Chapter 5 The first change

Chapter 5

The moon was rising higher in the sky, casting its pale light over the Thorn Estate like a watchful eye. It was almost time. Aria could feel the tension in the air, thick and oppressive, as though the entire world was holding its breath. The estate felt different tonight. The wind howled through the trees, more insistent than usual, and the air was thick with the scent of pine and something... metallic.

It had been a week since Lucien had told her about the curse. A week since her world had been upended, since her life had been thrown into chaos. A week since she had started to notice the strange things happening to her-the way her heart raced when the full moon rose, the strange dreams that haunted her sleep, the tingling sensation that now seemed to pulse in her veins.

Tonight, she felt it more acutely than ever before.

The full moon was a mere hour away, and Aria could already feel the pull, deep inside her. It was like an invisible thread was tugging at her soul, urging her toward something she couldn't see, couldn't understand. She stood on the balcony of the estate, looking out into the woods, her thoughts a jumbled mess.

What if Lucien's right? What if I'm connected to this curse? What if I have a role to play in all of this?

She didn't want to believe it, but there was a part of her-a deep, buried part-that did. Her heart told her the truth, even when her mind refused to accept it.

She had spent the day with Lucien, learning more about his family, about the curse that had bound them all. He had told her of the Lycan, the creature that had been part of their world for centuries, and how it sought to claim the firstborns of the Thorn bloodline. How it was always drawn to the full moon, always lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.

But what did that mean for her? What part did she play in all of this? And what about Lucien?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind her. She turned quickly, her pulse quickening as Lucien stepped out of the shadows, his presence as commanding as ever. He was dressed in dark clothes, his expression unreadable.

"Aria," he said, his voice low and steady. "It's time."

Her heart skipped a beat. "Time? For what?"

Lucien's eyes darkened, and he stepped closer, his gaze intense. "The full moon is almost here. You've felt it, haven't you?"

Aria swallowed hard. She had felt it, the strange pull deep inside her, the way her senses were heightened, more acute than ever before. But she hadn't been ready to admit it to herself, not yet. "Yes," she whispered. "But what does that mean? What's happening to me, Lucien?"

Lucien's gaze softened for a moment, and he took a step closer, his voice barely audible. "The curse is starting to take hold of you, Aria. It's not just the bloodline. It's the land. The moon. The magic. It's all starting to awaken within you."

Aria's breath caught in her throat. "Awaken? What does that mean?"

"It means you're starting to change."

The words sent a chill through her. Change. What kind of change? And how much of it was in her control?

Lucien reached out, his hand brushing against her arm. The contact was brief, but it sent a jolt of electricity through her. Her skin tingled where he had touched her, and her heart raced even faster.

"I know this is hard to understand," Lucien continued, his voice soft but urgent. "But you're not just here to witness this curse. You're here to stop it. The Lycan is coming tonight, Aria. And when it does, you'll need to be ready."

Aria's pulse quickened at the mention of the Lycan. The creature that had haunted the Thorn family for centuries. The creature that had killed so many before.

"What do I need to do?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Lucien stepped back, running a hand through his dark hair. "For now, stay inside. Stay with me. We need to make sure you're safe."

Safe. The word felt hollow in her chest. Safe from what? The Lycan? Or from herself?

But before she could respond, a low growl sounded from the woods. The hair on the back of Aria's neck stood on end. Lucien's expression hardened, his gaze fixed on the trees, his jaw tightening.

"It's here," he muttered under his breath. "Stay inside. Don't leave the house, no matter what."

Aria nodded, but her feet felt rooted to the ground. The sound of the growl echoed again, this time louder, closer. It was like the earth itself was trembling under the weight of it.

Lucien glanced over at her, his eyes filled with a warning. "Don't follow me, Aria. You're not ready for this."

"I'm not going anywhere," she whispered, even as her heart pounded in her chest. But despite her words, something inside her was stirring-something powerful. And she wasn't sure she could stop it.

Lucien turned, his movements swift and graceful. Within seconds, he had disappeared into the woods, leaving Aria standing on the balcony, staring into the darkness.

The full moon hung high in the sky now, its light casting an eerie glow over the estate. The wind had picked up, howling through the trees as if in response to the growing tension in the air.

And then, it happened.

A surge of energy rushed through Aria, a wave of heat and power that flooded her body. She gasped, her hands gripping the railing as her body trembled. Her heart raced, pounding in her ears, as her senses heightened even more. The scent of the earth, the trees, the moon-it was all so much clearer now. She could hear every rustle in the leaves, every crack in the earth, every breath of wind.

Her vision blurred for a moment, the world spinning around her. She closed her eyes, trying to steady herself, but the energy only grew stronger. The force of it was almost too much to bear.

And then, a sound-soft at first, but growing louder-cut through the chaos. A voice.

It was coming from inside her mind.

Aria...

She gasped, her hand flying to her head as the voice echoed in her skull.

Aria, you are the key. You must remember. The curse cannot be broken without you.

The voice was familiar, but it wasn't Lucien's. It was... older. Wiser. The words filled her with dread, but also with a strange sense of purpose.

She gripped the railing tighter, her knuckles white as the world around her seemed to pulse with energy. Her heart was beating faster, her body trembling with power she couldn't control.

The time has come, the voice whispered again.

And then, the growl sounded again-closer. The Lycan was near.

Aria's body tensed, her instincts screaming at her to run. But she couldn't move. Not yet. Not until she understood.

The moon called to her. And she could feel it, deep in her bones, as though the very essence of her being was tied to the moon, to the curse, to the land itself.

Tonight, everything would change.