Chapter Two: The Voice in the Dark
"So you do remember."
For one terrible heartbeat, Lyra forgot how to breathe.
The voice vanished.
The forest remained still around her.
Rainwater dripped from the leaves. Mud clung to her dress. Somewhere behind her, Elder Seris said something, but Lyra barely heard it.
Her eyes remained fixed on the shadow stretched across the ground.
There was only one figure now.
Her own.
Kael.
The name echoed through her mind.
She had never heard it before today.
Not truly.
Yet the moment Seris had spoken it, something inside Lyra had recognized it.
As if the name had been waiting somewhere deep inside her.
As if she had simply forgotten where to find it.
"Lyra."
Seris's hand closed around her shoulder.
Lyra flinched.
"What?"
Seris frowned.
"You went pale."
A laugh almost escaped Lyra.
Almost.
"There was someone here."
Seris immediately went still.
Lyra turned toward her.
"You didn't hear him?"
"Hear who?"
"The voice."
Seris's face changed.
Fear flickered in her eyes.
That was all the answer Lyra needed.
"You know."
"Lyra—"
"Stop doing that."
Seris blinked.
"What?"
"Every time I ask you a question, you say my name like that will somehow make me forget the question."
Seris looked toward the trees.
"We need to move."
"No."
"Lyra."
"There it is again."
The mark on Lyra's wrist pulsed.
She looked down.
Kael.
She thought the name carefully.
Nothing happened.
Her jaw tightened.
Kael.
A voice sighed inside her mind.
You are doing it again.
Lyra froze.
Her eyes widened.
Seris noticed.
"What?"
Lyra shook her head.
The voice returned.
Saying my name repeatedly will not summon me.
Lyra stared at absolutely nothing.
You can hear me?
A pause.
Then:
Unfortunately.
Lyra nearly laughed.
It came out as a breathless sound instead.
Seris stared at her.
"Lyra, what is happening?"
Who are you?
The answer came immediately.
You said my name.
That doesn't mean I know who you are.
Silence.
Then his voice changed.
The coldness remained, but something else slipped beneath it.
Something quieter.
No. It doesn't.
Lyra's anger faded.
What did you mean?
Kael did not answer.
What did you mean when you said I remember?
Still nothing.
Lyra clenched her fists.
Kael.
What?
Answer me.
You are demanding for someone who has spent sixteen years avoiding the truth.
Lyra stopped.
A cold sensation crawled down her spine.
What does that mean?
No answer.
"Lyra."
Seris grabbed her arm.
"We have to go."
Lyra pulled away.
"No."
"Not here."
"You've had sixteen years."
Seris's face hardened.
"Now is not the time."
"When is the time?"
"Later."
Lyra laughed bitterly.
"That's what you always say."
The shadows around them seemed to darken.
Then Kael spoke again.
Do not trust her.
Lyra's heart skipped.
She looked at Seris.
Why shouldn't I?
The answer came slowly.
As though Kael was choosing every word.
Because she was there when they took you from me.
Lyra went cold.
"What?"
Seris stared at her.
"What did he say?"
Lyra took a step backward.
"You know."
"Lyra."
"What did you do?"
A branch snapped somewhere behind them.
Seris spun.
Her hand moved toward the knife at her side.
The soldiers were coming.
"Later," Seris whispered.
Then she grabbed Lyra's hand.
And ran.
---
They did not stop until the village was gone.
The forest swallowed them.
Trees crowded together overhead, their branches blocking most of the morning light. Lyra stumbled over roots and stones as Seris pulled her deeper between the trees.
Every breath burned.
Every unanswered question made her angrier.
Finally, Lyra yanked her hand free.
"I am not running anymore."
Seris stopped.
"Lyra—"
"No."
Lyra bent forward, hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.
"You don't get to drag me through a forest, tell me soldiers have been searching for me for sixteen years, and then expect me not to ask questions."
Seris looked exhausted.
"You have every right to be angry."
"Good."
"But we cannot stay here."
"Where are we going?"
Seris hesitated.
Lyra stared at her.
"Please don't say later."
"The Veiled Gate."
Lyra straightened.
"What is that?"
"A way out."
"Out of where?"
"Avelmere."
Lyra felt another wave of unease.
She looked back toward the direction of the village.
Her home.
Her room.
The small market.
The cottage.
Everything she knew.
"You're taking me away."
"Yes."
"No."
"Lyra."
"I don't know what is happening."
"I know."
"I don't know who Kael is."
Seris's face tightened.
"I know."
