When illusions twist reality, shadows reveal hidden truths

Arvanya's POV:

There was darkness everywhere. It wasn't the kind that your eyes grow accustomed to—it was complete, unyielding, and smothering, like a sentient force coiling around me. I pushed my sight, desperate to catch even the faintest glimmer of light or shape to cling to, but it was futile.

The void seemed endless, and the silence was oppressive. The kind of silence that burrows into your soul, making you acutely aware of your own heartbeat. Mine was wild and erratic, a drumbeat of panic in the vast emptiness.

"Where am I?" The question escaped in a shaky whisper, the sound fragile and fleeting, vanishing into the abyss as if devoured by the surrounding nothingness.

I tried to piece together what had happened. I remembered standing in the corridor with my friends—Sofia's infectious laugh, Esme's quiet smile, Kai's steady presence.

And Lucian.

The memory of his face surged to the forefront, vivid and urgent. He had been running toward me, his hand outstretched, desperation etched into every line of his expression. "Aria!" he had shouted, his voice filled with something I couldn't quite name. Fear? Anguish? And then... nothing. Everything had vanished, leaving only this suffocating abyss.

My chest tightened, and a lump formed in my throat. "Esme?" I called out, my voice cracking under the weight of my growing fear. "Sofia? Kai?"

There was no response.

"Lucian!" I shouted, louder this time, my voice ricocheting off the unseen walls of the void before fading into nothingness. The silence that followed was almost worse. It felt deliberate, mocking, as though the darkness itself was laughing at my desperation.

Panic began to set in, sharp and relentless. My mind raced with questions. Where were they? Why wasn’t anyone answering? Was this some cruel trick? A nightmare? Or worse, reality?

Then it struck me—the voice. Deep, cold, and haunting. I had heard it back in Nyra, its chilling words still etched into my soul.

Before I could react, the memory blurred into the present. Darkness had swallowed me whole, dragging me from solid ground into this endless, suffocating void.

And now I stood here, suspended in nothingness, the silence pressing against my ears, the cold sinking into my skin.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, grounding myself against the rising tide of fear. "This has to be an illusion," I muttered, more to reassure myself than out of conviction. But the coldness of the air, the weight of the silence—it all felt too real.

"Lucian!" I yelled, my voice breaking through the stillness with a force that made it reverberate off invisible walls before vanishing into the abyss. The quiet that followed was worse—deliberate, mocking, as though the darkness itself was reveling in my despair.

Panic clawed at my mind, threatening to unravel me. And then, slicing through the suffocating emptiness, I heard it. A voice. Deep, calm, and unnervingly familiar.

"Why do you call for him when you already know the truth?"

I froze, the chill in those words biting deeper than the cold air around me. "Who's there?" I demanded, my voice trembling despite my effort to sound strong.

The voice chuckled, low and venomous, curling around me like a snake. "I really don’t like it when you call his name, Nyra."

A cold shiver ran down my spine as that name echoed in my mind. Nyra. My heart raced, and my breath caught in my throat. This wasn’t just any voice; this was something ancient, something dangerous.

"My name is not Nyra," I snapped, my voice firm despite the fear gnawing at my insides. "I’m Arvanya Morrison. Who are you? What do you want from me?"

The voice laughed again, this time sharper, more mocking. "You’ll find out soon enough. But first, let’s see what you’re truly made of."

My pulse quickened, every instinct screaming at me to run, to escape this suffocating darkness. But where could I go? I was trapped in an endless void, surrounded by a silence that pressed against my ears, waiting for something—anything—to break it.

I pressed a trembling hand to my chest, trying to steady my breath. "Breathe, Arvanya. You can’t let this break you."

The air around me felt thick, like it was trying to swallow me whole. Each step I took felt like wading through the heaviest of fog, but I forced myself to move. I couldn’t just stand here. I had to keep going, to find my way out of this abyss.

