Chapter 116: The True Test of the Heart
Melissa’s POV
The only sounds in the throne room were the steady ring of Kane’s sword being drawn and the crackling of flames.
I took a deep breath.
“Kane,” I said in a whisper. “Don’t do this.”
His eyes, which were always warm, were icy.
He said, “Put the fire out, Melissa,” in a firm yet hushed voice. “Let me help you.”
I desired to. I wanted to embrace him, let him yank me out of this crazy situation, and let him reassure me that everything would be alright.
It wouldn’t be acceptable, though.
Not until everything was reset.
Not until the past had been destroyed by fire.
“I can’t,” I responded, my voice cracking.
Kane gave a quick exhale. “Then I have no choice.”
He was the first to move.
Steel glowed.
His blade sliced through the air where I had been standing only a second before, and I barely avoided it. I staggered back, my heart racing.
“Kane, please!” I pleaded. “I don’t want to fight you!”
He yelled, “Then stop this!” and struck once more.
With a flurry of sparks, our swords clashed as I blocked the strike. My trembling breath was drowned out by the echoing roar.
His attacks came too quickly.
However, I was no longer weak.
I countered, turned, and ducked. Our blades repeatedly collided in a steel and silver storm.
He was doing everything he could to fight.
I was, too.
However, victory wasn’t the goal of our battle.
The goal was to save one another.
“Kane, I love you,” I exclaimed as I deflected a powerful blow. But I’m unable to stop! Not quite yet.
He clenched his fingers. “And I can’t let you go any further!”
Zephyr and Lydia were far away, tearing through old scrolls, their hands trembling, trying to find the solution.
“There has to be something!” Lydia pushed a book away and snapped. “We’re running out of time!”
Zephyr’s normally composed manner broke, and his face turned pale.
He whispered, “It’s here,” “It has to be here.”
On an ancient, fragile page, his fingers came to a standstill. His gaze expanded.
“Lydia,” he muttered to her. “Look at this.”
She read the lines out loud while leaning over his shoulder.
“When the Queen stands between darkness and light, only the truth of her heart shall break the chains.”
Lydia squeezed her hands.
She said it again: “The truth of her heart,” “What does that mean?”
Zephyr took a swallow.
He remarked, “It means Melissa has to choose,” “Before it’s too late.”
I was having trouble breathing.
In my palms, my blade felt weighty. My entire body hurt.
Kane was equally worn out, his chest rising and falling quickly as sweat trickled down his temple.
However, neither of us would halt.
Until one of us breaks, anyway.
He narrowly avoided me when I lunged at him. However, something changed when our blades collided once more.
I felt a dark energy pulse within me.
Just long enough for Kane to knock my blade out of my hand, my hold slipped.
I gasped and staggered back.
The stone floor clattered beneath the sword.
Kane said, “Melissa,” and moved forward. “It’s over.”
However, it wasn’t.
Because I was experiencing another emotion at that very moment.
Something more powerful.
An furious thing.
“You don’t need him,” a voice growled.
My head ached sharply, and I dropped to my knees.
“You’re being held back by him. He is not understanding.
I angrily shook my head. “No-no, that’s not true!”
I recoiled when Kane took a step toward me.
“Melissa?” His tone had softened to one of worry.
I closed my eyes tightly.
“Listen to me.”
One more voice. Warmer and softer.
“He cherishes you. Don’t let go.
My respiration faltered.
Two voices.
Just one light.
One is dark.
And they were both yelling.
I clutched my head as agony tore through my skull.
“Stop,” I exclaimed. “Please, stop!”
However, they refused.
I could feel myself being pulled by the darkness.
I sensed that the light was going out.
And Kane’s voice could be heard in the distance.
“Melissa!”
Then-
Everything turned dark.