BETRAYAL AT DAWN

Chapter 9

Betrayal at Dawn

The dawn broke slowly over the cursed forest, casting pale fingers of light through the mist that still clung to the trees. Alaric stood before the swirling portal, his heart pounding with anticipation and dread. The creature they had just fought had been relentless, but with its defeat, the archway to Eldarath was now open, shimmering like a beckoning promise. Yet, there was an unsettling sense of calm—a quiet before the storm.

Seraphine stood at his side, her posture tense, her eyes scanning the edges of the clearing. "You think we're safe here?" she asked, her voice soft yet sharp.

"I don't know," Alaric replied, his gaze flickering between the portal and the dark forest surrounding them. "But we've come too far to turn back now."

Seraphine's eyes narrowed. "There's something wrong. It's too quiet."

As if on cue, a sharp rustle echoed from the trees, followed by the unmistakable sound of footsteps. Alaric's grip tightened around his staff, and Seraphine immediately summoned a shield of shadows around them.

"I told you it was too easy," she muttered under her breath, her eyes darting to the darkening sky.

From the dense mist emerged a figure, cloaked in shadows. At first, Alaric thought it was another foe, but as the figure drew closer, he froze, recognizing the unmistakable silhouette.

"Lysandra," he said, his voice tight with confusion.

Lysandra, a former member of the Guild of Shadows, stepped forward, her face half-hidden beneath her hood. She had been an ally once, someone Alaric trusted implicitly. But something about her presence now sent a chill down his spine.

"Lysandra," Seraphine growled, her voice low, "What are you doing here?"

Lysandra smiled, a cold, predatory smile that sent a ripple of unease through Alaric's chest. "I've been watching you, Alaric. Both of you," she added, turning her gaze to Seraphine. "You've come quite a long way, haven't you?"

Alaric's brow furrowed. "What's going on, Lysandra? We're on the same side."

"No," she said, her voice suddenly sharp. "You've never been on my side. You've never been on the Guild's side."

The words hit him like a thunderclap, and his mind raced, trying to make sense of her betrayal. "What do you mean?"

Lysandra's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "The Guild of Shadows has known about the map for years, Alaric. We've known about Eldarath. We've been waiting for the right moment to strike, and you—" she pointed a gloved finger at him, "are just the tool we've needed."

Alaric's heart sank. "You've been using me?"

Her lips curled upward. "You were never anything more than a means to an end. The Guild has always had its eyes on Eldarath, and now that you've unlocked the way, it's time to claim what's ours."

Seraphine's dagger flashed in her hand as she stepped between Alaric and Lysandra. "I knew it," she spat. "I knew we couldn't trust you."

Lysandra laughed softly, as if amused by Seraphine's anger. "Trust? You should have known better than to trust anyone, Seraphine. The Guild is not your ally. It never was."

Alaric's thoughts spun in a whirlwind. The map, the prophecy, all the pieces had fallen into place now, but they felt like shards of broken glass, cutting into him with every word Lysandra spoke. He'd thought the Guild was a mere shadow, a rumor, a force beyond his reach. But they had been manipulating him from the beginning.

"You lied to me," Alaric said, his voice low and full of fury. "You lied about everything. About the map. About Eldarath. About who I was supposed to be."

"Of course I lied," Lysandra said with a casual shrug. "You think the Guild works in honesty? We manipulate, we control, we use whatever we can to achieve our goals. And right now, that means Eldarath. The city is the key to everything. It's power beyond your wildest dreams, Alaric."

Seraphine stepped forward, her eyes blazing. "What's your plan, Lysandra? To unleash some dark magic? To control the city's power for yourself?"

Lysandra's expression darkened. "It's not about control, Seraphine. It's about destruction. Eldarath holds the power to reshape the world, to bend it to the Guild's will. And you," she said, turning back to Alaric, "you're the one who will help us do it."

Alaric shook his head, a deep sense of betrayal knotting his stomach. "I won't help you. I won't let you destroy everything."

Lysandra's eyes gleamed with cold amusement. "You think you have a choice? The moment you set foot in that city, you became a part of this. Whether you like it or not."

Before Alaric could respond, Lysandra raised her hand, a flicker of magic lighting the air. "You have two choices now," she said, her voice laced with an icy calm. "Join us, and help us unlock Eldarath's secrets. Or, refuse, and I'll make sure you never leave this forest alive."

Alaric's mind raced. The portal to Eldarath was still open behind him, but there was no way he could trust Lysandra, not after everything she had done. She had been a part of the Guild all along, manipulating him with lies and deceit.

"Alaric," Seraphine said, her voice a quiet warning as she watched Lysandra's movements. "We need to make a choice now. We can't stay here much longer."

Lysandra's smile widened. "That's right. So what will it be? Help me, or die."

The pressure was unbearable, and Alaric's thoughts were swirling with everything that had happened. The betrayal, the prophecy, the future of Eldarath—all of it weighed heavily on his shoulders. But one thing was clear to him now: He couldn't allow Lysandra, or the Guild, to use him for their dark purposes. Not now, not ever.

"I'll never help you," Alaric said, his voice filled with determination. "I'd rather die than be your pawn."

Lysandra's smile faltered, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "So be it," she hissed.

In an instant, she summoned a wave of dark magic, a force that exploded from her hand with terrifying speed. The power hit Alaric squarely in the chest, sending him crashing to the ground with a sickening thud. The world around him blurred, and for a moment, everything seemed to slow.

Seraphine was already moving, her shadows twisting and solidifying into weapons, but Lysandra was faster. She raised her hand again, and the shadows around Seraphine seemed to suffocate, tightening like a noose.

"Seraphine!" Alaric gasped, struggling to rise to his feet. His vision was swimming, his magic flickering as he tried to focus. But the power from Lysandra's strike had drained him more than he realized.

"You're too weak," Lysandra taunted, her voice cold. "This is over, Alaric. You should have joined us when you had the chance."

Alaric fought through the pain, his hands trembling as he reached for his staff. "I'm not done yet," he muttered through gritted teeth.

With one final, desperate surge of power, he focused every ounce of his strength into a burst of light that exploded from his staff. The force shattered Lysandra's grip on Seraphine's shadows, and she was sent stumbling back.

"Go!" Alaric shouted to Seraphine. "Get to the portal!"

But Lysandra's glare was full of venom. "You'll regret this, Alaric."

As Seraphine moved toward the portal, her eyes flicked back to Alaric for a fleeting moment. She hesitated for only a second before stepping through the glowing archway, leaving the cursed forest behind. Alaric, weakened but determined, followed her, but Lysandra's final curse echoed in his mind, a reminder that the real battle was just beginning.

As the portal closed behind them, Alaric could feel the weight of their choices pressing in on him. Betrayal at dawn had set them on a path they could not return from. And now, more than ever, the prophecy loomed larger, its implications growing darker with each passing moment.