Max

Max’s vision blurred with the rage building inside him. The lingering pain behind his left eye was a constant, throbbing reminder of the prophecy, of the insignia that now marked his destiny. He stormed out into the cold night air, his fists clenched so tight he could feel his nails digging into his palms.

The dim light of the moon barely cut through the dense canopy of the trees surrounding the compound. Shadows danced along the path, their forms twisting and shifting as if taunting him. His breath came out in ragged bursts as his thoughts raced, focusing on one thing: Vera.

*She’s alive. After all these years, she’s alive.*

Max’s pulse quickened at the thought, but it was more than just hope that surged within him. The prophecy was happening. The bond, the one his father had spoken of in whispers and half-truths, was awakening. He could feel it — the pull, the connection drawing him closer to her.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him. Jovani, his guardian, approached. His presence always carried a certain weight, the kind that made the air feel heavier. Max didn’t turn to face him, his anger still bubbling too close to the surface.

“You need to calm yourself, Max,” Jovani said, his voice smooth but edged with something dark. “This rage will cloud your judgment.”

Max clenched his jaw, not in the mood for Jovani’s manipulations. “I don’t need your advice right now.”

Jovani’s laugh was low and unsettling. “Oh, but you do. You’ve just had a taste of what’s to come. The insignia’s appearance, the prophecy—none of this is by chance.”

Max finally turned to face him, his glare icy. “You think I don’t know that? This prophecy, my father, Vera—it’s all been a game, hasn’t it? And I’ve been the pawn.”

Jovani stepped closer, his dark eyes locking onto Max’s. “You’re no pawn. You’re the king. But you have to act like one. Stop chasing ghosts and start thinking about what’s at stake here.”

Max’s fist slammed into the trunk of a nearby tree, splintering the bark. “Vera is not a ghost!”

Jovani sighed, his tone becoming more calculating. “Max, listen to me. The prophecy is not what you think it is. Vera is dangerous—her blood, her existence. Your father, for all his strength, was too weak to see the truth.”

Max froze, his hand still resting against the tree. “What are you saying?”

Jovani’s gaze darkened. “She will destroy everything. The bond between you two isn’t just about reuniting. It’s about power—power that neither of you can control. You have to end it before it begins.”

Max stepped back, his breath catching in his throat. “You want me to… kill her?”

Jovani’s expression didn’t falter. “Yes. For the sake of the throne, for the sake of everything your father built, she must die.”

Max’s stomach twisted. His head was spinning, the weight of Jovani’s words pressing down on him. He had searched for so long, driven by anger and loss, and now… this?

Jovani continued, his voice cold and unfeeling. “It’s the only way, Max. If the prophecy is fulfilled, you’ll lose everything. Vera’s power—her bloodline—it’s too dangerous.”

Max shook his head, taking another step back. “No. This isn’t right. You’ve known this whole time, haven’t you? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Jovani’s smile was cold. “Because you weren’t ready to hear it. But now you are. You are the rightful heir, Max. Not her. The throne belongs to you.”

Max felt bile rise in his throat. “I don’t care about the throne. I never have. I care about finding my sister.”

Before Jovani could respond, a second voice cut through the tension.

“You’ve said enough, Jovani.”

Max turned to see Donovan stepping forward, his face twisted with anger. He had been Max’s mentor, his guide, but now, the fury in his eyes was unmistakable.

“What are you doing here?” Max asked, his voice filled with confusion.

Donovan’s gaze didn’t leave Jovani. “I heard everything. And I won’t let him poison your mind any further.”

Jovani narrowed his eyes. “You always were a fool, Donovan. Always too soft to do what needed to be done.”

Donovan’s fists clenched, his whole body radiating tension. “What you’re asking him to do… it’s madness. Vera is his sister, not some weapon to be disposed of.”

Jovani’s voice was smooth, almost mocking. “This isn’t about family. This is about survival. You know the prophecy as well as I do.”

Donovan took a step closer, his voice a low growl. “I know that Max is nothing like you, Jovani. He won’t betray his blood.”

Max’s heart pounded in his chest as he looked between them. Jovani, the man who had raised him, taught him, guided him—and now, this? And Donovan, who had been like a father to him after his own was killed, standing up for something Max had barely begun to understand.

“I won’t kill her,” Max said finally, his voice firm. “I won’t be a part of this.”

Jovani’s expression hardened. “Then you’ve doomed us all.”

Without another word, Jovani turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Max and Donovan standing in the cold night air.

