Aaron's pulse pounded, torn between anger and the need for answers. His mother had died of cancer—he was sure of it. But if she'd hidden something as big as a twin sister, what else had she kept from him? What other truths had gone to the grave with her?
The questions crashed through his mind, muddling his thoughts. His anger wavered, just enough for doubt to slip in.
He took a slow, shaky breath and stepped closer to Hydra, his eyes locked on hers. Before she spoke, Hydra bent down and picked up the ring from the floor. Once she straightened up, her face hardened and her gaze sharpened like a blade. She raised a hand, cutting him off before he could say more.
"Your father," she said, each word heavy with unspoken history, "killed your mother. He used a disease spell—one she could never recover from. That's the truth."
Aaron went rigid, her words slamming into him like a fist to the gut. "What?" he whispered, his hands curling into fists. "That's not possible. She died of cancer… at least, that's what the doctors told me."
Hydra's expression softened, but her voice stayed firm. "That's what they believed—what they were meant to believe. But it was his magic, Aaron. He cast that spell from afar because she escaped him."
His throat tightened, his anger battling with disbelief. "Who?" he demanded, his voice rising. "Who is this bastard?"
Hydra's eyes darkened. "I shouldn't tell you this while you're consumed by anger, but you deserve the truth. And since I've already started, I might as well finish." She took a breath. "He's a man of immense power and wealth. To the world, he's Tiberius Corvus, the mayor of Rosewood. But to his followers in the Eye of the Void, he's something else—Lord Corvus, their leader."
Aaron stared at her, trying to process the name. It felt distant, foreign. "What does he have to do with me?"
Hydra stepped closer, her voice quieter now. "It's all tied to him," she said. "Tiberius seduced your mother, Celeste, and married her for one reason: to get the Phoenix Ring. But she found out who he really was—and what he was after. She ran, Aaron. She escaped with you still in her womb."
Her eyes clouded with regret as she continued. "Even from a distance, he didn't let her go. He cursed her. The spell was slow, subtle, but deadly. When she came to me for help, I did everything I could. I set up a shield to block his reach. For a while, it worked. But his power… it's immense."
Hydra's voice faltered, her jaw tightening. "He still found a way through. He marked her with a seal, one that guaranteed her death. I tried, Aaron. I tried to keep her alive for as long as I could. But in the end, I wasn't strong enough to save her. That failure stays with me every day."
She straightened, her gaze locking on his. "But remember this—if there's one thing I'm certain of, it's how much she loved you. You were her whole world, Aaron. She fought until her last breath to protect you."
Aaron's chest heaved as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. Anger surged through him like wildfire. "So all of this—everything—was because of him?"
Hydra nodded, her expression grim. "Yes. And now that the Phoenix Ring has awaken by chosing you, Corvus won't stop until he takes it. Even if it means killing his own son. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about."
Aaron clenched his fists, his throat tight as anger bubbled up. "That cult," he said, his voice low and shaking. "The Eye of the Void—they're the ones who attacked me and Era, aren't they?"
"Yes," Hydra replied calmly. "They're after the rings for a dark purpose. They want to bring back Zagan, a creature so dangerous it could throw everything into chaos—"
Aaron didn't let her finish. He jabbed a finger in her direction, his voice rising. "This is all about you using me, isn't it? You just want me to take him down for you!"
Hydra's eyes softened with a flicker of pain. "No, Aaron. I'm not manipulating you. If Corvus knows where you are, he won't stop until he gets what he wants. You're in danger, and so is everyone around you. This isn't about vengeance; it's about survival."
She stepped closer, her voice unsteady. "If you die, the Phoenix Ring will find someone else. And I… I can't lose the only family I have left. Not again." Her fingers curled around Aaron's hand, gently pressing the ring back into his palm.
Before he could speak, Hydra suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace. Aaron tensed at first, caught off guard, but the way she trembled against him made it impossible to pull away. "You're all I have left, Aaron," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I can't lose you too."
For a moment, Aaron hesitated, unsure of what to do. Then, slowly, he raised his arms and awkwardly returned the embrace. When she finally let him go, she stepped back, her composure returning.
"You think I didn't feel it? Watching you suffer, seeing you mistreated? It tore me apart," she said, her voice steadier now. "But I couldn't step in. Members of the Sky Weaver aren't allowed to use their power for personal reasons. And me? As High Weaver? The rules are even stricter."
She paused, her tone heavy with regret. "I learned that the hard way a few years ago. When I tried to help your mother, it only made things worse. It put her and even you in more danger. So I had to stop. I had to trust you to survive, to endure—even if it broke me to stand by and do nothing."
Aaron clenched his teeth, the fire of his anger smoldering beneath the surface. After a long pause, he slipped the ring back onto his finger, its weight settling against his skin. "Fine," he said, his voice firm. "I'll stick around. But understand this—I answer to the ring. No one else. Not even you."
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Hydra's mouth. "I wouldn't expect anything less from my Celeste's son. But now that you've taken on the responsibility of carrying the ring—not just because it chose you—prepare yourself. You have no idea the weight of this burden."