"I don't know what this mark is."
"I know."
"And apparently, you know everything."
Seris looked away.
Lyra laughed without humor.
"Wonderful."
Kael's voice appeared.
You are very loud when you are angry.
Lyra froze.
Seris noticed immediately.
"What?"
Did you just say something?
Yes.
Inside my head?
Where else would I say it?
Lyra pressed her lips together.
Can you hear everything I think?
A pause.
Unfortunately.
Get out.
I cannot.
Lyra stared ahead.
What do you mean, you cannot?
For the first time, Kael hesitated.
If I could leave this connection, Lyra, I would have done so a long time ago.
The anger in his voice was unmistakable.
But beneath it—
Pain.
Lyra's fingers touched the mark.
What connection?
Kael did not answer.
Instead, Seris began walking again.
"We need to keep moving."
Lyra followed.
But this time, she did not walk beside Seris.
She walked several steps behind her.
---
The deeper they entered the forest, the stranger it became.
The trees were older here.
Their roots twisted across the ground like sleeping serpents. Pale moss covered ancient stones, and strange symbols had been carved into several of the trunks.
Lyra stopped beside one.
A symbol had been cut deep into the bark.
A circle.
A crescent.
And three sharp points.
A crown.
Her wrist burned.
"Don't touch it," Seris said.
Too late.
Lyra's fingers brushed the symbol.
The forest disappeared.
---
A corridor.
Long.
Dark.
Beautiful.
Lyra stood barefoot on polished stone.
Tall windows stretched along the walls.
Beyond them, she could see a storm.
Lightning flashed.
She was smaller.
A child.
Someone was holding her hand.
A man.
No.
A boy.
Older than her.
His hand was warm.
"Don't let go," he said.
Lyra looked up.
She couldn't see his face.
The same darkness hid it.
But she knew his voice.
Kael.
The corridor shook.
A scream echoed somewhere behind them.
The boy pulled her forward.
"Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere they can't find you."
"I don't want to go."
"I know."
His grip tightened.
"But you have to."
Then another voice shouted.
"Kael!"
The boy stopped.
The darkness rushed toward them.
Lyra screamed.
And the memory shattered.
---
She hit the ground.
"Lyra!"
Seris was beside her.
Her hands gripped Lyra's shoulders.
"Look at me."
Lyra opened her eyes.
The forest slowly returned.
She was breathing too quickly.
Her heart hammered painfully against her ribs.
"You saw something."
Seris's face went pale.
Lyra grabbed her sleeve.
"I've been there."
Seris didn't answer.
"The palace."
Lyra pushed herself upright.
"I've been to the palace."
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
Lyra stared at her.
"You're lying."
Seris looked away.
"You're lying."
"Lyra—"
"I saw him."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Seris froze.
Lyra's throat tightened.
"I saw Kael."
Seris's expression changed.
Fear.
Again.
Lyra stood.
"Who was I?"
The question hung between them.
Seris did not answer.
Kael whispered inside her mind.
She is afraid you will remember.
Lyra closed her eyes.
What am I supposed to remember?
Kael was silent.
Of course he was.
Lyra opened her eyes.
"I hate both of you."
Seris looked offended.
Kael answered immediately.
The feeling is mutual.
Lyra stared ahead.
Despite everything, a small laugh escaped her.
Then Seris began moving again.
And Lyra followed.
---
They had been walking for less than an hour when Seris suddenly stopped.
Lyra almost ran into her.
"What now?"
Seris raised a hand.
"Quiet."
Lyra listened.
At first, she heard nothing.
Then—
Footsteps.
Several.
Coming toward them.
Seris grabbed Lyra's arm and pulled her behind a tree.
"Stay here."
Lyra pulled back.
"I am getting tired of being told to stay."
"Then survive long enough to complain about it later."
Before Lyra could respond, a voice moved through the trees.
"Elder Seris."
Seris went still.
A man stepped from between the trees.
He wore no royal armor.
Instead, he was dressed in a long dark coat.
A silver symbol was pinned to his chest.
A circle.
A crown.
Lyra's mark burned.
The man's eyes moved directly to her.
He smiled.
"There you are."
Lyra stepped backward.
"Who are you?"
The man tilted his head.
"A Seeker."
Kael's voice became sharp.
Run.
Lyra didn't move.
The Seeker looked at Seris.
"You hid her well."
Seris stepped in front of Lyra.
"She's not going with you."
The Seeker sighed.
"Then this will become unpleasant."
Dark shapes moved behind him.
Soldiers.
