Chapter 4: Bound by Shadows

Zeryn’s heart pounded as the shadows writhed around her, responding to her unspoken will. The figures stopped in their tracks, but the one who had spoken stepped closer, his hood falling back to reveal sharp features and piercing gray eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light.

“You’ve only scratched the surface,” he said, his tone calm, almost admiring. “But it’s enough to prove what you are.”

“What do you want from me?” Zeryn demanded, her voice shaking despite the surge of power coursing through her veins.

The man smirked, stepping closer. “To guide you. To show you the truth of what lies within. You’ve been lied to, kept in the dark about what you are. But now the shadows have chosen you.”

Zeryn’s grip on her newfound power faltered, the barrier of shadows flickering. Her mind raced. This man spoke with certainty, as if he knew more about her than she did.

“Stay back!” she shouted, her voice wavering. The shadows surged again, forming jagged tendrils that lashed out at the stranger.

He didn’t flinch. With a flick of his hand, the tendrils dissolved into nothing, as if they had never existed. Zeryn staggered, the energy leaving her body as quickly as it had come.

“You lack control,” the man said, his tone now tinged with impatience. “The darkness inside you is strong, but it will destroy you unless you master it.”

Before Zeryn could respond, one of the other cloaked figures stepped forward, a blade gleaming in the moonlight. “Enough talk,” the figure hissed. “She’s just a girl. End this before she becomes a threat.”

Fear gripped Zeryn again, and she stumbled back, her breath coming in short gasps. The shadows around her shrank, retreating as if they, too, were afraid.

“No!” The man raised a hand, stopping the blade-wielding figure in their tracks. “She is not to be harmed. Not yet.”

The figure hesitated but lowered their weapon, muttering under their breath.

The man turned back to Zeryn, his gray eyes softening. “You have a choice, Zeryn Kaelith. Come with me, and I will teach you to control the darkness within you. Stay here, and you will be consumed by it—or worse, by those who fear it.”

Zeryn’s legs trembled, and she felt the weight of his words settle over her like a shroud. She thought of her aunt, of the life she had always known. Could she really leave it all behind?

“I… I don’t trust you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man’s smirk returned. “Good. Trust is earned, not given. But if you want to survive, you’ll follow me. The ones who come next won’t be as forgiving.”

Zeryn glanced behind her, toward the dark forest. The thought of running again, of facing this power alone, filled her with dread. She took a shaky step forward, her fists clenched.

“Fine,” she said, her voice firming. “But if you try anything, I’ll fight back.”

The man chuckled, a sound both amused and approving. “That’s the spirit.”

He turned, his cloak billowing around him like a living shadow. The others fell into step behind him, their presence silent and foreboding.

Zeryn hesitated for only a moment before following, her heart heavy with uncertainty. The shadows around her stirred, as if whispering secrets she couldn’t yet understand.

For better or worse, her path was set.