Selene woke to the faint warmth of dawn filtering through the forest canopy. The wolf lay beside her, eyes half-open, as if keeping watch through the night. She hadn't meant to sleep, but exhaustion had crept up on her, pulling her into a restless slumber. Now, with morning creeping in, she felt a weight in her chest—a dread mixed with the stirring of something unfamiliar, something powerful.
Sitting up, she reached for the amulet. It was cool now, resting against her skin as if lying dormant. Yet even in its stillness, Selene could sense it waiting, like a coiled serpent ready to strike.
Her hand drifted over the amulet as she remembered the silver-cloaked man's words: "You carry her bloodline."
Bloodline of the Phantom Queen. The very idea was absurd. She was a commoner, a nobody scraping by in the back alleys of Aveline. And yet… a strange connection hummed within her, something she couldn't deny. She'd felt it in the dreams that haunted her night after night—visions of shadowed ruins, of a woman's face half-hidden by darkness, and the thrill of an ancient, forbidden power.
The wolf rose to its feet, ears pricked. Selene followed its gaze, her eyes narrowing as she spotted movement through the trees. Two figures, heavily armed, were making their way toward her, their expressions tense and wary. Their armor gleamed dully in the morning light, and from their insignias, she recognized them as soldiers of Lord Avedon, the ruler of Aveline.
Fear tightened in her chest, but the wolf's steady presence reminded her to stay calm. She rose slowly, keeping her hands visible as the soldiers approached.
"You there," one of them barked, his voice sharp. "You've been seen around the lord's vaults. You're coming with us."
Selene's mind raced. If Lord Avedon knew she'd taken the amulet, he'd surely have her executed—or worse, tortured for answers she couldn't even give. She clenched her fists, the amulet pressing into her palm, its warmth returning with a sudden, fierce intensity.
The second soldier took a step forward, drawing his sword. "Don't make this difficult. We've orders to bring you in dead or alive."
Her heart pounded, her thoughts spiraling. She had no way to fight two trained soldiers, no escape. Yet as she clutched the amulet, a cold voice echoed in her mind—the Phantom Queen's voice.
"Your power is boundless, child. Command it."
Before she could think, the words slipped from her lips, spoken in a language she didn't recognize, an ancient cadence that echoed through the trees. Shadows began to gather at her feet, twisting and coiling, thickening like smoke. The soldiers paused, exchanging uneasy glances as the darkness spread, seeping into the air around them.
One of them took a step back, his face pale. "Witchcraft," he whispered, his voice trembling.
Selene could feel the power flowing through her, surging in her veins like a fire unleashed. The shadows obeyed her will, moving at her command, swirling around the soldiers in a dark mist. She could see the fear in their eyes, their weapons trembling in their hands.
One soldier dropped his sword and turned to run, but the shadows moved faster, wrapping around him like tendrils, pulling him to his knees. He struggled, gasping as the darkness crept up his arms, immobilizing him.
The other soldier charged, his face twisted in desperation. But Selene raised her hand, and the shadows lashed out, striking him across the chest. He fell back with a cry, clutching his wound, his eyes wide with horror.
Selene took a shuddering breath, her mind reeling. She had done this—commanded the shadows, bent them to her will. The power felt intoxicating, a rush of energy and control unlike anything she had ever known. Yet beneath it, a trace of fear lingered. This was the Queen's power, ancient and deadly, a power meant to destroy.
The wolf growled softly, reminding her to stay grounded. She released her hold on the shadows, watching as they dispersed, fading back into the forest. The soldiers lay motionless on the ground, one clutching his wound, the other bound by invisible chains of fear.
"Please," the wounded soldier whispered, his voice choked with terror. "Spare us… we were only following orders."
Selene felt a pang of sympathy, but it was quickly overshadowed by a cold certainty. If they returned to Lord Avedon, they'd report her powers, setting the entire city against her. She clenched her fists, fighting the urge to run, to hide from the responsibility she'd inherited.
The Phantom Queen's voice murmured again in her mind, colder this time.
"Mercy is weakness, child. They will hunt you. Strike now, or face the consequences."
Selene hesitated, her gaze shifting between the soldiers and the wolf. The Queen's words echoed in her mind, tempting her, urging her to embrace the darkness fully. But a part of her resisted, a small flicker of who she had been before this cursed amulet had found her.
Taking a steadying breath, she turned her gaze to the soldiers, her voice low and firm. "You will leave this place. Tell your lord nothing. And if I see you again…"
She let the words trail off, allowing the shadows to swirl briefly around her, a silent threat. The soldiers scrambled to their feet, fear etched into their faces as they stumbled back, disappearing into the trees.
When they were gone, Selene sank to the ground, her hands shaking. The power still hummed beneath her skin, a tempting, insistent force. She could sense the Queen's presence, hovering just beyond reach, urging her to let go of her former self, to embrace the strength that only the darkness could offer.
The wolf nudged her hand, grounding her, reminding her that she was still Selene—a thief, a survivor, a girl caught in a web of power she barely understood. She looked down at the amulet, the emblem of an eclipse etched into its surface, and felt the weight of her destiny pressing down on her.
She was no longer just a girl from the shadows of Aveline. She was the vessel of the Phantom Queen, the heir to a power that could reshape the world. And with every beat of her heart, with every whisper from the darkness, she knew there was no turning back.
Rising to her feet, Selene glanced at the path ahead. The choice was before her: to resist the darkness, or to master it. And as the first light of dawn pierced the trees, she made her decision.
With a final, determined glance back, she stepped into the shadows, the wolf at her side, her path set toward a destiny that would either save her… or consume her whole.