Aria's POV
"You're my UNCLE?" I stumbled backward, my mind reeling. "How is that even possible?"
Kael reached for me, but I jerked away. Everything was spinning. My mother's brother. Family. Real family.
"Please, let me explain—" Kael started.
"Explain WHAT?" My voice rose. "That you've been lying to me this whole time? That you knew we were related and didn't tell me?"
"I was trying to protect you!"
"By lying? Everyone in my life has lied to me, Kael! EVERYONE!" Tears streamed down my face. "I thought you were different. I thought—" My voice broke.
The hurt on Kael's face was devastating. "Aria, I'm sorry. I should have told you immediately. But I was afraid—"
"Afraid of what?"
"That if you knew we were family, you'd feel obligated to stay. I wanted you to choose to stay because you wanted to, not because of blood ties." He took a step closer. "And I was afraid that if you knew the truth about your darkness, about what you've always been, you'd—"
"I'd what? Run away? Give up?" I laughed bitterly. "Maybe I should! Maybe everyone would be safer if I just left!"
"No." Kael's voice was firm. "Running won't change what you are. The darkness will follow you wherever you go."
I looked down at my wrist, pulling back my sleeve to reveal the black vein. It had grown. Now there were three thin black lines snaking under my skin.
"It's spreading," I whispered. "Just like Malachar said it would."
"We'll find a way to stop it." Kael's determination never wavered. "There has to be a way."
"And if there isn't?" I met his eyes. "What then? Do you kill me before I turn into a monster?"
"Never." The word came out like a vow. "I'd die before I let anyone hurt you. Even if that someone is yourself."
The conviction in his voice broke something inside me. I collapsed onto my bed, sobbing. Everything was too much—the betrayal, the battle, the darkness growing inside me, and now this revelation about my family.
Kael sat beside me carefully. "May I?" he asked, gesturing like he wanted to hug me.
I nodded, and he pulled me against his chest. For the first time since this nightmare began, I felt safe. Protected. Like maybe everything would be okay.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," Kael murmured into my hair. "I'm sorry for every lie, even the ones meant to protect you. You deserve the truth. Always."
"Tell me about her," I said softly. "About my mother. About your sister."
Kael was quiet for a moment, then began. "Elena and I had the same father but different mothers. My mother was a high-ranking supernatural being. Elena's mother was human—your grandmother. When Elena was born with Guardian powers, our father was so proud. But also terrified."
"Why terrified?"
"Because Guardians are targets. Everyone wants to use them, control them, or destroy them." Kael's arms tightened around me. "I promised our father I'd protect Elena. And I did, for many years. We were close—more than just siblings. Best friends."
"Then what happened?"
"She met your father. Fell in love. Got married." Kael's voice held old pain. "I warned her that staying in the human world was dangerous. That she should keep her powers hidden. But Elena believed in living authentically. She couldn't hide who she was."
"That's why they targeted her," I realized.
"Yes. When you were born, Elena sensed something immediately. You weren't like other Guardian children—you had power, yes, but also something else. Something dark mixed with the light." Kael pulled back to look at me. "She researched everything, consulted with ancient texts. Finally, she learned the truth."
"What truth?"
"That once every ten thousand years, a Guardian is born with both light and darkness inside them. A balance Guardian. Someone who can understand both good and evil, who can bridge the gap between opposing forces." Kael's silver eyes were intense. "These Guardians are the most powerful ever born. But also the most dangerous."
"Because we can choose either side," I whispered.
"Exactly. And whichever side you choose will be amplified a thousandfold. If you choose light, you could heal entire worlds. If you choose darkness—"
"I could destroy them all." The prophecy made horrible sense now.
"Your mother spent five years trying to help you balance both sides. Teaching you kindness, love, compassion—trying to strengthen your light." Kael's expression turned anguished. "But when Malachar attacked, she knew she couldn't protect you and suppress your darkness at the same time. So she sealed both—your light AND your dark—hoping that by the time you turned eighteen, you'd be strong enough to handle the truth."
"But I'm not strong enough," I said. "I'm barely handling this."
"You're stronger than you think." Kael touched my face gently. "You've survived betrayal that would break most people. You've faced shadow monsters and ancient evils. You healed me when you'd only just discovered your powers. Aria, you're incredible."
My heart did that flutter thing again. Even knowing we were related, even knowing it was wrong to feel this way about my uncle, I couldn't stop the warmth spreading through my chest when he looked at me like that.
"I don't feel incredible," I admitted. "I feel scared and confused and like I'm drowning."
"Then let me help you float." Kael stood and offered his hand. "Come with me. There's something I want to show you."
I hesitated. "Kael, I don't think—"
"Please. Trust me one more time."
Against my better judgment, I took his hand.
He led me through the palace halls, down staircases I hadn't seen before, until we emerged into the most beautiful garden I'd ever seen. Even at night, flowers bloomed in impossible colors—silver roses that glowed softly, golden lilies that chimed like bells in the breeze, purple blooms that pulsed with gentle light.
"This was your mother's favorite place," Kael said softly. "She'd spend hours here, talking to the plants, healing the sick ones, creating new varieties."
I walked forward, drawn to a wilted flower at the garden's edge. Without thinking, I touched it gently.
Golden light flowed from my fingers. The flower perked up immediately, blooming into a beautiful blue rose I'd never seen before.
"You have her gift," Kael said with wonder. "Her connection to living things."
"But I also have darkness inside me." I pulled my hand back. "What if I touch something and it dies instead of heals?"
