Aria's POV
I woke up to the smell of burning.
My eyes snapped open. Smoke filled Luna's apartment. Not regular smoke—purple smoke that glowed and moved like it was alive.
"What the—" I bolted upright in bed.
Kael stood by the window, arms crossed, looking annoyed. "Finally. I thought you'd sleep forever."
"What's happening? Why is everything smoking?" I coughed, waving my hand through the purple haze.
"That's you." He pointed at me. "Your power is leaking out while you sleep. If we don't teach you control soon, you'll accidentally kill everyone in this building by draining their life force."
My blood went cold. "I could kill people? Just by sleeping?"
"Welcome to having Soul Dominion." Kael walked over and grabbed my wrist. The purple smoke immediately got sucked back into my body. "Your power wants to consume everything around it. Spirits, energy, souls—it doesn't care. That's why you need training. Now."
Luna burst through the bedroom door, coughing. "What's going on? I woke up and couldn't breathe—" She stopped, staring at the fading purple smoke. "Oh. Aria's power thing again?"
"Sorry," I said quickly. "I didn't mean to—"
"I know you didn't." Luna grabbed a change of clothes from her closet. "But maybe we should train you somewhere that isn't my apartment? Before you accidentally burn it down?"
Kael nodded. "Good idea. There's an abandoned warehouse district near the port. No humans around for miles. Perfect for teaching her not to murder people with her mind."
"That's not funny," I muttered.
"I'm not joking." His red eyes burned serious. "Yesterday you made three Council Enforcers run away. That was impressive. But you also passed out afterward because you have zero control. If enemies attack right now, you'd be helpless."
The words stung because they were true. I'd felt powerful yesterday, but only for a few minutes. Then I'd collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.
"So teach me," I said, standing up. My legs felt steadier today. "Teach me how to control it."
Kael's mouth curved into a sharp smile. "That's what I like to hear. Get dressed. We leave in five minutes."
The warehouse district looked like something from a horror movie. Broken buildings with shattered windows. Rusted metal everywhere. No lights except the moon overhead.
Perfect.
"This is where we're training?" I asked, stepping over broken glass.
"This is where you're not going to accidentally kill anyone when you lose control." Kael walked to the center of an empty warehouse. "Which will happen. A lot. Soul Dominion is the most dangerous power in existence. It takes years to master."
"I don't have years." I thought about Yuki and Ren, probably planning their perfect wedding. About my parents pretending I never existed. "I need power now."
"Then you're going to suffer." Kael turned to face me, his expression deadly serious. "Training with me isn't like normal tamer training. I'm going to push you past your limits. You'll cry. You'll bleed. You'll beg me to stop. But if you can survive it, you'll become unstoppable."
My heart pounded, but I lifted my chin. "Do it. I can take anything."
"We'll see." He raised his hand. "Lesson one: sensing souls. Every living thing has a soul signature—a spiritual fingerprint. Close your eyes and tell me what you feel."
I closed my eyes. At first, nothing. Then slowly, like turning on a radio, I started sensing things.
Small souls—rats in the walls, birds in the rafters. Bigger souls farther away—people sleeping in distant buildings. And right in front of me, Kael's soul burned like a dark star, massive and terrifying.
"I feel... everything," I whispered. "It's overwhelming."
"Good. Now reach out and touch one of those rat souls."
I focused on a small soul scurrying through the walls. Mentally, I reached toward it—
The rat's soul yanked toward me like a magnet. I felt it trying to merge with mine, trying to be absorbed.
"Stop!" Kael's voice cracked like a whip. "Pull back!"
I jerked my mental grip away. The rat's soul snapped back into its body.
When I opened my eyes, I was shaking. "What almost happened?"
"You almost consumed that rat's soul completely. It would have died, and its energy would have fed yours." Kael's expression was grim. "That's the dark side of Soul Dominion. It doesn't just control souls—it hungers for them. If you're not careful, you'll become a monster that drains everything around you."
The thought made me sick. "I don't want to be a monster."
"Then learn control." He walked closer. "Your power sees all souls as food. You need to teach it the difference between controlling and consuming. Between commanding and killing."
"How?"
"Practice. Over and over until it becomes instinct." He gestured to the warehouse. "There are dozens of small souls here—insects, rodents. You're going to practice touching their souls without consuming them. Again and again until you can do it without thinking."
For the next three hours, I practiced.
It was horrible.
Every time I reached for a soul, my power tried to devour it. I had to constantly fight my own instincts, pulling back at the last second. Some attempts worked. Many didn't.
I killed seven rats, three birds, and more insects than I could count.
Each death felt like a stab to my heart.
"I can't do this," I said after the seventh rat dropped dead. Tears streamed down my face. "I'm killing everything I touch."
"You're learning," Kael said without sympathy. "Every master started exactly where you are. The difference is whether you quit or keep trying."
"But I'm murdering innocent creatures!"
"Yes. You are." He crouched down in front of me. "And it's terrible. But do you know what's worse? Losing control during a real fight and killing your best friend. Accidentally draining Luna's soul because you didn't practice enough. Is that what you want?"
"No," I whispered.
"Then get up and try again."
I wiped my tears and stood. My whole body ached. My head throbbed. But I reached for another soul.
This time, I felt the moment my power tried to consume it. And this time, I pulled back just in time.
