Tara Vedant stood in the middle of the bustling city street, her heart racing as a cold gust of wind stirred the thick urban smog around her. Her phone buzzed again, a message she didn't recognize. She didn't need to read it to know something was wrong.
"Stay close," Kaelash's voice—calm, but urgent—cut through her thoughts.
She nodded instinctively, glancing down at the street mutt she had once adopted from the alley. Kaelash, now standing in his human form, his tousled hair falling into his dark eyes, looked more like a protector than a simple dog-turned-man. His intense gaze was fixed on the horizon, the tension in his posture evident. The quiet wisdom of his years filled the air around them, even as the city thrived with its usual distractions. Yet, today, there was something different—something sinister in the atmosphere.
"You don't understand, do you?" Kaelash's words were heavy, but they held a note of sadness that sent a shiver down Tara's spine. He took a step toward her, his sharp features and chiseled jawline now more human but still carrying the mysticism of his true form.
"What don't I understand?" Tara's voice was barely a whisper, her breath coming out in slow puffs, fogging the cold air.
Kaelash's eyes softened. "You're not just any woman, Tara. You are the incarnation of a goddess, the one who ended their reign long ago."
The words felt like a punch to her gut. Her world, already spiraling with the strange occurrences she had been facing, seemed to collapse in on itself. It was as if all the hidden parts of her life that she hadn't known were there were now being dragged into the light.
Her gaze shot to the dog that had always been by her side. The dog that had protected her during moments of inexplicable danger. "But... why me? Why now?" Her voice was strained, the weight of the revelation sinking in.
Kaelash hesitated, his expression darkening. "Because, Tara, they've found you again. The cult... they are hunting you, seeking to destroy the one who threatens their existence. You must awaken fully before it's too late."
Tara stumbled back, her mind reeling. She felt her knees grow weak as the street around her seemed to warp. The urban landscape, with its glass buildings and neon signs, felt distant, like a dream she no longer belonged in.
Before she could reply, a shout echoed in the distance. "There she is! Get her!"
The sound of footsteps pounding the pavement reached her ears, and she turned to see a group of men, their faces hidden under hoods, rushing toward her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. This was no ordinary mob. The aura they exuded was dark, unnatural.
Kaelash stepped forward, his hands forming fists at his sides. "Stay behind me," he commanded, his voice a low growl.
Tara couldn't tear her eyes away from the approaching figures. She knew, instinctively, that these were the same people who had been following her. The cult. She felt the pull of her past life—the memories stirring inside her as if they were her own.
"I... I don't know how to fight," Tara admitted, her voice trembling. "I've never fought before."
Kaelash's eyes softened with something like regret. "You have more power than you realize."
In a flash, the first of the cult members lunged toward them, a knife gleaming in his hand. Tara didn't have time to react as Kaelash moved with a speed that was almost too fast for her to track. His hand shot out, grasping the man by the wrist, and twisted it with a sickening crack. The man screamed, dropping the knife as Kaelash sent him sprawling to the ground with a single, forceful push.
The other cultists hesitated for a moment, clearly unnerved by the display of strength. Tara's heart pounded in her chest, her breath quickening. Was this the power Kaelash had been talking about? Could she really summon it?
Another cultist stepped forward, this one taller and more imposing than the others. His eyes gleamed with a malicious light, and he raised a hand, chanting something under his breath. A dark energy seemed to gather around him, and Tara's stomach churned at the sight. It was as if the air itself was suffocating under the weight of his presence.
"Kaelash," she whispered urgently, her hands trembling. "What is that?"
Kaelash's face hardened. "He's a priest of the cult. His power comes from the dark forces they worship. We must stop him before he can summon more."
Tara stepped back instinctively, her mind racing. She had to do something. This wasn't just about surviving anymore. This was about understanding the power inside her. She could feel it—an energy, ancient and deep, stirring just beneath her skin. The black dog, Kaelash, had always protected her, but could she protect herself now?
"You have more power than you think," Kaelash repeated, his voice urgent as he moved to face the cultist.
Tara closed her eyes for a moment, her breathing shallow as she tried to focus. And then, as if something deep inside her unlocked, she felt it—a surge of heat, a rush of energy, as though she was finally connected to the force she had been sensing all along. Her eyes snapped open, glowing faintly with an inner fire.
The cultist, still chanting, noticed too late. Tara's hand shot out, a burst of pure energy erupting from her palm, striking the cultist square in the chest. The impact was like a thunderclap, and the man was thrown backward, slamming into the ground with a violent crash.
The air around them buzzed with energy. Tara stood there, trembling but alive, her heart pounding in her chest. She had done that. She had summoned the power within her, without even knowing how.
Kaelash turned to her, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of approval in his eyes. "Well done," he said, his voice soft but filled with a strange pride. "You're waking up, Tara. You're beginning to remember."
Tara couldn't respond. She was still too shocked by the power that had just flowed through her. It was overwhelming, foreign, yet somehow... familiar. She could feel the ancient echoes of battles long fought, of a power that was hers by right. But with it came something darker. The cult. Anveshak. The memories of a life she had forgotten but was being forced to remember.
"Is this... is this my destiny?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes fixed on Kaelash.
He nodded slowly. "It is."
As she processed his words, the remaining cult members retreated into the shadows, their plans thwarted—at least for now. But Tara knew this was just the beginning. Whatever path lay ahead, she was no longer just a woman. She was the reincarnation of a goddess. And her enemies were already closing in.
Tara's journey had only just begun.