"This shouldn't exist."
Kaelen's voice was tight as he stared at the aged parchment spread across the wooden table. The dim candlelight flickered, illuminating the intricate markings—symbols older than any language Ariana had ever seen. The ink had faded over centuries, yet the lines remained sharp, almost pulsating with an eerie energy that seemed to hum in the silence of the room.
Ariana stood beside him, arms crossed, her heart racing as she absorbed the gravity of the situation. "And yet, here it is."
Beside her, Darius—their trusted ally—leaned closer, his wolfish eyes scanning the markings intently. "I don't like this," he growled, his voice low and ominous. "If Lucian gets his hands on this, we're all screwed."
Kaelen exhaled through his nose, frustration etched in every line of his face. "Where did you find it?"
Ariana met his gaze, unflinching despite the tension crackling in the air. "It was hidden inside the monastery ruins. Beneath the altar. Someone wanted it buried."
Kaelen slammed his palm on the table, the force rattling the old wood, sending dust motes swirling into the air. "You should've left it there."
Ariana flinched at his outburst, but she didn't back down. "You really think that would stop Lucian? He's already looking for it. I'd rather we have it first."
Kaelen's hands curled into fists, his muscles tense with frustration. He turned away, staring at the darkened window, as if hoping the night would offer him a reprieve from the chaos unfolding around them. "You don't understand what this means."
"Then make me understand," Ariana shot back, her voice firm as she stepped closer, refusing to let him retreat further into himself. "Because all I see is a map leading to something Lucian is desperate to find."
Darius traced the symbols with his fingers, his expression grim. "This isn't just any map. This marks the location of the Rift—the portal between worlds." He looked up, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and determination. "The same portal that was sealed centuries ago to prevent creatures from crossing over."
Ariana swallowed hard, the truth settling heavily in her stomach. "And Lucian wants to open it."
Kaelen turned sharply, his golden eyes burning with frustration, the heat of his anger palpable. "You think this is a game? That you can just waltz into this fight without understanding what's at stake?"
Ariana clenched her fists, feeling the fire ignite within her. "I'm here, aren't I?"
A beat of silence stretched between them, filled with the weight of their unspoken fears.
Darius cleared his throat, attempting to diffuse the tension. "Argue later. Right now, we need to figure out what this map is telling us."
Kaelen sighed, dragging a hand through his hair, his frustration morphing into something more focused. He leaned over the parchment, his sharp eyes analyzing every symbol, every line. "This marking—it's not just a location. It's a warning."
Ariana frowned, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Warning for what?"
Kaelen hesitated, his voice barely a whisper as he muttered, "Death."
They sat in silence for a while, the weight of the discovery settling like a storm cloud overhead. Ariana traced the edges of the map, her mind racing with possibilities. "Where exactly does this lead?"
Darius pointed to the mountain range sketched in the center. "The Swiss Alps. That's where the portal is."
Ariana's stomach tightened at the thought. "Then that's where Lucian is heading."
Kaelen shook his head, his expression darkening further. "If he hasn't already."
Darius exhaled sharply, the tension mounting in the small room. "How much time do we have?"
Kaelen ran a hand down his face, his demeanor shifting from frustration to determination. "Days. Maybe less."
Ariana bit her lip, the urgency of their situation hitting her like a freight train. "Then we don't have a choice. We have to go after him."
Kaelen's eyes snapped to hers, something dark flashing behind them. "No. You're not coming."
Ariana scoffed, disbelief lacing her tone. "Like hell I'm not."
Kaelen stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, the air thick with unspoken emotions. "You don't belong in this war." His voice was low, yet it carried an unwavering conviction that made her heart race.
She tilted her chin up, refusing to back down. "Then why does it keep finding me?"
Silence enveloped them, heavy and charged, as Kaelen's fists clenched at his sides, his frustration evident. "You don't know what's waiting beyond that portal, Ariana."
"Neither do you," she countered, her voice steady, fueled by the fierce resolve coursing through her veins.
His breath hitched, but Ariana pressed on, feeling the weight of their shared past and the undeniable bond that had formed between them. "You keep trying to push me away, but I'm already in this, Kaelen. Whether you like it or not."
Darius sighed, the tension between them palpable. "She's right. We need every advantage we can get."
Kaelen shot him a glare, but Darius merely raised his hands in surrender, maintaining his calm demeanor. "Hey, I'm just saying—she's proven herself more than once."
Kaelen pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. "This is insane."
Ariana smirked, a flicker of humor breaking through the tension. "Welcome to my life."
The fire crackled in the hearth, casting long shadows across the stone walls. The map lay between them, its secrets still unfolding, waiting for them to decipher the true extent of its power.
Kaelen ran a finger over the symbols, his expression shifting from frustration to concentration. "The portal isn't just hidden. It's protected."
Darius nodded, his brows knitting together as he considered the implications. "Guardians?"
Kaelen's jaw tensed, his eyes narrowing with concern. "Worse. A bloodlock."
Ariana frowned, confusion etching her features. "What's a bloodlock?"
Darius leaned back, rubbing his temple as if trying to dispel the headache forming from the weight of the situation. "It means you need the right bloodline to open it."
Kaelen's expression darkened, the reality of their predicament settling in. "And guess whose blood Lucian needs?"
Ariana's breath caught in her throat, the gravity of his words crashing down on her like a tidal wave. "Mine."
Silence hung thick between them, suffocating and heavy.
Darius cursed under his breath, the realization dawning upon them all. "That's why he's been after you."
Ariana swallowed hard, a sickening realization settling in her chest. "So if I die... he can't open it?"
Kaelen's growl was instant, fierce and protective. "Don't even think about it."
Ariana forced a shaky breath, her heart pounding as she tried to remain composed. "I wasn't—"
"Yes, you were." His voice was a low, dangerous warning, filled with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.
She met his eyes, and in that moment, something unreadable passed between them—a connection forged in the fires of chaos and uncertainty. Kaelen looked—afraid. And that terrified her more than anything.
Darius cleared his throat, breaking the suffocating silence that had enveloped them. "So, what's the plan?"
Kaelen's jaw tightened, determination flooding his features. "We leave before sunrise. If Lucian wants this portal open, he'll have to go through me first."
Ariana exhaled slowly, the weight of their impending journey settling heavily on her shoulders. "And if we're too late?"
Kaelen looked at her, something unreadable in his gaze, a flicker of concern mixed with unyielding determination.
Then he answered, voice like steel, resolute and unyielding. "Then we pray he doesn't succeed."
The words hung in the air, a chilling reminder of the stakes they faced. A portal to another world lay before them, a gateway to untold horrors and unimaginable power. The thought of Lucian gaining access to it sent a shiver down her spine, but the thought of standing by while he pursued his dark ambitions was even worse.
As the candlelight flickered, casting eerie shadows across the walls, Ariana felt the weight of their impending journey settle like a stone in her stomach. They were racing against time, against an enemy who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. And yet, despite the fear gnawing at her insides, a sense of determination ignited within her.
She glanced at Kaelen, who was staring at the map, his expression a mixture of resolve and anguish. He was willing to do whatever it took to protect her—to protect them all. But she wouldn't let him shoulder that burden alone. Not anymore.
Darius leaned closer to the map, his brow furrowed in concentration. "We should gather supplies and weapons. We'll need everything we can get if we're going to face Lucian."
Kaelen nodded, his expression hardening as he met Ariana's gaze. "You're coming with us, but you need to promise me you'll stay close. No heroics."