EmilystoodattheedgeofSummerHollow’sdensewoods,theafternoonsun barelyfilteringthroughthegnarledbranchesoverhead.Her blueeyesscannedthe horizon,wherethedistantsilhouetteofthetown’srustywatertowercreptagainst thefadinglight.Itwasherfourteenthbirthday,butshefeltnojoy—onlya tighteninginherchest,asifsomethingoldandpowerfulhad stirredinsideher.
Amanda’svoicebrokethesilence,lowandsteady.“Emily,areyousureyouwantto keepgoing?It’sgettinglate.”
Emilyforcedasmilethatdidn’treachhereyes.“Ihaveto.Ineedtounderstand.”
TheyhadcometotheoutskirtsoftheforestbecauseAmandawastheonlyone whoknew.OnlyAmandaknewwhyEmilyhadbeenshuttingeveryoneelseout lately,whythedreamshadbeenhauntingher,whythings—smallthings,terrible things—hadbeenhappeningaroundher.Thepowerthatwasn’t hersandyet, somehow,was.
Emilyhadalwaysbeenbrightandendlesslycaring—softlaughterthatmadeeven thegrumpiestadultscrackasmile.Shehadraven-blackhair thatframedherpale facelikeaglossycurtainandeyessoimpossiblybluepeople jokedtheybelonged inafairytale.Buttoday,ashadowclungtoher—somethingancientanddark.
Amandatookastepcloser.“You’renotaloneinthis.Youdon’thaveto—”
Emilycutheroff,voicetremblingbutfierce,“Youdon’tunderstand,Amanda.It’snot justsomecurseorbaddream.I’m…I’mavessel.”
Thewordsfellintothedyinglightlikeshardsofglass.
Amandablinked,eyeswide.“Avessel?Forwhat?”
Emilyglancedtowardthethicket.“ForAlric.”
Thenameescapedherlipslikeawarning.Itwasn’tjustaword—itwasakeyto somethingfarbeyondSummerHollow’squietstreetsandsleepycitizens.Alric,the ancientdemonfromthefifthrealm,banishedfromhisworldintothisoneinchains forgedoffireandshadow.Andsomehow,tiedtohersoulbyabondolderthan timeitself.
Thewindshifted,whisperingsecretsthroughtheleaves.Emilyfeltitthen,the fainttremorbeneathherskin—theslow,pulsingbeatofAlric’spresencedeep withinherchest.
Amandareachedout,fingersbrushingEmily’sarm.“Whatdoes hewant?What doeshedotoyou?”
Emilyhesitated.“Controlme.Takeover.Icanfeelit,thishungerinhim.Notjust power,butrage.Hungerfordevastation.Hewantstobefree.”
Theforestdarkened,shadowslengtheningasifansweringthecall.
Anoise—asuddenrustlesomewheredeeperinthetrees—madebothgirls freeze.Emily’sgazesnappedtothesource,butitwasgone.Somethingelse movedinthedarkness,somethingthatdidn’tbelong.
Amandapulledherbackgently.“Weshouldgo.”
ButEmilyshookherhead.Thedemon’svoice,ancientandcruel,echoedfaintly— growinglouder,mergingwithherownheartbeat.
“Emily…”
Herkneestrembled,asurgeofrawenergybuildinginside,cracklingandhumming likealivewire.Sheclosedhereyesandtriedtoreachthecalmcentersheknew existedsomewherebeneaththestorm.
“Alric,I’mnotlettingyoutakeover,”shewhispered.“Nottoday.”
Butthedemon’slaughterseepedintohermind,warmanddark. “Youdon’tchoose, child.Iampartofyou.”
Inthemomentsthatfollowed,theworldshifted.Emily’sfingerstingledwithcold power,theforest’sshadowsdeepenedanddancedunnaturally,andastrange, suffocatingsilencefell—brokenonlybythefaintestscratchoffootstepsbehind them.
Emilyopenedhereyes,andforabriefflicker,theyglowed—an impossible,burning bluethatwasbothhersandnot.
Ashapeemergedfromtheundergrowth,cloakedandsilent.
“Youcarrythedemon,”thefiguresaid,voicelikegravel.“AndIwantwhathe holds.”Emily’sbreathcaught.Amandatightenedhergripon herwrist.
“It’snothispowertogive,”Emilywhisperedfiercely.
Thefiguresmiled,aslow,cruelcurloflips.“That’swhereyou’rewrong,girl.Allpower ismeanttobetaken.”
Emilyfelttheterrifyingtruthclawatherinsides—Alric’s imprisonmentwasnot enoughtokeephimsafe,notenoughtoprotectherfromthosewholurkedinthe shadows,waitingtostealtheancientstrengthshe’donlyjustbeguntounderstand.
