Bloodlines of Betrayal-Chapter 16: Part : The Shattered Legacy

Title : Bloodlines of Betrayal

Written By : Reviline James Wang

Genre : Paranormal Romance | Alpha Werewolf | Billionaire | Vampire | Family Drama.

His silver hair glinted in the dim, eerie glow of the sanctuary as he stepped forward, the air around him thick with an unnatural chill. His eyes cold, calculating, and devoid of mercy-locked onto Celestia with a sense of ownership, like a predator eyeing its prey.

"You've made a terrible mistake, Celestia," Andros said, his voice smooth as silk, but edged with a dangerous venom. "You cannot destroy what is already a part of you. The crystal belongs to you. It always has."

Celestia's heart pounded in her chest as the overwhelming power of the crystal pulsed within her. The energy roared in her veins, threatening to tear her apart. But she held her ground, her eyes burning with defiance as she faced the man who had been behind so many of her family's betrayals.

"You... You were the one who betrayed my father," Celestia said through gritted teeth. "You were the one who tried to take the crystal from him."

Andros smiled, a dark and twisted expression that made her stomach turn. "Your father was weak," he said with a cold chuckle. "He didn't understand the true power of the crystal. He thought he could control it, but he was merely a fool playing with fire. That's why he kept it from you. He knew you were the only one who could wield it. He feared you, Celestia."

Celestia's breath caught in her throat. Her father had known? All these years, she had blamed him for keeping her in the dark, for keeping her away from the truth. But now she understood. He had been trying to protect her from the very thing that could destroy her.

"You're lying," she spat. "My father wasn't afraid of me. He loved me. He wanted to protect me from you."

"Love," Andros scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "Your father's love was his weakness. It was his downfall. It made him vulnerable. But you, Celestia... you are different. You have the potential to be so much more."

Draven stepped forward, his stance protective as he placed himself between Celestia and Andros. "You don't know anything about her," he growled, his fists clenched at his sides. "Celestia is strong, stronger than you could ever imagine."

Andros laughed, a hollow, chilling sound that echoed through the sanctuary. "You think you can protect her, Draven? You think you can shield her from the truth? The truth that she is the rightful heir to the crystal's power? She is my blood, and she cannot escape her destiny."

Celestia's heart skipped a beat. His blood? The revelation hit her like a physical blow. Could it be true? Was she truly a part of him? Her mind raced, trying to comprehend what he was saying. But no matter how much she tried to deny it, the fragments of the visions she had seen, the whispers of her bloodline, the power she had felt within her-everything seemed to be pointing to the same conclusion.

She was bound to Andros. She was a part of his legacy. But that didn't mean she had to accept it.

"No," Celestia said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling within her. "I will never be a part of you. I will never embrace this power."

Andros's smile faltered, his eyes flashing with something darker. "You don't have a choice, Celestia. You can try to resist all you want, but the crystal calls to you. It belongs to you. And I will take it whether you like it or not."

Before Celestia could react, Andros raised his hand, and a surge of energy blasted from him, slamming into her chest with enough force to send her crashing to the ground. The crystal in her hand vibrated violently, its power thrumming against her skin as if it, too, were reacting to Andros's presence.

Draven lunged forward to catch her, but the moment his hands touched her, a wave of energy exploded outward, sending him stumbling backward, his body jerking with the impact.

"Draven!" Celestia cried, her voice filled with panic. She scrambled to her feet, reaching for him, but Andros's presence was suffocating. He was too powerful, and she was too weak. The crystal's energy was coursing through her at an uncontrollable rate, threatening to consume her.

"I won't let him win," Celestia whispered to herself, her grip tightening around the crystal. She could feel its pulse in her veins, its power entwining with her very soul. She could feel Andros's gaze on her, like a serpent waiting to strike. But she refused to let him take it.

With a fierce cry, Celestia unleashed the full power of the crystal, sending a wave of energy surging outward, slamming into Andros with a force that shook the very foundations of the sanctuary. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered, the walls groaning as if they were about to collapse under the weight of the energy.

Andros staggered back, his eyes wide with disbelief. "No... this power..." he muttered, his voice tinged with both anger and fear. "How are you doing this?"

Celestia stood tall, her chest heaving with exertion as the power of the crystal swirled around her. "You were right about one thing, Andros," she said, her voice steady but filled with resolve. "I am the rightful heir. But that doesn't mean I'll follow in your footsteps. I won't let you use me for your own selfish desires."

Andros growled, his hands curling into fists as he advanced on her, his eyes blazing with fury. "You cannot fight destiny, Celestia. It's already been written."

"I don't care about destiny," Celestia spat. "I'll make my own path. And you'll never control me again."

With a final surge of energy, Celestia sent another blast of power toward Andros, this time with all the strength she could muster. The force of the attack sent him crashing into the wall, the impact so powerful that the entire sanctuary shook. For a moment, everything was silent.

Draven, still recovering from the shockwave, stumbled to his feet and rushed to Celestia's side. "Celestia... are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern as he placed a hand on her arm.

She nodded, but she could feel the weight of exhaustion settling over her. The crystal's power was immense, and it was starting to drain her. She could feel the pull of it, calling to her, wanting to consume her.

"We need to leave," Celestia said, her voice hoarse. "Before he comes back."

But as she turned to flee, the ground beneath them began to tremble once again, and a deep, guttural laugh echoed through the ruins of the sanctuary.

Bloodlines of Betrayal-The Echoes of War.

