“We’re not alone,” I whisper, pushing myself up to a sitting position, shielding Astryl with my body.
She nods, clutching my arm tightly. “I see them.”
The wraiths’ movements are fluid, yet mechanical. They’re here with a purpose in mind.
“We’ve been expecting you,” one of them hisses, and I recognize his voice as the stranger in New York who approached us.
“What do you want with us?” I demand.
The wraiths pay no heed to my question, instead circling around us.
With a flicker of movement, they summon a portal, a swirling vortex of darkness that beckons us forward.
“Come,” they command, their voices echoing in the cavernous space. “We’ll take you to the one you seek.”
Reluctantly, Astryl and I step toward the portal, our new canine following behind. The air crackles with magic as we pass through its threshold. The sensation is disorienting, like being pulled through the fabric of reality itself, until finally, we emerge on the other side.
After I blink, I’m surrounded by familiar towering trees and lush foliage. Home. They brought us home. Or at least, the forest surrounding my home. But there is one feature that does stand out.
Before us stands a magnificent castle, its spires reaching towards the sky like fingers of stone and ivy, their tips kissed by the golden hues of the setting sun. The architecture is both elegant and imposing with walls of shimmering white marble that seem to glow with an inner light.
The main keep looms at the center, its grandeur undeniable. Tall, arched windows are framed by delicate filigree, allowing glimpses into the opulence within. Turrets rise at each corner, their peaks adorned with pennants that flutter in the gentle breeze, bearing the emblem of the realm—a silver dragon intertwined with a blooming rose.
The castle is surrounded by a moat, its waters crystal clear, reflecting the castle’s splendor like a mirror. A stone bridge, adorned with gargoyles that seem to watch our every move, spans the moat, leading to the massive, iron-bound doors of the main entrance.
This isn’t just a castle; it’s a stronghold of magic that’s being hoarded.
Before I can fully take in the scenery, the wraiths guide us across the bridge. The massive iron-bound doors of the castle loom ahead, and with a subtle gesture from one of the wraiths, the doors swing open, revealing the castle’s interior. We’re ushered inside, the air growing thick with an eerie stillness.
The opulence of the castle’s interior matches its exterior. High-vaulted ceilings are covered with intricate frescoes, and the walls are lined with tapestries depicting scenes of ancient battles and arcane rituals. Torches cast flickering shadows that dance across the polished marble floors. The atmosphere is heavy with magic, an aura that’s both intoxicating and foreboding.
As we’re led further into the castle, I sense a presence—a power that sends shivers down my spine. The wraiths guide us into a grand chamber, where a figure awaits, seated upon an ornate throne carved from black stone.
The Shadowlord.
His eyes meet mine, and a chill runs through me. Recognition dawns, but it’s not just the eyes—it’s the birthmark that covers his left eye. A mark I’d thought was unique to one person in my family. The Shade Wolf scurries behind me, cowering just behind my feet. He knows what his master can do.
“Thaldiran,” he says, his voice dripping with malice yet tinged with a hint of something else—something I can’t quite place.
My breath catches in my throat. “Elandir? Is that you?”
A slow, sinister smile spreads across his face, confirming my suspicion. “It’s been a long time, brother.”
Astryl’s grip tightens on my arm, her eyes wide with disbelief. “You know him?”
I nod, my mind racing to process this revelation. “He’s my brother, Elandir. I thought he was dead.”
Elandir rises from his throne, stepping forward to descend the dais. “Oh, I’ve been very much alive, Thaldiran. Alive and plotting.”
My eyes narrow, trying to reconcile the sight before me with the memories of the brother I once knew. “What happened to you, Elandir? How did you end up like this?”
Elandir’s gaze darkens, his expression hardening. “The same way your dragon did, brother. I fell through a portal, lost and alone, only to find myself in a realm teeming with darkness. No one came looking for me, no one cared. I was alone, forced to learn to control the darkness that you never had to face.”
The weight of his words hits me hard, a pang of guilt twisting in my chest. I was just a child when he disappeared, but I’m certain my parents searched for him.
“Elandir, I didn’t know... none of us did. We thought you were gone.”
His laughter is bitter, echoing around the grand chamber like a haunting melody. “‘Gone?’ You thought I was dead, and yet here I stand, stronger than ever.”
