13. Elara

13

ELARA

T he sound of footsteps pulls me from my thoughts, and I turn to see Lucian entering the keep. He’s covered in dark smudges, his face hardened, and there’s a faint limp in his step. But it’s his eyes that catch my attention—cold and focused, as though he’s just returned from a battlefield.

I swallow, the weight of what I’ve seen pressing down on me. I’d watched him face that creature, deflecting blow after blow with a ferocity that left me breathless. I knew he was powerful, but witnessing it firsthand is something else entirely. He’s risking so much—more than I’d realized—to keep me safe.

“Lucian,” I call out, my voice steadier than I feel. He glances at me, his expression unreadable, but he doesn’t say anything. I steel myself, stepping forward. “Teach me. I want to learn how to defend myself.”

He raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “You think a few lessons will make you invincible?”

I grit my teeth, refusing to back down. “I’m not asking to be invincible. I’m asking to survive. I don’t want to be a liability, and I don’t want to rely on you every time something comes for me.”

He regards me with a mixture of frustration and something almost like approval. “You’re stubborn, I’ll give you that. But training in the Underworld is not like training in the human world. Here, weakness is death.”

“Then push me,” I reply, my voice firm. “I’d rather be broken by you than torn apart by something else.”

For a moment, he’s silent, as if considering my words. Then he nods, his expression hardening. “Very well. But understand this—there will be no mercy. If you want to survive, you’ll have to confront every weakness, every fear. Anything less, and you’ll be consumed.”

I nod, a mixture of fear and determination bubbling within me. “I understand.”

He leads me to a secluded part of the keep, a dimly lit chamber filled with strange, shifting shadows that seem to move with a life of their own. The atmosphere is suffocating, heavy with an energy that makes my skin prickle. Lucian stands before me, his gaze sharp, unyielding.

“Begin,” he says, his voice cold. “Summon your power.”

I close my eyes, reaching for that spark within me, the faint warmth I’d felt before. It flickers, hesitant, but I focus, drawing it closer, letting it build. It’s a struggle, a constant battle between fear and control, but I refuse to give up.

“Stop hesitating,” Lucian snaps. “Power does not respond to hesitation. It demands certainty, strength. If you want to survive, you must command it.”

I grit my teeth, anger flaring as I push harder. The spark grows, a dim glow filling my hand, but it’s unstable, flickering with every pulse of doubt. “I’m trying!” I shout, frustration lacing my voice.

“Trying isn’t enough,” he replies coldly. “Power does not yield to those who ‘try.’ It bends only to those who demand it.”

His words fuel my anger, and I feel something shift within me. The spark flares brighter, a surge of heat that fills my veins, spreading through me like wildfire. My eyes snap open, and for the first time, I feel it—my power, raw and untamed, pulsing in time with my heartbeat.

The energy is overwhelming, intoxicating, but I fight to hold it, to keep it steady. It’s a force that both thrills and terrifies me, a reminder of the strength I hold within. For a moment, I feel invincible, like I could take on anything that comes my way.

Lucian watches, his expression unreadable, but I see a flicker of something in his eyes—respect, maybe, or concern. “Good,” he says quietly. “But don’t let it control you. Power like this is a double-edged sword. It will protect you, but it will also draw attention. Dark attention.”

I nod, breathing hard, feeling the power begin to fade, leaving a strange emptiness in its wake. “I understand,” I say, my voice barely a whisper. “But I’m not going to let it stop me.”

He regards me for a moment, his gaze intense, and for once, his harsh exterior softens. “You’re stronger than I thought,” he admits, his tone almost… proud. “But strength alone won’t keep you alive here. You must learn control. Without it, this power will consume you, just as it consumes everything else in this realm.”

I take a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination. “Then I’ll learn. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

For a moment, we stand in silence, the tension between us palpable. There’s something unspoken in the air, a connection that goes beyond the pact, something I don’t fully understand. But I know one thing—I’m not alone in this. And as much as I hate to admit it, Lucian is more than just my captor. He’s my ally. Maybe even… more.

He steps back, his expression hardening once more, as if reminding himself of his role. “The Underworld is relentless, Elara. It won’t hesitate to exploit every weakness, every crack. If you’re going to survive, you’ll need to become more than just a spark.”

I nod, a fierce resolve settling in my chest. “I’ll be ready.”

He gives me a final, approving glance before turning to leave, his footsteps echoing through the chamber. As I watch him go, a strange mixture of fear and exhilaration fills me. I know the path ahead won’t be easy, but I’m ready to face it, to become the force I need to be.

Whatever darkness lies in this world, I’ll meet it head-on. And with Lucian at my side, I know I have a fighting chance.

The Underworld may test me, may try to break me, but I won’t give it the satisfaction. I’ll survive. And I’ll prove that even a spark can ignite an inferno.