Chapter 2 Moon & Ash

Eldon

The smell of burnt flesh never leaves a battlefield. By the time I arrived at Blackstone Fortress, the fires has already begun dying down. Thick smoke still curled into the dark sky while my soldiers dragged bodies from beneath broken walls. Some of the wounded tried to stand the moment they saw me coming and a few managed it. Most couldn’t.

“My King” General Kael bowed despite the blood soaking through the bandage around his shoulder.

I stopped beside him and quietly looked over what remained of the fortress. Black scorch marks stretched across the walls. Entire towers had collapsed. The Skye Demons hadn’t come to send a message. They had come to remind me they were no longer afraid.

“Report”

“The attack started before dawn” His voice stayed calm though exhaustion showed on his face. “We lost a hundred and twelve men before forcing them back”

“Every family receives compensation. Double the usual amount” I nodded once.

Relief flickered across his face. “And rhe wounded?”

“They will be treated before anyone repairs these walls”

He hesitated. “My King.. some of the men wish to return to the fight”

I looked at the soldiers scattered around the courtyard. Most could barely stand but I know with one word they’ll go back and fight. This is not the time for that war. 

“They’ve already fought enough”

I turned away from the ruined fortress. The Skye Demons have taken another step. If I miscalculated even once then they will reach the capital in no time. Moloch, Skye Demon leader is getting out of hand and wants to have what he has no right over. 

Later that evening, I had barely stepped into my office when someone walked in without knocking. Only one person in the Lore ignored palace guards like they were decorative furniture. It was Draegan. The Lykae King looked around my office before dropping into the chair opposite my desk as if he owned it.

“You look terrible” he mused as if he was any different. 

“You crossed three kingdoms just to insult me?” I deadpanned toying with ink in my hand. 

“I crossed three kingdoms because your border is becoming my problem” 

That got my attention, I leaned back in my chair. Silence settled between us for a moment. It never felt awkward with Draegan because we have known each other too long for that. He leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees.

“My scouts crossed my northern forests this morning” he tilted his head knowing that would get me. 

“And?” I looked up from the report in front of me.

“They found some Skye Demons”

That made my jaw tighten because you never come across them just randomly. They are mostly found in the sky where nobody can reach them except for witches and that too is extremely difficult now. They are somehow getting stronger every time. 

“They’ve reached Lykae territory?” I asked. 

He nodded once. “They’re spreading faster than either of us expected”

“They’re preparing for something” I rubbed my thumb against the edge of my glass.

“There was something else” Draegan stated then reached into his coat.  

He tossed a folded report onto my desk. I opened it. There news about Human Realm, Seattle specifically. 

Repeated sightings of illusion magic. Witnesses claimed streets moved. Buildings disappeared. Hunters became lost inside places they had crossed a hundred times before.

“Witches?” I looked back at him with a brow raised. 

“Maybe. Orr–“ His mouth curved into a knowing wolfish grin. “Valdis”

“I knew this was coming” I sighed, rolling my shoulders. 

“You’ve spent three centuries pretending she talks nonsense” Draegan leaned back in the chair with a smug grin, looking far too pleased with himself. “You have to admit she’s been getting harder to ignore lately”

“She usually does” I replied flatly, not giving him the satisfaction of seeing me react. “One correct prediction doesn’t suddenly make her the voice of reason”

“Except when she told Caelan his mate had returned” He lifted a brow as if reminding me of something painfully obvious. “You laughed then too”

I looked away before I could stop myself. Valdis has been annoyingly right for the first time. I don’t like working witj prophecies even though I live in the Lore where it’s dominant. 

“This could still be another rumor” I folded the report neatly and placed it back on the desk, refusing to look at him. “People see a witch cast two illusions and suddenly she’s the most powerful creature in the Lore”

“It could be” Draegan admitted with an easy shrug as he pushed himself to his feet. “But if she’s right twice..”

He let the sentence hang between us. I hated when he did that. It always forced me to finish the thought myself. He adjusted the collar of his coat before making his way toward the door.

“If you’re chasing the Skye Demons anyway, Seattle is on the way” He rested one hand on the doorknob and glanced back at me. “You lose nothing by looking”

“I am not chasing a prophecy” I answered, my voice calm even as I picked the report up again. “I’m chasing an enemy”

“I know” A knowing smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Keep telling yourself that”

He walked out before I could answer, leaving the office quiet again.

———-

Seattle welcomed me with rain. It has been raining since I stepped into the human realm. Cars rolled past while humans hurried along the sidewalks without noticing anything beyond their own little lives.  I stopped across the street and looked at the small occult shop tucked between an old bookstore and a café.

Moon & Ash.

I almost laughed to myself at how absurd it sounds.  If the most dangerous witch in the Lore was truly hiding anywhere, it certainly wouldn’t be in a place that sold candles and polished stones to humans.

This is just another dead end. I stayed where I was anyway.

Several people wandered in and out of the shop over the next hour before the lights inside finally went out. A moment later the front door opened and a woman stepped outside.

Bright red curls spilled over her shoulders as she laughed at something the man beside her had just told her. Whatever it was made her throw her head back for a second before lightly shoving his arm. Her boyfriend? He looks like an archer from the bow strapped around his shoulder. They are both immortals. 

I watched them in silence. The girl looks ordinary, too young and carefree. Nothing about her resembled the woman who has haunted my memories for centuries. The man leaned down and kissed her forehead before turning in the opposite direction. She watched him leave with the smallest smile before walking toward the apartment building beside the shop. 

I should have left but I found myself following her. A few minutes later I stood outside apartment 4B with my hands tucked behind my back, waiting for– I wasn’t even sure what.

Nothing happened. There was no surge of magic or memories that forced their way to the surface. I didn’t feel the curse twirling. I let out a slow breath and shook my head.

“I was right” I muttered to myself, already turning away from the door.

Then something brushed against my senses. It was so faint that I almost dismissed it as my imagination. I stopped as a small frown settled on my face as I looked back at the closed door. Inside the apartment, whoever was in there suddenly stopped moving. The silence on the other side of the door charged. I feel like she somehow knew I was standing outside her door.