The morning broke with a pale golden light spilling across the forest canopy, soft enough to make the shadows look less menacing than they had the night before. Iris stirred first, her cheek still pressed against Luna's shoulder, their shared cloak tangled around them like an intimate cocoon. For a long, quiet moment, she simply watched Luna breathe—the steady rise and fall of her chest, the way her lips parted slightly in sleep, strands of dark hair brushing across her cheek.
Iris traced her gaze along Luna's features, committing every detail to memory. How could the world still hold something this beautiful, even with all its darkness?
She leaned forward, brushing the stray hair from Luna's face, and pressed the faintest kiss to her forehead. Luna stirred, lashes fluttering, and when her eyes opened, they locked with Iris's in that way that always made Iris feel as though time itself had paused.
"Good morning," Luna murmured, her voice still husky from sleep.
"Good morning," Iris whispered back, smiling shyly. "Did you rest?"
Luna stretched lazily, her hand sliding around Iris's waist to pull her closer. "I did. Because you were beside me."
The words made Iris's chest warm, and she buried her face against Luna's neck, whispering, "You're too good at this."
"At what?" Luna teased softly.
"At making me fall for you all over again."
Luna laughed quietly, the sound low and melodic, and Iris felt as though it could chase away the lingering cold of the night.
They ate a simple breakfast Selene had prepared—dried fruit and the last of their bread, softened in warm water from a kettle balanced over the fire. Selene was quieter than usual, her gaze drifting often toward the trees, as though she expected the shadows themselves to peel away and form into something worse.
Iris noticed the tension etched into Selene's posture but didn't comment right away. Instead, after breakfast, she tugged Luna's hand gently.
"Come with me?" Iris asked.
Luna arched a brow. "Where?"
"Just… somewhere with water. I think I heard a stream nearby."
Selene looked up, immediately alert. "Don't stray too far."
Iris offered her a reassuring nod. "We won't."
The stream wasn't far—just a short walk past a rise in the forest floor, where the sound of trickling water led them to a clear brook tumbling over smooth stones. Sunlight filtered through the leaves above, scattering golden flecks across the surface.
Iris dropped her bag and sat on a rock at the water's edge, pulling out her sketchbook almost by instinct. Luna followed, settling gracefully beside her.
"You brought it," Luna said, her lips curving as she watched Iris flip to a fresh page.
"I always do," Iris murmured. She dipped her pencil, then hesitated.
"What is it?"
Iris glanced up, catching Luna's questioning gaze. "I want to draw you again. Here, with the water behind you. You look… softer in this light."
Luna tilted her head, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You make it sound like I'm only beautiful because of the sun."
Iris flushed, shaking her head quickly. "No—you'd be beautiful even in the dark. Especially in the dark." She bit her lip, then added in a rush, "But the light makes it easier for me to pretend I can capture you on paper."
The admission brought a tender silence between them. Luna reached over, brushing her knuckles gently along Iris's cheek. "Then draw, my artist. And I'll sit here as long as you need."
Iris sketched, pencil gliding in quick strokes as Luna sat still, her gaze cast toward the water. She looked both ethereal and grounded, her posture regal yet softened by the way her hair spilled over her shoulder. Iris's heart raced with every line she captured—the curve of Luna's lips, the slope of her jaw, the quiet strength in her eyes.
By the time Iris finished, her hands trembled slightly, not from fatigue but from the weight of what she felt.
"Done," she whispered.
Luna leaned forward, peering at the page. Her eyes softened as she took in the image. "You always make me look like I belong to another world."
"Maybe you do," Iris said softly. "But you're here with me. That's enough."
Before Luna could reply, Iris leaned in, pressing her lips to Luna's. It was tender at first, almost shy, but Luna cupped her face and deepened the kiss, drawing her closer until Iris felt as though the stream, the forest, the entire world had melted away, leaving only them.
From the shadows of the trees, Selene stood watch. She had given them distance, but her ears remained sharp, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her blade. She admired the purity of the bond between the two women, even as a pang of something bitter twisted in her chest.
That was what Seraphine and I once had.
