The Heart Of Fire

The night fell heavy and oppressive, the weight of it settling on Aurora's chest like a stone. The blood moon was near. She could feel it in her bones, the pulse of ancient magic circling her as if the earth itself was holding its breath.

The flat had never felt so empty, despite the quiet bustle of Fiona and Ethan moving about, preparing for the inevitable. Zayne had retreated to the other room, poring over the scrolls and texts they'd gathered. It seemed like every corner of their small world was closing in on them.

Aurora couldn't stand the stillness.

She rose from the couch, her gaze drifting to the window, where the red gleam of the moon hung in the sky like a warning. Soon, her sister would come. And when she did, there would be no turning back.

The Call

Fiona was sharpening a blade when Aurora approached her.

"You know what this means, right?" Fiona asked, not looking up.

Aurora swallowed. "It means I'm running out of time."

Fiona set down the blade, her eyes meeting Aurora's. "It means we have one chance. And I don't plan on letting your twin burn you alive."

"I don't want to kill her," Aurora replied softly. "But she's not the same as me anymore."

Fiona sighed. "No one is, in the end. You can either let her consume you—or you consume her."

Aurora turned to the door. She could feel the pull of her twin, like a magnetic force. Something was drawing her away from the flat, and she knew what it was.

She had to face her.

"I'll be back soon," Aurora said. "I have to go."

Fiona's sharp gaze followed her as she stepped out the door.

The Journey to the Hollow

The path to the Holloway estate felt longer than it ever had before, the streets growing darker, the air thicker. Aurora walked in silence, the hum of the city fading as the distance grew between her and everything familiar.

Her mind raced with questions. What would happen when they finally came face to face? Could she hold on to herself? Could she win without losing herself to the power that burned within her? Or would the twin who'd spent years in the dark truly burn her from the inside out?

Her fingers brushed the blade at her side. Zayne had given it to her earlier—an old ritual knife, its edge sharp enough to cut through the bonds of fate. If she needed it, she'd use it.

But she prayed she wouldn't have to.

The Confrontation

By the time Aurora reached the Holloway estate, the moon hung high, casting a blood-red glow over the broken stones of the manor. The ground was scorched, the air thick with an unnatural heat. Aurora could feel the presence of her twin before she even saw her—like a cold shadow stretching across the land, claiming it.

"Aurora," the twin's voice echoed through the trees, low and haunting. "I knew you'd come."

Aurora stepped into the clearing, her breath steady despite the chaos inside her. She didn't want to fight. She didn't want to destroy this woman, this reflection of herself. But she knew it was inevitable.

"You don't have to do this," Aurora said, her voice soft but firm. "We can figure out another way. We don't have to destroy each other."

Her twin laughed, a sound that made Aurora's blood run cold. "You still don't get it, do you? This is who I am. This is who I've always been. You got to live a life—love, laugh, be free—but I had to fight for every breath. I had to become this to survive."

"I'm sorry," Aurora whispered. "I didn't ask for this either."

The twin's eyes flickered with something close to sadness before they hardened once more. "No more talking. It's time to end this."

And with that, the twin raised her hand, the flames at her fingertips growing hot and wild. Aurora felt the heat from where she stood, and her own magic flared in response—raw, untamed, and begging to be released.

The Battle Within

Aurora clenched her fists, the power rising within her like a tidal wave. Her magic surged, crashing into the twin's flames with all the fury of a storm.

The ground cracked beneath them, and firelight danced across the sky as their magic collided in violent bursts. Aurora could feel the twin's rage—like a wild animal struggling to break free of its cage—and her own fury was no different.

But deep down, she knew this wasn't the solution. They were two halves of the same whole, two flames destined to burn together.

"Stop!" Aurora screamed, the words slipping from her lips without thought. "We're not enemies! We're sisters!"

The twin faltered for a moment, the flames flickering in her grasp. Her eyes—those identical eyes—met Aurora's.

"You think we're the same?" the twin spat. "You think you can fix this with words? You're weak."

And then, with a scream that shook the very air, the twin launched forward. The fire blazed hotter than ever, but this time, Aurora didn't flinch.

She embraced it.

Her own flames spiraled upward, merging with the twin's in a collision of unstoppable forces. The energy between them pulsed like a heart, thrumming with the promise of destruction—and rebirth.

The Sacrifice

Aurora felt her magic draining, but it wasn't just the fire that was consuming her. It was the connection. The bond between them that had been severed and now was slowly being healed—melding their power into something new, something dangerous.

Her twin's eyes widened as Aurora reached out, pulling the flames between them until they were one.

"I am you," Aurora whispered, her voice breaking. "And you are me."

And in that moment, the twin's magic faltered. The fire stilled.

A single tear fell from the twin's eye. "You're stronger than I thought."

Then, the power between them exploded in a wave of light that consumed everything around them. And when it cleared, only Aurora stood.

End of chapter 22..