The Fourth Blood

Aria disappeared.

One moment, she was standing beside Kael.

The next, the Fourth Gate closed around her, swallowing the golden light and leaving nothing behind.

“ARIA!”

Kael rushed forward.

His hand struck the stone where the gate had been.

Nothing.

No opening.

No crack.

No trace of her.

“Aria!”

His voice echoed through the valley.

The First Guardian slowly stood.

“Kael…”

“Open it.”

The Guardian stared at the mountain.

“I can't.”

Kael turned sharply.

“You opened the First Gate.”

“I did.”

“Then open this one!”

“I can't.”

Kael grabbed his cloak.

“Then find someone who can!”

The Guardian looked into his eyes.

“There may be no one.”

Kael released him.

His breathing became heavy.

“No.”

He turned back toward the sealed gate.

“She is still alive.”

The Guardian nodded.

“Yes.”

“How do you know?”

“Because if she had died…”

The Guardian looked at the mark that remained glowing faintly on the stone.

“…the Fourth Blood would have disappeared.”

Kael stared at the symbol.

“What is the Fourth Blood?”

The Guardian remained silent.

“Tell me!”

“It is the blood that existed before the three ancient bloodlines.”

Kael frowned.

“The Queen, the Guardian, and the King?”

“Yes.”

“The Fourth Blood existed before them?”

The Guardian nodded.

“It is the blood of choice.”

Kael looked toward the sealed gate.

“And Aria carries it.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn't you tell us?”

The Guardian lowered his head.

“Because nobody was supposed to know.”

Aurel stepped forward.

“She's not merely carrying it.”

Everyone turned.

Aurel looked at the mountain.

“She awakened it.”

Kael's expression hardened.

“What happens now?”

Aurel didn't answer immediately.

“The First Mother will test her.”

Kael's eyes narrowed.

“Test her for what?”

“To see whether she is worthy of carrying the Fourth Blood.”

Kael shook his head.

“She doesn't need to prove anything.”

Aurel looked at him.

“You don't understand the First World.”

“Then explain it.”

“The First World doesn't obey strength.”

Aurel pointed toward the sealed gate.

“It obeys choice.”

ARIA

Aria opened her eyes.

She was standing in a forest.

Golden leaves floated through the air.

The ground beneath her feet was covered in silver grass.

There was no Kael.

No Guardian.

No Aurel.

No warriors.

Only silence.

“Kael?”

Her voice disappeared into the trees.

She turned around.

“Kael!”

Nothing.

Then she heard footsteps.

Aria spun around.

A woman stood behind her.

Silver hair.

Golden eyes.

White clothing.

The First Mother.

“You're here.”

Aria raised her sword.

“Where is Kael?”

The First Mother smiled.

“He cannot enter.”

“Why?”

“Because this place belongs to you.”

Aria looked around.

“What do you want?”

“To show you the truth.”

“I've heard that before.”

The First Mother smiled.

“Then you have learned to question everything.”

Aria lowered her sword slightly.

“Tell me what the Fourth Blood is.”

The First Mother walked toward her.

“The Fourth Blood is not a bloodline.”

“Then what is it?”

“It is a choice.”

Aria frowned.

“How can choice be blood?”

“Because your ancestors made the first choice.”

The woman stopped.

“They chose freedom.”

Aria stared at her.

“And what happened?”

“The First World was created.”

“By whom?”

“By those who wanted a place where ancient blood could survive.”

“And the First King?”

“He wanted to rule it.”

Aria's expression hardened.

“So the war began.”

“No.”

The First Mother shook her head.

“The war began when people stopped choosing for themselves.”

Aria looked at her.

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Everything.”

The forest changed.

Suddenly, Aria saw a village.

People were gathered around a young woman.

The woman looked frightened.

Behind her stood a powerful ruler.

“You belong to the royal blood,” he said.

The young woman shook her head.

“I choose my own path.”

The ruler raised his hand.

The scene vanished.

Another appeared.

A young warrior stood before an ancient king.

“You will serve me,” the king said.

The warrior refused.

“I choose freedom.”

Another scene.

A mother held her child while an army approached.

“You must give the child to us.”

The mother refused.

“I choose my child.”

The vision disappeared.

Aria stared at the First Mother.

“What are you showing me?”

“Every generation was given a choice.”

“And they chose?”

“Some chose freedom.”

“Others chose power.”

Aria understood.

“And the Fourth Blood remained hidden.”

“Yes.”

“Until me.”

The First Mother nodded.

“You are the first descendant to awaken it completely.”

Aria looked at her hands.

“What does that mean for the twins?”

The First Mother's expression became serious.

“They are connected to the Fourth Blood.”

“How?”

“They carry two ancient bloodlines.”

“The First Queen and the First Alpha.”

“Yes.”

Aria touched her stomach.

“They are still my children.”

“Of course.”

“Then nobody gets to decide their future.”

The First Mother smiled.

“Good.”

Aria looked up.

“Why?”

“Because that is the first answer.”

Aria frowned.

“Answer to what?”

The First Mother raised her hand.

The forest disappeared.

Aria was suddenly standing inside a massive hall.

Four doors surrounded her.

One was gold.

One was silver.

One was black.

One was white.

The First Mother stood in the center.

“Choose a door.”

Aria looked at them.

“What happens if I choose?”

“You will discover what each bloodline wants.”

“And the white door?”