More than before.
Lyra's stomach dropped.
Seris whispered:
"Run."
This time, Lyra did.
But the Seeker lifted his hand.
The ground beneath her feet shook.
Lyra fell.
The mark burned.
A dark line appeared across the earth in front of her.
She looked toward the Seeker.
He was smiling.
"You don't even know what you are, do you?"
Lyra pushed herself backward.
"That's becoming a very common problem."
The Seeker stepped closer.
Kael's voice returned.
Close your eyes.
Lyra stared.
What?
Close them.
That is terrible advice.
Trust me.
Lyra's breath caught.
The words sounded different.
Not like a command.
Almost like a request.
The Seeker moved closer.
Lyra closed her eyes.
At first, there was darkness.
Then she saw it.
Not the darkness behind her eyelids.
Something else.
Shadows.
Everywhere.
Beneath the trees.
Inside the spaces between the branches.
Around Seris.
Around the soldiers.
Around the Seeker.
They moved like threads.
Connected.
Waiting.
Do you see them? Kael asked.
Yes.
They know you.
Lyra swallowed.
How?
Because they have always known you.
The Seeker reached for her.
Lyra lifted her hand.
The shadows answered.
Darkness surged upward.
The soldiers shouted.
Seris turned.
"Lyra!"
Lyra opened her eyes.
A wall of shadow stood between them and the soldiers.
Her heart hammered.
"I did that."
Kael's voice softened.
Yes.
The Seeker stepped backward.
For the first time, fear crossed his face.
Lyra looked at Seris.
"Run!"
They ran.
---
They did not stop until the sounds behind them disappeared.
Lyra collapsed beside a fallen tree.
Her entire body trembled.
Seris stood several steps away.
Neither spoke.
Finally, Lyra looked up.
"You sealed them."
Seris froze.
Lyra's voice shook.
"My memories."
Seris slowly turned toward her.
"How do you know?"
"I saw something."
Lyra stood.
"A palace. Kael."
Seris closed her eyes.
"You did."
The confirmation hurt.
"You did this to me."
"I protected you."
"You took my memories."
"You were a child."
"That isn't an excuse."
"No," Seris whispered. "It isn't."
Lyra felt tears sting her eyes.
She was angry that they were there.
Angry that Seris could see them.
"What happened?"
Seris remained silent.
Lyra laughed bitterly.
"Of course."
"I cannot tell you everything."
"Why?"
"Because some memories are dangerous."
"They're mine."
Seris looked directly at her.
"And if remembering them kills you?"
Lyra froze.
Seris looked away.
The silence became heavy.
Then Lyra asked:
"Did you take him from me?"
Seris closed her eyes.
Kael whispered:
Ask her why.
Lyra swallowed.
"Why?"
Seris opened her eyes.
Her voice was barely audible.
"Because if you had remembered him…"
She looked toward Lyra's mark.
"…they would have found you."
Lyra felt something cold move through her.
"They?"
Seris looked terrified.
Before she could answer, Lyra's mark burned.
Hard.
She cried out.
Kael's voice filled her mind.
The Gate.
Lyra looked up.
Ahead of them stood two enormous stones.
They rose from the earth like the remains of an ancient doorway.
Symbols covered their surface.
The Veiled Gate.
Seris turned.
Her expression changed.
"No."
Lyra slowly walked toward it.
"Lyra, don't."
The mark pulled her forward.
She couldn't explain it.
She placed her hand against the stone.
The symbols began to glow.
Seris grabbed her arm.
"This isn't possible."
The ground trembled.
A darkness appeared between the stones.
Not emptiness.
A doorway.
Lyra stepped closer.
And saw the other side.
A palace.
Black towers rose beneath a sky without stars.
A vast hall stretched before her.
At its center—
A throne.
The same throne from her dream.
Someone stood before it.
Lyra's breath caught.
For the first time, the darkness around his face disappeared.
She saw him.
Dark hair.
A pale face.
Eyes that seemed to hold the night itself.
Kael.
The world stopped.
And something inside Lyra broke open.
A memory.
Not complete.
A feeling.
His hand in hers.
His laughter.
Her voice calling his name.
A warmth in her chest so familiar that it hurt.
Then the vision disappeared.
Lyra fell backward.
Seris caught her.
The Gate vanished.
The forest returned.
Lyra looked toward the empty space between the stones.
Her heart was breaking for something she could not remember.
Kael's voice came one final time.
Closer than before.
This time, Lyra…
The shadows curled around her wrist.
I'm coming for you.