Chapter 61: Doom Symbols
Melissa’s POV
As though they were alive, the odd symbols carved into the rocky ground seemed to pulse with a spooky rhythm. I knelt and ran my fingers over the jagged edges of the markings. I felt a chill go down my back.
How do you interpret their meaning? From behind me, Kane asked in a steady but worried tone.
“They’re not random scratches,” I said, shaking my head and suppressing the annoyance rising inside me. These… These symbols are a part of something dangerous and much larger.
A slight hum of power seemed to run through my fingers as I traced one of the lines. I had never felt anything like it, but it wasn’t completely new either.
Mostly to myself, I said, “I’ve seen these before.”
Kane stepped toward me and knelt, casting his shadow over me. Where have you seen them?”
“In one of the goddess’s visions,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. “They were part of a ritual. A ritual to summon a power so destructive, it could wipe out everything.”
Kane’s hand rested lightly on my shoulder, centring me in the present. “Then we stop it. Whatever this is, we’ll figure it out. Together.
I nodded, though my heart felt heavy. Together, yes. But at what cost?
When we returned to the camp, I spotted a pack of unusual wolves standing around the centre. Their heads were bent, their postures low and subservient. It didn’t take much to guess who they were survivors from Damon’s army.
I stiffened memories of their attacks and the chaos they’d caused flashing through my mind. My fists clenched at my sides as I approached them.
One of the wolves, an older man with a long scar running down his cheek, stepped forward. His voice was gruff but tinged with desperation. “Alpha Melissa, we come seeking redemption.”
Kane, standing next to me, crossed his arms. His tone was hard as steel. “Redeeming? Following all the suffering you inflicted? Why should we put our trust in you?”
The man winced but did not retreat. “Because they misled us.” Damon tricked and coerced us. It was too late for us to notice it.
A younger woman moved forward, guilt shining in her eyes. “We know about the symbols you found,” she added, her voice wavering. “They’re part of a ritual to awaken something ancient. Something Damon spoke about before…” She faltered, unable to finish.
My breath hitched. Could they be telling the truth?
I glanced at Kane, his mouth tense as he watched them. He didn’t trust them, and honestly, I didn’t either. However, something in their remarks resonated deeply with me.
I stepped forward, trying to keep my voice calm. “Prove it if you genuinely want to be saved. Let’s put an end to this custom. Tell us everything you know.
The older wolf nodded, his scarred features gloomy. “We’ll. But you must move quickly. The enemy won’t wait for long.”
As the camp fell into a tense silence that evening, I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that something wasn’t right. I patrolled the perimeter, attempting to interpret the warning from the wolves and the symbols.
An abrupt change in the air sent a shiver down my spine. My attention was drawn to a flurry of movement, and before I could respond, a figure sprang from the darkness.
“Return! I yelled, avoiding the assault.
Wolves raced to my side, and the camp came alive. The first to arrive at me was Kane, who moved between me and the assailant, his eyes blazing.
The figure moved almost unnaturally, with terrifying speed. Their eyes burned with a cruel intensity, but I was able to get a glimpse of their face, which were mostly hidden by a mask.
“Who are you? Even though my heart was racing, I made a firm demand.
The figure remained silent. Instead, a dazzling burst of light burst into the air as they tossed a tiny object in our direction. They disappeared as the light dimmed.
“What was that? Kane snarled while looking around.
I stooped to get the little, finely crafted stone that the assailant had dropped. I felt sick to my stomach as I flipped it over in my hand.
I added, my voice hardly audible, “It’s a message.”
Kane scowled. “What sort of message?”
I closed my eyes, piecing together the symbols etched into the stone. When the realization hit me, I felt the blood drain from my face.
“It’s a warning,” I whispered. “One of our own is a traitor.”
The weight of my words hung in the air as Kane’s eyes widened in shock. Somewhere in the camp, someone we trusted was working against us-and I had no idea who it could be.