Withabreathheavyasthunder,shetookastepforward,theforestsilenceshattered bythesoundofsomethingawakeningfarbeneaththeearth—an echoofanancient war,abattlethatwasonlyjustbeginning.Emily’sheartbeatthuddedinherearslikea franticdrum,drowningouteveryothersound.Theforesthelditsbreathalongside her,theair
thickwithanticipationandsomethingdarker—anoldmalice thateventhetowering oaksseemedtorecoilfrom.Thefigurehadhaltedjustbeyondtheclearing,face obscuredbeneathadeephood,thesilhouetteblendingtooeerilywiththecreeping shadowsforEmilytosenseanywarmth,anyhumanity.
Amanda’sgripwasiron-tightnow,herpalefingerstrembling butresolute.“Who areyou?”shedemanded,voicetighterthanshemeantittobe.
Thecloakedstrangersteppedforward,aslow,deliberatemovementthatsenta shiverracingdownEmily’sspine.“Namesareunnecessaryin thisdance.What mattersiswhatyoucarryinside—Alric’sinfernalblood,boundwithinyourmortal frame.Heismyquarry.”
Emily’sbreathcaught,herthroatdryassawdust.Alric—alwaysAlric,anamenoone daredspeakaloudexceptwhenwhisperedindread.Thedemonhadbeenlocked awayformillennia,butpartofhimlivedoninher,aseedofancientpowerandterror tangleddeepinhersoul.
“HowdoyouknowaboutAlric?”Emily’svoicewavered,butshe pushedthrough theedgeofthefearslicingthroughher.“Whydoyouwanthim?”
Thestranger’squietlaughwaslikeabladescrapingstone.“Becausethelines betweenourworldsareweakerthanyouknow.Icomefromtheshadowswhere thoseinpowerhide,andtheywantwhatheholds—thedestruction,themight,the chaos.Alric’sessenceisthekeytotearingdowntheveilsbetweenrealms.”
Emilydrewinthecoldair,clutchingherstomachinstinctively—Alric’spresence pulsingagainstherribslikeasecondheartbeat.Shehadfeltitforweeksnow,this othernessgnawingattheedgesofhermind,seepingintoherwakingmomentsand dreams.Therewerenightswhenthedemon’svoicewhispereddarkpromises, whentheurgetoletgoandsurrendersurgedlikewildfireburninglowandhot beneathherskin.
Butshewasn’treadytogivein.
“Iwon’tletyouhavehim,”Emilysaid,hervoiceechoingthroughthestillnesslikea challenge.Despitethedreadpoolingdeepinherstomach,shefelttheexhilaration ofstandingup,offightingforsomethingthatfeltbiggerthanherself.
Thestranger’seyesgleamedfrombeneaththehood—sharp,redflecksshiningin thedimminglight.“Youmisunderstand.Idon’tseektotakeAlricfromyou.Iwantto useyouboth.Yousee,thebondthattiestheancientdemontoyoursoulcanbe broken…orreforged.”
Emily’sbreathhitched.“Broken?Reforged?Whatareyoutalkingabout?”
“Aritual.OnethatwillseverAlricfromyourvessel,extractinghisessencesoitcan bewielded…unleasheduponbothyourworldandmine.”
Amandasteppedforward,herusualcalmreplacedwithfierceprotectiveness.“You won’tgetawaywiththis.”
Fromsomewheredeeperinthetrees,alowgrowlechoed—somethingprimaland heavy—drawingEmily’sgazetothedarknesswherenightwasslowlyclutchingthe world.Herlimbsshook,uncertainwhetherfromfearorthesuddentideofpower risinginherveins.
“Enoughtalk,”thestrangersaid,voicecuttingthroughthe quiet.“Yourinnocence endstonight.”
BeforeEmilycouldreact,aflashofshadowsurgedforward,swiftandfluid,like smokecaughtinasuddengust.Thestrangermovedwithunnaturalspeed,arms outstretched,reachingforEmily’sglowinghand—thehandthathadbeentrembling justmomentsagobutnowsparkedwithtinyarcsofblueenergy.
“Alric,helpme,”Emilywhispered,notsureifshewascallingtothedemonwithin orsimplybeggingfatetotiltinherfavor.
Agutturalgrowlrosedeepinsideherchest,avoicenotaltogetherhersbuthersall thesame.Theairaroundthemseemedtocurlandtwistasshadowswhipped throughtheclearinglikelivingtendrils.Theforestresponded,branchescreaking, leavesshiveringasifsomeancientheartbeatbeneaththeearthhadbeenjolted awake.
Emilyfeltpowersurge,rawandwild,burstingthroughthefragilesealthat tetheredAlric’sspirittohersoul.Itwasintoxicatingand terrifyingallatonce—a roaringfireconfinedwithinafragileglass.