Suddenly, a faint yellow light flickered ahead of me, its edges shimmering like an illusion. For a fleeting moment, it felt like a lifeline—a glimpse of hope in the suffocating darkness.

I stepped closer, my heart pounding in my chest. And then I saw them.

My mom, dad, and brothers stood there, illuminated in that unearthly glow. Their faces were familiar, etched with the features I knew so well—my dad's steady strength, my mom's warmth, and the protective gazes of Adrian, Thiago, and Luca. Relief surged through me, quick and overwhelming.

"Mom! Dad! Adrian! Thiago! Luca!" I called, my voice trembling with a mix of joy and disbelief.

I took a hesitant step forward, then another. My fear melted into hope as I moved closer. They were here. Somehow, they had found me in this abyss.

But something was off.

My father's expression hardened as I approached, his eyes devoid of the love and reassurance I had known all my life. Instead, they were cold, unyielding, almost... accusatory.

"Stop," he commanded, his voice like ice.

I froze, my breath hitching in my chest. "Dad?"

"You," he spat, his tone sharp and full of disdain, "are the reason for all of this. Our family—our name—is in ruins because of you."

His words hit me like a slap, leaving me reeling. "W-What are you saying?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Adrian stepped forward next, his arms crossed over his chest, his face a mask of disgust. "You've disgraced us, Arvanya. You think your powers make you special, but all you've done is bring us shame."

I stumbled back a step, my hands shaking. "No, Adrian... I didn't—"

"You didn't?" Thiago interrupted, his voice bitter. "How many lives were lost because of you? How many students paid the price for your recklessness?" His eyes bore into mine, filled with resentment.

Luca's words came last, soft yet cutting, like the edge of a blade. "You're a curse, Arvanya. A burden. We would have been better off if you'd never been born."

A sharp gasp escaped me as his words shattered the last fragments of hope I had clung to. My knees buckled, and I sank to the ground, tears spilling down my cheeks.

"No... no, this isn't real. You're my family. You love me." My voice broke, barely audible over the pounding in my ears.

They didn't move, their faces cold and unrecognizable. My father stepped closer, towering over me, his gaze filled with disdain. "We loved you once. But you've destroyed us. You've destroyed everything."

"No!" I cried, clutching at my chest as if I could hold my breaking heart together. "You're lying! You're not my family! They would never say this. Never!"

But their voices didn't stop. They overlapped, growing louder and harsher, each accusation cutting deeper than the last.

"Humiliation..."

"Disgrace..."

"Not worthy..."

"Burden..."

The light around them began to flicker, their figures blurring at the edges like a mirage breaking apart. The sight only deepened my anguish.

"Why are you doing this?" I whispered, my voice trembling. "Why are you saying these things? Please... stop."

But they didn't answer. One by one, they vanished, their bodies dissolving into the flickering light. The darkness rushed back in, heavier and colder than before, pressing against my chest like an unbearable weight.

I gasped for air, my hands trembling as I tried to make sense of what had just happened. Were they real? Could those words have come from my family?

No.

I clenched my fists, the nails biting into my palms. My tears burned as anger rose within me, fueled by the betrayal that still lingered in the air. "You're not my family," I whispered, my voice shaking but resolute. "You can't be."

Then, before I could gather myself, another light flickered to my left. This one was red—faint, but unmistakably sinister, as if it held a warning within its eerie glow. My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively braced myself for whatever was coming.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Emerging from the shadows, the familiar figures of Nico, Kai, and Dante appeared. Relief surged through me for a fleeting moment, but it was quickly replaced by dread as their faces became clear. Nico's lips twisted into a cruel sneer, Kai's gaze burned cold and accusatory, and Dante—his expression was a mask of loathing I never imagined he could wear.

The silence between us stretched, taut and suffocating. My chest tightened. "Nico? Kai? Dante?" I called out, my voice trembling with hope and disbelief.

