The Witch Strong Tower, hidden deep within the craggy mountains, was a place where magic thrummed in the air like a heartbeat, ancient and powerful. In its obsidian throne room, Moriah and Gwen sat, the silence between them thick and heavy. Moriah's golden eyes flickered with frustration as she gazed at the map spread before them, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the cold stone surface.
"We've failed," Moriah muttered, her voice low but filled with venom. "We should've captured Selene when we had the chance. Our spies report she's still unaware of her true heritage. Yet, we allowed her to remain at Lucien's side, and now… now he's only grown stronger."
Gwen's eyes glinted with cold calculation. "His reach is expanding, and his army—though fractured—grows by the day. Sending lower-level witches to assess his power was a grave mistake. The results…" She paused, shuddering slightly. "They were worse than we anticipated."
Moriah slammed her fist against the stone armrest of her throne, her eyes flashing with fury. "We sent assassins—trained, seasoned killers. And they failed. Lucien didn't just fend them off—he killed every one of them without a second thought. He's becoming too strong, Gwen. We are running out of time."
Gwen's lips curled into a thin, calculating smile. "Perhaps it's time we take a different approach. No more shadows, no more hidden tactics. We need to send someone who can deal with him directly—someone with experience."
Moriah's face twisted into a mask of deep thought. "I know what you're thinking, but no," she said, her voice sharp and firm. "I will not send you. You do not understand the weight of this."
Gwen stepped forward, her expression curious but unwavering. "Why not? I could handle him. I would approach him with a personal touch—he wouldn't expect it."
Moriah stood abruptly, her silvery hair cascading like a waterfall of light. She turned her back to Gwen, her voice heavy with unresolved emotion. "It's not that simple."
Gwen's curiosity deepened. "What are you hiding from me?"
Moriah's voice softened, but the air was thick with authority. "In the past, I was going to marry him. Lucien and I… we were close. Closer than anyone knew. Before all of this, before he became the Emperor of Shadows, I was his fiancée."
A brief silence fell, the revelation hanging between them like a storm cloud.
"And then everything changed," Moriah continued, her voice quivering with a mix of bitterness and regret. "I was the one who stopped him when he threatened to unite all the bloodlines. I held the blade that could have ended him. I didn't strike the final blow. Instead, I sent him into eternal sleep, banishing him to the shadows where he couldn't harm anyone. I thought it was the right thing to do."
Gwen's eyes widened, her curiosity piqued. "So, you were more than just his bride… you were the one who imprisoned him. And now, you're the only one who can stop him?"
Moriah's eyes glinted with a fierce intensity. "Yes. It is my responsibility. I failed before, but I will not make that mistake again. I am the one who must finish what I started."
Gwen hesitated before speaking, her voice quieter, more calculating. "But Lucien is different now. Stronger. And with Selene at his side, he grows more powerful by the day. If you delay any longer…"
Moriah's lips twisted into a hard line. "I know. That's why we must act now. Selene still has no idea of her true power. But if she stays with him, there will be no stopping him. We must separate them. I must make her realize her own power, even if I have to force her."
The air between them grew heavier with the weight of the decision. Gwen's eyes narrowed. "And Clarity? What of her?"
Moriah's expression darkened. "Clarity is a wildcard. She's been loyal to Lucien for so long, but I fear she may have her own agenda. If she senses Lucien is growing weak or distracted, she may shift her loyalty. We must ensure she remains loyal—or we eliminate her."
Gwen's eyes gleamed with cold amusement. "And if she refuses?"
Moriah's gaze turned cold, her voice like ice. "Then she will pay the price. I won't hesitate. This is bigger than personal bonds or old feelings. If I let my past with Lucien cloud my judgment again, we'll all lose."
The two witches shared a long, silent moment, each understanding the gravity of the decisions to come. Moriah had once been Lucien's betrothed, the one who could have ended him. Now, she was the only one who could stop him. The weight of her past and the power of her present were locked in a deadly dance.
Finally, Moriah broke the silence, her voice low but filled with resolve. "We will act quickly. Selene must be separated from Lucien. And once we have her, we will use her to ensure Lucien's final fall. This time, there will be no mercy. No second chances."
Gwen nodded, her smile returning, though this one held a hint of something more dangerous. "Then it's time to move forward. The world won't know what hit it."
As they began to prepare for their next move, the darkness within the Witch Strong Tower deepened. The final battle for control of the bloodlines had begun, and neither Lucien nor Selene would be safe for long.