Chapter 4: Echoes of the first life

The chamber swayed around her, or maybe it was her knees threatening to give out. Elian couldn't look away from Damian. Not because she was afraid, but because something in her soul recognized him.

"Before your soul was reborn," he said breaking the silence between them.

"What does that mean?" she whispered.

Damian stepped closer, his movements fluid, like shadows bending toward her. "Let me show you."

With that, he fingers brushed her temple ever so gently, his hands cool, not cold. Suddenly the crypt fell away.

Her eyes flickered open.

She was in a different place, in someone else's body.

The scent of jasmine and fire. Candlelight flickered against ancient stone. She was in a white gown embroidered in silver thread, her hair twisted in elaborate coils, heavy with gems. There was low music, solemn, beautiful.

And she wasn't alone.

Damian stood at her side but not in rags and dust, but regal. Clad in deep crimson and black, a sword belted at his hip, his eyes fierce and full of devotion.

"You're trembling," he said in this memory.

"I'm afraid," she replied. "This vow… they'll never forgive us.

"I don't need their forgiveness." His hand cupped her cheek. "Only your promise."

She turned her face into his palm. "I am yours, Damian. In this life and the next."

They stood before a stone altar etched with the symbols of lunar and marks made of blood. A dagger lay between them, twin crescent moons engraved on the hilt.

"I bind myself to you," she said, her voice trembling but clear, "in blood, in shadow, in soul. For eternity."

Damian repeated the vow, slicing a shallow cut into his palm, and she did the same. They pressed hands together. Blood mingled. Magic surged.

But then cries. The slamming of heavy doors. Dozens of boots pounding stone.

"No…" she breathed.

Warriors in silver armour stormed the chamber half-men, half-beasts, the Order of the Moon bound. Guardians of the old laws.

"Run!" Damian shouted, unsheathing his blade.

She didn't. She stood her ground beside him as chaos erupted.

She saw herself struck. Not by blade, but by spell light and silver fire. It tore her soul apart before her body even fell.

And Damian?

His roar of grief echoed into eternity.

Elian gasped as the vision faded.

Her knees gave her away, and Damian caught her, lowering her gently to the floor. She clutched his coat, sobs breaking from her chest not only from fear, but from loss. The kind of loss that felt older than her own life.

"I remember," she whispered. "Your voice, your hands, the vow, Everything!."

Damian's expression was unreadable, but his voice trembled. "They called you Aurenya. A daughter of the Lunar Houses, Sacred. Forbidden to love me."

"And you were one of them," she said, "a prince of the Veil Court."

He nodded. "We were enemies. But we chose each other. And they cursed us for it."

A silence fell between them, heavy with centuries.

Elian wiped her eyes. "Why now? Why am I remembering this?"

"Because your soul is awakening," he said. "The magic of our vow still binds us. But something darker stirs. The Order never stopped hunting for us. They'll come again."

Elian stared at the open coffin. "So what happens now?"

"That depends on you," Damian said. "You can run. Forget. Let the past stay buried. Or you can embrace what you were… and what we still are."

She met his eyes. "And if I do?"

"Then I will protect you. Fight beside you. Until the end. Again."

Outside the crypt, footsteps of the students echoed. Mr. Calderon, Mira and the rest of the class faint voices grew louder.

Elian looked back at Damian. "They won't understand."

"No," he said, voice like velvet steel. "But they won't stop what's coming either."

She stood slowly, her heart a wildfire of fear and memory. "I'm not ready."

"You weren't last time either," Damian said softly. "But you still chose me."

Elian knew she would do it again .

To be continued....

What do you think about this chapter?

I would be in the comment section 😉