Chapter 2 The Betrayal

Kaida was paralyzed as she felt the figure step out of the woods. The glowing eyes bore into her, the atmosphere filled with some dark force threatening to engulf her. She felt the urge to run away, a basic urge.

"Run!" Kellan ordered, in coherent panic, bringing her out from the stupor. But turning to run away, as though something wanted them back, the earth shook under her feet and a chill blew out whatever little warmth their fire had managed to keep.

"Kellen! It's time!" Kellen supported, dragging her towards the forest interior.

"What was that?" she asked, still reeling from the shock.

"I have no clue what that was. But we should put as much distance as we can, fast!" Kellan said with a dread-filled look over his back. "Do not fall behind me."

They moved further into the forest, her fur poles holding plenty of branches around them as dark silhouettes twirled. Breath coming in sharp gasps, Kaida's heart squeezed with fright. "What did that thing want from me?"

"You were said to be the only thing that could free it," Kellan said, panting and turning his gaze into the shadows. "That can't be good."

"Fantastic. Just what I wanted. Some sort of demon that desired to possess me," she said, bitterness coming over her. "Why me?"

"Because you are connected to the prophecy, Kaida. You are more significant than you think," Kellan replied, his voice almost a whisper but full of anxiety. "But you have to face this. You cannot just run away anymore."

"Easy for you to say!" she retorted. "You are not the one being chased!"

"Don't you think I want to keep you safe?" Kellan yelled back, his tone getting higher. "But you have to learn to control yourself! If that monster comes for you again-"

Before he could finish his sentence, there was a growl that seemed to come from low down and far off. They stopped dead, hearts racing, as a large dark wolf crossed their way, its eyes glowing like hot coals.

"Not again! Not after Kira," she yelped, her instincts kicking in.

"We mustn't let it back us into a corner!" Kellan insisted to her. He moved to shield her from the sight.

Kaida acknowledged him, the adrenaline rushing in her veins as she transitioned to her wolf form, welcoming the energy within her. "It's show time!"

The dusky wolf charged at them, wild and healthy. Kaida and Kellan functioned as one, moving to the side and avoiding a collision to reach the target.

"Pay attention to its movements!" Kellan roared. "It is quicker than it appears!"

Kaida growled back, waving her arms in denial. "It won't catch me! I will not comply!"

Dashing forward, mouths wide open, she aimed her hyperbolized terror at the dark wolf. They emploted each other, and Kaida was thrown back buttress and she quickly backed up.

"It's more powerful than we estimated!" Kellan growled, going into the pile. The two she-wolves turned around each and frowned, each waiting for the right moment to attack.

"Maybe if we work together-" Kaida started, dork wolf lunged again and Kaida barely avoided the snapping jaws.

"Now!" Kellan called taking the risk to distract the wolf while Kaida did her part of the work.

Kaida rushed forward, showing her teeth. She drove her teeth into the side of the beast, but it twisted its body, making her fall down. Groggy, she sat up alert, shaking her head to focus.

"Kaida!" Kellan barked at her again, this time more menacing. "Get up!"

She managed to rise just in time before the dark wolf swung its attention back to her. Its gaze was vicious, and Kaida shivered.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked shakily. "What do you want from me?"

The wolf stopped, as though weighing her words, then emitted a spine-chilling shriek that bounced off the trees.

"Is it even speaking?" Kellan whispered, astonished beyond belief.

"Speaking or provoking," Kaida maintained as her heart started to accelerate. "We must do something about this!"

Fueled by the intense anger burning within her, Kaida struck again, this time taking the wolf by surprise. But just when she thought that she is on top of it, the wolf turned and a dark fog enveloped her.

"Kaida! Don't give in!" Kellan screamed and rushed to her. His voice was like that of a someone who had run and who had been shouting too much.

She found herself engulfed by the mist which was icy, and stifling and fought hard to emancipate herself from it. "I can't get any air!"

"Concentrate! Remember your Identity!" Kellan shouted taking her face in his hands and looking straight into her eyes. "You are better than this!"

Kaida shut her eyes to rely on her wolf's power to withstand the darkness. "I will not be vanquished!" she growled, summoning untold strength.

A wave of force erupted, banishing the mist, and the dark wolf was caught off guard and fell backwards.

"Let's do this while we have the opportunity!" Kellan shouted as he moved ahead.

Kaida followed and they surged forwards, the power of two driving the dark wolf away from them, its warnings now brave yaps. However, when they thought that they had won, the wolf abruptly went behind back and into the shadows, vanishing completely.

"Did we manage to scare it off?" Kaida huffed, unable to control her shaking body due to feelings of fight or flight.

"For now yes, but it is certain to return," Kellan indicated after regaining his breath. "Let us reassemble, and find out what the hell is going on."

Before Kaida could say anything, the earth once again shook under their feet, followed by another earsplitting howl that resonated through the trees the same as the one they heard earlier.

"What are we supposed to do now?" Kaida made a barely audible inquiry, fear beginning to make itself felt in her voice.

Out of the darkening woods, the silhouette which had been pursued came into view. It had an unsettling visible features as it turned to the light of the moon that contained a savage smile.

"Did you honestly believe you could get away from me?" it spat out. The voice that followed was deep enough to send the shivers down Kaida's spine. "You cannot evade what is rightfully yours, Kaida Dhera. You are me."

A chill gripped Kaida, though behind it laid slivers of tenacity. "I can't be yours!"

"Be ready for what is coming," the figure snarled, lifting a finger.

The earth heaved considerably, and shadows burst from around them in a cyclone as Kaida's heartbeat quickened in excitement.

"Form under one direction!" Kellan instructed, turning back to Kaida but it was too late darkness was already engulfing her.

"Kaida!" Kellan shouted inside her head, but she was slipping away from the existent reality.

As darkness surrounded her, Kaida was horrified to comprehend that she was being pulled into an abyss, beyond which everything she knew and loved would not be accessible.

"Kaida, fight it!" Kellan shouted, but his effort came in vain.

With a last cry, last breath the void took her in, and she was gone.