The thought came unbidden, dragging with it a whisper that wasn't her own.
You remember, don't you? The voice curled through her mind like smoke. The warmth of my hand in yours. The nights we spent watching stars no one else could see.
Selene stiffened, jaw tightening. "Not now," she muttered under her breath.
You can't deny me forever, the voice purred. I was your heart once, Selene. And hearts never forget.
She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting against the wave of memory that threatened to drown her. Seraphine's laughter, her touch, the way she had once spoken Selene's name as though it were something sacred.
Then came the memory of fire, screams, blood on her hands.
"No," Selene whispered fiercely. "You're not her anymore."
But even as she said it, she wasn't sure she believed it.
The peace of the stream didn't last. As Iris tucked her sketchbook away and leaned against Luna, a chill prickled the back of her neck. The air shifted, unnaturally still.
"Do you feel that?" Iris asked softly.
Luna's expression sharpened instantly. "Yes."
The water's surface rippled, though no wind touched it. The sunlight dimmed as though a veil had been drawn over the canopy. From the edges of the forest came a low, almost imperceptible hum, like dozens of voices whispering in unison.
Selene appeared a moment later, blade already drawn. "Shadows," she warned. "Get behind me."
But the shadows didn't come from the trees this time. They rose from the brook itself—inky tendrils pulling free of the water, coiling into shapes vaguely human but hollow-eyed, their bodies dripping like tar.
Iris froze, her heart hammering. "What—what are those?"
"Wraiths," Selene hissed. "Seraphine's doing."
The creatures lurched forward, movements jerky, their mouths opening in silent screams.
Selene moved first, her blade flashing as she cut through the nearest wraith. It dissolved into a spray of black mist, but two more surged forward to replace it.
"Stay behind me!" Selene shouted again.
But Iris grabbed Luna's hand, pulling her toward the rocks. "We can't just hide—"
"Iris!" Luna snapped, eyes fierce even as she kept Iris shielded behind her. "Your safety comes first."
"I'm not leaving you!" Iris cried, voice breaking.
A wraith lunged toward them, and Luna spun, her dagger slicing cleanly across its chest. It burst apart, but not before clawing at her arm, leaving a streak of shadow across her skin. Luna gritted her teeth, refusing to cry out.
Iris saw it, and something inside her snapped. She shoved past her fear, grabbing a heavy branch from the ground. When another wraith lunged, she swung with all her strength, the branch cracking through its form. To her shock, the creature faltered, breaking apart into mist.
Luna glanced back, eyes wide. "Iris—"
"I told you!" Iris shouted, trembling but defiant. "I'm not leaving you to fight alone!"
The battle was chaos—Selene striking with deadly precision, Luna moving with fierce grace despite the shadow burning across her arm, and Iris swinging her makeshift weapon with desperate determination.
But the wraiths kept coming.
From the far side of the brook, the air shimmered, and a figure appeared—cloaked in black, her face hidden beneath a veil. The Woman in Black.
Her presence was suffocating, the temperature of the clearing dropping instantly. The wraiths drew back slightly, circling as if awaiting her command.
"Well," her voice echoed, low and mocking. "The artist has teeth after all."
Iris froze, the branch trembling in her hands. The Woman's veiled gaze turned toward her, heavy and cold.
"I see now why Seraphine wanted you watched so closely," she continued. "You burn too brightly, little one. And all flames must be snuffed out."
Selene stepped forward, blade raised. "You will not touch her."
The Woman tilted her head, and a low laugh slipped from beneath the veil. "You speak with such conviction, Selene. Yet your heart still belongs to me."
At the words, Selene's grip faltered for just a fraction of a second. The shadows around them pulsed, sensing her hesitation.
Luna's hand found Iris's, squeezing tight. "Don't listen to her," Luna whispered fiercely. "Don't let her break us."
Iris nodded, though her heart was a storm of fear. She lifted her chin, glaring at the Woman in Black. "You can whisper all you want, but you'll never have us. Not while we stand together."
For the first time, the Woman tilted her head as though intrigued. "We shall see."
She lifted her hand, and the shadows surged forward once more.
The battle had only just begun.