The following days passed in a blur for Lily. Every night she felt the pull of Nyx stronger than before, and every day she pushed it back with all the strength she had. But it was getting harder. The nights were longer, the shadows deeper, and her control was slipping.
Jake had stayed by her side, refusing to leave despite her warnings. They spent hours trying to figure out the curse—what it was, where it had come from, and how to break it. But every lead they chased seemed to end in darkness.
They were running out of time.
One night, as Lily tossed and turned, caught between wakefulness and sleep, she heard a voice—a soft, ancient whisper calling her name. She bolted upright, her heart racing. The room was silent, save for Jake's soft breathing beside her. But the voice lingered in her mind, like a memory.
She knew what it meant. Nyx was growing stronger.
"Lily?"
Jake stirred beside her, blinking sleep from his eyes. "What is it?"
"I heard something," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"What do you mean?"
"A voice… it was calling to me. I think it's part of the curse."
Jake sat up, frowning. "We've been trying to figure this out for days. What if we're missing something?"
Lily's mind raced. She thought back to the nights she had transformed, to the feeling of losing herself to Nyx. There was always something—something pulling her deeper into the darkness. A voice she couldn't ignore.
"Maybe there's someone who knows about the curse," she said, her voice firming with determination. "We need answers, Jake. And I think I know where to find them."
The next morning, Lily and Jake packed a bag and set off on a journey to a nearby village, where legends spoke of an old woman who knew the secrets of the past. The road was long, winding through dense forests and across misty hills, but Lily felt a strange pull toward the village, as if something was calling her there.
By the time they reached the village, the sun was setting, casting long shadows across the narrow streets. The villagers looked at them with suspicion, their eyes narrowing as Lily and Jake asked about the old woman.
"You seek the crone," one villager finally said, his voice low and wary. "She lives at the edge of the forest. But be warned—she knows things that no one should know."
Lily nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "We don't have a choice."
The old woman's cottage was a crumbling structure, half hidden by the trees that surrounded it. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and decaying leaves as Lily and Jake approached the door. For a moment, Lily hesitated, but then she knocked, the sound echoing through the quiet forest.
The door creaked open, and a hunched figure appeared in the doorway. The crone's eyes were sharp and bright, despite her age, and they seemed to pierce right through Lily.
"You've come to learn about the curse," the old woman said, her voice raspy but certain.
Lily swallowed hard, nodding. "Yes. I need to know what's happening to me."
The crone stepped aside, allowing them to enter. The inside of the cottage was cluttered with strange objects—jars filled with herbs, bones, and things Lily couldn't identify. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the walls.
"You're not the first to seek answers about Nyx," the crone said as she settled into a worn chair, her eyes never leaving Lily. "But I'm afraid you won't like what you find."
Lily sat down across from her, her hands clenched in her lap. "I don't care. I need to know."
The crone studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "Very well. Long ago, there was a woman—a sorceress—who was cursed for her cruelty. By day, she was beautiful and kind, but by night, her soul would transform into a monster—Nyx, driven by a hunger for power and flesh."
Lily felt a chill run down her spine. "Is that… what's happening to me?"
The crone's gaze softened, just for a moment. "The curse has passed down through bloodlines, dormant in some but awakened in others. You, child, are one of the cursed."
Lily's heart sank. She had hoped for a way to break the curse, but now it seemed like there was no escape. She was trapped—doomed to lose herself to Nyx every night.
"There must be a way to stop it," Jake said, his voice urgent. "There has to be something we can do."
The crone shook her head. "The curse is ancient, bound by dark magic. To break it would require a sacrifice—something more powerful than the curse itself."
Lily's mind raced. What kind of sacrifice? Would it cost her life? Her humanity?
The crone seemed to sense her thoughts. "The sacrifice is not yours to give, child. It must be given willingly—by someone who loves you."
Lily's blood ran cold. She turned to Jake, her heart pounding in her chest. "No," she whispered. "I can't ask that of him."
Jake met her gaze, his expression firm. "You don't have to ask, Lily."
Tears filled her eyes as the weight of the crone's words sank in. Jake was willing to sacrifice everything for her, but could she really let him?
"There's another way," the crone said, her voice low and somber. "But it's dangerous. Nyx can be trapped—contained within you. But you must fight her every night. And if you fail, she will take over completely."
Lily's heart ached with the impossible choice before her. Let Jake sacrifice himself to break the curse, or risk losing herself to Nyx forever. Both options were terrifying, and neither guaranteed her freedom.
"I'll do it," Lily said, her voice trembling but determined. "I'll fight her. I won't let her win."
Jake placed his hand on hers, his touch warm and comforting. "You won't have to fight alone."
The crone nodded slowly, her eyes filled with ancient wisdom. "Then you must prepare yourself. The battle ahead will be unlike any you've faced before."
As Lily and Jake left the crone's cottage and made their way back to the village, the weight of what lay ahead pressed heavily on their shoulders. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the path, and the night air felt colder than usual.
Lily knew that tonight would be different. Nyx was waiting, stronger than ever, and this time, the battle would decide everything.
As they reached the edge of the village, Jake stopped and turned to her, his eyes filled with quiet determination. "Whatever happens tonight, Lily, I'm with you."
She smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I know. And that's the only reason I'm not completely terrified."
But deep down, she was. Terrified of what Nyx might do, terrified of what she might become. The night stretched ahead of her like a vast, dark ocean, and she had no idea how to navigate it.
But she had made her choice. She would fight.
And no matter what, she would not let Nyx win.
- JAPS