Chapter 19: Half of What?

Lyra POV

My feet slapped against the cold ground, breath ragged and limbs trembling as I ran.

My heart thundered fiercely in my chest, the beat drumming loud against my ears.

I could hear them, the rogues. Their growl tore through the forest in waves, but I never looked back. I didn’t want anything to slow me down.

“A little further.” I whispered into the air, begging my tired limbs to push harder.

Then I tripped.

I fell to the floor in one swoop, the breath knocked out of me. I groaned, dragging my feet against the floor as pain seared through me.

“Get up!” I whispered to myself. “They must not catch you.”

It was hopeless at this point. The wolves had already surrounded me.

“Please.” I begged. “I will leave and never come back. Just let me go.”

There was no response to my plea.

One of the rogues grabbed my arm fiercely and pulled me up so hard I felt as if my bones were going to dislocate.

Suddenly, another one of the wolves that I recognized as the leader grabbed my throat.

“Don't do anything stupid. You are lucky the Alpha still wants you alive; if not, I would have done the honors of killing you myself.”

Thorne wants me alive?

I thought they wanted to burn me to death with Caelan’s body.

I didn't struggle as they tied my hands and pulled me along with them as they walked back to the rogue territory.

I limped, bearing the pain that kept stinging my leg.

“Walk faster.” One of the rogues barked out.

“I'm injured.” I snapped.

The next thing I felt was a slap on my face. “Watch your mouth, girl.”

Enraged, I spat at him, and just as he tried to react back in anger, the leader barked out his command.

“Stop it. Both of you."

The rest of the journey back was quiet, and I felt my heart jump with each step. I knew whatever fate awaited me in the rogue territory was not going to be a good one.

Soon, we got to the gate. It was opened, and we entered.

I was forced to my knees before the pack. The rogue stares at me. Some in spite, others in pity. I refused to be intimidated by their stares, so I raised my chin confidently.

I heard him before I saw him.

Thorne.

He walked to a stop beside me and grabbed my hair, pulling it down until my face was looking up at his above mine.

“You bitch!” He cursed. “I will make sure to kill you when I am finally done with you.” He said.

A sudden unease came over the people, and the whispers in the crowd increased.

Thorne looked up and immediately froze.

I was curious what was happening.

Thorne released my hair and straightened up.

I grunted in relief as soon as my hair was out of his grip. Then he looked in the same direction Thorne was looking.

“Caelan”

I stared in shock.

“How?” I mouthed.

Caelan walked out of the palace and stopped before us.

A silence rang out.

The shock on the faces of the people was evident. No one ever believed that Caelan could wake up.

I stood, eager to feel him with my arms and confirm if he was real or not, but I was immediately pulled back and dragged to the floor.

“Stay put,” one of the rogues barked out.

Caelan looked at me, his eyes lost. It was almost as if he was seeing me, but he couldn't really see me.

He was… different. Something about him was just off.

The way he stood still, pale-faced, and the emptiness in his eyes.

I could see that the wound that one laid open by the side of his neck was completely healed. He survived it.

“Do you see what I see?” I heard a voice from the crowd.

“I do. It's King Caelan. Is he still our king… or something else?” The second person behind me responded.

I couldn't stop looking at him, trying to figure out what exactly was going on.

“Take Lyra back to the dungeon,” Thorne instructed. I was raised to my feet just as Thorne began to address Caelan.

“She tried to escape; I captured her and brought her back for you.” I heard him say.

Caelan didn’t make a sound.

“But how is this possible? You were dead. How did you come back to life?” Thorne was amazed.

The rest of the conversation faded from my ears as I was taken away.

I was dragged back into the dungeon, and the ropes that were used to tie my hands were replaced with chains. There was no silver on it, and I felt relief flood me.

When they made sure I was securely chained, the guards closed the door shut.

I pulled my knees to my face and buried them between my legs.

Suddenly, a soft wind blew across the space. I looked up, and my eyes widened when I saw a young girl standing in the corner.

She wore a white dress that flowed to her knees. Her hair billowed softly behind her. A white light shimmered around her, giving her a divine look.

“Who are you?” I asked.

The little girl smiled. “You see him, don't you? He is not the same.” She went silent as her eyes hardened. “The prophecy… It’s not done,” she said, stepping forward. “You think it is. But it isn’t. He is only half.”

“What do you mean? Half of what?” My voice cracked.

The girl pursed her lips.

“He is in between the light and the dark. Lost.”

Somehow, I understood what she meant. “Can he ever be the same?” I asked.

She smiled faintly, her fingers curling at her sides.

“He will find you.” She said,

With a wave of her hand, a metallic object fell to my side. It was a necklace.

I looked at it in confusion. “What is this?”

There was no reply. I looked up to the same spot where she was, but it was empty.

She was gone, as mysteriously as she came.

I managed to stretch my hands and grab the necklace, hiding it in my palm.

I knew that even though I had no idea what had just happened, it was only a matter of time before I would understand.