Parallels

David's head hung low as he kneeled, suspended in air. Sweat and blood dripped from all over his body.

The fire and the metal of the chain cutting into his flesh while it sapped away his life force.

David was in pain but not so much from his physical torture.

He was worried about Aria.

If they could trick him, what would they do to her?

He tugged at his chains yet again, anger simmering through his frail body as his muscles bulged and rippled. But the fiery chains only burnt hotter making him roar and collapse in pain and frustration.

"Well, well, look who's all chained up like a dog," David tried to hurriedly turn around.It was Lucas, taunting, his voice dripping with mockery as he creepily walked up to him. "The mighty Lycan king reduced to this. Pathetic."

David growled, his voice raw, low but defiant. "I'll rip your damn throat out, Lucas. These chains won't hold me forever.”

Lucas chuckled, soft and low. Mockery oozing from his demeanor.

"Oh, I don't need them to hold you forever. Just long enough to watch you crumble. These chains are draining your life bit by bit, and judging by the state of you, they're doing a damn good job.”

David strained against the chains, his muscles threatening to burst free. But he was met with utter humiliation, yielding nothing.

“You won't get away with this," David spat, his voice shaking with fury. “They will find you, and when they do they will tear you apart."

Lucas's grin widened.

“They? They who? Your sister? Alpha Sebastian? That siren bitch?

Or your precious little mate? Don't worry about her. Or maybe you should. Who knows what could happen to a pregnant woman all alone in a world full of monsters?”

David's heart twisted with fear and rage. "If you touch her, Lucas, I swear…"

"You'll do what?" Lucas interrupted, stepping even closer. "You're in no position to make threats, David. You're nothing now. Just a broken beast waiting to die.”

“You're a coward, Lucas," David snarled, his voice trembling with emotion. "Hiding behind your tricks and traps. Face me without these chains, and we'll see who the real king is."

Lucas laughed, the sound echoing cruelly through the dark dimensions. "Why would I do that when I can watch you suffer like this? You're already beaten, David. Just accept it.We must work smart…not hard. ”

David let out another frustrated growl but Lucas didn't flinch at all.

“ But if you promise to be a good boy and behave, I might have something important to tell you. Something that changes perspective. ”

Lucas held up both his hands and scoffed.

“ But only if you promise to cooperate. ”

David frownee but paid him no attention looking the other way around.

“ Well, well… It seems like you are not interested. But it concerned your little Aria. ”

Lucas pretended to turn around and leave.

“ What about her? ”

“ Would you not like to know who she truly is? Her true identity? ”

The frown over David's face only intensified but he said nothing.

***

Aria stumbled out of bed and made her way to the bathroom.

Flicking on the light, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were wide, haunted, the image of a tormented soul.

“Who are you?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "What have you become?”

Her face looked foreign, a stranger's reflection staring back at her. The hollow cheeks, the dark circles under her eyes,signs of the endless battles raging within her.

She traced a finger along the lines of her face, trying to remember the person she once was.

But nothing came to her mind; it was as if her memories were slipping away as Selene tried to take over.

She remembered the feeling of drowning, the weight of the water pressing down on her, suffocating her. The water tasted salty, but she couldn't tell if it was the sea water or her tears.

She gasped for air, remembering those last moments in Selene's aka her previous life. But her reflection blurred as tears filled her eyes. She had fought so hard, but it never seemed to be enough.

"Why do you torment me?" she cried, her voice rising in desperation. "What did I do to deserve this?”

Her reflection offered no answers, only the silent agony of her own eyes staring back at her. She wanted to scream, to shatter the mirror and break free from the invisible chains binding her.

And then the image of another person appeared behind her.

“ Elara!!! ”

Aria turned around and hugged her so tight that she seemed absolutely startled.

Aria sobbed like a baby in her arms. Elara looked alarmed but nevertheless she tried pat Aria’s head and calmed her down.

“ Shh! What happened, Aria? Are you not feeling alright? ”

Aria pulled away, wiping her tears.

