke in his expression, pain or regret
"That's not what I want," he said.
"Isn't it?" I asked, "you've spent centuries trying to bring her back, why would you stop now?"
"Because….. "you wouldn't believe me even if I told you."
"Try me," I challenged.
But Kael just turned away, staring into the fire.
"Get some rest, we have a long walk tomorrow."
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"Somewhere safe," Kael said, "somewhere even the Shadow Guard won't follow."
I wanted to press him, wanted to demand answers, my eyes heavy, I let them close, just for a moment.
In my mind, Seraphina's voice came, soft and mocking, "Smart girl, give up, let me have this body, it'll be easier for everyone."
"Shut up," I muttered.
"He doesn't love you," Seraphina continued.
"He loves me, he's always loved me, you're just a pale copy."
"I shouted.….shut up.
"What?" Kael looked over at me.
"Nothing," I said quickly, "just talking to myself."
But Seraphina's laughter echoed in my head, and I knew she was right.
Kael would never choose me over her ghost, why would he?
I was nothing, just another girl with her face, another sacrifice to his obsession.
- Writer
