Eira’s Fury
The silence following Kaelen’s death was broken only by Isla’s ragged breathing. She stared down at her father’s lifeless form, her silver eyes swimming with a mixture of grief, rage, and relief. The weight of her actions settled over her like a heavy shroud, but she couldn’t allow herself the luxury of mourning—not yet.
She turned toward the twins’ glowing cradle, her trembling hands reaching for them. But before she could take a step, a piercing scream erupted behind her. The sound was raw and unhinged, filled with a fury that sent chills racing down Isla’s spine.
“You!” Eira’s voice cracked through the sanctum like a thunderclap. Isla spun to face her, her heart pounding. Eira stood across the chamber, her silver eyes burning with unrestrained fury, her expression twisted into one of pure rage and anguish. Shadows coiled around her like living serpents, growing thicker and darker with each passing second. The crescent mark on her forehead pulsed with a blinding light, casting eerie reflections on the cracked stone walls.
“You’ve taken everything from me!” Eira shrieked, her hands raised as the shadows around her surged forward. Her power radiated outward, the force of it shaking the ground beneath them. “Kaelen, our plans, our future—you’ve destroyed it all! And now, Isla, I’ll return the favor!”
Isla’s silver light flared instinctively, shielding her from the first wave of Eira’s shadow magic. The impact sent her staggering backward, her boots scraping against the blood-slicked floor. A nearby pillar cracked and crumbled under the assault, showering the room in stone debris.
Eira’s laughter was sharp and venomous, her voice rising above the chaos. “Do you feel it, Isla? The emptiness? The loss? That’s all you’ll ever have now!”
“Loss is something you’d know about,” Isla shot back, her voice steadier than she felt. “You let your hate consume you, and it’s left you with nothing. This ends here.”
Eira’s sneer deepened, her glowing crescent mark intensifying. “Ends? Oh, no, Isla. This is only the beginning. You’ve proven you’ll destroy anything in your way—even your own blood.” Her silver eyes flicked to Kaelen’s body, cold and accusing. “So, tell me, what kind of future do you think your precious children will have with you?”
The words struck Isla like a physical blow, but she refused to falter. Her silver light brightened, forcing back the shadows that threatened to engulf her. “A future free from people like you,” she said, her voice fierce with resolve. “A future where they’re safe.”
Eira’s response was a guttural growl as she launched another wave of dark energy. This time, the shadows lashed out like whips, striking at the ground and walls, sending sparks of magic ricocheting through the room. Isla ducked and rolled, summoning a shield of light that deflected the attacks. Her breathing was labored, but her determination burned brighter than ever.
The twins cried out from their cradle, their voices high and frightened. Isla’s heart twisted at the sound, her instincts screaming at her to protect them. “You won’t touch them!” she shouted, her light surging forward like a tidal wave.
