Blood of Cain

The stone doors loomed ahead, covered in glowing symbols that pulsed like a heartbeat. I could feel something pulling at me, like a force just beyond my reach, urging me forward. The sanctuary—my sanctuary—waited just ahead. But my gut churned with unease.

Luna and Sebastian stood behind me, their faces tense. The wind howled through the open clearing, carrying a faint chill that cut through my skin. It felt like the world was holding its breath.

"Are you sure about this, Sebastian?" I asked, my voice low, eyes never leaving the towering stone doors.

Sebastian's jaw was tight, his usual calm demeanor cracking just a bit. "This sanctuary was built long ago, a place only those of Cain's bloodline can enter. But it's not as simple as walking in. The door will only open if your blood is willingly given to it." He paused, his gaze sharp. "And only a Cain can survive what waits inside."

"Sounds... comforting," I muttered.

Luna stepped closer, her eyes full of concern. "Once you're in, we won't be able to follow. This place... it's ancient magic, Eli. Only you can open it, but only you will face whatever's in there."

"I figured," I said with a weak grin, trying to shake off the dread that gnawed at my insides.

Sebastian's hand rested on my shoulder. "Be careful. This sanctuary doesn't test strength alone. It tests will, determination. It will push you to your limits."

I nodded, swallowing hard. "No pressure, then."

Taking a deep breath, I stepped toward the door. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing louder as I approached. The symbols on the door pulsed brighter, reacting to my presence. I raised my hand to the cold stone, hesitating just a moment before pressing my palm against it.

A sharp sting shot through my hand, and I flinched as the stone drank in a drop of my blood. The glowing symbols flared to life, bright enough to light up the clearing, before slowly fading as the doors groaned and creaked open. The air grew heavy, thick with ancient power, and I could feel it pulling at my veins.

I stepped inside.

The darkness swallowed me whole, and for a moment, I couldn't see or hear anything but the sound of my own breathing. My fingers twitched, half-expecting something to jump out of the shadows.

Suddenly, the temperature dropped. A low growl echoed through the chamber, sending shivers down my spine. My eyes darted around, searching for the source.

Then I saw it—a figure moving through the darkness, shifting like smoke. It wasn't fully formed, more like a shadow given life. Its eyes glowed a faint red, burning like embers in the pitch-black.

"Great," I muttered. "I was hoping for some warm welcome, but nope. Just shadowy death."

The shadow moved impossibly fast. One moment it was in front of me, the next it was behind, circling like a predator playing with its prey. My muscles tensed, my brain racing to figure out what to do.

I couldn't fight it. Not like this. I wasn't strong enough, wasn't fast enough.

But I didn't need to win—I just needed to survive.

The shadow lunged at me, its claws swiping through the air. I threw myself to the side, barely dodging its attack, but I felt the cold scrape of its claws against my arm. Pain shot through me, but I kept moving, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of help, any clue as to what I was supposed to do.

"Think, Eli. Think!" I whispered to myself, trying to focus through the pounding in my head.

The sanctuary was testing me, but it wasn't just about brute force. It was about something more.

I remembered Sebastian's words: "It tests will."

The shadow darted toward me again, faster this time. I rolled forward, avoiding its strike, but I could feel my energy draining fast. My heart raced, my breaths coming in short, ragged bursts.

In the distance, I saw it—a faint light, glowing in the far corner of the chamber. My bloodline was connected to this place, to the power that lay dormant in me. I didn't know what it was, but instinct told me that the light was important.

The shadow lunged again, its claws barely missing my face. I stumbled back, desperate to reach the light, my feet slipping on the slick stone floor.

The air around me seemed to shift. My blood pulsed, and for a moment, I felt something stir inside me. A warmth, faint but undeniable, flared in my chest, like a spark waiting to catch fire.

The shadow charged again, and this time, I raised my hand on instinct. A blinding flash of light erupted from my palm, slamming into the shadow and throwing it back. It screeched, writhing in the air before it vanished into the darkness.

I blinked, stunned. My hand trembled as the light faded, and I stood there, gasping for breath. I didn't know what I'd just done, but it had worked—at least for now.

I stumbled toward the glowing light at the far end of the chamber, my limbs heavy, the pain in my arm throbbing with every step. As I reached the light, the stone beneath my feet shifted, revealing an altar of sorts.

A voice, deep and ancient, echoed in my mind.

"You have survived the first trial, Cain. But more will come. Prove yourself worthy."

The ground trembled beneath me, and I knew—this was only the beginning.

I knelt before the altar, my blood dripping onto the stone, and the sanctuary's doors slammed shut behind me.