Silver And Shadow: Twisted Fate

(Olivia's POV)

"Who the hell are you?" Jay demanded, stepping in front of me again.

The figure ignored him, their gaze fixed on me. "You've made quite the spectacle, little hybrid," they said, their smirk widening. "But don't worry. I'm here to help."

Their words didn't match the look in their eyes… I didn't trust them, not for a second.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice barely steady.

The figure chuckled, the sound echoing unnaturally in the cave. "Oh, it's not about what I want. It's about what you are."

They stepped closer, and I felt my magic stir, responding to their presence like a moth to a flame. "You've got something very special inside you, Olivia. Something powerful. And if you don't learn to control it… well, let's just say Kael will be the least of your worries."

I didn't know what to say, so I said nothing. My throat felt dry, and I hated how small I felt under her gaze.

But Jay? Of course, Jay wouldn't let someone like her rattle him.

"Who are you?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

The woman's lips curled into a slow, mocking smile.

"Relax, wolf-boy. If I wanted you dead, you'd already be bleeding out on the forest floor."

Then she stepped into the moonlight.

A woman, her silhouette framed by the soft glow, emerged from the shadows.

She wasn't just anyone.

Her presence carried a weight that made the air harder to breathe. Dark, curling hair tumbled over her shoulders, and her sharp, piercing eyes seemed to cut through the night.

she looked… amused.

"Well," she said, her voice smooth and low, "aren't you two in quite the predicament?"

I swallowed hard, feeling a spark of unease ripple through me.

There was something about her… something familiar yet powerful, almost calmly overwhelming.

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes sliding over to me, and I swear she looked right through me, like she could see all the things I was trying to hide, even from myself.

"And you," she said, taking a step closer. I instinctively took one back. "What an interesting existence you are."

Her words sent a shiver down my spine. "What do you mean by that?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

She didn't answer right away. Instead, she studied me, her gaze lingering a little too long, making my skin prickle.

"Your magic," she finally said, almost to herself. "It's… unusual. Unstable."

Unstable. Like I needed a reminder.

"I don't care who you are," Jay snapped, stepping in front of me like a shield. "Stay away from her."

The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Oh, calm down. If I wanted her harmed, I wouldn't be standing here having this delightful little chat."

Her confidence was unnerving.

I couldn't decide if I wanted to scream at her or bolt in the other direction. But I also couldn't deny that there was something… familiar about her. Something I couldn't put into words.

"I'm Thalia," she said finally, crossing her arms over her chest. "And if you want to live through the night, you'll listen to me."

I glanced at Jay. His jaw was tight, his eyes narrowed, and I knew what he was thinking.

We couldn't trust her. But the truth was, I didn't know if we had another option.

"What do you want from us?" I asked, stepping out from behind Jay before he could stop me.

Thalia's gaze softened, just slightly. "I want to help you, Olivia."

My stomach twisted at the sound of my name again. "How do you know who I am?"

"I know a lot of things," she said simply. "But what matters is that you're in danger. More than you realize. Your powers… if you can even call them that right now, are going to get you killed.

Or worse."

Her words hit like a punch to the gut. I'd been trying not to think about it, but she wasn't wrong. Every time I used magic, it felt like I was holding onto a live wire.

"And you think you can help her?" Jay said, his voice dripping with skepticism.

Thalia sighed, like she was dealing with a particularly stubborn child. "Yes, I can. But if you'd rather keep running blind, stumbling into ambushes, by all means, don't let me stop you."

Jay's hand twitched at his side. He didn't like her. That much was obvious. But I couldn't stop the flicker of hope that sparked in me.

"How?" I asked quietly.

"How what?"

"How can you help me?"

Her lips curved into a sly smile. "I'm so glad you asked."

With a wave of her hand, the air around us shifted, crackling with energy. A shimmering barrier appeared, stretching out in front of us like an invisible wall.

Seconds later, the distant sound of snarling grew louder, and my heart clenched. More reinforcement from the park had found us.

But then the wolves hit the barrier. Hard.

The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, and for a moment, I thought the barrier might break. But it held.

The wolves, furious and relentless, clawed at it, but they couldn't get through.

Thalia turned back to me, her expression calm. "That's how."

Jay stared at her, his fists clenched. "Why should we trust you?"

"You shouldn't," she said with a shrug. "But right now, I'm the best choice you've got."

Jay looked at me, his eyes full of warning, but I couldn't tear my gaze away from Thalia.

