The mountains loomed ahead, their jagged peaks veiled in mist. A thin ribbon of road carved its way through rocky slopes and dense forest, winding north like a path into forgotten legends. Luna led the way, steady as ever, her hand never straying far from the hilt of her sword. Iris followed close, wrapped in a cloak too thin for the growing cold, though Luna often pulled her nearer to share her warmth. Selene brought up the rear, her eyes scanning every shadow that moved.
Three days had passed since the attack on the village, and still the memory of the woman in black haunted them. Iris often found herself glancing over her shoulder, half-expecting that dark silhouette to materialize again among the trees.
"She knew you," Iris whispered one evening as they set up camp beneath a leaning pine. "Not just your name—she knew you, Luna. Like you were… part of her story somehow."
Luna's face hardened. "I don't remember her."
Selene poked at the small fire with a stick, sparks flying upward. "That doesn't mean she doesn't remember you."
On their fourth morning, the sky turned a bruised gray. They walked in silence until Iris finally spoke, her voice gentle. "Luna… when you were little, before you left your family—do you remember any names? Any relatives?"
Luna slowed, her brow furrowing. "I wasn't allowed to know much. My parents kept me apart. They said it was for my safety."
"Safety from what?" Iris asked, though she already guessed the answer.
"From envy," Selene said, cutting in. Her tone was sharp, almost accusing. "Your bloodline carried weight, Luna. More than power—it carried inheritance. And with inheritance comes resentment."
Luna turned sharply toward her. "You speak as though you knew them."
Selene hesitated, her eyes glinting like steel. "I knew… enough."
That night, Luna dreamed. She was small again, sitting on her mother's lap as the woman combed her hair. Her father's deep voice filled the room, telling an old tale by the fire.
"There was once a daughter of the family," he said, "a girl overlooked, forgotten, but who longed for recognition. She grew bitter when the inheritance bypassed her. Bitter, until her heart turned black as ash. Never forget, Luna—envy is the shadow of love, and it devours those who hold it too close."
Luna woke with a start, Iris's arm draped over her. The fire had dwindled, and Selene sat on watch. The dream left her shaken—not because of its warning, but because of the faint memory of a girl's laughter she couldn't place.
By the sixth day, the path narrowed into a gorge. The air grew colder, their breaths clouding as they climbed higher. Then Iris spotted it first: a cluster of stone pillars hidden among the trees, half-buried in moss and vines.
"A shrine," Selene said quietly, stepping forward. "Not just any shrine. This was built for the bloodline."
Luna followed, her chest tightening. The carvings on the stones were familiar, etched with the crest of her family—a crescent moon entwined with a star. She reached out, brushing the cold stone with trembling fingers.
"Luna," Iris said softly, her hand resting on Luna's back.
On the central pillar, weathered letters spelled out a name. At first, Luna couldn't read it. Then the letters cleared as though the stone itself wanted to be seen.
"Seraphine."
Selene froze, her breath catching.
"You know that name," Luna said sharply, turning to her.
Selene's lips pressed into a thin line. "She was of your house. A cousin. Older than you by many years. She was passed over when the inheritance was declared. And she swore she'd make the bloodline pay for denying her."
Luna's heart pounded. "Seraphine… she's the woman in black."
Later that evening, the three of them sat within the shelter of the shrine, the firelight flickering across the ancient stones.
"So she was family," Iris whispered, the weight of the revelation heavy in her voice. "She's not just chasing shadows. She's chasing you, Luna. Your blood."
Luna stared into the flames, her jaw tight. "And she'll destroy anyone who stands with me."
"Then let her try." Iris moved closer, her hand finding Luna's. She laced their fingers together and squeezed, her eyes fierce with devotion. "She can't take me away from you. Not unless I let her."
For a moment, Luna just looked at her, the fire reflecting in her dark eyes. "Iris… I couldn't bear to lose you."
"You won't." Iris leaned in, pressing her forehead to Luna's. "You've fought shadows and carried burdens alone for too long. But not this time. I'm here. And I'll stay, no matter how dark it gets."
Luna kissed her then, slow and deep, as though anchoring herself to Iris's promise. In that moment, the fear eased—not gone, but bearable, softened by love.
When the fire burned low and Iris drifted into sleep against Luna's shoulder, Selene spoke quietly.
"There's more you need to know."
Luna glanced at her. "Speak."
"I served Seraphine once," Selene admitted, her voice heavy with guilt. "Not as her soldier, but as her shadow. I thought her cause was just. That she was wronged, overlooked. But her heart was… already twisted. I left when I saw what she truly wanted—not justice, but dominion. She doesn't just want your inheritance, Luna. She wants to erase you, so there's no one left to stand in her way."
Luna's breath stilled. "And you've kept this from me all this time?"
Selene's gaze flickered to Iris, sleeping peacefully. "Because I wasn't sure if you'd trust me. But now—now you must understand. Seraphine won't stop. She'll come again, and harder. And when she does, she'll use Iris to break you."
Luna's hand instinctively tightened around Iris's. "Then she'll find me ready."
Before dawn, the shrine itself gave a sign. As the wind howled through the gorge, a low moan echoed from the stone pillars. The moss peeled back as though scraped by unseen claws, revealing fresh carvings beneath.
Iris jolted awake as Luna and Selene rushed forward. The new inscription gleamed faintly in the firelight:
"Blood calls to blood. The heir shall fall, and the envious shall reign."
Iris shivered. "She knows we found this place."
Selene's jaw tightened. "It's more than a threat. It's a prophecy she's trying to fulfill."
Luna placed her palm against the stone, her voice low but steady. "Then let her come. Let her try to claim what isn't hers. I'll end this—once and for all."
As they left the shrine at sunrise, the air felt heavier, as though the mountain itself held its breath. Iris walked beside Luna, their hands joined tightly. Selene followed, silent, her face unreadable.
They didn't speak of Seraphine again that morning, but all three knew the truth: the woman in black was no longer just a pursuer. She was family. And family ties, once twisted, cut deeper than any blade.
The shadows had a name now. And with it, the war for Luna's future had truly begun.