51 The Dark One’s revelation…
Lyla
I stared at him, my eyebrows crunching into a frown.
“The Dark One? As in the Dark One that fought with Werewolves a long time ago and the Moon. Goddess sent a Moonsinger to stop him? You?” I burst out into laughter, holding my sides as my body shook.
“C’mon Xander!” I said with teary eyes, still laughing. “If you wanted to make me scared, your could have just said so but actually calling yourself the ‘Dark One‘. That’s not possible. I mean, if you were, I’d be dead by now, right?”
He was watching me with an amused expression, as a tender smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “That’s because I love you, Lyla. I wasn’t joking when I told you the first time. I’ve loved you in many lives before this.”
“Stop, Xander… you’re scaring me now.”
th
He shook his head and continued. “There’s a connection between us and I know you felt it from
moment I walked into your classroom, he paused, his eyes darkening. “We’ve been tied to each other for longer than you can imagine. And each time,” he sighed, wistfully, “It’s the same fate brings us together, although I must this was the easiest part so far. You look exactly like her… hands, lips, eyes and that body…” his gaze left my face flickering all over my body. I’ve waited all these years for you…”
I swallowed hard. “Waited all these years for me? How?”
“You’re the reincarnation of my first lover – Neriah, a sad smile tugged at his lips. “We were so much in love until your Moon Goddess became so dramatic and turned her against me…” he exhaled deeply. “But I waited, just like I promised, all these years, through Moonsingers of course until you came and I know this time it’ll be different, right? I can feel it.”
The amusement on my face drained as I searched his eyes, realizing with growing dread that he wasn’t joking. Fear began to creep up my spine. If he was the Dark One, it means he sent those Ferals who tried to kill me.
“You’re the Moonsinger, Lyla!” he continued “This is not how I planned for you to know of course. Usually, you’re much stronger than this without almost any defect,” he stated “And will announce yourself but, never in a million years did I think so much power would rest on the shoulders of a Nineteen–year–old.”
“That’s because I’m not anything, I shifted closer to the door. He was delusional. “I don’t know so inuch about the Moonsinger but what I do know is they’re powerful bunches who have led our warriors to war against you and ki…” I trailed off, the realization of the entire situation hitting me now. “Anyways” I continued hastily. I’m not the Moonsinger and I’m definitely not her reincarnation.”
“You’re!” he said his tone brooking no argument.
His hand went into hie nasket and from there he nulled out a locket onened it and need it to
51 The Dark One’s revelation
- me. I took the locket from him, alarm bells ringing in my head as I tried to look for a way to get
away
from this psycho. As to if what he was saying was true or false, I had no idea.
I gazed at the fading picture of a woman in the locket. Aside from two prominent strips of her hair which looked like they were grey since the picture was in black and white, she looked nothing like me.
I handed the locket back to him, shaking my head. “You’ve really gotten me confused with someone else. That’s not me.”
“I knew you were going to say that,” he chuckled softly, his gaze on me was still soft. Reaching for the pigeonhole in the car, he pulled it open and from there brought out a picture which he handed to me again.
“Thankfully, the humans have a lot of fun machines. I took this to some picture place and they had this printed into what she would look like today. Go ahead, and take a look.”
I nodded and turned the picture gasping as I saw myself stare back at me. The same silver streak on my hair, the same eyes, nose, and lips, only she looked happier than I had eyer been in my entire life.
“She…she does look like me,” I risked a small laugh “But it could only be a coincidence and nothing more. I am not who you’re looking for.”
He gives me a small contemplative before he nods and shrugs. “Fine, let’s say you’re not her but you’re a Moonsinger Lyla, you’re supposed to kill me and save your kind. You know that don’t you?”
“About the Moonsinger?” I nodded “But anything aside that, again, you’re wrong. I do not have any power whatsoever. I don’t even have a wolf, Xander. You are wrong about me.”