There was something about her, something I couldn't explain. I couldn't ignore the pull I felt toward her.

As if to distract me, the barrier shimmered faintly, the distorted growls of the wolves on the other side making my stomach churn.

I couldn't stop staring at them. at the way their claws raked against nothing but air, their eyes burning with rage.

They were so close, yet completely powerless. Thalia had done that.

I wanted to feel relieved, but instead, I'm filled with doubt.

What kind of power did she have?

And why did she choose to use it for us?

Jay stepped closer to me, his body tense, shoulders squared like he was ready to take on both Thalia and the wolves if he had to. His voice was low and sharp when he spoke.

"You're expecting us to believe you're doing this out of the kindness of your heart?"

Thalia didn't even blink at the accusation. "Oh, sweetheart," she said with a smirk, "I've got plenty of motives. Kindness just isn't one of them."

Her honesty took me off guard, but Jay wasn't impressed. "Then what are you after? You don't even know us."

She rolled her eyes. "No, I don't know you. But I know her." Thalia turned her gaze on me, and I felt pinned under the weight of it. "And let's just say I have a vested interest in making sure she doesn't accidentally burn the entire forest down."

Heat crept up my neck. "I…I wouldn't.."

"You almost did back there," she interrupted, her voice calm but cutting. "And that was barely a fraction of your potential."

"I can teach you," Thalia said, her tone softer now. "But if you don't want my help, fine. Keep running, keep hiding. See how long it takes before someone catches up to you."

I glanced at Jay. His jaw was clenched so tight I thought his teeth might shatter. His golden eyes met mine.

"We don't need her," he said firmly.

My throat tightened. "Jay…"

He turned to face me fully, his voice dropping to a whisper. "We don't know her, Liv. She's a witch. She could be leading us into a trap."

"She could also be right," I whispered back. "and by the looks of it, she's the only one who can help me?"

Jay's expression faltered, just for a moment. "I'll protect you," he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

It wasn't enough.

I hated myself for thinking it, but it was the truth.

Jay was strong, and he'd already risked everything to keep me safe. But this wasn't something he could fight his way through.

My magic wasn't just dangerous, it was a ticking time bomb. And if I didn't figure out how to control it, I'd end up hurting him. Or worse.

"I don't think we have a choice," I admitted.

Jay looked like I'd slapped him. "You trust her?"

"No," I said quickly. "I don't. But what other option do we have?"

Thalia watched our whispered exchange with a raised eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by our lack of subtlety.

"Are you two done yet? Because the wolves aren't going to stay confused forever, and I'd really prefer to not be standing here when the barrier magic runs out."

Jay let out a low growl of frustration, but he didn't argue. Not out loud, anyway.

"Fine," he said through gritted teeth. "But if you try anything…"

Thalia cut him off with a laugh. "Yes, yes, you'll tear me to pieces. I get it. Now, shall we?"

She turned and started walking, like she already knew we'd follow.

Jay stayed close to me as we trailed behind her, his eyes darting around the forest like he expected an ambush at any moment.

The hostile tension between him and Thalia was practically suffocating, but I didn't have the energy to break it.

My head was pounding, my body heavy with exhaustion.

Every step felt like wading through quicksand, and the further we walked, the worse it got.

My vision blurred, and my legs wobbled beneath me. I stumbled, catching myself on a tree, but Jay was at my side in an instant, his hands gripping my arms to steady me.

"I'm fine," I lied, though even I didn't believe it.

"You're not fine," he snapped. "You're still burning up."

Thalia stopped and turned, her eyes narrowing as she looked me over. "Her magic is still unstable," she said matter-of-factly.

"No kidding," Jay shot back.

Thalia ignored him, stepping closer to me. "If you don't stabilize it, it's going to eat you alive."

"What do you mean, stabilize it?" I asked, my voice shaky.

"I mean this," she said, raising her hands. A strange, tingling sensation spread through my chest as she murmured something under her breath. The pressure in my head eased, just slightly, but it was enough to make me gasp in relief.

The relief didn't last. A sharp, stabbing pain shot through my body, and I cried out, collapsing to my knees.

"What the hell are you doing to her?" Jay shouted.

"I'm helping her," Thalia said, her tone clipped. "You're welcome, by the way."

Jay looked wanted to step towards her, but I grabbed his arm, shaking my head. The pain was fading, and I could breathe again.

"She's… she's right," I managed to say. "I think it worked."

Jay didn't look convinced, but he didn't argue.

