Chapter 45: Betrayal

The journey grew increasingly tense as they ventured deeper into the unknown. Zeryn could feel it—the constant presence of something sinister lurking just out of reach. The shadows inside her were growing restless, and she struggled to keep them under control. But there was no time to worry about that now. There were more pressing concerns.

The leader, whose once unwavering certainty had begun to show cracks, glanced over at Zeryn with a troubled expression. The green-eyed figure, usually calm and collected, now seemed to carry a weight of their own. The group had become silent in their march, each person lost in their thoughts as the days grew longer.

They camped by a stream that evening, the fire crackling in the silence. Zeryn sat apart from the others, her eyes fixed on the flickering flames, lost in her own thoughts. The shadows around her seemed to pulse with anticipation.

"You’re not alone in this."

Zeryn turned sharply at the sound of the voice, finding the green-eyed figure standing at the edge of the camp. They looked uneasy, their gaze averted. "What is it?" Zeryn asked.

"I don’t trust him," they whispered, glancing over at the leader.

Zeryn raised an eyebrow. "The leader?"

The green-eyed figure nodded. "I’ve been watching him. He’s hiding something. There’s a darkness inside him too—something he doesn’t want anyone to know. We need to be careful."

Zeryn frowned. She had always trusted the leader, but the unease in the green-eyed figure’s voice planted a seed of doubt. Could it be true?

That night, Zeryn couldn’t sleep. The weight of the conversation hung heavily on her mind. The fire flickered in the darkness, casting long shadows across the camp. Her heart raced as she watched the leader, his silhouette against the firelight. Was it possible? Could he be hiding something from them?

She decided to confront him.

Zeryn approached the leader, her footsteps muffled by the soft earth. He was standing apart from the camp, staring out into the forest. His eyes seemed distant, almost... haunted.

"You’re not sleeping?" Zeryn asked quietly.

He turned to face her, his gaze momentarily flickering with surprise before he regained his composure. "No. I’ve been thinking. The Council is closer than I thought."

Zeryn hesitated, then asked, "What are you not telling us?"

The leader’s eyes narrowed, and for the first time, Zeryn saw something in his gaze—a hint of something darker, something hidden. "What do you mean?"

"I’ve seen the way you act lately," Zeryn said, her voice steady. "The green-eyed figure, they’ve been watching you. They think you’re hiding something."

The leader’s expression faltered for a moment, and Zeryn felt her heart skip a beat. He took a slow step back, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword. "You shouldn’t trust everyone," he said quietly. "Not even your allies."

Zeryn’s breath caught in her throat as she processed his words. "What are you saying?"

Before he could respond, a loud crack echoed through the night air, followed by a low, guttural growl. Zeryn’s instincts kicked in, and she turned to see a group of shadowy figures emerging from the forest.

"We’re not alone," the leader muttered, drawing his sword. "Get ready."

Zeryn reached out for the shadows inside her, feeling the familiar surge of energy. But just as she was about to unleash her power, she heard it. A voice—low and mocking—whispering through her mind.

"Did you think he would let you live? Did you think he was ever on your side?"

The words chilled her to the bone, and in that moment, she understood. The leader wasn’t what he seemed. He was one of them—the Dark Council.

Zeryn’s heart pounded as she took a step back. The betrayal hit harder than she could have imagined. The leader, the one they had trusted, had been playing them all along.

"Fight back!" the leader shouted, his sword flashing as he charged into battle against the shadowy figures.

But Zeryn could barely focus on the fight. The weight of the revelation pressed down on her, threatening to consume her.

The green-eyed figure rushed to her side, their voice urgent. "Zeryn, focus! We need you now!"

Zeryn’s eyes met theirs, and for the first time, she felt the true weight of the darkness within her. She could either succumb to it or wield it as her own.

With a deep breath, she chose the latter.

The shadows around her swirled, and with a powerful roar, she unleashed them in a wave of energy, engulfing the dark figures in an explosion of dark tendrils. The creatures hissed and writhed, but Zeryn held them in place, letting the shadows crush them into the earth.

But her thoughts were still clouded with the betrayal. The leader had known from the beginning. He had always been a part of this, and now they were forced to fight against him.

As the last of the shadows dissipated, Zeryn’s gaze turned to the leader, standing in the distance, his sword still raised. His eyes met hers, cold and unforgiving.

"You made a mistake," he said, his voice low. "But it’s too late now."

Zeryn’s heart pounded as she stood her ground. This wasn’t over. Not yet.