Echoes under the Moonlight

The night air felt colder now, and Ava's breath came out in quick, shallow gasps. The silence of the clearing was deafening, broken only by the distant sounds of the forest. Her heart thudded against her chest as she processed Lucien's words. A power hidden in her bloodline, something to do with the moon? It felt like a dream—one she wanted to wake up from.

But no matter how hard she tried, the truth wouldn't let her go. She wasn't just Ava. She was something else. Someone else.

Lucien stood before her, his eyes darker now, intense with a weight she couldn't fully understand. "You don't have to believe it all at once, but you need to understand that your life isn't just yours anymore."

Ava shook her head, trying to clear the confusion. "But why me? Why am I the one?"

Lucien stepped closer, his voice steady but urgent. "Because your bloodline is tied to the moon's power. It's been hidden for centuries, waiting for the right moment. That moment is now. You are the key."

She looked down at her wrist, where the crescent-shaped mark glowed softly. It pulsed, almost as if it had a heartbeat of its own. She reached for it, her fingers trembling. "What is this supposed to do? How does this mark… connect me to everything?"

Lucien's eyes darkened as he took a step back. "It marks you as the last of your kind. Those who want the power of the moon are coming for you, Ava. They won't stop until they have it."

Ava could hardly breathe. "But I don't know how to control any of this. I'm just… just a girl who's been thrown into this mess."

Lucien's gaze softened, but his expression remained serious. "You're not just a girl. You're the last hope for the world. This mark… it's not a curse. It's your strength. Your power lies in it. And if you don't learn how to wield it, everything will fall."

Ava's mind raced. "How am I supposed to stop all of this? I'm not… I don't even know what I'm doing."

"You will," Lucien said firmly. "But first, we need to understand who is after you. We need to stop them before they can find out how much power you have."

Ava stood up, feeling dizzy, but her legs finally held her. The weight of the situation was overwhelming, but something inside her stirred. A flicker of determination, buried beneath the fear, began to ignite. Lucien wasn't just offering her answers—he was offering her a chance to fight.

Suddenly, a sharp growl echoed through the trees, sending a chill through her. Ava's heart stopped for a moment. It wasn't the wind. It was real. They weren't alone.

Lucien's body tensed, and he quickly pulled her behind him. His hand was firm on her arm, but Ava could feel his body stiffen with anticipation. "They're here," he murmured, his voice barely audible.

Ava's breath quickened, her pulse pounding in her ears. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath.

And then, the shadows shifted.

Figures emerged, moving with a swift, unnatural grace. Their eyes gleamed red in the dark, and their features were distorted, almost inhuman. Ava could feel the cold air ripple around them.

"Lucien," one of the figures said, its voice smooth like silk. "You can't protect her forever. She belongs to us."

Ava's stomach dropped. Her grip on Lucien tightened, but he didn't look back. His eyes locked onto the figures, a low growl rumbling from his throat.

"Stay behind me," Lucien whispered to Ava.

She didn't have to be told twice. Every instinct in her screamed to stay hidden. Lucien's presence felt like a shield, but Ava could see the tension in his stance. These weren't just hunters—they were something worse. More dangerous.

The leader of the group, the one who had spoken, stepped forward. His skin was pale, almost ghostly, and his smile was nothing but malice. His eyes, glowing with hunger, fixed on Ava.

"She doesn't understand yet, does she?" the leader said, his voice like a venomous whisper. "How much power she holds. But soon, she will."

Lucien's eyes flickered with barely contained fury. "You won't touch her."

The leader chuckled, a low, dark sound that echoed through the clearing. "We'll see, won't we?" He looked back at Ava, his gaze full of cold calculation. "The moon's power cannot remain hidden. It's only a matter of time before it calls to her."

Ava's blood ran cold. The idea of having power like that—something so strong it could destroy everything she knew—terrified her.

"Why do you want me?" Ava demanded, her voice shaky but louder now. "I'm just me. I don't want any of this."

The leader tilted his head, his smile stretching even wider. "You don't get a choice. You never did."

Lucien moved, stepping in front of Ava. "I told you, she's under my protection. You'll never get your hands on her."

The tension in the air grew thicker, the night pressing in around them like an invisible wall. Ava couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Her heart hammered in her chest, every instinct screaming to run. But Lucien wasn't backing down. He stood his ground, like a wall of steel.

Ava's mind swirled with fear and confusion. What was she supposed to do? How could she fight when she didn't even understand the danger? Lucien seemed so sure, but she could barely keep up with the whirlwind of words and threats.

And then, just as the standoff seemed to reach a boiling point, the ground beneath their feet trembled. The air hummed, a strange vibration that Ava felt deep in her bones. A force surged around her, unlike anything she'd ever felt. It was as if the earth itself was responding to her presence, to the mark on her wrist.

Lucien's eyes widened. "It's starting," he muttered, his voice thick with urgency. "Ava, you have to control it. Focus."

Ava's hands shook as she looked down at the mark on her wrist. It glowed brighter now, pulsing in rhythm with her heartbeat. Something deep within her stirred, a power awakening, filling her veins with heat.

The hunters looked around, sensing the change in the air. The leader's expression flickered with uncertainty.

Lucien's voice came to her, low but steady. "Trust yourself. This is your moment."

Ava clenched her fists, breathing through the fear, the uncertainty. She had no choice but to embrace it. The power. The mark. The moon's legacy.

The clearing erupted with energy.

A wave of force shot from her, powerful and pure. The ground beneath them cracked, sending the hunters scrambling backward. Ava's body burned with energy, her mind sharp and clear. She could feel the moon's power coursing through her, as if the very earth was alive with it.

The hunters fell back, fear creeping into their eyes for the first time.

Ava stood tall, her heart steadying. She had no idea what she had just done, but one thing was clear: she wasn't powerless anymore.

Lucien's eyes locked with hers, and for the first time, she saw something else in his gaze—a flicker of respect.

"You're ready," he said quietly, his voice full of approval. "We fight this together."

Ava nodded, though she felt far from ready. But she wasn't backing down anymore. She had a choice, and for the first time, she was ready to face whatever came next.

The hunters hesitated, their eyes darting between each other. But it was too late. The battle for the moon's power had already begun.