Page 98 of What Beats Within the Tunnels

“Oh, Father, I’ve done something terrible,” I confess, tears threatening to spill.

“There, there, Pixie,” he murmurs, holding me close. “Tell me what happened.”

The weight of my actions press down on me, and I struggle to find the words. “The Luminary Council was meeting. I thought... I believed I could control the dark magic, but they were hostile and threatening, and... I killed them, Father. I killed half of the council.” The reality of my confession knots my stomach as remorse threatens to undo me, and I can’t bring myself to meet his gaze.

“I hadn’t wanted to kill them, but they were discussing killing me, confining me in a no-magic chamber, simply because of their concern over not being able to control me,” I say in defense.

He places a hand gently but firmly under my chin, forcing me to look at him. “My darling, you were destined for this,” he says, a sinister smile slowly spreading across his features.

I blink in disbelief. “What did you just say?” I ask under my breath. I instinctively take a step back, wishing I had misheard him.

He tilts his head, studying me. “You were born for darkness. There are shadows that stir within you, a hunger for power. Embrace it, let it consume you, and you will achieve greatness beyond your wildest dreams,” he says with an eerie calmness.

I search his face, trying to find the father I once knew, but there’s a gleam in his eyes that I’ve seen before, one I’ve tried to ignore. Memories of the intoxicating power of the dark magic rush back to me. The shadows, the overwhelming ecstasy as they coursed through my veins. But the destruction, the loss, it was all too real. I shake my head, torn between the allure of power and the consequences of surrendering to it.

I swallow hard, the weight of my thoughts heavy on my chest. “I can’t let myself hurt anyone else,” I murmur, mostly to myself, feeling the pain of my actions. “If I go down that path again, I might never find my way back.”

Father’s voice cuts through the tension, dripping with disdain. “Look at you, so weak. This isn’t the Lyra I raised. You were meant to embrace your dark magic, not cower from it. Resisting its pull will only delay the inevitable. Your magic even led you here.”

I take another step away from him, unsettled yet desperate to understand what’s truly happening and how to save Eguina. The urge to purge this blood from me grows stronger. If being with Nyx is the key to mastering my magic, then maybe I can accept that. But first I have to address the situation at hand.

“What is this place? What is this thing?” I question, though I’m unsure whether I can trust any answer my father provides.

“This, my dear, is the heart of Eguina. It’s the source of all of Eguina’s magic, the very force that powers the lands and breathes life into the continent,” he explains. The heart’s overwhelming presence in the room is strong.

“Why was I drawn here? Why has my midnight mind been leading me to this place?” I press on.

He takes a deep breath, “Because it’s in your blood, Lyra. You’re bound to this heart, much like I am. The heart of Eguina calls out to those who possess the power to either save or destroy it. Your midnight mind dreams were not random; they were the heart’s way of summoning you.” He glances at the pulsating organ, its rhythm echoing through the cavernous space. “Your connection to it is deeper than you realize. It’s beckoning you because of the power you carry within.” I stare at him, my mind racing, trying to piece together what he’s saying.

“Now,” he intones, drawing me back to the present, “you’re prepared to uncover the reason behind all this.”

I find myself wanting to know more.

“As you can discern, the heart of Eguina is in dire straits,” he states, his voice heavy. “I never needed your Gholioth blood, but the truth would’ve been too much for you then. Athalda’s tale seemed a fitting lie, so I played along.”

My internal alarms go off. “What made the heart sick? What did you do?” I ask sharply.

As he begins to circle the heart, I keep a safe distance between us. “I had envisioned our meeting unfolding quite differently,” he says with a sigh, “but now that we’re here, it’s only fitting I begin at the very start.” He pauses, and for the briefest moment, an unmistakable shade of sorrow crosses his features.”Do you recall how, during your time here, you didn’t experience any midnight mind visions?”

“Yes,” I respond tersely, growing impatient. “I remember.”

He nods, slowly. “That’s because while you are in Zomea your midnight mind remains dormant, saving its revelations for when you’re back in Eguina. It always delves deeper... After my demise, after my arduous journey into Zomea, I resigned myself to this being my final resting place. But then my midnight mind showed me something more. It took me deeper.”

His eyes lock on the heart.

“Deeper?” I echo.

He glances at me, his eyes searching mine. “There are gates in Zomea, ancient and mysterious. Their final destination is known to none. I used to believe they led to the realm of souls lost to the final death – those too weak to seize a second chance in Zomea. The Gholioths, however, hold a different belief. They believe the gods live beyond the gates.”

“The gods?” I interject, the mention catching me off guard.

He nods, taking a moment before continuing, “Indeed. The Gholioths were once Fae, powerful beings who harbored a relentless ambition for even greater power. They sought to unlock these very gates, aspiring to dwell alongside the gods. But their attempts were in vain, and their failures transformed them. They were cursed, morphing into grotesque creatures, forever tasked with guarding the depths of Zomea. Eternity stretches before them, void of solace or respite.”

“But why? I don’t understand.”

His face tightens. “That’s beside the point at the moment. They failed because they were too weak. No one has ever successfully opened the gates,” he retorts with evident irritation.

“You think you can? How does this tie into me or the heart of Eguina?”