Tessa’s breath came in sharp, uneven gasps as they moved deeper into the heart of the forest. The air seemed to grow thicker with each step, pressing down on her chest. The encounter with the Reaper still clung to her, the cold weight of his gaze lingering in her mind. It was a reminder that there was no escaping what was coming.

  They walked in tense silence, the only sounds the crunch of leaves beneath their feet and the distant murmur of the forest itself. Ryker was in the lead again, his body moving like a shadow among the trees. Liam, ever watchful, stayed close to Tessa, his presence a steady comfort, even as his eyes darted constantly around them, always on alert. He could feel the darkness closing in, just as much as Tessa could. The forest itself seemed to pulse with a quiet anticipation, as if the very land knew they were being hunted.

  Tessa’s thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and fear. The Reaper’s words echoed in her mind, reminding her of how insignificant she had once felt. But she was no longer that girl. She was something different now, something far more dangerous. She was the light—Morgana’s words haunted her like an unseen specter. She had power. But how could she control it?

  “Are we close?” Tessa asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Ryker didn’t answer immediately. He kept his focus on the path ahead, his senses heightened. “Almost,” he finally said. “Morgana’s realm isn’t far from here.”

  Liam turned to her, his expression softening for a moment. “You’re not alone in this, Tessa. We’re with you. Whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.”

  She nodded, forcing a smile, but deep down, uncertainty clawed at her. They had no idea what they were walking into. And neither did she.

  Then, as they rounded a bend in the path, the trees suddenly parted, revealing a glade bathed in an ethereal light. The atmosphere shifted, and the oppressive air lifted. It was as if they had stepped into another world entirely. The ground was covered in soft, shimmering moss, and a tranquil stream trickled nearby. The light that poured from the clearing was warm, inviting, and yet... otherworldly.

  Tessa took a hesitant step forward. She felt it then—the pull, like a magnetic force drawing her in. It was as if the very earth itself recognized her presence and was welcoming her into its embrace.

  “She’s here,” Ryker murmured, his voice low and respectful. “Morgana.”

  Tessa looked around, her eyes scanning the peaceful glade. But there was no sign of the goddess. The place felt ancient, a place where time stood still.

  And then, from the center of the clearing, a figure emerged. She was taller than Tessa had imagined, draped in flowing robes of shimmering silver and gold. Her skin seemed to glow with a soft, ethereal light. Her hair, silver-white and cascading down her back, shimmered in the sunlight. Morgana's presence was overwhelming—beautiful and terrifying all at once. Her eyes, deep and endless, looked at Tessa as if she were staring into her very soul.

  "You’ve come," Morgana said, her voice a melody of power and compassion. “I’ve been waiting.”

  Tessa swallowed, her heart pounding in her chest. “Waiting for me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

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  Morgana nodded, stepping forward with a grace that seemed to bend the very air around her. “You are part of something much larger than yourself, Tessa. You’ve been touched by the light—something rare, something that has been dormant for centuries. And now, the darkness has taken notice.”

  Liam moved to stand beside Tessa, his hand lightly resting on her shoulder. His expression was unreadable, but his presence was a comforting shield. Ryker, too, kept his distance, though his eyes were unwavering, locked onto Morgana.

  “What do we do?” Tessa asked, the weight of the world pressing on her shoulders. “I can barely understand what’s happening to me. How can I fight death and the vampire clan when I don’t even know how to control this power?”

  Morgana’s gaze softened, and she reached out, touching Tessa’s cheek with a cool, gentle hand. “You don’t need to control it, Tessa. You need to let it flow through you. The light inside you is ancient, a force more powerful than you can imagine. But it will not bend to you unless you accept it, unless you trust yourself. Only then can you stand against the Reaper and those who wish to destroy you.”

  Tessa nodded slowly, her heart thumping in her chest. It sounded so simple, but she knew it was anything but.

  “What’s next?” Liam asked, breaking the silence. “The Reaper is still out there, and we don’t have much time. The vampire clan isn’t far behind.”

