The sky over the castle blackened with an unnatural haze. Olivia stood at the eastern gate, heart pounding, eyes locked on the forest where shadows swirled like smoke with teeth. The Shades were coming—figures of darkness, barely human, with glowing violet eyes and limbs that moved like liquid.
She had seen nightmares. This was worse.
Aiden stood beside her, his jaw clenched, his stance protective. Behind them, Elara and Kael whispered spells under their breath, warding the gates with ancient sigils drawn in glowing runes. The air crackled with energy.
"Remember what I told you," Kael said, stepping closer to Olivia. "Don't fight the fire. Guide it."
She nodded, her fingers twitching, heat rising beneath her skin like an itch she couldn't scratch.
"Open the gates!" Elara ordered.
With a groaning creak, the massive iron doors parted, revealing a dozen Shades slithering forward. They didn't run. They glided—like smoke possessed. As they approached, the land beneath them withered. Grass turned black, stone cracked, and the air turned bitter.
Aiden drew a short blade from his belt, enchanted silver that shimmered in the dim light. "Stay behind me," he said.
"No," Olivia whispered. "I need to do this."
And then they were upon them.
The first Shade lunged. Kael was faster—his hand flared with blue flame as he struck it midair, reducing it to ash with a howl that shook Olivia's bones. Two more rushed forward, shrieking. Aiden met them with the blade, slashing through one and dodging the claws of the other.
Olivia backed away instinctively. One of the Shades turned to her, sensing the power coiled inside her like a sleeping dragon. It screeched and leapt.
She didn't think. She burned.
Flames exploded from her palms, roaring into the creature's chest, swallowing it whole. The shadow screamed, twisting violently before vanishing into ash. Olivia gasped, heat rippling through her like a tidal wave. The fire had come quickly—more quickly than ever before.
Kael turned toward her with a tight nod. "Again!"
Another Shade broke through. Olivia focused, channelled the heat up her spine, into her arms, through her fingertips. Fire burst forth in a controlled arc, catching two creatures mid-stride. They shrieked and vanished, leaving only scorched earth behind.
But then a different sound came from the trees. A long, drawn-out whistle.
"Wait," Elara said, her voice dropping. "Something's wrong."
The air grew colder—despite the flames.
From the shadows stepped a tall figure, cloaked in black mist, her face pale as moonlight. Her hair was silver, eyes glowing violet. She smiled, slow and cruel.
"Seraphina," Kael hissed, his body tensing.
"No," Elara said. "Not her. One of her twins."
"A what now?" Aiden asked.
"Twins," Kael muttered. "Born of magic. Bound to her will. They act as her hands in the world."
The woman stepped forward, graceful and deadly. "So this is the little spark I've heard so much about," she purred, her eyes locking onto Olivia. "You look just like she did, you know. Before she broke."
Olivia didn't move. "And you are?"
"Call me Maeva. I'm here to bring you to the Queen."
"I'm not going anywhere."
Maeva's smile widened. "Oh, sweetheart. That's cute."
In a blur, she shot forward—fast as lightning, too fast to follow. Olivia reacted instinctively, throwing up a wall of fire just in time. Maeva slammed into it, shrieking as her skin hissed against the heat. She staggered back, eyes narrowed.
"You will come," she growled, her voice no longer smooth but distorted, warped.
Kael moved between them. "Not today."
Maeva snarled and raised her arms. Shadows erupted from the earth like spears. Aiden dragged Olivia down just in time to dodge one, but Kael was caught in the side—his arm grazed by dark energy. He grunted, stumbling back.
"Kael!" Olivia cried.
"I'm fine!" he snapped, though blood dripped from his sleeve.
The fire in Olivia surged. She stood slowly, rage burning in her chest. Maeva raised a hand to strike again—but Olivia was faster.
With a scream, Olivia unleashed the fire—not a stream this time, but a wave. It roared like a hurricane, engulfing the courtyard, scorching everything in its path—but it missed her allies. She bent the fire around them.
Maeva howled in pain, caught directly in the blast. The shadows writhed and dissolved.
When the flames cleared, Maeva was gone—nothing but scorched footprints where she'd stood.
Olivia collapsed to her knees, panting. Her hands trembled. The courtyard was quiet. The Shades were gone.
Silence.
Then, a soft gasp from Elara. "She bent the flame."
Kael stared at Olivia, wide-eyed. "You controlled it."
Olivia blinked. "I… I think I did."
Aiden helped her up, wrapping an arm around her waist. "That was insane. Are you alright?"
She nodded shakily. "For now."
Elara approached, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. "You're stronger than I thought. But that was only one sister. Seraphina will send more. She won't stop."
Olivia looked at the ashes scattered across the ground.
"Then neither will I."