Chapter 188: Temple Of The Moon

Chapter 188: Temple Of The Moon
Brenda’s POV

The descent seemed to go on forever. Before my body hit the cold stone, my cry disappeared into the darkness. Even though I was in excruciating pain, I made myself sit up. Once more, the Moonstone throbbed in my palm, its silvery, gentle glow flickering like a heartbeat.

I took a look around. The cave was different. No, it was no longer a cave. It was a corridor. Reaching into the darkness were tall pillars adorned with wolves and moons. I couldn't fathom the mysteries that were whispered by the faintly glowing symbols on the walls.

I inhaled, "A temple."

My voice had a ghostly reverberation.

I brushed dirt from my hands and carefully stood up. Light rippled over the floor with each stride I took, as though the stone itself were alive. A black crystal altar with a book on it stood in the middle. Old, with silver threads tied around it.

My chest constricted. Lunar Bloodline.

I approached it, my footfall echoing in the stillness. Touching the cover made my fingers shake. The book fell open as the silver threads glowed and unravelled.

The pages turned by themselves till they came to a depiction of a woman holding a Moonstone, her eyes like mine. Phrases swirled around her picture:

"The chosen heart must shatter when the moon bleeds."

"No," I said as I retreated. "No, it can't mean that."

"Brenda."

Heart beating, I whirled. "Who is present?"

A figure emerged from the darkness, face covered by a silver robe. Did Damian see the same kind of figure? My blood froze.

"Remain back!" Grasping the Moonstone, I yelled. Weakly, as if it were also afraid, its light flashed.

Like silk over steel, the figure's voice sounded serene. You're looking for the Lunar Bloodline's truth. However, youngster, truth has teeth.

Despite my voice shaking, I answered, "I'm not afraid."

"You ought to be." The figure moved closer, floating rather than walking. "The guardians of the Moon's power, your forefathers, constructed this temple. But sacrifice is necessary for power.

"What sort of sacrifice?" I insisted.

The head of the figure cocked. "A life for a life." One heart for one.

The words were sharp as blades. "You're telling lies."

"Am I?" The altar of black crystal bled light as it lifted a pallid hand. I saw visions in the glow—Damian battling, his chest oozing blood. He dropped to his knees.

"No!" I let out a yell.

Now the voice of the figure was low, like a lullaby of cruelty. "It's written already. He cannot be saved by love.

"Observe me," I growled.

My palm held the Moonstone, its light blazing until the temple trembled. The floor was spiderwebbed with cracks. Hissing, the figure disappeared into the smoke.

"Damian," I said as I hurried to the altar. New words lit on the page as the book opened:

"Before the blood moon rises, locate the Door of Shadows."

"Which door?" I whispered. The temple then shook fiercely, with pillars falling.

The ceiling collapsed behind me as I snatched the book and fled. The Moonstone brightened and drew me in the direction of a secret tunnel. As I ran through the crumbling temple, my lungs burned.

At last, I exploded into a silver light tunnel. After one final tremor, the ground became motionless.

With my heart thumping like a drum, I held the book close to my chest. "I'm on my way, Damian," I said.

Fear, however, curled like smoke deep within me: what if the prophecy was accurate?

As I climbed out of the chasm, the cold pricked my skin. My muscles screamed and my body hurt, but I persisted. I was unable to.

I could only think of Brenda's name. Her voice reverberated like a promise, and I saw her face flash in my mind: You're not alone.

Gasping for oxygen, I pulled myself out as I approached the edge of the dark pit. The person in the silver cloak behind me observed from the shadows, its voice following me:

"Fate cannot be avoided."

I didn't turn around. I took off running.

It was an odd woodland, with trees as dark as the night and leaves that glowed dimly like flames dying. The air had an ashy taste. Whispers coiled about me like snakes, following every move I took.

The voices said, "Damian." Give in. She's already lost.

"Stop talking!" I let out a shout and used the stolen blade to cut through the murmurs. However, they continued to arrive.

Clinging to my head, I fell against a tree after stumbling into a clearing. I kept remembering things like Brenda's giggle, her smile, and the way her hand fit in mine. Then there was blood. Blood, always.

"No," I snarled. "She is still alive. I'll track her down.

Something caught my attention in the dirt—a softly lit sign etched into the earth. I had seen the same sign in the visions. A door—a shadowy door.

"That's it," I said quietly. "That's how I return."

But the ground shook before I could move. Dozens of black-clad people with their faces veiled rose from the trees. They had obsidian-like blades.

I gripped the sword tighter. Do you want to fight? You possess one.

They ran.

The blade sang through the air as I swung and slashed like lightning. With each blow, shadows burst into smoke, but more appeared. More at all times.

One jumped at me and knocked the blade out of my grasp. I slammed onto the floor. Even though I was in excruciating pain, I rolled over and took a dagger off the fallen person.

"Where is the door?" I put the sword to its throat and growled.

The figure made a loud, fractured sound as it laughed. "You're never going to get to her in time."

Something broke inside of me. "Observe me."

The dagger exploded with silver light as I stabbed the air, piercing the darkness like a flame. A dark passage glowed with odd runes as the ground broke.

The Shadow Door.

My heart was racing as I ran. The murmurs behind me became yells. The door ahead glistened, a black arch with glittering veins pulsing through it.

The first figure lunged as I got there. I jumped through the arch mindlessly, and everything disappeared in a whirlwind of light and dark.

I was on a different planet when I opened my eyes. Black mountains bled into a silver sky. The earth beneath my feet gleamed dimly.

"Brenda," I said in a whisper.

I heard her voice somewhere, far away. On the breeze, a whisper: Damian

I balled my fists up. "I'll be there."

However, soon a different voice joined hers. Chilly. Joking.

"Death is the same."

A darkness taller than the mountains rose before me as the ground trembled.