Chapter 21

THE FIRST TRAGEDY

The early morning sun filtered through the canopy of trees, casting golden light over the forest floor. Amara stirred, her head resting on Lysander's chest, his steady heartbeat a comforting rhythm beneath her ear. For a moment, there was peace—no shadows, no looming curses, just the warmth of his arms around her.

But the tranquility was fleeting.

A distant, haunting cry shattered the silence, echoing through the forest. Amara bolted upright, her heart racing. Lysander was already alert, his hand instinctively reaching for the dagger strapped to his side.

"Did you hear that?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Lysander nodded grimly. "We need to move".

Following the sound, they emerged from the forest to find a small village in chaos. Fires raged, casting eerie shadows over the thatched rooftops. Villagers screamed as shadowy figures—nightmarish beasts spawned from the darkness—attacked without mercy.

Amara's locket pulsed wildly, resonating with the chaotic energy.

"We have to help them!" she exclaimed, starting toward the village.

"Amara, wait!" Lysander called, but she was already running, her powers stirring within her.

Lysander cursed under his breath and followed, his shadowy chains swirling around him as he prepared to fight.

The shadow beasts were relentless, their clawed forms slashing through anything in their path. Amara raised her hands, and a surge of light erupted from her palms, dispersing several of the creatures in an instant.

Lysander fought alongside her, his chains lashing out like living serpents, binding and crushing the beasts.

"Keep moving!" he shouted over the chaos. "We need to get the villagers to safety!"

Amara nodded, focusing her energy to create a barrier that shielded a group of fleeing villagers. Her powers felt stronger, more precise—but the strain of using them was evident in the sweat beading on her forehead.

Just as they began to push the creatures back, a guttural roar split the air.

A massive shadow beast, twice the size of the others, emerged from the flames, its eyes glowing with malevolent intelligence.

Selene appeared out of nowhere, her robes singed from battle but her determination unwavering. She raised her hands, chanting an incantation that sent tendrils of fire snaking toward the massive beast.

"Amara, focus on the villagers!" Selene shouted. "Lysander and I will handle this!"

Amara hesitated, torn between staying to fight and heeding Selene's words.

"Go, Amara!" Lysander urged, his chains snapping at the beast's legs to slow its advance.

Reluctantly, Amara turned to guide the remaining villagers toward the forest's edge. She glanced back once, her heart clenching as she saw Selene and Lysander facing the monstrous creature together.

The beast roared again, and with a single swipe of its massive claw, it sent Selene flying. She crashed into a crumbling stone wall, the impact reverberating through the ground.

"Selene!" Amara screamed, running toward her.

Lysander shouted something, but his voice was drowned out by the deafening roar of the beast.

Amara reached Selene's side, dropping to her knees. Blood seeped from a gash on Selene's temple, and her breathing was shallow.

"No, no, no," Amara whispered, her hands glowing as she tried to heal her.

Selene's eyes fluttered open, and she smiled weakly. "Amara… don't waste your energy… on me."

"Stop talking like that!" Amara cried, tears streaming down her face. "You're going to be fine!"

Selene shook her head, her gaze softening. "It's okay. I've always known… this was how it would end. Protect him… and protect yourself."

With a final, shuddering breath, Selene's body went still.

Amara froze, disbelief washing over her as the light in Selene's eyes faded.

The beast let out a final, furious roar before Lysander drove his chains through its heart, banishing it to the shadows. He turned just in time to see Amara cradling Selene's lifeless body.

The sight struck him like a physical blow. He stumbled forward, his chains retracting as he fell to his knees beside them.

"Selene…" he whispered, his voice breaking.

Amara looked up at him, her face streaked with tears. "She's gone, Lysander. She… she saved us."

Lysander clenched his fists, his body trembling with rage and grief. "She didn't deserve this," he said through gritted teeth.

Amara placed a hand on his arm, her touch gentle but firm. "She made her choice. She wanted to protect us."

Lysander shook his head, his golden eyes blazing with fury. "This is the curse. It's always the curse. Everyone we care about… everyone I care about… dies because of it."

Amara tightened her grip on his arm. "Then we break it. For her. For everyone we've lost."

Lysander looked at her, his expression torn between despair and determination. Slowly, he nodded.

As they stood together, the sun began to rise, its light cutting through the lingering shadows. But the weight of Selene's sacrifice hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the stakes they faced.