The Shards Novels & Stories

She wonders if this is how her life looks from the outside flawless surface, fractured underneath. Her mind drifts back to earlier that day. The meeting. The way Dane had refused to look at her. That same man who once traced her jaw with hands gentler than air now looked at her like she was something made of poison. She hates that it still hurts. Rae returns to the marble, strikes again, harder this time. The sound shatters the quiet. A shard chips off and falls to the floor with a dull thud. She closes her eyes, breath heavy, shoulders trembling.

"What? Do you think I'm making this up to scare you?" The warm light from above cast a slanted shadow on the edge of the table. He stared at me, and for once, didn't rush to deny anything. "You broke up with me…because of this?" I almost laughed. "Does it even matter now? Even if I were healthy, I never would have lasted long enough for you to finally turn around and look at me. I overheard your friends talking. Apparently, I wasn't even someone you'd be willing to settle for. I used to think we'd actually make it to the end."

she snapped her fingers dramatically. “You’re already a problem, Lola. Just not the academic kind.” She flipped her braids like a diva. “Exactly. Balance is the key.” The fan above us groaned as it turned slowly, like it too was tired of this routine. I let my eyes scan the room. Desks were scattered with wrappers and books half-unpacked. Chalk dust floated through slanted sunlight. Everything looked familiar and slightly drained. Like we were all waiting for the real term to begin.

The battlefield was already trembling from Serena’s crown of shadows when the sky itself began to break. Cracks like silver veins spread across the face of the moon. Wolves raised their heads instinctively, howls caught in their throats. Then, with a sound like the shattering of glass heard through water, a piece of the moon tore free and fell. The shard was enormous—bright as a thousand suns, yet cold, burning the eye not with heat but with purity. It streaked downward, a comet of white fire tearing across the heavens. The moment it struck the earth, the world convulsed.

Liam stood nearby, silent, unreadable. "Come," Ella said softly, guiding me to the couch. "I'm sorry. Was I shouting too much?" I tried to smile, to ease her guilt. But it came out twisted, hollow. "It wasn't your shouting," I said, my voice weak. "It was the glass. When it shattered, it... brought something back." "Oh, dear." Her hand closed gently over mine, trying to steady the tremble. "Here," Liam said quietly, offering me a glass of water. I stared at him for a moment, surprised. Then I took it. The cold water slid down my throat and seemed to calm the storm in me, at least for now.

The shard shattered completely, its energy dispersing in a burst of light. Evangeline screamed, the force of the attack disrupting her hold on the remaining shards. "You insolent little—" Before she could finish, Lucian appeared behind her, his movements a blur. He struck with precision, severing her connection to another shard. The second explosion rocked the chamber, sending all three of them sprawling. Aria groaned, pushing herself up on shaky arms. She saw Evangeline lying amidst the rubble, her body limp, her dark aura fading. The remaining shards hovered in the air, pulsating with unstable energy.

The question lingered in my mind: where did he even find the resources to throw such extravagant gatherings? Heading to the kitchen, I poured myself a glass of water, mustering the courage to confront Edward. Returning to the room, I hurled the water at him, breaking the glass as it shattered on the floor. "What the hell!" he exclaimed, his gaze locking onto me. "Are you sober now?" I demanded, discarding the glass with a resonating crash. The women looked at me in shock, their expressions betraying a mix of fear and disbelief. Perhaps I was on the brink of insanity dealing with this fool.

Each piece told a story of transformation, of breaking free from the expectations of others, of finding one’s true self after years of being lost in the shadows. Elara stood in front of one of the pieces, a painting filled with vibrant colors and bold strokes, representing the chaos of self-discovery. It reminded her of her own journey—the confusion, the pain, the moments of clarity and growth. But most of all, it reminded her of the moment she had finally stepped out of the shadows and reclaimed her life as her own. Lucan approached her, his hand resting gently on her lower back as they looked at the painting together. “It’s powerful,” he said quietly. “It feels like a reflection of everyth

Golden arrows slowly emerged, timidly trying to chase away the shadows of the night. The great fire disc made its appearance. First, it emerged as a red line growing wider and wider until it rose victorious into the angelic blue sky, ready to stretch its arms over the whole earth. It tamed its color slightly, becoming comforting as it shyly soaked up the night frost with which you would think it was soothing its own color.

Its light started to pierce through the fragmented realities, offering a beacon for the guardians to converge upon. Maris, seeing the shard's glow, whispered with hope, "Our bond... it's stronger than any shadow." United in purpose, the guardians began to fight their way towards the shard's light, their collective energies weaving through the fragments, seeking to reunite and confront the Embodiment once more. The battle for their future, their unity, was in full swing. As the guardians pushed through their respective challenges, the threads of their bond started to twine together, creating a tapestry of resilience against the dark onslaught of the Embodiment.