Darkness cradled her like a familiar lullaby. She was falling, deeper than sleep, deeper than pain. A Name echoed in the void - Eliora. It's wasn't just a name . It was a curse. A key . A door long sealed. She saw flashes of silver chains dragging through blood stained floors , a throne made of bones and whispers , her own reflection, eyes glowing like the moon .
And two shadows watching her . One with crimson eyes and a wicked smile on his face . The other one with golden hair drenched in sorrow. Both reaching out . Both wanting her . Mine . Mine . She screamed but no sound came. Eliora's eyes flustered open, her breath caught somewhere in between this world and the world she'd just left.
The ceiling above her was curved stone, dimly lit by flickering blue lanterns . The air was cold , smelling faintly of iron and wet earth. She tried to sit up but her body trembled. Two silhouettes hovered beside her silent and still like statues carved from conflicting obsessions. Aurien stood on her left with his sharp eyes burning with restrained rage and something darker with more than desperation .
The second prince stood was on her right, pale fingers clenched at his side . His crimson gaze softer ..... but not less dangerous. Neither of them spoke a word. They just stared at her as if afraid that a single word might break the fragile thing between them.
"Eliora ", Aurien said again , his voice was lowwer now. Almost reverent." You remembered ". The name struck her like cold water. She flinched . " I ....." her voice cracked. Her throat was dry . "Why .... why did you call me that ?". Aurien stepped forward but the second prince blocked him with a quiet snarl.
"She is still weak ", the second prince said , his voice silk wrapped around a blade . "Don't overwhelm her ". "She deserves the truth ", Aurien growled." She needs to remember who she is".
Eliora clunched the blanket around her. Her heart raced . Memories danced just beyond her reach - bloody, glowing , wrong. "Please... " she whispered. "Tell me... who am l ?".
Aurien and the second prince exchanged a glance , neither wanting to be the first one to speak. Finally the second prince knelt beside her bed, his voice softer than she ever heard it . " You were a monarch... ". Eliora's breath hitched ." A soul monarch ", he continued, Ruler of the space between the living and the dead ". Aurien's jaw clenched ." You don't even remember it properly". The second prince turned his head slightly, "And you do ?".
For a long moment, silence pulsed in the room like a heartbeat. Aurien's gaze turned to her . "l remember fragment . Shadows. You standing in a hall of souls , with a crown made of light and sorrow ".
" I remember blood " , the second prince murmured, "And a promise l made to you .... that l'd return. That l'd find you again ." Eliora stared at them , her heart was echoing with words, as if they weren't telling her something new , but something long buried inside her. Her hands trembled. "Why can't l remember any of it ?".
"Because someone," Aurien said , voice tight, " Sealed your memories. Maybe even you did ... before you died " . Eliora's lips parted , " l ... died ? " . Neither of them answered. The room felt colder now . The flickering lanterns dimmed. Somewhere in the distance, a bell tolled , though none of them moved.
"You don't have to remember all of it at once", the second prince whispered . "But your soul is waking up , Eliora. And they will come for you ". "Who?" , she asked. He looked towards the darkened hallway. " The ones you once ruled . The forgotten. The bond . And maybe ...?".
He paused, meeting her eyes. "The ones who want your throne".
A sudden howl of wind echoed through the stone corridor. The lanterns flickered violently, then died all at once. Eliora gasped reaching the edge of the bed . From the shadows of the room , a soft scratching noise crept in like nails on old wood. The second prince stood immediately, drawing something from beneath his cloak , it was a glowing charm etched with acient script. Aurien stepped forward too , his hand on the hilt of the sword, eyes narrowed.
Then , the voice came. Whispered. Inhuman. Dragging.
"She has awakened.... The monarch stirs... The bound ones will crawl to her get again..". Keep her hidden. "Keep her sealed. Or they will devour her soul to reclaim their own".
Then silence.
A long breathless silence. Eliora clunched the blanket to her chest , her heart pounding. "What .... what was that ?". The second prince turned to Aurien. "It's started ". Aurien nodded grimly . "We need to talk outside ". Without another word, the two left the room, the door closes softly behind them.
The corridor was dim and cold , lined with stained glass that reflected a dozen ghostly spirit. The second prince folded his arms, "she is not safe here. If the spirit know she is awakened....". "They will come ", Aurien finished. Hungry. Desperate. And not just the spirit . Other beings too".
He turned, locking eyes with him . "I'm staying ". The second prince raised a brow " ln my Palace?". "She needs both of us . For now ". And a pause , the second prince gave a slow nod ." Fine. But don't get in my way ". Aurien smirked. " I'll only move if you try to take what mine".
Eliora sat as the door cracked open again. The two men entered, there eyes unreadable guarded yet determined. Aurien stepped forward, his voice calm but heavy ,"We will protect you. Both of us ". The second prince added " You are not alone anymore, Eliora ".
She looked between them , two halves of something broken . Both dangerous. Both willing to fight for her ... or against each other . She didn't know who to trust. All she knew was that, the name Eliora was no longer just a name. It was a key to a past that wanted her back.
The Palace had long fallen silent. In his private Chambers , the second prince lay sprawled across black silk sheet, eyes open , staring at the ceiling. The fire in the heath had died hours ago. The only light came from the moon , slicing across the floor in this silver limes. But sleep would not come . Not tonight.
"What have l done?, letting Aurien stay.... was that mercy or madness?". The second prince let out a slow breath, his jaw tight. Aurien's presence wasn't just a threat. It was a reminder. Of something he couldn't remember. Something acient. He closed his eyes and he started dreaming.
A dark forest. The trees were tall, there branches clawing at the sky like broken fingers. A heavy fog wrapped around the earth, muffling every sound except one, growling . From the mist emerged a wolf , massive and shadow coated , eyes like coal. It's breath streamed in the air , fangs bared.
The prince stepped back then froze . The beast bowed. Slowly. Deliberately. Its lowwerd it heard before him. Then another growled rose. This time , not from the wolf but from within him. Pain sliced through his limbs. His bones ached. Something wild was moving beneath his skin. His hands trembled. His eyes burned . His veins felt like fire . A Name echoed in the air . But it wasn't Eliora's. It was his own .
" you were alpha once "
He jolted awake, gasping. Moonlight washed over his face . The room was empty, but the shadows felt thicker. He ran his hand down his neck trembling.
" What the hell was that.." he whispered. Outside , a wolf howled.