  Morgana’s expression darkened for a moment, and a shadow crossed her features. “The war is already upon us. The Reaper’s servants are everywhere.

  Ryker stepped forward, his eyes sharp and fierce. “We’ll fight them all. We have to.”

  Morgana’s gaze shifted between the three of them, a flicker of sadness passing through her. “There is no easy path, but together you stand a chance. You must stand strong. Trust in the light inside you, Tessa. It will guide you.”

  Tessa felt the weight of her words, the gravity of the battle they were about to face. She was no longer just the girl who lost her brother. She was someone else now—someone who could change the world.

  Tessa’s breath quickened as the ominous crashing sound reverberated through the forest. Shadows darted in the distance, swift and menacing. Ryker stepped in front of her instinctively, his eyes scanning the treeline.

  “They’re here,” he growled, his voice tight.

  Liam's fangs extended as he shifted into a defensive stance, his crimson eyes glowing faintly in the ethereal light of the clearing. “Too many for just a scouting party,” he said, his voice grim. “They’re testing us.”

  Morgana raised a hand, and a wave of light rippled outward, washing over the clearing. The shadows stopped just short of the glowing perimeter, as if repelled by an invisible force. The figures darting through the trees paused, their forms hazy and indistinct, blending with the darkness.

  “They won’t attack here,” Morgana said, her voice calm but resolute. “Not yet. They fear this place, as they should.”

  Tessa’s heart raced, her eyes locked on the shifting shadows. “But they’re waiting for us. Out there.”

  Morgana nodded solemnly. “They know you’re here. They’ve been drawn to the light, just as I knew they would be.”

  Ryker turned to her, his expression hard. “What do we do? Fight them now?”

  “No,” Morgana said, her tone brooking no argument. “Not yet. If you fight them here, you risk weakening the light before it can fully awaken within her.” She gestured toward Tessa. “The clearing’s sanctity won’t hold against a full assault, and they know it. They will wait until the full moon is at its peak tomorrow night to strike, when the veil between realms is at its thinnest.”

  Liam’s fists clenched, his jaw tightening. “Then we wait until tomorrow night, too.”

  Tessa stepped forward, her voice trembling but determined. “We can’t just wait. If they’re already here, why don’t we use the light now and end this before it even starts?”

  Morgana turned to her, her gaze piercing. “Because the light inside you is still awakening, Tessa. It will not burn as brightly in fear or doubt. To wield it fully, you must first understand its nature.”

  “But I don’t know how to do that,” Tessa admitted, frustration and fear welling inside her.

  “You will,” Morgana assured her. “Tomorrow night, the moon’s power will heighten all forces—light and dark. You’ll feel it then. Trust yourself.”

  Ryker’s voice cut through the tension. “And until then?”

  Morgana’s expression softened. “Until then, you prepare. Together.”

  Liam’s gaze flicked to Tessa, his resolve hardening. “We’ll be ready.”

  The shadows in the trees began to retreat, melting back into the darkness as if summoned away. The air grew still once more, though the tension lingered like a distant thunderstorm.

  Morgana took a step back, her figure beginning to shimmer. “Go now. Rest and steel yourselves for what’s to come. The path ahead will test all of you, but I see hope in your bond. That hope is your greatest weapon.”

  As the goddess faded into light, Tessa felt a strange warmth settle over her chest. The weight of her fear lessened, replaced by a flicker of something she hadn’t felt in days—hope.

  Ryker turned to her, his eyes steady and sure. “We’ve got this, Tessa. Together.”

  She nodded, meeting his gaze. For the first time, she believed him.

  Liam looked back toward the fading light of the clearing, then at the forest behind them. “Let’s get moving,” he said. “We have work to do.”

  As they made their way back through the forest, Tessa felt a new strength building within her. The darkness was still out there, waiting for them, but now she had something else to hold onto.

  The light wasn’t just within her. It was in all of them, and together, they just might stand a chance.