Moonlight spilled over the ancient stones of the palace as Selena, Arya, and Luther slipped silently through the secret passages beneath the castle. The air was damp and thick with the scent of moss and dust, the only sound the muffled echo of their footsteps against forgotten stones. Luther led the way, cloaked in shadows, every movement precise and practiced.
Selena walked behind him, hand pressed to her belly, eyes burning with determination. Arya followed closely, glancing over her shoulder every few steps, her nerves stretched tight as a drawn bowstring.
"This tunnel leads to the eastern watchtower," Luther whispered, pausing to check a corner. "It hasn't been used in years. From there, we pass under the outer wall and straight into the trees. No one will see us."
Arya huffed softly, her breath shaky. "No one but the spirits and beasts waiting in that cursed forest…"
Selena turned to her, voice calm and kind. "We don't have the luxury of fear, Arya. We're not running toward safety. We're running toward survival. I'd rather take my chances among monsters than stay another night under Mathew's roof."
Luther smiled faintly, sword slung over his back. "Besides, not all monsters live in forests. Some wear crowns."
They emerged from the tunnel beneath the watchtower under cover of clouded starlight. The trees of the Forbidden Forest loomed ahead, gnarled and ancient, their twisted branches forming a dark canopy. Cold wind howled through the gaps, carrying strange sounds that made Arya shudder.
The forest swallowed them whole within minutes. The thick foliage allowed no moonlight to reach the floor, and the sounds of civilization faded entirely.
Arya clutched her cloak tight. "Why does it feel like the trees are watching us?"
"They probably are," Luther muttered, scanning the darkness. "This place is alive… magic runs through its roots. But we'll be fine if we stay alert."
Selena stepped over an exposed root, placing a glowing rune on a stone as they passed. "These runes will confuse any magical trackers Mathew sends after us. It won't stop them, but it'll slow them."
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath their feet. Arya yelped, and Luther shoved the women back, drawing his sword in one smooth motion.
From the trees ahead, a deep, vibrating growl split the silence. The shadows shimmered, and then it emerged—a creature taller than two men, cloaked in black fur streaked with crackling energy. Its eyes glowed pale blue, and sparks of lightning danced between its antlers and claws. The air around it shimmered with static.
"A Storm Stag," Luther whispered, tightening his grip on his sword. "It's rare… and very angry."
Arya backed behind a tree, wide-eyed. "W-we can't fight that! It's made of lightning!"
But Selena stepped forward, fire beginning to burn in her palms. "Then we don't fight the beast. We fight the storm it brings."
The stag let out a thundering roar and charged. Luther ducked beneath the crackling antlers and slashed at its flank, but his blade barely grazed its shimmering hide. The beast retaliated with a sweep of its claw, sending a surge of lightning toward him.
Selena extended both hands, summoning a shield of golden light. The lightning smashed into it with a blinding flash, forcing her to dig her heels into the earth. "It's magic-born," she called out. "Regular weapons won't do much! We need to overload its energy!"
Luther rolled aside as the beast struck again, then stabbed his sword into a glowing patch beneath its ribs. Sparks exploded outward, and the creature reeled, howling. "That worked!"
Selena formed a circle of runes in the air and launched a bolt of pure fire into the beast's flank. The flames danced across its fur, searing the electrical energy and causing a momentary flicker in its form.
Arya peeked from behind the tree, horrified. "You're going to get yourselves killed!"
Luther panted, circling the stag. "Only if we stop moving!"
The beast reared and slammed its hooves into the earth. A wave of electricity surged out in all directions. Selena leapt forward, slamming both hands into the ground and absorbing the shock with a protective pulse. Her eyes flared with blue light. "Now, Luther! Its defenses are down!"
With a cry of fury and precision, Luther dashed forward and drove his sword into the beast's chest where its glowing heart throbbed beneath the skin. The stag screamed, lightning exploding outward in one final burst before collapsing in a heap of smoking fur and fading light.
The forest fell still once more.
Luther stood, chest heaving. "Well… that was not how I expected tonight to go."
Selena helped him steady himself, a faint smile on her lips. "We're alive. That's what matters."
Arya stumbled from her hiding spot, still pale. "Please tell me that was the worst thing we're going to see in this forest."
"No promises," Luther muttered.
Selena looked toward the depths of the woods, the wind tugging at her hair. "One storm behind us. A thousand more ahead."
And so, deeper into the forest they went, the shadows parting for them—three souls bound by survival, drawn toward a future unknown and a destiny far from done.