The following days felt like a haze of uncertainty. The cryptic woman's sudden appearance in the forest had left both Kael and Aria on edge, their minds filled with questions that remained unanswered. Kael had kept his distance after that encounter, though it wasn't out of neglect—Aria could see the deep conflict swirling in his eyes every time he looked at her. He was trying to protect her, but it was clear he was also struggling with his own fears.
Aria couldn't shake the feeling that they were being pulled into something bigger than either of them understood, something that involved her more than she was ready to face.
The cabin, usually a place of solace for Kael, now felt like a prison. The silence between them had grown, not from lack of communication, but from the unsaid things that hung in the air. Aria had tried to reach out, tried to talk to Kael about what happened, but each time, he shut down.
She stared out the window one morning, her eyes tracing the mist that clung to the forest floor. The trees loomed like silent sentinels, their shadows stretching long in the early light. Her heart fluttered with the sensation of being watched, but when she turned, no one was there.
It's just your imagination, she told herself, but she couldn't shake the sense of unease that had become a constant companion.
"Aria."
Kael's voice, low and gravelly, broke her from her thoughts. She turned to face him, her heart skipping a beat. He stood in the doorway, his gaze locked on her. His presence always had this effect on her—calming yet intense, a contradiction that both drew her in and pushed her away. His eyes softened slightly, but there was a hesitation in his stance, a distance he wasn't ready to cross yet.
"I need to talk to you," he said, his voice steady but with a hint of urgency.
She nodded, pushing herself off the window sill. "About what?"
He hesitated before stepping into the room, closing the door behind him. The air between them thickened, and Aria's heart raced. The last time he'd asked to talk, it had been about the prophecy, the curse, and everything that tied their fates together. What now?
"You've been distant," she began, her voice quiet, but firm. "Ever since… since that woman appeared in the forest, you've been shutting me out. What's going on, Kael?"
His jaw tightened, his eyes darting away for a moment. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration. "I'm trying to protect you," he said finally, his tone heavy with something unspoken. "There are things you don't know. Things I can't tell you yet."
The words hit her like a punch to the gut. She had been expecting this, but hearing it aloud made it feel real. Kael was keeping secrets—secrets that would change everything.
"You said we're connected. You said I needed to know the truth. But now… now you're just pushing me away." Aria's voice wavered with emotion, her hands trembling as she crossed her arms defensively. "Why can't you just trust me, Kael?"
He stepped toward her, his gaze softening as he reached out to touch her arm. "I want to trust you. But this isn't just about us anymore. The stakes are higher than you realize."
Aria could feel the tension between them, the pull of their unspoken bond. She could feel his hesitation, the same hesitation she was fighting within herself. He was afraid. Afraid to lose her. Afraid of what their connection meant. But she couldn't stand it anymore. She needed answers.
"Tell me what's going on," she whispered, her voice trembling with the weight of the moment.
Kael's eyes searched hers, and for the first time, she saw the cracks in his armor. He was breaking, and he knew it.
"I can't protect you from the truth forever, Aria. There's a prophecy, yes, but it's not just about us. It's about everything. The curse. Your powers. My past." He paused, his eyes hardening once more. "You're part of something bigger than we ever realized. And if we're not careful, everything we care about will be destroyed."
Her heart skipped a beat, the weight of his words pressing down on her chest. "What do you mean?" she asked, fear creeping into her voice. "What's going to happen?"
He shook his head. "I don't know yet. But I feel it. There's something I haven't told you. Something that's been haunting me for centuries." Kael's voice dropped to a near whisper, and his eyes locked with hers, raw and vulnerable. "Aria, my curse… it's not just a punishment for killing my father and my brother. It's a part of something much darker. Something that has been waiting for the right moment to rise."
Aria stepped back, her mind reeling with the weight of his words. She wanted to speak, but her throat had gone dry. The truth was worse than anything she had imagined.
Kael's gaze softened as he took a step closer to her. "And you're tied to it. You always have been. Your power, Aria—it's the key. You're the one who can break the curse, or make it worse."
Her pulse raced at the implications of his words. The weight of the prophecy, the knowledge that she was at the center of it all, threatened to crush her. She wanted to ask more, to demand answers, but before she could speak, there was a knock at the door.
Kael's expression hardened immediately. "Stay here," he ordered, his tone sharp. "I'll deal with this."
Aria didn't argue. She had too many questions, but she knew better than to challenge him now. Kael opened the door with a swift motion, his body tense and his hand resting on the hilt of his knife.
A figure stepped into the room—someone Aria had never seen before. Tall, with dark, piercing eyes and a presence that made her skin prickle. The man didn't speak, just walked in as if he owned the place. His eyes immediately locked onto Aria, his gaze calculating and cold.
Kael stiffened. "What do you want?"
The man's lips curled into a smile. "I've been looking for you, Kael. And I think it's time we had a little chat."
Aria's heart pounded in her chest, and she instinctively took a step back, moving closer to Kael. She didn't know who this man was, but she knew one thing for sure—he wasn't here for good reasons.
Kael's posture shifted, becoming more defensive. "If you've come to threaten her, you'll leave in pieces."
The man chuckled darkly, his eyes flicking back to Aria before he looked at Kael. "I think it's you who should be worried, old friend. Your curse is about to come to a head, and there's nothing you can do to stop it."
Aria's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling.
The man's smile widened. "You'll find out soon enough. But remember, Kael—every decision you make from here on out will affect her. And you. The prophecy is clear. You're both running out of time."
With those final, chilling words, the man turned and walked out, leaving the air thick with unease.
Kael remained frozen for a moment, his eyes locked on the door. Aria could feel the tension radiating off of him, and for the first time, she understood the weight of what Kael had been carrying for centuries.
The prophecy, the curse—it wasn't just about Kael. It was about both of them.