“That one reveals what you want.”

Aria stared at the white door.

“That's the Fourth Blood?”

“Yes.”

Aria walked toward it.

The First Mother stopped her.

“Be careful.”

“Why?”

“Because the Fourth Blood doesn't give you power.”

Aria looked back.

“What does it give me?”

“Responsibility.”

Aria placed her hand on the door.

The door opened.

Inside was Blackwood.

Aria saw herself standing beside Kael.

She remembered their first meeting.

The arguments.

The secrets.

The prophecy.

The battles.

The fear.

The moments when they had chosen to protect each other.

Then the vision changed.

Kael stood alone.

The First Alpha's power surrounded him.

A voice spoke.

“Take the throne.”

Kael shook his head.

“No.”

“Take the power.”

“No.”

“Rule every world.”

Kael looked toward the darkness.

“I don't want a throne.”

The vision changed again.

Aria saw herself standing before the First King.

He offered her everything.

Power.

Protection.

Control.

All she had to do was surrender her choice.

She refused.

The vision vanished.

The First Mother looked at her.

“What did you learn?”

Aria answered immediately.

“That power means nothing if I lose myself.”

The First Mother nodded.

“And what will you choose?”

“My family.”

“Even if the worlds fall?”

Aria hesitated.

“My family doesn't mean only the people I love.”

The First Mother raised an eyebrow.

“Explain.”

Aria looked around.

“If the First World is dying, I won't destroy it.”

She looked at the four doors.

“But I won't let it control everyone either.”

The First Mother smiled.

“That is the Fourth Blood.”

Suddenly, the white door disappeared.

A bright light surrounded Aria.

Her palm burned.

The mark changed again.

This time, four circles appeared.

Gold.

Silver.

Black.

White.

The First Mother stepped backward.

“You have chosen.”

Aria looked at her.

“Chosen what?”

“Yourself.”

A deep sound shook the hall.

Thump.

Aria's eyes widened.

The heartbeat.

Then another answered.

Thump.

The First Mother looked toward Aria's stomach.

“They're waking.”

Aria placed both hands over it.

“No.”

The First Mother shook her head.

“You cannot stop them.”

“I can protect them.”

“That is different.”

“Then I'll do that.”

The First Mother smiled.

“Now you understand.”

The entire hall began shaking.

Cracks appeared across the walls.

The First Mother looked toward the ceiling.

“He has found you.”

“Who?”

A dark voice echoed through the hall.

“Aria.”

Her blood ran cold.

The First King.

The First Mother looked at her.

“He crossed the Fourth Gate.”

“How?”

“Because he has discovered the one thing you cannot protect.”

“What?”

The First Mother looked toward Aria's heart.

“Your choice.”

OUTSIDE THE FOURTH GATE

Kael suddenly stepped backward.

The sealed mountain began glowing.

The First Guardian raised his staff.

“Everyone stay back!”

A black crack appeared across the stone.

Aurel looked terrified.

“He's here.”

Kael raised his sword.

“Who?”

The answer came from inside the mountain.

A deep voice.

“The First King.”

The stone shattered.

Black light poured through the opening.

The First King stepped out.

His eyes were fixed on Kael.

Then he looked at Aurel.

“You failed.”

Aurel raised his weapon.

“I won't let you reach her.”

The First King smiled.

“You cannot stop me.”

Kael stepped between them.

“You'll have to get through me first.”

The First King looked at him.

“You still believe you are protecting Aria.”

“I am.”

“No.”

The First King pointed toward the gate.

“She is protecting you.”

Kael's expression changed.

“What does that mean?”

The First King smiled.

“You'll find out soon enough.”

Behind him, six ancient shadows appeared.

The First Guardian whispered:

“The Firstborns.”

The shadows moved forward.

Kael tightened his grip on his sword.

Ronan and the warriors gathered behind him.

Aurel raised his hand.

The First Guardian prepared his staff.

The First King smiled.

“Let the final war begin.”

BACK INSIDE THE FOURTH WORLD

Aria stood alone.

The First Mother was gone.

The hall was collapsing around her.

The First King's voice echoed through the darkness.

“You cannot hide forever.”

Aria raised her sword.

“I don't need to hide.”

A black doorway appeared.

The First King stepped through it.

“You finally understand your purpose.”

Aria stared at him.

“My purpose is not yours to decide.”

He smiled.

“You are the Fourth Blood.”

“Yes.”

“You can choose.”

“Yes.”

“Then choose.”

Aria raised her sword.

“I choose freedom.”

The First King laughed.

“Freedom always has a price.”

Aria's eyes began glowing white.

“Then I'll pay it.”

The ground beneath her cracked.

Gold, silver, black, and white light exploded from her body.

The First King stepped backward.

For the first time, his confidence disappeared.

“No…”

Aria looked at him.

“What?”

“You awakened the Fourth Blood without surrendering to it.”

The two heartbeats sounded together.

Thump.

Thump.

Then a third sound joined them.

Thump.

Aria froze.

The First King stared at her stomach.

His face went pale.

“There are three.”

Aria whispered:

“What?”

The First King slowly stepped backward.

“The prophecy was wrong.”

The light around Aria became brighter.

The First King looked terrified.

“There aren't two heirs.”

Aria stared at him.

“Then how many?”

He answered in a whisper.

“Three.”

And somewhere beyond the Fourth World, something ancient opened its eyes.