Chapter 47: My Mother’s Voice

The voice echoed through the fortress.

“My little moon…”

Lyra couldn’t move.

She knew that voice.

It was softer than she remembered, but unmistakably familiar.

“Mother?”

Alaric closed his eyes.

Karl looked at him.

“You knew she was alive.”

Alaric didn’t answer.

Lyra turned toward her father.

“You knew?”

“I knew she survived the fall of Lunaris.”

Lyra’s voice trembled.

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I didn’t know where she was.”

“You’re my father.”

“I know.”

“How could you keep this from me?”

Alaric looked at her with regret.

“Because everyone who searched for your mother disappeared.”

Lyra’s anger faded into fear.

“Who took her?”

Alaric looked toward the dark corridor.

“The person who created the Blood King.”

A sudden gust swept through the chamber.

The torches flickered.

Then a silver mist began gathering at the end of the corridor.

A figure slowly emerged.

A woman.

Long silver hair.

A pale blue gown.

And eyes that looked exactly like Lyra’s.

Lyra’s breath caught.

“Mother…”

The woman smiled.

“My little moon.”

Lyra ran toward her.

But just before she could reach her, Karl grabbed her arm.

“Wait.”

Lyra stopped.

“Why?”

Karl pointed toward the floor.

There was a thin black line separating them from the woman.

Adrian’s expression changed.

“Don’t cross it.”

Lyra stared at him.

“Why?”

“Because that’s a Blood Seal.”

The woman looked down at it.

Then back at Lyra.

“He’s right.”

Lyra’s heart sank.

“Mother, what happened?”

Evelina’s expression became sorrowful.

“I was captured the night Lunaris fell.”

“By the Blood King?”

“No.”

She looked toward Adrian.

“By someone far more dangerous.”

Evelina explained that after Lunaris was attacked, she escaped with Adrian through an underground passage.

They reached the Northern Wall.

But before they could escape, someone appeared.

Someone wearing the royal crest.

Someone they trusted.

Evelina had been captured.

Adrian escaped with Lyra.

“And your father?” Lyra asked.

Evelina looked toward Alaric.

“He stayed behind.”

“Why?”

“To make them believe I was dead.”

Lyra looked at Alaric.

“You sacrificed yourself so Mother could escape.”

Alaric nodded.

“But it didn’t work.”

Evelina’s voice became quiet.

“They found me.”

Lyra stepped closer to the Blood Seal.

“Who?”

Evelina looked directly into her daughter’s eyes.

“The first person who ever touched the Moon Throne.”

Lyra frowned.

“Queen Isolde?”

Evelina shook her head.

“No.”

She whispered:

“King Orion.”

Master Thorne stepped backward.

“That’s impossible.”

“Orion died centuries ago.”

Evelina shook her head.

“His body did.”

“The darkness inside him didn’t.”

The chamber fell silent.

Lyra remembered the spirit of King Orion from the Moon Archives.

He had seemed wise.

He had warned her about the Forgotten Oath.

But now she wondered

Had he been manipulating her?

Evelina continued.

“Orion wanted the power of the Moon Throne.”

“He discovered the Blood King beneath Lunaris.”

“And instead of destroying him…”

“He made a bargain.”

Lyra’s eyes widened.

“What bargain?”

“Orion gave the Blood King his body.”

“And in return…”

Evelina looked toward Lyra.

“…the Blood King gave him eternal life.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“That’s why the spirit of Orion still appears.”

Evelina nodded.

“He’s not a spirit.”

“He’s the Blood King’s vessel.”

Lyra’s blood ran cold.

“Then the person guiding me all this time…”

“Was never trying to protect you.”

Evelina shook her head.

“He was leading you toward the throne.”

Suddenly, the walls began to shake.

A deep voice echoed throughout the fortress.

“Evelina.”

Her expression changed.

“He’s here.”

The silver mist around her began disappearing.

“Mother!”

Lyra reached for her.

Evelina smiled.

“Don’t be afraid.”

“I waited twenty-one years for this moment.”

She raised her hand.

A silver pendant appeared in Lyra’s palm.

“Keep this.”

Lyra looked at it.

“What is it?”

“The key to the final chamber.”

“The chamber beneath the Moon Throne.”

Lyra stared at her.

“What will I find there?”

Evelina’s smile faded.

“The truth about your birth.”

Before Lyra could ask another question, the Blood Seal shattered.

Darkness rushed into the chamber.

Karl grabbed Lyra and pulled her backward.

Adrian and Caelan raised their weapons.

And from the darkness came a familiar voice.

“Hello, Lyra.”

Lyra looked up.

A man stepped into the chamber.

He wore the ancient royal robes of Lunaris.

His face was calm.

His eyes were cold.

Lyra recognized him immediately.

King Orion.

But his eyes were glowing crimson.

He smiled.

“You’ve finally come home.”