Chapter 25
Elana and Lucian left the Hidden Heart chamber, stepping back into the winding corridors of the west wing. The crimson light of the Blood Moon still bled through the high windows, casting long shadows that twisted unnaturally around them. The hall seemed quieter now, but Elana knew it was only a temporary calm.
"The hall remembers what we've shown it," Lucian said, keeping his eyes on the path ahead. "It knows our bond is strong. But Kade won't stop—he will use any opening, any doubt, to try and break us."
Elana shivered, despite the warmth radiating from her mark. "He… he can't just control the hall, can he?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lucian shook his head. "Not completely. The hall responds to intent and emotion. Kade can influence it, but he can't force it to do things against our will—if we learn to master our bond."
They rounded a corner, and a sudden draft swept through the corridor. Elana felt it brush against her like a cold hand, whispering her name in a distorted echo. She froze.
"Focus," Lucian said softly, sensing her tension. "Don't let the hall confuse you. It will try."
The corridor stretched endlessly, twisting and turning in impossible ways. Shadows clung to the walls, and whispers followed their every step. Elana felt her chest tighten as if the hall itself were pressing down on her, testing her strength.
"Every step we take," Lucian continued, "is a test. The hall will amplify your fears, your doubts, even your desires. It will try to show you things you shouldn't see, secrets you shouldn't know."
Elana's brow furrowed. "Secrets?"
Lucian's gaze darkened. "Yes. The hall stores memories of everyone who has walked these halls. It can show you the past… sometimes truths that are dangerous to see. But it also holds knowledge. If we navigate it carefully, we can use that knowledge against Kade."
Suddenly, the corridor twisted again, and a door appeared where none had been before. Its wood was black, etched with crimson runes that pulsed softly, as though alive.
"The Forbidden Door," Lucian whispered. "It leads to a chamber of memories… some of them are ours, some… belong to others who never left the hall. Opening it is risky. The hall can trap anyone who isn't ready."
Elana's heartbeat quickened. "And we have to open it?"
Lucian nodded. "We have to. If we want to understand Kade's power and protect our bond, we must face the hall's secrets… together."
Elana took a deep breath, placing her hand over her mark. The warmth spread through her chest, anchoring her resolve. "Together," she said firmly.
Lucian's hand found hers, squeezing gently. "Together."
The Forbidden Door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit chamber filled with swirling crimson mist. Whispers filled the air, layered with echoes of the past and fragments of lives long forgotten.
Elana stepped forward, every nerve alert. The hall's memory awaited them.
And the next trial was about to begin.
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