Chapter 19 Whispers Of The Past

The tension in the room thickened like a storm cloud.

Rene didn't move. Her grip on Rena remained firm, her silver eyes locked onto the woman who had reappeared at their doorstep.

Adrian and Adriel remained near the balcony, their posture tense but unreadable. Nyra had stepped protectively in front of Rene, her blade still drawn.

And Lucien…

Lucien looked entirely too entertained by the situation.

"Well?" Nyra's voice was sharp. "You ran last time. Why come back now?"

The woman's violet eyes flickered, unreadable. "Because I have no choice."

Rene narrowed her gaze. "Explain."

The woman exhaled, slowly lowering her hood. Now that Rene could see her clearly, she realized the woman wasn't as old as she had first assumed. She looked no older than Nyra, though there was something ancient in her eyes.

"I am called Selene," the woman said at last. "And I was sent to stop you."

The words hung in the air like a death sentence.

Nyra's grip on her weapon tightened. "By who?"

Selene hesitated.

Lucien chuckled. "Now that's a loaded question."

Selene ignored him. Her gaze locked onto Rene, serious and unwavering.

"You don't understand what you're protecting."

Rene bristled. "She's my sister."

Selene tilted her head slightly. "Is she?"

A sharp silence filled the room.

Rene felt something cold settle in her chest, but she shoved it down. "What are you implying?"

Selene hesitated, her gaze flickering to Rena, who still slept soundly in Rene's arms.

"She is something more than a child," Selene said carefully. "Something that was never meant to exist."

Lucien smirked. "I did tell you this would be interesting."

Rene shot him a glare before turning back to Selene. "And yet, here she is. Existing."

Selene sighed. "And that's the problem."

Adrian, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "We don't care what she is. She is ours."

Adriel nodded. "She belongs here."

The twin's voices were quiet but firm, leaving no room for argument.

Selene looked at them, something unreadable in her expression. "You don't understand. If she stays, if she remembers, the balance will break."

Nyra frowned. "Remembers what?"

Selene exhaled, hesitating.

Then she looked at Rene.

"The truth about who she was."

Rene's blood ran cold.

Rena stirred slightly, as if sensing the weight of the moment, but she didn't wake.

Lucien hummed. "Ah. So it is about memory."

Selene ignored him. "I came back because I realized something." She met Rene's gaze, her violet eyes sharp. "You are willing to fight for her."

Rene's jaw clenched. "Of course I am."

Selene nodded. "Then you deserve to know the truth."

Silence.

Then—

Nyra scoffed. "Convenient. After you vanished last time?"

Selene's expression darkened. "I left because I was afraid."

That made Rene pause.

Afraid?

Lucien leaned forward slightly. "And now?"

Selene hesitated. Then—

"I'm terrified."

The words sent a chill down Rene's spine.

Selene continued, her voice steady but quiet. "You asked who sent me. The answer is simple."

She exhaled.

"The ones who created her."

The room went completely still.

Even Lucien didn't smile.

Rene's grip on Rena tightened. "Created?"

Selene nodded. "Rena was not born. She was made."

Rene felt her breath catch.

The twins remained silent, unreadable as ever, but Nyra looked unsettled.

Lucien, however, just sighed. "Well. That explains a lot."

Selene ignored him. She stepped forward, lowering her voice. "There is something buried within her. Something she was never meant to recall. And if she does—"

She hesitated.

Rene's heart pounded. "What?"

Selene looked straight at her.

"If she does… the ones who made her will come to claim her back."

The words sent an icy shiver through Rene's body.

She looked down at Rena, sleeping so peacefully in her arms. So small. So innocent.

And yet, something deep inside her whispered that Selene wasn't lying.

But it didn't matter.

Rene lifted her gaze, her silver eyes burning.

"Then they'll have to go through me first."

Selene studied her for a long moment.

Then—

She smiled.

A sad, knowing smile.

"I thought you'd say that."

To Be Continued.....