The ground beneath Celestia trembled violently, as though the very heart of the mountain had begun to beat in sync with the chaos around her. The air was thick with the residue of energy crackling and violent, a reminder of the power that had just been unleashed. Draven's hand was still on her arm, holding her steady, but even he seemed to sense the shift in the atmosphere.

"Something's wrong," he muttered, his eyes scanning the surroundings with growing unease. "We've only delayed him for a moment, Celestia. We need to move. Now."

Celestia's heart raced in her chest. The crystal still pulsed with energy in her hand, sending waves of power through her body. It felt like a living thing, hungry and insatiable. Andros had underestimated her, but she knew the battle wasn't over. Not yet.

"No," she said, her voice firm despite the rising panic inside her. "We can't leave. Not yet. I have to end this. I can't let him take what's mine."

Draven's gaze softened, his expression torn. "Celestia, you've already fought him once. Andros is stronger than you think. We're running out of time. If we don't get you out of here, we'll be too late."

Her eyes flickered toward the sanctuary's entrance. The walls were cracked, the stone crumbling as though the mountain itself was beginning to split under the pressure. She could feel the vibrations through her feet, the rumble of something massive stirring deep beneath them. Andros was already preparing for the next attack, and this time, Celestia knew he would not be so easily defeated.

"I can't run anymore, Draven," Celestia said quietly, her voice filled with both resolve and fear. "This is my fight. I can't keep hiding from it."

Draven's grip tightened on her arm, pulling her back gently. "This isn't about hiding. It's about survival. You don't have to do this alone. You don't have to bear this burden."

She looked up at him, her gaze unwavering. "I can't let the crystal fall into his hands. If I don't stop him now, he'll destroy everything we've fought for."

For a moment, there was only the sound of the wind howling through the ruined sanctuary. The air felt thick, suffocating, as if the weight of the decision was pressing down on Celestia. She knew Draven was right. They couldn't take on Andros alone. But she also knew that if she didn't make a stand now, they would never have a chance.

Before Draven could respond, the ground trembled once more, and a cold, sinister laugh echoed from the depths of the sanctuary. The stone walls shook, and a shadow swept across the entrance-a tall figure stepping into the crumbling chamber.

Andros stood there, his eyes glowing with a fiery intensity, his presence radiating malice. His silhouette was framed by the ruins of the once-great structure, his body draped in dark robes that billowed like smoke in the shifting winds. The shadows around him seemed to writhe, as if alive, responding to his command.

"I gave you a chance, Celestia," Andros said, his voice dripping with contempt. "But you refused to listen. You're far too stubborn for your own good."

Celestia's grip on the crystal tightened, the energy within it swirling violently, but she fought to stay focused. She had to face him. There was no turning back now.

"I'll never join you," Celestia declared, her voice unwavering despite the storm inside her. "This ends now, Andros."

Andros's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. Only the cold, unfeeling certainty of a man who believed he was untouchable. "You're mistaken if you think you have a choice. This is bigger than you, Celestia. It's bigger than all of us. The crystal-your bloodline is the key to reshaping the world. You cannot fight destiny."

"You think I'm afraid of destiny?" Celestia's voice was ice-cold as she stepped forward, drawing strength from the crystal in her hand. "I'll make my own future. And I won't let you control me."

Andros's eyes flashed, his patience clearly wearing thin. With a single, swift movement, he raised his hand, and the air around them thickened with the pressure of his power. A pulse of dark energy surged toward Celestia, but she was ready. The crystal in her hand vibrated with an almost violent force, sending a wave of energy back toward Andros.

The two powers collided with a deafening crack, sending shockwaves through the sanctuary. The ground beneath them split open, sending debris flying as the air shimmered with the intensity of their struggle. Celestia gritted her teeth, focusing all of her will on the crystal as it fought to contain the raw, unrelenting energy. She could feel the power surging through her veins, threatening to overwhelm her. But she couldn't stop. Not now.

"You don't understand, Celestia," Andros said, his voice cold as he took a step forward, his own energy building like a storm. "This isn't about you. This is about the future. The crystal holds the key to everything. And you." He pointed at her, his voice filled with venom. "You were born to wield it. To shape the world with its power."

"I wasn't born for you, Andros," Celestia snapped back, her voice fierce as she braced herself for the next wave of energy. "I was born for me."

The ground shook again, and the air vibrated with the force of their conflicting energies. Celestia felt the pull of the crystal deep in her core, the power beckoning her to embrace it fully. But she had learned from the past. She knew that once she gave in to it completely, she would lose herself. Andros was counting on that.

"No," she whispered to herself, as much a command as a plea. "I will not lose myself to this power."

She focused her mind, pushing against the crystal's influence with every ounce of strength she had left. Andros's energy surged once more, but this time, Celestia fought back with all of her will. She could feel the darkness creeping into her mind, trying to take over, but she refused to let it win. She would not become a puppet, not again.

Draven's voice cut through the chaos, shouting her name. "Celestia! Focus!"

His voice was the anchor she needed. Celestia closed her eyes for a moment, centering herself. She could feel the presence of the crystal within her, its raw energy, its relentless hunger. But she was no longer afraid of it. She was no longer afraid of Andros.

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With a sudden burst of energy, Celestia thrust her hand forward, releasing the power of the crystal in a single, unrelenting blast. The force of it slammed into Andros, sending him flying backward, his body crashing into the stone walls of the sanctuary with a resounding crack.

The entire mountain trembled, its foundations groaning under the weight of the power unleashed. For a brief moment, everything went still.