Chapter 4: The Forgotten Prophecy

The heavy oak door closed behind Elder Rowan with a dull thud.

Only two people remained inside the royal council chamber.

Alpha King Aero Blackthorne.

And his oldest advisor.

For several long moments, neither of them spoke.

The silence wasn't uncomfortable. It was familiar. Rowan had served three generations of Alpha Kings, and he knew better than anyone that Aero preferred thinking before speaking.

Finally, Aero broke the silence.

'You mentioned the Moon Gate prophecy.'

'Yes, Your Majesty.'

'I was under the impression that manuscript had been destroyed centuries ago.'

'Most copies were.'

Rowan slowly approached one of the ancient bookshelves lining the chamber walls.

Hidden behind several dusty scrolls sat a small wooden box secured by silver locks.

He carefully opened it.

Inside rested a weathered parchment, its edges darkened by age.

'This is the only surviving copy.'

Aero frowned.

'Why keep it secret?'

'Because prophecies are dangerous things.'

'Or convenient excuses.'

Rowan smiled faintly.

'Perhaps both.'

He carefully unfolded the parchment across the council table.

Ancient symbols covered most of the page.

Only one section had been translated into the modern language.

Rowan quietly read aloud.

'When the Silver Moon weakens and the gate between worlds awakens, a daughter of another realm shall appear before the King who fears love.'

Aero's expression remained unreadable.

'Continue.'

'She shall arrive without sword or army, yet kingdoms shall tremble at her presence. The fate of wolves and men shall rest upon the choice of two hearts destined to become one.'

Silence followed.

Aero stared at the faded words.

'It sounds like a fairy tale.'

'Most prophecies do.'

'You're suggesting Serena is this woman?'

'I'm suggesting too many coincidences are occurring at once.'

Aero folded his arms.

'Coincidences don't rule kingdoms.'

'Neither does ignorance.'

The Alpha King slowly walked toward the enormous window overlooking the capital.

The morning sun had finally begun rising above the mountains.

From this height, he could see nearly the entire city.

Thousands of homes.

Training grounds.

Market squares.

The Silver Temple standing proudly near the eastern cliffs.

Everything he'd sworn to protect.

'If she truly came from another world,' Aero murmured, 'why here?'

'That,' Rowan replied softly, 'is the question we must answer.'

Meanwhile...

Serena sat alone inside the eastern tower chamber.

She had barely slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, she expected to wake inside her apartment in Manhattan.

Instead, she woke to stone walls.

Torchlight.

And complete silence.

'This can't be real,' she whispered for what felt like the hundredth time.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

The heavy door slowly opened.

A young maid entered carrying a breakfast tray.

She couldn't have been older than nineteen.

The moment their eyes met, the girl bowed nervously.

'Good morning... Lady Serena.'

Serena blinked.

'Lady? I'm pretty sure prisoners don't get called that.'

The maid looked confused.

'His Majesty ordered that you be treated with respect.'

'Really?'

'Yes.'

That surprised Serena.

She'd expected cold bread and a bucket of water.

Instead, the tray held warm tea, fresh fruit, bread, honey, and roasted meat.

'This is for me?'

'Of course.'

'Your king has very expensive prisons.'

The maid giggled before immediately covering her mouth.

'Forgive me.'

'Don't apologize. It was nice hearing someone laugh.'

The young woman relaxed slightly.

'My name is Lily.'

'Nice to meet you, Lily. I'm Serena.'

'I know.'

'News travels fast around here?'

'The whole castle is talking about you.'

Serena sighed dramatically.

'Wonderful.'

'Some believe you're a witch.'

'I'm definitely not.'

'Others believe you're a goddess.'

'That's somehow even worse.'

Lily smiled.

'I don't think you're either.'

'What do you think?'

The maid hesitated.

'You look... lonely.'

The simple answer caught Serena completely off guard.

She lowered her eyes.

'Maybe I am.'

Several hours later...

The massive castle doors opened as Aero returned from personally inspecting the northern barrier.

His expression was darker than before.

Magnus met him halfway across the entrance hall.

'Well?'

'Rowan was correct.'

'The damage?'

'It's spreading.'

'Impossible.'

'Nothing about this situation is possible anymore.'

Magnus lowered his voice.

'Do you believe the human caused it?'

Aero didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he remembered Serena's face.

Her confusion.

Her fear.

The way she'd looked genuinely lost.

He'd interrogated countless spies over the years.

Liars always revealed themselves eventually.

But Serena...

She either possessed extraordinary talent...

Or she truly had no idea why she was here.

'I'm beginning to believe she knows less than we do,' Aero admitted.

Magnus raised an eyebrow.

'That's unlike you.'

'Facts change opinions.'

'And your opinion?'

'She remains dangerous.'

'Even if she's innocent?'

'Sometimes innocent people are the most dangerous.'

Later that afternoon...

A loud knock echoed through Serena's room.

Before she could answer, the door opened.

Magnus entered.

'The king wishes to see you.'

'Am I finally getting released?'

'No.'

'Worth asking.'

He unlocked the chain attached to her silver cuffs.

'Come with me.'

This time, they didn't head toward the throne room.

Instead, Magnus led her through a quiet section of the castle she'd never seen before.

Beautiful gardens surrounded crystal fountains.

White flowers covered nearly every pathway.

'This place is gorgeous,' Serena whispered.

'Few people are allowed here.'

'Then why bring me?'

'His Majesty requested privacy.'

At the center of the gardens stood Aero.

He wasn't wearing his royal cloak today.

Only a simple black tunic and dark trousers.

Without the crown, he looked less like a king...

And more like an ordinary man.

A very intimidating ordinary man.

He dismissed Magnus with a nod.

'Leave us.'

Magnus hesitated.

'Your Majesty...'

'I'll be fine.'

Once Magnus disappeared beyond the hedges, only Serena and Aero remained.

Neither spoke immediately.

Birds sang softly somewhere above.

A cool breeze carried the scent of flowers through the garden.

'How are you being treated?' Aero finally asked.

Serena looked at him suspiciously.

'Is this some kind of trick question?'

'No.'

'Then... surprisingly well.'

'Good.'

'You're an odd king.'

'I've heard that before.'

'You throw me in prison... then make sure I have warm meals and comfortable blankets.'

'You're still my responsibility.'

'Even if you don't trust me?'

Aero met her eyes.

'Especially then.'

For a brief moment...

Neither of them looked away.

Then suddenly...

A sharp pain exploded inside Serena's head.

'Ah...!'

She stumbled backward.

Visions flashed before her eyes.

The silver castle.

A blood-red moon.

Wolves howling beneath burning skies.

A woman dressed in white whispering one sentence over and over.

'Find the Moon Gate... before the Shadow King does.'

The vision vanished.

Serena collapsed.

Aero caught her before she struck the ground.

'Serena!'

Her breathing became uneven.

When she slowly opened her eyes again...

They glowed with the same silver light that shimmered inside the mysterious painting.