“ Elara… David… I must save him. Can you take me to the dark dimensions? Will you help me? ”

Elara looked concerned but then her concern turned into skepticism and doubt.

***

“ No!!! No… no! You are lying. You are nothing but a freaking liar. Get out of here! Leave me alone! ”

David violently shook his head trying to get Lucas's words out of his head.

“ It's true though! Selene played the Moon Goddess! She tricked her into thinking that she was regretful and wanted to repent, all the while making a pact with the darkness.

Pretty cool huh? I like cunning women! ”

Lucas walked slowly around David, teasing him with each carefully selected word for the big revelation.

“ NO! YOU ARE LYING!!! My Aria is not Selene or anyone else. She is just Aria. She is mine. ”

The veins around his neck strained so much, it seemed like they might pop.

“I have no reason to lie… especially about this! Look up! ”

Lucas pointed up ahead.

David's eyes followed Lucas's finger, his breath hitching as he saw what was suspended in the air.

A thin, ethereal string shimmered between two glowing hearts, pulsing with a sinister energy. The string was like a delicate thread spun from moonlight and shadows, its luminescence flickering.Each heartbeat sent a wave of dark energy coursing through the string.

The hearts themselves were a stark contrast. One glowed with a soft, silvery light, reminiscent of the moon's gentle glow, while the other was engulfed in a deep, inky blackness, pulsating with an almost palpable malevolence.

“You see that, David?” Lucas's voice dripped with satisfaction, relishing in the impact of his revelation on David.

“That string is the manifestation of the pact Selene made with the Darkness. It ties her fate to yours. The only way to break it is for you to sever that link.”

“And in doing so…? ”

David wasn't born yesterday. He could feel where it was headed.

“...kill Aria? Selene? Yeah…you get it. There is a price that needs to be paid for everything.”

David's eyes widened in horror. His mind raced, desperately trying to comprehend the twisted reality being unveiled before him. “You’re mad. Why should I believe any of this? Aria would never…”

Lucas laughed, a chilling sound that echoed in the darkness around them.

“You still don't get it, do you? This isn’t about what Aria would or wouldn't do. This is about Selene. She used you, David. She used you to trick the Moon Goddess. Your death will ensure her rebirth. It's all part of the pact.”

Lucas came too close for David’s comfort and sneered, stepping closer, his eyes gleaming with a dark pleasure.

“Look at that string. Feel it. You know I’m telling the truth. You’ve always felt something wasn’t right, haven’t you? Deep down, you knew.”

David’s breath came in ragged gasps as he tore his gaze away from Lucas and back to the string. His hands clenched into fists, nails biting into his palms. He could feel the connection, the dark energy pulsating between the hearts, binding him to a fate he never wanted.

“What do you want from me?” he whispered, his voice almost breaking. “Why tell me this?”

Lucas smirked, his face a mask of triumph. “I want you to understand the stakes, David. I want you to see the truth of your beloved Aria… or should I say Selene? I want you to know that the only way to truly free yourself, to end this twisted game, is to sever that link.”

Lucas leaned in closer till his voice became almost a whisper in David’s ear.

“Do it, David. End this. Sever the link. Kill Aria and free yourself from the darkness that binds you.”

With a shaking hand, David reached out towards the string, almost mesmerized,in a trance,as his chains rattled, his vision blurring as he fought against the torrent of emotions within him.

His fingers hovered over the shimmering thread, trembling as Lucas watched with eager anticipation.

“No,” he choked out, pulling his hand back. “I can't. I won’t.”

Lucas's face darkened with frustration, his eyes narrowing. “Then you’ll live in this torment forever, a pawn in Selene’s game, never truly knowing peace. Is that what you want?”

”No… but I won’t kill her!”

David's voice trailed off. It was distant. His eyes were disoriented.

Lucas let out a growl of frustration, his calm demeanor cracking. “Fool! You think you can escape this without bloodshed? There’s no other way!.... Seems like you are enjoying your stay here… Rot in hell! ”

Lucas disappeared leaving David more drained and absolutely worn out.