Nico took a step forward, his arms crossed tightly across his chest, his posture radiating contempt. "Do you really think we're still your friends?" he spat, his words hitting me like a slap. "After everything you've done?"

Kai's piercing glare made my heart sink further. He shook his head, his jaw clenched so tightly that I could almost hear his teeth grinding. "All the chaos, all the danger—it's always because of you, Arvanya. Do you even realize how much we've suffered because of your so-called powers?"

Dante's glare was unbearable, like it was burning through me. He stood motionless for a moment, fists clenched at his sides, his chest rising and falling with barely contained rage. When he finally spoke, his words were sharp, dripping with contempt. "You're nothing but a curse. A mistake. We would’ve been better off if you’d never existed."

My legs wobbled, the strength draining from them as their words crashed over me like waves. My hands shook, clutching at the fabric of my dress as if it could anchor me to reality. "No... that's not true," I whispered, my voice cracking under the weight of my desperation. "You don't mean that. Please!"

Nico scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips as he turned away. "You think we'd stay by your side after what you've done? Don't be so naive."

Kai didn't say another word, but the way he glared at me—his eyes brimming with disappointment and anger—was worse than anything he could have said.

Dante shook his head slowly, his sneer fading into an expression of pure disdain. "Goodbye, Arvanya," he said coldly, his tone final.

As they turned their backs and dissolved into shadow, I stumbled forward, reaching out toward them. "No, wait! Don't leave me! Please!" I begged, my voice breaking into a sob. But they were gone, their forms consumed by the void.

My knees crashed to the ground with a harsh, agonizing thud, and I buried my face in my trembling hands. Tears flowed freely down my cheeks, hot and relentless, each one a painful reminder. "This isn't real," I whispered, trying to convince myself, but the heaviness in my chest betrayed my words.

A faint light flickered before me, drawing my gaze upward. I blinked through my tears, and from the glow emerged Esme and Calen. My heart leaped in hope, desperate for some comfort, some sense of reassurance. But the expressions on their faces froze me in place.

Esme's hands were clenched into trembling fists, her face twisted with anger. The warmth in her eyes—the kindness I'd always known—was gone, replaced by something dark and unyielding. "We trusted you, Arvanya," she began, her voice tight with suppressed fury. "Even when we found out you hid your powers and identity from us, we still stood by you. We believed in you!"

Her voice cracked, and her body shook with barely controlled rage. "But now, because of you—again—everything is falling apart. How can you expect us to stay by your side when you bring nothing but destruction?"

Calen stood beside her, his arms crossed, his posture rigid. His piercing eyes locked onto mine, devoid of the camaraderie we once shared. "You broke our trust, Arvanya. First with your lies, and now with this. You've brought nothing but sorrow and ruin. We trusted you once, but now..." He shook his head, his voice cold and distant. "We want nothing to do with you."

I stumbled to my feet, my hands outstretched toward them. "No! Esme, Calen—don't say that! You don't mean it!" My voice cracked, the desperation clawing at my throat.

They turned their backs without another word, their figures fading like smoke into the darkness. My arms dropped limply to my sides, and I sank back to the ground, sobbing openly now.

But the torment wasn't over.

To my right, another light flared. I looked up, my heart pounding, and saw Zane and Ryker stepping into view. For a fleeting moment, I clung to the hope that they might help, that they might prove the others wrong.

Then I saw what they held.

Sofia and Lila lay motionless in their arms, their bodies limp, their faces pale and lifeless. My breath caught in my throat, a strangled gasp escaping my lips.

"No..." I whispered, shaking my head as my body trembled violently. "No, no, no!" I stumbled forward on unsteady legs, my arms reaching out. "What happened to them? What did you do?"

Zane's gaze was hard and unyielding. "They trusted you," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "And this is the price they paid."

Ryker's grip on Lila tightened as he looked at me with disdain. "This is what happens to everyone who stays close to you. They suffer because of you."

