A Rise of the Cursed [Epic Fantasy | Arthurian Myth | Destiny as Choice | Slow-Burn Stakes]

The trees grew darker, their branches curling inward like talons, forming a canopy that blocked out the fading light. Albion felt the weight of the atmosphere grow heavier, colder. He couldn't explain it, but something about this part of the forest felt inherently wrong, as if the air itself was thick with malice. Every step he took felt like wading through quicksand, pulling him deeper into something he didn't fully understand.

Adele, walking just ahead of him, moved with a purpose, her hand brushing the rough bark of the trees as though she was feeling for something in the energy around them. Her connection to magic seemed almost tangible here, the runes on her skin faintly glowing in the dim light. Albion followed her lead, uncertain of where they were or why the forest felt so different now. Winston trudged alongside them, his face set in a grim mask of concentration, his katana always ready at his side.

"We're not in Seelie territory anymore, are we?" Albion asked, his voice low, feeling like even the sound might disturb whatever lurked in the shadows.

Adele shook her head without turning around. "No. We've crossed into the domain of the

Unseelie."

"Unseelie?" Albion repeated, his brow furrowing. "And that means…?"

"They're the darker side of the Fae," she explained, her voice steady despite the tension around them. "Where the Seelie Court values beauty, order, and life, the Unseelie Court thrives on chaos, trickery, and power. They aren't outright evil, but they aren't bound by the same rules of kindness and morality as the Seelie. We need to be careful."

Albion swallowed hard, his fingers twitching near his forearm, where the runes of Excalibur were hidden. He didn't understand much about this world of magic, but he knew enough to recognize when they were out of their depth. This place wasn't just dangerous—it was alive in ways that made his skin crawl.

Winston grunted; his gaze sharp as he scanned the darkened woods. "Careful, huh? Feels like we're walking straight into a trap."

Adele glanced back at him; her expression tight. "We might be. But the Unseelie don't act without reason. They'll want something from us."

"What could they possibly want?" Albion asked, his unease growing with every step they took.

Before Adele could answer, the path before them opened up into a clearing, the dense trees giving way to a circle of ancient stones. Standing in the center of the clearing were several tall figures, their pale skin gleaming faintly in the dim light. They were beautiful, but in a cold, predatory way—like a blade that had been sharpened too thin. Their eyes, glowing silver, followed the trio's every movement.

Adele came to a stop, and Albion felt his pulse quicken. The Fae in front of them were not the ethereal, graceful beings they had encountered before. These were darker, more dangerous. And they knew it.

One of the Unseelie stepped forward, his long black hair flowing down his back like liquid shadow. His eyes were hard, calculating, and his smile didn't reach them. When he spoke, his voice was a low hiss that sent a chill down Albion's spine.

"You've wandered far from the safety of the Seelie Court," the Fae said, his gaze settling on each of them in turn. "You're in the domain of the Unseelie now."

Adele held her ground, her eyes steady as she faced the Fae. "We didn't come here by accident. The forest brought us to you."

The Fae tilted his head, amusement flickering in his silver eyes. "The forest, yes. It serves us all. But you're not here for pleasantries, are you?"

Albion shifted uncomfortably. He wasn't sure what to expect from this encounter, but it was clear that the Unseelie weren't going to make things easy for them.

"We're here for Eleven," Adele said, her voice firm. "She's destroying the forest, feeding on its magic. Queen Titania wants her dead."

At the mention of Titania, the Unseelie Fae's smile faded, and the others behind him stirred, their expressions darkening.

"Of course she does," the Fae said, his voice cold. "Titania and her Seelie Court only see what they want to see. They've already decided that death is the only solution to the problem. How predictable."

Albion glanced at Adele, confusion tightening in his chest. "So… you don't want to kill her?"

The Fae's gaze shifted to Albion, studying him with a curiosity that made him feel exposed. "Eleven can't be killed—not yet. She's too deeply connected to the magic she's consumed. Killing her now would only destroy what remains of the forest."

Adele's eyes widened slightly, as if she had just realized something. "You think she's bound her soul to others… like a tether."

