CHAPTER 13: THE BURNING PROPHECY

Evelynn's fingers trembled as she traced the ancient markings carved into the cold stone walls of the Dragon Lord's chamber. The symbols pulsed faintly, whispering secrets too old for mortal comprehension. The room was dimly lit by an eerie crimson glow, the torches burning with unnatural intensity. Shadows stretched unnaturally long, twisting and curling at the edges of her vision like living things.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she turned to face Darius, his golden eyes darkened with an unreadable expression. The weight of the prophecy loomed between them, an unspoken storm ready to break.

"Do you understand now?" Darius's voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the force of a tempest. "This is the truth we can no longer ignore."

Evelynn swallowed hard, her throat dry. "You think I will be the one to break the curse?"

Darius stepped closer, the flickering light casting half of his face into shadow. "Not just think. I know."

A shudder ran through Evelynn's body. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to run, but she remained rooted in place. She had come too far to flee now. "What if I fail?"

Darius's jaw clenched. "Then all of this... everything we have fought for... will turn to ashes."

A gust of wind howled through the open archways, bringing with it the scent of burning embers. The magic woven into the castle's foundation trembled as if sensing the coming storm. The prophecy was no longer just words etched into history—it was unfolding before their very eyes.

Evelynn clenched her fists. "Tell me everything."

Darius hesitated only a moment before he exhaled sharply. "The curse that binds me is not merely a spell of transformation—it is a prophecy written in blood, woven into the very fabric of fate. Every king before me has fallen to it, consumed by the beast within. None have survived."

Evelynn's heart stuttered. "But you believe I can change that?"

Darius nodded. "You are different, Evelynn. The moment you stepped into my life, the curse shifted. It recognized you. It fears you."

She felt the weight of his words settle over her, heavy and unrelenting. "Why me?"

His gaze softened, but his voice remained firm. "Because you are the only one willing to fight destiny itself."

Before Evelynn could respond, a deafening crack echoed through the castle, shaking the very foundations beneath their feet. The torches flared violently, their flames turning a deep, unnatural blue. A guttural snarl filled the chamber, reverberating in her bones.

Darius stiffened. "It's awakening."

Evelynn barely had time to react before the shadows at the edge of the room began to twist and churn, forming into monstrous shapes with glowing crimson eyes. The air grew thick with dark energy, pressing against her like an invisible force.

The curse was no longer content to lie dormant.

A deep, bone-chilling voice filled the chamber, its tone laced with malice. "You dare defy fate, Dragon King?"

Darius's lips curled into a snarl. "Fate is nothing but a chain meant to be broken."

The shadows lunged.

Evelynn barely managed to raise her dagger before one of the figures reached her. It struck with inhuman speed, its clawed hand slashing through the air where she had been standing mere moments ago. She twisted, dodging another attack, her pulse a drumbeat of survival.

Darius moved like a force of nature, his sword a blur of silver fire as he cut through the encroaching darkness. Each strike sent bursts of energy rippling through the room, but the shadows kept coming, relentless and unyielding.

Evelynn's instincts screamed at her, and without thinking, she raised her hands, calling forth the magic that had lain dormant within her. A brilliant pulse of white light erupted from her palms, pushing back the darkness with a force she hadn't known she possessed.

The voice hissed, recoiling. "The girl... she carries the fire of the ancients."

Darius seized the moment, driving his blade deep into the core of the largest shadow. It let out an unearthly screech before dissolving into nothingness.

Evelynn staggered, her energy nearly spent, but she kept her stance firm. "We have to end this."

Darius turned to her, his expression fierce yet filled with something else—pride. "Then we do it together."

With renewed determination, they fought side by side, light against darkness, hope against despair. The prophecy might have been written in blood, but Evelynn refused to let it dictate their future.

The battle raged on, each attack testing their resolve. The dark force wielded a will of its own, twisting reality around them. The room seemed to pulse, shifting between this world and something more sinister. The very stones under their feet trembled.

A fresh wave of shadows poured into the chamber, their presence suffocating. Evelynn's vision blurred for a moment, exhaustion threatening to pull her under. Darius reached out, steadying her. "Hold on," he murmured. "We finish this."

Gritting her teeth, Evelynn summoned the last reserves of her magic. The fire within her burned brighter, responding to her call. She lifted her hands once more, unleashing a wave of golden energy that cut through the darkness like a blade. The shadows screeched, their forms unraveling.

The voice returned, weaker now. "You fight in vain. The curse will never be broken."

Darius stepped forward, sword raised. "Then let me show you otherwise."

With one final strike, he brought his blade down, splitting the darkness apart. A shockwave tore through the room, sending the last remnants of the curse scattering into the abyss.

Silence fell.

Evelynn collapsed to her knees, breathless. Darius knelt beside her, his gaze searching hers. "It's over," he said softly.

She shook her head. "No. This was only the beginning."

The war for fate had begun.