I stood frozen, my hands clenched into fists as a scream tore from my throat. "No! You're lying! This isn't real!"

But then, as I tried to reach out for Sofia and Lila, the words of them pierced through my breaking heart. Their harsh words rang out like daggers.

"Because of you, we lost our mates," Zane hissed, his eyes filled with grief-stricken rage. "They died because they trusted you."

Ryker's voice was equally venomous, his face contorted with pain. "You should have died instead of them," he spat. "We will never forgive you."

My chest tightened, and for a moment, I felt my legs give way. I broke into a run, desperate to reach them, but the closer I got, the more they seemed to fade. I reached out, but before I could touch them, they vanished, taking Sofia and Lila with them.

I stumbled again, falling to my knees, the weight of their words crashing down on me like a heavy storm. My hands clawed at the empty space where they had been, but it was gone. The darkness crept in, suffocating and relentless, and I was left alone in the void. My sobs echoed into the emptiness.

The voice returned, its tone softer but no less chilling, wrapping around me like a poisonous caress. "Nyra, they will never understand you. Not the way I do. They don't deserve your loyalty, your sacrifices."

"Stop it!" I screamed, clutching my head as if I could block out the words. My voice fractured in the emptiness. "You're lying! None of this is real!"

A low chuckle followed, dark and unrelenting. "Ah, but it is real. They will turn against you, just as they always do. But I see you, Nyra. I see all of you—the power, the beauty, the strength they will never comprehend. And when they abandon you, I will still be here. I will never leave."

A sharp light cut through the shadows. My breath hitched as Lucian's figure emerged, his posture regal and imposing. For a fleeting moment, hope surged within me.

"Lucian," I whispered, my voice trembling as I rose to my feet. I stepped toward him, desperate to close the distance.

He stood motionless, his gaze piercing and unyielding. But as I drew nearer, his expression hardened, the warmth I sought absent from his eyes.

"My mate?" he said, his tone laced with venom. "You think I would ever claim you? The very thought disgusts me."

The words hit me like a blow, leaving me rooted in place. "Lucian, no... you don't mean that," I stammered, tears blurring my vision.

His lips curled into a sneer, his voice cold enough to freeze the air around us. "You are nothing but a burden—a shame I refuse to carry."

The voice spoke again, but this time, it wasn't mocking. It was possessive, insistent. "Do you see now, Nyra? He will never deserve you. You waste yourself trying to protect all of them. You belong with me, where you will never be abandoned, never betrayed."

"Why are you doing this to me?" I cried, my voice breaking as I clutched my chest. "Why are you showing me this?"

The voice softened, almost tender, but its words wrapped tightly around my heart. "Because I need you to see the truth. They will turn their backs on you. Your mate, your friends, all of them. But I never will. I will stand with you when no one else will."

Before I could respond, Lucian staggered, his hand clutching his chest as blood seeped through his fingers. His face twisted in pain, and he dropped to his knees, gasping for breath.

"Lucian!" I screamed, my heart shattering at the sight. I ran toward him, but he seemed to slip further away with every step.

He cried out, his voice raw and broken, his body collapsing into the void.

"Lucian!" I shouted, my arms stretching into the abyss, but the shadows surged forward, devouring him completely.

A voice slithered through the dark, laced with chilling triumph. "One day, Nyra, you'll understand. I am the only one who will never leave your side."

The void consumed everything, leaving behind only the haunting echoes of my broken cries.

I jolted upright, my breath coming in ragged gasps, my body trembling violently. The vivid terror of what I’d just seen clung to me—Lucian, bloodied, his voice screaming in agony, his face twisted with unbearable pain. It wasn’t just a dream; it felt too raw, too real.

"Lucian!" I screamed, his name spilling from my lips like a desperate lifeline. The world around me was a blur, my senses trapped in the memory of his suffering.

"Aria," someone called softly, but their voice was a distant murmur against the storm inside me. My mind was locked on the horrors I’d witnessed, the images too vivid to fade.

