Nightfall Prophecy

Chapter 15: The Witches' Decree

The heavy gates groaned as they swung open, revealing the Shadow Coven's sanctuary. It wasn't the crumbling ruin Celestine had imagined—it was something out of a forgotten legend. Towering obsidian spires reached into the dark sky, glowing runes pulsing along their surfaces like veins of ancient power. Mist coiled around the structure, alive with whispers Celestine couldn't quite understand.

A hooded figure awaited them at the threshold.

"You have come seeking answers." The witch's voice was neither welcoming nor hostile. "The Coven has been expecting you."

Celestine exchanged a glance with Lucien, who gave a firm nod. Draven, of course, looked completely at ease, as if this were a casual visit to an old friend.

The witch turned and glided inside, and they followed. The air inside the sanctuary was thick with incense and something deeper—magic, raw and untamed. Celestine's pulse quickened as they entered a grand hall lined with towering stone pillars. At the center, a massive circular table stood, where several cloaked figures waited.

"The girl bears the mark," one of the witches spoke, their voice layered with something unnatural. "She is the Eclipse Heir."

Murmurs spread through the Coven. Celestine clenched her fists. "Tell me what that means."

The eldest witch stepped forward, lowering her hood. Her face was lined with time, her silver eyes piercing. "It means you are not meant to exist."

Celestine's breath caught. "What?"

Lucien's body tensed beside her, while Draven let out a low, amused hum. "Well, that's dramatic."

The elder witch ignored him, her gaze locked onto Celestine. "The Eclipse Bloodline was erased from history for a reason. You are an anomaly. A disturbance in the balance. And balance must be restored."

A flicker of power surged through Celestine's veins, reacting to the witch's words. She fought to steady herself. "If I was never meant to exist, why am I here?"

Silence hung in the air, thick with unspoken truths.

Finally, the elder witch spoke again. "Because something has awakened you."

The words sent a chill through Celestine's bones. She wasn't just a mistake—she was a consequence.

Lucien took a protective step forward. "Then tell us how to control it. How to keep her safe."

The witches exchanged glances before the elder one whispered, "There is no controlling what she is."

Celestine's heart pounded as the truth settled over her.

And for the first time, she wasn't afraid of what she was becoming.

Chapter 16: The Blood Pact

Celestine's breath felt shallow as the weight of the witches' words settled over her like an iron shroud. You were never meant to exist. The statement echoed in her mind, but instead of fear, something else coiled in her chest—defiance.

She lifted her chin, meeting the elder witch's gaze head-on. "Then tell me why I'm here. If my existence is a mistake, what purpose do I serve?"

The witches exchanged knowing glances before the eldest stepped forward, raising a pale, timeworn hand. The sigil on Celestine's wrist began to glow, pulsing in response. The elder witch's eyes darkened, as if glimpsing something beyond the physical world.

"The Blood Pact that was broken centuries ago," the witch whispered. "It seeks to be mended through you."

Lucien stiffened beside her. "What Blood Pact?"

Draven chuckled, leaning against a stone pillar. "Oh, now this is interesting."

The elder witch ignored them, keeping her focus on Celestine. "Long ago, before the war between the vampires and the werewolves, there was an agreement sealed in blood—a covenant of balance between the two races. But it was shattered, and the bloodline that was meant to uphold it was wiped from existence."

Celestine's heart pounded. "My bloodline."

The witch nodded. "And now, fate has chosen to weave its threads once more."

Lucien's grip tightened around his sword. "What does that mean for her?"

A slow smile spread across the elder witch's face. "It means she is the key to restoring what was lost… or ensuring its destruction forever."

Celestine's fingers curled into fists. A thousand questions swirled in her mind, but one thing was certain—whatever role she was meant to play, she refused to be a pawn in someone else's game.

Draven pushed off the pillar, stepping closer. "Well then, little star, seems like you've got a choice to make."

Celestine met his gaze, then Lucien's. Both stood on opposite sides of her, their fates now bound to hers.

And for the first time, she truly understood—this war wasn't just about the past. It was about her future.

Chapter 17: A Mark of Destiny

The words of the elder witch lingered in the heavy air, sinking into Celestine's bones like ice. She was the key to restoring balance—or the catalyst for its final destruction. The weight of it threatened to crush her, but she forced herself to stand tall.

Lucien stepped closer, his voice low but firm. "What do you mean by mending the pact?"

The elder witch's silver eyes gleamed. "Blood was spilled to break the balance. Blood must be given to restore it."

Draven let out a low chuckle, dark amusement flickering in his gaze. "Ah, and let me guess—Celestine's blood is the missing piece."

Celestine swallowed hard. "If that's true, then what happens if I refuse?"

The room fell into a chilling silence. Then, the elder witch spoke, her voice softer this time. "Then the world will burn."

A pulse of magic flared from Celestine's sigil, sending a sharp pain through her wrist. She gasped, clutching her arm as the markings glowed brighter than before. The air around her crackled, the very ground trembling beneath her feet.

Lucien was beside her in an instant, steadying her. "Celestine—"

"I'm fine," she whispered, though the fire in her veins begged to differ.

Draven stepped forward, his smirk fading as he studied the sigil. "It's reacting to the choice."

Celestine clenched her teeth. "Then it'll have to wait. I won't be forced into something I don't understand."

The elder witch tilted her head. "Understanding will not change your fate. But time is short. The one who shattered the pact has already sensed its awakening."

Lucien tensed. "Who?"

The witch's voice darkened. "The one who wants the balance destroyed forever. The one who will come for her."

Celestine's stomach twisted. "Who is he?"

The torches lining the sanctuary flickered, casting shadows across the stone walls. The witches exchanged glances before the elder whispered a single name.

"Valerius."

A cold shudder ran down Celestine's spine. She didn't know who he was, but she knew one thing—whoever he was, he was coming for her.

And she wasn't ready.