Chapter 11: blood moon revelation
The moon bled red across the sky like someone had spilled paint over the heavens. Cain stood at the edge of the cliff, his hoodie tugged low and silver hair rustling in the wind. His crimson eyes—always too intense—were locked on the horizon.
"It's happening tonight," he said softly.
Behind him, Ayden jogged up, winded. "You said that three nights ago, Cain."
Lucien followed, his usual dark jacket slung over one shoulder. "Well, this time it smells different. Like something dead woke up."
Cain didn't look back. "It's not just dead. It's something Dad sealed... or tried to."
The three brothers stood in silence for a beat. The wind whispered, tugging at their clothes like it wanted to say something.
"You really think the seal's here?" Ayden asked, squinting toward the valley.
Cain nodded slowly. "Yeah. And we're not the only ones looking for it."
Suddenly, they heard footsteps—light, measured, but definitely coming closer. From the trees stepped a girl. She couldn't have been older than them, maybe eighteen, but she held herself like someone who'd seen war.
Short lavender hair curled around her face, and she had a glowing sigil etched onto her collarbone. One eye was violet, the other a strange, golden hue.
"You're too late," she said flatly. "It's already starting."