The forest pulsed with life—ancient, aware, and restless. Every leaf shimmered beneath the Blood Eclipse, every whisper of wind carried a vibration that matched the rhythm of Ariana's heart. Crimson and silver light bled together across the canopy, painting the world in the hues of war and destiny.
Her mark throbbed in response, its light fierce and demanding.
Damon walked beside her, his presence both anchor and storm. The tension in his jaw, the tightness in his shoulders—he felt it too. The trial was close. Ariana didn't need anyone to tell her; she could feel it calling from the shadows, daring her to rise—or fall.
The stranger followed in silence, their expression unreadable. "The trial begins now," they said quietly. "Control your power. Control your fear. Only then will you survive."
Ariana nodded once. The air vibrated around her, heavy with energy and unseen eyes. She summoned the silver glow from her mark, feeling it coil around her hands like living flame.
Then—a scream. Sharp. Human. Terrified.
Ariana spun toward the sound, silver light flaring from her fingertips. From the darkness emerged a cluster of figures—humanoid, but twisted. Their edges shimmered like smoke, their eyes voids of pure malice.
Damon's voice was low, steady. "They're stronger than before. Focus. Trust your instincts."
Ariana's pulse quickened, but her fear no longer ruled her. She raised her hand, channeling her energy into a precise burst. Silver light shot through the nearest shadow, disintegrating it instantly. The others advanced in perfect unison—testing her resolve, her rhythm, her mastery.
They weren't enemies. They were the test.
Ariana moved with purpose, her attacks deliberate. One shadow lunged from the left—she spun and lashed it with a whip of light. Another slid from behind—she blocked it with a crescent-shaped shield. With each strike, she felt her control deepen. The power was hers to command, no longer wild but willful.
"Good," the stranger murmured. "But the Blood Eclipse tests more than strength. It tests your heart."
A chill ran through her.
As if summoned by the words, one of the shadows shifted—its form reshaping into someone familiar. Damon. But not Damon. His eyes were cold, his smile cruel.
Ariana froze, disbelief stabbing through her. "No…"
The false Damon lunged. Ariana reacted, unleashing a surge of light that cut through the illusion, scattering it into mist.
"It's not real," the real Damon said sharply, stepping closer. "The Eclipse feeds on your fears. Don't let it inside your mind."
She forced a deep breath, centering herself. The pulse of her mark steadied as her focus returned. The remaining shadows moved faster, more aggressive, but Ariana was ready now. Her light grew brighter, purer—her energy obeying her command, not her emotion.
And then, a whisper slithered through the trees—cold, mocking, and hauntingly familiar.
"Do you really think you can control it, Luna? Power alone will destroy you."
Ariana's pulse spiked, but she pushed the voice aside and unleashed a blinding wave of silver energy. The shadows shattered like glass. The forest fell silent. Her mark blazed, flames of light dancing along her skin.
Damon's hand brushed hers—a fleeting, grounding touch. "You did it," he said softly. "You've passed the first test. But the trial isn't over—it's only beginning."
Before she could respond, the ground split open.
The forest trembled violently as roots tore through the soil and shadows thickened, forming into a single towering shape. It rose higher than the trees, cloaked in darkness that pulsed like a heartbeat. Two silver eyes ignited within it—cold, ancient, familiar.
Ariana's mark reacted instantly, silver flames spiraling around her.
The stranger's voice was barely a whisper. "The final phase of the trial."
Damon stepped in front of her, hand gripping her shoulder. "Remember what you've learned. Control it. Trust yourself."
The figure stepped forward, each stride shaking the earth. Ariana raised her light to meet its gaze—and froze.
Carved into its arm was a symbol she had seen once before.
Her breath hitched.That mark. Damon's nightmares. The same crest he had once sworn was tied to the death of his mate.
The world seemed to tilt. This wasn't just a test. It was a reckoning.
The Blood Eclipse pulsed in time with her racing heart. The mark on her wrist flared so brightly it seared the air. Her power recognized the darkness before her, and it responded—not with fear, but fury.
Ariana's voice was low, trembling but defiant. "This… this is your past, isn't it?"
Damon's silence was answer enough.
The figure raised its arm, shadow and silver light colliding in its grasp. Ariana steadied herself, her own light blazing brighter, stronger. The air crackled between them as power met power—creation against corruption.
A voice echoed inside her mind, chilling and absolute:
"Your choice will define everything, Luna. Do not fail."
Ariana inhaled sharply, eyes glowing silver. She met the creature's gaze with unwavering resolve.
The forest erupted in light and darkness as the two forces collided. The ground quaked, trees splintered, and the Blood Eclipse flared like fire in the sky.
And as Ariana braced herself against the storm, heart pounding and soul alight, she realized with a mix of terror and awe—
The true trial by moonlight had only just begun.