“The orb,” he continued quietly “Whenever you’re in your heat, your power become more prominent. All those times you touched the orb, I could feel it – your strength… everything you will become once you learn how to use them and…”
I held up my hands as if I could physically push away his words. “Okay, I’m going to stop you right there, Xander,” I interrupted him. “Just stop saying this nonsense, you’re scaring me now. This…. this isn’t real. You’re messing with me…”
But his expression did not waiver. “It’s true, Lyla. That night in the forest, when the Ferals surrounded you… you shouted, didn’t you? And they weakened. That was your voice, your power as a Moonsinger. You don’t even know what you’re capable of.”
“And I don’t want to know!” I laughed dryly. “I told you I left Blue Ridge Pack for good and I mean it. You know what, Nanny was right. If I wanted to
cut off entirely from my kind, I shouldn’t bet
a human and… just take me dating a Were…. or whatever it is you are. I should have stuck to
home, okay? I want to go home.”
“It was no coincidence that those wolves weakened. It was you, Lyla… you must step up and take your place. Running away from your problem won’t fix anything for you.
“I should be the judge of that, I said my voice trembling. “I am not going to be a party to history
that doesn’t concern me My heat is because I do not have a wolf and is not tied to any
- The Dark One’s revelation…
diabolical thing, you hear.”
“Lyla!” he tried to reach for my hand but I shrugged him off.
“Why did you approach me in the first place, then?” I scoffed. “Ideally, we’re supposed to be fighting each other. If you’re really the Dark One like you claim, we shouldn’t be sitting this close to each other having this conversation. Did you know this and approached me?”
“Lyla!”
“Oh wait!” I scoffed. “You tried to kill me. You sent that Trinax – Mr Dupree to have me killed for what I know nothing about?”
“It’s to put a mark on you!” he said quietly. “I would never kill you and believe me, even if I wanted to… it’s the easiest thing to do. You’re not like your kind… you’re…weaker but I can help you. I can teach you how to use those powers and make something out of yourself.”
“If there is any power inside me… please take it. Is there a way, a means I can transfer them to you?” I asked, tears springing to the corner of my eyes. “You do not love me, Xander… all these months you pretended just because you think I am someone – a ghost from your past and because I have powers of some sort.”
“Lyla, you’re getting all of these wrong” anger flashed in his eyes. “You would have had this reaction if I had told you from the first day that you’re a Moonsinger…”
“I am not a Moonsinger!” I yelled. “I am not whatever you think I am. My name is Lyla, a wolfless deviant who now identifies as human. I am not who you’re seeking for. Now open the door, I
want to leave.”
“You said you were going to stay at mine, his brows furrowed. “It’s barely 24 hours and you want to leave already?”
“Because you’re acting creepy and I can’t be around this. I want to go home!
“Why?” he scoffed, running a hand through his hair as if he was getting agitated. “Have I done anything to threaten you before? I’ve never hurt you and I won’t now. What’s so different? What’s changed?”
I didn’t answer him, I reached across from him and opened the door lock before leaning back to open my door but it wouldn’t budge.
“Xander, please open the door.”
“Relax and let’s talk about it. Nothing has changed.”
“Everything has!” I burst out, my chest heaving from both fear and panic. “You’re telling me you’re the Dark One, that I’m some Moonsinger with powers that do not exist. I don’t want this – I never asked for this! So, just let me
e go.
“Lyla!” he sighed softly, his voice tinged with regret. “I knew things would change once you found out but I also hoped you’d understand and see that I won’t hurt you despite being a threat to me. But you leave me with no other choice.”
I was too angry to be scared now. “What do you mean?”
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51 The Dark One’s revelation….
He sighed, his expression turning sombre. Before I could react, he flicked his wrist and a small, flickering blue flame appeared in his palm, casting an eerie glow in the car. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the flame.
“Whatever it is you’re doing, Xander… stop!”
But before I could move again, he hurled the flame towards me, blinding me.
And then… darkness.
