Ember sat on her bed, staring at the mark on her arm.
The black lines had stopped spreading, but they still pulsed faintly like something alive was under her skin.
Lyra walked in, her face tight with worry.
Kael followed behind, silent as always.
Lyra looked at Ember's arm and froze. "No…"
"What is it?" Ember asked. "Kael said it's a prophecy mark, but what does that mean?"
Lyra came closer, speaking carefully. "It means the book has chosen you."
"The book?" Ember said, confused.
"Yes. That mark only appears when the Book of Prophecy accepts its rightful holder."
Ember shook her head. "You make it sound like the book is alive."
Lyra looked her straight in the eyes. "It is."
The room went quiet.
Kael crossed his arms. "If the book accepted her, the shadows will come for her faster."
"What shadows?" Ember asked.
Lyra turned toward her. "The Shadow Master. His name is Zevrath. He was the first to fall into forbidden witchcraft. He created the shadow demons and now, he wants the book back."
Ember stared at them. "Why?"
"Because the book holds the only spell that can destroy him," Lyra said.
"So why not destroy it?" Ember asked.
Kael gave a small, dark laugh. "Because only the chosen one can read it completely."
"And that's you," Lyra added. "Your mother protected the book all her life. That's why Zevrath killed her."
Ember froze. Her chest tightened.
"My mother didn't die in a car accident?"
Lyra's eyes softened. "No. That was a lie to keep you safe."
Ember felt like the floor disappeared under her. She couldn't breathe. "You knew. You knew and you didn't tell me?"
Lyra looked guilty. "Your mother made me promise. You were too young."
Ember stepped back. "I don't even know who I am anymore."
Kael spoke quietly, his voice low. "You're someone Zevrath fears. That's who you are."
Before Ember could answer, the book on the table opened by itself. Pages flipped fast. The wind in the room turned cold.
Words appeared in black ink:
*He has found you.*
The lights flickered. The air grew heavy.
Then a whisper filled Ember's head a deep, cold voice that wasn't human.
Ember Drew… daughter of the lost witch.
Ember froze. "Who's there?"
You cannot run from destiny, little flame.
She grabbed her head as the voice grew louder. It felt like something was crawling inside her mind.
Kael moved fast, grabbing her shoulders. "Ember! Look at me!"
The voice laughed darkly inside her skull.
Your mother failed. You will too.
Ember shouted, "Get out of my head!"
The mark on her arm glowed bright red, and a shockwave burst from her body throwing Kael and Lyra back. The lamps shattered. The book slammed shut.
Silence.
Ember fell to her knees, gasping. The mark slowly faded back to black.
Lyra got up, shaken. "That wasn't possible… he shouldn't be able to reach you from his realm yet."
Kael stared at Ember, his eyes cold but worried. "He just did."
Ember looked up at both of them, her voice trembling.
"What does he want from me?"
Lyra hesitated.
"To finish what your mother started," she said quietly.
"To end the curse or become part of it."
The next morning, Raven's Peak was covered in thick fog.
It made everything look pale and ghostlike the empty streets, the silent houses, even the air itself.
Ember hadn't slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she heard that voice whisper her name again.
Little flame… little flame…
She sat outside the Hall, staring at the gray sky.
Lyra came and stood beside her, holding two cups of tea.
"You should rest," Lyra said softly.
"I can't," Ember whispered. "Every time I close my eyes, I see him."
Lyra handed her a cup. "Zevrath is trying to scare you. He feeds on fear."
"Well, it's working," Ember said, forcing a small smile.
Lyra looked out at the fog. "There's something you should see."
She led Ember back inside the Hall, down a staircase Ember hadn't noticed before. The air grew colder with each step. Torches lit up by themselves as they walked.
They reached a wide stone room filled with carvings and symbols. In the middle stood a tall mirror covered in black dust.
"What is this place?" Ember asked.
"The Hall of Memories," Lyra said. "It holds pieces of Raven's past."
Ember walked toward the mirror. Her reflection looked strange her eyes seemed brighter, her skin paler.
Lyra placed her hand on the glass, and it rippled like water. "This mirror shows truth. But only to those who dare to see it."
Ember hesitated. "Truth about what?"
"About who you are," Lyra said quietly.
Ember took a deep breath and stepped closer. The glass shimmered, and suddenly the image changed.
She saw a woman with long dark hair standing in a field of fire.
It was her mother.
Ember gasped. "Mom?"
In the vision, her mother held the same book Ember now owned. She was chanting in that strange ancient language. Behind her, dark shadows moved like smoke, and a tall figure with burning eyes stood watching.
Zevrath.
Her mother screamed one last word before a blast of dark fire swallowed her.
The mirror went black.
Ember stumbled back, shaking. "No… no, no…"
Lyra caught her. "That's how it happened. She used forbidden witchcraft to seal Zevrath inside the Shadow Realm. But it cost her life."
Ember covered her mouth, tears filling her eyes. "She died alone…"
Lyra's voice broke. "She died to protect you."
Before Ember could speak, they heard footsteps behind them.
Kael stepped out of the shadows. "You shouldn't be here."
Lyra frowned. "She needed to know."
Kael's eyes met Ember's. They looked darker than usual. "Knowing the past won't change it."
Ember wiped her tears and glared at him. "Maybe not. But it explains the lies."
Kael walked closer, his tone sharp. "You think truth will save you? It won't."
"Why do you even care?" Ember asked.
Kael paused. "Because when the shadows come again, you'll have to choose what side you're on."
"And what side are you on?" Ember asked quietly.
Kael didn't answer. He turned and walked away.
Lyra sighed. "Ignore him. He's lost too much already."
Ember watched Kael leave, her heart confused.
She didn't trust him but part of her still wanted to understand him.
She looked back at the dark mirror one last time. Her reflection flickered and for a split second, she saw something else.
A shadow behind her.
Smiling.
End of Chapter four
Ready for chapter 5??