14. Lucian

14

LUCIAN

I watch her from the shadows, my gaze fixed on the figure moving through the darkness, struggling to summon control over her power. Each day, Elara pushes herself harder, the spark within her growing stronger, more intense. She’s learning, adapting. But with every step forward, I feel a pang of unease—a sense that her power is becoming something beyond even my understanding.

She’s relentless, unyielding in her defiance of this world, and I can’t help but feel a strange mixture of pride and worry. This was meant to be temporary, a pact to ensure her survival. But the more I watch her, the more I realize that she’s becoming… something else. Something that could tip the balance of this realm.

A sudden surge of energy jolts me from my thoughts, a wave of power radiating from her that makes the shadows tremble. I step forward, my gaze narrowing as I see her struggling to contain the energy spiraling out of control. She’s lost in it, her eyes wide with a mixture of terror and exhilaration.

“Elara!” I shout, but my voice barely reaches her over the hum of raw power.

The darkness around us shifts, recoiling as if in fear, and in that moment, I feel it—a presence lurking in the depths, drawn by the disturbance. It’s ancient, powerful, and hungry, a force that’s been lying dormant, waiting for a spark to reignite it.

I move quickly, reaching her side and placing a hand on her shoulder, grounding her. “Focus,” I say, my voice low and steady. “Control it. Don’t let it control you.”

Her breathing steadies, the energy around her receding, but the presence remains, watching, waiting. I turn, my gaze fixed on the shadows as a figure materializes, its form twisted and monstrous, eyes gleaming with a dark, malevolent light.

“So this is the infamous Lucian,” it hisses, its voice dripping with malice. “And here I thought the tales were exaggerated. But it seems even you are susceptible to… attachments.”

I clench my fists, stepping in front of Elara, shielding her from the creature’s gaze. “Leave,” I command, my voice cold. “You’re trespassing on my domain.”

The creature laughs, a harsh, grating sound. “Your domain? Don’t fool yourself, Lucian. You’ve allowed a mortal to infect your world, to taint your shadows with her light. You’re losing control, and you know it.”

Elara takes a step back, glancing between us, and I sense her fear, her confusion. I tighten my grip on my power, refusing to let this creature see any weakness. “She is under my protection,” I say, voice filled with menace. “If you so much as look at her, I’ll ensure you regret it.”

The creature sneers, its eyes narrowing. “Protection? You’re a fool. Her power is a beacon, a threat to the very balance of the Underworld. She will be consumed, one way or another. And when that happens, not even you will be able to stop it.”

A surge of anger flares within me, and I feel my magic pulsing, dark and deadly, ready to strike. “If you value your existence, you’ll leave now,” I growl, my voice edged with fury.

The creature hesitates, sensing the danger, but it gives one last mocking laugh before it fades into the shadows, its voice echoing in the air. “Remember my words, Lucian. She is a flame, and flames always burn out.”

As the silence settles, I feel the tension in my body slowly fade, the anger receding. But the creature’s words linger, a reminder of the risk I’m taking by keeping her here, by allowing her power to grow unchecked. This realm is unforgiving, and even I can’t protect her from every threat that lurks in the shadows.

I turn to find her watching me, her expression a mix of gratitude and fear. “Thank you,” she says softly, her voice barely a whisper.

I nod, my gaze hardening. “That creature was right about one thing. Your power is a beacon. It will draw attention, and the threats will only grow stronger.”

She looks away, the weight of my words settling over her. “Then teach me to control it. Show me how to defend myself.”

Her determination is fierce, unyielding, and for a moment, I feel a pang of something I can’t quite name. She’s not just a mortal, not just a fleeting soul bound by a curse. She’s becoming a part of this world—a part of my world—and it terrifies me more than any creature lurking in the shadows.

“You’re already stronger than you know,” I say, my voice softening. “But strength without control is a weapon that can turn against you. If you’re to survive, you’ll need to master this power, to wield it without mercy.”

She nods, her gaze steady, resolute. “I understand. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

I take a step back, the distance between us both comforting and unsettling. I can feel the bond between us, the pact that ties our fates together, and it’s stronger than I anticipated, a thread woven deeper than I’d intended.

“You have potential,” I say, my tone colder than I feel. “But don’t mistake power for invincibility. The Underworld is relentless. If you’re not careful, it will consume you.”

She meets my gaze, a fierce determination in her eyes. “Then I’ll make sure it doesn’t.”

I nod, unwilling to admit the strange sense of pride her words stir within me. She’s become more than just a responsibility, more than a burden. She’s a spark in this endless darkness, and though I’ve tried to ignore it, I know now that I can’t. I won’t let her be consumed, won’t let this realm take her from me.

As I turn to leave, I feel her gaze lingering on me, and for the first time, I allow myself to acknowledge the truth I’ve been denying. She’s more than just a spark. She’s become a flame—a force that could either bring light to this world or burn it to the ground.

Whatever the future holds, I know one thing with certainty: I’ll defend her, no matter the cost. And if that means facing the darkness within myself, then so be it.

The Underworld may test us both, but I won’t let it break her. Not while there’s still a part of me that remembers what it means to fight for something beyond myself.