Chapter 4 Shadows of the Past

Lyra's POV

"You deceived me, Kael."

Staring into his eyes, I searched for the reality I dreaded to discover, my voice shaking.

Kael looked down. I did what I had to do.

You exploited me.

The words tasted terrible, like if betrayal and sorrow were woven together.

He reached out and moved closer. Lyra, I beg you-

I stepped back. "Don't. Simply... don't.

Apart from the far echoes of our past, the room was quiet. Unspoken words weighed heavy between us.

"I trusted you," I said softly, my eyes on the verge of spilling.

Kael's jaw clenched. I never intended to betray that confidence.

You did, though.

Gilt carved into every line of his face, he turned aside.

The door flew open all of a sudden.

Rachel stood there, wide-eyed.

Lyra, you have to witness this.

I looked to the window following her stare. The moon hung low outside, throwing a strange red light over the city.

Kael whispered, "The Blood Moon."

Rachel murmured, her voice betraying concern, "It's starting."

The streets were strangely silent as we hurried outside. Anticipation hung thick in the air, almost as if the city itself was holding its breath.

What does this imply? I inquired.

Kael looked dejected. "It means Kieran's plan is in motion."

We must prevent him.

He agreed. We cannot, however, accomplish it alone.

Out of nowhere, a shadowy figure appeared.

Damien

"I want to help," he replied, eyes beseeching.

Memories of his treachery rushing back, I gazed at him.

"Why should we believe you?" Rachel asked.

"Because I know Kieran's location."

Kael moved forward. "Should you be lying-"

I am not. Damien spoke with authority. I wish to correct matters.

I stared between them, the decision's weight bearing down on me.

Okay, I remarked. "But one wrong move, and you're finished."

The red moon throwing lengthy shadows, we followed Damien down the twisting roads. The city seemed strange, as if changed by the approaching disaster.

Damien said softly, gesturing to an ancient cathedral, "He's here."

The air was tense as we entered carefully.

Kieran was at the altar within, the Emerald shining in his grip.

"Welcome," he sneered. I was waiting for you.

I declared, "This ends now," moving ahead.

He chuckled. "You believe you can prevent me?"

Kael, who was next to me, remarked, "We have to try."

Kieran lifted the Emerald, its brightness overwhelming.

This will make me unrelenting.

"Not if we can help it," Rachel answered, joining us.

The room trembled as the power of the Emerald surged.

"Now!" I yelled.

A blur of motion and magic, we lunged forward. The fight had started.

You still don't believe me, do you?

As we stood under the blood red moon, Kael spoke softly, nearly whispering.

Arms crossed, I started toward the horizon. Trust isn't given, Kael. It's something you work for.

He moved closer, the smell of smoke and pine hanging onto him. Then let me deserve it.

The tension between us was obvious, a combination of unresolved emotions and approaching threat.

An unsettling quiet replaced the normal bustle, shrouding the city of Merida in an odd stillness.

Breaking the quiet, I remarked, "We have to go." "Kieran won't wait."

Kael nodded, his countenance stern. Let's complete this then.

Memories of our previous fights sprang to mind as we negotiated the empty streets.

"Do you ever think about what we had?" Kael asked suddenly.

I hesitated. "Sometimes. But the past is a luxury we can't afford right now."

He looked away, pain blazing in his eyes. I never meant to cause you pain.

"But you did," I answered, my voice firm.

We approached the outskirts of the cathedral, its once majestic front now collapsing.

"This is it," Kael murmured, his palm on the hilt of his blade.

I took a deep breath. "Ready?"

He nodded, and we pulled open the thick doors together.

Inside, the air was dense with the aroma of decay and magic.

"Welcome," Kieran's voice rang out, oozing with hatred.

Standing at the altar, he held the Emerald throbbing in his hands. "I've been expecting you."

I said, moving ahead, "This ends now."

Kieran chuckled, a noise lacking comedy. You believe you can prevent me?

Kael remarked, coming with me, "We have to try."

The fight was quick and terrible. Magic clashed, swords collided, and the cathedral shook under the power of our conflict.

"You are stronger than I expected," Kieran confessed, blood running from a facial wound.

You overestimated the strength of division.

Kael and I joined forces with one last burst of energy to aim a ray of pure light at the Emerald.

Engulfed in light, Kieran screamed in pain and it shattered.

There was quiet.

Is it finished? Kael inquired, his voice raspy.

The evidence of the fight was all around me. "For the time being."

A shade shifted, though, as we started to depart.

You didn't believe it would be that simple, did you? A voice I knew mocked.

From the shadows, Damien emerged with a warped grin. The actual game is barely starting.

You still don't believe me, do you?

As we stood under the blood red moon, Kael spoke softly, nearly whispering.

Arms crossed, I started toward the horizon. Trust isn't given, Kael. It's something you work for.

He moved closer, the smell of smoke and pine hanging onto him. Then let me deserve it.

The tension between us was obvious, a combination of unresolved emotions and approaching threat.

An uncomfortable quiet replaced the normal bustling, shrouding the city of Merida in an odd stillness.

Breaking the quiet, I remarked, "We have to go." Kieran will not wait.

With a somber look, Kael nodded. Let's complete this then.

Memories of our previous fights sprang to mind as we negotiated the empty streets.

Have you ever considered what we formerly possessed? Kael inquired unexpectedly.

I wavered. Occasionally. Still, we cannot afford the past just now.

He turned his gaze, anguish dancing in his eyes. I never meant to cause you pain.

"But you did," I said evenly.

We arrived at the cathedral's environs, its formerly magnificent front now deteriorating.

Kael remarked, palm on the hilt of his sword, "This is it."

I inhaled deeply. Are you ready?

He nodded, and we pulled open the thick doors together.

Inside, the air was dense with the aroma of decay and magic.

"Welcome," Kieran's voice rang out, oozing with hatred.

Standing at the altar, he held the Emerald throbbing in his hands. I had been waiting for you.

I said, moving ahead, "This ends now."

Kieran chuckled, a noise lacking comedy. You believe you can prevent me?

Kael remarked, coming with me, "We have to try."

The fight was quick and terrible. Magic clashed, swords collided, and the cathedral shook under the power of our conflict.

"You are stronger than I expected," Kieran confessed, blood running from a facial wound.

You overestimated the strength of division.

Kael and I joined forces with one last burst of energy to aim a ray of pure light at the Emerald.

Engulfed in light, Kieran screamed in pain and it shattered.

There was quiet.

Is it finished? Kael inquired, his voice raspy.

The evidence of the fight was clear all around me. At the moment.