Ivy reached Xander's room first.
The door was wide open.
His bed was empty.
Her heart dropped.
"Xander?"
No answer.
Jayden rushed past her and searched the room.
"He's not here."
Ivy's breathing quickened.
"No... no, he was downstairs."
Jake entered behind them, his expression immediately changing.
"Everyone stop."
They froze.
Jake crouched beside the bed.
There, on the floor, was a faint silver symbol.
The same symbol engraved on the pendant downstairs.
Jake's face went pale.
"He's been marked."
Ivy dropped to her knees.
"What does that mean?"
Before Jake could answer, the lights throughout the house flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then everything went dark.
A child's voice echoed from somewhere beyond the hallway.
"Mommy?"
Ivy's eyes widened.
"Xander!"
She ran toward the voice.
Jayden caught her arm.
"Wait."
"I heard him!"
"I know. But something isn't right."
A cold breeze swept through the hallway.
Then the voice came again.
"Mommy..."
This time it sounded frightened.
Ivy pulled free.
"That's my son."
She followed the voice.
---
The Hidden Room
The sound led them to an old storage room beneath the stairs.
Ivy had lived in the house for years and had never noticed the small door hidden behind a wooden panel.
Jake touched it.
The silver symbol appeared.
The door opened.
Inside was a narrow staircase descending into darkness.
Jayden stared at it.
"That wasn't here yesterday."
Jake's expression was grim.
"Magic doesn't appear without a reason."
Ivy stepped forward.
"Then let's find my son."
They descended.
The deeper they went, the colder the air became.
At the bottom was a circular chamber.
Ancient symbols covered the walls.
And in the center stood Xander.
He wasn't hurt.
He wasn't crying.
He was simply standing there, staring at something carved into the stone.
"Mommy!"
Ivy rushed toward him.
Xander ran into her arms.
She held him tightly.
"Are you okay?"
He nodded.
"I heard someone calling me."
Jayden crouched beside him.
"Who?"
Xander pointed toward the wall.
"Her."
Everyone turned.
A woman's face was carved into the stone.
Ivy stepped closer.
Her breath caught.
The woman looked exactly like her.
Except her eyes were silver.
Jake stared at the carving.
"That's impossible."
Ivy whispered,
"Who is she?"
A voice answered from behind them.
"The first Keeper."
Everyone spun around.
Elias stood at the entrance.
Jake immediately stepped between him and Ivy.
"You."
Elias didn't move.
"You keep asking the wrong questions."
Jayden's eyes narrowed.
"Where is the second pendant?"
Elias smiled faintly.
"You already found it."
Ivy looked down.
The silver pendant in her hand had begun glowing again.
Elias continued.
"There were never only two Keepers."
Silence.
"Three."
Jake's expression hardened.
"Three?"
Elias nodded.
"Your parents protected the First Seal. Your bloodline carried its power."
He looked at Ivy.
"But someone else carried the ability to unlock it."
Ivy's stomach tightened.
"Who?"
Elias looked toward Xander.
The room went completely silent.
Ivy immediately pulled Xander closer.
"No."
Elias raised both hands.
"I didn't say he was the one."
Jake stepped forward.
"Then explain."
Elias sighed.
"The third Keeper isn't chosen by blood alone."
His eyes shifted toward Xander.
"Sometimes the power chooses a child."
Xander looked confused.
"Why is everyone talking about me?"
Ivy knelt beside him.
"Because you're important, sweetheart. But you're not alone."
She looked at Jake and Jayden.
"We'll protect him."
Elias gave a quiet, almost sad smile.
"That's exactly what your parents said."
Ivy froze.
"What happened to them?"
Elias's expression finally changed.
For the first time, there was something resembling regret in his eyes.
"They trusted the wrong person."
Jake's voice became sharp.
"Who?"
Elias looked directly at him.
"Dominik."
Jake stopped breathing.
"Our father?"
"Your father wasn't the traitor."
Elias paused.
"But someone used his name."
Ivy remembered her mother's warning.
Don't trust the one who comes bearing your father's name.
Her eyes widened.
"The man behind you..."
Elias nodded.
"The one you've been calling Malthor."
The chamber trembled.
Xander grabbed Ivy's hand.
"Mommy, I'm scared."
She pulled him close.
"You don't have to be."
But suddenly, the silver pendant around Ivy's neck lifted into the air.
The matching pendant on the floor rose as well.
They floated toward each other.
Jake stared.
"They're responding."
The two pendants touched.
A brilliant flash filled the chamber.
Ivy saw a memory.
Her mother.
Her father.
Jake as a child.
And herself.
But there was another child standing beside them.
A little boy.
He looked almost exactly like Jake.
Except his eyes were silver.
Ivy stared in shock.
"Who is that?"
Elias whispered,
"The third child."
Jake shook his head.
"There were only two of us."
Elias looked at him.
"That's what you were supposed to believe."
The vision shifted.
The little boy was carried away by a cloaked figure.
Their mother screamed after him.
"NO!"
Then everything disappeared.
Ivy stumbled backward.
Jake looked completely shattered.
"I had a brother?"
Elias nodded.
"You did."
Jake's fists clenched.
"Where is he?"
Elias looked toward the ceiling.
"Closer than you think."
A loud crash shook the house above them.
Warriors shouted.
Then a deep howl echoed through the underground chamber.
Jake's eyes flashed silver.
"Someone's attacking the pack."
Jayden grabbed Xander's hand.
"Stay with me."
Ivy stood slowly.
Her violet eyes began glowing.
She finally understood.
This wasn't just about her anymore.
Someone had spent twelve years preparing for this moment.
And now they were coming for everyone she loved.
Elias stepped backward.
"I've told you enough."
Ivy glared at him.
"You don't get to disappear again."
Elias smiled.
"I won't."
He pointed toward the ceiling.
"Because the war has already begun."
Then he vanished into the shadows.
Ivy looked at Jake.
Jake looked at Jayden.
Neither spoke.
Another explosion shook the building.
Xander squeezed Ivy's hand.
"Mommy..."
She looked down at him.
"Yes, baby?"
"There's someone outside."
Ivy's blood ran cold.
"Who?"
Xander pointed toward the small underground window.
A pair of silver eyes stared back at them.
Then a voice whispered:
"Hello, sister."
Jake turned sharply.
His face went pale.
The third child was here.