The moon hung low in the sky, its pale glow casting eerie shadows over the sacred temple of the high priestess. A heavy fog curled along the stone paths, whispering over the ancient runes carved into the pillars. The air was unnaturally still, a suffocating quiet that signaled something was wrong.
The high priestess stood in the temple's open courtyard, her silver robes flowing around her as the wind tugged at the fabric. Her sharp eyes scanned the darkness beyond the temple walls, sensing the incoming storm long before the first footstep echoed in the distance.
She closed her eyes briefly, whispering a silent prayer to the moon.
Then, she heard it.
A slow, deliberate clap.
"You always were too calm for your own good."
Her eyes snapped open, and there he stood. Arthur Beckett.
Flanked by a dozen shadowy figures, their eyes glowing an unnatural red. The stench of decay and dark magic clung to them. Rogue wolves, but not just any rogues….these creatures pulsed with something more sinister.
The high priestess tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "You're a fool to come here, Arthur."
Arthur smirked, stepping forward. "I've never been a fool, Priestess. But you? You've made the mistake of interfering where you don't belong."
She sighed, almost bored. "Let me guess. You're here for Haelyn."
Arthur's face twisted in fury. "Where is she?" he demanded, his voice venomous. "I know you had a hand in hiding her. Hand her over, or I'll burn this place to the ground."
The high priestess took a slow step forward, her silver eyes piercing into his dark ones. "I won't let you harm my niece as you did my sister."
Arthur's expression flickered with something unreadable for just a second before he scoffed. "Your sister? You mean Lunara? The woman who betrayed me?"
The priestess's hands clenched at her sides, but she remained poised. "You call love betrayal. You call devotion a weakness. But it wasn't Lunara who betrayed you, Arthur. It was your own greed."
Arthur's smirk disappeared, replaced with pure rage. "Enough."
He snapped his fingers.
The rogue wolves lunged.
The fight erupted in an instant.
Battle of the Temple
The high priestess moved faster than Arthur expected. With a flick of her wrist, a pulse of silver light exploded outward, sending two of the wolves flying back against the stone pillars. The remaining ones snarled, their eyes burning with dark energy.
She twisted her hands, summoning another wave of energy, but something was wrong. The wolves didn't just recoil….they absorbed it. The silver glow seeped into their bodies like ink vanishing into black water.
Her eyes widened. These aren't normal rogues.
Arthur laughed darkly. "I see you've noticed. These aren't just any wolves, Priestess. They're cursed. Tainted by shadows. You think your holy magic can save you?"
One of the wolves lunged. She barely dodged, twisting just in time for its claws to slash through her robe instead of her skin. Another came from behind. She ducked low, sweeping her leg out and knocking it to the ground. Before it could recover, she pressed her palm against its head and whispered an incantation.
The wolf shrieked as its flesh burned from the inside, black mist rising from its body as it convulsed. But even as it died, more took its place.
She turned sharply to one of her temple guards. "Get the others. Now!"
The guard didn't hesitate. He took off running into the temple.
Arthur clicked his tongue. "Running already?"
She ignored him, pivoting just in time to block another attack. The wolves were relentless, their movements unnatural, as if controlled by something else. One of them slammed into her, knocking her against a pillar. Pain shot through her spine, but she refused to collapse.
With a deep breath, she summoned the ancient power within her, her hands glowing white-hot. She unleashed a burst of energy, sending several wolves flying back, but Arthur merely laughed.
"Your magic is weakening," he taunted. "How long before you break?"
A scream echoed from inside the temple.
The priestess's stomach dropped.
She turned, eyes wide. "No…"
Arthur grinned. "Ah. I see my pets have found their way inside."
Another scream.
She gritted her teeth, throwing a desperate spell at the wolves near her before taking off toward the temple entrance. Her heart pounded as she rushed through the sacred halls, only to be met with a sight that sent ice through her veins.
Bodies. Her temple servants lay lifeless, their throats torn, their robes soaked in crimson. The air reeked of death.
A wolf turned to her, its muzzle dripping with blood.
She didn't hesitate.
With a scream of fury, she raised her hands and unleashed a devastating blast of magic. The wolf disintegrated instantly, but the damage had been done.
She turned sharply….there were still some of her people left, fighting desperately against the invaders. She had to get them out.
Spinning on her heel, she raised both arms, her voice booming with authority. "ALL WHO REMAIN, WITH ME!"
The remaining temple guards and servants ran toward her as she chanted, her power pulsing outward. A silver light enveloped them, and with one final push, she teleported them away….out of the temple, away from the massacre.
But not before she locked eyes with Arthur one last time.
He stood among the bodies, his face a mask of amusement. "Running again?" he mocked.
The high priestess's expression was unreadable. "You've made a mistake tonight, Arthur."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Have I?"
She took a step forward, her presence burning like a flame. "You think you control the shadows, but they are watching you. And soon, you'll realize that not even the darkness will protect you from what's coming."
