Fearing for Eragon's life, Gloria's heart pounded as she watched him battle the dypent. His dragon familiar roared fiercely, breathing fire at the soul-stealing serpent, but Gloria knew that even Eragon, with all his power, couldn't hold out forever.
The pocket dimension they were trapped in was suffocating, twisting reality, and drawing them deeper into the serpent's dark magic. And now, because of her, Eragon was in mortal danger.Her hands shook as she realized the grim truth—she was powerless. The goddess within her, the Blood Moon Wolf, lay dormant. She had no control over her supernatural lineage, no magic to summon, no weapon to fight back with.
Tears welled up in her eyes as the weight of helplessness crushed her.Desperate, she pulled out her phone to call Duke, her brother and a vamplock with immense power. Duke could save them in seconds, but when she checked her phone—no signal. She was cut off. Isolated. Trapped in the serpent's realm.Her heart sank as she tried to piece together what had happened. The dypent had created this pocket dimension, drawing her in as its prey.
But Eragon, trying to protect her, had been caught in the crossfire. His dragon, sensing the dark energy, had grown greedy, attempting to consume the serpent's power. But the more they fought, the more dangerous the situation became. Eragon could lose control, or worse, his life.Her heart clenched, and she fell to her knees, sobbing. She was powerless to save him. Powerless to fight the creature that threatened to steal her soul.Suddenly, a soft, mocking voice echoed around her, like the whisper of shadows.
"If it were my lover, the Thunder Snail God, I would help."Gloria's tears halted, and she glanced around, startled. "Who's there?" she called, wiping her tear-streaked face, her voice trembling with fear and confusion.Laughter, low and dangerous, followed.
The shadows around her stirred, and a figure began to emerge, cloaked in darkness. "Oh, poor little wolf," the voice teased. "Crying over a boy who has no idea how deeply you care. I thought the Blood Moon's chosen would be more… resilient."Gloria's heart skipped. The Blood Moon? How did this figure know?"Who are you?" she demanded, standing shakily. Her body trembled from fear, but her mind was sharp.
"What do you want from me?"The figure stepped closer, though still cloaked in shadow. "Your fear," the voice answered simply. "It makes you weak. It holds you back. But I can help you—unlock your true power, if you give me something in return. How about a trade?"Gloria's mind spun as she looked at the figure and then back at Eragon, who struggled to keep the serpent at bay. Her pulse quickened as her thoughts raced. A trade? With this entity? It didn't feel right.
"I don't need your help," Gloria whispered, surprising even herself. The words came from deep inside, a place she hadn't touched before. The figure tilted its head in amusement, but Gloria continued. "I don't need anyone's help. Eragon… he's my love, and I will not let him die!"The figure's laughter faded as the shadows swirled more fiercely, but Gloria's voice grew stronger, her fear beginning to melt away. "No deal. No shortcuts.
The power within me is mine to claim, and I will claim it now."As if summoned by her sheer will, Gloria felt a shift deep inside her, a stirring in her soul that had been dormant for so long. The Blood Moon Wolf—her goddess form, her true power—awoke. Her blood sang with ancient energy, a pulse that echoed through her bones, flooding her with strength she didn't know she had. She wasn't powerless. She had never been powerless. She was the Blood Moon Wolf, the goddess reborn, and nothing would stop her from saving Eragon.The shadows around her recoiled, sensing the awakening of her power. The figure paused, its mocking tone replaced with something else—concern, perhaps even fear.
"You think you're strong enough?" the voice sneered, though less confidently now. "You're not ready. You haven't even tapped into—""I don't need your mate," Gloria interrupted, her voice cold and sure. "And I certainly don't need you. Eragon is my love, my power, and no one—not even your so-called Thunder Snail God—can compare."