Into the Unknown
Lyra stumbled as the portal spat her out onto rough, uneven ground. She clutched the artifact tightly, its light dimming as the energy stabilized. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps, and her heart pounded in her chest.
Eryon’s massive wolf form collapsed beside her, his amber eyes flickering as he fought to stay conscious. His dark fur was matted with blood, his breathing labored.
“Eryon!” Lyra cried, scrambling to his side. She pressed her hands against his flank, trying to assess the damage. “You’re hurt. You’re…”
“I’m fine,” Eryon growled, his voice rough and distorted. His wolf form began to shimmer, shrinking as his body shifted back into his human shape. He knelt on the ground, his face pale and his expression grim. “Where are we?”
Lyra glanced around, her silver eyes scanning their surroundings. They were in a dense forest, the air thick with mist and the faint scent of earth and rain. The sky above was dark, with no trace of the blood moon’s crimson glow.
Seraphine stepped through the portal last, her movements graceful despite the chaos they had just escaped. The portal closed behind her with a deafening crack, leaving them isolated in the stillness of the unknown world.
“Welcome,” Seraphine said, her silver eyes glinting in the faint light. “To your promised world.”
Lyra turned to her, her voice trembling with anger and confusion. “What does that even mean? Where are we?”
Seraphine’s smile was calm, almost serene. “Somewhere safe. Somewhere the King cannot reach us.”
Eryon staggered to his feet, his expression dark. “Safe? You call this safe? We’re stranded in the middle of nowhere!”
“You’re alive, aren’t you?” Seraphine countered, her tone sharp. She stepped closer to them, her silver gaze piercing. “I did this for you. Everything I’ve done has been for you.”
Lyra’s grip on the artifact tightened, her eyes narrowing. “We trusted you,” she said, her voice low. “You said this was the only way—but you’ve been hiding things from us, haven’t you?”
Seraphine’s expression didn’t falter. “What I’ve hidden, I’ve hidden to protect you. You’re my children. My family. And I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
Eryon exchanged a glance with Lyra, doubt flickering in his amber eyes.
“Then tell us the truth,” Lyra said, her voice firm. “All of it.”
Seraphine smiled faintly, her silver eyes softening. “In time, my dears. But for now, rest. We have much to prepare for.”
The dimly lit chamber exuded an eerie stillness, broken only by the faint hum of the artifact resting on the table nearby. Its jagged glow illuminated Seraphine’s silver eyes, which seemed to shimmer with an intensity that was both inviting and unnerving. Lyra and Eryon sat across from her, exhaustion etched into their faces after the harrowing events of the battle.