Arthur's smirk faltered for just a moment.
Then, with a final glare, the high priestess vanished, leaving behind only a trail of silver mist.
Aftermath
Arthur exhaled, running a hand through his hair as he surveyed the temple. The air was thick with blood and burnt flesh.
Malcolm stepped up beside him, wiping the blood off his blade. "What now?"
Arthur smirked, stepping over a body. "Now? Now, we wait. She escaped, but she's lost her safe haven. She won't be able to hide Haelyn forever."
Malcolm frowned. "And if she finds a way to stop us?"
Arthur chuckled, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "She won't. Because I still have one last move to play."
He turned toward the burning remains of the temple, his expression dark and full of purpose.
"After all," he murmured to himself, "every priestess has a breaking point."
The night air was thick with tension as Kieran stormed through the halls of Alpha Cerius's mansion. His normally composed demeanor was shattered as he burst into the great hall, his voice edged with urgency.
"My Alpha! Lady Seraphis….she's here! She's wounded!"
Cerius, seated at the grand table with Marlyil, immediately rose to his feet. His golden eyes darkened, his wolf stirring at the news. Without a word, he moved, his long strides taking him toward the entrance.
Haelyn, who had been restless in her chambers, felt a sudden pull of unease in her chest. Something was wrong. Without thinking, she followed the energy that seemed to beckon her, her feet leading her to the entrance of the mansion.
The moment she arrived, she froze.
The grand doors were open, revealing a haunting sight.
Lady Seraphis….bloodied, bruised, and barely standing….was being supported by two of her remaining temple guards. Behind her, the remnants of her priestesses staggered in, their bodies bruised, their expressions hollow.
Haelyn's breath caught in her throat.
Cerius reached Seraphis first, his hands steady as he caught her before she collapsed.
"Get them inside. Now." His voice was low, commanding.
Marlyil was already moving. She grabbed Haelyn's wrist and guided her forward. "Help me."
Haelyn snapped out of her frozen state, nodding quickly as she moved to Seraphis's other side.
The High Priestess turned her gaze to Haelyn, her silver eyes dim yet filled with relief. "You're… safe," she murmured before her knees buckled.
Cerius lifted her effortlessly, his jaw tight. "Bring the rest to the healing chamber. Now."
An hour later, the tension in the mansion had settled into an eerie stillness. The wounded had been tended to, and the surviving priestesses were given rest. But in Cerius's private chamber, the air was suffocating with unspoken words.
Lady Seraphis sat in a high-backed chair, her posture still regal despite her wounds. Marlyil stood near the hearth, her arms crossed, her piercing blue eyes flickering with barely restrained rage. Cerius leaned against his desk, his expression unreadable as he folded his arms across his chest.
They had been talking for some time, but none of them noticed the silent figure standing just beyond the door.
Haelyn, her heart pounding, pressed herself against the wood, listening.
"We can't let him get to her," Seraphis said, her voice hoarse but firm. "Arthur is digging his claws deeper into places he shouldn't. He's growing desperate."
Cerius's gaze darkened. "How bad?"
Seraphis's fingers curled into the armrest, her knuckles white. "What I saw today was worse than the day Lunara died."
Haelyn clamped a hand over her mouth, stifling her sharp intake of breath.
Marlyil's voice was laced with venom. "Then we end him. We put him in his place before he gets any closer."
Cerius exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "We all know only Haelyn can do that."
Marlyil turned to him, her glare sharp. "She doesn't even know the full truth."
"She hasn't unlocked her power," Cerius said. "And I don't think she can handle the truth. Not yet."
Haelyn's hands trembled against the doorframe.
What truth?
Her mind swirled with questions, fear and anger knotting in her stomach. They were talking about her, about something she should know.
She was about to press closer when….
Seraphis's head suddenly turned, her silver eyes locking onto the door.
Haelyn froze.
A heavy silence stretched between them. Then, realizing she had been caught, Haelyn inhaled sharply and stepped into the room.
The weight of three pairs of eyes fell on her.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then, Seraphis's expression crumbled.
Tears welled in her silver eyes, and before Haelyn could react, the High Priestess stood, moving toward her with unsteady but determined steps.
And then….
She wrapped her arms around Haelyn, pulling her into a tight embrace.
Haelyn stiffened, completely caught off guard.
"I promised," Seraphis whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I promised her I'd protect you. And I will keep that promise until my very last breath."
Haelyn's throat tightened.
Her mother.
She could feel it in her bones…Seraphis had known her mother. Had loved her. Had vowed to protect her.
Slowly, Haelyn raised her arms, hesitating before returning the embrace.
A lump formed in her throat as she whispered, "Who are you to my mother?"
Seraphis pulled back just enough to cup Haelyn's face, her eyes filled with sorrow and something else…..
love.
"I was her sister," she said softly. "I was your mother's blood."
The room fell into absolute silence.
Haelyn's breath hitched, her mind reeling.
Everything she thought she knew had just crumbled at her feet.