Chapter 14: Tides of Truth
Eira trudged through the forest, her legs heavy and weak as exhaustion pulled at her every step. The frost that usually danced around her hands flickered dimly, her connection to her powers faltering as her energy dwindled. She stumbled over roots and fallen branches, the icy chill of the night pressing down on her. Her mind swirled with memories of her fight with the soldier and the disappearance of Nyx. The fear, the adrenaline, the faint glimmer of hope—all of it was crashing down around her now.
The trees blurred together, the shadows deepening with each step she took. Finally, she stumbled into a small clearing, her legs giving way beneath her as she collapsed to the ground. Her vision swam, the world fading in and out around her. Just before her eyes fluttered shut, she saw the shape of a woman—a blurry figure standing just beyond her reach. “Help…” Eira whispered faintly before darkness overtook her.
When she opened her eyes, the warmth of a crackling fire greeted her, the soft light dancing across wooden walls. Eira bolted upright, her heart racing as panic surged through her. Where was she? How did she get here? Her icy blue eyes darted around the room until they landed on the woman sitting nearby.
Nanny Samantha.
The older woman smiled gently, her weathered face radiating calm. “There now, Miss Eira,” Samantha said softly. “You’re safe. No need to be frightened.”
Eira’s breathing slowed, though the tension in her chest remained. “What happened?” she whispered. “How did I get here?”
“I found you in the forest,” Samantha replied, her voice soothing. “You were barely conscious, poor thing. You’ve been through so much.”
Eira pressed her hands to her face, the weight of everything crashing over her once again. “I… I didn’t know where else to go,” she admitted, her voice cracking. “I thought I was going to die out there.”
Samantha reached for a bowl of soup resting on the table beside her, steam curling upward as she carried it over to Eira. “Here,” she said, placing the bowl in Eira’s trembling hands. “Eat. You’ll feel better.”
Eira stared at the soup for a moment before taking a hesitant sip. The warmth of the broth spread through her, calming the storm inside her chest. But it wasn’t enough to hold back the tears that welled up in her eyes. “I don’t know what’s happening to me,” she confessed, her voice breaking as sobs escaped her lips. “My father… he said I wasn’t his daughter. He told me I was a freak.”
Samantha’s expression darkened, her jaw tightening as fury burned in her eyes. She placed a reassuring hand on Eira’s shoulder. “Your father is wrong,” she said firmly. “You are more than he’ll ever understand.”
Eira shook her head, her tears falling faster. “He hates me, and I can’t stop thinking about… her. The fiery girl. I don’t even know who she is, but it feels like I’m connected to her somehow.”
Samantha’s grip on Eira’s shoulder tightened slightly as determination filled her. “Eira,” she said carefully, “there’s something I’ve been keeping from you. Something you need to know.”
Eira looked up, her tear-filled eyes meeting Samantha’s. “What is it?”
Samantha hesitated for only a moment before making her decision. “There’s someone you need to meet. I’ve watched over her for years, but it’s time now. You and Ember… you need each other.”
“Ember?” Eira whispered. The name felt both foreign and familiar, stirring something deep within her.
Samantha nodded. “She’s your twin. The fireborn twin. The two of you are connected, more deeply than you realize. But if you don’t find each other soon, your powers will consume you. Together, you balance one another—without that balance, chaos will follow.”
Eira’s mind raced, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. “You’ve known about her all this time?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“Yes,” Samantha admitted. “And now it’s time you know the truth. But to do that, I need to find her. Wait here, Eira—I promise I’ll return.”
Samantha’s determination propelled her forward as she set out into the night. The forest stretched endlessly ahead, but she pushed on, her mission clear. She had watched over Ember from afar, guarding her as best she could, but now the twins needed each other more than ever. However, her journey was abruptly halted when King Alex’s guards emerged from the shadows.
“Samantha,” one of them growled, their tone low and threatening. “Where is Eira?”
Samantha’s gaze hardened, her lips pressed into a thin line. “I don’t know,” she lied.
The guards narrowed their eyes, suspicion clear in their expressions. “We’ll ask again. Where is Eira?”
When Samantha refused to answer, the guards seized her, dragging her to their camp and questioning her relentlessly. Still, she held her silence, enduring their threats and their cruelty.
Eventually, Samantha demanded to speak to the king, her defiance unwavering. “I’ll talk to no one but him,” she said firmly.
King Alex arrived hours later, his presence cold and imposing as he entered the camp. His steely gaze settled on Samantha, and he wasted no time. “Where is Eira?” he demanded.
Samantha glared at him, hatred burning in her eyes. “Eira and Ember need each other to balance their powers,” she said sharply. “If they don’t, they’ll lose control, and chaos will follow.”
King Alex’s expression didn’t change. “That is not my concern. Tell me—where is Ember?”
Samantha stayed silent, her defiance unwavering. Alex’s gaze darkened further as he stepped closer. “Don’t make me kill you,” he said coldly.
Samantha chuckled bitterly, meeting his eyes with unshaken resolve. “You won’t dare. Eira would never forgive you.”
The king’s hand moved swiftly, slapping Samantha harshly and knocking her unconscious. “Throw her in the dungeon,” he ordered. “Let her stay there until she’s ready to talk.”
Back at Samantha’s house, Eira paced the floor, her worry growing with every passing moment. She felt the connection between herself and Samantha wavering, the distance between them pulling at her chest like an icy weight. She clenched her fists, determined to find the answers she needed—no matter what awaited her.