Darius Strikes

Darius Strikes

Elias and Kael stared at Marcus in shock. The knife in his hand caught the morning light.
"You're working for Darius?" Kael growled, moving to shield Elias.
Marcus laughed. "I've been loyal to Darius for ages. You were too busy being the big strong Alpha to notice."
Elias felt the baby flutter again in his stomach. He had to protect their child at all costs.
"Where is my sister?" Elias demanded.
A wicked smile spread across Marcus's face. "Seraphina? Let's just say she's having a nice chat with Darius right now."
Kael lunged forward, but Marcus was faster. He threw a handful of black powder into the air. The powder burst into a cloud of smoke, blinding them. By the time it cleared, Marcus was gone.
"Seraphina," Elias whispered, his heart sinking. "We have to find her!"
Kael nodded grimly. "Marcus is leading us into a trap."
"I don't care," Elias said. "She's my sister."
They set off at a run, following Marcus's trail through the forest. Elias's mind raced with fear. What had Darius done to Seraphina? Was she still alive?
The trail took them to a small clearing. In the middle stood a tall oak tree. Something was nailed to its trunk.
"No," Elias gasped, running forward.
It was a piece of Seraphina's silver hair, tied with a black ribbon. A note was attached: Elias,
Come to the old wolf temple alone. Your sister is watching.
Tell no one, or she dies. - D
"It's a trap," Kael said, reading over Elias's shoulder. "You can't go alone."
Elias touched the silver hair, his fingers shaking. "I have to. She's all the family I have left."
"You have me," Kael said softly. "And our baby."
Elias turned to face him. "That's why I have to go. I can't let Darius hurt anyone else I love."
Kael's eyes flashed with anger. "And I can't let you walk into a trap!"
"I won't be alone," Elias said, putting his hand on his stomach. "Our baby's magic is growing inside me. I can feel it."
Before Kael could argue more, a howl echoed through the trees. Shadow dogs.
"They've found us," Kael said. "We need to move."
They ran deeper into the forest, the howls getting louder behind them. The old wolf temple was on the far side of the valley, at least a day's trip away.
"We'll never make it in time," Elias panted as they ducked behind a fallen tree.
Kael's face was grim. "There's another way. But you won't like it."
"Tell me," Elias ordered.
"The shadow paths," Kael said. "The shadow wolves use them to travel fast. If we can find an entry, we could reach the temple in hours instead of days."
Elias stared at him. "But wouldn't that be dangerous? Walking through the shadow's domain?"
"Very," Kael admitted. "But with our bond, we might be strong enough to resist its pull."
Elias thought of Seraphina, maybe hurt or worse. "Show me how."
Kael led him to a dark pool of water hidden among the rocks. The surface was perfectly still, like black glass.
"Shadow pools are doorways," Kael explained. "We step in together, holding tight to each other. Don't let go, no matter what."
Elias nodded, holding Kael's hand tightly. Together, they stepped into the pool.
The world changed around them. The forest disappeared, replaced by a landscape of twisted shadows. The air was thick and cold. Elias could barely breathe.
"Keep moving," Kael whispered. "Don't look at the shadows too long."
They walked through the strange world, their feet never touching ground. Shapes moved in the darkness around them, whispering voices calling their names.
Elias, a voice called. It's me, Seraphina. Help me!
Elias nearly turned toward the voice, but Kael squeezed his hand.
"It's not real," Kael said. "The shadow tries to trick you."
They pressed on, the voices getting louder. Elias saw his parents, his friends, all calling for him. He closed his eyes and focused on Kael's hand in his.
Suddenly, the darkness parted. They stepped out into the real world, in front of an old stone temple carved into a mountainside.
"We made it," Elias gasped, his legs shaking.
Kael looked pale. "The shade is stronger than before. It nearly had me."
"But it didn't," Elias said, squeezing his hand. "Our bond protected us."
They approached the temple carefully. Stone wolf statues watched the entrance, their eyes seeming to follow them.
"I should go alone from here," Elias said.
Kael shook his head. "We go together or not at all."
"But Seraphina—" "Darius will kill her anyway," Kael said simply. "Our only chance is to surprise him."
Deep down, Elias knew he was right. "Okay. But I need you to promise me something."
"Anything," Kael said.
"If something happens to me, save our baby. Get it safely to the Valley of Mists."
Kael's eyes shone with tears. "Nothing will happen to you. I won't let it."
They entered the building together. The air inside was cold and damp. Ancient wolf carvings filled the walls, telling stories of the first shifters.
"Seraphina?" Elias called, his voice booming.
"Welcome, Omega," a voice answered from the darkness.
Darius stepped into the light, his silver hair shining. His eyes were normal, but Elias could see the shadow hiding behind them.
"Where is my sister?" Elias demanded.
Darius smiled and pointed to an altar at the center of the temple. Seraphina lay there, her gray hair spread around her. She wasn't moving.
"What have you done to her?" Elias cried, running forward.
"She's merely sleeping," Darius said. "For now."
Kael growled, his eyes flashing gold. "Let her go, Darius. Your fight is with us."
"Oh, but she's part of this too," Darius said. "The three Nightshade children, together at last."
Elias froze. "Three?"
Darius's smile widened. "You didn't know? Seraphina never told you about your older brother?"
"I don't have a brother," Elias said.
"You did," Darius said. "Until I killed him and took his place."
The room seemed to spin around Elias. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying," Darius's voice changed, becoming familiar, "that you should have recognized me, little brother."
The glamour fell away. Darius's silver hair deepened to midnight blue with silver streaks. His ice-blue eyes turned rusty gray.
Elias stumbled backward. "No..."
The man who had been Darius smiled with a face that was an older version of Elias's own.
"Hello, little brother," he said. "Did you miss me?"