Bloodbound to the Beastly King

Adina stood motionless, her bare feet sinking into cold water. She looked around, confused.

She'd been here before and yet, the place she knew was totally gone. She looked around, blinking rapidly.

What was this place?

She moved only to pause, when she felt something move down her feet. She looked down and dark water streched endlessly.

Adina's eyes widened drastically. This wasn't right. The last time she'd stood here, the water had shimmered like liquid silver under the light.

Now it had changed to a different color. She slowly looked up and her breath caught. The towering white trees that once reached toward the heavens had withered into twisted skeletons. Every branch was bare. Every leaf had long since fallen.

Even the air she breath felt heavier and sharper, like each inhale hurt her nose. Adina took a hesitant step forward.

"…Where am I?" She asked butno answer came. Only the sound of the black water gently moving around her feet.

She kept walking, but the farther she went, the more wrong everything became.

Cracks split the ground under the water and dark mist drifted lazily between the dead trees.

Her chest tightened painfully. "…Why does this feel familiar?"

She reached one of the dying trees and rested her hand against it but the moment she touched it—Pain exploded through her chest.

She gasped, stumbling backward, watching with wide eyes as the tree blackened even more before her eyes.

Adina stared in horror. "What…What happened to this place?"

A tear slipped from her eye before she even realized she was crying. The place was dying and worst of all, it felt like she was dying with it.

"…Why does it hurt so much?"

The darkness around her suddenly stirred and for one terrifying moment, she thought something was about to emerge.

Instead, A bright white light appeared in the distance.

Adina froze as The light floated closer, the black water under it turned clear again.

Adina's eyes widened. "…Who's there?"

The light slowly took the shape of a woman.

Long silver-white hair, porcelain skin, eyes that even the goddess would envy and a smile so warm it made Adina's chest ache.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke, then the woman's eyes suddenly blurred with tears.

"My sweet girl." Her voice trembled so hard.

Adina didn't know why, but the moment she heard it… Her heart shattered. "Mother…?" She called instinctively.

Virelya's own tears spilled freely as she closed the distance between them. "My sweet girl…"

Before Adina realized what she was doing, she was already moving. She threw herself into the woman's arms. The embrace was warm and safe.

The ache that had been gnawing at her chest since she woke in Khaos' place eased, if only for a heartbeat.

"…Mother…" she whispered again, the word leaving her lips as though she'd always known it.

Virelya held her tightly, fingers threading gently through Adina's hair. "My beautiful daughter."

They remained like that for several moments before Virelya slowly pulled away.

She cupped Adina's face, wiping away the tears she hadn't realized were falling.

"You've grown so much."

Adina searched the woman's face desperately. The familiarity was blinding, it felt like a clog was shielding her memories and no matter how much she tried to reach and pull it off, she couldn't.

"I…I know you." She muttered.

"You do." Virelya replied sadly.

"But I can't remember how."

Virelya smiled sadly. "You don't have to." She intertwined their fingers.

"Walk with me."

Together they began to walk, Wherever Virelya stepped, the black water turned, silver for only a few seconds before darkness swallowed it again.

Adina noticed. "…It's changing."

Virelya nodded. "It wasn't always like this."

She gestured around them. The last time you were here…It was beautiful." Virelya paused to look at Adina.

"Just like you, it was pure and untouched."

"It was?" Adina asked, she could feel the memory trying and clawing its way out.

Virelyas smile faded. "This…" She looked across the endless black river and lifeless trees.

"…is your energy source."

Adina stopped walking. "My… energy source?"

Virelya continued, "The place every Sage carries within."

She looked at the dead trees with visible pain. "It once reflected your soul."

Adina slowly looked around again, "So…"

Her voice trembled. "What happened to it?"

Virelya was silent for a long moment "Khaos happened, He did this."

Adina frowned. "Father?"

A shadow crossed Virelya's face. "I never saw him for what he truly was."

"I was blinded by my love for him. I mistook his need for power for protection. I thought I could change him."

She laughed bitterly through gathering tears.

"I was wrong." She turned fully toward Adina. "I'm so sorry. So… so sorry."

Adina stared at her. "For what?"

Virelya reached up and gently brushed a strand of hair behind Adina's ear. "For giving you a father like him."

"I should have protected you. I should have taken you further away." She paused, shaking her head bitterly. "I should never have believed there was still goodness inside him after what he did

"Because of my mistakes…your soul is paying the price."

Adina slowly looked across the black river.

"So this place is dying?"

Virelya nodded. "Not exactly dying. It is being corrupted."

She knelt and scooped up a handful of the dark water and It slipped through her fingers like ink.

"Every moment you remain under his influence, this darkness spreads."

Adina felt panic rise inside her. "Can you stop it?" She asked

Virelya's expression fell. "No. I cannot save you. The only person who can save Adina…"

She placed a hand over her daughter's heart. "…is Adina."

"You carry my blood and you carry his. Light and darkness, they both exist inside you."

She looked directly into Adina's eyes. "But neither decides who you become. You do."

Adina's breathing became uneven. "I don't know if I'm strong enough."

"You are." Virelya interjected. "You've always been."

Virelya smiled through her tears. "Think of everyone waiting for you. Your friends, Kora, Thessara, Your daughter."

At the mention of Virelle, Adina's heart lurched painfully. "…Virelle…" she whispered.

"And Thorne." Virelya said last and the name struck harder than anything else.

"Look at me. Fight it. I love you."

Adina gasped, clutching her head as more memories tried to break through. Tears streamed freely down her face.

"I… I hurt him…"

Virelya gently pulled her into another embrace. "Then fight. Fight the darkness trying to consume you."

"Fight for your daughter. Fight for your mate. Fight…" She kissed Adina's forehead.

"…for yourself."

The silver light surrounding Virelya began fading and Adina's eyes widened.

"No…"

"It's time for you to wake up."

"Mother, wait!" She cried.

Virelya smiled one last time. "I love you, Adina and no matter what Khaos tells you…"

"You were born from love."