Chapter 30: The New Friend

Elara's POV

Elara woke up screaming, her whole body shaking. The room around her was in chaos—books flying off shelves, furniture floating, and the windows shaking in their frames.

"Elara! Control it!" Lyra shouted, running into the room.

Taking deep breaths, Elara focused her mind like Lyra had taught her. Slowly, the items stopped moving and dropped to the floor with a crash.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "Another nightmare about Orion."

It had been three days since they'd fled Sebastian's mansion as it collapsed around them. Three days hiding in Lyra's cottage at the edge of the Ethereal Conclave's land. Three days of dreams where Orion's voice kept whispering in her head.

"It's getting worse," Lyra said, sitting beside her on the bed. "He's trying to find you through your connection."

Elara rubbed her temples. "I can feel him searching. It's like he's everywhere and nowhere at the same time."

Through her blood bond, she could feel Thorne and Sebastian even though they weren't in the room. Thorne was outside prowling with some of his loyal wolves. Sebastian was in the basement, resting during daytime hours with the vampires who had followed him.

"Where's Kaela?" Elara asked, suddenly worried about her sister.

"Making breakfast with some of the witches," Lyra answered. "She's safe."

Elara nodded, glad. Then she noticed her aunt's worried face. "What is it? What aren't you telling me?" Lyra hesitated. "The Conclave sent a message. Magnus and Orion's troops have taken over half of Ravenshadow City. They're using some kind of magic we've never seen before—turning people into..."

"Into what?"

"Harbingers. But not like before. These ones are different. Stronger. Like they're being taken by something else."

A chill ran down Elara's spine. She remembered the feeling when Orion had briefly taken over her mind—like something ancient and cold was looking through her eyes.

"I need some air," Elara said, getting out of bed.

"Don't go far," Lyra warned. "The protective spells only reach the edge of the forest."

Elara nodded and went outside. The morning air was cool against her face. She walked toward a small stream at the edge of the land, needing a moment alone to clear her head.

As she approached the water, she noticed someone sitting on a big rock. A young guy with dark hair, writing in a notebook.

Her heart jumped. No one should be here—Lyra's spells kept strangers away.

"Hello," the man said without looking up. "Beautiful morning, isn't it?"

Elara tensed, ready to call for help or use her magic. "Who are you? How did you get past the barriers?"

He finally looked up, and Elara gasped. His eyes were mismatched—one blue, one green—and they seemed to shimmer with secret light.

"Barriers don't work on me," he said lightly. "Not when I'm just visiting."

"Visiting?" Elara repeated, confused.

He smiled, and something about it felt oddly familiar. "I'm not really here—well, not physically. Think of it as a magical projection."

Elara took a step back. "Are you working with Magnus?"

The man laughed. "Magnus? That old fraud? No, I work alone."

"Then who are you?"

He stood up and gave a little bow. "Orion Vale, at your service."

Elara's blood ran cold. "Orion? But you can't be—I saw Orion at Sebastian's house. You look nothing like him."

This man was younger, friendlier, with none of the threat she'd felt from the Orion who was working with Magnus.

"That's complicated," he said. "Let's just say there's more than one version of me running around."

"I don't understand."

"The prophecy," Orion said, stepping closer. "It's been twisted and changed so many times that truth itself is starting to break. What you saw at the mansion was a version of me from a different road."

Elara's head was spinning. "Why are you here? What do you want?"

"To help you," he said simply. "I know about the prophecy—the real prophecy, not the version Lyra and the others have been telling you."

Despite her fear, Elara felt curious. Something about this Orion felt true in a way she couldn't explain.

"How do you know about the prophecy?"

Orion smiled sadly. "Because I lived it once before. In another time, another way."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, glowing gem. "This contains the true prophecy. Take it."

Against her better sense, Elara reached for the crystal. When her fingers touched it, images flooded her mind—three children born under a blood moon, a secret temple beneath the city, a doorway between worlds...

"You're my brother," she whispered, suddenly understanding. "My twin."

Orion nodded. "In every version of truth, yes. We were separated at birth to meet different parts of the prophecy."

"But the Orion I saw—the one with Magnus—"

"Is what I become if you fail," he said sadly. "A vessel for something ancient and terrible."

Elara felt dizzy with all this new information. "Why should I trust you?"

"You shouldn't," Orion said with a smile. "Trust no one, especially not those closest to you. But take the crystal. Learn the truth."

Before she could ask more questions, a voice called from behind her.

"Elara! Get away from him!"

She turned to see Lyra rushing toward them, hands glowing with magic.

"Aunt Lyra, wait! He's—"

But when she turned back, Orion was gone. Only the crystal remained in her hand.

"What was that?" Lyra commanded, reaching her side. "I felt a breach in the barriers."

"His name is Orion," Elara said. "He says he's my brother."

Lyra's face went pale. "Impossible. Your brother died at birth."

"Did he?" Elara asked, suddenly unsure. "Or is that what you were told?"

Something flashed across Lyra's face—guilt? Fear? "Give me that crystal," she said, reaching for it.

Elara pulled back. "He said I shouldn't trust anyone, especially those closest to me."

"He's manipulating you," Lyra insisted. "Orion works with Magnus. They're trying to complete the dark prophecy."

"But what if there's more to it?" Elara asked. "What if what we think we know is wrong?"

Before Lyra could answer, Thorne's howl cut through the morning air—an alarm signal.

"They've found us," Lyra said, turning toward the sound.

Quickly, Elara slipped the crystal into her pocket and followed her aunt back to the cottage. Inside was chaos—witches gathering supplies, vampires arming themselves, werewolves in half-form.

"What's happening?" Elara asked Thorne when she found him.

"Magnus's forces are coming from the north," he said. "Hundreds of them. We need to move now."

Sebastian appeared from the basement, his face grim. "The southern path is already blocked. They've surrounded us."

"How did they find us?" Kaela asked, fear in her voice.

All eyes turned to Elara and the pocket where she'd hidden the crystal.

"The stranger you were talking to," Lyra said slowly. "He led them right to us."

Guilt and confusion washed over Elara. Had she been tricked? But deep down, something told her that the Orion she'd met wasn't lying.

"We need to split up," Sebastian decided. "They're after Elara. If we go in different directions—"

"No," Elara cut in firmly. "No more running. No more hiding." She pulled out the crystal, which was now glowing brighter. "I need answers, and I think I know where to find them."

The crystal projected a beam of light toward the floor, creating a map of Ravenshadow City with a single point glowing brightly.

"The Temple of Three Moons," Lyra whispered. "But it was destroyed."

"Not all of it," Elara said, somehow knowing this was true. "There's a level beneath it. That's where the true promise is hidden."

From outside came the sound of trees falling as Magnus's army neared.

"I'm going to the Temple," Elara announced. "With or without you."

Thorne and Sebastian moved to her side without delay, their bond humming with shared purpose.

"I'm with you," Thorne said.

"Always," Sebastian added.

Lyra looked torn. "Elara, please—this could be a trap."

As the cottage walls started to shake from magical attacks outside, Elara closed her hand around the crystal. It grew hot, and suddenly an opening of light appeared in the middle of the room.

"What did you do?" Kaela gasped.

"I don't know," Elara revealed. But somehow, she knew the opening would take them where they needed to go.

As the front door of the house burst open, Elara grabbed Thorne and Sebastian's hands and pulled them toward the portal.

"Elara, no!" Lyra shouted, lunging for them.

But it was too late. As they stepped through the doorway, Elara heard Orion's voice in her mind: "Find me where it all started. Only toget

her can we stop what's coming."

The portal closed behind them, leaving confusion behind.