Chapter 2682: Story 2683: The Heart of Darkness

The heart opened its eyes.

Kael felt the entire chamber breathe.

A pulse of white energy struck him, throwing him backward. Azael caught his arm before he fell.

“What was that?” Azael demanded.

Kael stared at the floating heart.

“It recognized me.”

The heart pulsed again.

This time, a voice filled the chamber.

“Elarion.”

Kael stepped forward.

“Show yourself.”

The white heart cracked.

Black lines spread across its surface like veins.

Azael raised his sword.

“That isn’t the First Soul.”

The silver-eyed figure moved closer.

“No.”

His voice trembled.

“It is what the First Soul was built to contain.”

Kael turned sharply.

“You knew.”

“I remembered.”

“You lied.”

“I was afraid.”

The heart suddenly exploded with darkness.

The chamber disappeared.

Kael found himself standing beneath the ancient white tree.

But the tree was burning.

Around him stood the eight children.

Lena.

Elias.

Azael.

The fifth.

The sixth.

The Forgotten Child.

First Father.

And Elarion.

Kael stared at them.

“This happened before.”

Azael appeared beside him.

“No.”

He pointed toward Elarion.

“It is happening now.”

Elarion suddenly looked directly at Kael.

“Brother.”

Kael froze.

“I am here.”

Elarion smiled.

“No. You are remembering me.”

The burning tree shook.

A ninth presence emerged from behind it.

The same faceless darkness.

The children turned toward it.

First Father stepped forward.

“Do not look at it.”

But Elarion did.

The darkness spoke.

“You gave me your heart.”

Elarion shook his head.

“I never gave you anything.”

The darkness raised one hand.

The white heart appeared above Elarion’s chest.

Azael screamed.

“Run!”

Too late.

Black chains wrapped around Elarion.

Kael rushed forward.

His sword struck the chains.

The entire memory shattered.

Kael returned to the white chamber.

The heart was no longer floating.

It was inside his chest.

He gasped.

Azael stared at him.

“Kael...”

White light spread beneath Kael’s skin.

Then black veins appeared beside it.

Two forces.

One body.

The silver-eyed figure backed away.

“The heart has chosen.”

Kael looked at him.

“Chosen what?”

“To remember everything.”

The chamber doors slammed shut.

Lena’s voice echoed from somewhere within Kael.

“Kael, listen to me.”

He closed his eyes.

“Lena?”

“I am trapped inside the First Soul.”

Kael clenched his fists.

“I will free you.”

A second voice interrupted her.

“Do not.”

Kael opened his eyes.

The darkness stood behind him.

Its countless white eyes stared into his soul.

“You cannot free her.”

Kael turned.

“Why?”

The entity leaned closer.

“Because she is not trapped.”

The heart inside Kael began beating faster.

“She is the lock.”

Kael’s expression changed.

Azael stepped forward.

“Then what is Kael?”

The entity smiled.

“The key.”

Kael looked at Azael. Neither brother moved. For the first time, they understood the terrible design: Lena was not waiting behind the door. She was holding it closed from within, alone, forever.

Suddenly, Lena screamed.

The white chamber cracked from floor to ceiling.

The First Soul began awakening.

And somewhere inside Kael, something ancient whispered,

“Open me.”