Chapter 5 The shadow's grip

Wind howled through the trees, carrying the scent of blood and something darker-something unnatural. The weight of Gregor's murder settled heavily on Celeste's chest, suffocating in its intensity. Someone had done this to silence him, to erase a truth she had yet to remember.

The body had been taken away, but the unease lingered. Killian stood a few paces away, speaking in hushed tones with Rafe, his posture rigid with restrained fury. Warriors moved in the background, reinforcing the western border, their presence an unspoken acknowledgment that the danger wasn't over.

A sharp chill crept down her spine, an invisible force whispering against her senses. The forest beyond the border stretched into darkness, shadows shifting between the trees. Something was out there- watching.

Celeste stepped closer to Killian. "This wasn't just a warning, was it?"

Killian's silver eyes met hers, unreadable yet intense. "No. It was a message."

Rafe exhaled sharply. "They're telling us they're still in control."

A bitter taste coated Celeste's tongue. Whoever they were, they had taken her memories, stolen pieces of her life, and now they were killing those who might have held the key to her past.

Footsteps approached from behind. A young scout, barely out of his teenage years, hesitated before speaking. "Alpha, we found something else."

Killian's attention snapped to him. "Show me."

The scout led them deeper into the woods, the ground soft and damp beneath their boots. The further they walked, the heavier the air became. The scent of death thickened, clinging to every breath.

A symbol had been carved into the trunk of a tree, its edges sharp and deliberate. The design twisted into something unnatural, something meant to unnerve.

Celeste's pulse quickened. That symbol... It tugged at something deep within her, a recognition buried beneath the fog of her lost memories.

Killian traced a finger over the carved lines, jaw tightening. "This is no ordinary mark."

Rafe let out a curse. "I've seen something like this before. It's old magic-dangerous magic."

Celeste's fingers curled into fists. "Then it has to be connected to what happened to me."

Killian didn't argue. "We need answers. And I know someone who might have them."

Rafe's expression darkened. "You can't mean her."

Celeste frowned. "Who?"

Killian hesitated before answering. "The seer."

The way he said it sent a chill through her. Rafe ran a hand over his face. "She's unpredictable, Killian. And the price for her help isn't something you can bargain with."

"We don't have a choice," Killian said. "She might be the only one who can tell us what this symbol means."

Celeste glanced at the mark again. A shiver passed through her. The pull it had on her was undeniable, a whisper in the back of her mind that she couldn't quite decipher.

"If she can help, then we go," she said firmly.

Killian studied her for a moment before nodding. "We leave at dawn."

Morning arrived with a thick mist hanging over the land, turning the forest into an eerie sea of shifting gray. Horses stood saddled at the edge of the packhouse, their breaths misting in the cold air.

Celeste adjusted the cloak wrapped around her shoulders, its warmth doing little to ease the tension coiling inside her. Killian mounted his horse with practiced ease, his movements fluid and controlled. Rafe, still clearly displeased with the decision, muttered under his breath before swinging onto his own.

The journey was silent for the most part. The further they traveled from the heart of the pack, the more unsettling the atmosphere became. The trees grew taller, their twisted branches reaching toward the sky like skeletal fingers. The air itself felt charged, filled with an unseen energy that made the hairs on Celeste's arms rise.

The seer's dwelling lay beyond the eastern ridge, nestled deep within the most untouched part of the territory. Few ventured this far without purpose, and those who did never spoke of what they encountered.

The path narrowed, forcing them to slow their pace. A thick fog slithered between the trees, unnatural in its movement.

Rafe's grip tightened on the reins. "I hate this place."

Killian remained silent, his gaze fixed ahead. Celeste swallowed her unease and focused on the goal-answers.

A clearing emerged, revealing a small, weathered cabin. It stood untouched by time, its wooden walls covered in creeping vines. The air here felt heavier, pressing down on her shoulders like an unseen force.

Killian dismounted first, his movements slow and deliberate. Rafe followed, reluctant but alert. Celeste swung down from her horse, every nerve in her body screaming that they were being watched.

The door to the cabin creaked open before they could reach it. A woman stepped into view, her presence as unsettling as the land surrounding her. Long silver hair cascaded down her back, strands woven with tiny bones and beads. Her eyes-black as the void-locked onto Celeste with unnerving precision.

"I was expecting you," the seer murmured, voice carrying the weight of ancient knowledge.

Celeste forced herself to hold the woman's gaze. "Then you know why we're here."

A slow smile curved the seer's lips. "Of course. The lost Luna seeks the truth."

Rafe shifted uncomfortably. "We need answers. And we need them now."

The seer's dark gaze flickered to him before settling back on Celeste. "Step inside, child. The past is eager to be known."

Killian tensed but nodded for Celeste to proceed. She inhaled deeply and crossed the threshold, stepping into the dimly lit space. The scent of burning herbs filled the air, mingling with something more metallic.

The seer gestured toward a worn chair. "Sit."

Celeste obeyed, ignoring the way her skin prickled. Killian and Rafe remained standing, their presence a silent warning.

The seer circled her, humming under her breath. "You do not remember, yet the truth clings to you."

Celeste clenched her jaw. "Then help me remember."

A gnarled hand reached out, fingers pressing lightly against Celeste's forehead. The touch burned, an icy fire seeping into her skull. The room blurred, tilting at unnatural angles.

A voice-soft, urgent-whispered through her mind. "Run, Celeste. Do not look back."

Pain lanced through her skull. Images flashed in quick succession-blood on her hands, a dark figure looming over her, a feeling of unbearable loss.

A strangled gasp tore from her lips. The seer's grip tightened. "Look deeper."

A name surfaced, clawing its way through the fog.

Elias.

The vision shattered. Celeste jolted upright, breath coming in sharp, shallow gasps. The seer watched her, satisfaction gleaming in those dark, endless eyes.

"You have seen the first thread," she murmured. "But the tapestry is far from complete."

Killian's hand found Celeste's shoulder, grounding her. "What does it mean?"

The seer tilted her head. "The one who stole from her is not done. He waits in the shadows, watching, waiting."

Rafe's expression darkened. "Who is Elias?"

Celeste's pulse thundered. "I don't know."

The seer's smile sent ice through her veins. "You will."

A cold realization settled in her bones. Whoever Elias was, he was the key to everything... And he was waiting for her.