The Midnight Key

The second howl sent a shiver through the air, distant yet too close.

Rene stood, her grip tightening around Rena. The twins were already at the balcony, their silver eyes scanning the darkened treetops below. Nyra moved beside them, her expression hard as steel.

Lucien?

He was still lounging, but his golden eyes were sharper than before, his usual smirk tinged with something almost eager.

Something was coming.

And then—

A shift in the air.

Not a sound. Not a movement.

Just pressure.

Heavy. Suffocating.

Adriel's head snapped up. "They're here."

Adrian exhaled, slow and controlled. "One."

Rene frowned. "Just one?"

Lucien chuckled under his breath. "Oh, you poor thing. You think that's a good thing?"

Then, from the shadows—

A voice.

"You are difficult to track."

It wasn't a whisper. It wasn't a shout.

It was just loud enough to be heard.

But it didn't come from one direction.

It came from everywhere.

Nyra's blade was out in an instant. The twins stood at her side, their silver light flickering to life in their hands.

Rene didn't move.

She held Rena close, listening.

The air was colder now.

The night, darker.

And then—

A figure stepped into the light.

Tall.

Draped in shifting shadows, as if the night itself clung to them. Their face was obscured, hidden beneath a dark hood, but their eyes—

A deep, hollow gold.

Not like Lucien's warm, burning gold.

This was colder.

Ancient.

Lucien, for once, didn't look amused.

Nyra's grip on her weapon tightened. "Who are you?"

The figure took another step forward, slow and deliberate.

"The first."

Rene's pulse quickened. "The first what?"

A pause.

Then—

"The first to come for the key."

Rena stirred slightly in Rene's arms, as if sensing the danger.

The pendant around Rene's neck pulsed again.

And then—

The figure moved.

Faster than thought.

Straight for her.

Nyra reacted instantly, blade flashing—

But the figure vanished before it could land.

Reappeared behind her.

Lucien's grin sharpened. "Oh, this is fun."

Adrian and Adriel struck, their combined ice and silver light surging toward the intruder.

But the figure didn't even flinch.

They absorbed the attack.

Like a void swallowing light.

Then—

They lifted a hand.

Adrian and Adriel were flung backward, crashing against the far wall.

Rene barely had time to react before the pressure in the air intensified.

She couldn't breathe.

Her knees buckled.

A force wrapped around her, pulling—

No.

Pulling Rena.

Rene clutched the child tighter, her body burning with resistance.

She wouldn't let go.

She couldn't let go.

And then—

The pendant flared.

A blinding flash of silver light erupted from it, forcing the figure to recoil.

The force broke.

Rene staggered back, gasping.

Rena whimpered, burying her face against Rene's chest.

The figure hesitated, watching her.

Then, softly—

"Interesting."

They stepped back.

Not fleeing.

Not defeated.

Simply… watching.

Then, with an eerie slowness—

They disappeared.

Vanishing back into the darkness.

The suffocating pressure lifted.

The night was silent again.

For a long moment, no one moved.

Then—

Lucien let out a low whistle.

"Well. That was dramatic."

Nyra shot him a look. "You think this is funny?"

Lucien shrugged. "A little."

Adrian and Adriel pushed themselves to their feet, their gazes sharp. "They weren't trying to kill us."

Adriel nodded. "Only to take Rena."

Rene swallowed, her arms tightening around the child.

She looked down at Rena, who had fallen silent again, her tiny hands clinging to Rene's cloak.

She had been awake.

She had felt it.

And for the briefest second—

Rene thought she saw something shift in her baby sister's silver eyes.

Something old.

Something that recognized the enemy.

Something that whispered:

"They have come before."

Rene shivered.

This wasn't over.

This was only the beginning.

To Be Continued…

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