Suddenly,thestrangerwasthrownbackward,crashinghardintoatreetrunkasthe energyexplodedoffEmily’shand,blazinglikeapulseofcoldelectricblue.The strangersnarledinfrustration,bloodtricklingfromtheirsplitlip.
“You’restrongerthanIthought,”theyhissed,wipingcrimsonfromtheirchin.“But strengthalonewon’tsaveyou.”
Emily’schestheavedasshefoughttoreclaimcontrol,thatbalancingactbetween herselfandthedemonwhothirstedforrelease.Inhermind,sheheardAlric’svoice again—morevividthistime,alowrumblethatfeltlikethunderrollingacrossthe sky.
“Youwilllearntomasterme,orbeconsumed.”
“Maybe,”sheansweredaloud,voicetremblingbutdefiant.“ButI’mnotreadyto losemyself.”
Amandatookastepcloser,unwaveringdespitethedanger.“We’llfigurethisout. Together.”
Thestranger’seyesglinteddarkly,acceptanceflickeringlikesmokethroughtheir shadowedgaze.“ThenIwillbewatching,waitingforthemomentwhenyoufalter. Becauseotherswillcometoo—thosewhohungernotjustforafragmentofAlric’s might,butforthechaoshecanunleash.”
Emilyknewthosewordswerenoidlethreat.Theguardianspiritsthatonce protectedSummerHollowhadlongfaded,andthetown’ssleepypeacewasfragile veneeroversomethingmuchmoredangerous.
Thesunslippedbelowthehorizonentirely,plungingthewoodsintotwilight suffusedwithcoldmoonlight.Shadowsstretched,andsomewherebehindthe trees,unseeneyesblinkedfromthedarkness.
Emilyswallowedhard,feelingthechillingweightofwhatlay ahead.Herbirthdaywasnotacelebration. Itwasthebeginningofawar—abattleforhersoul,thedemon’spower,andthe fateofSummerHollowitself.
Witharenewedresolve,sheturnedtowardthetown’sdimoutlinevisiblepastthe trees,Amanda’ssteadypresenceunwaveringbesideher.The roadaheadwas uncertain,shadowedandperilous—butitwastheirstowalk.
AndEmilywouldlearntofight—notjustforherself,butforeveryquietsoulwho calledthelittletownhome.
Becausesomedarknesscanbetamed.
Andsomefires,onceignited,refusetobesnuffedout.Emily’sheartbeatthuddedin herearslikeafranticdrum,drowningouteveryothersound. Theforestheldits breathalongsideher,theairthickwithanticipationandsomethingdarker—anold malicethateventhetoweringoaksseemedtorecoilfrom.The figurehadhaltedjust beyondtheclearing,faceobscuredbeneathadeephood,thesilhouetteblendingtoo eerilywiththecreepingshadowsforEmilytosenseanywarmth,anyhumanity.
Amanda’sgripwasiron-tightnow,herpalefingerstrembling butresolute.“Who areyou?”shedemanded,voicetighterthanshemeantittobe.
Thecloakedstrangersteppedforward,aslow,deliberatemovementthatsenta shiverracingdownEmily’sspine.“Namesareunnecessaryin thisdance.What mattersiswhatyoucarryinside—Alric’sinfernalblood,boundwithinyourmortal frame.Heismyquarry.”
Emily’sbreathcaught,herthroatdryassawdust.Alric—alwaysAlric,anamenoone daredspeakaloudexceptwhenwhisperedindread.Thedemonhadbeenlocked awayformillennia,butpartofhimlivedoninher,aseedofancientpowerandterror tangleddeepinhersoul.
“HowdoyouknowaboutAlric?”Emily’svoicewavered,butshe pushedthrough theedgeofthefearslicingthroughher.“Whydoyouwanthim?”
Thestranger’squietlaughwaslikeabladescrapingstone.“Becausethelines betweenourworldsareweakerthanyouknow.Icomefromtheshadowswhere thoseinpowerhide,andtheywantwhatheholds—thedestruction,themight,the chaos.Alric’sessenceisthekeytotearingdowntheveilsbetweenrealms.”
Emilydrewinthecoldair,clutchingherstomachinstinctively—Alric’spresence pulsingagainstherribslikeasecondheartbeat.Shehadfeltitforweeksnow,this othernessgnawingattheedgesofhermind,seepingintoherwakingmomentsand dreams.Therewerenightswhenthedemon’svoicewhispereddarkpromises, whentheurgetoletgoandsurrendersurgedlikewildfireburninglowandhot beneathherskin.
Butshewasn’treadytogivein.