For a moment, the only sound was the distant rustle of leaves in the wind.

Donovan placed a hand on Max’s shoulder, his voice softer now. “You did the right thing.”

Max nodded, though his mind was still racing. “I don’t know what to do anymore, Donovan. Everything is falling apart. I’ve spent my whole life searching for her… and now…”

Donovan’s eyes were filled with understanding. “I know. But we’ll figure it out. Together.”

Max took a deep breath, his heart heavy but his resolve firm. “We need to find her. Before Jovani does.”

Donovan nodded. “Then we don’t have time to waste.”

Together, they walked into the night, the weight of the prophecy, the insignia, and the search for Vera looming over them.

Max’s footsteps were heavy as he walked beside Donovan, his mind racing with the words that Jovani had planted in his head. The chill in the air only amplified the growing unease in his chest.

Donovan kept silent for a while, watching the young man out of the corner of his eye, sensing the storm brewing within him. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Donovan spoke, his voice gruff yet compassionate.

“You don’t have to figure this out all at once, Max,” he said quietly. “Jovani thrives on creating chaos. He twists the truth to make you question everything.”

Max’s jaw tightened, his gaze fixed ahead. “But what if he’s right? What if the prophecy is more dangerous than I thought? What if… what if Vera really is a threat?”

Donovan stopped walking and turned to face Max directly, his expression intense. “She’s not the threat, Max. It’s people like Jovani who are the real danger. The throne, the power—it’s all they care about. They’ll do anything to get it.”

Max swallowed hard, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve spent my whole life preparing for this. For the prophecy. But no one ever told me that it would come down to this. How am I supposed to make a choice between my sister and… everything else?”

Donovan’s eyes softened, and he placed a firm hand on Max’s shoulder. “You’re not choosing between her and the kingdom. You’re choosing between what’s right and what’s wrong. Vera is your sister, and she’s been kept from you. If anyone knows the burden of carrying this prophecy, it’s her.”

Max let out a deep breath, the weight of his confusion pressing down on him. “But I don’t even know her. I don’t even know what she looks like.”

Donovan’s hand tightened slightly. “You will. And when you do, you’ll know exactly who she is. Blood speaks louder than prophecy.”

Max’s throat tightened, and he glanced away, unsure of how to respond. The truth was, he felt lost. All the training, all the years of preparing for this moment—it all felt hollow now. Jovani had made sure of that.

“I can’t let him win,” Max muttered, his voice low but determined. “I can’t let him use me to kill her.”

Donovan nodded, his voice firm. “Then we’ll stop him. But we need to be smart. Jovani is cunning, and he’s already ahead of us. We need to find Vera before he does.”

Max’s eyes flickered with a sense of urgency. “And if he finds her first?”

Donovan’s expression darkened. “Then we’ll have to be prepared for a fight. But we won’t let it come to that.”

Max clenched his fists again, the fire inside him rekindled. “Where do we start?”

“We’ll start by looking into the places Jovani won’t,” Donovan replied. “There’s one person who may know where Vera is—someone who was close to your father, but distanced himself when things started to fall apart.”

Max raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

Donovan’s gaze sharpened. “Matthias. He was one of your father’s trusted advisors. If anyone knows where Vera has been hiding, it’s him.”

Max’s heart pounded at the mention of Matthias. He had heard stories about the man—stories that painted him as more than just an advisor. “And you think he’ll help us?”

Donovan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “He cared about your father. And I believe he knows more than he’s let on. But it won’t be easy. Matthias is… difficult to deal with.”

Max’s lips curled into a faint, bitter smile. “Nothing about this has been easy.”

Donovan chuckled softly, though there was no real humor in it. “Fair enough.”

They continued walking, the night growing darker around them as they ventured deeper into the forest. Max’s thoughts were a tangled mess, but for the first time in a while, he felt a sense of direction. A sense of purpose.

Vera was out there somewhere. His sister. The missing piece in this convoluted prophecy that had haunted his family for generations. And despite the chaos that Jovani had stirred, Max knew one thing for certain: he couldn’t allow himself to be manipulated any longer.

Whatever happened next, he would find Vera. And he would make his own decisions about what came after.

“We’ll find her,” Max whispered to himself, as much to reassure himself as to reaffirm his determination.

Donovan gave a slight nod, hearing the conviction in Max’s voice. “We will.”

As they walked deeper into the night, the weight of what was to come pressed down on both of them, but there was no turning back now. The path ahead was shrouded in uncertainty, but it was the only one left for them to follow.