Beyond His Evil

~~~

She stepped toward me, and I instinctively backed away. That made her stop.

"You don't have to be afraid of me, Kira," she said gently.

I hesitated. "I was told you couldn't speak."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded. "If they find out I can, they'll kill me."

A chill crawled down my spine. "Who are 'they'?"

Her expression darkened. "You truly know nothing."

I held her gaze, but she didn't elaborate.

"Another will come," she murmured, stepping forward again. "Someone more powerful than the rest, carrying the gift of life and death."

A strange familiarity washed over me. I had heard those words before.

She took another step, but I moved back, keeping my distance.

"I've searched for you everywhere," she said, her voice filled with something between relief and sorrow. "I always knew you existed."

My pulse quickened. "I don't know what you're talking about, or who you even are."

She smiled through her tears. "You don't have to. But I know you. I've known you even before you came here."

I frowned, searching her face.

Could she have known my mother?

We had run into familiar faces before, people from before the war.

"How?" I asked.

Her dark brown eyes shifted-glowing gold in an instant.

My breath hitched.

Memories flooded back.

The mirror.

My reflection changing.

My eyes burning with an unnatural hue.

The mark on my forehead.

The voices.

And then... nothing.

She looked exactly like the people I had seen in the mirror.

I stumbled back. "What are you?"

Her gaze softened. "I am the last of our kind."

My heart pounded. "What do you mean?"

Her eyes dimmed back to their natural color. "They're watching us, Kira. They found you before I did."

A lump formed in my throat.

"But it's okay." She smiled, though sadness clung to the edges. "I wish I could guide you, show you the truth, but I can't. If I do, you'll be in danger. And if you die..." She trailed off, shaking her head. "The entire universe will perish."

A dull ache pulsed behind my temples. "What are you talking about?"

She didn't answer.

I raked a hand through my hair. "You must be mistaken. I have no idea what any of this means."

She studied me with quiet understanding. "You do. You just haven't realized it yet."

I swallowed hard. "I'm so confused," I whispered.

She wiped a tear from her cheek. "We all get lost sometimes, Kira. But that's when we search within ourselves for answers."

Her words unsettled me. Evelyn had called her a half-breed, but something about that felt wrong. There was more to her. And deep down... I already knew.

"What are we?" I asked.

Her lips curved into a small smile. "That's the first step in the right direction."

This time, when she stepped forward, I didn't move away. She took my hands in hers and gently kissed the backs of my palms.

Meeting my gaze, she whispered, "It was an honor to meet you. Now I know that if I die, it won't be in vain. Your existence alone proves we didn't all perish for nothing."

A heavy weight settled in my chest.

I had a terrible feeling I wouldn't see her again.

"You'll figure it out," she assured me, leaning in close. "And remember, the most beautiful things can also be the most dangerous. Evil hides behind facades."

My fingers twitched. "What do you mean?"

She held my gaze. "But sometimes, good disguises itself as evil-to lead you astray." She brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, her touch lingering. "No matter what's in front of you, good or bad, always trust your heart."

A tear slid down her cheek, but she smiled through it.

"By tomorrow, I'll be gone," she said, voice steady. "And that's okay."

A knot tightened in my stomach. "Why do you say that?"

"Because by tomorrow, they'll kill me."

The air turned thick.

"Who are 'they'?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She only smiled. "You'll figure it out, Kira."

Her eyes flickered to my necklace-the silver one Devon had given me. Something unreadable flashed across her face.

"Follow your heart," she said softly.

Then she stepped back. "Goodnight."

Panic bubbled inside me. I didn't want her to leave. There was too much I didn't understand.

Her gaze lingered on my necklace once more before she turned and disappeared into the night.

I watched her retreating figure until the shadows swallowed her whole.

My fingers brushed over the cool silver chain around my neck.

Was she talking about this?

Before I could make sense of it, exhaustion crashed over me like a tidal wave. I turned toward my room, still dazed. As soon as I stepped inside-

Darkness swallowed me whole.

A/N

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