The Fae nodded slowly; his expression unreadable. "Exactly. Her power isn't hers alone. It's shared. To truly defeat her, you would need to sever those connections. Until then, she is… untouchable."

Winston let out a sharp breath, frustration flashing in his eyes. "So, what, we just let her keep ripping apart the forest? Watch her destroy everything while we figure out how to cut her loose?"

"Not quite," the Fae replied, his smile returning, though it was far more dangerous now. "There's another way. The Unseelie don't believe in waste. We can use her."

Albion frowned, the words hitting him like a punch to the gut. "Use her? How?"

"She's powerful," the Fae said, his voice almost reverent. "Too powerful to simply kill. The Seelie think they're preserving balance by erasing what they don't understand. But the Unseelie see potential. We could imprison her, bind her to our will. Make her restore the forest and more. Her destruction can be turned into creation, if properly controlled."

Albion's blood ran cold at the suggestion, but before he could say anything, Adele spoke.

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"No," she said sharply, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Binding her would be just as dangerous as killing her. You can't control someone like her. She's too far gone."

The Fae's smile didn't falter. "Perhaps. But we're willing to try. After all, isn't it better to harness power than to throw it away?"

Winston's fists clenched at his sides, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "You're talking about turning her into a weapon. That's not what we came here for."

The Fae stepped closer; his silver eyes gleaming. "You came here to stop her, yes? To save the forest? Then let us do what we do best. Control her, bind her to our will, and she will be ours. The destruction she's caused will be undone."

Albion felt a knot form in his stomach. This wasn't a solution—it was a new kind of nightmare. Imprisoning Eleven would only delay the inevitable. She would never stop. She would never be truly free.

"What if we refuse?" Adele asked, her voice calm but full of warning.

The Fae's smile vanished completely, and the air around them seemed to thicken with tension. "Then you walk away empty-handed. And the forest continues to die."

Albion looked between Adele and Winston, uncertainty gnawing at him. He didn't want to play into the Unseelie's hands, but he also knew they couldn't walk away. Not now. Not with the forest hanging in the balance.

"There's another option," Adele said softly, her gaze steady. "We sever the connections. The souls that keep her alive. If we find them, break them… then she can be stopped."

The Fae watched her carefully, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And you believe you can do that? The Seelie couldn't find a way to sever the ties. What makes you think you can?"

Adele lifted her chin. "Because we don't see her as just a monster. We know what she's capable of, and we know her limits. There's always a way."

For a long moment, the Fae said nothing. The silence stretched on, the weight of the decision hanging over them like a blade ready to fall. Finally, he stepped back, his smile returning.

"Very well, but remember all magic has a price, mortal." he said, his tone lighter, though the danger in his gaze remained. "If you can sever the ties that bind her, then you may have a chance. But know this: if you fail, the forest will fall. And the Unseelie will take what's left."

He turned to leave, but paused, glancing over his shoulder. "And if you capture her, the Unseelie will welcome you as friends. You'll always have a place in our court."

Winston scoffed, crossing his arms. "We'll pass on the invitation."

As the Unseelie Fae disappeared into the shadows, Albion let out a slow breath, the tension still coiling in his gut. The encounter had left him with more questions than answers, and the forest around them didn't feel any less hostile.

Winston sheathed his katana, his expression dark. "That was helpful," he muttered sarcastically. "Offer to imprison her, like that's a real solution."

Adele looked distant, her mind clearly working through the complexities of what had been said.

"The Unseelie are desperate. They've seen the damage she's done, and they're trying to preserve their power, their way of life. They don't care about balance or the greater good, only what keeps them alive."

Albion tried to process everything. "So, they want to use Eleven, keep her around as a kind of weapon?"

Adele nodded. "Exactly. To them, she's a tool. But we can't allow that. She's far too dangerous to be controlled. If they try to bind her, she'll break free. And when she does… it will be catastrophic."

"Even if we find these people she's linked to, how do we cut those ties?" Albion asked. "Do we just… kill them?"

