The Gate of Shadows

Even without thoroughly reading the article, I could see it was a hit piece on me for being associated with the sisters of Moira. Fenris didn’t let me stay longer, dragging me back inside the room. His entire body heat was radiating hotter than ever before, along with soft growls leaving his lips.

Liam promptly arrived with a paper in his hands moments later; it was the same article plastered all over the boards in the building, and whoever posted it spread all over town to blogs in the computerized applications. Upon reading the article, Fenris’s eyes twitched, scowling at the sight of it.

His eyes shimmered brightly, startling Liam, who seemed to be the bearer of bad news.

“Stay with her and don’t leave her side, understood?” The silver wolf turned to his friend.

“Yes, sir!” Liam nodded, gazing at me.

I quickly grabbed Fenris’s shirt, whose glance also shifted towards me.

“Where are you going?” I mumbled, unsure if I wanted to be separated from him.

A soft smile rose on his lips, “Ryker, something isn’t right.”  leaning down to kiss my forehead. “Stay here with Liam.” He turned towards the door, but before reaching it, a knock came.

Opening it, Melody rushed in, grabbing onto me protectively. Her embrace was so warm, yet my eyes couldn’t shift away from my wolf, who exited the room to find the elf. My mind had turned into a storm, wondering what else they wrote in those pages.

I didn’t own a phone or anything like it. So, I couldn’t see the article unless Liam handed me the papers. Luckily, in anger, Fenris returned the paper to the brown wolf before storming out.

"Liam... may I see it?" I asked, walking towards him.

He instantly hesitated to give them to me. "I don’t think that’s a good idea, Lilith." The cautious wolf argued, narrowing his eyes.

The article wouldn’t make me explode, but I needed to know if my name was mentioned.

"Lilith... It’s just a one-sided hit piece. Nothing more than trash." Melody huffed.

I shook my head before gazing at the brown wolf again, "If it’s about me. I need to know. Please." I begged, not wanting to take it by force, but I would if I had to.

He glanced away from me momentarily, only to sigh before handing them to me.

“Thank you, Liam.” I voiced for him to avoid my gaze.

Is it that bad?

Melody sat beside me, and Liam stood by us when I read the article about me. They based it on files that were dropped by the news company on what happened, leaving out crucial details, painting me as a terrorist who willingly gave my body and life to their cause.

The article called for justice even if I was a child when it happened, mentioning the cult brainwashed me to do their bidding. In their eyes, I helped end Silverant, naming me a murderer and monster, just like every other Moira witch. Worse yet, it told the world that the nether portal was opened because of these bodily sacrifices I made.

Thus, I was responsible for everything. At least it didn’t call me the vessel of the gate; instead, it said Ben Silver Fang had saved them all when he captured me. That didn’t shake me much, even though it was full of misinformation.

I already knew what people would make me be, but as I continued to read... I saw something written there that sent shivers down my spine. The writer never named the child until the end of his hit piece.

The witch's name is Lilith, and she’s the granddaughter of Moira's headmistress Stella.

When I saw it, I felt a cold sensation embrace my body; remembering what Liam said, this was spread everywhere. Stella would know I survived the sacrifice, meaning nothing could stop her from finding me.

Flashes of my dream flowed through me as I crumbled the article in my hands.

Last time, you killed Fenris's family. Will you come after him this time?

Standing up from my bed, Liam and Melody followed me as I headed towards the window. The black wolf quickly grabbed me by my waist, preventing me from reaching it.

"You can’t!" she tried to persuade me.

I glanced at her, unable to follow.

"What?" I muttered, utterly baffled.

Does she think I’m going to commit suicide?

Her hands trembled, warming my heart in ways I never thought I’d feel.

"There’s so much to live for!" she continued, voice quivering.

Ah... you misunderstood.

"Melody..." I tried to explain what I wanted to do, but she grabbed me tighter instead of letting me speak.

Any more, and you’ll merge with me.

"There is!" she continued to hold on to me.

I lost it.

How can you care for me so much? Silly girl.

“I’m not going to jump off." I laughed, unable to stop.

Why do you always have to be so robust and random? How can you think I’ll kill myself and damn everything around me?

I would never do that while Fenris was alive.

"What?!" she spat, surprised by my sudden burst of cackles.

Liam chuckled on the side, sitting on Fenris's bed.

"I won’t kill myself because of this." I giggled, unable to stop myself.

Her reactions were tickling me too much.

"But you were going for the window," Melody mumbled, shifting her gaze from me to the window.

"Yeah... I just wanted some fresh air." I assured her.

She slowly released her grip on me. "Oh..." she voiced, cheeks rosy, glancing towards Liam, who smiled at her.

He enjoyed the moment as much as I did, melting her right where she stood. Stepping away from the smitten wolf, I returned to the window before opening it. Melody's randomness lifted some of the desperation that was swelling within me, preventing me from going into a spiral of chaotic emotions.

I didn’t know if I would’ve returned from that without Fenris. Glancing towards the crumpled paper, I sighed before throwing it out of the window. Somewhere beyond this city, Stella was waiting in the shadows.

It’ll be a matter of time before you know I’m alive. The explosions and purple liquid made the Lycans go mad. Is all this your doing, grandmother? If they are, I’ll stop every plan you have.

For that, though, I needed to find out what it was. All I required was to steady my heart and fight, no matter the cost. The clogs were moving, and I had to do everything to stop my dream from becoming a reality.

Even if it means turning into what society sees me as. Perhaps I was never meant to be a force of good. The world is evil; if it takes a wicked hand to deal with it, I’ll gladly become it.