"Lucian!" I cried again, the panic constricting my chest, my hands gripping the sheets like they were the only tether keeping me from slipping into madness.

"Aria, focus on me!" The voice broke through the haze, sharper, more urgent. Yet the terror refused to release its grip, the vision of Lucian’s bloodied figure branded into my mind, his pain an unbearable weight.

Then, sharp and commanding, a voice cut through the haze like a lifeline. "Aria!"

The name hit me like a slap to my senses, breaking the grip of the terror and yanking me back into the present. My head snapped up, my frantic gaze locking onto the familiar figure sitting beside me.

Lucian.

His face was tight with tension, his brow furrowed deeply in worry, his usual calm replaced by raw, unguarded concern. His eyes were wide with panic, lips pressed into a thin line, as if he was torn between wanting to reassure me and his own fear for my well-being. He was sitting so close that I could feel the warmth of his presence, his hands gripping me gently but with an urgency that seemed to come from deep within him. "You're awake," he said, his voice steady but laden with emotion. "Aria, listen to me. You're alright."

I shook my head slightly, my mind struggling to process everything. "Lucian..." I whispered, my voice cracking. The fear still gripped me, and my heart raced.

"I'm here," he said softly, his voice low and soothing, as though trying to pull me away from the edge of my fear. His thumb brushed over the back of my hand, a tender, reassuring gesture that made my heart flutter despite the storm inside me. "I'm right here."

I looked around, finally taking in the room. My friends were gathered around me, standing in the dim light, their faces filled with worry and concern. Kai, Sofia, Lila, Dante, Nico, Esme, Calen, Zane, and Ryker were all there. Their eyes locked onto me, filled with a kind of helplessness, unsure of what was going on.

But it was Lucian's presence that grounded me, even as the terror continued to claw at my mind.

He leaned in closer, his hand hovering near mine, hesitant but not pulling away. "Why are you calling my name?" he asked softly, his tone filled with genuine concern, his eyes searching mine for an answer.

I looked at my friends again, their faces now full of worry, but the faces from my mind weren't theirs. The faces in my mind had been harsh, cruel, accusing. The sharp words they had thrown at me echoed in my ears.

Tears sprang to my eyes again as I recalled those words—words from people I thought I could trust. The overwhelming fear that they might one day leave me, betray me, drown me in guilt consumed me.

I blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears, but they fell anyway—hot, relentless. I looked back at Lucian, his face now soft with worry. His brow furrowed slightly, his lips parted as if unsure of how to comfort me. But he didn't ask me to stop crying or pull away in discomfort. He just looked at me with that same unguarded concern, his hand reaching up to gently cup my cheek, his thumb brushing away the tears.

But even as he comforted me, his words from my mind rang in my ears: "You think I would ever claim you? The very thought disgusts me."

The contrast between his calm demeanor now and the cruel rejection from my mind felt like a weight on my chest. The words, the pain, it all felt too much.

I backed away slightly, my heart aching as the memory of the images swirled in my mind. The harsh words, the betrayal, the fear that they might one day become reality... It suffocated me.

Lucian's expression faltered as I moved away. His eyes, once full of concern, flashed with surprise and hurt. His brow furrowed deeper, and his lips parted as if searching for the right words.

I could see the tension in his jaw, the tightness in his shoulders. The composed Lucian now seemed vulnerable, caught off guard by my withdrawal. It was as if I had struck him, though I hadn't meant to.

Finally, I whispered through the tears, my voice shaky, "Nothing... it was just a nightmare..."

But deep inside, a part of me wondered—was it truly just a nightmare? Or had it been a glimpse of something more? The fear of being abandoned, of being blamed for the pain others might feel, gnawed at me. Would they really leave me one day? Would Lucian, who seemed so concerned now, come to see me as unworthy of being his mate?

I couldn't answer that. Not now. Not yet.