Elegbede_Habeeb

The first time they met, it felt like fate. The second time, it felt like a warning.

She was running from a past that refused to die. He was chasing a future that seemed just out of reach. When their worlds collided, it was more than just love—it was an obsession, a wildfire that threatened to burn them both alive.

But love isn’t always salvation. Sometimes, it’s destruction in disguise.

Bound by Fire: Ashes of Desire

The heavy iron gates groaned as they shut behind them, sealing them inside the ancient monastery. The air inside was thick with the scent of old parchment, burning incense, and something Luca couldn't quite place—something otherworldly.

The hooded figure led them through dimly lit corridors, their footsteps echoing ominously against the stone walls. Strange symbols flickered in the candlelight, some etched into the walls, others glowing faintly as if alive.

Luca felt an odd pressure in his chest, like the energy inside him was reacting to this place. He clenched his fists, trying to suppress it, but Evelyn noticed. She slid her hand into his, grounding him once more.

Finally, they arrived at a grand chamber. At its center sat an old man in dark robes, his eyes glowing a haunting silver.

"The one who walks between light and shadow…" the old man murmured, staring directly at Luca. "We have been expecting you."

The man gave a slow nod. "You carry a power that does not belong to this world. A power that was never meant to awaken."

Evelyn's grip on Luca tightened. "What does that mean?"

Rayna crossed her arms. "We came here for answers. If you know something, speak."

The old man studied them carefully, then gestured to an ancient book resting on a pedestal. "Long ago, there was a prophecy," he began. "A soul destined to bridge the gap between the mortal world and the realm of forgotten flames. A being neither fully human nor fully divine."

Julian narrowed his eyes. "And you think that's Luca?"

The man turned to Luca. "You have felt it, haven't you? The power inside you… it calls for destruction, yet longs for control."

Luca swallowed hard. "I don't want any of this."

The old man smiled sadly. "It does not matter what you want. The flames have chosen you."

A deep rumble echoed through the chamber. The candles flickered violently. The air grew thick with tension.

Then, from the shadows, a deep, guttural voice spoke:

"You cannot run from what you are."

A massive, fiery silhouette emerged from the darkness—a monstrous figure with glowing eyes and burning wings.

Evelyn gasped. Julian cursed under his breath.

Rayna stepped back. "What the hell is that?"

The old man exhaled. "That… is the truth made flesh."

The fiery being took a step forward, its gaze locked onto Luca.

The moment that would change everything.

Next Chapter: A Choice of Fire and Fate

Would Luca embrace the power within, or fight against the flames that sought to claim him?

The Truth Revealed