The house became quiet… too quiet.
Liana stood frozen in the center of the room, still staring at the spot where the strange woman vanished. Her heart thudded loudly, echoing in her ears.
"The moment you start having a family with Kael… one of you must die."
"If you choose to leave him… the darkness will take over you."
The words kept replaying like a curse carved into her bones.
She swallowed hard, her eyes burning with unshed tears.
"I should have never visited my ex…" she whispered shakily.
"Maybe everything would be normal. Maybe… I would be normal."
A single tear fell — and that was when everything changed.
The atmosphere shifted.
The floor vibrated lightly like something deep beneath the earth had awakened.
Liana froze.
A soft whisper brushed past her ear.
Not the woman's voice.
Not Kael's.
Something else.
Many voices. Layered. Echoing. Calling her name.
"Liaaanaaaa…"
She turned sharply.
Nothing there.
But she felt it — footsteps behind her, soft, dragging, getting closer.
Her breathing quickened.
Her fingers trembled.
Then her vision BLURRED for a second.
The walls… bent.
The shadows… stretched toward her like they recognized her — like they were bowing.
Her hands began to glow faintly, a light she had NEVER seen before.
Not darkness — not evil.
Something older. Something raw. Something hers.
Her fingertips sparked with a silver-blue energy, dancing wildly, uncontrolled.
Her heartbeat raced.
"Wh—what's happening to me?" she whispered, backing up.
Suddenly the lights flickered violently.
The wind inside the closed room began to swirl.
The curtains lifted even though no window was open.
Her power surged again — harder.
BAM!
The glass cup on her table shattered on its own.
Liana gasped.
Her eyes burned — and when she blinked, the mirror caught it:
Her irises glowed faintly, shimmering like two rings of celestial fire.
The voices grew louder — overlapping, whispering in a language she didn't know yet somehow understood.
"Awaken… awaken…"
Her knees weakened.
She grabbed the wall for support, breathing hard.
"Stop… please stop…" she begged, her voice cracking.
But it only grew stronger.
A pulse of energy burst from her chest, pushing dust off the shelves.
Her hair lifted slightly as if gravity no longer recognized her.
Her entire body felt too hot, too heavy, too full — like power she couldn't control was forcing itself out.
She clutched her head and screamed softly, tears streaming.
She didn't notice that outside the room…
Kael suddenly stopped in his tracks.
His eyes widened.
He felt it — a pull in the air.
A familiar… dangerous… powerful energy.
"Liana?" he whispered, his voice tightening.
He didn't wait.
He ran.
Back inside, Liana fell to her knees as another surge rushed through her body, cracking the wooden floor beneath her slightly.
The whispers grew louder.
The shadows bent closer.
Her glowing eyes snapped up.
The door burst open.
Kael stood there, breathing hard.
And when he saw her…
When he saw her eyes glowing, her hands pulsing with energy, the room vibrating around her…
His expression changed.
Shock.
Fear.
Recognition.
"Liana…" he whispered, stepping forward slowly.
"…your real self… it's waking up."