The rat lived.
"Good," Kael said. "Again."
I practiced until sunrise. By the time the sun lit up the sky, I could touch twenty souls in a row without killing any of them.
My body felt like it had been hit by a truck. My mind was exhausted. But I'd done it.
"Not bad for one night," Kael said. He actually sounded impressed. "Most people can't manage even one successful touch on their first night. You did twenty."
"Is that good?" I asked, too tired to stand.
"It's exceptional." He helped me to my feet. "Rest today. Tonight we move to lesson two: commanding spirits without accidentally enslaving them."
"There's a difference?"
"Oh yes. Commanding means they serve you willingly. Enslaving means you rip away their free will and turn them into puppets. One makes you powerful. The other makes you a tyrant that every spirit in the world will try to kill."
Great. Another way my power could turn me into a monster.
We walked back toward Luna's apartment as the city woke up. People hurried to work, completely unaware that a girl who could consume their souls had just walked past them.
"Kael," I said quietly. "In my dreams, I keep seeing memories that aren't mine. A different life. A war. Someone who looked like me loving someone who looked like you."
He stopped walking. For a long moment, he didn't say anything.
"Those aren't dreams," he finally said. "They're memories. From your past life."
"So it's true? I really am... her? The original Aria?"
"Yes." His voice was soft, almost painful. "A thousand years ago, you were the most powerful tamer in the world. And you were mine. We were going to change everything—create a world where demons and humans could live in peace."
"What happened?"
His jaw tightened. "We were betrayed. By the very people we trusted most. They killed you right in front of me. I tried to save you, but I failed. And in my rage, I nearly destroyed the world."
My heart ached for him. For the pain in his voice. "Is that why you were sealed?"
"Yes. Fifty master tamers working together barely managed to lock me away. They were terrified I'd finish what I started." He looked at me with those burning red eyes. "For a thousand years, I was alone in that darkness. And then you walked in. The same soul. The same fire. Like fate giving me a second chance."
"Do you think..." I hesitated. "Do you think we were meant to find each other again?"
"I don't believe in fate." But his expression softened. "But I'm starting to think the universe occasionally gets something right."
We started walking again. My mind spun with questions about past lives and second chances and—
A car screeched to a stop beside us.
The door flew open.
And Ren stepped out.
My ex-fiancé. The man who'd humiliated me three days ago. He looked terrible—dark circles under his eyes, rumpled clothes, like he hadn't slept.
"Aria." His voice cracked. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
Kael moved in front of me instantly, his body tense and ready to attack. "Give me one reason not to rip your soul out right now."
"Wait." I put my hand on Kael's arm. Not to stop him—honestly, I wouldn't mind watching Ren suffer. But I was curious. "What do you want?"
Ren's eyes were desperate. "I made a mistake. A terrible mistake. Yuki isn't—she's not who I thought she was. And you..." He stared at me, really seeing me for the first time. "Your eyes. They're different. You're different. What happened to you?"
"I stopped being the girl you could throw away," I said coldly.
"Please, just listen. The Council is hunting you. They know about your power surge. They're putting together a team to capture you—or kill you if you resist. I overheard my father talking about it. Aria, you're in danger."
My blood ran cold. "When?"
"Tonight. They're coming tonight." Ren reached for my hand, but Kael growled and he pulled back. "Let me help you. I can hide you. Keep you safe. I'm sorry for what I did. I'm so sorry. Just let me make it right."
I looked at this man who'd broken my heart. Who'd chosen my sister over me. Who'd called me a disappointment.
Now he wanted to save me?
"No," I said simply.
"No?" He looked shocked.
"I don't need you to save me, Ren. I don't need anyone to save me. Not anymore." I stepped closer to him, and he actually flinched. Good. "But thank you for the warning. I'll be ready when they come."
"Aria, you don't understand. This isn't just Enforcers. They're sending Master Tamers. People with legendary spirits. You can't fight them!"
"Watch me."
Kael laughed, dark and pleased. "I think the lady made herself clear. Run along now, before I decide you're not worth keeping alive."
Ren looked between us, realization dawning on his face. "You contracted with something. Something powerful." His eyes widened. "The Forbidden Shrine. You went inside and survived. What did you make a deal with?"
I smiled. The same kind of smile Yuki had given me.
"Something that's going to make you regret everything you did to me."
Shadows gathered around Kael. His red eyes glowed brighter.
Ren stumbled backward, terror written across his face. He dove into his car and sped away, tires screaming.
I watched him go, feeling nothing but satisfaction.
"Well," Kael said. "Looks like we're moving to combat training earlier than planned."
"Can I fight Master Tamers?" I asked. "With only one night of practice?"
"No. You'd die in seconds." He grinned. "But lucky for you, you have me. And together?" His smile turned wicked. "We're going to teach the Council what happens when they threaten what's mine."
My heart skipped. "What's yours?"
"You're my contractor. My partner. My..." He hesitated, something soft flickering in his eyes. "My storm. And no one touches what's mine."
Before I could process that, he grabbed my hand.
"Tonight, they come for you. So let's make sure they regret it." His grip tightened. "Time for lesson two: how to make legendary spirits kneel."
Purple and red energy exploded around us.
And I realized something terrifying and thrilling.
I wasn't the hunted anymore.
I was becoming the hunter.