Chapter 58: The Memory Was Real

Sera’s POV

Nobody spoke after I revealed that. Terry looked at me, he wanted to ask ten questions at once but didn’t know which one mattered most.

My mother had gone completely pale beside the table. Damien’s attention sharpened instantly, while Caden pushed himself upright too fast and immediately regretted it.

“Be careful,” I said automatically.

“I’m fine but how do you feel?” he muttered through clenched teeth.

“You literally almost died an hour ago and you're worried about me. You’re so annoying.”

“That means I’m recovering.”

Normally I would’ve rolled my eyes but right now, I barely heard him, because my father’s voice was still stuck in my head.

He sounded so real, like he was right beside me.

Maera stepped closer first. “Tell me exactly what you saw.”

I swallowed hard and tried to steady myself. “It wasn’t long.”

“What did you see?” Damien asked.

“I first saw darkness,” I answered quietly. “Water maybe… I don’t know, I just remember hearing it.”

“Hearing what?” my mother asked quickly.

“Running water and then footsteps.”

Terry’s expression shifted slightly at that.

I noticed immediately. “You know something?”

Terry rubbed a hand over his face. “There are old tunnels beneath the eastern territories. Underground rivers run through parts of them.”

I stared at him. “And you didn’t think that was important information?”

“We don’t even know if that’s what you saw.”

“But it could be.”

“It could also be a fragmented memory,” Maera added.

I looked at her. “What does that mean exactly?”

“It means powerful bonds sometimes carry the past.”

“You mean I saw the past?”

“Probably, powerful bonds can see memories, feel emotions and even fragments of experiences.”

My chest tightened. “You’re saying I saw one of my father’s memories?”

“I’m saying it’s very much possible.”

My mother finally spoke again, her voice quieter now. “What else did he say?”

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to hold onto the vision before it disappeared completely.

“I can remember one sentence very clearly.”

“What sentence?”

I opened my eyes again slowly. “Hide her before they find…”

My mother turned away immediately, pressing her hand against her mouth.

“Mum?”

She shook her head quickly. “I’m alright.”

“No, you’re not.”

“She’s remembering,” Terry said quietly.

I looked between them. “Remembering what?”

They both shot each other a gaze and everyone fell silent.

“Oh my God, not again,” I groaned. “Can everybody stop acting like I’m too fragile for information? I am literally being chased for goddess sake!”

“You’re overwhelmed already,” my mother replied softly.

“I’m overwhelmed because nobody explains anything!”

“That’s enough, Sera” Maera interrupted firmly.

I turned toward her immediately. “No, actually it’s not enough. Hunters are after me, my powers are unstable, I just saw a memory that might belong to my father, and everybody in this room clearly knows more than I do.”

“And yelling won’t change the urgency of our situation, you don’t have the luxury to let your emotions control you," Maera said calmly.

That shut me up, she was right. The wind outside scraped against the cabin walls softly, and suddenly every sound felt too noticeable.

Damien looked toward the windows first. “How long before they track us here?”

“We don't have long anymore,” Maera answered.

Terry nodded grimly. “The masking spell slowed them down, but not enough.”

“We leave now then,” I said immediately.

“No, not yet, Sera.” my mother replied.

I frowned. “What? Why? They are coming and this wall won't hold for much longer.”

“You’re exhausted, so you can barely stand without shaking.”

“I’m standing right now.”

“Out of stubbornness.”

Caden snorted faintly from the bed.

I pointed at him instantly. “Don’t encourage her.”

“I wasn’t,” he said. “I’m enjoying this, I can see that everyone is aware of your stubbornness. ”

I grabbed the nearest cloth and threw it directly at his face.

He caught it weakly with one hand and actually smiled.

Damien looked mildly offended by the interaction, the jealousy on his face nearly made me laugh.

Then Maera moved toward the door sharply, everybody noticed.

“What is it?” Terry asked immediately.

She held up one hand for silence. Everyone went quiet and we all listened carefully.

At first I heard nothing then I heard footsteps, it was faint and distant but I could hear them.

My stomach tightened instantly.

“They found the area already?” I whispered.

