Chapter 23: Shadows of Truth
The night was deathly quiet as Kael approached the small cottage at the edge of Northerncrooks. His dark aura bled into the air, suffocating the natural magic that protected the village. The scent of old spells and burning herbs guided him to the heart of the witch's dwelling.
Without hesitation, Kael pushed open the creaking wooden door. The interior was dim, lit only by a flickering fire in the hearth. Sitting by the flames was an elderly woman, her gnarled fingers gripping a staff carved with protective runes.
"You've been expecting me," Kael said, his voice smooth but laced with menace.
The grandmother didn't look up, her gaze fixed on the fire. "I wondered how long it would take for you to find her."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "You won't play games with me, old woman. Tell me who she is. Tell me why she feels like... me."
The grandmother finally raised her head, her sharp, ancient eyes meeting his glowing red ones. For a moment, they stared at each other in silence, the air crackling with tension.
"You already know the answer," she said quietly.
Kael clenched his fists. "Say it. Say the words."
The grandmother sighed, her shoulders slumping as if the weight of a thousand years pressed down on her. "She is your daughter, Kael."
Kael froze, the words crashing over him like a tidal wave. He took a step back, his mind reeling. "That's impossible. I—"
"Do you not remember Luna?" the grandmother interrupted, her voice sharp. "The woman you claimed to love? The woman you used to open the gates of Baal?"
Kael's expression darkened, memories flashing through his mind—Luna's laughter, her tear-filled eyes as she begged him not to betray her, and the moment he did it anyway.
"She... she was pregnant?" he whispered.
"Yes," the grandmother said, her voice softening. "Luna came to me after you betrayed her. She was broken, but she was determined to protect her child. She gave birth to Alice in secret, but the creatures you angered... they wouldn't let her live. They froze her in time, along with most of her people, leaving Alice an orphan."
Kael's knees nearly buckled under the weight of the revelation. "Why didn't you tell me? Why hide her from me?"
The grandmother's eyes flashed with anger. "You think you deserved to know? After what you did? You opened the gates of Baal, Kael! You unleashed chaos and destroyed an entire race! If the other creatures had known about Alice, they would've hunted her down just to erase the last trace of Luna's bloodline. I couldn't let that happen."
Kael's voice was hoarse. "So you raised her?"
The grandmother nodded. "I did. I've kept her safe for eighteen years, hiding her true identity, teaching her to blend in. But I always knew this day would come."
Kael's jaw tightened. "When are you planning to tell her?"
"Soon," the grandmother said, her tone resolute. "She deserves to know the truth. But it must be on my terms, not yours."
Kael paced the room, his mind racing. He couldn't deny the truth anymore—the connection he felt with Alice, her defiant spirit, her power. She was his daughter.
"You should've told me," he said, his voice filled with regret. "I would've protected her."
The grandmother scoffed. "You? Protect her? Don't make me laugh, Kael. You've spent centuries serving your father, doing his bidding. You'd have used her like you used Luna."
Kael flinched at the accusation, guilt clawing at his chest. "Not anymore," he said quietly. "I'm not the same man I was back then. I won't let anyone hurt her."
The grandmother studied him for a long moment, as if searching for the truth in his words. Finally, she said, "If you mean that, then prove it. Keep your distance until the time is right. Let her discover who she is without your interference."
Kael hesitated but eventually nodded. "Fine. But know this—I won't let anyone harm her. Not Lucifer, not the Amazons, not anyone."
As he turned to leave, the grandmother called out, "Kael."
He paused, glancing over his shoulder.
"Do you regret it?" she asked softly. "What you did to Luna?"
Kael's expression darkened, but he didn't answer. Instead, he stepped into the shadows and disappeared into the night.
Far below the mortal realm, Lucifer sat on his throne, his fiery gaze fixed on Lyanna, who knelt before him.
"The last mermaid is alive," Lucifer said, his voice a dangerous whisper.
Lyanna nodded. "Yes, my lord. She's at the school, under the witch's protection."
Lucifer leaned forward, his claws drumming against the armrest of his throne. "And yet she still breathes. Explain that to me, Lyanna."
Lyanna flinched, but she quickly composed herself. "The girl is protected by powerful magic. Breaking through it will take time."
"Time is running out," Lucifer growled. "Kael is already sniffing around. If he discovers the truth, he'll turn against me."
Lyanna smirked. "Kael is no match for you, my lord."
Lucifer's eyes glowed with fury. "Do not underestimate him. He's my son, but he's also my greatest rival. If he aligns himself with the girl, it will spell disaster for us all."
Lyanna bowed her head. "I'll handle it, my lord. I'll find a way to eliminate her."
Lucifer's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Good. But remember, Lyanna—failure is not an option. Bring me her head, or I'll take yours instead."
Lyanna swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes, my lord."
As she left the chamber, Lucifer leaned back in his throne, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "Soon," he whispered to himself. "Soon, the gates of Baal will open, and the world will be mine."
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