Whispers curled through the darkness, pulling them from the depths of slumber. In the dim room, three figures stirred, their white-stained eyes glowing like embers in the night. They moved in unison, a haunting choreography, as they stepped onto the forest path, their bare feet bleeding from the jagged ground. Yet, they pressed on, driven by an unyielding force.
Towering trees loomed above, their branches reaching for the red pearl hanging in the sky. As they ventured deeper into the heart of the forest, dappled moonlight bathed them, illuminating their determined faces. They clasped hands, their heads tilted back, those lifeless eyes fixed on the moon as they began their incantation.
"O Ancient ones, hear our plea,
From depths of time, we call upon thee.
Let us see, what is, what was, and what must be."
Their voices echoed, a chilling harmony that wove through the air like the whispers of a coven. The wind howled in response, tearing leaves from their branches, dark shadows stretching towards the three women who stood resolute amidst the chaos.
"Illuminate us, through the darkest of night,
Reveal thou, the grand design.
Unveil the webs once used to bind time."
The shadows clawed at the girls, their anguished cries echoing as they writhed in the moonlight's glow, burning where it touched them.
"Weaves of threads determine one's lifeline,
Reveal to us, the thy grand design.
Unveil the webs of time."
Suddenly, the frantic sound of footsteps shattered the night. Therion, his heart racing, charged down the narrow path, panic etching lines on his face as he spotted his mate caught in a maelstrom of dark energy. Without hesitation, he leaped forward, only to be violently thrown back, crashing into his men.
"Grant us the sight to pierce through the haze,
To glimpse the battles that shape our days.
In the echoes of history, let wisdom unfold,
For the fate of the realm in our hands we hold."
"Therion!" Icarus shouted, shocked at the amas chao.
Therion roared, determination fuelling his actions. But as he tried again, an elder woman emerged from the storm, stepping into his path.
"With foresight's gift, let courage ignite,
Let future, past and present, be our guide
Unravel the threads that bind."
"It's too late to make a change," she whispered, her voice a soft rasp that cut through the chaos.
"Get out of our way, you crone!" Icarus fumed, anger bubbling beneath his skin.
"Ah! The rage, sorrow, and truth—do you forget yourself, Truth?" she hissed, her gaze piercing.
"In this realm, you may be known as the Kings Three, but remember your place, Champions," she chided, her tone almost maternal. "The hands of time have begun to weave. The window to change what has yet to become has faded. To interfere now will hurt them more than it will hurt you."
"Explain what is happening!" Kyros demanded, his voice tight with dread as he watched his mate rise higher, fear paralyzing his rage.
"Ahh, Sorrow the Strong," she snickered, "the wheel of time turns, and you were forewarned centuries ago. Why are you surprised?"
"Speak plainly!" Therion's roar sent tremors through the trees, desperation bleeding into his voice.
"As dramatic as ever, Rage," she laughed softly. "Their seals have been broken. It's too late. If you interfere now, they will die."
Had she not possessed the knowledge she did, she might have quailed before their fury. Instead, a faint smile of pride graced her lips as she observed the storm brewing within the men, powerless to act.
Seconds felt like eternities as the women continued to rise, the tempest outside mirroring the turmoil within Therion and his companions.
"Remember this," the crone warned, her voice low but resonant, "do not attempt to change what has already been written. That power is far beyond your grasp. Trying to disrupt fate will cause you to lose more than you've gained."
"Catch them before they splatter my forest!" she croaked, her voice rising above the chaos.
As her words echoed, the wild storm stilled, as if time itself had paused. Everything froze except for the soaring women, who began to plummet to the forest floor.
With renewed urgency, Therion and his men sprinted forward, barely managing to catch their unconscious soulmates before they hit the ground.
"You crone!" Therion shouted, but the woman had long vanished into the shadows.
"Remember this, no matter how hard you try to disrupt the fates, you shall not succeed," her voice lingered after she disappeared, echoing through the trees as her crooked figure disappeared.
A heavy sigh escaped Therion as he cradled Aysha in his arms, preparing for their journey back to the base.
When they returned, the air was thick with panic and the metallic scent of blood. Lifeless bodies lay scattered across the ground, a grim testament to the chaos that had unfolded in their absence. As dread settled in his stomach, Therion steeled himself, knowing their fight was far from over.
As they approached the grove, a flicker of movement caught their eyes. They paused, instinctively cradling the women closer. The trees loomed like sentinels, their branches whispering secrets of an unseen presence. Unease prickled at the back of his neck, a silent warning that something was amiss.
"Get everyone ready" he commanded his troops, his voice low and urgent.
They pressed forward, the familiar path feeling more like a gauntlet than a refuge. Therion felt eyes upon them, shadows lurking just beyond the tree line, watching, waiting. A shiver ran down his spine, and he glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting to see a figure emerge from the underbrush.
As he reached the cabin, a dark silhouette darted through the trees, disappearing just as quickly as it had appeared. Therion's heart raced. He hated the unknown.
With a last look at the grove, he stepped inside the cabin, the door creaking ominously behind him. The air inside was stale and rotten as if something had died in it, far from what it smelt like when they last left. He turned to the woman; concern plastered on his face.
"Take a group of hellhounds around the perimeter, make sure it's clear before we leave," he commanded Cassius, though the words felt hollow.
The Twilights were lurking, lingering just beyond the shadows, their eyes glinting with malice as they observed the three girls. A dark figure monitored them until their figures disappeared in the cabin, a cruel smile dancing on his lips as his shadow too, slowly disappeared. Holding aluminium sheets to his nose.
They had long gotten what they wanted.