Chapter 3 The Touch of Betrayal

Lyra's POV

Kael? I spoke almost inaudibly. Are you able to hear me?

The room surrounding me had vanished. The guilt, the anxiety, the suffering were all gone.

All I could sense was heat-radiating throughout every inch of my body-and the sound of his voice reverberating in my head.

Kael, I'm not yours to guard.

That is what I stated. But I lied as I drifted through the dazzling white electricity.

I wished for his protection. I longed for his arms to encircle me once more.

It made me loathe myself.

A whirl of shadows yanked me from the trance. I fell upon a frigid floor quite forcefully. The Emerald's shine dimmed, leaving a harsh quiet behind.

Then I heard it.

Applause.

Lethargic. Ridiculing.

Well, well. At last, the moon's favored daughter shows up.

I turned around.

Kieran stood there in his dark robes, perfect as always. His eyes sparkled with wicked delight. Next to him-Damien.

No links. No wounds. Only human form's treachery.

I felt sick.

"You," I spat. You came after me here. You brought me here.

Damien avoided looking at me.

Kieran said, smirking, "Not quite." "But I have to admit, he performed his role wonderfully."

I moved toward Damien. Everything considered... after Rachel...

He winced. Lyra, I didn't want her to pass away. I was attempting to mend my damage.

"You are what's broken," I retorted. I loved you.

His eyes were shiny. Still, I adore you.

Then why does it seem that every time I look at you, I lose another bit of myself?

Kieran laughed. Moving. Truly. But enough of this romance nonsense. He moved forward, his voice falling. "You touched the Emerald. That indicates it's waking.

"I won't let you use it," I hissed.

You will not have a choice, he said. You will be mine the instant it completely awakens.

The floor below us suddenly split. From the earth, faint golden runes sprang to life in reaction to the Emeralds awakening.

Kieran lifted his hand; I fell on my knees.

Energy coursed through me, causing my body to quiver in agony. As though two were pulling me.

"Stop--", I said breathlessly, but the words hardly left my mouth.

Kieran grumbled, "Foolish girl." "You don't understand. That power was never meant to be yours."

I clenched my fists. "That's... amusing," I said, pulling myself up. "Because it seems like it's mine."

I pushed out with all the strength I could muster. An explosion of silver energy shot from my palms, knocking Kieran across the room. Roaring, he crashed into the wall.

Damien sprinted in my direction. Lyra, stop! He'll murder you-

I retorted, "Don't pretend you care." You sold me out for a seat at his table.

Damien pleaded. I had no idea what he would do. I was just trying to live.

I wasn't, I said icily. I was attempting to exist.

The walls trembled again.

That's when I noticed it-Kael. Alive but coated in dust and blood, he crawled through a shattered archway.

I felt a tightness in my chest.

He yelled, "Lyra!"

Our eyes locked.

The turmoil surrounding us vanished then.

I dashed to him. Thoughtlessly. Unreasoned. Simply pure instinct.

He grasped me in his arms, clutching me as though I would disappear.

Voice hoarse with feeling, he said, "I thought I lost you."

I believed I lost myself. "But I remain here."

He drew back a little, eyes searching my own. Did he cause you pain?

"No," I stated. "But I'm going to harm him right now."

Kael peered past me. "Is that... Damien?"

I agreed.

His jaw clenched. I ought to murder him.

I would allow you.

Damien, though, moved forward. "I messed up, Kael cut him off." Mistake? You nearly caused her death.

Damien remarked, "I returned." Doesn't that matter at all?

"No," I stated. Not any more.

Kieran grumbled and sat up. Cute. Truly. But you believe love will prevent what is approaching?

Kael stepped beside me. Not at all. She will, though.

Kieran's laughter was harsh. You actually think she can manage the curse of the Emerald?

"She already did," Kael remarked. She is not finished either.

My hands shone as I moved ahead.

You murdered my parents. You wiped out my tribe. You exploited me and Damien. But you neglected to remember something.

Kieran's gaze tightened. "And what is that?"

I am no longer alone.

Out of nowhere, rays of light pierced the ceiling. Light from the moon. Ancient and pure. It surrounded me and made me feel the pulse of the Emerald once more.

Kael held my hand. I stand with you.

I felt more powerful.

Kieran's smile faltered.

He lifted his hand to hit, but Damien intervened.

What are you up to? Kieran snarled.

Damien's voice trembled. I am finished being your puppet.

"Then you're nothing," Kieran retorted, stabbing Damien in the side with a dagger.

I screamed from my throat.

"No!"

Damien fell, blood gushing quickly.

Cradling his head in my lap, I hurried to him.

He spoke softly. I earned this.

My eyes burned with tears. "You did not." Not in this way.

He held my wrist. Lyra doesn't let him win."

Then his body became lifeless.

Kael was already on the go. Lyra, he's gone. You are not.

I rose. Rage seething. Power burning.

I confronted Kieran, who suddenly seemed... unsure.

You sought my strength? I remarked. Accept it.

I shot him with everything I had.

The blast illuminated the heavens.

He was gone when the dust settled.

Simply... gone.

Once more the chamber shook.

Kael remarked, "Something's wrong." The Emerald-it is unstable.

Red shone the runes all over the room.

I touched it, I said softly. I woke up. It now craves more.

Kael seized my shoulders. Hear me out. You must let it go. Close it.

"I don't know how!"

Of course you do. Believe in yourself.

I wept, nodding.

I extended my hand. Pulsing, the Emerald drifted toward me.

I said the words my mother once murmured in a dream.

Elaren na vestra lunaria

The chamber flickered, light and black clashing.

Then-

Kael caught me falling. Lyra!

My eyesight became hazy. "Did it work?"

Breathless, he nodded. "You sealed it."

I grinned weakly. Alright. Fighting bores me.

Kael put his forehead against mine. Rest. I have you.

But just as I shut my eyes...

From far away, a voice reverberated.

Woman. Chilly.

I wouldn't rest just now.

Kael and I both stopped moving.

From the shadows emerged a tall woman wrapped in moonlight and blood. Like mine, her eyes were silver.

"Who-" Kael began.

The lady grinned.

The Emerald was made by me.

She lifted her hand.

Kael flew across the room and crashed into the wall.

Not! I yelled, pushing myself to my feet.

The woman's voice was strong and low.

You believe you have triumphed, Lyra. This was just the start, though.

She then disappeared in a smoke spiral.

I knelt down next to Kael.

He was breathing. Hardly.

And just above us-the moon turned crimson.

Now I know what I have to do, she remarked.

Lyra! I yelled. Stop! It's too much-!"

She gazed down at me.

Kael, I'm not yours to guard.

The room then split. The roof fell in.

Lyra disappeared in a whirlwind of illumination.

As all turned dark, I yelled her name.

Kael stared at me, his eyes wide with a combination of regret and resolve. Time is not on our side. You must now believe me, Lyra. Believe me-

But before he could complete, a whirl of movement raced by us and I felt the wind rip into my face. The ground under us shook once more, this time more violently, as if something huge was coming.

My heart stopped in my chest. What lay ahead? More significantly, who was I meant to believe?