“They are just looking, they haven't found the cabin,” Maera replied. “Well, not yet at least. We have about three to four hours to leave.”

Caden started pushing himself up again.

“You’re not fighting anybody,” I said immediately.

“I can walk.”

“You can barely breathe correctly.”

Damien crossed his arms. “You’re staying injured and annoying, Impressive consistency.”

“Glad you noticed, buddy. Thank you for helping me out,”

Despite everything happening, the tension between them had changed slightly, it wasn't hostile any longer.

That scared me a little more than I wanted to admit, it made everything feel real, the bond was growing stronger and the choice will have to be made soon.

Terry grabbed his jacket from the chair quickly. “We need to move before they search deeper.”

My mother nodded reluctantly. “To the chambers?”

“Yes, the chambers,” Maera confirmed.

I hated how everybody kept saying that like it explained anything.

I grabbed my bag from beside the wall. “Can somebody finally tell me why the underground chambers sound like the beginning of a horror story?”

“They were built during the first hybrid war,” Terry answered while checking weapons near the table.

I blinked. “There was more than one hybrid war?”

His silence answered me immediately.

“You people really love ruining my day.”

“You haven’t had a normal day in months,” Caden muttered.

I turned toward my mother again. “Have you been there before?”

Her expression changed carefully. “Once, and I hope we never have to stay there long.”

That response did absolutely nothing for my peace of mind, the footsteps grew slightly louder.

Maera blew out the lantern near the window immediately. “No more talking loudly.”

“Right,” I whispered. “Because clearly my life needed stealth missions too.”

Damien moved toward me then, lowering his voice. “Can you still feel the bond clearly?”

The question caught me off guard.

“Yes,” I admitted quietly.

“Both?”

I hesitated, Caden looked away first, I hated that it made it awkward. Because guilt hit immediately after.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” I said softly.

“You don’t need to,” Damien replied.

“That sounds suspiciously understanding.”

“You’re overwhelmed enough already.”

I stared at him for a second longer than I should have.

Then quickly looked away, I was absolutely not dealing with that emotional situation right now.

Terry suddenly stiffened near the door.

“They’re closer now.”

My chest tightened instantly.

Maera grabbed her cloak from the chair. “We leave through the back route.”

“What back route?” I asked.

“There’s a tunnel entrance behind the cabin,” my mother answered.

I froze. “There’s been a tunnel behind this cabin the whole time? I genuinely hate everybody here.”

“That’s understandable,” Terry said.

Caden stood slowly this time, clearly trying not to show how much pain he was in.

I immediately moved toward him. “You shouldn’t be standing.”

“You keep saying that like I’m going to listen.”

“You should.”

“You are worried about me?”

I glared at him. “Don’t start, please, we are in a serious situation.”

His mouth twitched slightly anyway, a loud crack echoed outside and everybody froze.

It was a branch that was loud enough that somebody stepped on it carelessly.

“They found us,” Damien said quietly.

Another voice sounded outside.

“Search the cabin.”

My pulse slammed hard against my ribs.

Maera looked toward the back wall instantly. “Everyone, follow my lead and move now.”

Nobody argued after that.

Terry shoved aside an old shelf near the rear corner, revealing a narrow stone opening hidden beneath wooden boards.

Cold air rushed upward immediately, it was just pure darkness that waited below.

My mother grabbed my wrist. “Stay close to me.”

I nodded quickly, behind us, footsteps approached the front door fast.

Caden moved closer beside me despite his injuries.

Damien positioned himself near the entrance with Terry.

“You all are insane, you can't fight them,” I whispered sharply.

“We’re delaying them so you can get far enough,” Damien corrected.

“That’s worse!”

“It’s necessary for your safety.”

The front door shook violently, then a voice shouted from outside.

“She’s in there!”

Fear hit me instantly, we were already out of time.

Maera looked directly at me as another crash hit the door harder, the wood splintered.

Terry pulled a blade from his side slowly. Damien’s eyes flashed dangerously.

And just before the door finally burst open. I felt that strange pull in my chest again.

Maera nudged at me. “Sera, go down now,”