"Then we learn to control it." Kael moved to stand beside me. "Aria, having darkness inside you doesn't make you evil. It makes you complete. Light can't exist without shadow. Good can't exist without evil. You're not a monster—you're balance."
"Malachar doesn't see it that way. He thinks I'll join him."
"Malachar is afraid of you," Kael corrected. "Because deep down, he knows that if you master both your light AND your darkness, you'll be more powerful than he could ever be. That's why he's trying to break you, to make you think you're already corrupted. If he can convince you to give up—"
"Then he wins without even fighting," I finished.
"Exactly."
I sat on a stone bench near a fountain. The water sparkled with magic, creating impossible patterns. Kael sat beside me, close enough that our shoulders touched.
"Tell me about you," I said. "Not about guardians or prophecies or darkness. Tell me about Kael. Who you are when you're not being the Sovereign."
Kael looked surprised. "No one's ever asked me that before."
"Well, I'm asking now."
He was quiet for a moment, then smiled—a real, genuine smile I'd never seen before. "I love stargazing. In my private quarters, I have a telescope that can see into other dimensions. Sometimes I spend entire nights just watching distant worlds."
"Really?" I couldn't hide my surprise.
"Really. And I collect old books. First editions, ancient texts, poetry from civilizations that don't exist anymore." His expression grew shy. "I even write poetry sometimes, though it's terrible."
"I bet it's not terrible."
"It is. Truly awful." But he was grinning now. "I rhymed 'moon' with 'soon' in my last one. It was embarrassing."
I laughed—actually laughed—for the first time since this nightmare began. "That is pretty bad."
"See? Told you." Kael's silver eyes sparkled with humor. "What about you? Who is Aria when she's not being a Guardian?"
"I like baking," I said. "I used to make cookies and cakes for Mrs. Chen at the coffee shop. And I love reading fantasy novels—the irony isn't lost on me now that I'm living in one."
"What else?"
"I sing in the shower. Badly. And I talk to plants, which I guess makes more sense now that I know I'm a Guardian." I smiled sadly. "I used to dream about traveling. Seeing the world. Having adventures."
"You can still do all that," Kael said. "Once we deal with Malachar, once we figure out how to balance your powers—you can do anything you want."
"If we survive that long."
"We will." Kael took my hand. "I promise you, Aria. We'll find a way through this."
I wanted to believe him. Wanted to have hope. But the black veins on my wrist were spreading, and I could feel something dark stirring inside me with every passing hour.
"The three days Malachar gave me," I said. "What happens when they're up? What happens when the darkness takes over completely?"
"We won't let it get that far."
"But what if—"
A scream pierced the night.
Kael and I jumped up simultaneously. More screams followed, coming from inside the palace.
"Stay behind me," Kael ordered, shadows already gathering around his hands.
We ran back toward the palace. In the main courtyard, chaos reigned. Supernatural beings were fleeing in terror from—
I stopped dead.
It was me.
Another shadow version of me, but this one was more solid than before. More real. She stood in the courtyard's center, dark power radiating from her body, and everything she touched withered and died.
"Hello again," Shadow-me purred, her red eyes locking onto mine. "Miss me?"
"How—" I stammered. "Malachar said three days—"
"Did you really think I was separate from you?" Shadow-me laughed. "I'm not a trick, Aria. I'm not an illusion. I'm YOU. The darkness you've been suppressing your whole life. And every time you feel rage, every time you want revenge, every time you think dark thoughts—I get stronger."
She raised her hand, and a bolt of black lightning shot toward innocent bystanders.
"NO!" I threw up a shield of golden light, blocking the attack.
Shadow-me smiled. "Good reflexes. But tell me—how long can you fight yourself?"
She launched attack after attack. I blocked them all, but I could feel my energy draining fast.
"Aria, let me help!" Kael moved forward.
"Don't!" Shadow-me warned. "If he attacks me, he attacks HER. We're connected. Whatever damages me, damages Aria too."
Kael froze, horror dawning on his face.
Shadow-me was right. We were the same person. Hurting her meant hurting me.
"So here's your choice, Guardian," Shadow-me said. "Keep fighting me and exhaust yourself—or accept me. Embrace the darkness. Let me merge with you completely, and we can be whole. Powerful. Unstoppable."
"Never," I gritted out.
"Then enjoy watching me destroy everything you love." Shadow-me turned toward the palace, dark power building in her hands. "Starting with your precious uncle."
She released a massive blast of darkness straight at Kael.
I didn't think. Just reacted.
I threw myself in front of him, taking the hit directly.
Dark energy slammed into my chest. I screamed as shadows invaded my body, crawling through my veins like ice.
"ARIA!" Kael caught me as I fell.
Shadow-me laughed triumphantly. "You can't stop me with light, Aria. Because I AM you. And now—" Her form began dissolving, flowing toward me like smoke. "—it's time we became one."
The darkness poured into my body. I felt it merging with me, becoming part of me, consuming me from the inside.
"No, no, no—" I gasped, but I couldn't stop it.
My eyes met Kael's terrified ones.
"Run," I whispered as I felt myself changing. "Kael, please. Run before I—"
My vision went black.
When I opened my eyes again, everything looked different. Sharper. Clearer. More.
And I felt... powerful.
So incredibly, dangerously powerful.
I looked down at my hands. Black and gold light swirled together around my fingers.
"Aria?" Kael's voice was careful. Afraid. "Are you still you?"
I met his eyes.
And smiled.
"I'm more than me now," I said, and even my voice sounded different—layered, like two people speaking at once. "I'm everything I was meant to be."
I raised my hand toward the night sky.
Half the stars went out.