The Silver-Haired Woman

Elena stared at the thing of smoke and darkness. Its red eyes burned like fire as it wrapped its black fingers around Lucian's neck.

"Let him go!" Elena yelled. She tried to pull away from the stone table, but the dark energy held her hands tight.

"Elena, get away!" Serena yelled, running toward her.

Before Serena could reach her, a blast of golden light shot across the room. The smoke creature shrieked and relaxed its grip on Lucian. Everyone turned toward the source of the light.

A woman stood in the doorway. Her hair was pure silver, running down her back like a waterfall of moonlight. Her eyes glowed golden, bright as the sun. She wore a long white dress that seemed to shine in the darkness.

"That's enough," the woman said, her voice musical but stern. "Return to your prison."

The smoke thing hissed but pulled back. "This isn't over," it growled before falling back into the cracks of the broken table.

Elena finally pulled free from the table and ran to Lucian. His blue markings were disappearing, but he looked weak.

"Who are you?" Elena asked the silver-haired woman.

The woman smiled. "My name is Amara. And I've been waiting for you for a very long time, Elena."

Victor stepped forward, his face hard. "Amara. I should have known you'd be involved."

Amara's golden eyes flashed. "Victor. Still playing both sides, I see."

Elena felt lost. "You two know each other?"

"We have history," Amara said, walking into the room. Her movements were graceful, like she was flying. "Just as I have history with your family, Elena."

"My family?" Elena felt a spark of hope. "You knew my parents?"

"I knew your whole bloodline," Amara said. "The Midnight Coven. The daywalker witches."

Lucian stood up, staying close to Elena. "Don't trust her," he whispered.

Amara laughed. "Says the vampire who's been hiding the truth from her."

Elena looked between them, puzzled. "What truth? Will someone please just tell me what's going on?"

Serena put a hand on Elena's shoulder. "Your family had a special gift, Elena. Your blood can help vampires walk in daylight."

"Which is why they were hunted to extinction," Amara added. "All except you."

Elena's head spun with questions. "So that's why the Council is after me? For my blood?"

"Your blood is worth more than gold to vampires," Amara said. "But that's not all you can do."

She waved her hand, and the broken stone table mended itself. The cracks sealed shut, keeping the smoke creature inside.

"How did you do that?" Elena asked.

"The same way you made blue fire," Amara said. "Magic."

She led them through another door into a large room filled with books, strange objects, and glowing bottles. It looked like something from Elena's dreams.

"Welcome to my home," Amara said. "The last safe place for your kind in Ravenshore."

"Our kind?" Elena asked.

"Those caught between worlds," Amara stated. "Not fully human, not fully vampire. Like Victor with his half-changed face. Like me, with my gifts. And now, like you and Lucian with your bond."

Lucian stayed quiet, but Elena could feel his distrust through their bond.

"Those blackouts you've had all your life," Amara continued, "those weren't illness. That was your magic trying to break free."

Elena touched the marks on her arm. "And these symbols?"

"The language of the Midnight Coven," Amara said. "Your birthright."

Victor had been watching from the hallway. Now he stepped forward. "Tell her the whole truth, Amara."

Amara's smile faded. "Always so serious, Victor."

"Tell her why her parents really died," Victor pushed.

Elena's heart jumped. "What about my parents?"

Amara sighed. "They were killed because they tried to hide you from the Council. They knew what you would become."

"And what exactly am I becoming?" Elena asked.

"The last true daywalker," Amara said. "And the key to balancing our worlds."

She pointed to a picture on the wall. It showed a woman with blue marks standing between humans and vampires, her hands raised to keep them apart.

"This was painted five hundred years ago," Amara stated. "A vision of the last daywalker. Of you, Elena."

Lucian finally spoke. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"

Amara's eyes narrowed. "You weren't ready to know."

Elena felt there was history between them. "How do you two know each other?"

"Amara is my maker," Lucian revealed. "She turned me into a vampire."

Elena stepped away from both of them. "So this whole time, you two were working together?"

"No," Lucian said quickly. "I haven't seen her in centuries."

"Until recently," Amara corrected. "When I told him to find you."

The truth hit Elena like a truck. "You planned our meeting? The alley? You being hurt? That was all a trick?"

Lucian's face fell. "Elena, I can explain—"

"You used me," Elena whispered. Her hands started to glow blue again.

"I had to," Lucian said. "The Life Debt was the only way to protect you."

"Protect me? Or use me for my blood?" Elena felt cheated all over again.

Serena tried to calm her. "Elena, your power is still unstable—"

"Stay back!" Elena yelled. Books flew off shelves as her rage grew.

Amara watched with interest. "Such power already."

Victor moved closer to Elena. "This is why I tried to keep you away from them. Vampires only want one thing from your bloodline."

"That's not true," Lucian countered. "The Life Debt changed things. What I feel for Elena now is real."

"Is it?" Elena asked, tears in her eyes. "Or is that just another lie?"

Before Lucian could answer, the room started to shake. Dust fell from the roof.

"They found us," Victor warned. "The Council tracked us here."

Amara looked worried for the first time. "Too soon. You're not ready yet."

"Ready for what?" Elena asked.

Amara gripped Elena's shoulders. "Listen carefully. The Council doesn't just want your blood. They want to use you to awaken something ancient. Something terrible."

"The smoke creature," Elena realized.

Amara nodded. "If they control you, they control it. And then no one will be safe."

The shaking grew stronger. Parts of the roof began to fall.

"We need to leave," Serena urged.

"There's no time," Amara said. She pushed Elena toward a small door. "This leads to the old tunnels. Run!"

"Not without answers," Elena urged.

Amara's golden eyes glowed brighter. "Then here's one: nothing was an accident. Not your parents' death. Not your blackouts. Not meeting Lucian. It was all leading to this moment."

She pushed something into Elena's hand—a small crystal vial filled with glowing blue liquid.

"When the time comes, you'll know what to do with this," Amara said.

The wall behind them burst. Council vampires in black uniforms poured in, led by a tall woman with cold eyes.

"There she is," the woman said, pointing at Elena. "The last daywalker."

Amara stepped between them. "Run, Elena! Now!"

Elena paused, looking at Lucian. Despite his betrayal, their tie pulled at her.

"Go!" he yelled, his eyes glowing blue. "I'll find you!"

As Elena turned to run, she saw Amara raise her hands. Golden light filled the room, stunning everyone. In that moment of uncertainty, Elena slipped through the small door with Serena and Victor.

Behind them, they heard Lucian scream in pain.

The last thing Elena saw before the door closed was Amara smiling as Council vampires surrounded her.

And in her hand, the crystal vial glowed strangely, as if alive.