Chapter 63 Mother of Shadows
Amara’s POV
Once more, there was silence on the battlefield.
Lilith appeared indifferent to the bodies, the smoke, and the screams that could still be heard in the distance as she stood across from us. Her eyes were fixed on mine, those black, unending abysses. She appeared happy. Nearly... pleased.
"Are you looking for answers?" Her voice pierced the silence like a razor as she spoke. "Then pay close attention, kid."
I didn't answer. I was unable to. In my ears, my heart was thumping too loudly.
She stepped forward.
"Your blood has always belonged to me," she answered gently.
Lilith ignored Rowan, who took a protective stride in front of me and growled low in his throat.
"Your ancestor came to me a long time ago," she added. A naive priestess with a desperate heart and a dying child. She pleaded with me to keep her daughter safe.
My mouth became parched.
Lilith remarked with a little smile, "No one remembers the real cost of power." I asked for her lineage, and she gave it to me. And I gave her daughter life in exchange... and granted me immortality.
My voice trembled as I said, "That's not true." "You're telling lies."
Her eyes flashed as she said, "I never lie." "Since then, your family has continued to carry my power in its veins." "Amara, you are my vessel. A living reminder of that pledge."
I took a step back and stumbled.
Kian put his hand on my arm. "She's attempting to shatter you. Keep her away."
But her remarks were profound. More profound than I wished to acknowledge.
Lilith's smile widened. "The moon doesn't give you power. It's mine. Your mark burns brighter because of this. The spirits quiver when you speak because of this."
"No," I repeated, raising my voice. "Selene chose me."
“You survived because she let you,” Lilith yelled. "However, I gave you life."
I turned to Rowan. His jaw was clenched, his eyes bulging. Kian appeared to have been struck in the chest.
I forced my voice to stop trembling and said, "I'm not yours."
Lilith's head cocked. "Your veins' blood tells you otherwise. You carry my pact. I am therefore your mother."
The world swayed.
For a moment, I was unable to breathe.
"Mom?"
"No. No, it is not possible."
I screamed, "I'm not like you. "I would never inflict such harm on others."
"You do," Lilith remarked. "Each time you select one partner over another. Whenever you use my magic. You start to resemble me more."
"Stop," I whispered, my jaw tightened.
She continued.
"Even if you try to ignore it, it will always be there. I am the start of you. And I'll be the last of you."
With his blade up, Rowan stepped forward and hissed. "Enough! "
Lilith arched an eyebrow. "Oh? Is the wolf planning to kill his future queen? "
Rowan yelled and sprang forward, saying, "I'll knock you down for good."
Lilith didn't even flinch when Rowan roared and pounced, his sword cutting through the smoke. Black magic shot out like a whip with a single flick of her wrist, crashing into him in midair. He grunted as he struck the ground hard.
"Rowan!" I yelled as I hurried over to him.
Kian grabbed me by the waist. "No! She's baiting you, so stay away."
Like a living shadow, Lilith's dark cloak flowed around her. With a chilly smile, she stepped over Rowan's moaning body. "Remains extremely protective. So honourable. But when I take everything away from you, what will you defend? "
I trembled with rage. "You're not going to prevail."
Her laughter sounded like glass being scraped by knives. "I've already won, kid."
Long and swift shadows began to creep across the ground behind her. I gasped when the cloud behind her separated.
Chains of shadow held three Obsidian warriors prostrate in the mud. Their eyes widened in terror. They included Mira.
"No!" I sobbed. "Release them! "
“Yeah,” Lilith answered gently, “after you consent to accompany me. Voluntarily."
"I refuse! "
"They then pass away."
Kian took a step forward; his face contorted with anger. "You have no right to demand things."
Lilith had glistening eyes. Yes, but I do. Now, this is my war. My battleground.
The darkness grew closer to Mira's throat.
With blood on his lip, Rowan pushed himself to his feet. "Take me instead."
Kian growled. "No. Take me."
"Don't take anyone! I let out a yell. "Release them! "
Lilith let out a sigh. "What heroes. So willing to make a sacrifice. But I want the girl.” She looked at me once more. "I always did."
"Why? I yelled. "Why me? "
Simply put, "Because you are the key." The final connection to the initial blood pact. If I have you under my power... Everything is under my control.
Under my skin, I could feel my mark flash once more, hot and sharp like fire. I stepped forward, clenching my fists.
"I'll never be under your control."
She said in a thrilled murmur, "Such fire." "Much like your forefather. She also disobeyed me. And see where she ended up?
Lilith held out both of her hands before anyone could respond.
Around her and the inmates, a sudden puff of black smoke exploded. The shadows wailed and the wind howled.
"No! I shouted as I rushed ahead.
But we were all knocked back when the smoke burst out like a wave.
As soon as the air cleared—
Lilith had vanished.
The inmates were, too.
"No," I said as I fell to my knees. "Mira."
With his sword dragging in the dirt, Rowan staggered forward. "She took them."
Kian slammed his fist into the floor and snarled, "She took them right in front of us."
No shout could compare to the hush that followed.
I looked at the location where Lilith had been standing only a few seconds before.
The faint smell of ash and blood was all that was left. And the reverberation of her parting words:
"Amara, you are mine."