Thalia smirked. "See? I told you, I'm the best choice you've got."

Thalia led the way, her boots crunching softly against the fallen leaves. She moved like she belonged out here, her strides confident, her head held high.

Meanwhile, I trailed behind her, feeling like a lost puppy, my legs growing a bit steady from whatever she'd just done to me.

Jay stayed glued to my side, his hand brushing mine every so often, like he was ready to grab me and bolt at the first sign of trouble.

His eyes burned holes into Thalia's back, and I could feel his tension in the way he moved, every step measured, every breath controlled.

"You're wasting your energy glaring at me, pup," Thalia called over her shoulder without turning around.

"I wouldn't have bothered saving her,if I wanted her dead, I promise you."

Jay growled under his breath but didn't respond. I glanced at him, hoping for some kind of reassurance, but his jaw was clenched so tight I thought it might snap.

"Where are we even going?" I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

Thalia glanced back at me, her expression unreadable. "Somewhere safe."

"That's vague," I muttered.

"It's intentional," she shot back. "Less you know, the less you can spill if someone gets their claws into you. Which, by the way, isn't entirely out of the question, considering how loud your werewolf friend's distrust is."

Jay clearly took offence, but said nothing.

I didn't push her for more answers. Honestly, I didn't want to know.

The less I thought about who or what might be out there hunting us, the better.

The silence stretched on, broken only by the sound of our footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves. I tried to focus on keeping one foot in front of the other, but my mind wouldn't stop racing.

Thalia's words from earlier kept looping in my head. If you don't stabilize it, it's going to eat you alive.

I didn't doubt her because I could feel it.

"How did you know I was… different?" I asked, breaking the silence.

Thalia didn't answer right away. When she did, her voice was softer than I expected. "Your magic has a… unique signature. I could sense it from miles away. It's like a beacon, calling out to anyone who knows how to listen."

"A beacon?" Jay snapped. "You mean she's basically a walking target?"

Thalia stopped in her tracks and turned to face us, her expression serious. "That's exactly what I mean."

My stomach dropped. "So… anyone with magic can find me?"

"Not just anyone," she said, her eyes locking onto mine. "But the ones who matter? The ones who'd kill for a shot at you? Oh, they'll find you eventually. It's only a matter of time."

Jay stepped in front of me, his shoulders squared, his fists clenched. "Then maybe you should've masked her signature instead of just giving us vague warnings."

Thalia smirked, but there was no humor in it. "Maybe this 'mutt' still thinks that I'm here for fun, I'm the only reason she's still breathing. You should be thanking me, not questioning my methods."

"I'll thank you when I know we're safe," Jay growled.

"Enough!" The word came out sharper than I intended, but I didn't care. "Jay, stop. This isn't helping."

Jay looked at me, his expression softening just enough to make my chest ache. "Liv, I just"

"I know," I cut him off. "But right now, we don't have the luxury of fighting each other.

Thalia's smirk returned, this time with a hint of approval. "Smart girl."

I ignored her and kept walking.

We walked in silence for what felt like hours, the tension between the three of us thick enough to choke on.

I was just starting to wonder if Thalia even knew where she was taking us when she suddenly stopped.

"Here," she said, gesturing to a small clearing surrounded by towering trees.

Jay frowned. "What's here?"

"A place to rest," she said simply.

I looked around, confused. There was nothing here; no shelter, just dirt and trees.

But then Thalia raised her hand, and the air shimmered. A moment later, a small cabin appeared out of nowhere, nestled between the trees like it had always been there.

My jaw dropped. "How did you.."

"Magic," she said with a shrug. "Try to keep up."

Jay didn't look impressed. "I don't trust this."

"You don't trust anything," Thalia shot back. "But unless you've got a better plan, I suggest you suck it up and get inside. We don't have much time before they catch up."

(Knowing that we most definitely have lost the wolves) "They?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Thalia's expression darkened. "The coven."

The word sent a chill down my spine.

"They're already tracking you," she continued. "And trust me, you don't want to be out here when they find us."

Jay looked at me, his golden eyes filled with worry. "Liv, I don't like this."

"Neither do I," I admitted. "But she's right. We don't have a choice."

With that, I stepped toward the cabin, my heart pounding in my chest. Behind me, Thalia's voice cut through the night like a blade.

"If the coven finds you, they won't just kill you," she said, her tone eerily calm. "They'll take everything you are. And trust me little hybrid, YOU ARE A LOT"