Winston shook his head. "It's not that simple. She didn't just bind herself to them. She made them part of her, twisted them into something else. They're extensions of her power. To sever the ties, you'd have to kill every one of them. And they won't go down easily."

Albion's mind raced. "So, we're looking for people who are basically… invincible?"

Adele hesitated before answering. "Not invincible, but close. We may have to seal her for the time being if she's truly shared her immortality. There's always a way to break that sort of magic. The key is finding the connections, understanding what she used. It's like unraveling a knot—pull on the right thread, and it all comes undone."

Albion's frustration boiled over. "How are we supposed to find her? The forest is huge, and she could be anywhere."

"We'll have to spirit walk again," Adele said, her voice steady. "It's the only way we'll be able to track the connections. The forest has already shown us the damage she's caused, but now we need to follow the magic. It will lead us to her."

Winston let out a slow breath, his eyes narrowing as he considered their options. "And what about the Unseelie's offer? Do we just ignore it?"

"We don't have to make that decision yet," Adele replied. "First, we find Eleven. Then we figure out how to deal with her."

Albion glanced around at the dark, looming trees. The forest seemed to pulse with a strange energy, as if it were listening to them, waiting to see what they would do next. He had a sinking feeling that they were running out of time.

"Alright," Albion said, his voice firm despite the knot of dread tightening in his chest. "Let's spirit walk."

They returned to the clearing where they had first encountered the Fae Queen, Titania. The stone circle glowed faintly in the dim light; the runes etched into its surface humming with magic.

Albion's heart pounded as he stepped forward, remembering the strange, disorienting experience of the last spirit walk.

Oberon, the Fae who had guided them before, appeared once again, stepping from the shadows with the same effortless grace. His silver eyes gleamed as he looked over the group, amusement dancing at the corners of his lips.

"Back for more?" he asked, his tone teasing. "I must say, mortals are usually less willing to dive headfirst into the unknown."

Adele gave him a pointed look. "We don't have much of a choice."

Oberon's smile widened. "No, I suppose you don't."

He gestured toward the stone. "Place your hands here, as before. The forest will guide you."

Albion glanced at Adele, then Winston. He wasn't sure if he was ready to see what lay ahead, but he knew they had no other option. They needed to understand Eleven—what she was doing, where she was hiding, and how to stop her.

They each stepped forward, placing their hands on the stone.

The world shifted.

Albion blinked as the colors around him blurred and twisted, the world reshaping itself before his eyes. He was no longer in the clearing. Instead, he stood in the heart of the forest, surrounded by life—vibrant, pulsing, teeming with magic. But there was something else. A dark thread wove through the magic, cutting through the life force of the forest like a poisoned vine.

He could see the path of destruction Eleven had left behind. The trees she had drained, the patches of scorched earth where nothing would grow again. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the ground beneath his feet felt dead, brittle.

Adele's voice echoed in the strange, warped space of the spirit walk. "Follow the magic. It will lead us to her."

Albion focused on the dark thread, tracing its path through the forest. It wound through the trees, twisting and turning, leading deeper into the heart of the Fae realm. As they followed it, Albion could feel the weight of the magic pressing down on him, suffocating him.

Winston kept pace beside him; his face set in a grim mask. "She's close. I can feel it."

Albion could feel it too. The dark presence of Eleven loomed ahead of them, like a shadow at the edge of his vision. The closer they got, the stronger the sense of dread became. They reached another clearing, but this one was different. The air was thick with magic, so dense that Albion could barely breathe. In the center of the clearing stood a figure—a woman, tall and lean, her dark hair flowing down her back like a river of shadows.

Eleven.

She turned slowly, her eyes gleaming with cold, predatory hunger.

Albion's heart pounded in his chest as he met her gaze. There was no trace of the woman Winston had once known. Cindy was gone. Only Eleven remained—a monster, twisted by power and magic.

Winston's hand tightened on the hilt of his katana. "It's her."

Eleven smiled, a slow, dangerous smile. "You found me."

Her eyes flicked to the runes on Albion's arm. "Of course you did. You brought it with you." stepping forward.

"Good. I've been waiting." The next game was about to begin.