The Abyss
Heather's POV
"How do you—"
Kayden grabbed my arm and yanked me to the side just as razor-sharp ice spears began raining down. Before I could react, Stella threw up a shimmering defense barrier around us—Kayden, Damon, herself, and me. They were already in motion, their powers colliding with the relentless onslaught. Stella’s barrier held firm, but the strain was visible in the tremble of her hands.
I stood frozen, useless. I had no magic—just the cursed ability to sense it. While they unleashed fire and fury against the icy barrage, all I could do was prepare for close combat. But even that was a risk. A big one.
Kayden and Damon were darting around, trying to strike at the source of the attack. Their blows kept rebounding off an unseen magic barrier, the force deflecting with a deafening crack. Stella’s barrier flickered as countless diamond-like blades of ice slammed into it, each one cutting closer to us.
The walls of the dungeon groaned and began to melt, water pooling around our feet. The sheer force of it all was terrifying.
“We can’t keep this up!” Stella gasped. Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead as she poured her energy into holding the barrier.
“It’s like we’re missing something. This isn’t enough.”
Kayden gritted his teeth, a fiery glow sparking in his palms. “I’m using everything I’ve got, but it’s not working!”
“We’re throwing fire and brute force at it,” Damon growled, his eyes blazing. “If we had a water element user, maybe we’d stand a chance!”
“I’m a healer, not a fighter!” Stella snapped, her voice cracking. “You think healing magic is going to stop this shitstorm?” Her gaze flicked to me.
“What about you, Heather? Can you do something?”
“I…” My voice faltered, shame crawling up my spine. “I’m just… I’m just a fighter. No magic. Nothing.” The words felt like venom on my tongue, a bitter reminder of how powerless I was.
Stella’s jaw tightened. “Then we’ve got no choice. I’ll push my magic further and—”
“No, don’t!” Kayden interrupted. “If you burn out, we’re finished. We’ll combine our strengths instead. Just hold the barrier steady!”
Together, the three of them launched a synchronized attack—Stella channeling her light magic while Kayden and Damon unleashed firepower in unison. A brilliant explosion lit up the room, scattering the ice storm. The shards disintegrated mid-air, but the effort left Stella trembling.
The barrier dissolved, and she dropped to her knees, gasping.
“That took too much out of her.” Damon crouched beside her, his usually gruff tone laced with concern. “You okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” Stella rasped, brushing him off. But Damon wasn’t convinced.
“If you’re not, screw this mission. I’m taking you back to the suite.”
Stella glared at him. “I said I’m fine. Stop fussing!”
Kayden turned to me, cupping my face in his hands. His touch was warm, steadying me amidst the chaos. His eyes searched mine, concern etched deep in his features.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
My heart fluttered in my chest. “I am.”
His jaw tightened. “You and Stella should leave. It’s too dangerous here.”
“No,” I said firmly.
“She shouldn’t even be here right now!” Damon cut in, pointing at Stella.
Stella shot him a look sharp enough to cut steel. “I’m not leaving. Drop it.”
Kayden’s eyes didn’t leave mine. “Heather, you need to think this through. You’re pregnant. Are you really willing to risk not just your life, but our child’s?”
I froze. The weight of his words hit me like a punch to the gut.
“If I leave now, the key disappears,” I said, holding up the glowing tablet in my hand. New symbols were appearing on its surface, pulsating with an eerie light. “This dungeon will lock us in if we don’t retrieve the key.”
“She’s right,” Stella said, her voice weak but determined. “None of us can leave until it’s over. It’s a trap.”
Kayden cursed under his breath. “What the hell is going to come next?”
The dungeon fell silent. A deafening, eerie silence that made my skin crawl.
“What do we do now?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
“For now, we catch our breath,” Kayden said, handing me an energy bar. Stella did the same, forcing one into Damon’s hand despite his protests.
“You’re pregnant,” Stella said quietly, glancing at me with a flicker of a smile.
I nodded hesitantly. “I think so. The tablet confirms it, doesn’t it? Otherwise, the second key wouldn’t have appeared.”
“I can confirm it if you’d like,” Stella offered.
“Are you sure? You’re exhausted.”
“It’s fine. Just give me your arm.”
I hesitated but extended my arm. Stella’s magic flared softly, a warm golden glow enveloping me.
“Do you hate me?” I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it.
Her magic wavered for a moment before she steadied it. “I don’t trust you,” she admitted bluntly. “But… something tells me you’re not all bad. Maybe I’m crazy, but I’m trusting my gut on this.”
Her words stung, but I forced a nod. “I guess that’s better than nothing.”
“Kayden trusts you,” she said, her tone softening. “That’s enough for me… for now.”
“What about Damon?” I asked, unable to stop myself.
“Stop worrying about what others think of you,” Stella said, her voice taking on a sage-like quality. “If you know your truth, live by it—even if no one else believes in you.”
Her magic faded, and she gave me a small, tired smile. “You’re two weeks pregnant.”
Relief and joy filled my chest, though I tried to keep it contained. “And… is it Kayden’s?”
“It’s too early to sense his energy,” Stella admitted. “But the tablet activated, so… it seems likely. You’re carrying a Xael. And… you’re Raven.”
Kayden’s. My heart soared.
Before I could say more, the ground beneath us trembled violently. Flames erupted from the walls, casting flickering shadows that slithered and danced like living creatures.
“Break time’s over,” Kayden said grimly, drawing his claws out.
The shadows began to solidify, creeping closer with every second. They took on horrifying forms—eyes glowing in the darkness, claws scraping against the stone.
The air turned icy, and my stomach dropped.
This was only the beginning.