“Iwon’tletyouhavehim,”Emilysaid,hervoiceechoingthroughthestillnesslikea challenge.Despitethedreadpoolingdeepinherstomach,shefelttheexhilaration ofstandingup,offightingforsomethingthatfeltbiggerthanherself.
Thestranger’seyesgleamedfrombeneaththehood—sharp,redflecksshiningin thedimminglight.“Youmisunderstand.Idon’tseektotakeAlricfromyou.Iwantto useyouboth.Yousee,thebondthattiestheancientdemontoyoursoulcanbe broken...orreforged.”
Emily’sbreathhitched.“Broken?Reforged?Whatareyoutalkingabout?”
“Aritual.OnethatwillseverAlricfromyourvessel,extractinghisessencesoitcan bewielded...unleasheduponbothyourworldandmine.”
Amandasteppedforward,herusualcalmreplacedwithfierceprotectiveness.“You won’tgetawaywiththis.”
Fromsomewheredeeperinthetrees,alowgrowlechoed—somethingprimaland heavy—drawingEmily’sgazetothedarknesswherenightwasslowlyclutchingthe world.Herlimbsshook,uncertainwhetherfromfearorthesuddentideofpower risinginherveins.
“Enoughtalk,”thestrangersaid,voicecuttingthroughthe quiet.“Yourinnocence endstonight.”
BeforeEmilycouldreact,aflashofshadowsurgedforward,swiftandfluid,like smokecaughtinasuddengust.Thestrangermovedwithunnaturalspeed,arms outstretched,reachingforEmily’sglowinghand—thehandthathadbeentrembling justmomentsagobutnowsparkedwithtinyarcsofblueenergy.
“Alric,helpme,”Emilywhispered,notsureifshewascallingtothedemonwithin orsimplybeggingfatetotiltinherfavor.
Agutturalgrowlrosedeepinsideherchest,avoicenotaltogetherhersbuthersall thesame.Theairaroundthemseemedtocurlandtwistasshadowswhipped throughtheclearinglikelivingtendrils.Theforestresponded,branchescreaking, leavesshiveringasifsomeancientheartbeatbeneaththeearthhadbeenjolted awake.
Emilyfeltpowersurge,rawandwild,burstingthroughthefragilesealthat tetheredAlric’sspirittohersoul.Itwasintoxicatingand terrifyingallatonce—a roaringfireconfinedwithinafragileglass.
Suddenly,thestrangerwasthrownbackward,crashinghardintoatreetrunkasthe energyexplodedoffEmily’shand,blazinglikeapulseofcoldelectricblue.The strangersnarledinfrustration,bloodtricklingfromtheirsplitlip.
“You’restrongerthanIthought,”theyhissed,wipingcrimsonfromtheirchin.“But strengthalonewon’tsaveyou.”
Emily’schestheavedasshefoughttoreclaimcontrol,thatbalancingactbetween herselfandthedemonwhothirstedforrelease.Inhermind,sheheardAlric’svoice again—morevividthistime,alowrumblethatfeltlikethunderrollingacrossthe sky.
“Youwilllearntomasterme,orbeconsumed.”
“Maybe,”sheansweredaloud,voicetremblingbutdefiant.“ButI’mnotreadyto losemyself.”
Amandatookastepcloser,unwaveringdespitethedanger.“We’llfigurethisout. Together.”
Thestranger’seyesglinteddarkly,acceptanceflickeringlikesmokethroughtheir shadowedgaze.“ThenIwillbewatching,waitingforthemomentwhenyoufalter. Becauseotherswillcometoo—thosewhohungernotjustforafragmentofAlric’s might,butforthechaoshecanunleash.”
Emilyknewthosewordswerenoidlethreat.Theguardianspiritsthatonce protectedSummerHollowhadlongfaded,andthetown’ssleepypeacewasfragile veneeroversomethingmuchmoredangerous.
Thesunslippedbelowthehorizonentirely,plungingthewoodsintotwilight suffusedwithcoldmoonlight.Shadowsstretched,andsomewherebehindthe trees,unseeneyesblinkedfromthedarkness.
Emilyswallowedhard,feelingthechillingweightofwhatlay ahead.Herbirthdaywasnotacelebration.
Itwasthebeginningofawar—abattleforhersoul,thedemon’spower,andthe fateofSummerHollowitself.
Witharenewedresolve,sheturnedtowardthetown’sdimoutlinevisiblepastthe trees,Amanda’ssteadypresenceunwaveringbesideher.The roadaheadwas uncertain,shadowedandperilous—butitwastheirstowalk.
AndEmilywouldlearntofight—notjustforherself,butforeveryquietsoulwho calledthelittletownhome.
Becausesomedarknesscanbetamed.
Andsomefires,onceignited,refusetobesnuffedout.