As we entered the room, I could see the mess that was there, furniture scattered around, lightbulbs blown and windows shattered on the floor. I looked towards my mother, and she was lying on the bed, with a small package in her arms. Her skin was covered in sweat, her hair was messy, and her eyes were tired, but despite all the exhaustion, a smile was shining on her face.
The healer left the room, giving us privacy.
— Mom?— Megan called as she walked into the room, and Mom looked up at us.
— Hi honey, — she said hoarsely. — Come see your brother.
I looked at my twin who had eyes shining in anticipation and smiled, making me return her smile.
As soon as we set foot in the room, Aaron's magic hit us. It was strong, powerful and intense.
— Megan, Zoe, — Mom said and turned the baby in her arms, showing her face to us. — Meet your new brother, Aaron Labonair!
When I saw him, I felt like crying. Amazingly, his eyes were open and he was staring at us. For a second, I could have sworn I saw his eyes gleam faintly red, but when Megan gasped beside me, I realized it wasn't just me who saw it.
Something hit me hard, and I nearly collapsed to the floor.
Before my eyes, scenes began to unfold. I couldn't understand, the images were blurred, but little by little I could see and all the blood seemed to drain from my body. The scene I saw in front of me was pure destruction. I saw fire, burning flames that ran through our lands, they burned the houses and, mainly, turned our people into ashes. Their cries of despair and pain echoed in my mind, I heard screams, pleas for mercy. A few survivors desperately ran for their lives, but they were hit by magic and killed in front of me.
I couldn't breathe, my body started to shake, and I heard someone calling me from afar, but I couldn't divert my attention from two men who had appeared in front of me. One of them had big hair that fell on his shoulders. I couldn't see his features, but I could see his dark eyes, in a red tone never seen by me, below his eyes they had dark marks and the worst were his rushes, horrifying, his smell was of death, he squandered death and at the Looking at him, I could only see death. By his side was the cause of all my problems, the reason for my worst nightmares and my greatest fear. Lucian Duncan.
That was a warning of what would happen if another war broke out between the species. It was a warning of how my attitudes could cause the extinction of my own people. I found myself lost in the void, darkness swallowed me and the last thing I felt was my body collapsing to the ground and a strong pain spreading through my head.
ZOE LABONAIR
— Dear Diary
Everything is so complicated lately, my life is in chaos and my mind is a mess. I've been feeling alone, lost and confused, I hate such feelings, I feel vulnerable and that's something I can't be, I need to be strong and brave, like my family is.
Aaron was born three days ago, and I had woken up from my faint last night, everyone was desperate because I had been in a deep sleep for two days.
Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Aiden were staying at our house, Ethan looks so handsome and has grown so much since I last saw him. Uncle Dylan and Aunt Clary had also arrived from their trip, and they are all gathered with my parents in Dad's office, and I knew the reason was Lucian and me.
He hadn't appeared anymore, but just his memory terrified me. I couldn't sleep in peace anymore, I woke up at dawn with nightmares and every time, he was killing someone close to me.
I can't cry anymore, I'm so tired of shedding tears of fear because of that damn witch. The tears had dried, only my eyes are still swollen and burning from the sleep I felt, I'm losing my strength and I feel that the light that used to exist inside me is disappearing.
I can't understand what's going on, I don't understand why Lucian has all this sudden obsession with me, I'm his mate, I know that, but that doesn't give him any rights over me, he doesn't own me and I don't I'm your possession.
I still remember my mother's words. She had told me big trouble was coming, Marie had predicted this, and now I understand, they were referring to Lucian.
The Heir. Lucian was the goddamned heir to Kisa and all her magic.
How can that woman, even dead, reach us?
An alliance would be formed against us.
Jason and Lucian had teamed up to destroy us.
A decision would have to be made, a sacrifice to have peace between the species, to stop another war.
The wedding.
My union with Lucian is the only way to stop another bloodbath.
What I'll do?
Innocent people's lives are in my hands, I can prevent these deaths, but my life would be at risk.
What would Lucian do to me if I accepted?
What would become of me if I married him?
