Chapter 6: "The Weight of the Truth"
The next morning, Landon awoke to a strange, unsettling quiet. He had barely slept, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts, doubts, and flashes of the shadow demon's twisted form. Even with the cool morning sunlight filtering through his window, the darkness inside him still lingered, like a shadow just out of sight, waiting to strike.
He had spent hours trying to meditate, focusing on his breath and pushing away the chaotic rush of emotions that surged within him. But every time he closed his eyes, all he saw was the flickering fire that had almost spiraled out of control the night before. He was terrified of losing himself in the flames, of letting the demon side fully emerge.
He ran a hand through his hair and sat up in bed, glancing over at his phone. There were several missed texts—most of them from Hope.
Hope: "Landon, check in when you can. I'm worried about you."
Hope: "I know you're struggling, but we're in this together. Don't shut me out."
He couldn't bring himself to reply just yet. He knew Hope was only trying to help, but he didn't want to drag her into his mess any more than he already had. She had already seen the darkness that lay inside him, and he wasn't sure she understood just how dangerous it could be.
Landon stood up, stretching his stiff limbs. He needed to clear his head, to be somewhere that wasn't filled with his thoughts or the weight of his powers. He pulled on a hoodie, grabbed his keys, and walked out of his dorm, making his way toward the forest that surrounded the school. It had become his escape, a place where he could just be... Landon.
As he walked, the cool breeze brushed against his skin, and for a moment, it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted, if only temporarily. The silence of the woods was peaceful, a sharp contrast to the chaos he felt inside.
But as he ventured deeper into the trees, the air grew heavier, the sense of unease returning. He stopped in his tracks, his heart racing as he felt something shift in the air around him. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and instinctively, he reached out, summoning a spark of his phoenix fire.
The faint glow of his flames illuminated the area around him, but it only made the shadows darker, deeper. He could feel it—something was here, something watching him.
"You're not supposed to be here."
Landon spun around, his flame flaring, ready to defend himself. Standing a few feet away was a figure cloaked in darkness, a tall man with a sinister, almost ethereal presence. His eyes glowed a pale blue, and his smile was cold and calculating.
Landon's pulse quickened, and he instinctively raised his hand, preparing to unleash his fire. But the figure raised a hand, and the air seemed to freeze, the flames flickering and then dimming.
"You're a lot more than you think you are," the man said, his voice smooth, almost hypnotic. "I'm impressed you've managed to keep it under control for this long."
Landon's instincts screamed at him to run, to get out of there. But something about the man's presence made it difficult to move, as if the shadows themselves were holding him in place.
"Who are you?" Landon demanded, trying to force his voice to remain steady despite the overwhelming pressure he felt.
"My name is Kaelen," the man said, his grin widening. "And I'm here to help you, Landon Kirby."
Landon's brow furrowed, confusion and suspicion mixing in his mind. "Help me? I don't need help. I need answers. I don't know what I am, what this thing inside me is... but I'm not interested in whatever you're selling."
Kaelen chuckled softly. "You misunderstand, my friend. I'm not selling you anything. I'm offering you something much more valuable than answers. I'm offering you the truth."
Landon's heart pounded, his breath shallow. "What truth?"
"The truth about your bloodline," Kaelen said, his voice dripping with dark amusement. "The truth about the power that runs through your veins, and the very reason why creatures like me are drawn to you."
Landon narrowed his eyes, his pulse racing. He could feel the demon blood within him stirring at Kaelen's words, the darkness pushing at the edges of his control.
"You're one of them, aren't you?" Landon asked, his voice tight with barely contained rage. "One of the demons."
Kaelen raised an eyebrow, taking a step closer. "In a way, yes. I've walked this earth long enough to understand the darkness that lurks within you, and I can tell you this much, Landon: you're not just a phoenix. Not anymore. You're a hybrid, something more dangerous than either side alone. And that makes you a threat... to everyone around you."
Landon's breath caught in his throat. He had known deep down that something had changed in him, that his powers weren't just about fire and rebirth. But hearing it out loud, hearing it from someone like Kaelen, made it real—made it terrifying.
"I don't want to be a threat," Landon said, his voice barely a whisper. "I just want to control it... control me."
Kaelen studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. "You think you have control now? That you've mastered your powers?" He smirked, and for the first time, Landon felt a chill that wasn't just the wind. "You're a puppet, Landon. The demon blood in you is already starting to pull your strings. You just haven't realized how deep it runs."
Landon's hands clenched into fists. He wasn't going to let this guy manipulate him, wasn't going to let him convince him that he was something evil. He wasn't a monster. He wasn't his bloodline.
"I'm not like you," Landon said, his voice steady, despite the fear gnawing at him. "I won't become like you."
Kaelen's smile faded, replaced by something darker, more predatory. "You'll see soon enough," he said softly. "The demon inside you will come for you, and when it does, there will be no running from it."
With that, Kaelen turned and melted into the shadows, disappearing as though he had never been there at all.
Landon stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest. The weight of the words hung heavy in the air, settling deep into his bones.
The creature from the night before had been a warning. Kaelen's appearance now confirmed that he wasn't just fighting some random dark force—he was fighting a war within himself, a war that would pull him in directions he didn't want to go.
Landon's hands trembled slightly, and he could feel the phoenix fire stir again, only this time, it wasn't just heat. The demon side of him, that dark blood, was calling out, urging him to embrace it.
"Control," he whispered to himself, trying to calm his racing thoughts. "I can control it."
But deep down, Landon knew it wouldn't be that easy. And the real battle was only just beginning.