Chapter 45 – The Choice of the Blade

Chapter 45 – The Choice of the Blade
Calla’s POV

“She said he’s coming for my soul.”
The child had vanished like mist, but her voice was still resonating in my ears. My hands, some Lysandra's and some mine, were shaking at my sides from the dried blood. Although I could not look at Raiden just yet, I could feel his eyes on me. My heart was beating too quickly and wildly. I was in the middle of a gasp and a scream with my breath.

Raiden tried to be steady as he said, "She was not real," in a low voice. "A ruse. That is what the Shadow King does. To shake you, he sends you illusions.

I muttered, "She felt real."

He whispered, "Until five minutes ago, so did Lysandra."

My eyes were burning as I turned. Lysandra had turned to ash on a warm, slightly scorched ground. There was nothing left. Not even her blade. It was more difficult because of that. I had no desire to grieve for her. I did not want any emotions. However, a deep part of me still recalled our childhood. She seemed to believe in me when she smiled. when we shared a dream of defending the pack.

And she had vanished.

She had attempted my murder.

However, she had perished pleading with the wrong monster for pity.

"She had already become disoriented," I muttered.

Slower now, Raiden joined me. With his shirt ripped and discolored, he hobbled. He had blood on his arm and jaw. Once more, he had taken hits for me. I had once vowed never to forgive the same man again.

“We need to move,” he said. “If he sent that girl to warn you, it means something’s coming.”

I nodded, but my feet stayed planted.

It was not finished. It was palpable in my bones.

We stepped over the aftermath of the battle and crossed the clearing. They cut the bases of trees. The grass had scorch marks all over it. In this section of the forest, birds ceased to sing.

"Now, where do we go?" I inquired.

Raiden took a while to respond. He tightened his jaw. "We have not looked in one more place. the remains close to the former training area. That is where it will be if the Shadow King is still meeting with someone.

the former training area. It had been years since anyone had used that location. The elders declared it cursed after the fire. However, I was no longer afraid of curses.

My desire to put an end to this was what frightened me. For everyone the Shadow King had shattered, not just Raiden and me. Lysandra included.

We did not talk as we went. Every twig crack and every wing flap made my nerves jangle. The ghost of the child's warning was still rubbing against my back.

Next on his agenda is your soul.

I could not stop talking.

Night had begun to descend by the time we arrived at the ruins. Here, the air was sharper with ash and memories of the past, and colder. Like splintered teeth, stone pillars rose from the earth. There was a strong smell of magic.

Raiden paused next to me and gestured. "There." There is someone there.

I followed his eyes.

A hooded, cloaked, motionless figure stood close to the biggest stone.

But I sensed their power. Even worse, I detected a familiar scent.

Lysandra?

No.

She was not the one.

Her sister was the one.

Mariel.

It was before the trial that I last saw her.

Slowly, she turned, her lips dark with ritual ink, her face pale.

She said, "Calla," as if we were old friends.

I said, "Mariel," bluntly. "It was unexpected to see you scuttling out of the same shadows where your sister perished."

She grinned. She lacked strength. I am not.

Raiden took a step forward. "Are you now also assisting him?"

Mariel raised her hand. Between her fingers, dark light shimmered. "The Shadow King never tells lies to his subjects. He provides fortitude. goal.

"He steals souls," I yelled.

Mariel grinned broadly. "Better than getting lost." I stood behind you both and watched you both rise. Now is my time.

I said, "I will not allow you to harm anyone else."

She lowered herself from the stone ledge. "Then stop me."

She was the first to move.

The surge of dark magic was swift and untamed. Raiden dodged right, and I dodged left. Her energy cracked stone like paper as it struck the pillar behind us. Raiden drew his sword and made a wide circle. I bared my claws and lunged forward.

She swung once more, this time brandishing a dagger. Not any dagger, though.

Lysandra's.

Mid-strike, I grabbed her wrist and twisted. She yelled and pushed me away. I tumbled and hit the debris.

Raiden shouted, swinging at her from behind. With a pulse of dark force, she ducked, pushed him in the stomach, and threw him.

She then faced me once more.

She growled, "You always believed you were superior."

I spat, "I just wanted to keep everyone safe."

"You were self-centered! You used the affection of the pack as a weapon.

"For this pack, I bled!"

Once more, she hurried me. I was ready this time.

I slammed her into the ground after dodging and catching her leg mid-kick. She screamed, thrashing her claws. As she twisted and swore, I straddled her and pinned her wrists.

"Release!" she yelled. "He will rescue me! He is unstoppable!

The madness flickered in her eyes as I pressed harder.

I said, "You do not have to die." "Give this up. Put an end to it immediately.

Her laughter was wild and cracked.

"Until you are gone, I will not stop."

She released her grip and began to scratch my face. I just managed to turn in time. Her fingernails touched my cheek. I picked up the dropped dagger.

Her breath caught.

She was aware that I could now kill her.

One blow.

Just one cut.

My hand trembled.

Behind me, I could hear Raiden moaning as he struggled to stand. Through the shattered stones, I could hear the wind whispering cautions.

She gave me a blink.

Hatred.

Fear.

And underneath it...

Grief, perhaps.

She had desired to be important. similar to Lysandra.

similar to me.

I muttered, "I do not want to kill you."

Her mouth twisted. "You are weak then."

I said, raising the blade, "No." "I simply am not you."

I brought the dagger up—

then stopped.

The atmosphere around us changed.

became icy.

went awry.

Around our feet, darkness curled like smoke as it poured from the earth's fissures.

Mariel let out a gasp. "He is present."

It was the Shadow King.

but not in the same way.

He did not send illusions this time.

He entered.

tall.

encased in dark fire.

eyes that resemble molten stars.

With a voice like silk-wrapped knives, he told Mariel, "You failed me too."

She dragged herself out from under me and scurried back. "No—I enticed them—I brought them here—"

He pointed to me and remarked, "And yet she holds the dagger."

Mariel broke down in tears. "Please give me another chance—"

He held up one hand.

One spear of shadow appeared.

And it took off.

directly in her direction.

I jumped to shove her away.

However, it was the first to strike.

right through her chest.

She froze.

Wide-eyed.

Lost.

I knelt next to her, my heart pounding, my breath shallow.

Now Raiden was standing next to me, face white, sword out.

The Shadow King took a step forward.

He whispered, "Your pack falls one by one." due to you.

I raised the blade.

I did not hesitate this time.

However, as I leaped for him—

He disappeared once more.

Behind me, his voice reverberated:

"Let the darkness decide who will live next."