I'll be ruined, that's for sure...
— Zoe?— I stopped writing and lifted my head, surprised to see Marie in front of me.
— What...
She cut me off right away.
— We need to talk.
I shook my head, closing my diary and quickly sealing it.
— We don't need it — I retorted — Now get out of my room and don't show up again — I ordered between my teeth, feeling my blood start to boil inside me.
— Oh honey, you're running out of time.
I frowned.
— What are you talking about?
She walked over to where I was sitting on my bed, and I stiffened at her approach.
— The dark magic within you is tainting your arcane magic.
A chill ran through my body, I arched my back, tense.
— Marie...how do you know that?
— I feel the black magic gaining strength, slowly growing stronger with your fear and your anger.
I swallowed hard at his words. I cannot allow dark magic to control me, or it would bring chaos to my father's lands again.
— How can I prevent this from happening?
— There's no stopping the dark magic from growing inside you.
— What?— I whispered, losing my breath.
— But you can stop it from reaching your heart and taking over you.
I got up from the bed, feeling my body weaken, and I had to sit down again, my head was throbbing.
— Marie, what do I do?
She came closer again and took my hands, I saw the tenderness in her dark eyes, identical to Joseph and Kisa's.
— You know what you must do.— I furrowed my brow. — The heir, he…
— No!— I replied, pulling my hands from hers and moving away from her.
— It's the only solution, Zoe, he's the only one who can help you control it.
I let out a bitter laugh.
— Lucian is the only one capable of helping me?— He wants to destroy me!
Marie shook her head in denial.
— You don't know him, — she tried.
— And I don't even want to, — I said.
— He's getting to you.— I flinched at his words.
— As?
— He's awakening his strength and his magic, Zoe, and he's the only one who knows how to control it.
— Lucian is a witch completely dominated by black magic, his heart and soul are filled with darkness — I stated firmly — How can someone…dead like him, be able to help me?
My breathing was strong, the air was coming in and out of my lungs aggressively and my body was slightly trembling, although my blood was boiling in my veins, I felt cold, icy.
— When dark magic consumed Hayley and took over her heart, what saved her?
— What? Why are you saying that?— I asked, confused by the sudden change in conversation.
— What saved your mother from the dark?
I shook my head, stunned.
— I don't know, I...
— What is the only thing that can overcome the darkness?
— Light! — I answered her question and she smiled slightly, nodding — I don't understand what you're getting at, Marie, cut to the chase, please — my body was asking for rest and a good night's sleep.
— The light conquered the darkness inside your mother, love rescued and saved her!
I let out a humorless laugh as I understood his intent.
— Are you trying to say that my love would be able to save Lucian?
— Yes, that's what I'm saying.
— This is pathetic, Marie.— I lay down on my bed. — Get out of my room, please.
— Don't you believe in love, Zoe?
— Of course I do, — I replied immediately and lifted my torso, facing her. — I just don't believe I was born to love or be loved.
— Why do you say that?
— Why don't you leave me alone, Marie?— I countered his question.
— I promised your mother that I would take care of your children.
I squeezed my eyes shut, massaging my throbbing temples.
— I don't want or need you, please leave me alone.— My voice sounded low and weak.
— You know what will happen if you reject him, Lucian doesn't break his promises, I hope you're ready to face the consequences, Zoe.
— And you still believe that a being like that is capable of love, — I murmured.
— When all seemed lost for your mother, your father didn't give up on her, and neither did you and Megan. You were the light she needed, love is the anchor, always was and always will be.
To my relief, when I opened my eyes, Marie was no longer in my room, only emptiness and silence hovered in that dark environment, illuminated only by a few beams of light that escape from the windows covered by dark curtains. From my eyes, feeling how Joseph's mother's words had touched me and weighed heavily on my conscience.
In parts, she was right. Love saved my mother and brought her life back to life. But Hayley was always an incredible woman, since I was a child I heard the stories of the warrior my mother was, how she always put our family first and sacrificed for us. Now I realized how we were in similar situations. She had to make a decision to save us, and it cost her happiness, it almost cost her life and brought wounds that still haven't healed.